RTWed, 01 Apr 2020 20:12 UTC
© Sputnik / Aleksey Druzhinin
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law allowing the government to declare a nationwide emergency should the current efforts not be enough to keep the situation with coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, under control.
In a case of emergency,
the government would be able to directly control all medical goods and drugs trade within a special response system as well as introduce stricter quarantine measures. It would also be
able to temporarily freeze all potential bankruptcy cases. The new legislation also separately introduces additional
measures to support Russia's tourism industry.
Most of the country has already imposed some form of lockdown anyway. Residents of Moscow, where more than a half of all confirmed coronavirus cases are registered, have to comply with a strict home-isolation regime.
People diagnosed with Covid-19 and treated at home might soon be asked to install a special phone app that is designed to ensure their compliance with quarantine regulations while easing their communication with medics at the same time.
Over the last 24 hours, 440 more people tested positive for coronavirus,
fewer than the previous day which saw 500 new cases. The total number of infected in Russia has reached 2,777, with 1,880 cases being confirmed in Moscow.
Comment: The Russian military plane with medical aid
landed in the New York today. If there's one good thing to come out of this, it would be better relations with Russia! Chances are slim, though. In Russia, the number of new cases
dropped, and while
RT says it is "cause for alarm" that almost half of those infected are under 45, that's actually not a bad thing. Younger people have a better chance of surviving. (Alcohol sales in Moscow are
up 148%.)
European and
American markets took another dive, after Trump quoted guesses that "
up to 240k" Americans could die. Where are they getting these numbers, especially given that China, a nation with a population several times larger than the U.S., experienced a fraction of that? The Pentagon
refused one aircraft carrier captain's plea to evacuate and quarantine his ship after over 100 tested positive. Do they know something we don't? Cruise ships sequestered off the U.S. east coast have been
ordered to remain at sea and prepare to treat passengers who get the virus on-ship.
Germany extended their lockdown until
April 19. Georgia (the country) declared a
curfew. These unnecessary lockdowns will have an effect: many right now are fully supporting them and acting like Gestapo informants on their neighbors, while some are growing resentful. The latter will probably increase in numbers as the lockdowns continue. For example, an Arab neighborhood in Jaffa
rioted after Israel cops targeted an alleged "quarantine-breaker".
Over 400 Spanish journalists
rejected a new press conference format in which questions are filtered by government press officers. US nurses are
protesting over lack of safety gear. And over in the UK, only 15% of the number of medical personnel self-isolating or under quarantine have
tested positive. It turns out that the vast majority are fine and fit for work. What a great way to ensure health facilities are ready for the alleged expected "surge" in patients: make sure health workers can't actually work! They can't even follow through on a plan that was already dumb to begin with. But that's government for you.
Comment: The Russian military plane with medical aid landed in the New York today. If there's one good thing to come out of this, it would be better relations with Russia! Chances are slim, though. In Russia, the number of new cases dropped, and while RT says it is "cause for alarm" that almost half of those infected are under 45, that's actually not a bad thing. Younger people have a better chance of surviving. (Alcohol sales in Moscow are up 148%.)
European and American markets took another dive, after Trump quoted guesses that "up to 240k" Americans could die. Where are they getting these numbers, especially given that China, a nation with a population several times larger than the U.S., experienced a fraction of that? The Pentagon refused one aircraft carrier captain's plea to evacuate and quarantine his ship after over 100 tested positive. Do they know something we don't? Cruise ships sequestered off the U.S. east coast have been ordered to remain at sea and prepare to treat passengers who get the virus on-ship.
Germany extended their lockdown until April 19. Georgia (the country) declared a curfew. These unnecessary lockdowns will have an effect: many right now are fully supporting them and acting like Gestapo informants on their neighbors, while some are growing resentful. The latter will probably increase in numbers as the lockdowns continue. For example, an Arab neighborhood in Jaffa rioted after Israel cops targeted an alleged "quarantine-breaker".
Over 400 Spanish journalists rejected a new press conference format in which questions are filtered by government press officers. US nurses are protesting over lack of safety gear. And over in the UK, only 15% of the number of medical personnel self-isolating or under quarantine have tested positive. It turns out that the vast majority are fine and fit for work. What a great way to ensure health facilities are ready for the alleged expected "surge" in patients: make sure health workers can't actually work! They can't even follow through on a plan that was already dumb to begin with. But that's government for you.