THINGS PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW RE CORONAVIRUS

Information is shared with the American public in drips and drabs. The whole picture not being shared. Transparency lacking.

The Trump administration only wants the public to know that which it wants to share. Embarrassing information withheld.

A CDC lab has been manufacturing coronavirus test kits for quite a while. .Timothy Denzel is an official with the FDA. He is Director of the Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health.

Coronavirus test kits are produced at a CDC lab. There was a delay in them getting to market. Denzel went to Atlanta to determine why. He was “alarmed” by what he saw: “Inappropriate procedures and possible contamination.”

He made the visit February 22. This information leaked March 1. I am not sure as to the source.

The decision was made to have an outside vendor produce the kits.

The CDC has only made available 459 kits thus far. The outside vendor is expected to make 10,000 available by the end of this week.

The WHO has provided test kits to 57 countries. The U.S. declined to receive any. Indicated it would produce its own.

Money involved here. Since Trump took office, he has cut the CDC and WHO budget allocations dramatically.

I get nervous when there is too much God in government. I am a firm believer in separation of Church and State. History has shown that religion can screw things up big time.

There is a photo moving about the internet showing Pence and what I assume are members of his coronavirus team in a room getting ready to work. Fifteen persons in total. Some sitting, others standing. I could recognize Pence, Mulvaney and Azar.

All 15 had their heads bowed and their individual fists clenched in prayer.

Scares me. Especially with Pence leading the group. The prayer to open their work session had to be at the direction of Pence. A religious fanatic.

Recall Matthew 6:5. “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.”

One of yesterday’s comments to this blog which is applicable to the present coronavirus situation: Coronavirus “seems like Katrina 2005 in New Orleans all over again.”

The 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic has some bearing today.

An expert re the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic wrote a piece 2 years ago on lessons of why the total outbreak in the U.S. was so deadly. His conclusion was government officials desperate to keep morale up during World War I, didn’t tell the truth. And because the government lied, more people died.

It was announced yesterday that New York has its first case of coronavirus. The woman had traveled to Iran. She has been quarantined in her home.

Notice how Trump and Pence keep saying the handling of this crisis is a state matter. Not exactly in those words. They say it is the responsibility of state and local governments. The federal government will work closely with them.

Passing the buck if a disaster occurs? Creating the scenario for it?

Handling a crisis such as coronavirus should be the primary responsibility of the federal government. Plainly and clearly stated!

One last coronavirus observation. Applies to Key West and the whole of Florida. Spring Break coming this month. The probability one or more of the kids will bring the virus to our communities.

The first state to abolish slavery? Pennsylvania. On March 1, 1780. Applied to newborns only.

Another recent comment to this blog: The Democrat Primary “March Madness.”

It fits.

I admire and respect what Pete Buttigieg did last night by suspending himself from the race. The correct thing to do at the right time. Proof once again that he has a head on his shoulders. He lives to fight another day. In the meantime, he will probably come out in support of and campaign for Biden.

Irma brutally damaged certain areas of the lower Keys on September 10, 2017. We who live here will never forget.

I periodically in the past year have written and spoken of the delay in reconstructing that which was destroyed. The answer evident. Money. The federal and state governments fail to timely perform because they did not have sufficient bucks and/or were reluctant to arrange for monies to be available.

Bahia State Park is one of the loveliest such parks in the lower Keys. Beautiful! Welcoming! A special day any day spent on its beaches.

Bahia received a “knock out punch.”

A notice was received from the State of Florida last week that the state was ready to proceed with the final restoration and renovation. Expected to take 210 days and be done by the end of the year.

At least it is finally getting done!

There are still Floridians living in tents, without running water or toilet facilities. Most have given up hope. They are doing the best they can with their own efforts and help of neighbors.

The same story with other hurricane damaged areas, Puerto Rico, etc. The government seems ill equipped to handle natural disasters. I hope such is not the case with the coronavirus crisis.

Who is the best Conch Shell Blower in Key West?

The Annual Key West Conch Shell Blower Contest will be held monday, March 7, at the Oldest House in Key West on Duval Street at noon.

An important Key West event. Many participants each year. The winner proud to have succeeded.

Worthy of watching.

Harry Truman loved Key West and Key West loves Harry Truman.

On this day in 1951, the President arrived in Key West for a 3 week vacation.

An example of why government is not always to be trusted.

On this day in 1917, President Woodrow Wilson signed a law granting Puerto Ricans citizenship.

A significance involved. Wilson knew the U.S. was going to enter World War I in a month. He was also aware the U.S. did not have enough soldiers. On top of which he knew a compulsory military service act would follow soon after the the U.S. entrance into the war.

Two months after making Puerto Ricans citizens, the draft law was adopted. Twenty thousand Puerto Ricans were drafted to serve in World War I.

Tonight, Dueling Bartenders!

Enjoy your day!

 

 

17 comments on “THINGS PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW RE CORONAVIRUS

  1. If there is ever a situation where the Federal Government needs to take control, it is with the threat of a dangerous infectious disease like COVID 19. Suggesting that this should be the obligation of individual states is not only insane, but dangerous and stupid.

    Why does trump threaten to step in with selective punishment, when an individual state wishes to go it alone on some things, like California with emission standards, but then clam that individual states should act individually with a deadly (stealth) virus?

    What is a matter with the American people that they will not fight this foolish and inept man.

    • What is the matter with the American people? I believe most know the answer. Trump did and he capitalized on it.

      • According to CDC! in the United States, there has been over 20 million people affected by the seasonal flu. Over 250,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths so far – IN THE UNITED STATES!,,, While the covid (corona) virus is serious, the media is irresponsibly hyping this because of their attempt to somehow tie this to Trump administration. How many more times are we gonna hear someone on msnbc ask if this is “Trumps Katrina”. Where is the media’s concern over the seasonal flu numbers!!

        • Spin your heart out chicken little. Most of the press on this issue (in China, in Italy, in South America, has nothing to do with Trump. Your crybaby Trump problem is manufactured for political reasons only. Shame on you.

  2. I’m tired of giving our president any credit for attempting to keep us calm during a crisis and beginning to feel like I’ve been conned by a devious man who is only looking out for himself and his own reelection campaign/scam.

  3. It took 6 months for Oboma to attack the Swine N1 virus and 1000 died by then. In three weeks Trump closed the boarder. Remember Biden was put in charge by Oboma to cure Cancer.
    And the BS goes on. What checks are in place at the boat docks? who is at the airport? and the buses from the Mainland. Nice article but what has been done here by our elected officials.

  4. We got off of a very large cruise ship in Los Angeles yesterday and came thru LAX for our flight home. Not once was our temp taken. Not once were we questioned about our health or symptoms. No one asked where we had travelled. Never saw a medical professional looking us over. If the authorities are screening persons entering the country, they must be invisible.

  5. Each day in the United States, approximately 9 people are killed and more than 1,000 injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver.

  6. Over 1600 people a day die of cancer in this country, that’s not nothing. What does Obama have to do with that? Well, he’s buying a house on Martha’s Vineyard, that’s what.

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