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Friday, March 27, 2020
Dr. Deborah Birx Shreds Media For Salacious Claims
Dr. Deborah Birx, who serves as the White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator, unloaded on the mainstream media during a press conference on Thursday for their COVID-19 reporting that is not backed up by factual realities.
Birx began by highlighting the study in the U.K. that dramatically revised its projections of the total number of deaths projected in the U.K. from “half a million to 20,000.”
“So, when people start talking about 20% of a population getting infected,” Birx later added. “It’s very scary, but we don’t have data that matches that based on the experience.”
Birx then unloaded on the media for its claims that there were few, if any, ventilators in New York and that doctors may have to soon make decisions about who lives and who dies.
“We were reassured after meeting with colleagues in New York there are still ICU beds remaining and there’s still significant, over a thousand or 2,000 ventilators that have not been used yet,” Birx said. “Please, for the reassurance of people around the world, to wake up this morning and look at people talking about creating DNR situations, do not resuscitate situations for patients, there is no situation in the United States right now that warrants that kind of discussion.”
More here
Birx began by highlighting the study in the U.K. that dramatically revised its projections of the total number of deaths projected in the U.K. from “half a million to 20,000.”
“So, when people start talking about 20% of a population getting infected,” Birx later added. “It’s very scary, but we don’t have data that matches that based on the experience.”
Birx then unloaded on the media for its claims that there were few, if any, ventilators in New York and that doctors may have to soon make decisions about who lives and who dies.
“We were reassured after meeting with colleagues in New York there are still ICU beds remaining and there’s still significant, over a thousand or 2,000 ventilators that have not been used yet,” Birx said. “Please, for the reassurance of people around the world, to wake up this morning and look at people talking about creating DNR situations, do not resuscitate situations for patients, there is no situation in the United States right now that warrants that kind of discussion.”
More here
Maryland Reports 194 New Cases of COVID-19; Cases In National Capital Region More Than Quadruple Over The Last Week
ANNAPOLIS, MD—The State of Maryland now has 774 confirmed cases of COVID-19—an increase of 425 cases over the last three days. There are now more than 1,500 confirmed cases in the National Capital Region—in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia—4.5 times more than there were just one week ago.
Governor Larry Hogan today issued the following statement:
“Over the last three days, the number of COVID-19 cases in Maryland has more than doubled. Cases in the National Capital Region have more than quadrupled over the last week alone. There is no timetable and no model that can tell us exactly how long this will last or how bad this is going to get.
“The federal administration’s swift approval of our request for a Major Disaster Declaration will drive more resources to our coordinated response. As chairman of the National Governors Association, I will continue to press for additional federal resources, including a Title 32 designation for Maryland and all the states to fund National Guard missions.
“Later today, I will convene conference calls with my full Cabinet and our Coronavirus Response Team of Maryland’s top doctors and public health experts to continue to address this crisis. I cannot stress this enough: Marylanders need to stay in place at home to help slow the spread of this deadly virus.
“Our state has already faced and overcome daunting challenges before, and we will do so again.”
CAT CONTRACTS CORONAVIRUS FROM SICK OWNER IN NEW CASE OF HUMAN-TO-ANIMAL TRANSITION
As scientists around the world battle for a cure or vaccine to Covid-19, a new case of human-to-animal transmission has arisen in Belgium, where health experts say a cat contracted the disease from its coronavirus-stricken owner.
Just one week after the pet owner in Liege, Belgium was diagnosed with Covid-19, their cat also started showing symptoms of the disease, including respiratory problems and diarrhea.
As panic over the outbreak keeps gaining ground, spokesman for Belgium’s coronavirus crisis center, Emmanuel Andre, tried to reassure the public that the infected animal was an “isolated case.”
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Just one week after the pet owner in Liege, Belgium was diagnosed with Covid-19, their cat also started showing symptoms of the disease, including respiratory problems and diarrhea.
As panic over the outbreak keeps gaining ground, spokesman for Belgium’s coronavirus crisis center, Emmanuel Andre, tried to reassure the public that the infected animal was an “isolated case.”
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'I've coughed until my throat bled': Nashville woman, 21, who bragged about not taking coronavirus seriously and scoffed at social distancing now regrets it after testing positive
A 21-year-old woman from Tennessee who bragged online about not taking seriously social distancing advice surrounding Covid-19 has contracted the deadly virus herself.
Ireland Tate, from Nashville, joked on social media about how she thought she would not contract the virus and ventured outside with a group of friends - despite strict instructions to stay at home amid the global pandemic.
However, days after posting the video Tate tested positive for the deadly illness, according to WZTV.
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Ireland Tate, from Nashville, joked on social media about how she thought she would not contract the virus and ventured outside with a group of friends - despite strict instructions to stay at home amid the global pandemic.
However, days after posting the video Tate tested positive for the deadly illness, according to WZTV.
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Coronavirus: U.S. Reliant on Malaysia, Thailand for Nearly All Rubber Gloves
The United States is relying on rubber glove imports from mostly Malaysia and Thailand in the midst of the Chinese coronavirus, with no clear path for manufacturing the critical medical supply in the U.S.
About three-in-five, or 60 percent, of rubber gloves today are made in Malaysia, while the U.S. is making close to none, according to industry insiders who spoke to Breitbart News.
The coronavirus has hit Malaysia’s supply chains, making it increasingly difficult for foreign factories to keep up with the demand – an issue for the U.S. as rubber gloves are vital to protecting healthcare workers and patients from infection.
Data from 2017 shows the U.S. imports about 91 percent of its rubber gloves from Malaysia and Thailand. The U.S. exports less than 0.4 percent of rubber gloves to other countries.
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About three-in-five, or 60 percent, of rubber gloves today are made in Malaysia, while the U.S. is making close to none, according to industry insiders who spoke to Breitbart News.
The coronavirus has hit Malaysia’s supply chains, making it increasingly difficult for foreign factories to keep up with the demand – an issue for the U.S. as rubber gloves are vital to protecting healthcare workers and patients from infection.
Data from 2017 shows the U.S. imports about 91 percent of its rubber gloves from Malaysia and Thailand. The U.S. exports less than 0.4 percent of rubber gloves to other countries.
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Pompeo: Chinese Communist Party Denying World Vital Coronavirus Information
The Chinese Communist Party is willfully denying the world vital information it needs to stem the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo charged on Tuesday night.
Speaking during an exchange with the Washington Watch radio program, Pompeo repeated previous charges Beijing’s delay in sharing information about the virus had created risks to the global community and this had “truly put thousands of lives at risk.”
He said China’s handling of the crisis exemplified the single-party Communist state’s authoritarian and nationalist tendencies.
“My concern is that this cover-up, this disinformation that the Chinese Communist Party is engaged in, is still denying the world the information it needs so that we can prevent further cases or something like this from recurring again,” he added, according to Reuters.
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Speaking during an exchange with the Washington Watch radio program, Pompeo repeated previous charges Beijing’s delay in sharing information about the virus had created risks to the global community and this had “truly put thousands of lives at risk.”
He said China’s handling of the crisis exemplified the single-party Communist state’s authoritarian and nationalist tendencies.
“My concern is that this cover-up, this disinformation that the Chinese Communist Party is engaged in, is still denying the world the information it needs so that we can prevent further cases or something like this from recurring again,” he added, according to Reuters.
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More than $35,000 of groceries tossed after woman allegedly coughed on them, saying she had coronavirus
A 35-year-old Pennsylvania woman is facing multiple charges after police said she purposely coughed on food at a grocery store.
Employees had to sanitize everything and throw away thousands of dollars worth of food.
“Your bail is $50,000 straight. This is a copy of your criminal complaint, arrest warrant affidavit,” District Judge Joseph Halesey told Margaret Cirko, inside a police vehicle.
Police said Cirko went into Gerrity’s Supermarket on Wednesday afternoon and deliberately and violently coughed and spit on food throughout the store before trying to steal a case of beer.
Employees of the store attempted to stop her while she continued to cough and spit on produce and meat, but she kept yelling, “I have the virus. You’re all going to get sick.”
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Employees had to sanitize everything and throw away thousands of dollars worth of food.
“Your bail is $50,000 straight. This is a copy of your criminal complaint, arrest warrant affidavit,” District Judge Joseph Halesey told Margaret Cirko, inside a police vehicle.
Police said Cirko went into Gerrity’s Supermarket on Wednesday afternoon and deliberately and violently coughed and spit on food throughout the store before trying to steal a case of beer.
Employees of the store attempted to stop her while she continued to cough and spit on produce and meat, but she kept yelling, “I have the virus. You’re all going to get sick.”
More
Global condom shortage looking likely after world's biggest producer shuts down over coronavirus
The world's biggest condom producer said a global shortage is looking likely since the coronavirus forced a halt in production, Reuters reported.
Malaysia's Karex Bhd makes one in every five condoms globally — and hasn't produced a single condom in its three Malaysian factories over the past 10 days since the country's government imposed a lockdown to slow the spread of the pandemic, the outlet noted.
That's already a shortfall of 100 million condoms supplied to state health care systems such as Britain's NHS or distributed by aid programs such as the UN Population Fund, Reuters added.
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Malaysia's Karex Bhd makes one in every five condoms globally — and hasn't produced a single condom in its three Malaysian factories over the past 10 days since the country's government imposed a lockdown to slow the spread of the pandemic, the outlet noted.
That's already a shortfall of 100 million condoms supplied to state health care systems such as Britain's NHS or distributed by aid programs such as the UN Population Fund, Reuters added.
More
Bloomberg Philanthropies, State of Maryland to Fund Johns Hopkins University-led COVID-19 Treatment Research
Joint Public-Private Initiative Will Provide $4 Million in Funding to a Johns Hopkins University-led Research Team Exploring Therapeutic Uses of Blood Plasma From Recovered COVID-19 Patients
ANNAPOLIS, Md.– Bloomberg Philanthropies, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and Johns Hopkins University announced today a joint effort to fund research into the potential therapeutic uses of COVID-19 convalescent plasma, led by Arturo Casadevall, an infectious disease expert and Bloomberg Distinguished Professor who holds joint appointments in the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
In recent weeks, Casadevall has led a team of physicians and scientists from around the United States to establish a network of hospitals and blood banks that can begin collecting, isolating, and processing blood plasma from COVID-19 survivors. Researchers hope to use the technique to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients and boost the immune systems of health care providers and first responders. Currently there are no proven drug therapies or effective vaccines for treating COVID-19. Casadevall and his team believe that using plasma from recovered viral positive patients could provide immediate immunity to the most at-risk individuals. The strategy of isolating plasma is a long-established technology, and recent advances make it as safe as a blood transfusion.
The funding consists of a $3 million gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies, in addition to $1 million in backing from the state of Maryland.
“Taking on the greatest public health challenge of our generation requires urgent and innovative collaboration. As scientists work to develop a vaccine, plasma treatment has the potential to save many lives – including the lives of doctors and healthcare workers on the frontlines of the pandemic,” said Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and three-term Mayor of New York City. “I want to thank Governor Hogan, Dr. Casadevall, and Johns Hopkins University for their leadership and partnership, which will help ensure we can study and explore potential treatments as quickly as possible.”
At Johns Hopkins, the research team plans to measure the effectiveness of COVID-19 convalescent plasma and monitor the safety of this potentially lifesaving therapy in a randomized clinical trial for both treatment of COVID-19 positive patients at all stages of disease progression as well as prevention of infection after high-risk exposure.
"We are very fortunate that Maryland has some of the top health research facilities in the world, and I am confident in our state's ability to be a leader in developing treatments and perhaps even a vaccine for COVID-19," said Gov. Hogan. "I want to sincerely thank Bloomberg Philanthropies and Johns Hopkins University for working with our state to form this exciting public-private partnership, which will protect the health and well-being of our citizens and has the potential to save thousands of lives."
Johns Hopkins is coordinating on the research initiative with other medical centers and doctors from nearly two dozen hospitals and research centers, including researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, the Stanford University Medical Center in California, and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. Infectious disease physicians and other providers will identify recovered COVID-19 patients as potential donors. After it is confirmed that certain COVID-19 antibodies exist in their blood, plasma will be harvested from these donors at a local Red Cross or the New York Blood Bank, which is collaborating in this effort. The study will also recruit COVID-19 patients and individuals who have not been infected with the virus, as well as healthcare workers or close contacts classified as high-risk exposures – for measurement of improved outcomes or stopping transmission.
The Food and Drug Administration announced on March 24 that it is making it easier for doctors to use the experimental treatment for COVID-19 patients. Currently, there are nearly 93,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States, with more than 566,000 across the globe.
“Johns Hopkins is committed to marshaling our clinical and research expertise to stem the tide of this devastating pandemic worldwide,” said President Ronald J. Daniels. “Dr. Casadevall, like so many other Hopkins researchers, is joining with partners across the globe in a race against the clock, and his work embodies to the fullest our university’s mission to serve humanity through discovery. Thanks to the support and leadership of Michael Bloomberg, Governor Hogan and the state of Maryland, we will be able to move forward with Dr. Casadevall’s promising work and bring hope to so many.”
Johns Hopkins experts and doctors have been on the forefront of the international response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, leading on efforts ranging from mapping the progression of the outbreak, to advising governments on public health and emergency preparedness, to advancing the public and scientific community’s understanding of the virus and how to protect against its spread. For more information, visit http://coronavirus.jhu.edu.
Government is mauled over coronavirus testing failures as the disease strikes down Boris Johnson, Matt Hancock and Chris Whitty - the three men leading the country's response to the killer virus. Now all of Westminster is wondering - who is next?
The government faced a mauling this afternoon after it failed to stop senior figures in the UK's fight against coronavirus from catching the deadly disease as Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock both tested positive.
The Prime Minister and Health Secretary are now in self-isolation while Professor Chris Whitty, the UK's Chief Medical Officer, is working from home after he developed symptoms.
Michael Gove, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, was forced to defend the government's approach to the crisis after it hit hard at the heart of Westminster as he took part in the now daily Number 10 coronavirus press conference.
It was suggested to Mr Gove that ministers had at best been 'careless' and at worst 'negligent' by allowing the killer bug to infect Mr Johnson and Mr Hancock amid criticism of the government's testing efforts.
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The Prime Minister and Health Secretary are now in self-isolation while Professor Chris Whitty, the UK's Chief Medical Officer, is working from home after he developed symptoms.
Michael Gove, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, was forced to defend the government's approach to the crisis after it hit hard at the heart of Westminster as he took part in the now daily Number 10 coronavirus press conference.
It was suggested to Mr Gove that ministers had at best been 'careless' and at worst 'negligent' by allowing the killer bug to infect Mr Johnson and Mr Hancock amid criticism of the government's testing efforts.
More
America's five largest banks agree to defer mortgage payments for homeowners affected by the coronavirus outbreak
America's five largest banks have agreed to defer mortgage payments for homeowners impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.
JP Morgan Chase, US Bank, Wells Fargo and Citibank will postpone foreclosures and offer forbearance on mortgage payments for 90 days, California Governor Gavin Newsome announced Wednesday.
He stated that Bank of America had 'unfortunately' only committed to 30 days of protections, before a spokesperson later clarified that that the bank 'will work with customers on a monthly basis until the end of the crisis' which 'could end up being longer than 90 days.'
Two hundred state-chartered banks and credit unions in California have also agreed to the mortgage relief, at the behest of Newsom and other officials.
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JP Morgan Chase, US Bank, Wells Fargo and Citibank will postpone foreclosures and offer forbearance on mortgage payments for 90 days, California Governor Gavin Newsome announced Wednesday.
He stated that Bank of America had 'unfortunately' only committed to 30 days of protections, before a spokesperson later clarified that that the bank 'will work with customers on a monthly basis until the end of the crisis' which 'could end up being longer than 90 days.'
Two hundred state-chartered banks and credit unions in California have also agreed to the mortgage relief, at the behest of Newsom and other officials.
More
Maryland Reports 194 New Cases of COVID-19; Cases In National Capital Region More Than Quadruple Over The Last Week
ANNAPOLIS, MD—The State of Maryland now has 774 confirmed cases of COVID-19—an increase of 425 cases over the last three days. There are now more than 1,500 confirmed cases in the National Capital Region—in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia—4.5 times more than there were just one week ago.
Governor Larry Hogan today issued the following statement:
“Over the last three days, the number of COVID-19 cases in Maryland has more than doubled. Cases in the National Capital Region have more than quadrupled over the last week alone. There is no timetable and no model that can tell us exactly how long this will last or how bad this is going to get.
“The federal administration’s swift approval of our request for a Major Disaster Declaration will drive more resources to our coordinated response. As chairman of the National Governors Association, I will continue to press for additional federal resources, including a Title 32 designation for Maryland and all the states to fund National Guard missions.
“Later today, I will convene conference calls with my full Cabinet and our Coronavirus Response Team of Maryland’s top doctors and public health experts to continue to address this crisis. I cannot stress this enough: Marylanders need to stay in place at home to help slow the spread of this deadly virus.
“Our state has already faced and overcome daunting challenges before, and we will do so again.”
MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERIINTENDENT: UPDATE ON INSTRUCTION IN WICOMICO SCHOOLS
March 26 call/email to Wicomico school families and staff:
Good evening, Wicomico school families and staff. This is Donna Hanlin, Superintendent of Schools, with an update. By now, you are probably already aware that the state extended the closure of Maryland Public Schools through April 24th as part of addressing the public health crisis of coronavirus, COVID-19. But while school buildings continue to be closed, instruction will resume next week. Flexibility and understanding are going to be key words as we work together to ensure that students are engaged in meaningful instruction moving forward. It’s also important to note that weekday distribution of meal bundles for children will continue for now at numerous school and community locations. Please check our website for exact locations in the community.
There are many questions that need to be answered with this extended closure of our schools. One question is about the calendar and whether or not the days missed these last two weeks will be waived. That question has not yet been answered. We are awaiting that decision from leaders at the state level and will announce that decision as soon as we know.
In the meanwhile, I encourage you to take care of two tasks before this week is over to support your student. First, if you have not already done so, please complete the student access to technology survey using the link emailed by the school or schools in which you have students. And second, students in grades 1-12 and their parents should check Family Portal to see where the student’s grades stand for the 3rd term.
Effective Monday, March 30th, all of our staff will be working again, even though they will be doing so from remote locations. The focus throughout next week will be on teachers and students working together to quickly wrap up work for the 3rd marking term. Students will have the chance to complete previous assignments as needed to finish the term with the best grade that they can earn. Our students will have the chance to improve their grade if they wish, but no student will see their grade fall from where it was on March 13th, when classes were suspended. Again, check the Family Portal for the status of 3rd-term grades.
Instruction for the 4th marking term will begin on Monday, April 6th. The structure of instruction will look different from anything any of us has probably ever experienced, but we are committed to ensuring that key standards and essential skills are being delivered for every student. We will initially target the core content areas of math and reading in elementary school, and math, English Language Arts or English, science and social studies for middle and high school. Instructional resources that we have been working hard to create these past two weeks will be available online and in printed form beginning with the week of April 6th, and for every week thereafter during this extended closure.
Teachers, you can expect to hear from your principals before the week is over about your role in the continuity of learning. Parents and guardians can expect to continue to hear from principals and will begin to hear from your student’s teachers next week about how to access both online and hard copy learning materials.
I know you have many questions that we have not yet addressed. Please know that we are focused first and foremost on resuming instruction for our students. Answers about other aspects of our school system and instruction are in the works and will be coming soon. Please stay home if you can, keep social distancing, and be part of helping all of us get safely through this difficult time. Thank you.
LA County Sheriff’s Effort to Close Gun Stores Gets Shut Down
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva’s efforts to close all gun stores in the county have been suspended pending Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) reconsideration of what constitutes an “essential business.”
On March 24, 2020, Fox 11 reported Villanueva’s order to close gun stores.
The sheriff attempted to justify the store closures by intimating that all the first-time gun buyers emerging amid the coronavirus crisis create a perilous situation: “I’m a supporter of the 2nd amendment, I’m a gun owner myself, but now you have the mixture of people that are not formerly gun owners and you have a lot more people at home and anytime you introduce a firearm in a home, from what I understand from CDC studies, it increases fourfold the chance that someone is gonna get shot.”
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On March 24, 2020, Fox 11 reported Villanueva’s order to close gun stores.
The sheriff attempted to justify the store closures by intimating that all the first-time gun buyers emerging amid the coronavirus crisis create a perilous situation: “I’m a supporter of the 2nd amendment, I’m a gun owner myself, but now you have the mixture of people that are not formerly gun owners and you have a lot more people at home and anytime you introduce a firearm in a home, from what I understand from CDC studies, it increases fourfold the chance that someone is gonna get shot.”
More
MyPillow shifting 75% of production to make face masks for hospitals
CHASKA, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota-based company MyPillow is joining the effort to supply health care workers with the protective gear they need amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
CEO Mike Lindell says about 75% of MyPillow's production will now be making cotton face masks for health care workers. He says about 90% of the company's sewers will be working on the masks.
"We have capacity to make a lot of things at big rates and we’re going to be going hopefully from 10,000 units a day to 50,000 units a day in a very short period of time," said Lindell.
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CEO Mike Lindell says about 75% of MyPillow's production will now be making cotton face masks for health care workers. He says about 90% of the company's sewers will be working on the masks.
"We have capacity to make a lot of things at big rates and we’re going to be going hopefully from 10,000 units a day to 50,000 units a day in a very short period of time," said Lindell.
More
'You can see the destruction': Virtual reality video reveals how coronavirus damaged the lungs a critically ill American patient in his 50s - just a few days after he had NO symptoms
Eerie virtual reality video reveals how coronavirus rapidly spreads through the lungs, causing widespread and potentially long-term damage.
Doctors at George Washington University 360-degree virtual reality technology to visualize the lungs of a COVID-19 patient who was transferred to their hospital.
Just days before the images were taken, the patient, a man in his late-50s, had no symptoms whatsoever, according to CNN.
But by the time he was in the care of Dr Keith Mortman, chief of thoracic surgery at the hospital, disease had wreaked havoc in his lungs, clearly visible in the images as swaths of cloudy, green swaths of damaged tissue.
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Doctors at George Washington University 360-degree virtual reality technology to visualize the lungs of a COVID-19 patient who was transferred to their hospital.
Just days before the images were taken, the patient, a man in his late-50s, had no symptoms whatsoever, according to CNN.
But by the time he was in the care of Dr Keith Mortman, chief of thoracic surgery at the hospital, disease had wreaked havoc in his lungs, clearly visible in the images as swaths of cloudy, green swaths of damaged tissue.
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