By Bob Fredericks, NY POST
President Trump on Friday declared a national emergency over the widening coronavirus outbreak in the US.
“To unleash the full power of the federal government, I’m officially declaring a national emergency. Two very big words. The action I am taking will open up access to up to $50 billion of … very important and a large amount of money for states and territories and localities in our shared fight against this disease,” Trump said, at a White House Rose Garden press conference Friday as the death toll in the US topped 40.
“And in furtherance of the order I’m urging every state to set up emergency operation centers effectively immediately. I’m also asking every hospital in this country to activate emergency preparedness plan to meet the needs of Americans everywhere,” the president continued.
Trump noted that he had been working with the individual state leaders, including New York. “I just spoke with Gov. Cuomo, we had a very good conversation and we’re working very strongly with many states including New York,” he said, adding that he was also expanding the power of Health and Human Service Secretary Alex Azar.
“Orders I’m issuing today will also confer broad new authority to the secretary of Health and Human Services. The secretary of HHS will be able to immediately waive provisions of applicable laws and regulations to give doctors and all hospitals and health care providers maximum flexibility to respond to the virus and care for patients,” he said.
And he again promised that the federal government would greatly expand testing, and that 1.4 million test kits would be available next week.
FDA issues emergency approval for coronavirus test
Trump invoked the national emergency under both the Stafford Act and the National Emergencies Act. That allows tens of billions of dollars to be quickly spent to help federal and state governments fight the rapidly spreading pandemic.
Invoking an emergency under the Stafford Act unleashes assistance to states from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It also allows Trump to make good on his Wednesday night vow to let people and businesses defer tax payments without interest or penalties, a senior official said.
The National Emergencies Act declaration allows the Department of Health and Human Services to repurpose broad swaths of federal dollars used for programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, the official told The Post.
The virus has infected almost 135,000 people and killed more than 4,900 worldwide.
@ Edgar G.:
@ Edgar G.:
“plus a lifetime daily bowl of free rice/&dog intestines.”
That’s what YOU think is delicious.
I keep kosher, thank you.
@ Edgar G.:
I am not trying to defend China.
I am stating my opinion which is based on a lot of information that I read and became familiar with over the years and not on “I wanna defend China”.
Your opinion is different, that’s it.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH is freedom of OPINION.
It is NOT freedom to curse everyone you disagree with or who happens to disagree with you and ban them because you want to be free to curse and scream.
@ Laura:
@ Laura:
Open the link and read it THE WORDS:
“Fact: Chinese agents have stolen dangerous coronaviruses out of North American labs and taken them to WIV. [the Wuhan Institute of Virology]” and [allegedly] developed them further.
ARE SAID BY THE CHINA HATING STEVEN MOSHER’S ORGANIZATION, not by Chinese commies.
STEVEN MOSHER’S organization is stating as a FACT that China stole the coronavirus from the US labs and developed it further.
@ Reader:
What utter nonsense….”nonsense” hardly properly describes it. The more you write, the more obvious you show your obsessions….all “circling the wagons” to defend China-
They’re sure to hear about your staunch defence, and award you “The Order of the Red Dragon Hero”-plus a lifetime daily bowl of free rice/&dog intestines.
@ Reader:
My understanding is… “very well thank you”.. It’s you who doesn’t seem to grasp that this is public forum, and we are free to day whatever we like -even you, however biased and conspiracy dipped it is—and it IS.
Michael is a hardened old sinner and gives and takes like a pro, although religion crazy. He an I understand one another, especially in “the chipping away” mode that we sometimes employ. Your silly, conspiracy-based comments, laced heavily with grotesque, pompous sensitivity…..are just laughable, so…..”forgive me if I just laugh” !
@ Reader:
It’s not a fact but a manufactured Chinese communist lie. I demand Ted ban you for your bigotry and hatred of America. Why is it ok to attack America with lies, but racist to tell the truth about China? I don’t give a damn what you are tired of. I can’t control what Ted will do, but I certainly will not sit by while you trash America, our president and defend the mass murdering chinese communists. Let the chips fall where they may. If Ted bans me, there’s nothing I can do about that. At least Edgar is here to rip apart your lies and BS.
@ Laura:
You just posted an article by Steven Mosher, a professional China hater (no judgement on my part – everyone does what he or she wants and is capable of doing).
His organization states here:
https://www.pop.org/facebook-blocks-steven-moshers-new-york-post-article-calls-it-false-information/
that the virus DID originally come from the United States, it’s just that “Fact: Chinese agents have stolen dangerous coronaviruses out of North American labs and taken them to WIV. [the Wuhan Institute of Virology]” and [allegedly] developed them further.
I am tired of your name calling and I will demand of Mr. Belman that he put you under at least a temporary ban to teach you some restraint. You are destroying his website by your behavior which is incredibly low class, racist, and actually, incredibly stupid.
@ Edgar G.:
Agreed. It makes one nostalgic for the days when all we had to worry about was muslim terrorism. This chinese virus has fundamentally transformed America literally overnight in a way that 9/11 could never have done. While we’ve been fighting in the Middle East for the last 2 decades, we totally missed the more dire threat of china.
@ Reader:
It’s clear to the whole world that the chinese virus originated in china. That you would place the blame on America in order to cover for the communist chinese reveals what a horrible person you are.
@ Michael S:
I don’t give a damn about your grandchildren. I care about my own family and my country. I stand by my belief that China should be nuked. It’s not my fault that your son or daughter didn’t stick with their own kind and lives in that horrid country.
@ adamdalgliesh:
This “health” crisis has been manufactured to embarrass and defeat China because the development of the United States demands it now. In 2009 this task did not exist because it was not yet necessary and, therefore, there was no reason for a crisis.
Trump is just another president. He does what he has to not what he wants. History is a process, not a series of unrelated incidents.
@ Reader:
The CHINESE are pushing out the LIE that the virus came from the Pentagon. And you are repeating communist Chinese propaganda. That they are spreading such an outrageous lie makes me more convinced then ever that China created the virus in a lab. That’s what commies do, accuse others of what they are guilty of. Out of respect to Ted, I wanted to tone it down, but its very difficult when you regurgitate the lies of the Chinese communist propaganda machine. You trash our country while defending chinese communists and their degenerate culture.
“Since it started circulating in the spring of 2009, H1N1 has infected about 100 million Americans, killing about 75,000 and sending 936,000 to the hospital, the CDC estimates. Another virus, H3N2, is responsible for more infections, but “in terms of the severity, H1 is kind of this quiet killer,” said Dr. Daniel Jernigan, head the CDC’s flu division.” This is from the web site stats.com, which focuses on health-related statistics.
These facts are truly incredible. The swine fule killed more than 500 times more Americans and hospitalized nearly a million–and there was no panic, no shutdown, no travel restrictions, no bars or restaurants closed, no one urged to “avoid social contact” or “self-isolate,” no patients placed in special “isolation wards.” the Obama administration did nothing to stop it, and the media had very little to say about it. I remember 2009 well. All anyone was inteested in at the time was the severe recession. I barely noticed the swine flu epidemic. I might even have got the flue myself and didn’t even notice.
These facts strongly support the “conspiracy theory” that this “health” crisis has been manufactured to embarrass and defeat Trump.
@ adamdalgliesh:
Soma sales are up?
“As cannabis sales surge in the U.S. amid the coronavirus outbreak, marijuana retailers are taking stock — and some are even closing temporarily as supply dwindles.
According to Marijuana Business Daily, cannabis sales in California jumped 159% over the weekend while sales in Washington state jumped 100%. Colorado cannabis sales ticked up 46% at the same time.
The average year-over-year increase for adult-use sales on Mondays between Jan. 6 and March 9 was 71% in California, 10% in Colorado and 15% in Washington state — meaning the percent increases seen in each market on March 16 were several standard deviations beyond the norm.
“We are thinking about stocking up on inventory, but we are taking it day by day,” A Therapeutic Alternative CEO Kimberly Cargile said.” ”
This is from the Money and Markets site. The Cannibis (marijuana) “industry” seems to be one of the few profitable ones during the shutdown. A lot of people, apparently, are getting stoned out to cope.
@ Edgar G.:
I guess I didn’t make myself clear.
I don’t like the fact that you posted your observation comparing Michael to me in order to slight him. I would like for all of us here to keep such observations private.
I cannot and do not experience any guilt because of this action of yours whatsoever.
I would like this website to be without personal conflict – we have other things to discuss here than our personal qualities.
Thank you in advance for your understanding.
@ Reader:
Be relieved of all guilt; It wasn’t intended as a compliment, just my observation, that, compared with Michael’s schoolyard childishness and mania, you seem normal; it fitted into the conversation flow/ if your conscience itches you, don’t scratch, just push a few yuan into your pushka-
It doesn’t bother him, he has Mao’s Little Red Book plotecshun…..
Being assumed t be nrm is nt cmpment, in my pinin
@ Edgar G.:
“Reader, who really, has much more Kop than you”
While I always appreciate a compliment, I DON’T appreciate compliments made at someone else’s expense.
Let’s just end this conflict because we have other things to discuss here than each other’s character and Kop.
@ Michael S:
Stop crying all over the place and misusing quotes from Torah. Being a religious fanatic all worked up, I suppose it gives you cathartic relief. Just sniffle a bit, and blow your nose in that menstrous cloth you seem to love so much….. must be a mascot-like a kids teddy bear that you’d cuddle in bed every night-thinking your usual kind thoughts for mankind..
65.4 seems to describe you exactly-
@ Michael S:
She has no animosity against your grandchildren…neither have I. Your portrayal of an “Excelsior” knight of the Square Table is fake. It’s laughable to see you so importantly bounce your mutually agreed nonsense, back and forth against Reader, who really, has much more Kop than you. and, you, like a circus clown, clapping yourself on the back…smug throughout You remind me of the main character in that old song..
…..”Possum Up A Gum Stump”.
Laura is not responsible for you having Chinese grandchildren, YOU are, by having a daughter…..
@ Edgar G.:
Edgar,
Do your research. Find out what “filthy rags” refers to, WHO is speaking, whom He is referring to, and who think they are “holier than thou”:
Isa.64
[1] Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,
[2] As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!
[3] When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence.
[4] For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
[5] Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.
[6] But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
[7] And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.
[8] But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
[9] Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.
[10] Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.
[11] Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste.
[12] Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?
Isa.65
[1] I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.
[2] I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;
[3] A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;
[4] Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
[5] Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.
Edgar, when you’re in a hole, you should stop digging. The disgusting woman was telling people to “nuke” my grandchildren. If you don’t think that’s offensive, I assume you don’t have grandchildren. Go suck up your “gentleman” stuff.
@ Reader:
My children do my shopping for me, and strictly avoid Chinese products. You and your saintly double-mouthed friend, who support the Brutal Dictatorship, should stock up on Chinese Tilapia, especially since it has become known, that they feed them with faeces, good locally produced Communist manufactured crap…………
@ Reader:
Go to an ophthalmologist…..
@ Reader:
One hears that expression, and others like it, frequently in ordinary speech, and on TV. It has, unfortunately long ago come into the language for normal use, spreading from the dysfunctional ’60s.
But common use of menstrual items in ad hominem attacks are still shameful and unspeakably vulgar and low class.
“I am here to speak on freedom of speech. It is a great topic, and I am going to make my speech as free as possible. But you know that this cannot be done, for when anyone announces that he is going to speak his mind freely, everyone is frightened. This shows that there is no such thing as true freedom of speech. No one can afford to let his neighbors know what he is thinking about them. Society can exist only on the basis that there is some amount of polished lying and that no one says exactly what he thinks.”
Of Freedom of Speech”, lecture given in China (4 March 1933)
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Lin_Yutang
@ Reader:
Reader, thank you for pointing out the obvious, concerning L%^#@%’s obvious profanity. Edgar sometimes goes on excursions with his “Gentlemen” stuff. He’s welcome to it.
Not much happening near me on the coronavirus front. Oregon is simply low on test kits, so we have no data to speak of. When the kits arrive in a few days, I excpect dozens or hundreds of positive tests to ensue, and a mass media freak-out. Meanwhile, wife and I are hunkered down.
This is a good time for reading, praying and singing, and keeping in touch with the children in China. Also a good time for breakfast… gottarun 🙂
@ Laura:
“Stalinist or mao follower describes yourself.”
No, it doesn’t, it describes people like you.
You know why? Because mad idolators of “Savior” political figures (fill in the blank for your favorite political idol here) have this atavistic mentality which forces them to follow the leader of the pack who they endow with superpowers which a mere human can never possess – like the ability to single handedly, wisely, and perfectly rule a gigantic country with a complex economy and a varied population. In order to do that, the idolators have to ignore the rest of the world with its uncomfortable facts.
Unfortunately this atavistic mentality also prevents them from thinking which leaves them devoid of free will, so one cannot even be mad at them.
@ Laura:
“China is being rightfully trashed because that’s where the virus originated and those commies covered it up for months.”
It’s not clear where the virus originated – some say in a Pentagon lab.
“Those commies” did the right thing by not freaking out their almost 1.5 billion strong population until they investigated the illness and figured out what to do.
@ Laura:
“Freedom of speech is exactly what it is. Obviously you have a problem with freedom of speech.”
No, I have a problem with being cursed out in a forum by the likes of you no matter what your excuse for it might be.
@ Edgar G.:
It is amazing that you have managed to avoid buying anything made in China but I have to believe you.
Can you explain in more detail how China has ruined the world because I somehow failed to notice it.
@ Edgar G.:
“as for the terms she uses, none of them is as openly vulgar or degraded as what Mr Michael S has spewed towards her.”
You mean her unprovoked “FUs” are not vulgar or degraded, and are perfectly acceptable in a civil conversation?
That’s news to me.
Are you, guys, relatives or married to each other, by any chance?
@ Reader:
Reader, I respect your opinion-usually. But in this case Laura is NOT “trolling” (a much misused word) She is telling the plain, unvarnished truth, and you seem to be excusing, and talking around those facts that she mentions, without saying anything about them, other than exculpation.
Which surprises me.
@ Laura:
Thank you, but thanks really are not neccessary; any gentleman would object to coarse, open vulgarity such as Mr. “Perfect” has been displaying. I thoroughly agree with your condemnation of China; They have destroyed the world, which may never be the same afterwards, in fact can’t be. And I’m not backward -nor have ever been- in saying what I think.
And your points, are points of fact which those two can’t even deny, so they attack around them, in a low class ad hominem way.
Not really Reader, but his new (old) buddy, Mr. Saint, who showed me his real class. Like a schoolyard sniveler..Reminds me of a former Congressman named Wexler who always looked as if his nose needed wiping. Schumer looks like that these days.
@ Reader:
I don’t have to “boycott” them, or anything like. I don’t buy them, but don’t feel any need for flimsy publicity, or need to blazon my attitude around to the neighbours,.. of whom I sincerely hope you are not one. Laura has a perfect right to castigate China, in ANY terms, because of the heinous complete world collapse as well as countless deaths., for which they are directly responsible. No words are sufficient. Regardless of your and Michael’s support of that cursed regime.
And, as for the terms she uses, none of them is as openly vulgar or degraded as what Mr Michael S has spewed towards her. Just because his family in China is handed a free bowl of rice every day, he has to glorify them and lick their boots. Just Great !!