Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In The U.S. -- News Updates April 1 - 2, 2020

Daily Mail: Coronavirus kills 908 Americans in 24hrs to take US death toll to 4,391, with more than 200,000 people testing positive - as Michigan emerges as the third deadliest hotspot behind NYC and New Jersey with 259 fatalities

* Number of coronavirus cases in the US surpassed 200,000 on Wednesday as the death toll increased to more than 4,300
* New infections across the country increased by 25,676 and new deaths rose by 908
* The US death toll has now surpassed the number of deaths reported in China (3,309) where the outbreak first emerged back in December
* The death toll in Italy (12,428) and Spain (9,053) is still higher than the United States
* More than 40% of the country's fatal cases come from New York state where the death toll rose by 391 to 1,941. New York state also saw an increase of 7,917 cases to bring the total number of new infections to 83,712
* President Donald Trump has warned Americans to brace for a 'hell of a bad two weeks' ahead as the White House projected there could be 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the US
* Fears that the US is on track to become the new Italy, whose healthcare system has buckled under the weight of the pandemic, are fast becoming a reality

More than 900 people have died in the US in 24 hours with the death toll increasing to more than 4,300 as the number of coronavirus cases in the US surpassed 200,000.

New deaths from the coronavirus rose by 908 on Wednesday while new infections across the country increased by 25,676.

The US death toll has now surpassed the number of deaths reported in China (3,309) where the outbreak first emerged back in December.

The death toll in Italy (12,428) and Spain (9,053) is still higher than the United States.

More than 40 percent of the country's fatal cases come from New York state where the death toll rose by 391 to 1,941. New York state also saw an increase of 7,917 cases to bring the total number of new infections to 83,712.

Michigan now has the third highest death toll in the country after reporting a spike in its figures over night. The state recorded 75 news deaths, bringing its death toll to 259. Michigan has more than 7,600 confirmed cases.

New Jersey is second behind New York with 267 deaths and 18,997 infections.

Read more ....

Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In The U.S. -- News Updates April 1 - 2, 2020

US coronavirus live: Trump says federal stockpile of protective equipment nearly empty -- The Guardian
How many coronavirus cases does each US state have? -- Al Jazeera
US coronavirus cases surpass 200,000 with more than 4,600 deaths -- Al Jazeera
265 MILLION Americans - 80 per cent of the population - are now ordered to stay home but some states STILL refuse to shutdown with Missouri Governor insisting it is down to 'individual responsibility' -- Daily Mail
Trump resists national shutdown, leaving it up to states -- AP
Most Americans huddle indoors as coronavirus deaths keep spiking -- Reuters
New York state’s virus deaths jump to more than 1,900 -- AP
‘A battlefield behind your home’: Deaths mount in New York -- AP
'This is NOT just New York's problem': Cuomo warns other states to prepare for the worst after NY coronavirus deaths soar by 391 to 1,941 - as he urges NYPD to be 'more aggressive' on 'selfish, reckless' crowds -- Daily Mail
US COVID-19 pandemic: New Jersey reports more than 18,000 cases -- Al Jazeera
Florida governor Ron DeSantis finally issues a statewide lockdown after revealing coronavirus first started circulating in Miami in early February during the Super Bowl and state cases surge to 6,955 -- Daily Mail
Louisiana records biggest one-day coronavirus spike after infections soar by 1,200 and deaths rise by 54 - as New Orleans continues to become an emerging pandemic hotspot -- Daily Mail
Los Angeles mayor urges everyone to wear masks -- AP
California Gov Newsom warns hospitals will run out of beds by next month as coronavirus infections increase and says schools will remain closed for the rest of the year - as statewide cases rise to 8,500 and death toll jumps to 183 -- Daily Mail
Incredible drone footage captures a deserted Las Vegas with empty casinos and hotels as the city converts an empty parking lot into a homeless shelter where people sleep on towels and concrete six feet apart -- Daily Mail
Navajo leaders worry for already isolated community facing coronavirus -- AFP
US puts federal prisons on lockdown over virus fears -- AFP
Mike Pence says U.S. will be as bad as Italy and blames the CDC and China for delayed response to coronavirus saying medical center called it 'low risk' in January and Beijing was 'not transparent' -- Daily Mail
Coronavirus: US 'considers cloth face masks for public' -- BBC
Coronavirus is now the third-leading cause of death in the US: The pandemic kills more Americans each day than lung disease, stroke, Alzheimer's and diabetes, doctor says -- Daily Mail
Coronavirus: Things the US has got wrong - and got right -- Anthony Zurcher, BBC

Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic -- Live Updates April 1 - 2, 2020

Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic -- Live Updates April 1 - 2, 2020

Live: World close to a million virus infections - WHO -- BBC
Factbox: Latest on the spread of the coronavirus around the world -- Reuters
Coronavirus live news: Global cases near million mark as US federal stockpiles of medical gear dwindle -- The Guardian
Coronavirus latest: Nearly a million cases worldwide as US prepares for 'horrific' two weeks -- DW
Coronavirus update: Australia passes 5,000 confirmed cases, New York says the worst is yet to come, CSIRO starts vaccine trials -- ABC News Online
Grim one-day virus death toll for US, Spain, UK: Live updates -- Al Jazeera
Coronavirus latest: global infections near 1 million; America’s deadliest day -- SCMP
What you need to know today about the virus outbreak -- AP
UN chief says coronavirus worst global crisis since World War II -- France 24
Coronavirus: Which countries have confirmed cases? -- Al Jazeera
Coronavirus: Travel restrictions, border shutdowns by country -- Al Jazeera

World News Briefs -- April 1, 2020 (Evening Edition)

France 24: WHO troubled by 'near exponential' growth of coronavirus pandemic

The World Health Organization said Wednesday it was deeply concerned about the near-exponential escalation of the new coronavirus pandemic, with the number of deaths doubling in a week.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged citizens around the globe to stand together to fight COVID-19, as he braced for the millionth confirmed case.

"As we enter the fourth month since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am deeply concerned about the rapid escalation and global spread of infection," he told a virtual news conference.

"Over the past five weeks, we have witnessed a near exponential growth in the number of new cases, reaching almost every country.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Syria: Record drop in monthly death toll.

Iran warns about American 'military moves' in Iraq. Iran warns US after Patriot missile deployment to Iraq.

Trump warns Iran of 'heavy price' in case of attack on US troops.

U.S. says believes Iran was directly involved in killing of Iranian dissident in Turkey.

Europe sends Iran medical supplies.

COVID-19: Almost half of Lebanon now lives below poverty line.

Israeli-Palestinian pandemic cooperation tested by rising cases.

ASIA

Afghanistan: Deadly bombing mars Taliban prisoner-swap talks.

Taliban, Afghanistan prepare for prisoner swap. Afghanistan and Taliban begin direct talks with aim of prisoner swap.

Afghanistan braces for coronavirus surge as migrants pour back from Iran.

Japan's Shinzo Abe says he has no intention to leave office.

'Shoot them dead': Duterte warns against violating lockdown.

Hundreds of Nepalese stuck at India border amid COVID-19 lockdown.

North Korea moving to prevent flooding disasters, state media says.

AFRICA

Libya marks year of fighting, fears worse to come.

Amnesty: US in denial over killing civilians in Somalia.

Fears for civilians in Chad after army suffers devastating Boko Haram attack.

Kenyan president apologises for police violence during curfew.

Economic pain looms for African oil-producing nations as global coronavirus shutdown batters prices.

Key Polisario Front figure Mhamed Khadad dies.

DR Congo in mourning after funeral parties banned.

EUROPE

Coronavirus: What are the lockdown measures across Europe?

Coronavirus: Study suggests Europe may have averted 59,000 deaths.

Nursing homes in Europe struggle with pandemic's uncounted dead.

EU leader Ursula von der Leyen risks Beijing’s ire by lauding Taiwan’s donation of 5.6 million masks for coronavirus battle.

EU warns members against excessive power after change in Hungary.

As most European elections are called off, Poland pushes ahead.

Coronavirus: German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier calls for global alliance.

Coronavirus pandemic sees Wimbledon cancelled for first time since World War II.

AMERICAS

US coronavirus cases surpass 200,000 with more than 4,600 deaths.

265 MILLION Americans - 80 per cent of the population - are now ordered to stay home but some states STILL refuse to shutdown with Missouri Governor insisting it is down to 'individual responsibility'.

Nearly a third of Americans say they've already lost wages, 16% have been fired or furloughed and almost HALF of all millennials fear they'll lose their jobs as coronavirus threatens to tip the world into a recession.

US warns time running out for virus evacuations.

Trump says Florida will evacuate stranded cruise ships.

Trump is sending 500 troops to Mexican border to aid agents struggling with security efforts amid the coronavirus fight.

Forget coronavirus at home, I'm ordering a drugs war: Donald Trump sends Navy destroyers and combat ships to crack down on 'traffickers' he claims are trying to exploit crisis.

Former Venezuelan spy chief pleads not guilty to charges he helped President Maduro and Colombian guerrilla group flood U.S. streets with 250 tons cocaine for two decades.

Cuba calls off workers' May Day parade.

Mexico COVID-19 cases top 1,000, declares state of emergency.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Treasury sanctions Quds force fronts in Iraq.

U.S. didn't report civilian deaths from Somalia airstrikes, report says.

Egypt’s terror fight not over after killing ISIS emir.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Dow closes down 973 points in 4.4% plunge after Trump warned that the next two weeks of the coronavirus pandemic would be 'very, very painful'.

Saudi oil supply hits record as price war rages.

World risks food crisis in wake of coronavirus, officials warn.

Coronavirus: Zoom under increased scrutiny as popularity soars.

ALL of Facebook's service go down for users across the US and Europe as thousands report being unable to load pictures, videos, and newsfeeds.

Experts: Certain coronavirus measures can disrupt food supply chain.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 1, 2020

The USS Roosevelt was forced to dock in Guam last week after 25 sailors on board tested positive for coronavirus. Since then, more than 100 members of the roughly 5,000-person crew have reportedly tested positive. The vessel is seen in port Friday

Daily Mail: PICTURED: USS Roosevelt docked in Guam after Defense Secretary Mark Esper publicly disagreed with the captain's call to immediately evacuate warship because of a coronavirus outbreak and admitted he didn't read his letter pleading for help

* The USS Theodore Roosevelt docked in Guam last week after 25 crew members tested positive for COVID-19
* Since then, more than 100 members of the roughly 5,000-person crew have reportedly tested positive
* Captain Brett Crozier called to quarantine 90 percent of the crew on land in a four-page letter to Navy leaders
* 'We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die,' the captain wrote
* Asked if it's time to evacuate the ship on Tuesday, DoD Sec Mark Esper said: 'I don't think we're at that point'
* He also said he has not 'had a chance to read [Crozier's] letter ... in detail'
* Pacific Fleet Commander Adm John Aquilino said the Navy is working on plans to rotate some of the sailors off the ship and into isolation
* He emphasized that a full evacuation will not happen because the ship needs to be prepared to go to battle
* There are 1,259 confirmed coronavirus cases in the US military as of Tuesday
* The Pentagon instructed bases and installations not to reveal specific case counts last week so as not to give potential enemies an advantage

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper says it is not time to evacuate the coronavirus-stricken USS Theodore Roosevelt after the warship's captain penned an unprecedented letter pleading for the Navy's help in protecting its sailors from infection.

The aircraft carrier was ordered to cease sail and docked in Guam last Thursday after 25 sailors on board tested positive for COVID-19.

Since then, more than 100 members of the roughly 5,000-person crew have reportedly tested positive.

Read more ....

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 1, 2020

The US Navy is moving 2,700 sailors off an aircraft carrier ASAP to combat a coronavirus outbreak on board -- Business Insider

Navy leaders say the aircraft carrier commander who urged them for coronavirus help will not be punished for his letter leaking -- business Insider

Pentagon orders 100,000 body bags as 200,000 people are expected to die from coronavirus -- Daily Mail

5 things to know about the military's coronavirus response from Defense Secretary Mark Esper -- CBS

The US Army's Virus Research Lab Gears Up to Fight Covid-19 -- Wired

Marine Corps boot camp base Parris Island stops accepting new recruits after 20 people test positive for coronavirus -- Daily Mail

With COVID-19 threat to increase, Air Force takes steps to protect its most important missions -- Defense News

How The COVID-19 Oubreak Is Impacting U.S Military Life -- NPR

Air Force Academy relaxes social distancing rules after two cadets die by suicide in less than a week on 'prison-like' Colorado base -- Daily Mail

Pandemics and the U.S. Military: Lessons from 1918 -- Michael Shurkin, War On The Rocks

A Naval War College pandemic war game in 2019 had eerie parallels to the coronavirus response today -- Business Insider/Military.com

Navy Rushes Shipbuilding Deals To Keep Yards Going In Pandemic -- Breaking Defense

4 candidates vie to be military’s next spy chief -- Politico

The Marine Corps may not have enough pilots for all of its F-35s, the Corps' top general says -- Business Insider

Top Marine ‘signaling’ to industry that F-35 cuts are on the table -- Defense News

The world’s largest aircraft will now test hypersonics for the military -- Ars Technica

Full Speed Ahead With Navy Prompt Strike -- RCD

These 23 Air Force Missions Are Transferring to the Space Force -- Military.com

US military may start moving towards launching fleets of tiny satellites -- Space.com

Satellite Attack Potential Increases: CSIS, SWF -- Breaking Defense

U.S. Approves Sale of F-16 Upgrades for ROK Air Force -- Ankit Panda, The Diplomat

Army Apache Attack Helicopters Deploy To The Navy's Giant Sea Base In The Arabian Gulf -- Warzone/The Drive

Sweden pushes back after allies ditch military exercise -- Defense News

Military could be drafted into help maintain order at prisons with one in ten staff already self-isolating after coronavirus crisis lead to riots and violence in Italy's jails, says union chief -- Daily Mail

Inside the German military's Airbus A310 'flying hospital', which is transporting coronavirus patients from Italy to Germany -- Business Insider

Military Activity and Political Signaling in the Taiwan Strait in Early 2020 -- Jamestown Foundation

Putin shows military might as Russian warship 'destroys enemy submarine' in Mediterranean -- Express

China’s unique special missions aircraft -- Defense Review Asia

Peru calls up 10,000 army reserves to enforce quarantine -- National Post

Beyond Covid, Australia’s big stake in India’s military reorganisation -- David Brewster, The Interpreter

President Trump Warns Iran That It Will Be Paying A Heavy Price If They Attack U.S. Soldiers In Iraq

Daily Mail/AFP/Reuters: Donald Trump accuses Iran 'or its proxies' of planning 'sneak attack' on U.S. forces or assets in Iraq after Soleimani's successor lands in Baghdad despite coronavirus curfew

* Trump tweet claim 'upon information and belief' that Iran is planning to strike at the U.S. in Iraq
* Included no evidence but came as the successor to killed Quds force leader Qassem Soleimani arrived in Baghdad
* Esmail Ghaani arrived in Baghdad late Monday in his first public visit to Iraq despite country having coronavirus curfew
* He is trying to force warring political parties to form a governing coalition

Donald Trump warned Iran on Wednesday of a 'heavy price' if it or its allies in Iraq attack US troops stationed there.

'If this happens, Iran will pay a very heavy price, indeed!' Trump tweeted.

The US president also wrote: 'Upon information and belief, Iran or its proxies are planning a sneak attack on U.S. troops and/or assets in Iraq.'

It was not clear whether Trump meant Washington actually has intelligence of such a plan.

Read more ....

More News On President Trump Warning Iran That It Will Be Paying A Heavy Price If They Attack U.S. Soldiers In Iraq

Trump says Iran planning 'sneak attack' on US troops, assets in Iraq -- FOX News
Trump threatens Iran – again – if it attacks U.S. interests in Iraq -- USA Today
Trump warns Iran of 'heavy price' in case of attack on US troops -- Al Jazeera

U.S. Intelligence: China Deliberately Lying About Covid-19 Coronavirus Figures

Daily Mail: China is COVERING UP full extent of coronavirus including the number of deaths and its numbers are 'FAKE' spies tell White House in classified briefing

* An intelligence report sent to the White House last week concluded coronavirus numbers coming out of China are fake, according to a Wednesday report
* Three U.S. officials claim the intelligence findings conclude China's reporting on coronavirus statistics are intentionally incomplete
* The report comes as skepticism already swirled that China was under-cutting death tolls and confirmed cases in not reporting asymptomatic cases
* 'The reality is that we could have been better off if China had been more forthcoming,' Mike Pence asserted in a CNN interview Wednesday
* If China's reporting were true, the nation would have less cases and deaths than the U.S., Italy and Spain
* Coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China in the Hubei province late last year

China's reporting on coronavirus is intentionally incomplete, three U.S. officials revealed in a Wednesday report, adding its government is underreporting statistics on both the death toll and number of cases.

The intelligence community handed over a classified report to the White House last week, one of the officials told Bloomberg News, and the report concluded that China's numbers are fake.

The coronavirus outbreak originated from Wuhan in the Hubei province of China at the end of 2019 – but China has only publicly reported 82,361 cases and 3,293 deaths as of Wednesday.

Read more ....

More News On U.S. Intelligence Reports That China Deliberately Lied About Its Covid-19 Coronavirus Figures

Coronavirus: China concealed extent of outbreak, US intelligence says -- SCMP/Bloomberg
China hid extent of coronavirus outbreak, US intelligence reportedly says -- CNBC
China intentionally under-reported total coronavirus cases and deaths, U.S. intelligence says -- Forbes
Report: U.S. Intelligence Concludes China Is Lying About Coronavirus -- Washington Free Beacon
Leaked US Intel Report Accuses China Of Deliberately Lying About Coronavirus Figures -- Zero Hedge

This U.S. Senator Saw The Coronavirus Pandemic Coming

Sen. Tom Cotton speaks with reporters in Washington, D.C. (Aaron P. Bernstein/Reuters)

National Review: The Senator Who Saw the Coronavirus Coming

While others slept, Tom Cotton was warning anyone who would listen that the coronavirus was coming for America.

On January 22, one day before the Chinese government began a quarantine of Wuhan to contain the spread of the virus, the Arkansas senator sent a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar encouraging the Trump administration to consider banning travel between China and the United States and warning that the Communist regime could be covering up how dangerous the disease really was. That same day, he amplified his warnings on Twitter and in an appearance on the radio program of Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade.

At the time, the Senate impeachment trial was dominating the news cycle. The trial, which lasted from January 16 to February 5, had even blotted out coverage of the Democratic presidential primary in the days leading up to the Iowa caucuses. When the first classified briefing on the virus was held in the Senate on January 24, only 14 senators reportedly showed up.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: WNU's first post on this pandemic was on January 20 .... Deadly Coronavirus From China Has Global Health Officials On Alert (January 20, 2020). One regret that I have is that I first heard about this outbreak a week or two before I did my first post (on January 20) describing this outbreak. I knew then that it was an important story because the Chinese were treating it very seriously. What's my excuse. Everyone's focus (including mine) was on President Trump's impeachment trial. Upon reflection .... I felt then that impeachment was a waste of time, and after two months my feelings have only become stronger that the entire impeachment circus was a waste of time.

The Pentagon Knew Years Ago That a Novel Influenza Pandemic Was Coming

The Pentagon Press Briefing Room before Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper briefs the media about the department’s coronavirus response, March 17, 2020. The Pentagon reported its first two positive coronavirus cases Friday for personnel who had recently been inside the building. Department of Defense photo by Lisa Ferdinand Office of the Secretary of Defense

Ken Klippenstein, The Nation: Exclusive: The Military Knew Years Ago That a Coronavirus Was Coming

The Pentagon warned the White House about a shortage of ventilators, face masks and hospital beds in 2017—but the Trump administration did nothing.

Despite President Trump’s repeated assertions that the COVID-19 epidemic was “unforeseen” and “came out of nowhere,” the Pentagon was well aware of not just the threat of a novel influenza, but even anticipated the consequent scarcity of ventilators, face masks, and hospital beds, according to a 2017 Pentagon plan obtained by The Nation.

“The most likely and significant threat (enemy) is a novel respiratory disease, particularly a novel influenza disease,” the military plan states. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the novel (meaning: new to humans) coronavirus. The document specifically references coronavirus on several occasions, in one instant saying, “Coronavirus infections [are] common around the world.”

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WNU Editor: Warnings that another pandemic was coming have been around for years (if not decades). I just finished reading this 2018 Canadian report that is an update from 2006 .... Canadian Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: Planning Guidance for the Health Sector. And then there is this excellent 2015 pandemic lecture by Bill Gates .... The next outbreak? We’re not ready (TED, YouTube). And while it is always easy to say "I told you so", that debate should be for later on. The focus should be on what is happening now, what needs to be done to minimize the impact of this pandemic in the days and weeks to come, and to take care of those who are on the front lines and/or the sick and vulnerable.

Update: This is a fair analysis .... Ian Bremmer breaks down Trump's response to the coronavirus crisis — where he has been a profound failure and where he has been among the best in the world (Business Insider).

Is The U.S. Food Distribution System Breaking Down?

End Of The American Dream: Supplies Are Starting To Get Really Tight Nationwide As Food Distribution Systems Break Down

All across America, store shelves are emptying and people are becoming increasingly frustrated because they can’t get their hands on needed supplies. Most Americans are blaming “hoarders” for the current mess, but it is actually much more complicated than that. Normally, Americans get a lot of their food from restaurants. In fact, during normal times 36 percent of all Americans eat at a fast food restaurant on any given day. But now that approximately 75 percent of the U.S. is under some sort of a “shelter-in-place” order and most of our restaurants have shut down, things have completely changed. Suddenly our grocery stores are being flooded with unexpected traffic, and many people are buying far more than usual in anticipation of a long pandemic. Unfortunately, our food distribution systems were not designed to handle this sort of a surge, and things are really starting to get crazy out there.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The above video of hundreds of cars waiting to receive food from the Greater Community Food Bank in Duquesne (Pensylvania) should be a wake-up call on how bad the situation is out there, and how bad it could get.

Chinese Leader Deng Xiaoping Objected To A Second North Korea Invasion Of South Korea

Deng Xiaoping and Jimmy Carter at the White House. 29 January 1979

UPI: China's Deng Xiaoping objected to second North Korea invasion, document shows

March 31 (UPI) -- Former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping opposed a second North Korean invasion of South Korea and regarded Pyongyang's military as the weaker of the two Koreas, according to a document released by Seoul's foreign ministry on Tuesday.

The South Korean diplomatic document dating from 1989 includes a summary of a conversation that took place on June 23, 1987, between Junya Yano, former chairman of the Komeito, or Clean Government Party in Japan, and South Korean delegates of the Korea-Japan Friendship Association, South Korean news service News 1 reported.

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WNU Editor: Not surprised to learn about this. When I was working in China in the 1980s I was told repeatedly that former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping's focus was on building up China's economic wealth, and to build bridges with neighbouring countries. The last thing that he wanted to get involved in was wars and conflicts. As to how would he react to today's China? I think he would be pleased to see how wealthy China has become, but I think he would not approve of its massive arms build-up and being in border conflict with its neighbours.