The conspiracy theories about the origins of the coronavirus, debunked

https://www.vox.com/2020/3/4/21156607/how-did-the-coronavirus-get-started-china-wuhan-lab

Meanwhile, on Fox News and social media, a dangerous conspiracy theory about the origin of the health crisis won’t die.

There are two main versions of the rumor, and they have one common thread: that the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, originated in a level 4 (the highest biosafety level) research laboratory in Wuhan.

In one version of the rumor, the virus was engineered in the lab by humans as a bioweapon. In another version, the virus was being studied in the lab (after being isolated from animals) and then “escaped” or “leaked” because of poor safety protocol.

 

The U.K.’s Coronavirus ‘Herd Immunity’ Debacle

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-pandemic-herd-immunity-uk-boris-johnson/608065/

There was a time when it seemed possible for the world to contain COVID-19—the disease caused by the new coronavirus. That time is over. What began as an outbreak in China has become a pandemic, and as a growing number of countries struggle to control the virus, talk of “flattening the curve” is increasing. That is, a lot of people are going to get sick, and delaying infections as much as possible is imperative, so that cases occur over a long period of time and health systems aren’t suddenly inundated. Almost every country is trying to achieve this goal through the standard arsenal of public health—testing people and tracing contacts—and through more restrictive measures that include instituting quarantines, closing public spaces, banning mass gatherings, and issuing strong advice about social distancing.

White House advises public to avoid groups of more than 10, asks people to stay away from bars and restaurants

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/16/politics/white-house-guidelines-coronavirus/index.html

The guidelines -- and specifically the recommendation that people don't gather in groups of more than 10 -- marks a notable escalation from the guidance put out by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Sunday recommending that no gatherings with 50 people or more take place for the next eight weeks to slow the spread of the virus.

Striking a far more somber tone than previous press conferences, Trump acknowledged that the coronavirus is not under control in the US or internationally just one day after saying the virus is "something we have tremendous control of."

Asked by CNN to revisit that statement, Trump claimed he was "not referring to it" -- meaning the virus -- when he talked about the situation being under control.

"When I'm talking about control, I'm saying we are doing a very good job within the confines of what we're dealing with," Trump said, adding that the virus is "not under control for any place in the world."

The President also predicted the coronavirus outbreak could start to subside in July or August of this year, although he conceded that it could continue to be a threat even longer.

 

Trump claims coronavirus is under control -- contradicting reality and his own top expert

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/16/politics/coronavirus-us-president-donald-trump-fauci-politics/index.html

 America's top infectious diseases expert is warning that hundreds of thousands of Americans could die unless every citizen joins an effort to blunt the coronavirus pandemic -- only to be contradicted by President Donald Trump, who insists the virus is under "tremendous" control.

The fresh sign of Trump's unwillingness to accept the full, sobering reality of the outbreak came as an anxious America knuckles down to its new self-isolating reality. The country is bracing for the full fury of the virus that is already escalating sharply and is set to subject the foundations of basic life — the nation's health care, economic and political systems — to a fateful test.

 

Dr. Siegel warns people not to go to bars and concerts as coronavirus spreads in US

https://www.foxnews.com/media/dr-siegel-bars-concerts-coronavirus-highly-contagious

https://www.foxnews.com/media/dr-siegel-bars-concerts-coronavirus-highly-contagious

Fox News medical correspondent Dr. Marc Siegel said on Monday that it is important to cancel large social gatherings because the coronavirus is classified as “highly contagious.”

“For every person that has it, two or two-and-a-half more people get it,” Siegel told “Fox & Friends.”

“If you’re at a bar drinking with your buddies, which everybody is still doing, unfortunately — it’s a free-for-all. It’s going to spread from one person there who has it to two to three or more people,” Seigel said.

Rep. Nunes: China 'downplayed' the virus

Joe: Trump Was So Ill-Prepared On Airport Screenings | Morning Joe | MSNBC

Disconnect From Scientists, Trump On Coronavirus Continues | Morning Joe | MSNBC

Meet The Press Broadcast (Full) - March 15th, 2020 | Meet The Press | NBC News

Dr. W. Ian Lipkin Breaks Down Coronavirus | Amanpour and Company

Only 48 Percent of Americans Trust Donald Trump to Handle Coronavirus Crisis, Poll Says

https://www.newsweek.com/only-48-percent-americans-trust-donald-trump-handle-coronavirus-crisis-poll-says-1492397

When asked who they carried the most confidence in to handle the spread of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus, respondents put most confidence in their respective state government at 75 percent. Of those answers, 53 percent indicated a 'fair' amount of confidence; 22 percent a 'great deal of confidence'; 15 percent with 'not very much'; and 8 percent with none.

In comparison, those surveyed expressed 62 percent confidence in the federal government's response, while 48 percent were confident in Trump's response. For Trump, 35 percent said they have no confidence in his response to the pandemic; 25 percent said a great deal of confidence; 23 percent a fair amount; and 15 percent no confidence.

For the federal government, 62 percent said they felt a great or fair amount while 36 percent said 'not much' or no confidence in responses from Congress and federal agencies.

Netanyahu meets ultra-Orthodox leaders to persuade them to shutter yeshivas

https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-meets-ultra-orthodox-leaders-to-persuade-them-to-shutter-yeshivas/

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with the chief rabbis and other ultra-Orthodox representatives on Sunday evening to convince segments of the Haredi community to shutter their schools, in accordance with Health Ministry directives designed to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Netanyahu last week announced that schools would be closed to stem the outbreak and on Saturday night expanded the order to include daycare centers, special education and boarding schools.