Credit: The New York Times
As the lethal outbreak of coronavirus continues to spread around the world and the U.S. government warns that it will almost certainly also spread within the United States, right-wing media outlets and online accounts are spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories which could have deadly consequences.
The strain of novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that was first detected in the city of Wuhan, China. It swiftly spread and has now been detected in 53 countries, including the United States. So far, the outbreak has led to nearly 3,000 deaths and more than 82,000 cases worldwide, according to The
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes the disease behind the current outbreak as part of “a large family of viruses that are common in many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats.” The CDC adds that “rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people.” Earlier patients […]
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Martin Pengelly and Amanda Holpuch, - The Guardian (U.K.)
Stephan: Just as a fish rots from the head down, so corruption, deceit, and disinformation start at the top. Exhibit A.
Donald Trump passes Mike Pence during a news conference at the White House on Saturday.
Credit: Joshua Roberts/Reuters
NEW YORK — When Donald Trump Jr said Democrats hope coronavirus “kills millions of people” in the US because they want to bring his father down, he was merely “pushing back” at the politicisation of the viral outbreak by Trump opponents, Mike Pence claimed in an interview broadcast on Sunday.
“It’s time for the other side to turn down the volume,” the vice-president told NBC’s Meet the Press.
At a White House press conference on Saturday, Trump was forced to defend his use of the word “hoax” in reference to the outbreak. Harshly criticised by contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination, the president said he had been referring to politicisation of coronavirus, not the outbreak itself.
In the interview broadcast on Sunday, NBC host Chuck Todd played Pence clips of Trump allies discussing the outbreak which on Saturday claimed its […]
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NICOLE KARLIS, News Writer - Salon
Stephan: One thing the coronavirus has done, that has potentially a good outcome, is the spotlight it has thrown on America's dysfunctional illness profit system. Here is an assessment of what that means.
A team of nurses with Livio Health Group took the vital signs of Anthony Nichols 52, at the large homeless camp Monday September 24, 2018 in Minneapolis, MN. Nichols said that he has a heart condition and had not been taking his medicine; he was later transported to local hospital by ambulance. Nichols said that he had been staying at the camp for only two days.
Credit: Jerry Holt/Star Tribune/Getty
There’s a reason that the story about a Miami man receiving a $3,270 medical bill after fearing he had the Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) is going viral: it is a relatable cautionary tale for Americans accustomed to our piecemeal, overpriced, for-profit healthcare system. Despite the good news that Osmel Martinez Azcue tested for the flu, not the virus, Azcue is left with a significant financial burden. (The Miami Herald reported that hospital officials said he will only be responsible for $1,400, thanks to his limited insurance plan from National General Insurance. However, he will have to provide three years of […]
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B.D. Holly, - Palmer Report
Stephan: Here is one of the very few pieces I have seen the deal with the markets. You don't normally think about Wall Street, and the other trading centers in conjunction with an illness but, as this article points out, you should.
The rapid spread and danger of the Wuhan coronavirus, COVID-19, is harrowing. Scientists and health experts aren’t entirely sure how to handle the spread of the virus simply by virtue of how new it is. This week, global markets have tanked as investors and speculators anticipate the virus taking a toll on international commerce. Evolution is a cruel, unrelenting mistress, but what has me so irked here has more to do with the reaction to this health crisis.
Make no mistake, I am not downplaying the seriousness of what is becoming a pandemic. Many people will continue to get sick and die. Before I get into my grievances, I’ll take the time to tell you to keep yourself aware of the updates concerning the virus, and consult with official government sources, such as the World Health Organization (UN), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USA), or National Health Service (UK and Northern Ireland). In short, wash your hands thoroughly and don’t touch your face.
In the context of the climate crisis, a legitimate existential threat […]
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