Monday, March 09, 2020

OUTBREAK - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response Update, Political and Financial Fallout

COMMENT:  The U.S. response has been bungled, especially since the response has been put in the hands of a politician rather that our health experts.  At one point our political control has gagged our health experts from making comments.

"Why Washington health officials fear novel coronavirus may have been quietly spreading" PBS NewsHour 3/2/2020

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SUMMARY:  The novel coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. is now blamed for six deaths, all in Washington state.  Health officials worry the illness may have been spreading undetected near Seattle for weeks, possibly resulting in many undiagnosed cases.  Can hospitals in Washington and across the country accommodate a “surge” of patients?  Lisa Desjardins reports and talks to The New York TimesDr. Sheri Fink.




"With novel coronavirus deaths rising, health officials face grilling on Capitol Hill" PBS NewsHour 3/3/2020

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SUMMARY:  As states discover increasing numbers of new novel coronavirus cases, public health officials are scrambling to respond -- while also facing questions from a Senate panel on Tuesday about why the U.S. has been so slow to roll out effective tests for the virus.  COVID-19 is responsible for nine deaths so far, all of them in Washington state.  William Brangham reports.




"In Iran, government distrust rises amid deadly outbreak of novel coronavirus" PBS NewsHour 3/3/2020

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SUMMARY:  The global spread of novel coronavirus has hit Iran hard.  Nearly two dozen members of the nation’s parliament as well as its director of emergency services are infected with the illness, and a third government official died from the virus Tuesday.  Special correspondent Reza Sayah reports from Tehran about how the country is handling the crisis -- and where they are placing blame.




"As virus deaths rise, Congress agrees on $8.3 billion to fund public response" PBS NewsHour 3/4/2020

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SUMMARY:  The novel coronavirus has claimed more lives in the U.S., with a total of 10 deaths in Washington state and one in California.  As the number of infections also continues to rise, the House and Senate have agreed on a bipartisan, multi-billion dollar emergency spending measure to fight the outbreak.  The bill includes money for vaccine research, medical supplies and more.  William Brangham reports.




"How the IMF is trying to reduce the economic fallout of novel coronavirus" PBS NewsHour 3/5/2020

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SUMMARY:  Restrictions intended to control the global outbreak of novel coronavirus continue to increase.  In many countries, schools are closed, travelers face quarantine and business has ground to a halt.  William Brangham reports and Judy Woodruff talks to Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, about how it is attempting to offset the economic implications of the virus.




"Can $8 billion in emergency spending help the U.S. curb novel coronavirus?" PBS NewsHour 3/6/2020

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SUMMARY:  On Friday, President Trump signed a bipartisan, $8 billion emergency spending package to fund the U.S. government response to novel coronavirus.  Still, concerns remain over how quickly health officials are able to conduct tests for the illness.  Meanwhile, the number of novel coronavirus cases across the globe is approaching 100,000, according to the World Health Organization.  Amna Nawaz reports.




"How lack of paid sick leave is complicating U.S. virus response" PBS NewsHour 3/6/2020

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SUMMARY:  As COVID-19 spreads to communities nationwide, financial and logistical concerns about its impact are rising.  Among the major questions are whether employers will require workers to take unpaid sick leave, and who will pay for potentially significant medical bills.  William Brangham talks to Georgetown University’s Sabrina Corlette and Joseph Leitmann-Santa Cruz of Capital Area Asset Builders.




"With the coronavirus, ‘pay attention to the basics’" PBS NewsHour 3/8/2020

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SUMMARY:  As the novel coronavirus continues to spread in the U.S., the National Institute of Health on Sunday advised vulnerable people, particularly the elderly with underlying health conditions, to avoid large crowds and trips.  ProPublica reporter Caroline Chen, who has been reporting on the virus, joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss what people need to understand about testing, infection rates and more.




"Italy’s coronavirus outbreak sparks ‘a lot of panic’" PBS NewsHour 3/8/2020

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SUMMARY:  The coronavirus has now spread to 107 countries and there are close to 108,000 cases worldwide.  Italy is one of the hotspots, where more than 230 people have died from the virus.  In response, Italy's government this weekend issued a quarantine restricting travel for more than 16 million people in portions of the country.  Special correspondent Christopher Livesay joins Hari Sreenivasan with more.



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