2020 Time Capsule #4: Trump Is Lying, Blatantly

https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2020/03/2020-time-capsule-4/608197/

During press questioning at the White House today, Donald Trump was asked whether his tone about the coronavirus challenge had suddenly changed. For weeks, he’d been mocking the virus threat—at rallies, in tweets, and in press remarks. But both yesterday and today, he’d suddenly shifted to warning that the public-health and economic problems were real, and would remain so for a long time.

What changed?

Trump denied there had been any shift in tone, and said (as you can see here):

“I have always known. This is a real pandemic. I felt it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic....
“I’ve always viewed it as very serious.”

This is a flat-out lie.

Trump finally had a competent press conference on the coronavirus

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/3/16/21182247/trump-coronavirus-covid-19-press-conference

On Monday, President Donald Trump finally held a press conference in which he didn’t contradict the advice of experts and gave solid advice to Americans on the coronavirus pandemic — after weeks of a public response that experts have described as unhelpful and disturbing.

At the top of the conference, Trump talked up new guidelines by the federal government about what individuals should do to slow the spread of Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

 

Trump finds his MAGA movement fracturing over coronavirus

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/16/trump-maga-coronavirus-movement-130831

Just two weeks after President Donald Trump rallied conservatives to focus on the threat of socialism, his followers are splitting over the coronavirus pandemic.

On one side are those like Bill Mitchell, who dismiss it as nothing worse than the flu, and the drive to eradicate it as “climate change 2.0” — as in, a media-lefty mass hysteria. On the other side are pro-Trump fixtures like Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller, who have been sounding alarms on the coronavirus since January, and are calling for harsher lockdowns and social distancing.

 

Don Lemon says Trump is gaslighting you and rolls the tape

Trump pretends he knew outbreak was serious all along in jaw-dropping moment

Trump dismissed coronavirus pandemic worry in January — now claims he long warned about it

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/17/trump-dissed-coronavirus-pandemic-worry-now-claims-he-warned-about-it.html

 President Donald Trump claimed on Tuesday he has believed the coronavirus outbreak was “a pandemic, long before it was called a pandemic” — but in January, he explicitly played down concerns when asked about it.

Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations 'is working with police to prosecute child abuser'

https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/union-of-orthodox-hebrew-congregations-is-working-with-police-to-deal-with-child-abuser-1.498158

Speaking on behalf of the London Charedi umbrella organisation, solicitor Paula Jefferson disclosed the information on the opening day of an inquiry into abuse in religious communities on Monday. 

Answering claims that incidents of abuse were often kept within the Orthodox community, she said the Union was clear that “all allegations” should be reported to the appropriate authorities.

 

Trump and Beijing agree on the coronavirus crisis: It's someone else's fault

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/17/asia/trump-chinese-virus-tweet-intl-hnk/index.html

 

On Twitter, Zhao claimed -- without evidence -- that "it might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan" and demanded the US "Be transparent! Make public your data! US owe us an explanation!" Zhao also retweeted another Twitter user claiming baselessly that Redfield's statement "supports the claims made by Japanese scientists that the virus originated from the US but was covered up."

Zhao and his Foreign Ministry colleagues have refused to provide evidence for their claims, but they don't need to in order to achieve their goal. Creating confusion or disagreement over the origin of the virus could help push the blame away from China for its initial handling of the outbreak, just as Trump and other US officials' blaming of China helps move the conversation away from their own, highly criticized, response.

Ironically, just as he was boosting conspiracy theories about the virus' origin, Zhao also tweeted perhaps the best advice for all government officials in all countries, quoting a Chinese saying: "Turn inward (and) examine yourself when you encounter difficulties."

Fox Business host Trish Regan on hiatus after coronavirus comments

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2020-03-13/fox-business-host-trish-regan-on-hiatus-after-virus-comments

The Fox Business show hosted by Trish Regan is going on hiatus after controversial comments she made on the air Monday about the coronavirus.

The hiatus also applies to another host, Lisa “Kennedy” Montgomery, who has her own program on the Fox Corp.-owned network. That move was related to staffing needs.

 

One dangerous coronavirus 'self-check test' is circulating on social media. Here's why you should avoid it.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/16/us/coronavirus-myths-debunking-holding-breath-10-seconds-trnd/index.html

 Contrary to what some may think, not everything on social media is rooted in fact.

Case in point: A recent viral coronavirus "simple self-check test," which medical experts say is completely inaccurate.

Written on what appears to be the iPhone notes app, the three-part post falsely claims that people can find out whether they have coronavirus simply by holding their breath for more than 10 seconds. If they can hold their breath without coughing, the test claims they don't have the virus.

Public transportation to stop early every night, won’t operate on weekends

https://www.timesofisrael.com/public-transportation-to-stop-early-every-night-wont-operate-on-weekends/

The Transportation Ministry announced Tuesday it was reducing public transportation to combat the coronavirus following the new Health Ministry directive that all Israelis remain at home unless absolutely necessary.

Public transportation (buses, trains and light rail) will cease operating at 10 p.m. Tuesday before resuming at its usual time Wednesday morning. Starting on Wednesday, public transportation will stop at 8 p.m. each evening.

 

Lawrence: Trump Gave Republicans False Hope On Coronavirus | The Last Word | MSNBC

Dramatic Shift In Tone From The White House | Morning Joe | MSNBC

Health Ministry: Don't leave home for non-essential reasons

 http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277412

Israel's Health Ministry on Tuesday issued new guidelines which require Israelis to remain at home other than for necessary outings. These guidelines include:

1. Do not leave home, other than for situations which require it (work in accordance with the guidelines, purchasing food, medication, medical services, and other necessary services).

2. Do not leave home to visit parks, playgrounds, beaches, pools, libraries, museums, nature reserves and parks, or other public spaces, other than children leaving with their families only, or with pets (in an individual fashion).

3. Do not hold extracurricular activities, even with a minimum number of participants. This includes sports and gyms, as well as group activities publicly or privately provided. Unorganized exercise activities of up to five people are allowed, so long as participants can keep a distance of two meters from each other.

4. Keep in contact with friends via technology, and avoid hosting friends and family who do not live in your home.

5. Those who are at increased risk of complications, such as the elderly or those who suffer chronic illness or long-term respiratory issues, including: asthma, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, immune disorders or diseases, cancer patients and patients who are immunocompromised, must avoid leaving their homes as much as possible, other than for necessary services. Instead, they should request the aid of family and friends in keeping their homes supplied with what they need.

6. The following tools should be used to limit outings:
1. Telecommuting, including video calls and conference calls
2. Each employer must be sure to provide a space of two meters between employees and ensure personal and environmental hygiene.
3. Deliveries will be placed outside the door.
4. Dentist appointments should be delayed as much as possible, and only crucial and emergency situations should be handled.

7. While leaving home due to situations which require it, contact between people should be limited, and a distance of two meters between people should be kept.