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Tuesday, April 07, 2020

How to make disinfectant spray at home

Here’s how to make your own disinfectant wipes or spray at home. In this step-by-step tutorial, you will need Clorox bleach, a roll of paper towels, latex or rubber gloves, a garbage bag to protect the work surface, a mixing cup, a stirring tool, a cutting board and a knife. The most important ingredient, however, might be elbow grease, as New York Post video producer Steven Greenstreet demonstrates. Because bleach gets diluted, people trying this at home should repeat the process every 24 hours.

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Keep as New Reply Reply All Forward Delete Spam More ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH AND COVID-19

Each year in April, we observe Alcohol Awareness month, a public health effort organized by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence to increase outreach and education about the dangers of alcoholism and issues related to alcohol.
As the country deals with the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as social distancing and stay-at-home orders, it’s more important than ever to spread awareness about the danger using alcohol to cope. Using alcohol as a tool to cope with the anxiety and the loneliness of sheltering in place or maintaining social distance from others isn’t a wise choice. For alcoholics, it can continue or restart their addiction. For those who have never drank alcohol, or have only done so socially, it could create an addiction. 
Safer and healthier coping tools include:
·       Staying busy
·       Spending time together as a family
·       Making healthy meals
·       Doing projects you haven’t had time to do
·       Calling friends and family
·       Learning a new skill or hobby
·       Exercising
·       Writing in a journal
It’s also important to point out the stigma that still surrounds alcoholism and getting treatment. Alcoholism is an illness and there is no shame in seeking help. If you or someone you know are having issues with alcohol use, call one of the following:
·      National Helpline at 1-844-289-0879,
·      Alcoholics Anonymous at 1-212-870-3400
·      National Association for Children of Alcoholics at 1-888-554-COAS (2627)
·      Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
·      National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) at 1-800-NCA-CALL (622-2255).
For more information about Alcohol Awareness Month and local alcohol resources or information, contact the Wicomico County Health Department’s Alcohol and Other Drug Program at (410) 219-7544. You can also connect with the health department atwww.wicomicohealth.org or through our social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram (WicomicoHealth) or Twitter (@WicomicoHealth). 

Report: 100+ Vanderbilt Students Suffer Chinese Virus Symptoms After Campus Parties

A report published this week by Reuters claims that a group of more than 100 Vanderbilt University students that ignored concerns about the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic were responsible for spreading it to their home communities after leaving campus.

According to a report by Reuters, a group of Vanderbilt students that ignored directives from their university about the Wuhan coronavirus may have spread it to their local communities. The report claims that the students refused to shut down their social gatherings. Now, 107 students from Vanderbilt University claim to be experiencing coronavirus symptoms.

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Trump Weighs Legal Action Against China Over PPE Hoarding As International 'Mask Wars' Heat Up

The Trump administration is considering legal action against China after leading US manufacturers of medical safety gear say Beijing has prohibited them from exporting goods in what the New York Post says was a bid to "corner the world market" in personal protective equipment (PPE).

"In criminal law, compare this to the levels that we have for murder," said Trump re-election campaign senior legal adviser, Jenna Ellis, who says that legal options include filing a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights or working 'through the United Nations."

"People are dying. When you have intentional, cold-blooded, premeditated action like you have with China, this would be considered first-degree murder," she added.

Executives from 3M and Honeywell told US officials that the Chinese government in January began blocking exports of N95 respirators, booties, gloves and other supplies produced by their factories in China, according to a senior White House official.

China paid the manufacturers their standard wholesale rates, but prohibited the vital items from being sold to anyone else, the official said.

Around the same time that China cracked down on PPE exports, official data posted online shows that it imported 2.46 billion pieces of “epidemic prevention and control materials” between Jan. 24 and Feb. 29, the White House official said. -New York Post

In total, nearly $1.2 billion in gear - which included over 2 billion masks and 25 million "protective clothing" items which came from EU countries, along with Australia, Brazil and Cambodia according to the White House official.

"Data from China’s own customs agency points to an attempt to corner the world market in PPE like gloves, goggles, and masks through massive increased purchases — even as China, the world’s largest PPE manufacturer, was restricting exports," they added.

'Mask wars'

The shortage of vital protective equipment has pitted neighboring countries - and even US states - against each other, resulting in accusations of theft and modern piracy, according to the CBC. The United States, in particular, has been accused of stymying efforts by allies to procure said equipment - by allegedly attempting to scuttle European deals for purchases from China, as well as attempting to halt exports of US-made N95 masks to Canada and Latin America last week.

That said, a Berlin senator who accused the US of "piracy" by diverting a shipment of protective masks slated for delivery in the German capital has reversed his position - saying that no US firms were involved in the case of the still-missing masks.

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Why Are So Many Americans in Prison?

Activist groups claim a biased criminal justice system has put too many people behind bars. The solution, they say, is to drastically cut the prison population. Even now, some states are using the coronavirus pandemic to double down on granting early release to thousands of prisoners. Rafael Mangual, Deputy Director of Legal Policy at the Manhattan Institute, urges caution: most people are in prison for a good reason. 

Alternate Care Sites

SMYRNA – The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) and the State Health Operations Center (SHOC) are announcing today the designation of alternative care sites (ACS) in New Castle County to accommodate overflow patients from Delaware hospital systems as they begin to experience a surge in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Sites for the southern part of the state are expected to be announced later this week.

One alternate care site will be Governor Bacon Health Center, the Department of Health and Social Services’ long-term care facility in Delaware City, said DEMA Director A.J. Schall and Public Health Director Dr. Karyl Rattay.

Residents in two units will be transferred over several days this week – along with their current staff – to the Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill, another DHSS long-term facility in Smyrna. The residents from Governor Bacon will be placed in a separate unit at the DHCI Campus, isolated from current residents of DHCI. If all transferred residents clear the 14-day quarantine period, they will be integrated with the current residents of DHCI, said DHSS Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker, a practicing family physician.

Residents of one unit at Governor Bacon will remain on the second floor for 14 days, with the current staff caring for them. If those residents clear the quarantine period, they also will be transferred to Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill.

The residents’ families and Governor Bacon staff have been notified of Governor Bacon’s alternate care site designation and the impending move, Secretary Walker said. As floors of Governor Bacon are made available, they will be deep-cleaned by DHSS before they are used as an alternative care site, Secretary Walker said. When all residents are moved to Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill, Dr. Rattay said the State will have the potential of 75 additional beds at Governor Bacon for overflow patients from Delaware’s hospitals. Staffing to care for the potential overflow patients is currently being developed.

“We are grateful to the families of the residents and the staff for understanding why we have to move the residents of Governor Bacon,” Secretary Walker said. “Throughout this crisis, our top priority is the health and safety of our residents and also making sure that our staff who care for our residents are safe and healthy as well.”

WSJ Editorial Board: Coronavirus -- WHO's bows to Beijing have harmed the global response to the pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic will offer many lessons in what to do better to save more lives and do less economic harm the next time. But there’s already one way to ensure future pandemics are less deadly: Reform or defund the World Health Organization (WHO).

Last week Florida Senator Rick Scott called for a Congressional investigation into the United Nations agency’s “role in helping Communist China cover up information regarding the threat of the Coronavirus.” The rot at WHO goes beyond canoodling with Beijing, but that’s a good place to st

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https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/coronavirus-who-beijing-pandemic

Ohio lawmaker says she'll press crimes against humanity charge against Trump over hydroxychloroquine promotion

Ohio state Rep. Tavia Galonski (D) said that she will make a “referral for crimes against humanity” over President Trump’s promotion of the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for the novel coronavirus, despite its unproven benefits and lack of long-term Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.

“I can’t take it anymore. I’ve been to The Hague. I’m making a referral for crimes against humanity tomorrow,” Galonski tweeted late Sunday.

“Today’s press conference was the last straw," Galonski added. "I know the need for a prosecution referral when I see one.”

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MICHIGAN DEMOCRAT REP. KAREN WHITSETT PRAISES HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE, TRUMP

She began taking hydroxychloroquine once her doctor prescribed it to her

A Democrat state representative from Detroit, Michigan, has given credit to hydroxychloroquine and President Donald Trump for saving her life as she battled the deadly coronavirus.

Michigan state Rep. Karen Whitsett, who recently tested positive for COVID-19, said she began taking hydroxychloroquine once her doctor prescribed it to her on March 31 after she and her husband sought treatment on March 18 for an array of symptoms.

Whitsett said she experienced shortness of breath, swollen lymph nodes, and somewhat of a sinus infection. According to Whitsett, “It was less than two hours” when she started to feel relief.

The representative also said she was familiar with “the wonders” of hydroxychloroquine after an earlier battle with Lyme disease, but claims she would not have thought to ask for it if President Trump had not touted its benefits as a possible coronavirus treatment.

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STUDY: SMOKERS APPEAR LESS LIKELY TO BE HOSPITALISED WITH COVID-19

The study presents an analysis of the current smoking prevalence among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in China

Smoking may reduce the likelihood of being hospitalized with coronavirus, claims a study.

Here is the abstract of the study – Smoking, vaping and hospitalization for COVID-19 – by researchers at the University of West Attica in Greece and New York University.

The study presents an analysis of the current smoking prevalence among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in China, compared to the population smoking prevalence in China (52.1% in males and 2.7% in females). Through a systematic research of the literature (PubMed) we identified 7 studies examining the clinical characteristics of a total of 2352 hospitalized COVID-19 patients that presented data on the smoking status.

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A Solution to COVID-19 Is in Sight!

A solution to the COVID-19 epidemic is in sight. It is the combo used by South Korea, where people are back at work, to successfully stem its COVID-19 outbreak. It has three parts: (1) greatly expanded testing of those who could be infected and (2) effective treatment of the virus with a hydroxychloroquine-zinc cocktail, combined with (3) the product of American ingenuity: rapid development of vaccines.

While these solutions might be thwarted by bureaucracy, progress is happening rapidly, and there are reasons why our collective Groundhog Day of staying at home every day while the economy falters and body counts grow could soon be over.

Greatly Expanded Testing

Testing is one key. South Korea did its testing for COVID-19 by setting up drive-through testing stations around the country. Sufficient tests are now available in the United States to make testing widespread, but it isn't happening. During President Trump's Coronavirus Task Force press conference on Tuesday, Vice President Mike Pence and Task Force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx discussed the problem:

THE VICE PRESIDENT: On the subject of testing, we have now completed more than 1.1 million tests around the country. We're working very closely with governors around America to — to assist them in drive-through and community testing centers[.] ...

Abbott Laboratories is actually going to be producing 50,000 tests a day and distributing those around America. There's already the machines in some 18,000 different locations around the country, and they've told us they have several thousand on the shelf now[.] ...

We're testing about 100,000 Americans a day. That'll continue to grow. It'll continue to accelerate[.] ...

DR. BIRX: It is disappointing to me right now that we have about 500,000 capacity of Abbott tests that are not being utilized. So they are out. They're in the states. They're not being run and not utilized.

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Second teenager is arrested in the murder of a doctor and her husband who were found dumped in a ditch at the University of Wisconsin arboretum

A University of Wisconsin physician and her husband whose bodies were found in a ditch were shot dead, cops revealed as they arrested a second teenage suspect.

Police said Saturday that they arrested Ali'jah Larrue, 18, on Friday night for the double-homicide of Dr. Beth Potter, 52 and Robin Carre, 57.

A jogger found the bodies of the husband and wife last Tuesday in a ditch at the university's arboretum, a research and popular recreational area.

Larrue was booked into jail on two counts of party to the crime of first-degree intentional homicide.

UW police spokesman Marc Lovicott said Sunday that Larrue is an acquaintance of the other suspect, Khari Sanford, 18, who was arrested earlier Friday and booked on the same charges.

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NEW: State Department Tells Court it Should Reject Hillary Clinton's Desperate Appeal to Avoid Testimony

Last month a federal court ordered a deposition of Hillary Clinton on her emails and Benghazi attack records.

Hillary Clinton hit back and filed an emergency appeal to stop her court-ordered email testimony.

Crooked Hillary thinks she is too important to be required to comply with a court order to testify.

Apparently the State Department and its DOJ lawyers can’t even defend Hillary Clinton this time around because they told an appeals court to reject Clinton’s effort to avoid testimony.

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"Well, I'm Upset" - Dr. Oz Vents After NY Governor Cuomo Shuts Down His Study on Hydroxychloroquine for Early Treatment of Coronavirus (VIDEO)

Dr. Mehmet Oz joined Lou Dobbs on Monday to discuss the latest on the coronavirus pandemic.

During their conversation Dr. Oz revealed that Governor Andrew Cuomo shut down his study to determine the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine in the early treatment of the coronavirus.
And, Dr. Oz is not pleased with the governor’s actions.

Dr. Oz: Well the trial that I was helping with at my institution was shut down when the governor banned the use of hydroxychloroquine for prescription use for outpatients. And I was trying to see if it could prevent, well there was a prevention trial that was approved, but I was trying to see if it could actually treat early disease and replicate what has been done in China and in France. Unfortunately, those trials have been held back. I don’t know of a trial in New York State. I have been searching for the one that has been spoken about… I spoke this morning to the famous French Infectious Disease specialist Didier Raoult, he’s the one who’s actually been pioneering the hydroxychloroquine with azithromycin, it’s not published yet, but he shared the results of his first thousand patients who have been on that protocol. Seven people died. They were all older and frail individuals. That is lower than what you would expect from people who have been admitted to the hospital. And he’s had 20 got to the ICU, again lower than I would expect… Well, I’m upset because I wanted to do the trial. Also I wanted it to be legal in my state for a doctor to talk to a patient about the COVID-19 and treat them as they saw appropriate.

New York state leads the nation in coronavirus cases and deaths. New York state currently lists4,758 COVID-19 deaths in the state which is almost half of all US deaths due to the virus.

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Corrupt WHO Director Faces Calls to Resign For 'Deceiving the World' -- After He Allowed China to Cover Up Truth About Coronavirus

US lawmakers are calling for WHO Director Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to resign for ‘deceiving the world’ by allowing China to cover up the truth about the Coronavirus.

A few weeks ago the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told an audience the “world was slow to react to the coronavirus.”

Tedros however downplayed the deadliness of this same virus back in January.

He claimed the Coronavirus could not be spread by human-to-human contact.

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What China Has Done to Starve U.S. Hospitals of Key Medical Equipment is Unforgivable

China lied and people died. In December, China ordered its scientists to destroy samples that showed they had a pneumonia-like virus on their hands. They strong-armed doctors from trying to spread the word, kept medical staff in the dark, and prevented new cases of what we know was the Wuhan Coronavirus, or COVID-19, from being reported. And now doctors who tried to raise awareness have vanished. Vloggers documenting the situation on the ground have also disappeared. China allowed Chinese New Year to be celebrated which led to scores of people being exposed. In all, some 5 million people had left Wuhan by the time the Chinese government got its act together. It was too late. And now, their incompetence caused this pandemic.

The world economy has ground to a halt. And while we’re dealing with this nonsense, China has also reportedly tried to corner the market on personal protection equipment which is essential for health care workers around the world. The Trump administration is fully aware of the situation and is mulling legal action.The New York Post quoted one senior lawyer said China’s actions concerning this alleged hoarding is akin to a first-degree murder charge (via NY Post):

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Thousands of Doctors: Yes, Hydroxychloroquine Works Against Wuhan Coronavirus

Over the past three weeks, there's been debate over whether hydroxychloroquine, a drug used for decades to treat malaria, can help ease the symptoms of Wuhan coronavirus. During White House press briefings, reporters have done their best to shoot down the possibility.

But doctors around the country and the world are using it and seeing positive results.

First, in Los Angeles:

Dr. Anthony Cardillo said he has seen very promising results when prescribing hydroxychloroquine in combination with zinc for the most severely-ill COVID-19 patients.

"Every patient I've prescribed it to has been very, very ill and within 8 to 12 hours, they were basically symptom-free," Cardillo told Eyewitness News. "So clinically I am seeing a resolution."

Cardillo is the CEO of Mend Urgent Care, which has locations in Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys and Burbank.

He said he has found it only works if combined with zinc. The drug, he said, opens a channel for the zinc to enter the cell and block virus replication.

"We have to be cautious and mindful that we don't prescribe it for patients who have COVID who are well," Cardillo said. "It should be reserved for people who are really sick, in the hospital or at home very sick, who need that medication. Otherwise we're going to blow through our supply for patients that take it regularly for other disease processes."

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COVID-19 Damaging the Heart in Addition to Lungs

Data from China, Italy, Washington state, and New York – among the heaviest hit epicenters of the global coronavirus pandemic – are showing COVID-19 patients dying from cardiac arrest, according to Kaiser Health News.

"It's extremely important to answer the question: Is their heart being affected by the virus and can we do something about it?" New York City cardiologist Dr. Ulrich Jorde told the journal. "This may save many lives in the end."

While the heart is extremely dependent on oxygen, which can be choked off by respiratory illness, it has been a medical mystery how patients without signs of "respiratory distress" are also dying of heart attacks, suggesting the virus can affect the heart muscle in addition to the lungs, according to the report.

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4 NY Teens Charged With Hate Crime in Asian Woman Attack

Four teenage girls in New York on Monday were charged with hate crimes for allegedly attacking a 51-year-old Asian woman on a bus for "causing" the coronavirus, reports CNN.

The incident happened on a bus in the Bronx on March 28 at around 3 p.m. ET.

All four teens attacked the Asian woman, calling her a bi*** and asking her why she was not wearing a mask. They fled after the attack. One of the suspects struck the woman's head with an umbrella, according to NYPD Lt. Thomas Antonetti.

The victim was taken a local hospital where she received stitches for a cut to her head.

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COVID-19 Statistics in Maryland 4-7-2020


COVID-19 Statistics in Maryland

Number of Confirmed Cases: 4,371
Number of negative test results: 27,256
Number of Deaths: 103
Hospitalizations: 1,106 ever hospitalized
Released From Isolation: 288

Cases and Deaths by County (deaths):Allegany 7
Anne Arundel 370, (8)
Baltimore City 459, (9)
Baltimore County 652, (11)
Calvert 41, (1)
Caroline 11
Carroll 159, (16)
Cecil 41, (1)
Charles 136, (2)
Dorchester 3
Frederick 151, (4)
Garrett 3
Harford 59
Howard 236, (3)
Kent 8
Montgomery 871, (21)
Prince George's 1,020, (26)
Queen Anne's 15
St. Mary's 46
Somerset 4
Talbot 8
Washington 44
Wicomico 17, (1)
Worcester 10

Cases by Age Range and Gender:
0-9 21
10-19 82
20-29 505
30-39 773
40-49 795
50-59 891
60-69 643
70-79 445
80+ 216

Female: 2,329 Male: 2,042

BREAKING NEWS: Ocean City Wins Challenge To Topless Ban

Judge: "The court has held that protecting the moral sensibilities of that substantial segment of society that still does not want to be exposed willy-nilly to public displays of various portions of their fellow citizens’ anatomies that traditionally in this society have been regarded as erogenous zones is an important government interest under the equal protection analysis.”

Shawn J. Soper
Managing Editor

OCEAN CITY -- Convinced Ocean City officials have a better understanding of the public sensibilities of its residents and guests than the plaintiffs in the case, a federal judge on Tuesday dismissed a civil suit that wanted women to be able to go topless in the resort.
In January 2018, a civil suit was filed in U.S. District Court challenging an emergency ordinance passed by the Mayor and Council in June 2017 prohibiting females from going topless in the same areas as men are allowed to go shirtless, including the beach and Boardwalk, for example. The plaintiffs in the case, including local resident Chelsea Eline and four others, argued the emergency ordinance passed by the Mayor and Council in June 2017 violated their constitutional rights allowing them, and ostensibly any other woman who chose to do so, to go topless in certain areas of the resort where men are allowed to go shirtless.

The case centered on who was best suited to assess the public sensibilities of Ocean City’s residents and visitors. Ocean City asserted the very elected officials who passed the emergency ordinance were best suited to gage the community’s collective opinion on the female public topless issue based on interactions with residents and guests.

“Protecting the public sensibilities is an important government interest based on an indisputable difference between the sexes,” the town’s rationale for the emergency ordinance reads. “Further, a prohibition against females baring their breasts in public, although not offensive to everyone, is still seen by society as unpalatable.”

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Hampton Roads residents get crafty with homemade face masks

Medical grade masks are reserved for health care workers, but cloth masks are simple to do at home. The community is busy making them.

HAMPTON, Va. —
Virginians shouldn’t leave the house without a face mask. It’s Governor Ralph Northam’s newest request following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

Medical-grade masks are reserved healthcare workers, but cloth masks are simple to do at home. The Hampton Roads community is busy making them.

Hampton resident Karen Albero has made about 100 cloth masks in one week. It all started when she saw her neighbor needed a face mask, so she put her sewing hobby to the test.

“I posted it on Facebook,” Albero said. “I was overwhelmed by the response. People saying, ‘Oh my goodness, can you make me this?’”

She uses two pieces of 100 percent cotton fabric to make a mask and slides a filter in between them. Albero buys bright patterned and themed fabrics.

She also uses rubber bands for ear loops now that elastic is scarce.

“They are as comfortable as the elastic,” Albero said.

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LA doctor: COVID-19 patients go from 'very ill' to 'symptom-free' in 8 to 12 hours using hydroxychloroquine and zinc

'Clinically, I am seeing a resolution'

A doctor in Los Angeles is reporting remarkable success in treating COVID-19 patients with a combination of zinc and the Trump-touted anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine.

Dr. Anthony Cardillo, an ER specialist and the CEO of Mend Urgent Care, has been prescribing the combination of drugs to patients experiencing severe symptoms of the disease after contracting the novel coronavirus.

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A Viewer Writes: Another "I Love Me" narrative by Jake Day that he is tweeting.

Another "I Love Me" narrative by Jake Day that he is tweeting. He is full of himself if he thinks he is leading anyone through the this Covid 19 epidemic. The County has it under control.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy may be better than ventilators

In the midst of the coronavirus epidemic/pandemic it bears remembering the application of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to the last major pandemic that impacted the United States in 1918, the Spanish Flu Pandemic. Death was primarily by pulmonary infection and its attendant hypoxemia and respiratory failure. The first application of hyperbaric medicine to a Spanish Flu victim was likely also the first application to a human being in the United States. In 1918 Dr. Orval Cunningham of Kansas City was brought a dying friend of a fellow physician. The patient was moribund and blue. Before Cunningham could perform his planned animal experiments he was asked to treat this dying patient. With just a one-hour treatment with compressed air at 1.68 atmospheres absolute the patient experienced improvement. Combined with additional hyperbaric treatments over the next 3 days this patient’s life was saved. Others followed.

Today’s coronavirus’ mortality is due to pulmonary infection and respiratory failure. While there are differences between the Spanish Flu and coronavirus the primary pathology is in the lungs, the first organ of contact with hyperbaric therapy beyond the skin. The ability of hyperbaric oxygen to penetrate inflammatory pulmonary secretions allows adequate oxygen to reach the blood while inhibiting the inflammatory process. Applied correctly, hyperbaric therapy may have utility in coronavirus patients similar to its life-saving history with the Spanish Flu. Harch Hyperbarics Inc 504 309-4948 www.hbot.com

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Processing of Paper Income Tax Returns to Temporarily Stop on April 15 Due to COVID-19

Taxpayers seeking refunds urged to file immediately as agency continues processing electronic returns

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Comptroller Peter Franchot today urged Maryland taxpayers seeking refunds to file electronically as soon as possible and announced that the agency will temporarily stop processing paper tax returns on April 15, in an effort to keep essential employees safe amid the spread of COVID-19.
“We remain committed to getting refunds into taxpayers’ bank accounts during this economic crisis. However, we must balance that with our commitment to protecting the health of those dedicated essential employees who have continued reporting to work to process returns and distribute refunds in a timely manner,” Comptroller Franchot said. 
Most taxpayers receiving refunds have already filed and the number of those anticipating refunds who have yet to do so and plan to file via paper returns is very low. 
The deadline for individuals and businesses to file and pay state income taxes was previously extended until July 15. 
To date, the number of both paper and electronic tax returns filed during the 2020 tax year has decreased from last year’s totals at the same time period — a drop of 27 percent in paper returns and 7.5 percent in electronic filings. 
Since taking office in 2007, Comptroller Franchot has encouraged taxpayers to file electronically. Nearly 86 percent of the more than three million returns processed annually by the agency are filed electronically, while approximately 450,000 returns are manually submitted, costing the state about $5 each to process. It takes an average of 2.2 business days to process an electronically filed return compared to the average of 22 business days to process a paper return.
The decision to temporarily stop processing paper returns after April 15 will further reduce the staff who are required to work on site. The electronic filing process requires minimal human intervention; it is cost-effective and it is a more secure way to submit taxes at a time when tax fraud and identity theft schemes are on the rise across the nation.
For those taxpayers who must file paper returns and are anticipating a refund, Comptroller Franchot encourages them to do so by April 10, 2020, to ensure they will be processed before the April 15 temporary suspension. Once again, all taxpayers have until July 15 to file and pay their income taxes.
The agency will continue to monitor the situation closely and could alter the schedule if necessary. 
“I commend our employees — both the small group of staff still reporting to the office, as well as those working from home — for their continued commitment to the taxpayers who pay their salaries and who are relying on their refunds to make it through these incredibly difficult economic circumstances,” Comptroller Franchot said.

RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel: Democrats' coronavirus voting plan – this is the way to undermine democracy

After failing with their first left-wing laundry list disguised as coronavirus relief, Democratic leaders are already plotting their next attempt to use the pandemic for political gain.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and former Vice President Joe Biden say we must throw election integrity to the wayside in favor of an all-mail election, fundamentally changing how Americans vote in eight months. The overhaul would vastly expand opportunities for fraud and weaken confidence in our elections, but all Washington Democrats see is a potential benefit for their party.

Pelosi says she needs $4 billion, at the height of the pandemic, to "really democratize our whole system.” Pardon those of us who thought we already had democratic elections.

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https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/coronavirus-democrats-mail-voting-fraud-rnc-chair-ronna-mcdaniel

New York City will bury coronavirus victims in public parks in 10-body trenches if the relentless death toll keeps climbing as officials warn the pandemic is like 'an ongoing 9/11' for medical examiners

New York City will start temporarily buryingcoronavirus victims in public parks in trenches dug for 10 caskets if the death roll keeps climbing past a rate hospitals and morgues can keep up with.

The shockingly grim announcement came from Councilman Mark Levine who said it would be done in a 'dignified' manner but that it was what was necessary.

He called it 'temporary interment'.

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Carrier Captain Torpedoes National Security

In the last week there has been some media attention regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on military readiness, including the Defense Department’s suspension of virtually all domestic and international travel by military personnel. Clearly, our military operations are not exempt from the viral impact.

But one particular story — a letter written by the now-former Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and published in the San Francisco Chronicle — received widespread attention. In that letter, CAPT Brett Crozier bemoaned the impact of the virus on his crew and pleaded for the Navy to take “decisive action” to stem its spread. While his concern for his crew was laudable, choosing to communicate his concerns and sensationalist tone in a way that was certain to end up in the public domain was not.

The media praise for Crozier was misguided, and he was appropriately relieved of his command.

News of his “re-assignment” was met with media accusations of a cover-up and praise for his great bravery in bucking the system. But Crozier wasn’t fired for speaking truth to power, as many would have you believe. He was fired for losing his cool in a high-pressure situation and improperly disclosing sensitive information — readiness status for a deployed, strategically significant asset. We’re not questioning the sincerity of his concerns for his crew, but his loss of composure raises serious questions about his fitness to command one of our nation’s premier war-fighting platforms.

Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly made things clear in his statement about Crozier’s actions: “As I learned more about the events of the past week on board USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN-71), including my personal conversations with the Strike Group Commander, Commander, SEVENTH Fleet, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, the Chief of Naval Operations, and CAPT Crozier himself, I could reach no other conclusion than that Captain Crozier had allowed the complexity of his challenge with COVID breakout on the ship to overwhelm his ability to act professionally, when acting professionally was what was needed most. We do, and we should, expect more from the Commanding Officers of our aircraft carriers.”

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GOOD FRIDAY & EASTER HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

Salisbury, MD ... Wicomico County Government Offices will be closed Friday, April 10, 2020, in observance of Good Friday.

CONVENIENCE CENTERS, LANDFILL, BRUSH PILE, FERRIES

GOOD FRIDAY & EASTER HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

Salisbury, MD ... On Friday, April 10, 2020, the Newland Park Landfill, Convenience Center and Brush Pile and the Whitehaven Ferry and Upper Ferry will be open regular hours. All external Convenience Centers will be closed.

On Sunday, April 12, 2020, the Newland Park Landfill, Brush Pile and all external Convenience Centers will be closed. The Whitehaven Ferry and Upper Ferry will be open regular hours.

For more information, please contact the Newland Park Landfill at 410-548-4935. Ferry information is available by calling 410-543-2765.

WHO Demands Abortion Be Considered ‘Essential’ Healthcare Services During Pandemic

The World Health Organization may be struggling to explain its initial response to the coronavirus pandemic — particularly its deference to Chinese authorities and official Chinese government reports about the spread of the virus — but they have at least one concrete edict when it comes to COVID-19: the virus should not hinder the availability of abortion services.

According to a statement from the WHO itself (via the Daily Caller News Foundation), “services related to reproductive health are considered to be part of essential services during the COVID-19 outbreak.”

That means that countries demanding businesses lock down to stop or slow the spread of coronavirus should refrain from locking down abortion providers or forcing them to turn over much-needed personal protection equipment, even though doctors and hospitals are canceling every other form of elective surgery.

The WHO is even demanding abortions be given to those who test positive for coronavirus, even if the procedure might put both patient and caregivers at risk.

More here

Fire at Dart Manufacturing Leads to Arrest

CAROLINE COUNTY - April 6, 2020 - Investigators from the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office were alerted to an incident that occurred at Dart Manufacturing Facility on 1000 Industrial Park Drive in Federalsburg on March 31st around 2 am. The investigation revealed an employee at the facility intentionally set a fire in a confined space above the ceiling of the office area, while the building was occupied and operating. The employee responsible for setting the fire was identified as Joshua Vallejo (37), who had been employed at the facility for about two years. He was subsequently charged with Arson First Degree, Malicious Burning First Degree, Malicious Destruction of Property and Reckless Endangerment. Vallejo was arrested today and is currently being held without bond at Caroline County Detention Center.

The fire caused approximately $1,000 in damages at the facility. No fire department personnel were requested at the time of the fire, and the fire was extinguished by employees of Dart. The Caroline County Sheriff's Office and Federalsburg Police Department assisted in the investigation and arrest.

Influential Coronavirus Tracking Model Shows Steep Decline In Death, Bed Shortage Projections

An influential prediction model, referenced routinely by White House coronavirus task for leader Dr. Deborah Birx, has been updated to reflect a major change in death and bed shortage projections, according to the Associated Press.

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation University of Washington’s School of Medicine now says they’re COVID-19 projection model shows a sharp decline in anticipated deaths, anticipated bed shortages, and even anticipated infections — a change made as new data about the virus’ real-world spread becomes available and analysts are able to monitor epicenters, like New York City, in real time.

“Updated COVID-19 estimates find that need for hospital beds, ICU beds, and ventilators needed to deal with the COVID-19 epidemic are less than previously estimated,” the AP reports, adding that IHME used data from European outbreaks to better understand how patients are selected for intensive care units and how long most coronavirus-related ICU stays last.

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Reporter Lies About Working for China At WH Presser

President Trump asked a reporter at his April 6th press event if she was working for the government of China, following a hostile question.

She replied that her company – Phoenix Media – is “privately” owned.

She’s lying.

The Hong Kong/Cayman Islands based Phoenix Media is actually owned in large part by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and by a former CCP propaganda officer.

As of 2018, Phoenix Satellite Holdings was owned by Liu Changle (37.1% of shares). Changle is a “former PLA propaganda official who is close to senior Chinese government leaders”.

Changle previously worked as a propaganda officer for China National Radio (then known as the Central People’s Broadcasting Station).

A further 20 percent of the company is owned by Extra Step Investments Limited, in turn owned by China Mobile Hong Kong, which itself is owned by the Chinese government-owned China Mobile.

Eight more percent of the company is owned by China Wise Investment Ltd, owned by the Bank of China.

This means at least 65 percent of the company is owned by the government of China.

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EPIC! NBC Station Tweets Out "Striking Moment" Democrat Gov. Ralph Northam Put on His Own Blackface Mask and Urges Others to Follow

It was only a matter of time.

NBC News 4 posted a tweet on Monday of “Governor Blackface” Ralph Northam putting on his own blackface mask and urging others to do the same!

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Nurses walk off job while protesting staffing numbers for COVID-19 patients at Sinai-Grace Hospital in Detroit

8 nurses leave work

DETROIT –
Nurses at Sinai-Grace Hospital in Detroit protested staffing numbers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which resulted in an overnight walkout.

The nurses arrived at work at 7 p.m. on Sunday and saw the workload. Nurse Sal Hadwan, who led the protest, said the nurses would each have about a dozen seriously ill patients under their care. About half of those patients would be on a ventilator.

“It’s unsafe for the patients. We couldn’t go out there and provide the level of care they deserve,” Hadwan said.

The nurses went to the break room and asked management for more help. Management told them to get to work or leave, so eight nurses went home. The other nurses at the hospital then had to work 25 hour shifts.

“It’s unfortunate what happened last night,” Hadwan said. “We hope they can rectify the situation by getting us additional help because that’s all we were asking for.”

Hadwan said he plans to go into work Monday. It is unknown if the nurses who participated in the walkout will be reprimanded.

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Wow! Top House Democrat Can't Quite Figure Out How to Wear a Face Mask

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) was seen out this weekend sporting a face mask as a good example to her constituents.
Or maybe not.

It wasn’t a fluke.
She wore it that way all day.

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CBS News Posts Fraudulent Viral Video of Sobbing ICU Nurse Who Quit Her Job Over Poor Working Conditions, Mask Shortage -- It Was All a Lie

CBS News was caught once again posting a fraudulent video to make it look like President Trump is failing in his response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

First CBS was caught using footage from an Italian hospital to describe conditions in New York.

Now CBS posted a fraudulent viral video of an ICU nurse crying about a mask shortage and poor working conditions.

CBS on Sunday morning posted a video of a “nurse in tears” who says she quit her job after she was asked to work in a Coronavirus ICU without a face mask: “America is not prepared, and nurses are not being protected.”

The fake news tweet from CBS with the viral video is STILL UP and has received over 6 MILLION VIEWS!

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Let's See How You Do Today


Baltimore City will begin transporting homeless residents over the age of 62 to motels

BALTIMORE, Md. (WBFF) -- Beginning this week, the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services will begin to relocate vulnerable homeless residents over the age of 62 from the City’s three emergency shelters to motels.

Mayor Young issued the following statement:

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Racism?


Historical artist transforms famous figures including Ned Kelly and Harry Houdini in fascinating set of colourised portraits

Famous faces of the past have been thrust into the 21st century thanks to the work of one Irish artist.

Matt Loughrey, 41, has spent the last four-and-a-half years working on a technology to redefine and colour portraits of some of the world's most recognisable historical figures.

Working with others to source images, Matt's self-developed method has brought the likes of Harry Houdini and Jesse James into a more relatable light.

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GOP Gears Up for Next Relief Fight: Democrats ‘Want the Federal Government to Take Over Elections’

The GOP is gearing up for what could be a contentious battle over the next stage of coronavirus relief, as Democrats continue to signal their desire to pursue a variety of changes related to the U.S. election.

Republicans and Democrats are expected to begin the process of crafting the next stage of economic relief after successfully passing a bipartisan measure to provide relief to small businesses and individuals affected by the coronavirus pandemic last month. The measure ultimately passed unanimously in the Senate, but it initially did not go without opposition, as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) attempted to offer her own version of relief filled with a variety of liberal “wish list” items, including major changes to voting methods. While the speaker has signaled support for a bipartisan measure in the same mold as the last, she hinted last week that she is still going to pursue changes to voting methods.

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The most beautiful version of Hallelujah you ever heard

Home Depot Co-Founder: Congress Should Have Been Investigating the Pandemic, Not Impeaching Trump

Monday on Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria,” Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus said instead of impeaching President Donald Trump. Congress should have been investigating the coronavirus pandemic in China in January.

Marcus said, “I think that look this president has been hit with something that no president has ever had to deal with. I just resent the people that are going after him now. They are already talking about another impeachment. I hate to tell you that, that Adam Schiff is already investigating this.”

Bartiromo said, “You are hitting on something that is really important because, for three years, Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff were looking for ghosts of Russia collusion. In doing so in terms of getting the country all crazy over the potential of collusion between the president and the Russians, they completely missed the bigger, much more dangerous actor, and that is China. China has been eating our lunch. We’ve got all this stuff produced in China that we need right now, including our active ingredients from prescription drugs. So now they want to do another investigative process of this president and yet throughout the Ukraine impeachment trial as well as the Russian collusion for three years all that time they missed so much that actually impacted Americans.

“Most importantly, in my view, is China. That is the story of the day. They are continuing to eat our lunch, and downplay this virus from the get-go,” she continued.

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Torture!


Whitehaven Ferry Closed Temporarily Today

The Whitehaven Ferry will be closed temporarily tomorrow for repair on a cable. It will only be down for a few hours. Please call the 410-543-2765 to check the service.

AOC offers advice for young people to get around stimulus check exclusion

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez railed against a provision in the coronavirus cash assistance program that penalizes young people and offered advice on how to potentially get around that during a virtual town hall this week.

The one-time payments of up to $1,200 per person and $500 per child will help most Americans, but there are some exceptions that have frustrated the New York Democrat, including many young people between the ages of 17 and 24 being passed over.

"There are a lot of populations that are left out," Ocasio-Cortez said of the $2.2 trillion stimulus package President Trump signed into law on March 27. "And one of the most left-out populations are young people, which has been an extreme disappointment."

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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/aoc-offers-advice-for-young-people-to-fix-stimulus-check-exclusion