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Barack Obama Falsely Accuses Trump of ‘Ignoring Warnings of a Pandemic’

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On Tuesday morning, Barack Obama criticized Trump’s rollback of fuel standards in a tweet that made what appears to be a backhanded critique of Trump’s response to the coronavirus. “We’ve seen all too terribly the consequences of those who denied warnings of a pandemic,” Obama said.

Who exactly was Obama talking about there? Now, it’s quite possible he was actually talking about himself, seeing as how even after the H1N1 pandemic that claimed as many as 18,000 American lives, according to CDC estimates, Obama’s response to the Ebola pandemic later in his presidency was similarly wrought with problems–so much so that even the Obama White House and the CDC acknowledged there were multiple “shortcomings” in the administration’s response. Those shortcomings may have been the result of Obama axing the White House pandemic response office in 2009, which was reinstated in 2016 specifically because of his administration’s poor response to the Ebola pandemic. . .

The likely source of Obama’s accusation was a Washington Post hit piece earlier this month that claimed intelligence agencies issued warnings about a possible pandemic back in January and February, “while President Trump and lawmakers played down the threat and failed to take action” that might have slowed the spread of the coronavirus. This allegation was easily debunked by the facts. The Trump administration acted quickly and decisively after China reported the discovery of the coronavirus to the World Health Organization (WHO) on December 31, 2019.

The Trump administration issued a travel notice for Wuhan, China, and established a coronavirus incident management system within the first week. Soon after, public health entry screening was put in place at the three U.S. airports receiving the most travelers from Wuhan. By Januray 20, the National Institutes of Health was already working on the development of a coronavirus vaccine. Does this sound like an administration that was “ignoring warnings of a pandemic”? Three days later, the CDC sought a “special emergency authorization” from the FDA to allow states to use its newly developed coronavirus test. Before the end of the month, the coronavirus was declared a public health emergency and Trump banned travel with China to slow the spread of the virus in the United States–that decision alone is credited with saving thousands of lives.

Now, let’s compare that with how Obama handled the H1N1 pandemic. The H1N1 outbreak originated in Mexico, but, the Obama administration refused to restrict travel with Mexico or close the border, despite calls to do so. “Closing our nation’s borders is not merited here,” said Obama’s DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano when a national health emergency was declared. She argued that closing the border or U.S. ports would have “no impact or very little” in stopping or slowing the spread of the virus. (Read more from “Barack Obama Falsely Accuses Trump of ‘Ignoring Warnings of a Pandemic'” HERE)

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New Photos From Wuhan Reignite Doubts That Communist China Is Being Honest About Coronavirus

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By The Blaze. A new development in China is refueling theories that China’s communist government is not being honest with the world about the coronavirus.

This week, families in Wuhan — the Chinese city of about 11 million people where the COVID-19 pandemic originated — were allowed to begin picking up the cremated remains of loved ones who succumbed to COVID-19.

According to reports, some people had to wait in line for five hours to received their loved one’s ashes. But what is especially notable is that thousands of urns were shipped to the city, many thousands more than necessary for the 2,535 people that China claims died in Wuhan due to COVID-19. . .

(CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PHOTOS)

Despite global suspicions, China lifted the lockdown in Wuhan that had been in place since January. China also claims the area is not seeing any new cases of COVID-19. (Read more from “New Photos From Wuhan Reignite Doubts That Communist China Is Being Honest About Coronavirus” HERE)

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Estimates Show Wuhan Death Toll Far Higher Than Official Figure

By Radio Free Asia. 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 Friday.

“They started distributing ashes and starting interment ceremonies on
Monday,” he said.

Seven funeral homes currently serve Wuhan — a huge conurbation of three cities: Hankou, Wuchang and Hanyang. (Read more from “Estimates Show Wuhan Death Toll Far Higher Than Official Figure” HERE)

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Armed Vigilantes Chop Down Tree, Block Driveway to Force Neighbor to Self-Quarantine Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

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A group of armed vigilantes cut down a tree and dragged it across a man’s driveway in Maine to force him to quarantine in his home amid fears he could be infected with the coronavirus, officials said.

A man residing on Cripple Creek Road in Vinalhaven, an island off the coast of Maine, called authorities around 3:35 p.m. Friday to report a group of people with guns had cut down a large tree and dragged it in front of his driveway, blocking access to the main road.

The man said he left his house to check his property when he noticed the cable went out. The unidentified man said he retreated to his home and hailed the Coast Guard for help using a VHF radio after a neighbor began yelling at him to get indoors and remain quarantined.

The armed group had dispersed before authorities arrived. Deputies with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Maine Marine Patrol and a Coast Guard boarding party, responded to the scene. The incident remains under investigation.

“Deputies have learned that there is a general belief by some island residents that the Cripple Creek Residents are supposed to be quarantined because they came here from another state and could have COVID-19,” the Knox County Sheriff’s Office in Maine said in a Facebook post. (Read more from “Armed Vigilantes Chop Down Tree, Block Driveway to Force Neighbor to Self-Quarantine Amid Coronavirus Pandemic” HERE)

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Megachurch Pastor Arrested for Ignoring Social Distancing Requirements

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A controversial Florida pastor who refused to stop holding packed church services, in violation of coronavirus restrictions, was arrested Monday by a local sheriff who said the preacher was putting his followers’ lives at risk.

Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne was booked on misdemeanor charges of unlawful assembly and violation of public health rules after flouting social distancing orders at The River at Tampa Bay church.

Howard-Browne—an ally of President Donald Trump—has been an outspoken opponent of social distancing requirements, claiming his church has machines that can stop the coronavirus and vowing to personally cure the state of Florida himself.

“His reckless disregard for human life put hundreds of people in his congregation at risk, and thousands of residents who may interact with them this week, in danger,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said at the press conference.

Howard-Browne did not respond to an immediate request for comment. He turned himself in to a neighboring sheriff’s office, was booked and released within 40 minutes, according to jail records. (Read more from “Megachurch Pastor Arrested for Ignoring Social Distancing Requirements” HERE)

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Man’s Heartbreaking Video Shows New York Hospital Forklift Loading Dead Bodies Into Truck

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Brooklyn resident John Lee shared a disturbing video Sunday on Facebook featuring medical workers using a forklift to load dead bodies into a refrigerated truck.

According to the New York Post, medical workers loaded the body bags into a “mobile morgue,” which was parked outside the Brooklyn Hospital Center in the Fort Greene neighborhood.

“This is for real,” a tearful-sounding Lee can be heard saying while filming from his car. “They putting bodies in the 18-wheeler. … This is no joke. … This is Brooklyn Hospital.”

What appear to be hospital staff can be seen wearing protective clothing and helping to load the bodies into the waiting truck.

Clearly emotional, Lee implores viewers to stay inside and pray to God.

(Read more from “Man’s Heartbreaking Video Shows New York Hospital Forklift Loading Dead Bodies Into Truck” HERE)

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WATCH: Democratic Mayor Tells Criminals to ‘Chill’ and Wait to Commit Crimes

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By The Blaze. Houston’s Democratic mayor announced to the crooks and the criminals that they needed to “chill” and wait until the coronavirus pandemic was over to commit crimes.

Mayor Sylvester Turner made the plea to criminals during a media briefing on the coronavirus response in Houston on Monday.

“Let me just make my plea. Until the coronavirus is resolved, criminals take a break, OK!” said Turner.

“Stay home, OK? Stay home. And don’t commit any crimes!” he added.

“And that way, they’ll stay safe and out of jail, and police officers can stay safe and go home to their families, OK?” Turner concluded. “So everybody chill! Crooks, criminals, you chill! Wait until the coronavirus is over! OK, and then we’ll all be OK!”

(Read more from “Democratic Mayor Tells Criminals to ‘Chill’ and Wait to Commit Crimes” HERE)

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Coronavirus Criminals: Authorities Wage War Against Virus Scammers, Thieves, Impostors and Idiots

By Fox News. From price-gouging, mask stealing and pharma-fraud to charity scams, app extortion, cyber-hacking and even “coughing” on people and produce for Instagram followers or as an act of hate, the new coronavirus-centered crime wave – like the spread of the novel virus – is gaining momentum by the minute.

“People have been so focused on the coronavirus itself, its spread and the danger, less attention has been paid to how fraudsters are committing crimes to steal money and to obtain personal information in order to steal money,” David Katz, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for Los Angeles, told Fox News. “Working people are often hurt the most by fraud. Beyond scams, there has been stealing, diverting and hoarding of surgical masks and other medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and cargos of groceries, plus hate crimes.”

While traditional criminal activity across much of the country is reported to have dropped in recent weeks as governments have urged – and enforced – residents to shelter in place in a bid to combat the contagion spread, authorities are not battling a crime wave of a different kind: those exploiting the unique pandemic. And the types of illicit actions pertaining to the coronavirus, officially termed COVID-19, are vast and varying. (Read more from “Coronavirus Criminals: Authorities Wage War Against Virus Scammers, Thieves, Impostors and Idiots” HERE)

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Trump Eyes More Travel Bans to Stop Coronavirus; Trump Unveils New Five-Minute Test Device, N95 Mask Sterilizer

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By Breitbart. President Trump is eyeing additional travel bans to stop the spread of the Chinese coronavirus in the United States.

During a press briefing on Monday, Trump hinted that he may expand the current travel ban list beyond China, Iran, and Europe to ensure that the coronavirus is not being spread by new arrivals.

“They’ll be staying and we may add a few more,” Trump said. “But the guidelines will be very much as they are, maybe even toughened up a little bit. But they’re having a big impact, they’re having a tremendous impact.”

Already, Trump has closed the southern and northern borders to migrant entry and travel, as well as the travel bans. Still, hundreds of flights every week have continued arriving in the U.S. from other regions of the world. (Read more from “Trump Eyes More Travel Bans to Stop Coronavirus” HERE)

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Trump Unveils New Five-Minute Coronavirus Test Device, N95 Mask Sterilizer

By New York Post. A new coronavirus testing device that can produce a result in five minutes will soon be available throughout the US, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn announced Monday.

The test will be available in doctors’ clinics, emergency rooms and drive-through sites within the next month as officials try to rapidly overcome a lack of readily-available tests during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Just like tests for flu or strep where you go to the doctor’s office so you can get a test done, you can get an answer within minutes of having this test done,” Hahn said during President Trump’s coronavirus task force briefing in the Rose Garden.

The device produced by Chicago-based Abbott Laboratories would normally take 12 months to come to market but with support from the FDA and Trump administration, had been approved in just weeks, Hahn said. . .

The president also announced a separate FDA breakthrough which would allow health care workers to sterilize N95 respiratory masks that are in critically short supply. (Read more from “Trump Unveils New Five-Minute Coronavirus Test Device, n95 Mask Sterilizer” HERE)

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FDA Issues Emergency Approval of Anti-Malaria Drugs to Treat Coronavirus; Study Will Test If Hydroxychloroquine Can Prevent COVID-19

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By Washington Examiner. The Food and Drug Administration issued a limited emergency use authorization of two malaria drugs that have been pushed by President Trump for treating the coronavirus.

In a statement Sunday night, the Health and Human Services Department announced it had received 30 million doses of hydroxychloroquine sulfate and one million doses of chloroquine phosphate. The drugs were donated to the Strategic National Stockpile, a repository of potentially life-saving medical supplies.

The statement said the FDA had issued an emergency use authorization to allow both drugs “to be distributed and prescribed by doctors to hospitalized teen and adult patients with COVID-19, as appropriate, when a clinical trial is not available or feasible.” (Read more from “FDA Issues Emergency Approval of Anti-Malaria Drugs to Treat Coronavirus” HERE)

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Study Will Test If Hydroxychloroquine Can Prevent COVID-19

By Live Science. The anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine has made headlines in recent weeks for its potential to help with the new coronavirus disease, COVID-19, though its benefits remain unproven. Now, a new study will test whether the drug can prevent COVID-19 transmission.

For the study, researchers in New York and Washington state plan to enroll 2,000 participants who are close contacts of people with confirmed or pending COVID-19 diagnoses.

Participants will be randomly assigned to take either hydroxychloroquine or a placebo for two weeks, and they will be tested daily for COVID-19, according to a statement from the University of Washington (UW), which will collaborate on the study with New York University (NYU).

The trial is expected to last eight weeks, and researchers hope to have the results by summer.

“Currently, there is no proven way to prevent COVID-19 after being exposed,” Anna Bershteyn, an assistant professor of population health at NYU Langone Health and co-principal investigator on the study, said in the statement. “If hydroxychloroquine provides protection, then it could be an essential tool for fighting this pandemic. If it doesn’t, then people should avoid unnecessary risks from taking the drug.” (Read more from “Study Will Test If Hydroxychloroquine Can Prevent COVID-19” HERE)

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Coronavirus Deaths in U.S. Hit 2,000, Doubles in 2 Days, May See 200K+ Dead; Mortgage Market on Verge of Collapse Due to Fed’s Coronavirus Intervention

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By The Hill. The number of coronavirus-related deaths in the U.S. passed 2,000 Saturday, reflecting a death toll that has doubled in the span of two days.

On Thursday, the death toll in the U.S. reached 1,000, though it took nearly a month for the number of coronavirus-related deaths in the country to reach that high. This means that another 1,000 people died in a two-day reporting period in the country.

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. now stands at more than 120,000, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Though the U.S. has more confirmed cases of the virus than any other country, Italy has the most reported deaths from the virus at more than 10,000. China, where the virus originated, has more than 80,000 reported cases and more than 3,000 reported deaths from the virus. (Read more from “Confirmed Coronavirus Deaths in U.S. Hit 2,000, Doubling in Two Days” HERE)

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Fauci: U.S. Could Have 100K to 200K Deaths From Coronavirus

By Breitbart. Sunday, during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the coronavirus pandemic could cause “between 100,000 and 200,000” deaths in the United States.

Fauci said, “You know, Jake, to be honest with you, we don’t really have any firm idea. There are things called models. When someone creates a model, they put in various assumptions. And the model is only as good or as accurate as your assumptions. Whenever the models come in, they give a worst-case scenario and a best-case scenario. Generally, the reality is somewhere in the middle. I’ve never seen a model of the diseases that I’ve dealt with where the worst case came out. They always overshoot. So when you use numbers like a million, million and a half, 2 million, that almost certainly is off the chart. It’s not impossible, but very, very unlikely.” (Read more from “Fauci: U.S. Could Have 100K to 200K Deaths From Coronavirus” HERE)

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Mortgage Market on Verge of Collapse?

By Steve Liesman. The Mortgage Bankers Association in a dire letter to regulators Sunday warned that the U.S. housing market is “in danger of large-scale disruption,” due to efforts by the Federal Reserve that were intended to help rescue the mortgage market.

At issue are the Fed’s unprecedented $183 billion of purchases last week of mortgage-backed securities. The purchases were meant to drive down rates, and they did.

But together with the storm that gripped financial markets from the coronavirus, they also effectively blew up a widespread hedge that mortgage bankers use to protect themselves against rate increases. The hedge pays them if the prevailing rate in the market is higher than the rate than the mortgage rate they locked with the customer.

The system works well unless mortgage rates are highly volatile. It is generally considered to be a safe trade: the hedge simply protects the lender against higher rates until the mortgage closes. But compounding the problem, many customers couldn’t close on their loans because of quarantines, leaving the mortgage lenders with only the cost of the hedge and no off-setting loan. . .

Some of these mortgage bankers are now facing margin calls of tens of millions of dollars that could drive them out of business, according to Barry Habib, founder of MBS Highway, a leading industry advisor who was among the first to publicly sound the alarm bell last week. (Read more about how Coronavirus deaths are not the only worry HERE)

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Trump Extends Social Distancing Guidelines Until April 30; Trump: Coronavirus-Fighting Supplies Have Landed at JFK

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By Business Insider. President Donald Trump has extended social distancing guidelines to April 30 and said the coronavirus outbreak in the US is likely to peak in two weeks.

Trump delivered his remarks during a White House press briefing on Sunday night as US coronavirus cases surged to nearly 140,000.

“Nothing would be worse than declaring victory before the victory is won,” he said. “The better you do, the faster this whole nightmare will end.”

Trump said his administration will finalize its social distancing guidelines on Tuesday.

Trump also touted a June 1 deadline as to when the country will be “well on our way to recovery.” (Read more from “Trump Extends Social Distancing Guidelines Until April 30” HERE)

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Trump: Coronavirus-Fighting Supplies Have Landed at JFK

By New York Post. President Trump announced Sunday that a huge cache of desperately-needed coronavirus-fighting supplies has landed in New York.

The first flight in the FEMA project dubbed “Project Airbridge” landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport with 2 million masks and gowns, more than 10 million gloves and 70,000 thermometers that will go to New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is working with private companies on the initiative to “expedite the movement of critical supplies from other countries to the United States,” the president said.

FEMA has scheduled 19 additional flights, and hopes to have about 50, Trump said at the press conference — where he also announced that federal social-distancing guidelines would be extended to April 30. (Read more from “Trump: Coronavirus-Fighting Supplies Have Landed at JFK” HERE)

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