Society's ChildS


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SOTT Focus: Covid-19 Global Lockdown

french police lockdown
Let's try a little thought experiment. Just for fun. To pass the time while we're indefinitely locked down inside our homes, compulsively checking the Covid-19 "active cases" and "total death" count, washing our hands every twenty minutes, and attempting not to touch our faces.

Before we do, though, I want to make it clear that I believe this Covid-19 thing is real, and is probably the deadliest threat to humanity in the history of deadly threats to humanity.

According to the data I've been seeing, it's only a matter of days, or hours, until nearly everyone on earth is infected and is either dying in agony and alone or suffering mild, common cold-like symptoms, or absolutely no symptoms whatsoever.

I feel that I need to state this clearly, before we do our thought experiment, because I don't want anyone mistakenly thinking that I'm one of those probably Russian-backed Nazis who are going around saying, "it's just the flu," or who are spreading dangerous conspiracy theories about bio-weapons and martial law, or who are otherwise doubting or questioning the wisdom of locking down the entire world (and likely triggering a new Great Depression) on account of the discovery of some glorified bug.

Obviously, this is not just the flu. Thousands of people are dying from it. OK, sure, the flu kills many more than that, hundreds of thousands of people annually, but this Covid-19 virus is totally new, and not like any of the other millions of viruses that are going around all the time, and the experts are saying it will probably kill, or seriously sicken, or briefly inconvenience, millions or even billions of people if we don't lock down entire countries and terrorize everyone into submission.

Attention

COVID chaos: What's more dangerous, the virus or our reaction?

coronavirus shopping
Coronavirus is spreading, generating more headlines, greater anxiety and paranoia, and, of course, cancellations and closings. It's high time to ask a critical question: Could our reaction to the fear of COVID-19 do more harm than the virus itself?

Liberty Nation is tracking the cultural toll of Coronavirus, maintaining a growing list of things you can't do and places you can't go. Somewhere along the way, we crossed the line from tourist attractions and sporting events shutting down to the government closing schools and even some privately owned businesses.

Avoiding the Virus

As the old saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the best way to avoid catching the virus or spreading it to others is to:
  • Wash your hands regularly.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze.
  • Keep hands away from your face.
  • Avoid close contact with others and large public gatherings if possible.
  • Stay home if you're sick.
Sound familiar? It should. It's exactly how we are already supposed to behave this time of year, otherwise known as flu season.

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99% of those who died from virus had other illness, Italy says

italy coronavirus
More than 99% of Italy's coronavirus fatalities were people who suffered from previous medical conditions, according to a study by the country's national health authority.

After deaths from the virus reached more than 2,500, with a 150% increase in the past week, health authorities have been combing through data to provide clues to help combat the spread of the disease.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's government is evaluating whether to extend a nationwide lockdown beyond the beginning of April, daily La Stampa reported Wednesday. Italy has more than 31,500 confirmed cases of the illness.

Comment: See also:


Stock Down

Ten thousand point wipeout in less than a month: Markets continue downward plunge, as coronavirus fears rattle investors

day trader
© Reuters / Lucas Jackson
The ongoing Covid-19 crisis wreaked havoc on global markets, as investors gave a mixed response to stimulus measures and containment efforts. In the US, the Dow Jones closed lower than at any point since Donald Trump's election.

Despite President Donald Trumps' signing of wartime legislation to address shortages of vital medical equipment, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at just under 20,000 points on Wednesday, a drop of 6.3 percent on the day before. Even on Tuesday, the announcement of a trillion dollar stimulus plan caused only a momentary uptick in the index's downward tumble.

Dropping over 1,400 points right after the opening bell sounded, the Dow would eventually close lower than at any point since Trump's inauguration, meaning the coronavirus has - at least temporarily - wiped out the gains of the Trump presidency.

Comment: The New York Stock Exchange will actually shut down its trading floor and switch to electronic trading after several traders were confirmed to carry the coronavirus. Meanwhile, according to the Forex market, the Russian ruble is currently the worst-performing currency in the world. It has fallen by 28.59 percent since the beginning of the year, due to the steep drop in oil prices and the coronavirus hysteria.


Eye 1

Israeli police charge first quarantine violator, open dozens of other related cases

Israel Police squad car
© CC BY-SA 3.0 / GellerjIsrael Police squad car
The Israel Police announced that, for the first time amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus outbreak, it has filed charges against an individual who broke quarantine.

The police force announced Wednesday that it will file charges against one individual who defied an ordered quarantine and exited their home at least three times in the past three days, reported the Times of Israel.
Police are seeking to have the indicted individual remain behind bars - with no chance of bail - until their court proceedings conclude in the case.

Comment: The Israeli government just couldn't wait to start enforcing these dystopian quarantine laws.


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James Corbett: New York City lockdown and the cascading effects of Covid-19

NYC lockdown
Jason Bermas joins James for a powerful interview about the seriousness of the situation that we are facing. From lockdowns and quarantines to the US military and medical martial law, things are getting real. Are you prepared for what's coming?


Comment: Please see some of our recent focus articles and reports, and do keep that information firmly in mind as you listen to Jason Bermas - whose mostly excellent information is also colored by emotion in what has become a distressing situation for those in and around New York City like himself:



Comment: See also:


Heart - Black

Amber Heard smashed door in Johnny Depp's Head, 'clocked' ex-hubby in jaw, leaked tapes reveal

johnny depp
© REUTERS / Suzanne Plunkett/Files
The latest leaked court tapes featuring the two bickering celebrities emerged as Amber Heard and ex-husband Johnny Depp gear up to face off in two separate defamation lawsuits on both sides of the Atlantic.

Actress Amber Heard admits to "smashing a door" into Johnny Depp's head in the latest spate of leaked court audio recordings from their legal battle over allegations of domestic violence, published by DailyMail.com.

​The 33-year old actress is also heard on tape suggesting she had "clocked" her then-husband in the jaw, saying:
"I am so sorry ... I can remember hitting you as a response to the door thing. And I'm really sorry about hitting you with the door or hitting your head. I did not mean to."

Comment: Previously:


Heart

Russia sends humanitarian aid to Iran to help fight coronavirus

iranians
© AFP 2020 / STRINGER
Russia has sent humanitarian aid to Iran to help the country curb the spread of the coronavirus, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said Tuesday.
"This [humanitarian aid directed to Iran] has been done, and we are considering possible further steps in this direction," Ryabkov revealed.
Foreign Minister Javad Zarif last week sent out an appeal to the international community for aid over a severe lack of medical supplies such as masks and ventilators. He also called on the United Nations to push back against the US' Iran sanctions.


Comment: It's pretty sick that the US continues their economic war against Iran while the country is so short on medical supplies.


Afterward, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi thanked China, France, UK, Turkey and other countries for sending monetary and medical aid. China, in particular, sent medical professionals recently freed up from tackling the coronavirus spread in their country.

As of Tuesday, Iran has over 16,000 confirmed cases of infection with over 980 deaths as a result. At the same time, nearly 5,000 people have recovered.

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Pew Poll: 62 Percent of Americans believe media has exaggerated coronavirus risk

corona virus
Majority think press has overhyped the threat.

62 per cent of Americans believe that the media has exaggerated the threat of coronavirus, according to a new Pew Research poll.

The results of the survey found that 63 per cent of Americans believe the CDC and public health officials have got the risk of COID-19 about right, with just 21 per cent believing they have exaggerated the risks.

While 62 per cent think the media has overhyped the threat, 29 per cent believe President Trump hasn't taken it seriously at all while a further 52 per cent say he has not taken the risk seriously enough.

pew poll Corona virus

Handcuffs

Former top Moscow investigator sentenced for accepting bribe from crime boss

Aleksandr Drymanov
Aleksandr Drymanov appears for his sentencing in Moscow on March 18.
The former head of the Moscow branch of Russia's Investigative Committee, Aleksandr Drymanov, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for accepting a bribe from a notorious crime boss.

The Moscow City Court on March 18 found Drymanov guilty of taking $1 million from Zakhary Kalashov, known among organized criminal groups as Shakro Molodoi, in exchange for the release of one of Kalashov's associates from custody.

The court also deprived Drymanov of the rank of police general and his For Service to the Fatherland medal.

Drymanov's two co-defendants in the case, two former subordinates, were sentenced to 10 years and 14 years in prison, respectively. Drymanov was arrested in July 2018, weeks after he resigned from his post.

Kalashov is known as a "thief by law," a title traditionally given among criminal groups in former Soviet republics to kingpins. He was sentenced in March 2018 to 9 years and 10 months in prison on extortion charges.