Coronavirus, The plague has arrived

[Lois]

On another subject, I found a video of a lecture on the origins of the 1918 flu, which offers a reasonable explanation why it hit the 20-40 year old population the hardest.  I suspect Jed and MissB will like it because of the sciense and historical context respectively. (I never knew there was a horse flu that made it nearly impossible to stop the Boston fire of 1872!)
And I suspect others will like it if they like scientific sleuths!

[ChirpingGirl]

Stocks dive as senate fails to give 500 billion to corporations and rich people. 

[IdleBoast]

UK has just been locked down for three weeks.

Only allowed out of the house if:

> You cannot work from home.
> To buy food.
> To get medicine.
> To care for the vulnerable.
> One instance of exercise per day, alone, or with family.

Almost all non-food shops & businesses are closed.

Police have been given powers to arrest / fine those that gather in groups of two or more.

My school is down to seven students, children of key workers, and staff are on a rota to provide child care, so I won't be at work until next Monday.

I have a massive lump in my throat.

[ChirpingGirl]

[Shiela_M]

[Quimby84]

In South Africa.

All learning institutions are closed, schools, universities etc.
Gatherings of 100 people.or more and prohibited.

From midnight, Thursday 26th March CAT, we go on lockdown for 21 days.
Placed remaining open are
Clinics, hospitals, grocery stores, fuel stations, banks and services required to keep those businesses running.
Everything else will close.
The army has been mobilised to assist police and special courts will be set up to expedite prosecutions of people breaking the lock down.

[MintJulie]

In South Africa.

From midnight, Thursday 26th March CAT, we go on lockdown for 21 days.

   Stay safe, Quimby! 

[ChirpingGirl]

1 week after the toilet paper runs out. 

[Lois]

It might be a good idea to lock everything down for 2-3 weeks.  Then we might isolate the virus out of existance ASAP.  I'm not sure the economy will be able to hande 9 months of this.

[joan1984]

Seems like there will not be a Phase3 economic 'bailout' bill at all.
Democrats blocking any vote at this point. No sense throwing good money after bad ideas. Alternative seems to OPEN the U.S. anew, and let the Economy thrive, at whatever cost there may be otherwise.

It might be a good idea to lock everything down for 2-3 weeks.  Then we might isolate the virus out of existance ASAP.  I'm not sure the economy will be able to hande 9 months of this.

[ChirpingGirl]

We're getting seriously close to a depression, or worse. It's time to restart the economy and fuck off with this lock down nonsense. Summer is almost here, no one is going to put up with this stay inside shit unless it's 95+ degrees. 

[Shiela_M]

Seems like there will not be a Phase3 economic 'bailout' bill at all.
Democrats blocking any vote at this point. No sense throwing good money after bad ideas. Alternative seems to OPEN the U.S. anew, and let the Economy thrive, at whatever cost there may be otherwise.

It might be a good idea to lock everything down for 2-3 weeks.  Then we might isolate the virus out of existance ASAP.  I'm not sure the economy will be able to hande 9 months of this.

Democrats are blocking a Republican addon that would send billions to corporations and shareholders.  Stop supporting the the rich and support the working class.  We are the ones who spend the most, we are the ones that stimulate the economy.  Giving a $1,000,000 to a rich bastard who is going to throw it into a bank account is less affecting than giving a $100 to 100 families that will spend it on food, and utilities.  How do these friggin politicians not understand this?? Oh because those 100 families wont donate to their friggin election campaigns.  I swear sometimes these fucking assholes...

[ChirpingGirl]

Seems like there will not be a Phase3 economic 'bailout' bill at all.
Democrats blocking any vote at this point. No sense throwing good money after bad ideas. Alternative seems to OPEN the U.S. anew, and let the Economy thrive, at whatever cost there may be otherwise.

It might be a good idea to lock everything down for 2-3 weeks.  Then we might isolate the virus out of existance ASAP.  I'm not sure the economy will be able to hande 9 months of this.

Democrats are blocking a Republican addon that would send billions to corporations and shareholders.  Stop supporting the the rich and support the working class.  We are the ones who spend the most, we are the ones that stimulate the economy.  Giving a $1,000,000 to a rich bastard who is going to throw it into a bank account is less affecting than giving a $100 to 100 families that will spend it on food, and utilities.  How do these friggin politicians not understand this?? Oh because those 100 families wont donate to their friggin election campaigns.  I swear sometimes these fucking assholes...

Even with our savings and emergency money, we wouldn't last long without eliminating everything but emergency basics. It costs a staggering amount of money just to feed this tribe every month. I honestly never thought I'd have to tell my children to cut back, and bless their little hearts they've been trying to say "it's ok, I'm not hungry right now."  Right now the only people in this house with a guaranteed income are my sister and her wifey who are right in the middle of this shit. Dangerously in the middle of it, as in they're right there with people who might have it.

We're cutting back a bit, but if this doesn't end very soon we may be cutting back a lot. And that means I will starve myself to death to make sure the kids eat. I'm getting scared about the end of next month if we'll have enough from our temp jobs to cover expenses or if we have to dip into our savings.

Which is why this needs to end, and end soon or we're in serious trouble. The only good thing is no one can fucking evict us no matter what. And when this is over and our incomes go back to normal I'm looking into making sure if this ever happens again we won't be so unprepared. 

[joan1984]

  Democrats are blocking any vote, delaying, and delaying again when the two trillion dollar, plus, negotiated bill in the senate would help everyone in need due to the C Virus crisis.

  The House will have its own bill, with Nancy's and DeBlasio's, and AOC's union giveaways and socialist approach, we know that already, and blocking the Senate from any vote at all is criminal, in my opinion, hostage taking in the extreme.

  Let the Senate vote on the currently negotiated bi-partisan Bill, then the Conference Committee can get on with reconciling the two bills, as is the normal manner for House and Senate business. Taking advantage of sick Senators who are quarantined, unable to cast their votes, is low, very low, and somehow trying to make such antics seem Pro American is tragic.

Seems like there will not be a Phase3 economic 'bailout' bill at all.
Democrats blocking any vote at this point. No sense throwing good money after bad ideas. Alternative seems to OPEN the U.S. anew, and let the Economy thrive, at whatever cost there may be otherwise.

It might be a good idea to lock everything down for 2-3 weeks.  Then we might isolate the virus out of existance ASAP.  I'm not sure the economy will be able to hande 9 months of this.

Democrats are blocking a Republican addon that would send billions to corporations and shareholders.  Stop supporting the the rich and support the working class.  We are the ones who spend the most, we are the ones that stimulate the economy.  Giving a $1,000,000 to a rich bastard who is going to throw it into a bank account is less affecting than giving a $100 to 100 families that will spend it on food, and utilities.  How do these friggin politicians not understand this?? Oh because those 100 families wont donate to their friggin election campaigns.  I swear sometimes these fucking assholes...

[_priapism]

"Why are Democrats pushing against the latest COVID-19 bill?
- The proposal gives Mnuchin (and Trump) complete discretion to choose which industries and companies will receive $200 billion to $500 billion, and then hide the identity of the bailout recipients for six months.
- There's no requirement that companies maintain payroll or benefits
- No requirements to reduce executive pay
- Very limited restrictions on stock buybacks (that Mnuchin can waive)
- No safety provisions to protect frontline workers
- No paid sick leave.
And it provides nothing for the tens of millions of American workers who have or will soon lose their jobs --
- no expansion of unemployment insurance
- no health insurance
- no direct cash payments.
And nothing for hospitals and hospital staffs that are, or will soon be, inundated.
They are pushing back against this bill because it doesn’t protect average workers and families. "
Robert Reich

[Shiela_M]

"Why are Democrats pushing against the latest COVID-19 bill?
- The proposal gives Mnuchin (and Trump) complete discretion to choose which industries and companies will receive $200 billion to $500 billion, and then hide the identity of the bailout recipients for six months.
- There's no requirement that companies maintain payroll or benefits
- No requirements to reduce executive pay
- Very limited restrictions on stock buybacks (that Mnuchin can waive)
- No safety provisions to protect frontline workers
- No paid sick leave.
And it provides nothing for the tens of millions of American workers who have or will soon lose their jobs --
- no expansion of unemployment insurance
- no health insurance
- no direct cash payments.
And nothing for hospitals and hospital staffs that are, or will soon be, inundated.
They are pushing back against this bill because it doesn’t protect average workers and families. "
Robert Reich

Said it before and I'll say it again

They need to stop manipulating the bill to favor their own friggin needs and agendas.  Could have left it well enough alone and the payments would have gone out to families who are in desperate need of assistance by now.  I'm starting this new job tomorrow and will be working within the food industry which is an essential job, and as things are my guy who helped me get this job says they've been complete overwhelmed.  Not everybody can step away from family or start a new job.  I've really really lucked out if I'm able to do this.  Others need this government to pull its head out of its collective ass and fucking help them.  That's what they are supposed to do.  What they are elected to do.  Bunch of selfish ignorant....

[Jed_]

"Why are Democrats pushing against the latest COVID-19 bill?
- The proposal gives Mnuchin (and Trump) complete discretion to choose which industries and companies will receive $200 billion to $500 billion, and then hide the identity of the bailout recipients for six months.
- There's no requirement that companies maintain payroll or benefits
- No requirements to reduce executive pay
- Very limited restrictions on stock buybacks (that Mnuchin can waive)
- No safety provisions to protect frontline workers
- No paid sick leave.
And it provides nothing for the tens of millions of American workers who have or will soon lose their jobs --
- no expansion of unemployment insurance
- no health insurance
- no direct cash payments.
And nothing for hospitals and hospital staffs that are, or will soon be, inundated.
They are pushing back against this bill because it doesn’t protect average workers and families. "
Robert Reich

And if you’re against this, you’re a socialist pushing a green deal.

Trump has stuck his head back in the sand insisting it’s all going away in a couple weeks and Fox has again embraced that false narrative, because the only thing on his mind is the connection between a good economy defined by the stock market and his reelection.  That thousands will die through his obtuse inaction is none of his concern.  Plus, it’s really only blue states that have the bad numbers, and they aren’t voting for him anyway.

[joan1984]

  The 15 Day distancing, stay home to break the cycle, will be up soon. The Malaria+generic Rx drug test in New York State supposedly began yesterday, and if positive results are shown, as have been reported in other anecdotal reports, positive signs should be evident in days, so later this week for sure.

  The President is reviewing Medical input from many sources, including the ones on the Corona Virus Task Force, and he is responsible to review, and determine the health of the U.S. Economy as well, and so it is not surprising all options are on the table, in addition to the current '15 day cycle breaker' in place today.

  Business cannot sustain retention and pay of employees, without production and sale recovery for very long. Purchase of ongoing inventory alone requires the day to day decision making of business owners about sustaining the business at all, as their costs continue to mount.

  I would hope our Executive Administration is working very hard to bring up to date information to the planning for continuing to Keep America Great, in the very practical sense of getting back to work with healthy employees, as any with health issues take the time needed to recover fully, so we keep a healthy workplace, and allow our Economy to bounce back against this Virus earliest.

  All of our futures is at risk, and we all need to be helping the US to recovery.

[ChirpingGirl]

Of course this all hinges on bailing out corporations, Wall Street and super rich people. All of whom are already making massive profits off this. From grocery stores to gun makers. Instead of spending 500 billion on people they want to give it to insanely rich people.

I still say this was all another loot the tax payer scam because as always some are getting rich while the peasants are going broke.

[joan1984]

TheHill.com

House Democrats eyeing much broader Phase 3 stimulus
© Greg Nash

House Democrats are indicating they want to go bigger and broader than the already massive economic stimulus package offered by Senate Republicans to blunt the coronavirus pandemic.

On a Thursday conference call featuring more than 200 members of the House Democratic caucus, lawmakers one by one laid out a sweeping wish list of provisions they want to see included in the nascent package, including a boost in infrastructure spending, an expansion of Social Security benefits and funding for states to set up an all-mail voting system in the event the pandemic extends into November’s elections.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision,” Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) told lawmakers, according to a source on the call.

Many of those proposals transcend the scope of the $1 trillion package introduced Thursday by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), which features cash payments to individuals, low-cost loans for small businesses, new funding to boost the health care system, and a financial lifeline for the hardest hit industries, like aviation and cruise lines.

And while not all of the Democratic proposals are likely to emerge in the final House package — legislation that is being crafted by party leaders and various committee heads — they foreshadow a showdown with McConnell and the White House over the size and direction of the latest relief bill, the third to be considered this month as policymakers scramble to prevent the spread of the virus.

McConnell has warned that he wants to limit the proposal to addressing the most immediate economic damage created by the pandemic.

"Anything that doesn't address that pandemic, it seems to me, should not be considered," he said.

Yet that could set the chambers on a collision course over what provisions fit that benchmark, as House Democrats press for a wide range of relief provisions that include a broader expansion of unemployment benefits, a boost in Social Security payments and new funding for job training.

“We want to make sure that we get adequate relief to people who need it most, and that there be some economic sideboards on the things we do, so that we're not just sending checks to wealthy people who don't need money, so that we're not just rewarding corporations,” Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), who was on the caucus call, said Thursday by phone.

“Some of these elements are going to be common to both parties and both houses,” he added. “My guess is that they're going to be some pretty strong differences, though, when it comes to certain industries and how we provide economic relief.”

On the call, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said she had spoken to numerous governors, who had told her they were seeing barriers to their constituents being able to access unemployment insurance. She suggested declaring a disaster, which could remove some of those obstacles and bureaucratic red tape.

“Let’s not worry about the cost. It’s an investment in the health of the economy,” Pelosi told Democratic lawmakers.

The Speaker, whose San Francisco district has been hard hit by the crisis, urged her members to continue to pitch their ideas to committee chairs, but urged them to do it quickly.

“Time is of the essence,” she said.

The ideas offered Thursday ran the gamut.

Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), who just finished a 14-day self-quarantine after being exposed to someone with the virus, proposed that the federal government offer death benefits to families of TSA officers who die from the coronavirus.

Another California Democrat, veteran Rep. Brad Sherman, said the government must provide financial incentives for companies to pursue “risky and unprofitable research” aimed at finding a coronavirus vaccine.

Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) said he backed sweeping infrastructure legislation by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), and proposed tying it to the coronavirus package.

Meanwhile, Clyburn, the No. 3 Democratic leader, suggested the deadly outbreak — which has confined millions of children and adults to their homes — has illuminated a need to secure 100 percent broadband coverage, including for schools and rural communities. That funding is especially crucial, Democrats argued, considering the mass closure of schools and the attempt at mobile learning that has followed.

Other Democrats took the opportunity to voice concerns about what they didn’t want in the $1 trillion-plus package.

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), whose Bay Area constituents are under a lockdown, said the legislation should not include any bailouts for the cruise industry, which she argued already has an extremely low tax rate of about 1 percent.

McConnell, who needs Democratic support to move the legislation through the Senate, is set to begin negotiations with Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Friday. But the GOP leader has made clear he doesn’t want to expand those talks to include Pelosi and other House Democratic leaders, who negotiated the second phase of coronavirus relief, signed by President Trump on Wednesday.

Yet any new stimulus package will need the backing of the majority House Democrats to reach the president’s desk. And Pelosi has asked House committee chairs to begin compiling proposals as Democrats craft their own measure.

It’s leverage that hasn’t been overlooked by the Democrats as the negotiations enter a crucial stage and both sides are stressing the urgency of reaching an agreement.

“You're obviously not going to get a package done without Speaker Pelosi having a huge role in it. There's just not a way for that to work, nor should there be,” said Huffman. “The House has been the lead on this from day one, and I don't see any reason why we would suddenly step back and let Mitch McConnell drive the ship.”
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/488543-house-democrats-eyeing-much-broader-phase-3-stimulus