The U.S. seems to be in short supply of all things medical needed to fight coronavirus. The answer a simple one. Money talks. Key medical supplies are being shipped by U.S. manufacturers to foreign buyers.

Blood is on the hands of those manufacturers. They have failed to take care of their own. Money more important than human lives.

I am going to open with a shocker. I shall close with one also. In between, the gruesome details.

Forbes reported on monday that 280 million masks in U.S. warehouses were purchased by foreign buyers.

The Forbes article written by David Di Salvo was published monday. Significant information for this blog was also obtained from The Intercept’s Lee Fang in an article published yesterday and from  MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show last night.

Face masks have specific brokers. Di Salvo spent a whole day with them. He personally observed the 280 million masks being sold to foreign buyers.

A big number. Especially when doctors and nurses are wearing masks for several days instead of using only one time. Many of these first responders coming down with the virus as a result.

Di Salvo also discussed the matter with FEMA. He was told, The Agency “has not actively encouraged or discouraged U.S. companies from exporting overseas.”

Always a paper trail. The information in the Forbes article was discovered in the files of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection records. The Agency is required to maintain vessel manifests.

The records evidenced crucial medical equipment needed to treat caronavirus being shipped to East Asia and Europe as recently as March 17.

Primary items shipped included N95 masks and purified air personal respirators used by medical staff. As well as ventilators used by patients.

Such items in low supply in U.S. hospitals. One of the sources described the U.S. as “dithering” while the much need supplies were being shipped out of American ports.

I do not accuse Trump or his staff of any wrongdoing. Their sin is one of misfeasance rather than malfeasance. They forgot to pay attention, to watch the store.

Some examples.

Drive De Vilbiss Healthcare is a Pennsylvania firm. It produces supplemental oxygen machines. The company made 3 different shipments of respiratory equipment to Belgium in mid February.

Vapotherm is a New Hampshire firm. Involved with respiratory equipment. Recent months have brought a surging demand from international customers. The company added 50 employees and a second shift.

Vapotherm’s first foreign customers were Europe based. The result of coronavirus. The company then began shipping to New York City, Seattle, Georgia and Florida.

On March 8, Vapotherm shipped 2 tons of the company’s high flow disposable patient circuits used for operating respiratory aids. The circuits were loaded on a container ship in Los Angeles and sent to Kobe, Japan. The receiving company was Medicalnext Co., a health care distributor.

Vapotherm’s records also show respiratory equipment, medical garments, medical masks, oxygen concentrators, and ventilators sent abroad in the past 2 months.

A St. Louis company named Allied Healthcare Products shipped 1.5 tons of ventilator masks to Hamburg, Germany. The masks were used in the company’s portable ventilator unit.

Global demand for health care products like thermometers and pulse oxinators surged in early January when when it became clear the pandemic was getting out of hand in China.

While U.S. manufacturers were shipping to 24 different foreign countries, including South Korea and Germany, the 24 countries banned exports of all health care products in order to shore up their domestic supply. They took in, but did not ship to the U.S.

Trump imposed tariffs come into play.

Whereas the U.s. had not placed restrictions on exports of medical supplies, it continues with financial penalties (tariffs) on U.S. import of medical products. Such as personal protection gear, protection googles, pulse oximeters, hand sanitizers, and other medical products.

The U.S. had and is still trying to import medical items from China. The same China the U.S. has heavily tariffed. The same China Trump proudly says is paying the U.S. billions of dollars because of the tariffs.

China not a friendly partner in providing the U.S. with medical products.

Trump temporarily lifted tariffs on 3/10 and 3/12. The tariffs had been in place since 2017 on some of the medical products.

While U.S. manufacturers were selling to foreign countries in January and February, the Trump administration should have been stockpiling those products.

The current medical supply crisis exists because of a number of Trump administration failures. One or two alone might not have been a problem. Cumulatively, a killer.

There was a failure to recognize a “national emergency” till 3/13.

The federal government failed to start issuing major federal contracts for personal protective equipment till early and mid March.

The administration made cuts in international programs for disease detection and preparation.

Trump’s refusal to swiftly mobilize supplies.

Trump moved sluggishly to deploy the Defense Production Act.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce pressed the Trump administration not to invoke the Act. Trump finally succumbed and invoked it for the first time on 3/27 to compel General Motors to build ventilators. When GM capitulated, Trump withdrew the Act. An example of Trump’s consistent leaning in favor of corporations.

Trump’s failure to recognize Covid-19 as a serious problem following years of dismantling federal programs designed to maintain international disease surveillance.

He cut 14 employees from the U.S.’s Beijing office of the CDC.

He closed the U.S. Agency for International Development Program in China whose purpose was to monitor disease outbreaks over the last 2 years.

In 2018, Trump disbanded the National Security Council office devoted to pandemic preparation.

The federal government cannot come up with enough ventilators and other medicinal supplies. The result of an absence of planning.

Trump’s consistent deference to industry. It defines many elements of the Trump administration.

Finally for best or the worst of Trump’s screw ups. Whatever way you want to look at it.

The Department of Health and Human services contracted with Philips Respironics to develop 10,000 low cost ventilators. Referred to as Trilogy Evo Universal.

The ventilators were never delivered to the national stockpile.

The contract did not require delivery till 11/22.

Sources suggest the Trump administration granted a “preferential window” to Philips that allowed the company to first sell, if it was able, the product to a variety of buyers at a higher price.

Philips has made at least 6 shipments of the respiratory equipment largely to Europe in the last 2 months.

When asked if it would now meet the acute demand in the U.S., its parent company Royal Philips N.V. said, “Philips believes that critical medical equipment, such as hospital ventilators and patient monitors, should be made available across the world…..”

What more can be said?

We are screwing ourselves.

Heavy are these days!

A quiet sadness prevails. Evident to me on the TV news shows and columns I read on the internet. This is my 22nd say of self-quarantine so I am not out and about to view things in any other fashion.

Photos and videos reflect “dead” communities, except where a busy hospital is shown.

Most news reported involves coronavirus. Properly so. It is killing many world wide. In numbers exceeding war time deaths.

Suddenly, there is little if any other news. So what I have been writing and talking about recently is the virus. And it will continue to be so since it is a black hole we are entering.

However, when I do come across something different or humorous, I guarantee it will be shared with you.

The Citizens’ Voice this morning had an interesting comment: “If you’re using two rolls of toilet paper per week, you need to see your doctor and have your plumbing checked.”

Then there is nature. In a sick and dying world, the beauty of nature continues undaunted. Another Citizens’ Voice comment: “So many sunsets have not been cancelled.”

Adversarial comments between nations are also lacking. Everyone busy dealing with the virus.

One item came to my attention yesterday, however. Involves crude oil. The supply is limited. Nations not drilling as much. The cost of a barrel of crude oil extremely low.

Russia and Saudi Arabia especially hard hit. Putin had a plan to help Russia and Saudi Arabia resolve their problem. The Saudis rejected it.

The U.S. is in good shape. Shale oil production has made us a world leader.

Trump wants to help Putin. Says he is going to talk with him about limiting U.S. production or what have you so Russia can come back.

Trump is a vengeful person. He is always “getting even.” Not with his buddy Putin, however. Trump forgets that the oil world gave us $4 a gallon gasoline. Or even worse, limited the gasoline supply so that everyone was waiting in long lines to get to a gas pump. When you reached the pump, there were times no gas was left.

The U.S. is on top in oil production. We should stay there. Screw helping Putin and “friends” of his nature.

That is all of the “light stuff” for today. The rest of the blog involves coronavirus. Things you may or may not know.

Today is April Fools Day. Doubt many are thinking about the day or enjoying it as has been done in the past.

Last night my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. One hundred percent coronavirus. Excellent show regardless of how sad the subject matter!

Death is coming. Scary. The next 2-4 weeks crucial. The experts say it will be the worst of times for the U.S.

Yesterday’s news grim. Somber. If we are lucky, deaths will only be 100,000-240,000. If the projections are wrong, deaths could be 1 million to 2 million.

The U.S. is #1 in number of confirmed cases and deaths. One hundred eighty five thousand confirmed alone. Represents 20 percent of the global total.

A U.S. carrier is in trouble. The USS Theodore Roosevelt. A nuclear powered carrier. Total crew around 5,000.

The Roosevelt’s home port is Guam. Guam is the “hot spot of coronavirus in the Pacific region.”

The virus has found a home in the carrier. Eighty sailors have tested positive. Not all tested. Few, in fact. It is anticipated the number infected will increase considerably when all 5,000 have been tested.

The Roosevelt’s Captain has asked in writing that most of the crew be taken off and isolated. He has asked that 4,000 be removed immediately.

The Navy has refused to confirm the exact number infected.

Secretary of Defense Esper sounds like Trump. Esper say, “It is not the time to evacuate the ship.” The Admiral of the Pacific Fleet says evacuation cannot be done at the “pace” the Captain has suggested. The Admiral admits the reason is the Navy is not equipped to do it that swiftly.

Studies indicate the elderly are especially at high risks in those states that have loose controls.

The Zaandam and its sister ship the Rotterdam are awaiting permission to dock and unload their passengers in Fort Lauderdale.

Typical of Florida Governor DeSantis’ speed and state of mind, he was not sure what to do. He kicked it upstairs to the President.

Note that several ports and countries have refuse the Zaandam and now both ships admission.

The Zaandam carried 1,400 plus passengers and 500 plus crew.

Four passengers have died as a result of the virus and 30 show symptoms. Not all have been tested. Insufficient test kits.

Trump surprised me last night. I expected him to say “no way.” Instead, “I am going to do what is right, not only for us but for humanity.”

Trump’s comment surprises and shocks me. The man of duplicity.

I disagree with him. The U.S. has enough problems of its own with the virus. Let the ships keep searching. Not our headache.

Do not forget the number sick will be significant. There is a limited supply of ventilators, masks and testing kits. Our hospitals are bursting at the seams.

You take care of your own first. God helps those who help themselves.

The 6 foot distance rule. Sometimes could be 3 feet.

An MIT professor says the numbers are not reliable. They are based on social distancing standards formulated in the 1930’s.

The professor claims coronavirus droplets can travel 27 feet. They can travel in gaseous clouds as far as that distance. He further claims peak exhalation speed can reach 35-100 feet per second.

He disagrees with the CDC recommendations of 6 and 3 feet.

More than 2 months ago, I began reporting an increase in ammunition sales. Soon, I was reporting an increase in gun sales.

Gun sales continue to spike. Even in the lower Keys. A Marathon gun dealer says he is now selling 60 guns a week. Previously, the number was 8-10.

So much for today. Stay safe.

Enjoy your day!

Philippine President Duterte is not a very nice guy. Tough! Goes for the jugular!

When he became President, the Philippines had a drug problem. He quickly addressed the drug problem. Anyone found with drugs on them or using them was immediately shot. Their lives ended. No judge, jury. No due process.

Hard as it may sound, he substantially reduced the drug problem.

Now comes coronavirus. Duterte has his methods to correct the problem.

Medical personnel are dying. Duterte views their deaths as having occurred in the line of duty. He said, “Healthy workers are lucky to die for their country.”

Luzon has 57,000 people. Duterte imposed a “soft lock down” on March 12. The people did not listen. The lock down turned into a “rigorous lock down” on March 16.

Rigorous…..Duterte had open coffins left on the streets. A warning of sorts. Stay inside!

He had soldiers come by and shoot disinfectant over the streets and coffins. Another warning to stay inside or be drenched by some sort of insecticide.

Note that Trump considers Duterte his friend. Same as Putin, Jung Un, and every other tyrannical leader in the world.

Lets hope Trump does not decide to keep pace with Duterte. Imagine if Trump said U.S. hospital personnel were lucky to have had the opportunity to die for their country. You never know what he is going to say!

Florida’s Governor DeSantis confuses me. He is all over the place. He and Trump birds of a feather.

DeSantis announced yesterday he was imposing a stay-at-home order covering the entire state. Till the middle of May. The technical name of the order: “The Safer-At- Home” order.

I started early. My own self-imposed home quarantine. My 21st day today. Do I get credit for the 3 weeks?

I am pleased DeSantis has imposed a stay-at-home order. I think 6 weeks is too long. I wonder how he will enforce it, though I do not believe most people would violate it.

The Winn Dixie Shopping Center was constructed in 1991. I began coming to Key West earlier than 1991. I can recall nothing but an open field where Winn Dixie stands. Nor was there a Walgreen across the street.

The shopping center is 172,000 square feet on a 15 acre parcel. It sold for $53.5 million.

The Naval vessel USS Detroit arrived yesterday in Key West. For maintenance. Specifically described as “emergency repairs.”

Not the best time for the sailors on board to be here. Bars and restaurants closed. The Governor’s stay-at-home order in effect.

Hangover Hospital. We have had one in Key West for a couple of years. From what I have gathered, a successful venture.

Get drunk, call Hangover Hospital. Anytime of the day or night. They come to you. A little oxygen and all is well!

Dr. Michael McGrant owns the local Hangover Hospital. He wanted to do something for Key West workers. Those still working to be precise. No one is drinking. Bars closed.

He is providing free vitamin B12 shots to all local health care and restaurant workers. Vitamin B12 is an oral supplement. Energizes for 3-5 days.

Hangover Hospital has stands around Key West providing the service. One is located in Duval Square.

Governor Graham appears to be on the move. He was slow till now. Besides the stay-at-home order till mid May, his Monroe County Health Director Bob Eadie announced that Florida intends to “mass test.” Plans will be finalized by the end of the week.

The system will be drive through in nature. Three sites. Specific locations not yet disclosed.

Eadie advised that there will be 20,000 test kits. Does not sound like enough to me. We shall see.

Updated information indicates 24 confirmed coronavirus cases in the entire state. Fifteen of them in Key West. Key West has moved fast to that number.

Tonight, tonight, will be like any tuesday night! My blog talk radio show Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. A quick moving half hour of this, that and everything. My weekly opportunity to rant and rave.

Join me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Coronavirus provided the opportunity for a valuable theft. A van Gogh. From the Springer Loren Museum near Amsterdam.

The Museum is closed because of the virus. The thieves entered easily. Merely broke a glass door to gain entry.

The painting a 10 x 12 inch van Gogh titled “The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring 1884.”

The value of the painting not revealed.

One of the things I miss is the music Key West provides. Especially Aqua’s Dueling Bartenders.

One song sung just about every monday night at Dueling Bartenders is Oklahoma. We all join in!

Oklahoma opened on Broadway this date in 1943. The first musical play by Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II.

Some coronavirus observations.

Russia has been dark since the first days of the virus. No news. Perhaps Putin did not wish the world to know his people were susceptible.

Sounds like Trump. Hide the facts.

Anyhow, it was announced yesterday that Moscow is under city wide quarantine.

Trump’s daily Task Force report reveals Trump’s nature. Every day. While America is bracing for the worst, he continually expounds the same bullish self-congratulatory rhetoric.

Trump believes/thinks he is doing a great job. Fooling himself! And probably half the population of the U.S. The other half know what he is. A bullshit artist.

Some things are amusing. The CDC is considering advising Americans to wear face masks outdoors. Only if they can make their own!

As I am composing at the moment, I am listening to New York’s Governor Cuomo. New York is fortunate to have him.

Enjoy your day!

This is day 20 of my self imposed quarantine. Still ok. Not loony. I had one bad day early on mentally. Thought this is not going to work.

My days are full. Reading, researching and writing.

I stay up later than normal. Don’t know why. Before the virus, I was in bed generally by 9:30. Now it is around 1 in the morning.

Was sure I was going to use this time writing the great American novel. Though I read and write constantly each day, I have yet to begin the great American novel. Don’t know why.

I live on the golf course. The course itself has been closed because of the virus. I received an e-mail from the golf course saturday to beware. A crocodile has moved in.

Not the first. The last one 3 years ago. All eventually captured.

I find it amusing. Coronavirus may not kill one of my neighbors. Many walk their dogs for obvious reasons. I can visualize a croc jumping out of the shrubbery along the way and biting the dog or removing an arm or leg from a neighbor.

I do not have a dog. Nor have I left my home even to take a short walk. My quarantine is full time in every respect.

Interpreting how certain observations cross.

Yesterday, I wrote in Italy of Today…..United States of Tomorrow: “The sirens keep sounding. Like the air raid sounds of the Second World War.” Referencing Italy’s Beramo.

Early today on Morning Joe, Mika was discussing New York City’s virus problem when she said: “Sounds of sirens fill the air.”

Both comments in reference to ambulances.

The Key West Citizen continues to suffer economically.

The Citizen is Key West’s daily. Or, was. About 2 years ago, it cut publishing to 6 days a week. Announced yesterday, the Citizen will only be publishing 5 days a week.

Its newest elimination is monday.

Since the initial cutback 3 years ago, the Citizen prints in Miami. Staff cut back dramatically. News generally 2 days old. Local building sold. The Citizen operates locally with a very small staff in very small quarters.

Within 5 years, the Citizen will be a memory. Gone.

Key West has several excellent local newspapers. Weeklys. One of them could take over.

KONK Life is a weekly hard copy. It also publishes a daily e-mail. The KONK Life E-Blast free.

The E-Blast could be expanded a bit. It would be the new daily and a modern one. No print. Too expensive.

Florida’s Governor DeSantis is another Donald Trump. Inept and incompetent.

Trump is his hero. He dances precisely as Trump does and to the President’s tune all the time.

Proof is the revelation over the weekend that Florida has been receiving from Trump twice the amount of every thing Florida has requested. No other state has. Many not even what is requested.

Over the weekend, DeSantis imposed checkpoints at certain highway entrances to Florida and also at airports. Those traveling into Florida will be screened. Not everyone. Only those arriving from New York and Louisiana.

If a traveler is arriving from New York or Louisiana, they will be required to quarantine themselves for 14 days. Failure to do so could result in a 60 day jail term.

Travelers will be met at Florida entrance points by National Guard troops and public health officials.

The need to screen and quarantine understandable. Florida’s coronavirus infected has recently been doubling every 3 days.

Another checkpoint story. One where DeSantis is upset with someone or else has his head up his ass.

The Florida Keys are a very small part of Florida and the entire of the United States. Roughly 120 miles long. A narrow 2 lane road most of the way, except where a small town has grown.

I believe the Keys have had only 3 coronavirus cases so far. It does not wish more.

The entrance to the Keys is at US 1 and State Road 905. Over the weekend, the Monroe County Commission opted to blockade the entrance. Only residents and those having certain business reasons could enter.

Made sense. The Keys don’t want the virus here!

There were 2 check points. The sheriff’s Department and State Police were stationed at each.

DeSantis was unaware. Two hours after the beginning of the checkpoint, DeSantis pulled the State Police off.

Monroe County could not afford to run the checkpoints at that point without some financial assistance.

The matter was worked out last night. The Sheriff’s Department and Keys municipalities will share the cost.

The information was forwarded to the Governor. Since he had in the interim ordered some checkpoints, a second shot was taken to get the Governor to agree to help with the Keys blockade.

Again, DeSantis refused.

Who needs him! Residents of the Keys are doing it themselves. As the Good Book says, God helps those who help themselves.

Trump has to have political wars. Even at a time when the country is in extreme danger.

I refer specifically to the one he has picked with New York’s Governor Cuomo over 4,000 ventilators.

Four thousand ventilators have been found in an Edison, New Jersey warehouses. Trump claims they were forwarded to New York. If not being used, should not be stored.

Trump has Attorney General Barr looking into the matter. Says at the very least, New York should be fined for stockpiling.

Cuomo is doing a hell of a job during the crisis. Makes Trump look inept at every turn.

All Cuomo has said so far is Trump is “incorrect and grossly uninformed.”

Cuomo’s philosophy during the crisis  has been not to wait till the last minute to be ready for that which is concertina to occur. He believes the apex of the virus in New York will be in 21 days.

Cuomo says you get ready in advance. Not when the problem hits. Be ready!

Makes sense.

Cuomo says based on the numbers, New York will need 30,000 ventilators in 21 days. He has his people searching all over the world for them.

As of friday, New York has had 44,635 confirmed cases. Deaths number 519. New York leads the U.S. in coronavirus impacts to date.

Cuomo says, “This is no time for politics. This is the time for exquisite coordination between the federal government and state governments, because we need each other.”

A Louis observation re Edison, New Jersey.

Edison is the home of a huge federal installation. Many the week I spent in Edison as an environmental attorney checking records. The complex totally federal. I had to go through hundreds of boxes of records at a time. I was given 1 small folder at a time from each box. Then watched while I reviewed and made notes.

Could this be where the ventilators were discovered? Were they delivered there by the federal government? Did New York know? When? Any discussions between the fed and state as to their storage till needed, etc.

Ventilators an ongoing problem. California’s Governor Newsom said his state received 170 ventilators from the federal government. From a “national stockpile.” All 170 were not working.

Newsom did not screw around. Immediately had them sent out for repair. Did not wait for the feral government to do it.

One of Trump’s medical experts is Dr. Deborah Birx. The lady who always seems to be backing Trump and making excuses for him.

She talked about the acute New York problem a few days ago. She advised 28 percent of New York’s virus tests come back positive. Compared to nationally, where only 8 percent return positive results.

There is some good in everything bad. Small though it may be.

Most children and parents are home together for a prolonged period now. Children see their parents work from home. Families get closer.

What the kids learn during these days of home confinement with Mom and Dad will remain with them the rest of their lives. Most will learn lessons that will mold their later lives.

Enjoy your day!

Our time has come. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths in the United States is on the rise. Dramatically. We have exceeded China and Italy in numbers. The United States is #1.

A distinction we could have done without.

We are at the edge of the precipice. The fall will be long.

New York City is an inkling of what is to come. And New York has not the reached the most horrible. The “worst of times” is yet to come.

The New York Times on 3/27 published an article concerning Italy. It clearly reveals what is ahead. The article is titled We Take the Dead From Morning Till Night.

I share excerpts from the article with you.

“The streets of Bergamo dead.” No noise. “But won’t stop are the sirens.”

“The sirens keep sounding. Like the air raid sirens of the Second World War, they are the ambulance sirens…..The blare louder as they get closer, coming to collect their parents and grandparents, the keepers of Italy’s memory.”

“At this point, all you hear in Bergamo is sirens.”

“Low levels of oxygen in blood.” An extreme danger sign.

“We have seen the worse, and the hospitals are like the trenches of war.”

A war at home. “A night of coughing fits and fever…..I’m sick, I can’t do it anymore.” His temperature 103 and his skin has become yellow.

Ambulance crew members carry oxygen for the sick. “Always with oxygen.”

“One of the biggest dangers for coronavirus patients is hypoxemia, or low blood oxygen…..doctors worry when the number drops below 90.”

Some “coronavirus patients have been found with readings of 50. Their lips are blue…..fingertips violet…..They take rapid shallow breaths and use their stomach muscles to pull in air. Their lungs are too weak.”

“Oxygen has become an essential treatment for victims whose lungs steadily fail.”

Family members who have seen grandparents and parents taken away, don’t cry. “They didn’t have any tears left.”

“Children say goodbye, uncertain whether they would see their father again.”

“Hospitals themselves are not safe.” Some infected.

“Bergamo had to send 400 bodies to other provinces and regions and countries because there is no room for them here.”

“If we had to identify a spark, it was the hospitals.”

“The area of Bergamo, its hospitals are a source of dead.”

“Ambulances are disinfected.”

“We are learning that hospitals might be the main Covid-19 carriers.”

“Ambulances and personnel are infected…..show no symptoms…..spread the virus further.”

“Doctors urged home care and mobile clinics to avoid bringing people to the hospital unless absolutely necessary.”

“Hospitals still admitting up to 60 new coronavirus patients a day……treated for virus…..clinical evidence – the coughs, the low oxygen levels, the fevers – is a better indicator, especially since 30 percent of the tests produced false positives.”

“The hospital had 500 coronavirus patients, who occupied all 90 ICU beds…..a month ago, the hospital had seven such beds.”

“Some patients wear transparent plastic helmets filled with oxygen to help them breathe.”

“The most critical cases are anesthetized and intubated.”

“Since intensive care units have been expanded, ventilators and respirators are in demand.”

“Oxygen flows everywhere through Lombardy hospitals now…..workers constantly pushing carts of tanks around the corridors. A tanker truck filled with oxygen is parked outside.”

“Patients are jammed next to supply closets and in hallways.”

“If people don’t stay at home…..the system will fail.”

“Intensive care unit beds are reserved for patients with a reasonable chance to survive. Old patients…..are not being resuscitated and die alone.”

Sense of taste for food lost. “A frequent complaint among people without symptoms, but who have had close contact with the virus.”

“ICU wards require specialized nurses, who are themselves getting infected, adding to staffing strains.”

“Coronavirus patients occupy all ICU beds.”

“Doctors turn many patients onto their stomachs to relieve pressure on their lungs.”

“So many people are dying so quickly, the hospital mortuaries and funeral workers cannot keep up.”

A funeral director said, “We take the dead from morning till night, one after the other, constantly…..Usually we honor the dead. Now it’s like a war and we collect the victims.”

Few funeral directors left. Coronavirus has made them sick or dead. Those remaining “are like a sponge and…..take the pain of everybody.”

Funeral personnel find it “hard…..to get masks and gloves. They are a category in the shadows.”

“In hospital mortuaries, coffins back up in empty rooms.”

Coronavirus patients are taken to a hospital. The hospital cannot provide them oxygen for several days. Families can’t go with them or see them. “It’s like sending someone to die alone.”

The dead are buried without a religious or civil celebration. “We cannot have a funeral.”

“Cemeteries locked shut.”

“A chilling backlog of coffins waits in a traffic jam for the crematorium inside the cemetery’s church.”

“The dead…..buried or cremated in pajamas and medical gowns they perish in.”

“Bodies often linger in homes for days, as stairs and stuffy rooms become especially dangerous.”

People die at home “because there was no room in the hospitals.”

“All beds are full” one family was told. Woman was 75. The “hospital gave priority to others that were younger.”

“In her last weeks at home, her family struggled to find tanks of oxygen, driving all over the province as she sat facing her garden and the pinwheels she loved.”

FINIS

Normally, I would end with “Enjoy your Sunday!” A bit difficult at the moment.

However, this too shall pass. The sun always rises.

There is a comedian floating around the internet. Randy Rainbow. Sings, talks, writes. Great re Trump!

One story he told of particular interest.

Trump, the Pope, Johnson, Merkel, and a 10 year old boy were on a plane. Plane in trouble. Everyone had to bail out. Only 4 parachutes for the 5 passengers.

Trump spoke up first…..I’m President of the United states and need to be saved. He grabbed a parachute and jumped.

The Pope said I am the head of the Vatican and all Catholics…..I’m needed. Grabbed a parachute and jumped.

Johnson said the U.K. needs me. He grabbed a parachute and jumped.

The mother in Merkel came out. She said to the 10 year old…..You take the last parachute…..I’ve lived my life.

The 10 year old responded…..Don’t worry…..We’ll both be saved……The first guy grabbed my backpack!

Florida’s Governor DeSantis not a bright guy. Much like Trump. He has refused to quarantine/shelter his people. He wants them to keep working.

Yesterday, Trump declared Florida a “disaster area.” Only the sixth State Trump has so declared.

It appears Trump was motivated because St. Petersburg went coronavirus crazy very swiftly. A sudden need for people to stay at home.

Truman vacationed in Key West often. One hundred seventy five days covering 11 trips. It was on this day in 1952 that Truman left Key West after enjoying a 3 week vacation.

Had to be thrilling to live in Key West back then. Truman wandering around and chatting with locals. An experience!

An item from May Johnson’s diary. This day in 1896. She concluded her entry with: MUCH DISAPPOINTED DID NOT HEAR FROM MY LOVE.

Query: Who is her love? I must have missed it. Miguel?

The New York Times has come up with an appropriate label to fit a coronavirus happening. Coronapocalypse.

Motivated by the number of coronavirus deaths in the New York City area. Too many bodies. Difficult to handle.

The term coronapocalypse was born of the back up in body dispositions at the Elmhurst Hospital. Corpses piling up. Refrigerated trucks had to be called in to haul the bodies away.

So far only Elmhurst and another New York area hospital have experienced the problem. It is expected by the middle of next week there will be more.

Shades of Italy.

Some coronavirus observations.

New York hospitals are treating coronavirus patients with huge doses of intravenous vitamin C. China reported it helped significantly with many. Not all, however.

I can recall back in the 1960’s when I was a young lawyer, vitamin C became popular if a person was coming down with a cold. We used to gulp the pills down by the handful. And it worked! If you caught the cold soon enough.

Excuse how I phrase this, but I feel the young and the Republicans do not care about seniors. Republicans who for 40 years have been right to lifers. The young, they are merely selfish. They have no desire to care for those who raised them.

Judeo-Christian traditions about the sanctity of life, including that of the elderly, are being forgotten.

I recall when Obamacare was being debated. The Republicans cried out “death panels.” No different than what is beginning with doctors being forced to decide who lives and who dies. The ventilator will go to a young person over a senior citizen.

Trump has no bioethics body to advise him. Definite needed when life and death an issue. Clinton, Bush 2, and Obama had them. Trump thought he did not need one.

Everyone had to move their asses re the 2nd stimulus bill. For what?Still not passed by the House and signed by the President.

Rep. Thomas Massie is a Republican Congressman from Kentucky. The House is not in Washington. He refuses to accept a voice vote. Probably by telephone or whatever. He has accordingly forced the House to return to Washington to cast their votes in person. For a bill that will pass with less than 5 dissents.

An asshole, a ball breaker. Seems to be the nature of many of our elected representatives these days. Few are statesmen.

Trump and Easter. He must have an inside connection with the virus itself. Otherwise, how would he know that the virus will be backing off by Easter and we can start sending everyone back to work.

Trump cares not for the people. He cares for the economy. The almighty buck.

We are heading for a bread shortage. Running out of flour and yeast. Especially, yeast.

Dr. Deborah Birx. The mature woman on Pence’s Task Force. The one who always speaks up and backs Trump 99 percent of the time.

She is keeping her job!

She aggravates me. She is a cheerleader. Enjoying her 5 minutes of notoriety each day. Her tongue as twisted as Trump’s.

A Dr. Fauci she is not.

The coronavirus battle has provided the opportunity for certaiin governors to show their mettle. New York’s Cuomo being one. Presidential timber.

I hope more governors stand up to Trump.

Evidence that Trump does not know much is his continuing claim that the stay at home rule is going to be eliminated in certain areas. Hopefully by Easter Sunday.

Only governors and mayors can lift stay at home rules.

I laugh at Trump’s indication that his “new guidelines” that are to come out next week will involve changes to the distance separation suggestion. Now 6 feet. What is he going to do? Make it 3 feet?

A wondrous act.

The battle between some Governors and the President is a life and death one. The Governors are more concerned with our lives. Trump, the stock market.

The ventilator issue confusing. Especially between Cuomo and Trump.

Trump says, without naming Cuomo, States do not need 30,000 or 40,000 ventilators.

The conflict began when FEMA said it was shipping 400 ventilators to New York. Cuomo said, “Really? What am I going to do with 400 ventilators when I need 30,000?”

The matter gets even more confusing. While Trump and Cuomo are arguing the number, Pence announces tuesday that 2,000 ventilators had been sent to New York. On wednesday, Pence said 2,000 more would be sent.

Does anyone (Trump, Pence and FEMA) know what is going on? I am inclined to believe Cuomo than any of them.

New Orleans in the process of becoming another disasterville. The virus hitting big. Blamed on Mardi Gras last month.

Enjoy your day!

Crisis brings out the worst in many. To the down and dirty. The gates of Hell knocked upon. What was once inconceivable, now possible.

The elderly have become an open burden to society. The coronavirus society that we now live in. The elderly the most sickly. The elderly the most costly from a medical perspective.

They are ruining our society. The only way to resolve the economic burden they impose is to let them die.

Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick shared his philosophy on the issue. Simply stated, a senior citizen should be allowed to sacrifice himself for the greater economic good. It went viral!

Patrick is 70 by the way. He is willing to sacrifice himself. A better civil servant cannot be found. Willing to die for the many! A great guy! He does not have to die for the many to make me happy. Merely die for me!

I am not ready to go!

Patrick is unhappy that most seniors are not prepared to commit the equivalent of mass suicide to salvage their grandchildren’s jobs. The economic well being of the U.S. is more important than the lives of older people.

Some have children and grandchildren they would die for. Others, not. The question arises as to whether they are worth dying for. Many have been raised selfishly and are a non caring generation. The old of today are not treated as they treated the elderly when they were young.

Patrick is upset because “no one reached out to me and said, as a senior citizen, are you willing to take a chance on your survival in exchange for keeping the America that all America loves for your children and grandchildren?” He added, “If that’s the exchange. I’m all in.”

Patrick can go to the head of the line.

This Patrick talk and similar talk of others comes to us via Trump.

Trump has been dancing around the issue this week, without specifically spelling it out. He will in due course.

Trump has been framing the dilemma as either save the entire U.S. economy or tolerate a few more deaths. That is part of his Sunday tweet: “We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself.”

Trump wants to lift quarantines early and get some if not all back to work, while leaving the seniors sheltering in place.

The implication is that older people are a burden on society and should be willing to risk being infected by coronavirus to make sure all Americans are able to patronize bars, restaurants, and stores.

In Patrick’s words, “Let’s get back to work…..Those of us who are 70-plus, we’ll take care of ourselves. But don’t sacrifice the country.”

Aging is skewing the way we view coronavirus. The elderly are one segment of the population. They are at greater risk because of the virus.

The idea being promoted is that all older Americans are frail and vulnerable while the younger are invincible. Not true. Nearly 40 percent of the 2,500 patients needing hospitalization over the past few weeks were 20-54.

The invincibility factor is why the young have been congregating without fear on Florida beaches.

I read somewhere this week that coronavirus is becoming a “boomer remover” sentiment.

If the elderly are useless, why have so many Governors asked retired health care workers to volunteer their services? Despite the retired being elderly and more susceptible to the virus.

If everyone had adopted the idea that the elderly were expendable and useless, their help would not have been solicited.

The issue is wrapped in amusement. Trump is 78, Biden 77, Pelosi 79, Dr. Fauci 79. Will they be part of the “elderly” group not to receive appropriate medical care, etc.? Or as was done with certain professional basketball players recently, will the “important elderly” be cloistered and permitted to receive what is necessary?

Many Senators and House members fall into the 70 plus category. Will they be part of the “important elderly?”

Pence is an extremely religious man. A right to life and anti-abortion advocate. What would his position be?

Trump ran on a right to life platform.

There is a serious ethical question involved. The shut down of human life.

Two problems have highlighted the age issue. The first is the aged being more vulnerable. The other that medical facilities are being overwhelmed. They would not be overwhelmed if proper care for the elderly were not part of the consideration.

Italy’s medical facilities have been overwhelmed. Eighty five percent of those who died were over 70.

The problem in Italy obviously acute. As it has become in the U.S. The Italian College of Anesthesia, Analgesia, Resuscitation, and Intensive Care have issued “guidelines” for doctors and nurses.

Respirators are in short supply, for example. The guidance for such and any other medical items required to provide care from beds to whatever must adhere to the guidelines which include: “It may become necessary to establish an age limit for access to intensive care.” In other words, those that are too old to have a good chance of recovery, or who (probably) have a few years to live, will be allowed to die.

Triage strictly enforced the rule.

Very possible in the U.S. if Trump. Patrick and others of similar thinking have their way.

A 57 year old California lawyer went viral recently. His position a simple one. Seventy five is long enough to live. Life ends for all in the U.S. at 75.

Can you imagine! Everyone drinking the hemlock!

Florida Governor DeSantis a disappointment. He is a true Trump follower. Blindly. Recall how he conducted his campaign.

DeSantis does not believe “shelter in place” would work. He believes it will keep people out of work.

A Cuomo he is not.

My recollection is Florida has the largest elderly population in the U.S. I wonder how DeSantis is going to do the next time he runs.

Seniors beware! Understand what is going on. Do not be taken in. Do not drink the hemlock. Throw it in their faces, if offered.

Enjoy your day! Assuming it is possible after my tirade.

My friend Flaminia lives in Italy. I share with you the contents of a Facebook message she sent the world .

The specifics.

Sixty five Cuban doctors and nurses landed in Milan 3/23. Came knowing they most likely may get infected themselves. They came even though Italy still has an embargo with Cuba (to stay in line with American policies). Never the less, they came.

Nine Chinese doctors, who helped lead the battle and fight against coronavirus in China arrived last week, along with 500,000 face masks. China also sent dozens of ventilators and other necessary equipment. Hundreds more medical personnel, experts in fighting the epidemic, will arrive soon from China as well.

Russia has sent 15 military airplanes full of medical equipment and vehicles to spray disinfectant.

The world has stepped up to help Italy. Why not the U.S.?

Donald the problem?

I find it amusing Putin could lend a helping hand to Italy, but has not to his “good friend” Trump.

Enjoy your day!

Yesterday, I wrote about the food supply diminishing. A strange topic since no one seems to be talking about it. Neither the government nor consumers. The reason probably being we are all so concerned about the initial problems involved with coronavirus that our minds have not  traveled far enough into the problem.

The government has thought about it. Plans are in place in the event  widespread domestic violence occurs as a result of food shortages brought about as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

Martial law will come into play. Suddenly! Without warning!

There was much concern immediately following 9/11 as to the need for martial law in the event a nuclear device were exploded in one of our cities. CONPLAN 3502 was adopted.

Under Trump, CONPLAN 3205 has been amended several times. The most recent, CONPLAN 3600.

Ever hear of a CONPLAN. Probably not.

It provides for the U.S. military takeover of the government in the event of 1 of 2 specific happenings. Described as “extraordinary happenings.”

The first if widespread violence breaks out due to food shortages. The second if Constitutional successors are incapacitated.

The most recent addition/amendment to the CONPLAN took place February 1, 2020. Less than 2 months ago. Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper signed orders directing the U.S. Northern Command to take certain actions.

The U.S. Northern Command was established following 9/11 to provide “homeland defense military authority.” The U.S. Northern Command’s responsibility is to “prepare to deploy” in support of “potential extraordinary missions.”

Described as “emergency authority.”

Recognize the whole idea of the U.S. Northern Command being deployed where food shortage is involved is a new problem. As is military takeover if so many of our elected officials are dead or so sick there is no one to run the government.

Uncharted waters without question. Coronavirus and its attendant problems new to the U.S. Ergo, new laws, rule and regulations required to act if the coronavirus pandemic adversely affects the U.S. in the 2 instances earlier specified.

The “boss” would be four star General Terrence J. O’Shaughnessy. Age 55. An Air Force Academy graduate. Presently “Combat Commander” of the U.S. Northern Command.

The military take over is not permanent. Intended to only be temporary. Except no one knows for certain how it will come to an end since the whole take over game in a pandemic situation is new.

Important to note that Trump does not have the power to implement martial law under the circumstances and law described herein. The military makes that decision solely on its own. A when circumstances warrant situation.

I bring what is contained herein to your attention since such is basically unknown to the American people. Would be surprising to wake one morning and see tanks rolling down the street in front of your home.

Another reason is that the food shortages I described in yesterday’s blog could very well happen. The government and military believe it. Otherwise, there would be no need for the CONPLAN law involved.

Some will ask what’s the difference. I would respond whatever, we have a right to know (1) our government foresees a coronavirus food shortage problem which it has not disclosed to its people and (2) ground rules are set for a military takeover of government based on food shortage violence and/or physical incapacity of our government leaders.

Some will say there was martial law during the Civil War. Yes, Lincoln declared it.

The difference is that Lincoln was alive, well and running the government. Under the plan described herein, there is in effect no President or Constitutional successor running the government. The military then steps in and takes over.

Tonight, Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. Please join me. I will be discussing food shortage and military takeover, plus other coronavirus inspired problems. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Note that I have also been doing a daily Facebook podcast. A few minutes of me ranting and raving on one particular subject.

Enjoy your day!

Key West may be small. Key West may sit out in the Atlantic as the southernmost point in the United States. Until it became a tourist mecca, few visited Key West.

Key West has had is share of epidemics. Some pretty bad. Others, a mere touch.

Yellow fever the big winner. The most epidemics over the years. Infected many, killed many.

Other epidemics included smallpox, cholera, chagres fever, dengue fever, leprosy, and influenza.

And now coronavirus. Though no reported cases yet, it has to be here. A tourist community, cruise ships, airlines, and spring breakers. Inevitable!

There has only been one reported case in the Keys. The upper Keys. A man who brought it with him from the U.K.

No other “reported cases” for a very simple reason. No test kits. No way to legitimately identify and verify.

Yellow fever was the most flagrant in the late 1800’s.

Quarantines were common. In homes and on ships.

The 1899 epidemic the worst. One thousand three hundred twenty infected, 68 died.

The nuns at what was then known as the Convent of Mary Immaculate all became infected. None died.

At some point, there was a vaccine. The population during one of the bigger epidemics was 16,500. Thirteen thousand were vaccinated via a door to door program.

It is interesting that many ways of dealing with yellow fever are similar to what is being done today with coronavirus. Basic medicine is basic medicine yesterday, today, and will be tomorrow.

Cholera was limited. A ship came in with some persons affected. The ship was immediately forced away from the island. No one in Key West was affected.

Leprosy had its day in Key West. Still does, though on a minimal basis.

The disease was in and out of Key West over a period of many years. One year, 96 cases were diagnosed. Seventy eight of them contracted leprosy while living in Old Town.

Leprosy was dealt with in days gone by as were diseases mentioned in the Bible. In 1909, a man died of leprosy in a house on Virginia Street. The house and all its contents were destroyed by fire at the direction of the Fire Chief.

In the Keys overall, there were 9 cases in 2015. Amazing. So recent. Records indicate 2-12 cases a year.

The “today” cause are armadillos. They are carriers, though the disease does not affect them.

It is difficult to understand Trump’s thinking. We are in “dire” need of test kits, N95 face masks, rubber gloves, medical attire, inhalators, etc. What does Donald do? He offers help to Iran and North Korea.

He takes from us to give to them.

Wrong! They are our sworn enemies. God is not going to love us for helping them. They will smile and laugh with glee: Look what dumb Trump is doing now!

You take care of your own first!

Trump gives us a daily update on the fight against the virus.  Generally does more harm than good as regards his image. He promises, says next week, things being delivered…..And nothing of any significance happens next week or the week after or the week after.

The man is inept. He lacks the mental sufficiency to be President.

Yesterday, he spoke more of the billions it was costing him to be President than the reality of satisfying his people’s needs. Like he is doing us a favor!

He further failed to spend much time on the Senate vote. The one that failed to pass the $1.8 trillion stimulus. The vote along party lines. 47-47. Sixty votes required.

The problem has to do with what the bill favors, who it helps, etc. The big corporations. Working Americans though not ignored, not taken care of.

Trump does not know what he is doing. I wonder if the Senate does. Perhaps they are greasing their own pockets.

Bailing out the airlines an example.

The airlines say they need $50 billion. They need nothing! I wrote last week and spoke to the issue on my podcast and blog talk radio shows as well why the airlines for example do not require money. Money that should go directly to help working Americans.

The airlines want loans, guarantees, and outright cash grants.

Trump favors giving the airlines the money. Says he does not want them to go out of business.  Such shows how little he knows about the issue. Or, perhaps he knows but is playing dumb.

Recall Trump’s Atlantic City debacle with the casinos. He has to understand.

There are 2 ways the airlines can save their asses. The first is to negotiate terms of credit with lenders outside of court. The other, and the one frequently used, is to seek Chapter XI Bankruptcy protection.

Either the way the planes keep flying.

Chapter XI does not contemplate “death.” Business goes on. Not all employees are fired. Assets are not sold off for scrap.

Between 2002 and 2011, Chapter XI was frequently used by airlines: American, Delta, Frontier, United, and US Airways.

A Chapter XI gives an airline breathing space. Old bills do not have to be paid while in the XI. Sometimes 2-3 years. They are renegotiated and generally paid off at a lesser amount.

Banks love to loan to Chapter XI companies.  The loans receive “high priority” for repayment.

Food does not seem to be a major issue. Yet! True, people are hoarding. That will stop as soon as their is no more room in their freezers and cupboards.

Store shelves are emptying rapidly. Might even be described as empty.

I am into my 12th day of self quarantine. My food is delivered. Primarily Publix and Walmart.

Great, if they have food.

Publix is running out. Those who call or otherwise communicate with me tell me so.

I am experiencing it with Publix deliveries. They have fewer and fewer items I want. Down to about 50 percent. I am required to cancel that portion of the order or take something else in its place. The something else is not what I want or generally eat.

Walmart has been terrific till this past week. I sat down ordered $200 plus of food yesterday. I’m hoarding! Most of the items I wanted were not in stock.

Fewer people are working. Families are without sufficient dollars. Who is manufacturing the food products? Will they be in good supply again and soon?

I question it.

When people are without monies to purchase food or food is in insufficient supply, things happen. Bad things.

I recall one of my Greece trips several years ago. During the time Greece was in deep shit financially. No work. Government assistance insufficient. Food stores closed because no food to put on shelves. Farmers stopped farming because they could not get paid what it cost them to grow their product.

I have written this story in the past. Families ate every other day. Including babies. Milk ran out. They ate their pets first. Then they raided the zoos, killed the animals and ran home with pieces of meat.

Cooked and ate anything that grew. Even grass. Then roots.

The Greeks expressed their unhappiness. They were downright pissed off!

I was in Athens. Athens has a famous top of the shelf street. Something like New York’s 5th Avenue. Ermous Street. Expensive goods for sale. Top of the line designer stores.

The people rioted. Destroyed the stores along the street. Some to get rid of their pain. Others to steal and sell in hope of finding something that was for sale at an exorbitant price.

Ermous looked like it had been bombed. Beggars overtook the street. Walking and sitting. Seeking money.

These were for real “beggars.” Not the homeless we see in the U.S. Painful to see. Mothers holding their babies out with one hand and the other out opened asking for money. Cripples sitting or lying on the street seeking money.

The worst was a man without arms or legs. His face badly scarred. His hair crazy. The only way I can describe it.

A bucket sitting in front of him. His friends had set him up somehow so he would not fall.

All this because people were not working, there was no money, there was no food.

It could happen here. We live in strange times. Things are moving fast.

I worry.

Enjoy your day!