By Judi McLeod ——Bio and Archives--March 2, 2020
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Make way for pandemic pandemonium. Election Campaign 2020 will be all about the coronavirus threat—and in particular about how the bug’s global-wide spread is the fault of President Donald Trump.
It’s already off to the races with a digital foothold nine months out from Election Day with explosive impacts on the president’s winning economy.“Many businesses are sold out, while others are limiting how many a customer can buy. Amazon is policing its site, trying to make sure sellers don't gouge panicked buyers. “In South Korea, hundreds lined up to buy masks from a discount store. Rumors that toilet paper and napkins could be used as masks have emptied store shelves in Asia of paper goods over the past few weeks.
“Civilians trying to protect themselves from the outbreak and medical centers alike are facing shortages. “Some industry officials are attributing the shortages not just to high demand but to disruptions in supply: An outsize share of the world’s surgical masks are made in China — 50%, by its own estimate. But even factories there that have ramped up demand say they are hard pressed to meet local demand. The government has taken over manufacturers, and exports have plunged." “The virus has sickened more than 82,000 people worldwide and killed more than 2,800, according to international health authorities."It doesn’t take too much imagination to see that coronavirus is somewhat selective in its targeting: “An adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has died from the new coronavirus, as other top officials in the country are confirmed to be infected, according to multiple reports on Monday. (Fox News, Mar. 2, 2020)
“The Iranian Health Ministry recorded 523 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the country's known total to 1,501. They mark a 53 percent increase since the day before. “Mohammad Mirmohammadi, 71, was an Expediency Council member who advised Khamenei and settled disputes between him and parliament. COVID-19 has already infected Iran's vice president and deputy health minister.
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“His death comes after the government on Monday rejected help from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who announced last week the U.S. was concerned Iran may have covered up details on the spread of the virus.” "We neither count on such help nor are we ready to accept verbal help," Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said during a briefing on Monday. He added the country has always been "suspicious" over American intentions, and that the U.S. government was trying to weaken Iranians' spirits over the outbreak.”“Iran has the second highest death toll outside mainline China, and ministers in Tehran have stepped up efforts to prevent the spread, which has infected at least 978 people.” (Daily Mail, March 2, 2020)
“Iran's mortality rate from the virus is roughly 5.5 percent, compared to an overall fatality rate of about 2 percent in China. The difference in rates has led people to suggest the number of infections in Iran is higher than what the country has officially reported. The country's first case was reported less than two weeks ago. (Fox News) “The country has closed schools and universities due to COVID-19, but religious Shiite shrines have remained open. Last week, Iranians were captured licking some of the shrines in defiance of the coronavirus.”
“The State Department updated its travel advisory to its highest level -- Level 4 -- urging Americans, "Do Not Travel" to the Lombard and Veneto regions in northern Italy. “Sunday's message comes after an earlier warning to avoid non-essential travel to all of Italy, where more than 1,694 cases were confirmed through Sunday -- a 50 percent jump from just 24 hours earlier. “Five more people infected with the virus have died, bringing the deaths in Italy to 34, while 83 have fully recovered.Meanwhile, the Democrats are finding ‘experts’ to pounce on the spread of the virus being the fault of President Trump.
“Right now, we don’t have a whole lot of confidence. I mean he can’t seem to get on the same page with the experts, the CDC,” the firm’s chief economist told CNBC’s “Trading Nation” on Friday. “This is a significant threat to his re-election.”Either that, or wishful thinking! Watch for those attending the campaign rallies of Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden and whomever else is left among diminishing candidates in the car load of Democrat presidential hopeful crazies to start showing up in face masks. They’ll try anything to try to panic the hundreds of thousands attending President Trump’s massive rallies.
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