At-Risk Groups Will Soon be Able to Self-Screen for COVID-19 — Petchary’s Blog -Kingston, Jamaica

This is such good news. I am sharing with you all, because it cannot come soon enough. Telemedicine has been talked about for long enough in Jamaica – now at last here is the opportunity provided by this pandemic to protect vulnerable groups – who should not be leaving home, and who don’t wish to […]

At-Risk Groups Will Soon be Able to Self-Screen for COVID-19 — Petchary’s Blog

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown: DHS acting secretary Chad Wolf “brought a Fox News team with him for a photo opportunity” in Portland | Media Matters for America

OREGON GOV. KATE BROWN: There is absolutely no question that the president’s failure to lead a national response to this global pandemic, that the activities, the sending law enforcement officials on to the streets of Portland is a distraction from his failure to lead. There is absolutely no question that this was about scoring political points with his base when the secretary came into Portland, he brought a Fox News team with him for a photo opportunity. They left the graffiti on the building on the federal courthouse for weeks, they could have cleaned it off several weeks ago. This is all about politics, it’s about political theater. It’s clearly not about safety nor about problem solving.

Source: Oregon Gov. Kate Brown: DHS acting secretary Chad Wolf “brought a Fox News team with him for a photo opportunity” in Portland | Media Matters for America

Coronavirus tally jumps to 990 – ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE  California

A steep rise in coronavirus cases reported to the Orange County Health Care Agency on Tuesday reverses a brief decline in COVID-19 counts. According to the OCHCA, 990 new cases were reported, compared to 560 on Monday and 415 on Sunday. The new cumulative total is 30,976, of which 15,232 are judged to be recovered.

Source: Coronavirus tally jumps to 990 – ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

North Texas Counties Report at Least 433 Babies Test Positive for COVID-19 Since March – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

NBC 5 found more than 430 babies have tested positive for the virus in the four largest counties in North Texas even though the Texas Department of State Health Services is currently only reporting 125 cases in children ages 1 and younger.

NBC 5 asked area county health departments for a breakdown of cases for children 1 and younger since March. In Collin County, the health department reports 42 cases, Denton County reports 38 cases, Tarrant County has had 113 and in Dallas, they reported 240 cases.

These cases haven’t been reported to the state but doctors say these are numbers that give a glimpse into how widespread the virus really is.

Source: North Texas Counties Report at Least 433 Babies Test Positive for COVID-19 Since March – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

Twitter bans 7,000 QAnon accounts, limits 150,000 others as part of broad crackdown

Twitter announced Tuesday that it has begun taking sweeping actions to limit the reach of QAnon content, banning many of the conspiracy theory’s followers because of problems with harassment and misinformation.

Twitter will stop recommending accounts and content related to QAnon, including in email and follow recommendations, and it will take steps to limit circulation on content in features like trends and search. The action will affect about 150,000 accounts, said a spokesperson, who asked to remain unnamed because of concerns about the targeted harassment of social media employees.

 

Source: Twitter bans 7,000 QAnon accounts, limits 150,000 others as part of broad crackdown

Pelosi Statement on Trump’s Unconstitutional Census Memorandum | Speaker Nancy Pelosi

“The Constitution is clear: it requires an ‘actual Enumeration’ of the ‘whole numbers of persons’ for the population count and congressional apportionment.  There is no ambiguity about its command.  Trump’s unlawful effort is designed to again inject fear and distrust into vulnerable and traditionally undercounted communities, while sowing chaos with the Census.

“The Trump Administration’s relentless, politically-motived attempt to illegally include a citizenship question on the 2020 Census was unequivocally rejected by the Supreme Court last year.  Nevertheless, the Administration continues to advance its cruel anti-immigrant agenda, fanning the flames of hatred and xenophobia, tearing countless families apart and challenging our bedrock values of equality and justice for all.

“The House of Representatives will vigorously contest the President’s unconstitutional and unlawful attempt to impair the Census.  We will be vigilant to ensure a full, fair and accurate Census and continue working to guarantee maximum participation and inclusion so that every person in every community is counted.”

 

Source: Pelosi Statement on Trump’s Unconstitutional Census Memorandum | Speaker Nancy Pelosi

Coronavirus: Malaysians refusing to wear face masks may be jailed

The Malaysian government is considering whether to go with a fine or jail time for those refusing to “mask up” once the use of face masks is made mandatory in public places, said Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said the growing number of infections was worrying, as the number of new Covid-19 cases hit double digits for the third straight day on Tuesday (July 21).

There were 15 cases yesterday with 11 of them being local transmissions.

If the wearing of a face mask is made mandatory in public places under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act, Dr Noor Hisham said that those flouting the law could either be fined RM1,000 (S$324) or put in jail.

“The Health Ministry is encouraging the use of face masks, especially in public places, high-risk places or places where social distancing of one metre apart is hard to enforce.

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PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) – The Malaysian government is considering whether to go with a fine or jail time for those refusing to “mask up” once the use of face masks is made mandatory in public places, said Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said the growing number of infections was worrying, as the number of new Covid-19 cases hit double digits for the third straight day on Tuesday (July 21).

There were 15 cases yesterday with 11 of them being local transmissions.

If the wearing of a face mask is made mandatory in public places under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act, Dr Noor Hisham said that those flouting the law could either be fined RM1,000 (S$324) or put in jail.

“The Health Ministry is encouraging the use of face masks, especially in public places, high-risk places or places where social distancing of one metre apart is hard to enforce.

“We have currently not made it mandatory because once we make it mandatory under the Act, we would have to consider the punishment.

“We are still looking at the punishment – whether to fine or give jail time for those not wearing face masks – once its use is made compulsory, ” he said during a briefing yesterday.

He reiterated the ministry’s recommendation on the use of face masks, which could reduce the risk of infection by 65 per cent as well as social distancing, which could reduce transmission by up to 70 per cent.

Dr Noor Hisham said Malaysia recorded seven recoveries on Tuesday.

As for the 15 new infections, he said four were from imported cases involving three Malaysians and one foreigner.

Nine of the 11 local cases were from Sarawak.

Out of those, one was a foreigner who tested positive during new arrival screening at the Semuja Immigration depot in Sarawak. “Five of the cases are from a new cluster – the Sentosa Hospital cluster. There are currently six cases in this cluster; the first was detected on July 19, ” he said.

Those affected in this cluster were five medical workers and another one from a cleaning company.

All six of them are being treated at the Sarawak General Hospital.

There were no new deaths on Tuesday. The number of fatalities remained at 123.

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Trump willing to work with China on Covid vaccine

Who is on first? Pompeo blasting China in UK. Trump Inc. buying Chinese furniture for Trump properties, President calling Covid-19 Chinese virus? US President Donald Trump expressed a willingness on Tuesday to work with China or other countries to bring a successful coronavirus vaccine to the United States, despite rising tensions between Beijing and Washington. “We’re willing to work with anybody that is going to get us a good result,” Trump said, when asked if the administration would collaborate with China on a vaccine for Americans, whether China is first to develop one or not.

Donald Trump Began a Press Conference by Talking About the Coronavirus. He Ended It by Sending An Accused Sex-Trafficker His Best Wishes.

In a reversal of his previous dismissive attitude toward the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump on Tuesday encouraged the widespread use of masks (despite his refusal to wear them in the past) and condemned large gatherings (despite having held a rally on June 20).

“Some areas of our country are doing very well. Others are doing less well,” he said, in his first coronavirus briefing since April. “It will probably, unfortunately, get worse before it gets better—something I don’t like saying about things, but that’s the way it is.”

Dr. Deborah Birx was present at the briefing, but Dr. Anthony Fauci was not. Fauci has said that he was not invited. Trump declined to comment on Fauci’s absence.

Despite the president’s newfound appreciation for the seriousness of the virus, the speech was not without its Trumpisms. He repeatedly referred to the coronavirus as “the China virus,” and, when asked whether he thought Ghislaine Maxwell—Jeffrey Epstein’s associate currently incarcerated on ch

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In a reversal of his previous dismissive attitude toward the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump on Tuesday encouraged the widespread use of masks (despite his refusal to wear them in the past) and condemned large gatherings (despite having held a rally on June 20).

“Some areas of our country are doing very well. Others are doing less well,” he said, in his first coronavirus briefing since April. “It will probably, unfortunately, get worse before it gets better—something I don’t like saying about things, but that’s the way it is.”

Dr. Deborah Birx was present at the briefing, but Dr. Anthony Fauci was not. Fauci has said that he was not invited. Trump declined to comment on Fauci’s absence.

Despite the president’s newfound appreciation for the seriousness of the virus, the speech was not without its Trumpisms. He repeatedly referred to the coronavirus as “the China virus,” and, when asked whether he thought Ghislaine Maxwell—Jeffrey Epstein’s associate currently incarcerated on child sex trafficking charges—would turn in powerful men, he responded, “I just wish her well, frankly.”

“I’ve met her numerous times over the years, especially since I lived in Palm Beach, and I guess they lived in Palm Beach,” he continued, “but I wish her well.”

Nothing to see here—just the President of the United States wishing an accused child sex trafficker well, TWICE! pic.twitter.com/z6Lq4q1IE7

— Mother Jones (@MotherJones) July 21, 2020