China’s ambassador to Iran published an op-ed on Monday promoting China’s “Health Silk Road,” – a new health care analog to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) – in the state-run Iran newspaper, Radio Farda, the Persian affiliate of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), revealed.
Iran has become the second-worst hit country after China by the Wuhan coronavirus, according to figures organized by dissident groups amid widespread distrust of official government statistics. Over 28,200 people have died from the coronavirus in Iran, according to the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the country’s largest opposition group.
In contrast, Iran claims only 4,777 deaths officially. Local Iranian officials have cast doubt on this figure, however, noting that Tehran’s national numbers are smaller than the result of adding up local case counts in the nation’s various provinces.
The Health Silk Road “serves as a new approach for perfecting global public health governance,” according to an article published on March 25 by the People’s Daily, an official Chinese Communist Party (CCP) newspaper. “The joint construction of a Health Silk Road has expanded the space for cooperation on co-construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).”
China’s longer-established BRI has been a means for the country to establish and consolidate power across Asia, Europe, and Africa through infrastructure projects, which are economically predatory and debt-inducing for the host nation. Iran is already a key partner in China’s BRI.
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Thursday, April 16, 2020
SBA Expects Paycheck Protection Program Will Run Out Of Money TODAY As Dems Block Emergency Funding
The Small Business Administration says that, without an emergency influx of cash, the Paycheck Protection Program, a low-and forgivable-interest loan system designed to help small businesses hurt by coronavirus-related lockdowns, will run out of cash by close of business on Wednesday.
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), passed as part of the third coronavirus relief package, the CARES act, is a fund of $349 billion, designed to buoy struggling businesses with fewer than 500 employees. Business that apply for PPP loans can apply later to have those same loans forgiven if they use the money to keep their employees on the payroll, pay rent, buy office supplies, or, simply, keep their doors open to commerce.
Freelancers and other independent workers who own their own businesses are also eligible to apply for the loans.
But banks like Wells Fargo told the Treasury Department late last week that applications were far outpacing availability.
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The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), passed as part of the third coronavirus relief package, the CARES act, is a fund of $349 billion, designed to buoy struggling businesses with fewer than 500 employees. Business that apply for PPP loans can apply later to have those same loans forgiven if they use the money to keep their employees on the payroll, pay rent, buy office supplies, or, simply, keep their doors open to commerce.
Freelancers and other independent workers who own their own businesses are also eligible to apply for the loans.
But banks like Wells Fargo told the Treasury Department late last week that applications were far outpacing availability.
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Auntie Maxine: People Could Think Stimulus Checks ‘Bogus’ After Seeing Trump’s Name
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) on Tuesday evening ripped President Donald Trump for insisting that his name appear on the stimulus checks, even suggesting that people “may think it’s a BOGUS check from a BOGUS president!”
The Washington Post, citing several “senior IRS officials,” reported on Tuesday that The Treasury Department “has ordered” Trump’s name be printed on stimulus checks the Internal Revenue Service is rushing to send to tens of millions of Americans, a process that could slow their delivery by a few days.”
According to the report, “Trump had privately suggested to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who oversees the IRS, to allow the president to formally sign the checks.” But since “the president is not an authorized signer for legal disbursements by the U.S. Treasury,” the stimulus checks will reportedly “instead bear Trump’s name in the memo line, below a line that reads, ‘Economic Impact Payment.’”
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[Fact Check: Stimulus Checks Not Being Held up for Donald Trump’s Name]
The Washington Post, citing several “senior IRS officials,” reported on Tuesday that The Treasury Department “has ordered” Trump’s name be printed on stimulus checks the Internal Revenue Service is rushing to send to tens of millions of Americans, a process that could slow their delivery by a few days.”
According to the report, “Trump had privately suggested to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who oversees the IRS, to allow the president to formally sign the checks.” But since “the president is not an authorized signer for legal disbursements by the U.S. Treasury,” the stimulus checks will reportedly “instead bear Trump’s name in the memo line, below a line that reads, ‘Economic Impact Payment.’”
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[Fact Check: Stimulus Checks Not Being Held up for Donald Trump’s Name]
Rush: Here’s The Real Reason Trump Is Not Pushing Back More On Fauci
On his popular program Tuesday, conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh offered his theory on why President Trump is not pushing back more on the nation’s leading infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, at least “not publicly.”
One of the more prevalent COVID-19 crisis narratives pushed by the mainstream media is the supposed conflict between Trump and Fauci, who is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and one of the leading voices of the Coronavirus Task Force, which has directed the national response to the crisis. As the left-leaning media has repeatedly portrayed it, Fauci is supposedly at odds with Trump and rebuking him at nearly every turn — a narrative Fauci himself has refuted publicly.
Meanwhile, on the right, some have begun to criticize Fauci, casting him as an out-of-touch member of the elite and a product of the Washington “swamp” who Trump has trusted too much.
Limbaugh, as usual, has his own particular angle on the Trump-Fauci question. Asked by a caller Tuesday about why Trump seems to be “going along with everything” Fauci says, Limbaugh responded by offering his “take” on the issue.
More here
One of the more prevalent COVID-19 crisis narratives pushed by the mainstream media is the supposed conflict between Trump and Fauci, who is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and one of the leading voices of the Coronavirus Task Force, which has directed the national response to the crisis. As the left-leaning media has repeatedly portrayed it, Fauci is supposedly at odds with Trump and rebuking him at nearly every turn — a narrative Fauci himself has refuted publicly.
Meanwhile, on the right, some have begun to criticize Fauci, casting him as an out-of-touch member of the elite and a product of the Washington “swamp” who Trump has trusted too much.
Limbaugh, as usual, has his own particular angle on the Trump-Fauci question. Asked by a caller Tuesday about why Trump seems to be “going along with everything” Fauci says, Limbaugh responded by offering his “take” on the issue.
More here
Obama Says He’s Proud To Endorse Biden If He Must
President Barack Obama has endorsed Joe Biden for President.
The endorsement comes after Bernie Sanders dropped out, Tulsi Gabbard became mathematically impossible and a potted plant with a sign hung on it saying “Vote for me,” was run over by an out-of-control forklift.
In a speech made in an irritating, self-satisfied voice that was almost impossible to tolerate, Obama said, “I am pleased and proud to have no choice but to endorse the last person left in the race."
“Picking Joe Biden as my vice president was the best decision I ever made which, all right, isn’t saying much since I’m the guy who decided to give Iran 150 billion dollars and a nuclear bomb,” he continued.
Obama may have gone on to praise Biden’s character but after a while that voice of his just sounded so much like an ailing rhinoceros apologizing to Arabian tyrants for our traditions and history that most Americans zoned out and aren’t entirely sure what-all the guy said.
When it again became possible to listen to that ceaselessly depressing drone, Obama told the nation, “With Joe Biden we will turn away from divisive politics of self-dealing and mis-information, toward divisive politics of incompetence and abject stupidity. And that’s why I feel honored to be forced to finally break down and confess that this is what we’re stuck with.”
Bernie Sanders also endorsed Biden, saying, “Here, at last, is a man so politically inept, I should be able to squeeze concessions out of him until he sounds like Stalin, only senile.”
More satire here
The endorsement comes after Bernie Sanders dropped out, Tulsi Gabbard became mathematically impossible and a potted plant with a sign hung on it saying “Vote for me,” was run over by an out-of-control forklift.
In a speech made in an irritating, self-satisfied voice that was almost impossible to tolerate, Obama said, “I am pleased and proud to have no choice but to endorse the last person left in the race."
“Picking Joe Biden as my vice president was the best decision I ever made which, all right, isn’t saying much since I’m the guy who decided to give Iran 150 billion dollars and a nuclear bomb,” he continued.
Obama may have gone on to praise Biden’s character but after a while that voice of his just sounded so much like an ailing rhinoceros apologizing to Arabian tyrants for our traditions and history that most Americans zoned out and aren’t entirely sure what-all the guy said.
When it again became possible to listen to that ceaselessly depressing drone, Obama told the nation, “With Joe Biden we will turn away from divisive politics of self-dealing and mis-information, toward divisive politics of incompetence and abject stupidity. And that’s why I feel honored to be forced to finally break down and confess that this is what we’re stuck with.”
Bernie Sanders also endorsed Biden, saying, “Here, at last, is a man so politically inept, I should be able to squeeze concessions out of him until he sounds like Stalin, only senile.”
More satire here
Your shower head could make you sick
Here's some news that could make your next shower a little less relaxing: A 2018 study found that shower heads are rife with bacteria-filled slime that could make us sick.
Showering may cleanse our bodies of sweat and dirt, but over time our shower heads develop scum — also known as biofilm — due to the warm, wet conditions. Curious to know what was living in this biofilm, researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder collected samples from 656 households across the United States and Europe.
It turns out, shower heads are crawling with bacteria. Many aren't harmful, but the team did find traces of nontuberculous mycobacteria, or NTM, in shower heads across the United States. NTM is particularly prevalent in parts of Southern California, Florida and New York — all areas with higher reported incidences of NTM lung disease, the study authors note. They believe shower heads may transmit the disease.
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Showering may cleanse our bodies of sweat and dirt, but over time our shower heads develop scum — also known as biofilm — due to the warm, wet conditions. Curious to know what was living in this biofilm, researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder collected samples from 656 households across the United States and Europe.
It turns out, shower heads are crawling with bacteria. Many aren't harmful, but the team did find traces of nontuberculous mycobacteria, or NTM, in shower heads across the United States. NTM is particularly prevalent in parts of Southern California, Florida and New York — all areas with higher reported incidences of NTM lung disease, the study authors note. They believe shower heads may transmit the disease.
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Cruz Sounds Alarm: We Must Get Americans ‘Back To Work’
In an interview Tuesday, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz declared that “it is time for Texans to get back to work” and warned that if we let the widespread shutdowns drag on, we will see not only more “economic devastation” but major public health consequences.
Speaking with Lubbock’s KCBD NewsChannel 11 on Tuesday, Cruz said that while we need to continue to protect those who are “very vulnerable, like the elderly and those with serious underlying conditions, we must urgently address the “economic devastation” caused by the mass shutdowns, and the only way to truly do so is to get people back to work.
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Speaking with Lubbock’s KCBD NewsChannel 11 on Tuesday, Cruz said that while we need to continue to protect those who are “very vulnerable, like the elderly and those with serious underlying conditions, we must urgently address the “economic devastation” caused by the mass shutdowns, and the only way to truly do so is to get people back to work.
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Plaque with Seal of Maryland stolen from Antietam Battlefield
SHARPSBURG, Md. (WBFF) - The National Park Service is investigating the theft of a plaque from Antietam National Battlefield in western Maryland.
The bronze plaque is from the 5th Maryland Marker; it's about 20 inches in size and depicts the back of the Great Seal of Maryland.
Anyone with information is asked to call 301-714-2235.
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The bronze plaque is from the 5th Maryland Marker; it's about 20 inches in size and depicts the back of the Great Seal of Maryland.
Anyone with information is asked to call 301-714-2235.
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$3.5 Billion Has Flowed From U.S. Taxpayers To The World Health Organization Since 2010
With his recent vow to halt and reassess all aid to the World Health Organization (WHO), President Trump legitimized critics who allege that the agency shielded information from the world about the lethality of the coronavirus and its ability to spread by human-to-human contact.
The WHO delegation highly appreciated the actions China has implemented in response to the outbreak, its speed in identifying the virus and openness to sharing information with WHO and other countries.
World Health Organization | January 28, 2020 | Beijing
The most likely presidential policy response will be to re-purpose all or most federal money from the WHO. If done in this manner, the president must notify Congress, but has the executive power to reallocate the monies to other organizations. Therefore, legitimate programs will continue to help humanity.
Responding to our request for comment, the White House, Office of Management and Budget provided a fact sheet detailing the WHO’s “corruption and abuse.”
The W.H.O. really blew it. We will be giving that a good look.
President Donald J. Trump
Our auditors at OpenTheBooks.com reviewed all disclosed grants by federal agencies to the WHO since 2010 and found that $3.5 billion in taxpayer money funded the WHO during this period.
What’s more, only $611.1 million of that funding came from “assessed dues” required by participating countries. The U.S. government voluntarily sent the WHO roughly $2.9 billion more than their required contribution. It’s no surprise that, annually, the United States is the largest funder of the WHO.
We also found that federal funding of the WHO remained strong during the Trump era. We compared the first three years of the Trump administration (FY2017-FY2019) to the first three years during the second term of President Barack Obama’s administration (FY2013-FY2015).
The WHO received more money under Trump than Obama (inflation adjusted): $1.4 billion versus $1.1 billion.
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The WHO delegation highly appreciated the actions China has implemented in response to the outbreak, its speed in identifying the virus and openness to sharing information with WHO and other countries.
World Health Organization | January 28, 2020 | Beijing
The most likely presidential policy response will be to re-purpose all or most federal money from the WHO. If done in this manner, the president must notify Congress, but has the executive power to reallocate the monies to other organizations. Therefore, legitimate programs will continue to help humanity.
Responding to our request for comment, the White House, Office of Management and Budget provided a fact sheet detailing the WHO’s “corruption and abuse.”
The W.H.O. really blew it. We will be giving that a good look.
President Donald J. Trump
Our auditors at OpenTheBooks.com reviewed all disclosed grants by federal agencies to the WHO since 2010 and found that $3.5 billion in taxpayer money funded the WHO during this period.
What’s more, only $611.1 million of that funding came from “assessed dues” required by participating countries. The U.S. government voluntarily sent the WHO roughly $2.9 billion more than their required contribution. It’s no surprise that, annually, the United States is the largest funder of the WHO.
We also found that federal funding of the WHO remained strong during the Trump era. We compared the first three years of the Trump administration (FY2017-FY2019) to the first three years during the second term of President Barack Obama’s administration (FY2013-FY2015).
The WHO received more money under Trump than Obama (inflation adjusted): $1.4 billion versus $1.1 billion.
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Music fans angered over Ticketmaster refusing refunds for canceled concerts
Ticketmaster, a major American hub for buying concert tickets, recieved backlash from concert-goers after an update to the refund policy on its website seemed to make it unlikely most concerts postponed by the coronavirus will be refunded.
The change was meant to clarify its stance, but received criticism from refund-seeking consumers who had ordered tickets for live events.
Originally, Ticketmaster's website used to say that refunds were "available if your event is postponed, rescheduled or canceled," the New York Times reports. Then, the page was edited to say refunds "are available if your event is canceled."
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The change was meant to clarify its stance, but received criticism from refund-seeking consumers who had ordered tickets for live events.
Originally, Ticketmaster's website used to say that refunds were "available if your event is postponed, rescheduled or canceled," the New York Times reports. Then, the page was edited to say refunds "are available if your event is canceled."
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A Viewer Writes: Thoughts/Comments?
Everyone is all up in arms about the new mask orders. Seems like Hogan slid the pharmacy order in under the radar. Now there are restricted drugs that we are "saving" for patients that typically use them?
Robin Ficker Running for Governor
Longtime Republican Activist Robin Ficker has launched a campaign for Governor of Maryland.
Ficker is a longtime Republican activist. He has run for office many times in the last 50 years, winning once: he was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1978, where he served one term. He has since run for Congress, County Executive, County Council, and U.S. Senate numerous times.
Ficker may be most famous for being a heckler at Washington Bullets games and for his successful anti-tax ballot initiative in Montgomery County in 2016.
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Ficker is a longtime Republican activist. He has run for office many times in the last 50 years, winning once: he was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1978, where he served one term. He has since run for Congress, County Executive, County Council, and U.S. Senate numerous times.
Ficker may be most famous for being a heckler at Washington Bullets games and for his successful anti-tax ballot initiative in Montgomery County in 2016.
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Memo Reveals When Chinese President Xi Knew Outbreak Was ‘Severe’ ‘Epidemic’
Leaked documents reveal that Chinese Communist President Xi Jinping knew that the coronavirus outbreak in China was a highly contagious “epidemic” at the same time that China told the World Health Organization (WHO) that there was no “evidence of human-to-human transmission.”
The Associated Press reported late on Tuesday night that leaked internal documents from China show that Xi knew that the situation was dire and that the “risk of transmission and spread” was “high” by January 14 at the latest, the same day that the WHO downplayed the outbreak.
That same day, the WHO tweeted: “Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) identified in #Wuhan, #China”
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The Associated Press reported late on Tuesday night that leaked internal documents from China show that Xi knew that the situation was dire and that the “risk of transmission and spread” was “high” by January 14 at the latest, the same day that the WHO downplayed the outbreak.
That same day, the WHO tweeted: “Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) identified in #Wuhan, #China”
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Kanye West: ‘We Know Who I’m Voting On’ In The Next Election
In an extensive interview with GQ, published this week, West reiterated his stance that he will not be told which white person to vote for based on the color of his skin.
“Both my parents were freedom fighters, and they used to drink from fountains they were told they couldn’t drink from, and they used to sit in restaurants where they were told they couldn’t eat from,” said West. “They didn’t fight for me to be told by white people which white person I can vote on.”
More here
With no tourists around, animals at Yosemite are 'having a party'
Being cooped up at home is no fun for humans, but bears are making the most of the extra space at California's shuttered Yosemite National Park.
"The bears are just literally walking down the road to get to where they need to go," Ranger Katie Patrick said during a Facebook Live event on Sunday. She is a wildlife biologist who has worked with black bears in Yosemite since 2007.
"For the most part, I think they're having a party," she said in response to questions about what the animals have been doing since Yosemite closed on March 20.
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"The bears are just literally walking down the road to get to where they need to go," Ranger Katie Patrick said during a Facebook Live event on Sunday. She is a wildlife biologist who has worked with black bears in Yosemite since 2007.
"For the most part, I think they're having a party," she said in response to questions about what the animals have been doing since Yosemite closed on March 20.
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Valerie Jarrett: ‘We Should Make It as Easy as Possible to Vote’
A partial transcript is as follows:
SUSAN DEL PERCIO: When we last spoke, you were talking about increasing voter enrollment, getting people registered to vote, participation. Now we see that there’s a big drive for registering and voting by mail. How concerned are you that the president is looking to privatize the post office, limit the amount of service that is possible for the post office with all of this effort on mail-in voting?
VALERIE JARRETT: Very concerned, in a word. And I think as, you know, earlier this week, Michelle Obama announced “When We All Vote,” an organization she formed, non-partisan organization, I might add, a call on Congress to ensure that we have the ability to have absentee ballots. We shouldn’t have to choose between our health and exercising our most fundamental right to vote.
I think we should make it as easy as possible for people to vote.
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[This is the first time I've ever seen a snake with fake eyelashes. --Editor]
AOC on minorities in America: 'It’s inequity that’s the preexisting condition'
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said the issues that make minority communities more susceptible to the coronavirus are economic.
"Obviously, there are certain things we can do to make sure that preexisting conditions don’t exist," Ocasio-Cortez said on The View on Wednesday. "But, ultimately, it’s inequity that’s the preexisting condition ... and you can’t just go to someone and tell them, 'Hey, you should have had healthcare this whole time when you’re working an hourly job and your employer doesn’t give it to you.'"
Surgeon General Jerome Adams recently said blacks, Latinos and other minority groups have a greater risk of contracting the virus.
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"Obviously, there are certain things we can do to make sure that preexisting conditions don’t exist," Ocasio-Cortez said on The View on Wednesday. "But, ultimately, it’s inequity that’s the preexisting condition ... and you can’t just go to someone and tell them, 'Hey, you should have had healthcare this whole time when you’re working an hourly job and your employer doesn’t give it to you.'"
Surgeon General Jerome Adams recently said blacks, Latinos and other minority groups have a greater risk of contracting the virus.
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Holder: Coronavirus ‘An Opportunity’ to Permanently Change America’s Voting System
Former President Barack Obama’s Attorney General Eric Holder admitted he saw coronavirus as “an opportunity” to permanently change the way Americans voted.
“Coronavirus gives us an opportunity to revamp our electoral system so that it permanently becomes more inclusive and becomes easier for the American people to access,” Holder said in an interview with TIME magazine.
He called for a “sea change” in voting systems, allowing Americans to vote from home, using prepaid mail-in ballots and unlimited absentee voting. Holder did not discuss concerns about voter fraud in his interview but posited that any special exceptions made to the voting process during the coronavirus should remain permanent.
“It would be foolhardy to take these pro-democracy measures off the table after we get on the other side of the virus,” he said. “These are changes that we should make permanent because it will enhance our democracy.”
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“Coronavirus gives us an opportunity to revamp our electoral system so that it permanently becomes more inclusive and becomes easier for the American people to access,” Holder said in an interview with TIME magazine.
He called for a “sea change” in voting systems, allowing Americans to vote from home, using prepaid mail-in ballots and unlimited absentee voting. Holder did not discuss concerns about voter fraud in his interview but posited that any special exceptions made to the voting process during the coronavirus should remain permanent.
“It would be foolhardy to take these pro-democracy measures off the table after we get on the other side of the virus,” he said. “These are changes that we should make permanent because it will enhance our democracy.”
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Bill Cosby’s Attorneys Fear He Will Contract Coronavirus in Prison
Cosby, 82, is serving a three- to 10-year sentence at State Correctional Institution Phoenix, near Philadelphia, after being convicted in 2018 of sexually assaulting a woman at his home.
Cosby is blind, and his spokesman fears that he will contract the virus from one of the inmates or a staff member who is charged with taking care of him.
“Prisons and jails around the country are becoming infested with coronavirus cases — and it’s only a matter of time before Mr. Cosby’s prison likely falls victim to the virus,” said the spokesman, Andrew Wyatt.
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