Comment: Another 546 deaths were attributed to the virus over the last day in Italy, but note that these are not necessarily deaths directly caused by the virus - it just means that that many people died who also tested positive for the virus. There is undoubtedly some overlap (to what degree it's impossible to say yet without more data) between covid cases and people already ill who would have died whether or not they had the virus. It does seem that mortality in some cities is higher than usual, however. For example:

"At the moment we receive an average of 25 coffins a day but we can manage only 12," the manager of a crematorium in the province of Piacenza in northern Italy told RT's Ruptly.

Obviously, this situation creates an abnormal amount, bringing us to an emergency phase, making us very likely to halt for a few days in order to be able to recover some space.

Neighboring regions have already begun sending their own excess bodies to the Piacenza facility, the manager added, observing: "It is the same problem that Bergamo had and exactly for this reason, we are receiving the coffins from all across central and northern Italy. They do not have any more provisional spaces for coffins."

No word on how often, if at all, such a situation happens for the crematoria.

Spain's cases jumped to almost 25k, with over 300 new deaths, but because of the emergency situation, they're not even testing for the virus, so these numbers are worthless. German cases jumped by 2705, with 47 total deaths. (Again, the reliability of the numbers is in question.) The Bundesbank chief warns a recession in Germany is inevitable. The absurdity of the French situation was pointed out by officers to RT: they're not even sure that they themselves aren't infecting people by approaching them to enforce the restrictions on movement and gathering imposed by the government. Speaking of which, thousands of French are ignoring the quarantine orders, leading to nearly 39,000 citations for violations of the restrictions. A Dutchman received 10 weeks in jail for coughing on cops, saying, "I have the coronavirus and now you do, too."

A Turkey-based startup has invented a disinfection module for ATMs that removes bacteria and viruses. Maybe cash isn't dead after all! Russia delivered over 100k Covi-19 test kits to 13 countries, including Iran and North Korea. In the States, Illinois went into full lockdown (but only after the primaries). Maryland's National Guard reassured residents there is no martial law threat - after military humvees appeared in the streets. And Little Rock Air Force Base declared an emergency after one airman tested positive.

See also:

• Covid-19: The propaganda and the manipulation
• Massive social difficulties loom as worldwide job losses from coronavirus lockdown and economic downturn expected to reach 25 million
• COVID-19: All truth has three stages
• Ten million Americans are hit by severe storms as tornadoes flip cars in Texas
• 'Really bad reporting!': Trump slams NBC reporter over coronavirus 'sensationalism'
• The coronavirus: Crown jewel of the globalists or crippling blow to globalization?
• NY governor bans gatherings of ANY size, CA issues mandatory 'stay home' order as does Illinois, Europe continues lockdowns, and other corona craziness

Comment: See: 14 Million Americans have been laid off so far due to COVID-19

Comment: As Russia improves its domestic manufacturing capacity, it will be able to take up more of its oil production internally. It has is a ready-made market that will benefit from lower fuel costs.

• Russia swiftly reacts to market bloodbath: It's 'ready' for $25 oil
• Why Russia isn't worried about lower oil prices
• Oil prices could fall below zero: Analyst
• Russian economy saw manufacturing growth in July
• Putin explains why Russia can afford to spend less on defense

Comment: Indeed, the media 'doth protesteth too much' by directly and loudly attacking this particular 'conspiracy theory'.

We like the author's research on this. It's reasonably solid and certainly plausible.

We would like to offer one qualifying remark, however: we do not think anyone in the US intended to do this deliberately to China. Those US soldiers participating in the Military Games in Wuhan last Fall were more likely unwitting carriers of 'COVID-19' after it leaked containment at Fort Detrick in Maryland.

See also:

• China's locked-in hybrid war with the US has just intensified
• Pompeo to China: Quit spreading 'outlandish rumors' and blaming the US for Covid-19 virus pandemic
• China's coronavirus: A shocking update. Did the virus originate in the US?

Comment: California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a similar order:

"Everyone is required to stay home except to get food, care for a relative or friend, get necessary health care, or go to an essential job," read a statement on California's coronavirus response website, issued following Newsom's order. "If you go out, keep at least six feet of distance."

Businesses to remain open during the lockdown include banks, pharmacies, gas stations, as well as grocery stores and restaurants - though the latter will be confined to carry-out and delivery only.

Newsom expressed concern during a press conference on Thursday night that tens of thousands of patients could soon swarm California's hospitals as the disease rapidly spreads across the state, putting healthcare facilities far beyond capacity. He earlier projected that some 56 percent of the state's residents - or over 25 million people - could contract the illness within eight weeks.

Where is he getting his numbers? Even the Diamond Princess cruise ship only saw upwards of 20% get the virus, and that was in an enclosed space.

The U.S. has suspended visa services worldwide. Germany says lockdown will happen if people continue socializing:

Germans are already under instruction to stay indoors and avoid the usual mixing and mingling with others, as the novel coronavirus spreads rapidly in the country. Pubs, clubs and non-essential shops have already been closed and large gatherings have been banned by some German states — but there is no official national lockdown of the kind that has been imposed in France, Spain and Italy, and many people are still meeting outdoors in large groups.

Braun said normal socializing "must be stopped now" and, if that doesn't happen, it's possible that "more far-reaching measures" will be implemented — yet so far it seems that responsibility to restrict movement lies with the individual.

Bavaria, in Germany, has gone into lockdown, however, "shutting down public life almost completely". Paris police are restricting movement and gatherings. Switzerland banned gatherings of more than 5 people (nearly 1000 tested positive there in the last day). Lombardy region in Italy enlisted the military to help enforce their own lockdown. UK police announced their first arrest for breach of quarantine.

European stocks surged after central bank measures were adopted. Germany seized medical supplies headed for Switzerland. Senior Finnish health official Mika Salminen criticized the WHO advisory to test as many people as possible, saying, "We don't understand the WHO's instructions for testing. We can't fully remove the disease from the world anymore. If someone claims that, they don't understand pandemics." Well, it seems to have worked for South Korea...

Spain's official death toll surpassed 1000 (up 235 in the last day). And while China reported no new domestic cases, they are reporting 39 new cases from people coming from abroad. Britain's chief Brexit negotiator, David Frost, is self-isolating after his EU counterpart tested positive. A staff member at the IAEA also tested positive.

Illinois has become the latest state to go on "lockdown," with a similar "shelter-in-place" order that was issued in California and New York. Keep in mind it was only 3 days ago that the governor told everyone that it was completely safe to go out and vote in the primary.

See also:

• US senators sold stock after coronavirus briefings in January
• Licence to kill: Proposed emergency Coronavirus Bill protects NHS against negligence claims
• Chillingly, scariest coronavirus death toll may not come from covid-19
• California governor locks down entire state, Bank of America declares recession, Saudi Arabia limits worship at Mecca and Medina, NASA shuts down 2 more facilities, Netflix to cut EU traffic - the hysteria continues
• Russia testing MULTIPLE prototype Covid-19 vaccines
• New study says 'high temperature and high relative humidity significantly reduce' spread of COVID-19
• You don't say. 'Coronavirus death rate in Wuhan 65% lower than previously thought'
• Trump waives FDA regulations, opening door for chloroquine and other drugs to be used for coronavirus therapy

Comment: As if the numbers of real unemployed in this fake economy weren't already bad enough, the developments we are now seeing in the US will bring financial devestation to many millions of individuals and families.

Comment: See also:

• US CDC statistics seem to suggest seasonal flu twice as deadly as Coronavirus. So why the hell has civilization ground to a halt?
• Interview with Dr. Wolfgang Wodarg: H1N1 'Swine Flu pandemic' was one of the greatest medical scandals of the century
• Dr. Malcolm Kendrick - Some measures you can take against the Covid-19