Wednesday, July 15, 2020

A Timeline of COVID-19 Around the World, From News Resources, For July 2020

It's the first day of July.  Colorado is under an ozone alert, and the Boulder County Public Health Department has announced, as of yesterday, that a "you must wear a mask in public places" (unless you can always stay at least 6 feet away from the person closest to you) law is extended indefinitely.  The only problem is that these rules are not  enforced.  I walked the mile+ to the grocery store and back this morning for essentials - and stepped off the sidewalk, either into the roadway or into parking lots to avoid people walking, jogging, running, skate-boarding and biking, without masks more than 20 times going in both directions.  I got many stares, some laughter, and a few nasty words thrown at me for avoiding people I don't know while trying to protect myself.  It's an amazing time that shows the depths of an individual's sense of personal worth and entitlement.  People do not want to see or understand that they are risking not only their own health, but the health of others, whose immune systems may be compromised.  I am truly disappointed by my fellow Americans.
   I am using the website of devex.com.  Devex is (a) a media platform for the global development community, (b) a social enterprise working to help the $200 billion aid and development industry do more good for more people, and (c) the largest provider of recruiting and business development services for global development. The article from Devex that I use is written by Jenny Lei Ravelo and Sara Jerving, and is titled: "COVID-19 -- A timeline of the coronavirus outbreak"
    For this month, I'll place the Devex reporting first, followed by the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report, the Colorado COVID-19 Report, quotes from Trump and his minions last, and occasionally following up with a news story...  Other blogs will also cover COVID-19 news stories, as well as an occasional point of view of my own.   If you see anywhere from one (*) to three (***) asterisks, it means that I am throwing my own opinion into what ever I'm quoting - the asterisks will be at both the beginning and the end of my own comment.
**** From now on, I shall be adding the complete WHO Situation Report ONLY on Mondays, since it is so large and covers every country that reports to WHO (at the moment, only North Korea does not report) - huge surges, or other news-worthy events will be noted in the Devex articles above, or in news articles listed below the Colorado COVID-19 Report... ****
   A few days ago Dr. Anthony Fauci warned that the US might soon be seeing 100,000 new cases of COVID-19 each day.  It certainly looks like we are headed that way...


1 July 2020  -   From the Devex article:
"Total cases as of July 1:   10,512,383  and  512, deaths. {sic}
***** No new information added for July 1, other than the (partial) numbers above. *****
   Added to the June 30 reporting:  The first cases of COVID-19 are confirmed among asylum-seekers in a migrant camp near Mexico's northern border.  The camp is in the city of Matamoros and hosts 2,000 migrants.
   African health ministers publish a comminique that expresses concern over the role that patents, trade secrets, and other technological barriers could play in ensuring equitable access to future COVID-19 vaccines in developing countries, noting that these have  delayed access to affordable vaccines in the past.  It calls on countries to "ensure that all relevant technologies, intellectual property, data and know-how are openly and immediately made available and the rapid scale-up of geographically diverse production to be made possible." "

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report for the world:
       10,653,987 cases      514,697 deaths

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report in the US:  
     2,682,270 cases          128,028 deaths
     2,730,000 cases          130,000 deaths  (from the Google COVID-19 site)

Colorado COVID-19  Report:
     33,029 cases         1,697 deaths  (from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment)

The view from my balcony 1 July 2018...


2 July 2020  -   From the Devex article:
"Total cases as of July 2:   10,694,288  and  516,210 deaths.
   New Zealand health minister David Clark resigns after a series of blunders amid the country's COVID-19 response.
   Posted today as "June 1" news:WHO holds a second research and innovation forum to discuss progress and knowledge gaps, and define research priorities for the rest of the year.
   WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Ahmed Al-Mandhari says Iran,Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan make up more than 50% of cases in the region, and almost 87% of deaths are reported from Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan.  He says the regional polio program has been instrumental in the fight against COVID-19, but more than 200 polio workers have tested positive for the disease, and two have died.
   Dr. Michael Ryan, executive director of WHO's emergencies program says the planned mission to China will involve defining the scope of the mission and areas of study, and two experts from WHO headquarters are expected to join.  He clarifies that the reported Eurasian avian-like H1N1 swine influenza virus from China is not new, but has been under surveillance since 2011.
   Ryan says it remains to be seen if the vaccine that would be developed for COVID-19 would provide cross-protection for other coronaviruses, but it should be a long-term objective in the vaccine development community.  Today, the priority is a vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), he adds. "

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report for the world:
       10,835,092      520,605 deaths

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report in the US:  
     2,735,554 cases          128,684 deaths
     2,740,000 cases          130,000 deaths  (from the Google COVID-19 site)

Colorado COVID-19  Report:
     33,352 cases         1,701 deaths  (from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment)

A few of Trump's Tweets from today follow.  He has sent out 28 Tweets in 11 1/2 hours - mostly re-Tweets, or self-congratulatory ones.  Here are the few I've chosen to share:
 SOURCE: Twitter - Thursday, 2 July sent from  @realDonaldTrump:

-  at  10:40 am EDT:  "HISTORIC JOBS NUMBERS! #MAGA"

-  at 11:27 am EDT:  "JOBS, JOBS, JOBS! #MAGA"

-  at 5:45 pm EDT:  "We MUST lower drug prices for patients! @ChuckGrassley, @HouseGOP, and @Mike Crapo have SHOWN LEADERSHIP while @RonWyden and @SenateDems WALK AWAY!"

-  at 6:48 pm EDT:  "SPIRIT OF AMERICA SHOWCASE!  https://t.co/EfOlfRlaaL "

-  at 7:07 pm EDT:  "The United States has been experiencing, believe it or not, Historically Low Crime Rates. The last thing we will be doing is Defunding or Eliminating our many and various Police Departments or, putting an end to our great Second Amendment!"

-  at 7:09 pm EDT:  "It's a trap because they want to tank the economy and make everything look trrrible so they can make President Trump look bad in November. They want Trump to have to send in troops so it looks bad for him." Dave Rubin, author of "Don't Burn This Book." @seanhannity

-  at 7:11 pm EDT:  "If I didn't demand that National Guard Troops go into Minneapolis after watching how poorly the Liberal Democrat government was handling things, you wouldn't even have a Minneapolis now. Once they were deployed, in force, all looting, burning and crime stopped DEAD!"

-  at 7:29 pm EDT:  ".@CNN should move Fredo back to the morning slot. He was rewarded for bad ratings with a much better time slot - and again got really bad ratings. Getting totally trounced by @FoxNews. Give him another shot in the morning - He would easily beat Morning Joe's poorly rated show!"

-  at 7:41 pm EDT:  "Mail-In Ballots will lead to massive electoral fraud and a rigged 2020 Election. Look at all of the cases and examples that are out there right now, with the Patterson, N.J., being the most recent example. Republicans, in particular, cannot let this happen!"

-  at 8:17 pm EDT:  "LAW & ORDER!"

-  at 8:19 pm EDT:  "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"


3 July 2020  -   From the Devex article:
"Total cases as of July 3:   10,871,362  and  521,298 deaths.
   UNITAID and UNICEF agree to an initial purchase of dexamethasone to expand the drug's access for low- and middle-income countries. "

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report for the world:
       11,047,217      524,614 deaths

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report in the US:  
     2,793,435 cases          129,432 deaths
     2,850,000 cases          132,000 deaths  (from the Google COVID-19 site)

Colorado COVID-19  Report:
     33,619 cases         1,701 deaths  (from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment)

A really interesting article from Vanity Fair about the mastermind behind the Lincoln Project's anti-Trump ads can be read at:  https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/07/lincoln-project-video-wiz-ben-howe-ads-are-driving-trump-insane

 SOURCE: The Washington Post -  Written by Colby Itkowitz and Maria Sacchetti; posted at 7:20 pm MDT on Friday, 3 July 2020
  "Trump Arrives in South Dakota For Speech and Fireworks at Mount Rushmore; Protesters Block Highway
   
   President Trump arrived in South Dakota Friday for a massive Independence Day celebration at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, just as sheriffs and the National Guard cleared dozens of demonstrators blocking a key artery leading to the site.
   The mostly Native American demonstrators, protesting the taking of land from the Lakota people, gathered hours before Air Force One arrived in the state.  They chanted, held signs and sang songs as members of the National Guard and local authorities dispersed the crowd using pepper spray, according to the Associated Press.  Police also towed three vans that blocked the road.

   At the event, Trump plans to give a speech and lament "the left wing mob" and so-called "cancel culture."
   "If we tear down our history, we will not be able to understand ourselves or America's destiny.  The left wing mob and those practicing cancel culture are engaging in totalitarian behavior that is completely alien to American life - and we must not accept it," Trump will say, according to a campaign official with knowledge of the speech.
   Air Force One landed at Ellsworth Air Force Base at 6:40 pm in South Dakota, about a few minutes after the plane banked over Mount Rushmore and the Trump supporters assembled below.
   South Dakota Governor Kristi L. Noem (R) confirmed this week that social distancing won't be enforced and that the approximately 7,500 expected attendees will not be required to wear masks.  The United States on Thursday recorded the largest single-day total of new COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic, and on Friday a number of states set new case records.
   "WE will have a large event on July 3.  We told those folks that have concerns that they can stay home, but those who want to come and join us, we'll be giving out free face masks, if they choose to wear one.  But we won't be social distancing," Noem said Monday in an interview of Fox News.  "We're asking them to come - be ready to celebrate, to enjoy the freedoms and the liberties that we have in this country." ...... "

***** Note from BND - Several news agencies noted earlier in the day that the chairs set up for the speech and fireworks were being zip-tied to each other in several places... so if one wanted to social distance, one could/can not do so. *****
A different imagining of Mount Rushmore - which was sacred to the
Native Americans before we inflicted our "great men" upon them.


4 July 2020  -   From the Devex article:
**** As is now usual, Devex has not updated their information website on a Saturday... ****

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report for the world:
       11,187,193      528,364 deaths

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report in the US:  
     2,836,764 cases          129,657 deaths
     2,890,000 cases          132,000 deaths  (from the Google COVID-19 site)

Colorado COVID-19  Report:
     33,866 cases         1,701 deaths  (from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment)

Something to remember about the above death numbers listed by Johns Hopkins in the United States - these death numbers are actually from 14 days ago...  It takes 14 days for each state to determine and report the number of COVID-19 deaths to the CDC, which in turn, reports it to the Johns Hopkins database.  This is something both Dr. Fauci and the CDC Director made clear in their testimony to Congress earlier this week.

Headlines in the news today - but please see also today's anowbo blog about yesterday's Independence Day speech and the Six Grandfathers/Mount Rushmore -

 -   Trump Doubles Down On Divisive Messaging in Speech to Honor Independence Day 

 -   Europe Is Distancing Itself From the US and Turning To Another World Superpower

 -   Google Maps Releases New Features To Help People Navigate Coronavirus Hot Spots

 -   Two Texas Counties Urge Residents To Shelter In Place As Hospitals Reach Capacity

 -   As Coronavirus Cases Spike In Arizona, a Neighboring Mexico State Tries To Shut Out Americans

 -   England Has One of the World's Worst Covid Death Rates.  Now Many Fear Its About To Drink Itself Into Chaos As Pubs Reopen

-    White House Virus Test Has Questionable Accuracy

 -   US Cases Climb 1.7%; Trump Again Blames Testing

 -   "We Need To Live With It": White House Readies New Message For the Nation on COVID-19

 -   With New Infections Soaring, The Trumps Host a July Fourth Pandemic Party At the White House
The public on the South Lawn at the White House party today;
Republican high-rollers had a larger space with a barbecue grill for 
each table on another lawn


5 July 2020  -   From the Devex article:
**** As is now usual, Devex has not updated their information website on a Sunday... ****

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report for the world:
       11,398,501 cases     533,343 deaths

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report in the US:  
     2,876,143 cases          129,891 deaths
     2,930,000 cases          132,000 deaths  (from the Google COVID-19 site)

Colorado COVID-19  Report:
     34,065 cases         1,701 deaths  (from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment)

Source: The Slate: The Slatest - Written by Daniel Politi, posted at 3:53 pm EDT on 4 July 2020

"These Are the Statues Trump Wants To Include In the 'National Garden of American Heroes'

   At a time when many protesters around the country have been calling to tear down Confederate statues as well as other monuments that honor the country's racist past, President Donald Trump insists that what the country needs is even more statues.  During a confrontational speech in which he delivered a divisive message that warned about the threat of a "new far-left fascism," Trump announced an executive order to establish a "National Garden of American Heroes" that will include statues of "historically significant Americans."
   Trump had previously condemned protesters for tearing down statues and even signed an order in June to call for the prosecution of those who vandalize statues or other historical monuments.  He returned to that theme on Friday when he spoke in front f Mount Rushmore, claiming protesters were "determined to tear down every statue, symbol, and memory of our national heritage."  Trump also claimed that calls to remove statues amounted to an effort to "defame our heroes, erase our values, and indoctrinate our children."
   The executive order that the White House unveiled Friday evening also harshly criticizes efforts to remove statues.  "To destroy a monument is to desecrate our common inheritance," reads the order.  "These statues are not ours alone, to be discarded at the whim of those inflamed by fashionable political passions; they belong to generations that have come before us and to generations yet unborn." That is why "it is our responsibility as Americans to stand strong against this violence, and to peacefully transmit our great national story to future generations through newly commissioned monuments to American heroes."
The president also gets outraged when people ask him about his 
orange-base make-up, which the wind occasionally shows us...

   The order goes on to give a new task force 60 days to present plans for the garden of statues that must be "lifelike or realistic" and "not abstract or modernist."  The order also specifies that the garden must be "located on a site of natural beauty," close to a city, and must be opened by July 4, 2026.  The garden should include "historically significant Americans," who "contributed positively to America throughout our history."  The order gives Founding Fathers, abolitionists, police officers killed in the line of duty, and "opponents of national socialism or international socialism" as just a few of the examples of people who could be included.  "none will have lived perfect lives, but all will be worth honoring, remembering, and studying," reads the order.
   The order lists historical figures to be included in the National Garden, although it also makes clear that they should not be limited to those on the list.  The list includes several obvious names like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Martin Luther King, Jr.  But also others that are bound to raise more controversy, including Ronald Reagan, Antonin Scalia, and Billy Graham.  Although the statues should be of "historically significant Americans," those who "made substantive historical contributions to the discovery, development, or independence of the future of the United States" can also be depicted, including Christopher Columbus, Junipero Serra and the Marquis de Lafayette.
  These are all the historical figures mentioned in the executive order:
-  John Adams
-  Susan B. Anthony
-  Clara Barton
-  Daniel Boone
-  Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
-  Henry Clay
-  Davy Crockett
-  Frederick Douglass
-  Amelia Earhart
-  Benjamin Franklin
-  Billy Graham
-  Alexander Hamilton
-  Thomas Jefferson
-  Martin Luther King, Jr.
-  Abraham Lincoln
-  Douglas MacArthur
-  Dolley Madison
-  James Madison
-  Christa McAuliffe
-  Audie Murphy
-  George S. Patton, Jr.
-  Ronald Reagan
-  Jackie Robinson
-  Betsy Ross
-  Antonin Scalia
-  Harriet Beecher Stowe
-  Harriet Tubman
-  Booker T. Washington
- George Washington
- Orville and Wilbur Wright


6 July 2020  -   From the Devex article:
"Total cases as of July 6:   11,477,723  and  534,938 deaths.
   A WHO survey finds that 73 countries are at risk of stock-outs of antiretroviral medicines as a result of the pandemic.  Twenty-four countries report having critically low stock or disruptions in the supply of these drugs.  In these countries, 8.3 million people were taking taking these medicines last year - approximately 33% of all people taking HIV treatment globally.
   WHO discontinues the lopinavir/ritonavir treatment arm of the Solidarity Trial following a recommendation from the trial's International Steering Committee that found the treatment produced little or no reduction in patient mortality when compared to standard of care.  The decision follows a previous WHO announcement stopping the hydroxychloroquine arm of the trial."

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report for the world:
       11,579,837 cases     536,814 deaths

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report in the US:  
     2,931,142 cases          130,248 deaths
     2,980,000 cases          132,000 deaths  (from the Google COVID-19 site)

Colorado COVID-19  Report:
     34,257 cases         1,691 deaths  (from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment)
                               (Colorado deaths revised down by 10, due to further testing.)

Enjoy song parodies?   Then you'll like Randy Rainbow's newest, viewable on You Tube at:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lJondUzeKk

From the WHO Situation Report: 
Afghanistan confirms a total of 33,064 cases.  It also confirms a total of 887 deaths.
Albania confirms a total of 2,964 cases.  It also confirms a total of 79 deaths.
Algeria confirms a total of 15,941 cases.  It also confirms a total of 952 deaths.
Andorra confirms a total of 855 cases.  It also confirms a total of 52 deaths.
Angola confirms a total of 353 cases.  It also confirms a total of 19 deaths.
Anguilla confirms a total of 3 cases.
Antigua & Barbuda confirms a total of 68 cases.  It also confirms a total of 3 deaths.
Argentina confirms a total of 75,376 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,490 deaths.
Armenia confirms a total of 28,936 cases.  It also confirms a total of 491 deaths.
Aruba confirms a total of 104 cases.  It also confirms a total of 3 deaths.
Australia confirms a total of 8,449 cases.  It also confirms a total of 104 deaths.
Austria confirms a total of 18,269 cases.  It also confirms a total of 706 deaths.
Azerbaijan confirms a total of 20,324 cases.  It also confirms a total of 250 deaths.
Bahamas confirms a total of 104 cases.  It also confirms a total of 11 deaths.
Bahrain confirms a total of 29,367 cases.  It also confirms a total of 97 deaths.
Bangladesh confirms a total of 162,417 cases.  It also confirms a total of 2,052 deaths.
Barbados confirms a total of 97 cases.  It also confirms a total of 7 deaths.
Belarus confirms a total of 63,554 cases.  It also confirms a total of 423 deaths.
Belgium confirms a total of 62,016 cases.  It also confirms a total of 9,771 deaths.
Belize confirms a total of 30 cases.  It also confirms a total of 2 deaths.
Benin confirms a total of 1,199 cases.  It also confirms a total of 21 deaths.
Bermuda confirms a total of 146 cases.  It also confirms a total of 9 deaths.
Bhutan confirms a total of 80 cases.
Bolivia confirms a total of 38,071 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,378 deaths.
Bonaire, Saint Eustatius & Saba confirms a total of 7 cases.
Bosnia & Herzegovina confirms a total of 5,393 cases.  It also confirms a total of 17993 deaths.
Botswana confirms a total of 275 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Brazil confirms a total of 1,577,004 cases.  It also confirms a total of 64,265 deaths.
British Virgin Islands confirms a total of 8 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Brunei Darussalam confirms a total of 141 cases.  It also confirms a total of 3 deaths.
Bulgaria confirms a total of 5,740 cases.  It also confirms a total of 246 deaths.
Burkina Faso confirms a total of 1,000 cases.  It also confirms a total of 53 deaths.
Burundi confirms a total of 191 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Cabo Verde confirms a total of 1,451 cases.  It also confirms a total of 17 deaths.
Cambodia confirms a total of 141 cases.
Cameroon confirms a total of 14,037 cases.  It also confirms a total of 330 deaths.
Canada confirms a total of 105,317 cases.  It also confirms a total of 8,674 deaths.
Cayman Islands confirms a total of 201 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Central African Republic confirms a total of 3,969 cases.  It also confirms 458 deaths.
Chad confirms a total of 872 cases.  It also confirms a total of 74 deaths.
Chile confirms a total of 295,932 cases.  It also confirms a total of 6,308 deaths.
China confirms a total of 85,320 cases.  It also confirms a total of 4,648 deaths.
Colombia confirms a total of 113,389 cases.  It also confirms a total of 3,942 deaths.
Comoros confirms a total of 311 cases.  It also confirms a total of 7 deaths.
Congo confirms a total of 1,557 cases.  It also confirms a total of 60 deaths.
Costa Rica confirms a total of 4,621 cases.  It also confirms a total of 18 deaths.
Cote d'Ivoire confirms a total of  10,244 cases.  It also confirms a total of 70 deaths.
Croatia confirms a total of 3,151 cases.  It also confirms a total of 113 deaths.
Cuba confirms a total of 2,372 cases.  It also confirms a total of 86 deaths.
Curacao confirms a total of 25 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Cyprus confirms a total of 1,003 cases.  It also confirms a total of 19 deaths.
Czechia confirms a total of 12,515 cases.  It also confirms a total of 348 deaths.
Democratic Republic of the Congo confirms a total of 7,410 cases.  It also confirms a total of 181 deaths.
Denmark confirms a total of 12,8325 cases.  It also confirms a total of 606 deaths.
Djibouti confirms a total of 4,792 cases.  It also confirms a total of 55 deaths.
Dominica confirms a total of 18 cases.
Dominican Republic confirms a total of 37,425 cases.  It also confirms a total of 794 deaths.
Ecuador confirms a total of 61,958 cases.  It also confirms a total of 4,781 deaths.
Egypt confirms a total of 75,253 cases.  It also confirms a total of 3,343 deaths.
El Salvador confirms a total of 7,777 cases.  It also confirms a total of 217 deaths.
Equatorial Guinea confirms a total of 1,043 cases.  It also confirms a total of 12 deaths.
Eritrea confirms a total of 215 cases.
Estonia confirms a total of 1,993 cases.  It also confirms a total of 69 deaths.
Eswatini confirms a total of 988 cases.  It also confirms a total of 13 deaths.
Ethiopia confirms a total of 6,386 cases.  It also confirms a total of 116 deaths.
Falkland Islands (Malvinas) confirms a total of 13 cases.
Faroe Islands confirms a total of 187 cases.
Fiji confirms a total of 19 cases.
Finland confirms a total of 7,253 cases.  It also confirms a total of 329 deaths.
France confirms a total of 158,754 cases.  It also confirms a total of 29,808 deaths.
French Guiana confirms a total of 4,913 cases.  It also confirms a total of 16 deaths.
French Polynesia confirms a total of 62 cases.
Gabon confirms a total of 5,620 cases.  It also confirms a total of 44 deaths.
Gambia confirms a total of 57 cases.  It also confirms a total of 2 deaths.
Georgia confirms a total of 953 cases.  It also confirms a total of 15 deaths.
Germany confirms a total of 196,554 cases.  It also confirms a total of 9,016 deaths.
Ghana confirms a total of 20,085 cases.  It also confirms a total of 122 deaths.
Gibraltar confirms a total of 178 cases.
Greece confirms a total of 3,519 cases.  It also confirms a total of 192 deaths.
Greenland confirms a total of 13 cases.
Grenada confirms a total of 23 cases.
Guadeloupe confirms a total of 184 cases.  It also confirms a total of 14 deaths.
Guam confirms a total of 280 cases.  It also confirms a total of 5 deaths.
Guatemala confirms a total of 22,501 cases.  It also confirms a total of 920 deaths.
Guernsey confirms a total of 252 cases.  It also confirms a total of 13 deaths.
Guinea confirms a total of 5,610 cases.  It also confirms a total of 34 deaths.
Guinea-Bissau confirms a total of 1,765 cases.  It also confirms a total of 25 deaths.
Guyana confirms a total of 272 cases.  It also confirms a total of 14 deaths.
Haiti confirms a total of 6,294 cases.  It also confirms a total of 113 deaths.
Honduras confirms a total of 22,921 cases.  It also confirms a total of 629 deaths.
Hungary confirms a total of 4,183 cases.  It also confirms a total of 589 deaths.
Iceland confirms a total of 1,863 cases.  It also confirms a total of 10 deaths.
India confirms a total of 697,413 cases.  It also confirms a total of 19,693 deaths.
Indonesia confirms a total of 63,749 cases.  It also confirms a total of 3,174 deaths.
Iran confirms a total of 240,438 cases.  It also confirms a total of 11,571 deaths.
Iraq confirms a total of 60,479 cases.  It also confirms a total of 2,473 deaths.
Ireland confirms a total of 25,527 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,741 deaths.
Isle of Man confirms a total of 336 cases.  It also confirms a total of 24 deaths.
Israel confirms a total of 29,236 cases.  It also confirms a total of 330 deaths.
Italy confirms a total of 241,611 cases.  It also confirms a total of 34,861 deaths.
Jamaica confirms a total of 728 cases.  It also confirms a total of 10 deaths.
Japan confirms a total of 19,775 cases.  It also confirms a total of 977 deaths.
Jersey confirms a total of 320 cases.  It also confirms a total of 31 deaths.
Jordan confirms a total of 1,164 cases.  It also confirms a total of 10 deaths.
Kazakhstan confirms a total of 48,574 cases.  It also confirms a total of 260 deaths.
Kenya confirms a total of 7,886 cases.  It also confirms a total of 160 deaths.
Kosovo confirms a total of 3,465 cases.  It also confirms a total of 65 deaths.
Kuwait confirms a total of 49,941 cases.  It also confirms a total of 368 deaths.
Kyrgyzstan confirms a total of 7,691 cases.  It also confirms a total of 92 deaths.
Laos confirms a total of 19 cases.
Latvia confirms a total of 1,124 cases.  It also confirms a total of 30 deaths.
Lebanon confirms a total of 1,873 cases.  It also confirms a total of 36 deaths.
Lesotho confirms a total of 91 cases.
Liberia confirms a total of 874 cases.  It also confirms a total of 37 deaths.
Libya confirms a total of 989 cases.  It also confirms a total of 27 deaths.
Liechtenstein confirms a total of 84 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Lithuania confirms a total of 1,836 cases.  It also confirms a total of 79 deaths.
Luxembourg confirms a total of 4,522 cases.  It also confirms a total of 110 deaths.
Madagascar confirms a total of 2,941 cases.  It also confirms a total of 32 deaths.
Malawi confirms a total of 1,742 cases.  It also confirms a total of 19 deaths.
Malaysia confirms a total of 8,663 cases.  It also confirms a total of 121 deaths.
Maldives confirms a total of 2,468 cases.  It also confirms a total of 11 deaths.
Mali confirms a total of 2,330 cases.  It also confirms a total of 119 deaths.
Malta confirms a total of 6702 cases.  It also confirms a total of 9 deaths.
Martinique confirms a total of 249 cases.  It also confirms a total of 14 deaths.
Mauritania confirms a total of 4,879 cases.  It also confirms a total of 130 deaths.
Mauritius confirms a total of 341 cases.  It also confirms a total of 10 deaths.
Mayotte confirms a total of 2,668 cases.  It also confirms a total of 36 deaths.
Mexico confirms a total of 252,165 cases.  It also confirms a total of 30,366 deaths.
Moldova confirms a total of 17,814 cases.  It also confirms a total of 588 deaths.
Monaco confirms a total of 99 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Mongolia confirms a total of 220 cases.
Montenegro confirms a total of 781 cases.  It also confirms a total of 14 deaths.
Montserrat confirms a total of 11 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Morocco confirms a total of 14,215 cases.  It also confirms a total of 235 deaths.
Mozambique confirms a total of 987 cases.  It also confirms 8 deaths.
Myanmar confirms a total of 313 cases.  It also confirms a total of 6 deaths.
Namibia confirms a total of 412 cases.
Nepal confirms a total of 15,784 cases.  It also confirms a total of 34 deaths.
Netherlands confirms a total of 50,566 cases.  It also confirms a total of 6,118 deaths.
New Caledonia confirms a total of 21 cases.
New Zealand confirms a total of 1,184 cases.  It also confirms a total of 22 deaths.
Nicaragua confirms a total of 2,182 cases.  It also confirms a total of 83 deaths.
Niger confirms a total of 1,093 cases.  It also confirms a total of 678 deaths.
Nigeria confirms a total of 28,711 cases.  It also confirms a total of 645 deaths.
North Macedonia confirms a total of 7,046 cases.  It also confirms a total of 341 deaths.
Northern Mariana Islands confirms a total of 301 cases.  It also confirms a total of 2 deaths.
Norway confirms a total of 8,8915 cases.  It also confirms a total of 251 deaths.
Oman confirms a total of 46,178 cases.  It also confirms a total of 213 deaths.
*Other*  confirms a total of 741 cases.  It also confirms a total of 13 deaths.
Pakistan confirms a total of 231,818 cases.  It also confirms a total of 4,762 deaths.
Palestine (occupied) confirms a total of 4,722 cases.  It also confirms a total of 20 deaths.
Panama confirms a total of 36,983 cases.  It also confirms a total of 720 deaths.
Papua New Guinea confirms a total of 11 cases.
Paraguay confirms a total of 2,427 cases.  It also confirms a total of 20 deaths.
Peru confirms a total of 299,080 cases.  It also confirms a total of 10,412 deaths.
Philippines confirms a total of 44,254 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,24497 deaths.
Poland confirms a total of 35,950 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,517 deaths.
Portugal confirms a total of 43,897 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,614 deaths.
Puerto Rico confirms a total of 7,916 cases.  It also confirms a total of 155 deaths.
Qatar confirms a total of 99,799 cases.  It also confirms a total of 128 deaths.
Reunion confirms a total of 547 cases.  It also confirms 2 deaths.
Romania confirms a total of 28,973 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,750 deaths.
Russia confirms a total of 687,862 cases.  It also confirms a total of 10,296 deaths.
Rwanda confirms a total of 1,105 cases.  It also confirms 3 deaths.
Saint Barthelemy confirms a total of 6 cases.
Saint Kitts & Nevis confirms a total of 16 cases.
Saint Lucia confirms a total of 22 cases.
Saint Martin confirms a total of 44 cases.  It also confirms a total of 3 deaths.
Saint Pierre & Miquelon confirms a total of 1 case.
Saint Vincent & the Grenadines confirms a total of 29 cases.
San Marino confirms a total of 713 cases.  It also confirms a total of 42 deaths.
Sao Tome & Principe confirms a total of 400 cases.  It also confirms a total of 11 deaths.
Saudi Arabia confirms a total of 209,509 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,916 deaths.
Senegal confirms a total of 7,400 cases.  It also confirms a total of 157 deaths.
Serbia confirms a total of 16,131 cases.  It also confirms a total of 311 deaths.
Seychelles confirms a total of 81 cases.
Sierra Leone confirms a total of 1,542 cases.  It also confirms a total of 62 deaths.
Singapore confirms a total of 44,800 cases.  It also confirms a total of 26 deaths.
Sint Maarten confirms a total of 78 cases.  It also confirms a total of 19 deaths.
Slovakia confirms a total of 1,764 cases.  It also confirms a total of 28 deaths.
Slovenia confirms a total of 1,700 cases.  It also confirms a total of 111 deaths.
Somalia confirms a total of 2,997 cases.  It also confirms a total of 92 deaths.
South Africa confirms a total of 196,750 cases.  It also confirms a total of 3,199 deaths.
South Korea confirms a total of 13,137 cases.  It also confirms a total of 284 deaths.
South Sudan confirms a total of 2,093 cases.  It also confirms a total of 40 deaths.
Spain confirms a total of 250,545 cases.  It also confirms a total of 29,045 deaths.
Sri Lanka confirms a total of 2,076 cases.  It also confirms a total of 11 deaths.
Sudan confirms a total of 9,767 cases.  It also confirms a total of 608 deaths.
Suriname confirms a total of 583 cases.  It also confirms a total of 14 deaths.
Sweden confirms a total of 71,419 cases.  It also confirms a total of 5,420 deaths.
Switzerland confirms a total of 32,184 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,685 deaths.
Syrian Arab Republic confirms a total of 358 cases.  It also confirms a total of 13 deaths.
Tajikistan confirms a total of 6,213 cases.  It also confirms a total of 53 deaths.
Tanzania confirms a total of 509 cases.  It also confirms a total of 21 deaths.
Thailand confirms a total of 3,195 cases.  It also confirms a total of 58 deaths.
Timor-Leste confirms a total of 24 cases.
Togo confirms a total of 680 cases.  It also confirms a total of 15 deaths.
Trinidad & Tobago confirms a total of 131 cases.  It also confirms a total of 8 deaths.
Tunisia confirms a total of 1,188 cases.  It also confirms a total of 50 deaths.
Turkey confirms a total of 205,758 cases.  It also confirms a total of 5,225 deaths.
Turks & Caicos confirms a total of 47 cases.  It also confirms a total of 2 deaths.
Uganda confirms a total of 939 cases.
Ukraine confirms a total of 49,043 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,262 deaths.
United Arab Emirates confirms a total of 51,540 cases.  It also confirms a total of 323 deaths.
United Kingdom confirms a total of 285,420 cases.  It also confirms a total of 44,220 deaths.
United States of America confirms a total of 2,833,552 cases.  It also confirms a total of 129,408 deaths.
United States Virgin Islands confirms a total of 111 cases.  It also confirms a total of 6 deaths.
Uruguay confirms a total of 955 cases.  It also confirms a total of 28 deaths.
Uzbekistan confirms a total of 10,143 cases.  It also confirms a total of 35 deaths.
Vatican City (Holy See) confirms a total of 12 cases.
Venezuela confirms a total of 6,750 cases.  It also confirms a total of 62 deaths.
Vietnam confirms a total of 355 cases.
Yemen confirms a total of 1,269 cases.  It also confirms a total of 339 deaths.
Zambia confirms a total of 1,632 cases.  It also confirms a total of 30 deaths.
Zimbabwe confirms a total of 716 cases.  It also confirms a total of 8 deaths.
    *Other* is The Diamond Princess, a cruise ship


7 July 2020  -   

10 July 2020  -   From the Devex article:  
"Total cases as of July 10:   12,118,667  and  551,271 deaths."
*****  No news updates for today, July 10  *****

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report for the world:
       12,459,363 cases      559,439 deaths

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report in the US:  
     3,181,846 cases          134,059 deaths
     3,240,000 cases          136,000 deaths  (from the Google COVID-19 site)

Colorado COVID-19  Report:
     36,191 cases         1,724 deaths  (from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment)

Source:  CNN - "The PO!NT" - Analysis by Chris Cillizzi, Editor-at-Large; updated at 2:02 pm EDT, Friday, 10 July 2020

"The 38 Most Bizarre Quotes From Donald Trump's New 'Interview' With Sean Hannity

Faced with coronavirus surges in some of the largest states in the country and a public turning dramatically against how he has responded to the crisis, President Donald Trump spent 40 minutes of his Thursday night on the phone with Fox News host Sean Hannity.
   The "interview" was, as is so often the case when Hannity and Trump talk, a grievance session - as the President used Hannity's friendly forum to paint a version of reality that doesn't compoert with, well, reality.
   I went through the transcript and pulled out the lines you need to see. They're below.

1.  "And we can't abolish our police.  They want to abolish our police."
 "No, I don't support defunding the police." - Joe Biden.   ....  And away we go!

2.  "I was very nice to Mayor de Blasio.  I got him ventilators when he needed them.  I got him hospital help when he needed it.  I got him everything he needed.  I got him gowns.  I got him the masks.  I got him everything, the shields.  I got that man everything."
 "I."

3.  "Then he throws a big Black Lives Matter sign right down in the middle of Fifth Avenue.  And all merchants along Fifth Avenue are furious.  They are furious.  And the whole city is furious."
 It's not clear to me where Trump got the evidence that either retailers on 5th Avenue or the "whole city" of New York is "furious" at de Blasio's decision to paint "Black Lives Matter" on the street.

4.  "But I was so good to him and to Governor Cuomo, like nobody has ever been good.  And all you end up doing out of that place is get prosecuted and have a lot of trouble."
 So, Trumps seems to be suggesting that because his administration helped Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo deal with the coronavirus in their city and state that Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance should not be investigating the hush money paid to Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 election.  Or something?

5.  "So, New York is not the place that it was.  Everyone's leaving. They're moving to Florida."
 "Everyone's leaving."  On a related note, that quote reminds me of this one from "Spinal Tap"band manager Ian Faith: "The Boston gig has been canceled.  ...Yeah. I wouldn't worry about it though, it's not a big college town."

6.  "I think they - you know, there is an expression, an old expression, was used badly in old time ago in politics.  I think they brainwashed him.  They brainwashed him.  He doesn't know where he is.  He doesn't know what he's doing."
 OK, so the President of the United States is suggesting that his general election opponent - a former vice president of the United States - has been unwittingly brainwashed by liberals.  A sort of "Manchurian" candidate.  Sure! Very normal stuff!

7.  "He hasn't taken any cognitive test, because he couldn't pass one."
 How does Trump know that a0 Biden hasn't taken any sort of cognitive test and b0 he couldn't pass one? He doesn't!

8.  "I actually took one when I - very recently, when I - when I was - the radical left were saying, is he all there?  Is he all there?  And I proved I was all there, because I got - I aced it.  I aced the test."
 Wait, WHAT?  We know that Trump took a 10-minute cognitive test at Walter Reed hospital in January 2018 but the White House has not disclosed any more recent testing of Trump's mental capacit.  A memo from the White House physician released last month made no mention that Trump had undergone any cognitive test during his most recent physical.

9.  "I took it at Walter Reed Medical Center in front of doctors.  And they were very surprised.  They said, that's an unbelievable thing.  Rarely does anybody do what you just did.
 Trump always has to be the best at everything.  Always.  Forever.

***** A personal note from BND - outside the article:   My mother suffered from Alzheimer's, and  her cognitive tests included the following:  Who is our current President of the United States?  What day of the week is it?  What is today's date?  What season is it? What was the weather like when you came inside?  Please draw a clock for me.  Here are five words; repeat them after me, and I will ask you what they were in a few minutes.  Look at these photos and name what is shown.  What did you have for breakfast today?  What is eleven plus five?  What were the five words I asked you to remember? -  Yeah, cognitive tests are extremely difficult to pass, and few people "ace" them! *****

10.  "He has been totally taken over, and I think it's because he doesn't understand what's going on."
 Trump, again, questions Biden's mental acuity.  With no evidence or proof.

11. "I think we are doing very well in the polls.  I think, if you look at the different states, I think we are doing very well.  We are rapidly rising."
 An ABC New-Ipsos poll released on Friday morning showed that 67% of the public disapproves of how Trump is handling the coronavirus pandemic.  A look at recent national polling suggests that Trump is somewhere between 8 and 12 points behind Biden in hypothetical general election match-ups.

12.  "We have tremendous Hispanic support.  We have tremendous African American support.  I think we have great support, period."
 In CNN's June poll, Trump's job approval among people of color was 26%.  Among African Americans, it was 10%.  So, yeah, "tremendous."  Definitely.

13.  "Dr. Fauci is a nice man, but he's made a lot of mistakes, like, you don't have to ban them coming in from very infected China.  I did it anyway, and we saved hundreds of thousands of lives."
 The takeaway?  Donald Trump, who is not a medical doctor, knows more about this virus and has made more right calls on it than Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has run the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease since 1984 - and served under six Presidents.  Oooooooookkkk.

14.  "They have been wrong about a lot of things, including face masks.  Maybe they are wrong, maybe not.  But a lot of them said, don't wear a mask, don't wear a mask.  And now they are saying, wear a mask."
 Wait.  Is Trump saying that we now should be wearing masks?  Or no?  I don't think he knows, honestly.  He just wanted to take a shot at the so-called experts who said not to wear a mask in the early days of the coronavirus.
 
15.  "And we are testing and creating - it's the greatest thing that ever happen for the opposite party, but we are doing something that nobody has ever done to the extent, and we are doing a great job."
 In which the President of the United States says, publicly, that increased testing for a global pandemic is good for his political opponents - presumably because more cases will be found?  Like, WHAT?

16.  "They - in most - most cases, in almost - I mean, literally, in most cases, they automatically cure.  They automatically get better."
 People with coronavirus "automatically" get better?  Uh, no.

17.  "But I think it's fine to wear a mask, if it makes you feel comfortable."
 Also because it is BY FAR the most effective way to limit the spread of Covid-19!

18.  "I don't think you need one you're tested all the time, everybody around you is tested, you're quite a distance.  You talk about social distancing.  You're away."
 Donald Trump on masks - still not getting it.

19.  "And he makes a speech.  And he walks onto he stage wearing this massive mask.  There's nobody on the stage.  And then he takes it off.  He likes to have it hang off usually the left ear.  I think it makes him feel good, frankly, if you want to  know the truth.  And I guess that's OK."
 Oh man!  Biden wears a mask!

20.  "And I'm OK with it, if he wants to do that.  He's got the largest mask I think I have ever seen.  It covers up a big proportion of his face."
 Biden is trying to protect himself and model proper public health behavior for others.  HA HA HA HA HA.

21.  "Yes, I think, if I'm in the right setting, if I'm with soldiers, people that - I don't want to spread anything."
 Wait but didn't Trump just say that he definitely doesn't have coronavirus?  Because he gets tested all the time?  So what he be spreading by not wearing a mask during his visit to Walter Reed on Saturday?

22.  "And it's - a lot of it is, it's you spreading, not them spreading."
 Offered without comment.

23.  "Now, I'm usually fairly isolated,as  the President, so I'm fairly isolated."
 He's talking about his exposure to coronavirus.  I think.

24.  "Well, a ship ventilation system is very much - they circularize.  And they are very much under review, to be honest with you."
 [looks around room slowly]

25.  "So, I mean, they treat - the IRS treats me just like they used to treat the Tea Party, except worse.  And I'm under tax audit.  I have been for a long period of time."
 By my count, Trump has been saying publicly that he is under audit by the IRS since February 2016.  Which, well, that's one hell of a long audit.  Also: You can release your tax returns while under audit!  Richard Nixon did it!

26.  "We had a deal done.  In fact, it was - I guess it was signed even.  And once I ran or once I won, or somewhere back a long time ago, everything was like, well, let's start all over again.  It's a disgrace."
 So, if I am reading this right, Trump said he had a "deal" with the IRS on his taxes before he ran for office?  And that the IRS backed out of the deal after he won?  That seems like something we should know more about!

27.  "Well, first of all, President Obama and Joe Biden spied on my campaign.  They knew everything that was going on."
 NOPE!

28.  "I know how the White House works, I guess I can say now, better than anybody."
 Always. Has. To. Be. The. Best.

29.  "They spied on my campaign.  I said it a long time ago.  Nobody believed me.  And now it turns out to be fact."
 Again, no.

30.  "As far as General Flynn, he's a great hero.  He's a great gentleman.  What they are doing to that man, they have destroyed that man."
 "My guilty pleas and agreement to cooperate with the Special Counsel's Office reflect a decision I made in the best interests of my family and of our country.  I accept full responsibility for my actions." - Michael Flynn

31.  "Roger Stone was treated very unfairly, unbelievably unfairly."
 Roger Stone was convicted by a jury of his peers of lying to Congress and witness tampering in relation to Russia's interference in the 2016 election.  He was, in fact, found guilty on all 7 counts brought by the Justice Department.

32.  "I am always thinking.  I am always thinking."
 Same.

33.  "He knew everything.  He was probably in charge of it or was in charge of it.  Joe Biden, you know, I don't know if he knows where he is, but he was there.  He knew everything."
 In which Trump suggests - with zero evidence - that the former Vice President of the United States was the ringleader of a massive spying operation against him in the 2016 election.  A spying campaign, I'd add, that has been debunked.
 
34.  "And the vets are loving Trump."
 No one goes third person like Donald Trump goes third person!

35.  "We need more judges and more justices.  You see that now with the Supreme Court more than ever.  And the next president - I have had two - and the next president is going to be able to pick two or three or one or whatever, but a lot of justices."
 Reminder:  Of the 9 current Supreme Court Justices, five were appointed by Republican Presidents - including Chief Justice John Roberts.

36.  "And we have many things we are doing and many things that we have already completed.  And you can't do more than what we have done."
 [does a series of complex mathematical calculations]  Yeah, this checks out.

37.  "Well, I like his voice being heard, but he's always going to be for us.  I mean, he's going to be for us."
 "I am taking the red hat off, with this interview."  -  Kanye West, July 8, 2020

38.  "And we are not going to be Venezuela." 
 This feels like a good place to end.  "


11 July 2020  -   From the Devex article:  
*****  No new updates for today, July 11  *****

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report for the world:
       12,671,592  cases      563,841 deaths

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report in the US:  
     3,242,073 cases          134,700 deaths
     3,290,000 cases          137,000 deaths  (from the Google COVID-19 site)

Colorado COVID-19  Report:
     36,591 cases         1,725 deaths  (from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment)

Yesterday, the President signed an "Executive Order of Clemency" for his friend Roger Stone, who was to report to prison for a 7 year term on 14 July.  Stone had been found guilty in a trial by his peers of 7 counts of felonies - lying to Congress under oath and witness tampering.  Stone spent less than 3 days in jail while getting together the money needed for his bail while awaiting trial.  His sentence was commuted to time served.....
   Today, the President visited his National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia to play a full 18-hole game.  Unusual for him, he took along a professional photographer to take 'memorable pictures.'  Since he was sworn into office on 21 January 2017, this is his 368th visit to a property that he owns, and his 276th visit to a Golf Club that he owns (that doesn't count other golfing excursions to courses he does not own).
   After his golf game, he visited Walter Reed Medical Center to visit veterans in open wards there - and he (gasp!)  wore a mask!


12 July 2020  -   From the Devex article:  
*****  No new updates for today, July 11  *****

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report for the world:
       12,865,184  cases      567,995 deaths

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report in the US:  
     3,301,820 cases          135,171 deaths
     3,290,000 cases          137,000 deaths  (from the Google COVID-19 site)

Colorado COVID-19  Report:
     36,913 cases         1,725 deaths  (from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment)

Today, Trump visited his National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia again.  This was his 369th visit to a property he owns (since his inauguration), and his 277th visit to one of his privately owned golf courses.  While on the course, he does not walk from hole to hole, nor does he carry or even wheel his golf clubs along with him; he rides in a golf cart, and so do his clubs, sticking out, so he can choose which to use without having to handle the bag.   .....

Today's Tweets from Trump, Sunday, 12 July 2020:
 SOURCE:  Twitter  sent from @realDonaldTrump ......

-  at  7:32 am EDT:  "I disagreed with doing this very small (tiny) section of wall, in a tricky area, by a private group which raised money by ads.  It was only done to make me look bad, and perhsps it now doesn't even work. Should have been built like rest of Wall, 500 plus miles."
  (This is in response to a Tweet from a Jeremy Schwartz:  -  'UPDATE: Experts to inspect a controversial privately built border wall following a federal court hearing this am. Govt attorney identified 4 areas of problematic erosion along the base of the fence and the banks of the Rio Grande. Fisher attorney promises fixes, but vague on plan' )

----  5 re-Tweets  ----

-  at 7:52 am  EDT:  "We have now built 240 Miles of new Border Wall on or Southern Border.  We will have over 450 Miles built by the end of the year.  Have established some of the best Border Numbers ever.  The Radical Left Democrats want Open Borders for anyone, including many criminals, to come in!"
   *****  Fact check:  So far, 197 miles of existing border wall has been "improved"  and 3 miles of new wall have built.  Unless mathematics have changed drastically, 197 plus 3 equals 200.  So, 200 miles in 3 years and 7 months....  Making, what?  30 years to build along the entire 2,000 mile border?  Over mountains and across rivers....  Thank God he'll be gone soon!  (Hopefully!!!)  *****

-  at 8:11 am EDT - in 2 parts:  "I know many in business and politics that work out endlessly, in some cases to a point of exhaustion. It is their number one passion in life, but nobody complains. My "exercise" is playing, almost never during the week, a quick round of golf. Obama played more and much longer...."
 "...rounds, no problem. When I play, Fake News CNN, and others, park themselves anywhere they can to get a picture, then scream, "President Trump is playing golf." Actually, I play VERY fast, get a lot of work done on the golf course, and also get a "tiny" bit of exercise. Not bad!"

-  at 8:30 am EDT:  "No, Radical Left anarchists, agitators, looters or protesters will not be knocking down or harming the Washington Monument, the Lincoln or Jefferson Memorials, or just about any other Federal Monumrnt of Statue. If they even try, an automatic 10 years in prison. Sorry!"

****** Please note the two misspellings in the first and last Tweets are as they were typed and sent out by @realDonaldTrump   -  you'd think he'd use spell-check or something like that...   ******

No Tweets since 8:30 am EDT - and it's now 9:30 pm EDT.....   Wonder if his favorite toy broke?


13 July 2020  -   From the Devex article:
"Total cases as of July 13:  12,977,429  and  570,259 deaths.
   The 2020 "State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World" report estimates that between 83 million and 132 million people could be pushed into hunger this year because of COVID-19, many by job losses amid lockdown measures.
   WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says during a news briefing that the agency has not yet received a formal letter from the U.S. about its intentions to withdraw from WHO. 
Dated July 12 -  WHO receives receives reports of 230,000 new cases of COVID-19.  Almost 80% of those cases are from 10 countries, says WHO Director General Dr. Tedros during a news briefing."

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report for the world:
       13,061,792  cases      571,840 deaths

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report in the US:  
     3,361,042 cases          135,582 deaths
     3,430,000 cases          138,000 deaths  (from the Google COVID-19 site)

Colorado COVID-19  Report:
     37,242 cases         1,727 deaths  (from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment)

From the WHO Situation Report: 
Afghanistan confirms a total of 34,451 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,010 deaths.
Albania confirms a total of 3,571 cases.  It also confirms a total of 95 deaths.
Algeria confirms a total of 19,195 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,011 deaths.
Andorra confirms a total of 855 cases.  It also confirms a total of 52 deaths.
Angola confirms a total of 506 cases.  It also confirms a total of 26 deaths.
Anguilla confirms a total of 3 cases.
Antigua & Barbuda confirms a total of 74 cases.  It also confirms a total of 3 deaths.
Argentina confirms a total of 97,509 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,818 deaths.
Armenia confirms a total of 32,151 cases.  It also confirms a total of 573 deaths.
Aruba confirms a total of 105 cases.  It also confirms a total of 3 deaths.
Australia confirms a total of 9,797 cases.  It also confirms a total of 108 deaths.
Austria confirms a total of 18,847 cases.  It also confirms a total of 708 deaths.
Azerbaijan confirms a total of 24,041 cases.  It also confirms a total of 306 deaths.
Bahamas confirms a total of 111 cases.  It also confirms a total of 11 deaths.
Bahrain confirms a total of 32,941 cases.  It also confirms a total of 108 deaths.
Bangladesh confirms a total of 183,795 cases.  It also confirms a total of 2,352 deaths.
Barbados confirms a total of 103 cases.  It also confirms a total of 7 deaths.
Belarus confirms a total of 64,932 cases.  It also confirms a total of 464 deaths.
Belgium confirms a total of 62,707 cases.  It also confirms a total of 9,782 deaths.
Belize confirms a total of 37 cases.  It also confirms a total of 2 deaths.
Benin confirms a total of 1,378 cases.  It also confirms a total of 26 deaths.
Bermuda confirms a total of 150 cases.  It also confirms a total of 9 deaths.
Bhutan confirms a total of 84 cases.
Bolivia confirms a total of 47,200 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,754 deaths.
Bonaire, Saint Eustatius & Saba confirms a total of 7 cases.
Bosnia & Herzegovina confirms a total of 6,884 cases.  It also confirms a total of 220 deaths.
Botswana confirms a total of 399 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Brazil confirms a total of 1,839,850 cases.  It also confirms a total of 71,469 deaths.
British Virgin Islands confirms a total of 8 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Brunei Darussalam confirms a total of 141 cases.  It also confirms a total of 3 deaths.
Bulgaria confirms a total of 7,525 cases.  It also confirms a total of 268 deaths.
Burkina Faso confirms a total of 1,033 cases.  It also confirms a total of 53 deaths.
Burundi confirms a total of 258 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Cabo Verde confirms a total of 1,698 cases.  It also confirms a total of 19 deaths.
Cambodia confirms a total of 156 cases.
Cameroon confirms a total of 15,173 cases.  It also confirms a total of 359 deaths.
Canada confirms a total of 107,347 cases.  It also confirms a total of 8,773 deaths.
Cayman Islands confirms a total of 201 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Central African Republic confirms a total of 4,288 cases.  It also confirms 53 deaths.
Chad confirms a total of 880 cases.  It also confirms a total of 75 deaths.
Chile confirms a total of 315,041 cases.  It also confirms a total of 6,979 deaths.
China confirms a total of 85,568 cases.  It also confirms a total of 4,648 deaths.
Colombia confirms a total of 145,362 cases.  It also confirms a total of 5,119 deaths.
Comoros confirms a total of 317 cases.  It also confirms a total of 7 deaths.
Congo confirms a total of 2,103 cases.  It also confirms a total of 60 deaths.
Costa Rica confirms a total of 7,231 cases.  It also confirms a total of 28 deaths.
Cote d'Ivoire confirms a total of  12,766 cases.  It also confirms a total of 84 deaths.
Croatia confirms a total of 3,722 cases.  It also confirms a total of 119 deaths.
Cuba confirms a total of 2,426 cases.  It also confirms a total of 87 deaths.
Curacao confirms a total of 25 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Cyprus confirms a total of 1,021 cases.  It also confirms a total of 19 deaths.
Czechia confirms a total of 13,174 cases.  It also confirms a total of 352 deaths.
Democratic Republic of the Congo confirms a total of 8,032 cases.  It also confirms a total of 188 deaths.
Denmark confirms a total of 12,946 cases.  It also confirms a total of 609 deaths.
Djibouti confirms a total of 4,972 cases.  It also confirms a total of 56 deaths.
Dominica confirms a total of 18 cases.
Dominican Republic confirms a total of 44,532 cases.  It also confirms a total of 897 deaths.
Ecuador confirms a total of 67,870 cases.  It also confirms a total of 5,047 deaths.
Egypt confirms a total of 82,070 cases.  It also confirms a total of 3,858 deaths.
El Salvador confirms a total of 9,674 cases.  It also confirms a total of 260 deaths.
Equatorial Guinea confirms a total of 1,043 cases.  It also confirms a total of 12 deaths.
Eritrea confirms a total of 232 cases.
Estonia confirms a total of 2,014 cases.  It also confirms a total of 69 deaths.
Eswatini confirms a total of 1,351 cases.  It also confirms a total of 20 deaths.
Ethiopia confirms a total of 7,766 cases.  It also confirms a total of 128 deaths.
Falkland Islands (Malvinas) confirms a total of 13 cases.
Faroe Islands confirms a total of 188 cases.
Fiji confirms a total of 26 cases.
Finland confirms a total of 7,294 cases.  It also confirms a total of 329 deaths.
France confirms a total of 161,275 cases.  It also confirms a total of 29,907 deaths.
French Guiana confirms a total of 5,949 cases.  It also confirms a total of 26 deaths.
French Polynesia confirms a total of 62 cases.
Gabon confirms a total of 5,942 cases.  It also confirms a total of 46 deaths.
Gambia confirms a total of 64 cases.  It also confirms a total of 3 deaths.
Georgia confirms a total of 995 cases.  It also confirms a total of 15 deaths.
Germany confirms a total of 198,963 cases.  It also confirms a total of 9,064 deaths.
Ghana confirms a total of 24,518 cases.  It also confirms a total of 139 deaths.
Gibraltar confirms a total of 180 cases.
Greece confirms a total of 3,803 cases.  It also confirms a total of 193 deaths.
Greenland confirms a total of 13 cases.
Grenada confirms a total of 23 cases.
Guadeloupe confirms a total of 190 cases.  It also confirms a total of 14 deaths.
Guam confirms a total of 304 cases.  It also confirms a total of 5 deaths.
Guatemala confirms a total of 28,598 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,172 deaths.
Guernsey confirms a total of 252 cases.  It also confirms a total of 13 deaths.
Guinea confirms a total of 6,141 cases.  It also confirms a total of 37 deaths.
Guinea-Bissau confirms a total of 1,842 cases.  It also confirms a total of 25 deaths.
Guyana confirms a total of 291 cases.  It also confirms a total of 17 deaths.
Haiti confirms a total of 6,690 cases.  It also confirms a total of 139 deaths.
Honduras confirms a total of 27,583 cases.  It also confirms a total of 771 deaths.
Hungary confirms a total of 4,234 cases.  It also confirms a total of 595 deaths.
Iceland confirms a total of 1,896 cases.  It also confirms a total of 10 deaths.
India confirms a total of 878,254 cases.  It also confirms a total of 23,274 deaths.
Indonesia confirms a total of 75,699 cases.  It also confirms a total of 3,606 deaths.
Iran confirms a total of 257,303 cases.  It also confirms a total of 12,829 deaths.
Iraq confirms a total of 77,506 cases.  It also confirms a total of 3,150 deaths.
Ireland confirms a total of 25,628 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,746 deaths.
Isle of Man confirms a total of 336 cases.  It also confirms a total of 24 deaths.
Israel confirms a total of 38,015 cases.  It also confirms a total of 357 deaths.
Italy confirms a total of 243,461 cases.  It also confirms a total of 34,954 deaths.
Jamaica confirms a total of 758 cases.  It also confirms a total of 10 deaths.
Japan confirms a total of 21,868 cases.  It also confirms a total of 982 deaths.
Jersey confirms a total of 325 cases.  It also confirms a total of 31 deaths.
Jordan confirms a total of 1,179 cases.  It also confirms a total of 10 deaths.
Kazakhstan confirms a total of 59,899 cases.  It also confirms a total of 375 deaths.
Kenya confirms a total of 10,105 cases.  It also confirms a total of 185 deaths.
Kosovo confirms a total of 4,888 cases.  It also confirms a total of 92 deaths.
Kuwait confirms a total of 54,894 cases.  It also confirms a total of 390 deaths.
Kyrgyzstan confirms a total of 11,117 cases.  It also confirms a total of 147 deaths.
Laos confirms a total of 19 cases.
Latvia confirms a total of 1,173 cases.  It also confirms a total of 30 deaths.
Lebanon confirms a total of 2,334 cases.  It also confirms a total of 36 deaths.
Lesotho confirms a total of 233 cases.  It also confirms a total of 2 deaths.
Liberia confirms a total of 1,010 cases.  It also confirms a total of 51 deaths.
Libya confirms a total of 1,433 cases.  It also confirms a total of 39 deaths.
Liechtenstein confirms a total of 85 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Lithuania confirms a total of 1,869 cases.  It also confirms a total of 79 deaths.
Luxembourg confirms a total of 4,925 cases.  It also confirms a total of 111 deaths.
Madagascar confirms a total of 4,867 cases.  It also confirms a total of 35 deaths.
Malawi confirms a total of 2,364 cases.  It also confirms a total of 38 deaths.
Malaysia confirms a total of 8,718 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1212 deaths.
Maldives confirms a total of 2,468 cases.  It also confirms a total of 11 deaths.
Mali confirms a total of 2,731 cases.  It also confirms a total of 13 deaths.
Malta confirms a total of 674 cases.  It also confirms a total of 9 deaths.
Martinique confirms a total of 255 cases.  It also confirms a total of 15 deaths.
Mauritania confirms a total of 5,275 cases.  It also confirms a total of 147 deaths.
Mauritius confirms a total of 342 cases.  It also confirms a total of 10 deaths.
Mayotte confirms a total of 2,711 cases.  It also confirms a total of 40 deaths.
Mexico confirms a total of 295,268 cases.  It also confirms a total of 34,730 deaths.
Moldova confirms a total of 19,382 cases.  It also confirms a total of 642 deaths.
Monaco confirms a total of 99 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Mongolia confirms a total of 230 cases.
Montenegro confirms a total of 1,221 cases.  It also confirms a total of 23 deaths.
Montserrat confirms a total of 12 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Morocco confirms a total of 15,745 cases.  It also confirms a total of 250 deaths.
Mozambique confirms a total of 1,157 cases.  It also confirms 9 deaths.
Myanmar confirms a total of 331 cases.  It also confirms a total of 6 deaths.
Namibia confirms a total of 785 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Nepal confirms a total of 16,801 cases.  It also confirms a total of 38 deaths.
Netherlands confirms a total of 50,967 cases.  It also confirms a total of 6,128 deaths.
New Caledonia confirms a total of 21 cases.
New Zealand confirms a total of 1,194 cases.  It also confirms a total of 22 deaths.
Nicaragua confirms a total of 2,411 cases.  It also confirms a total of 91 deaths.
Niger confirms a total of 1,099 cases.  It also confirms a total of 68 deaths.
Nigeria confirms a total of 32,558 cases.  It also confirms a total of 740 deaths.
North Macedonia confirms a total of 8,111 cases.  It also confirms a total of 382 deaths.
Northern Mariana Islands confirms a total of 33 cases.  It also confirms a total of 2 deaths.
Norway confirms a total of 8,965 cases.  It also confirms a total of 252 deaths.
Oman confirms a total of 56,015 cases.  It also confirms a total of 257 deaths.
*Other*  confirms a total of 741 cases.  It also confirms a total of 13 deaths.
Pakistan confirms a total of 251,825 cases.  It also confirms a total of 5,266 deaths.
Palestine (occupied) confirms a total of 7,037 cases.  It also confirms a total of 39 deaths.
Panama confirms a total of 44,332 cases.  It also confirms a total of 893 deaths.
Papua New Guinea confirms a total of 11 cases.
Paraguay confirms a total of 2,820 cases.  It also confirms a total of 21 deaths.
Peru confirms a total of 322,710 cases.  It also confirms a total of 11,682 deaths.
Philippines confirms a total of 56,259 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,534 deaths.
Poland confirms a total of 37,891 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,571 deaths.
Portugal confirms a total of 46,512 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,660 deaths.
Puerto Rico confirms a total of 9,654 cases.  It also confirms a total of 167 deaths.
Qatar confirms a total of 103,598 cases.  It also confirms a total of 147 deaths.
Reunion confirms a total of 593 cases.  It also confirms 3 deaths.
Romania confirms a total of 32,535 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,884 deaths.
Russia confirms a total of 733,699 cases.  It also confirms a total of 11,439 deaths.
Rwanda confirms a total of 1,337 cases.  It also confirms 4 deaths.
Saint Barthelemy confirms a total of 6 cases.
Saint Kitts & Nevis confirms a total of 17 cases.
Saint Lucia confirms a total of 22 cases.
Saint Martin confirms a total of 44 cases.  It also confirms a total of 3 deaths.
Saint Pierre & Miquelon confirms a total of 2 cases.
Saint Vincent & the Grenadines confirms a total of 29 cases.
San Marino confirms a total of 716 cases.  It also confirms a total of 42 deaths.
Sao Tome & Principe confirms a total of 409 cases.  It also confirms a total of 12 deaths.
Saudi Arabia confirms a total of 252,259 cases.  It also confirms a total of 2,223 deaths.
Senegal confirms a total of 8,135 cases.  It also confirms a total of 157 deaths.
Serbia confirms a total of 18,360 cases.  It also confirms a total of 393 deaths.
Seychelles confirms a total of 100 cases.
Sierra Leone confirms a total of 1,635 cases.  It also confirms a total of 63 deaths.
Singapore confirms a total of 45,961 cases.  It also confirms a total of 26 deaths.
Sint Maarten confirms a total of 78 cases.  It also confirms a total of 19 deaths.
Slovakia confirms a total of 1,901 cases.  It also confirms a total of 28 deaths.
Slovenia confirms a total of 1,841 cases.  It also confirms a total of 111 deaths.
Somalia confirms a total of 3,059 cases.  It also confirms a total of 93 deaths.
South Africa confirms a total of 276,242 cases.  It also confirms a total of 4,097 deaths.
South Korea confirms a total of 13,479 cases.  It also confirms a total of 289 deaths.
South Sudan confirms a total of 2,148 cases.  It also confirms a total of 41 deaths.
Spain confirms a total of 253,908 cases.  It also confirms a total of 29,045 deaths.
Sri Lanka confirms a total of 2,617 cases.  It also confirms a total of 11 deaths.
Sudan confirms a total of 10,250 cases.  It also confirms a total of 650 deaths.
Suriname confirms a total of 741 cases.  It also confirms a total of 18 deaths.
Sweden confirms a total of 74,898 cases.  It also confirms a total of 5,526 deaths.
Switzerland confirms a total of 32,713 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,685 deaths.
Syrian Arab Republic confirms a total of 394 cases.  It also confirms a total of 16 deaths.
Tajikistan confirms a total of 6,551 cases.  It also confirms a total of 55 deaths.
Tanzania confirms a total of 509 cases.  It also confirms a total of 21 deaths.
Thailand confirms a total of 3,220 cases.  It also confirms a total of 58 deaths.
Timor-Leste confirms a total of 24 cases.
Togo confirms a total of 720 cases.  It also confirms a total of 15 deaths.
Trinidad & Tobago confirms a total of 133 cases.  It also confirms a total of 8 deaths.
Tunisia confirms a total of 1,263 cases.  It also confirms a total of 50 deaths.
Turkey confirms a total of 212,993 cases.  It also confirms a total of 5,363 deaths.
Turks & Caicos confirms a total of 71 cases.  It also confirms a total of 2 deaths.
Uganda confirms a total of 1,035 cases.
Ukraine confirms a total of 54,133 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,398 deaths.
United Arab Emirates confirms a total of 54,854 cases.  It also confirms a total of 333 deaths.
United Kingdom confirms a total of 289,607 cases.  It also confirms a total of 44,819 deaths.
United States of America confirms a total of 3,225,950 cases.  It also confirms a total of 134,392 deaths.
United States Virgin Islands confirms a total of 181 cases.  It also confirms a total of 6 deaths.
Uruguay confirms a total of 986 cases.  It also confirms a total of 30 deaths.
Uzbekistan confirms a total of 13,193 cases.  It also confirms a total of 61 deaths.
Vatican City (Holy See) confirms a total of 12 cases.
Venezuela confirms a total of 9,178 cases.  It also confirms a total of 85 deaths.
Vietnam confirms a total of 372 cases.
Yemen confirms a total of 1,469 cases.  It also confirms a total of 418 deaths.
Zambia confirms a total of 1,895 cases.  It also confirms a total of 42 deaths.
Zimbabwe confirms a total of 985 cases.  It also confirms a total of 18 deaths.
    *Other* is The Diamond Princess, a cruise ship


14 July 2020  -   


21 July 2020  -   From the Devex article:  
"Total cases as of July 21:   14,705,330   and  609,955 deaths."
**** No new COVID-19 news has been posted for today ****

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report for the world:
       14,893,706 cases      615,364 deaths

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report in the US:  
     3,897,429 cases          141,969 deaths
     3,970,000 cases          144,000 deaths  (from the Google COVID-19 site)

Colorado COVID-19  Report:
     41,059 cases         1,763 deaths  (from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment)

**** Yesterday, on Monday, 20 July 2020, @realDonaldTrump Tweeted at 3:43 pm EDT (Source: Twitter) -  "We are United in our effort to defeat the Invisible China Virus, and many people say that it is Patriotic to wear a face mask when you can't socially distance. There is nobody more Patriotic than me, your favorite President!"  -  This included a photo of him wearing a face mask at Walter Reed Medical Center on Saturday.
   Mr. Trump received a lot of congratulatory Tweets back, gushing that how marvelous he was going to wear a mask, and be an example for all Americans; including an adoring Tweet from Senator Lindsay Graham of South Carolina.
   Less than four hours later, both Trump and Graham were seen hobnobbing and campaigning with one of the richer sets of Republicans at the President's hotel in downtown Washington, DC.  Neither were wearing face masks as they shook hands,  hugged, and leaned over other people's shoulders to speak....
   Truly great examples - NOT! ****


22 July 2020  -   From the Devex article:  
"Total cases as of July 22:   14,976,453  and  617,254 deaths.
   WHO and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launch an expert advisory committee to provide support to African nations to conduct clinical trials of traditional medicines as potential treatments for COVID-19, according to an emailed press release.
New report post-dated 21 July  -  Three out of ten  people in the Americas are at increased risk of developing severe COVID-19 due to underlying health conditions, warns Pan American Health Organization Director Carissa Etienne.  She tells countries in the region to "use data to tailor your response and make health your top priority."  The region recorded almost 900,000 new cases and close to 22,000 deaths in the past week.  Brazil, Mexico, and the United States account for the majority of cases.
   The New Development Bank, led by the BRICS group of countries, approves a $1 billion loan to Brazil in response to the economic impact of COVID-19. "

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report for the world:
       15,077,182 cases      620,257 deaths

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report in the US:  
     3,955,860 cases          142,912 deaths
     4,040,000 cases          145,000 deaths  (from the Google COVID-19 site)

Colorado COVID-19  Report:
     41,698 cases         1,771 deaths  (from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment)


23 July 2020  -   From the Devex article:  
"Total cases as of July 23:   15,255,093  and  624,131 deaths.
    Low levels of testing for COVID-19 in the Central African region - which comprises nine countries - is a serious concern, says John Nkengaasong, director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, during a press briefing.  Roughly 330,000 tests have been conducted in this region, he says.  One of the main challenges is access to tests.
   "A country like Chad only has about one or two testing sites so it becomes very difficult to ramp up testing," he says.
   Over 10,000 health workers in Africa have been infected with COVID-19, according to a press release from WHO.  The continent has more than 750,000 confirmed cases.
   In response to a question on the declaration by Tanzania President John Magufuli that COVID-19 has been eliminated in the country and the country's lack of reporting data on cases, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, says during a press conference that there are significant numbers of truck drivers testing positive, including from Tanzania, entering Uganda.
   "We have been in touch with the Tanzanian government, asking them to take into account this information and advising that it then needs to be incorporated into their reporting to WHO," she says.
News post-dated yesterday, 22 July  -  Globally, confirmed cases of COVID-19 surpass 15 million. "

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report for the world:
       15435,114 cases      631,811 deaths

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report in the US:  
     4,032,430 cases          144,167 deaths
     4,110,000 cases          146,000 deaths  (from the Google COVID-19 site)

Colorado COVID-19  Report:
     42,314 cases         1,786 deaths  (from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment)

Today's news headlines:

-  Trump Cancels Jacksonville Portion of GOP Convention

-  America Surpasses 4 Million COVID-19 Cases

-  GOP Delays Release of Stimulus Plan

-  Trump Calls 'Fox News' Doctor "His Guide"

-  'Unacceptably Obtuse':  GOP Lawmaker Slams Trump's Remark About Ghislaine Maxwell - "I wish her well"

-  Judge Rules To Unseal Documents in 2015 Case Against Ghislaine Maxwell

-  Portland Mayor Tear Gassed After Speaking With Protesters On Presence of Federal Agents

-  Inspector General To Investigate Federal Use of Force in Portland & Washington

-  Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Worry Their Work Is Being Politicized
*****  Tom Ridge, appointed by GW Bush to be America's first Director of Homeland Security, blasts Trump's use of federal agents in Portland, saying DHS was formed to protect us from another 9-11: "It was not established to be the president's personal militia."  *****

 -  Pediatrician:  Use Science, Not Politics, To Reopen Schools

-  Donald Trump and Woody Johnson Act As If The Rules Don't Apply To Them

-  Nine-Year-Old Girl Is The Youngest To Die In Florida From COVID-19 in Florida, Health Officials Say

-  DeVos's Claim That Children Are "Stoppers" Of COVID-19

-  Trump Endorses a New Three-Fifths Clause :  The President Wants To Strip House Seats From Certain States By Arguing Undocumented Immigrants Are Not "Persons" Under the Constitution


24 July 2020  -   From the Devex article:  
***** Devex has not updated their numbers or news reports today. *****

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report for the world:
       15,668,380 cases      638,243 deaths

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report in the US:  
     4,106,346 cases          145,333 deaths
     4,190,000 cases          148,000 deaths  (from the Google COVID-19 site)

Colorado COVID-19  Report:
     42,980 cases         1,790 deaths  (from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment)

SOURCE:  People - Politics - Pandemic: Written by Sean Neumann; published at 12:30 pm EDT, Friday. 24 July 2020

"Barron Trump's School Not Resuming Classes Like Normal This Fall Despite Trump's Push To Reopen
 The private school said it was planning to conduct on-line classes or to to a hybrid model, where students come to campus in shifts and some can be remote, because of novel coronavirus concerns
  Despite President Donald Trump's push to have schools reopen their classrooms in the fall, his son Barron Trump won't be sitting in class full-time anytime soon.
   The private St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Maryland - which the 14-year-old began attending after moving to Washington, DC - announced this week that while a final decision has yet to be made, it is planning not to fully reopen its campus in the fall because of novel coronavirus concerns.
   The school shut down and switched to online learning in the spring.
   In a letter to parents this week, St. Andrew's said it is preparing either to continue with online classes or to implement a hybrid plan for the next school year, which would use both e-learning and in-person classes by allowing groups of its students to return to campus in cycles, along with social distancing.
   "We are hopeful that public health conditions will support our implementation of the hybrid model in the fall," the school's letter says.
   The school also told parents that it is "continuing to pay close attention to current guidance from state and county health officials, as well as the CDC, as the health status of our region evolves."
   The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that kids 17 or younger make up about 6 percent of confirmed US coronavirus cases - though that age range makes up only about 0.2 percent (or 228 children) of all deaths, according to the Associated Press.
   However, it remains unclear how easily children may spread the virus to other groups.
   Oval Office officials, led by Trump, have strongly pushed for schools to reopen in the fall - even threatening to pull federal funding.
   But critics say that his administration has not provided a clear road map for how schools can navigate the tricky balance of public health and the positives of in-person class.  The CDC's guidance on reopening was also revised after criticism from Trump.
   The president told reporters Wednesday that he would be "comfortable" with sending Barron and his grandchildren back to school, while the COVID-19 respiratory illness continues to impact the United States and the world.
   "I would like to see the schools open, 100 percent," the president, aged 74, said.  "And we'll do it safely.  We'll do it carefully."
   On Thursday, however, he softened that stance and agreed that schools in areas with spiking coronavirus may need to delay their in-person classes - but he reiterated that "every district should be actively making preparations to reopen," or they should not receive billions in coronavirus aid from the federal government.
   (The White House did not respond to a request for comment after Barron's school's announcement, in light of his dad's position.  The administration did not comment to The New York Times, either.)
   The debate over when and how to send students back to school has turned partisan in recent weeks, as the Trump administration underlined its desire to see kids back in classrooms despite what experts have said are the health risks involved for students, teachers and other staff.
   "There is going to be the exception to the rule, but the rule should be that kids go back to school this fall," Education Secretary Betsy DeVos told CNN this month.
   In response, Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Presley, a Democrat, told DeVos: "I wouldn't trust you to care for a house plant let alone my child."
   Many schools are still announcing their reopening plans as the fall semester approaches.  In its letter this week, Barron's school says it will make a final decision about its reopening method sometime during the week of Aug. 10.
   According to one roundup, nine of the country's 15 largest school districts have said they will be remote-only when the school year begins. "


25 July 2020  -   From the Devex article:  
***** Devex has not updated their numbers or news reports today. *****

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report for the world:
       15,983,502 cases      643,371 deaths

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report in the US:  
     4,176,416 cases          146,418 deaths
     4,250,000 cases          149,000 deaths  (from the Google COVID-19 site)

Colorado COVID-19  Report:
     43,789 cases         1,794 deaths  (from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment)

***** Just a few numbers to think about - at this point in time, the United States has 146,418 known deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic. 
    In the Vietnam War, the US had 47,434 combat deaths, and 10,786 deaths off the battlefields.  That's a total of 58,220 Vietnam deaths.  The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have killed nearly 7,000 soldiers so far. That combined total is 65,220 war related deaths.
   The total number of military and civilian deaths during World War II - for the US - was 418,500. That was with 16,112,566 people in the Armed Services.
   During World War I, the US lost a total of 116,516 soldiers.  Of those, 53,402 were due to combat, and 63,114 were due to disease, mainly the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918.  The Armed Services had 4,734,991 members during those years.
   To me, the numbers of deaths from our current pandemic are frightening.  They are more than double the number of deaths in the last few "announced" wars of our country.  Our current administration is not actively pursuing an end to the pandemic.  They have not decreed a need to wear a face mask in public.  They are making individual states and territories make up their own pandemic guidelines, and refusing assistance, or grudgingly giving aid as little as possible.  They want to reopen the entire country - all businesses, schools, universities, and professional sports teams and their venues - all without any pandemic guidelines or any assurance of aid.  If you get ill - too bad - you have to  pay the bill, period.  (Unless you live in a state like Colorado, where, if you become ill with COVID-19, the state pays the entire bill for you.)  
   This could have been prevented.  This current administration was given a 90 page instruction book by the out-going administration on the ways to deal with a pandemic.  How to gear up production of needed medical goods; how to concentrate information to the scientists and get it disseminated to the public; ways to educate the public and get them to cooperate in defeating the infection rate; etc.  This administration apparently burned the 50 copies that were left by the previous administration.
   Continue to think about the numbers.... Since late January, there have been over 4 million infections in the US alone.  Since late January there have been 146,418 known deaths in the US alone.  
    Most of these  could  have been prevented !  *****


26 July 2020  -   From the Devex article:  
***** Devex has not updated their numbers or news reports today. *****

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report for the world:
       16,189,581 cases      647,784 deaths

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report in the US:  
     4,229, 624 cases          146,909 deaths
     4,310,000 cases           149,000 deaths  (from the Google COVID-19 site)

Colorado COVID-19  Report:
     44,336 cases         1,794 deaths  (from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment)

**** If you ever wonder why I post Trump's Tweets, it is because thw White House has declared that his Tweets from @realDonaldTrump and @POTUS are official statements from the White House and the Trump Administration. ****
So far today, the 45th president has sent out 34 Tweets from his @realDonaldTrump home address, other than 5 saying, "Thanks, .." with a name, the rest are re-Tweets.  Here are his own:
SOURCE:  Twitter - Sunday, 26 July 2020...

-  at 8:38 am EDT:  "This week you had Joe Biden call Arizona a CITY. Nothing matters with him, however, because the Opposition Party (Lamestream Media) covers everything up - especially the corruption.  The Obama/Biden Administration is the most corrupt in history. They even spied on my campaign!"

-  at 8:46 am EDT:  "Brett LOVES Wisconsin, Mississippi and Minnesota. A good golfer - hits it LONG!"   **** He played golf at his Bedminster, NJ golf course with retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre yesterday ****

-  at 8:57 am EDT:  "Crazy Nancy Pelosi said I made a mistake when I banned people from infected China from entering the U.S. in January. Tens of thousands of lives were saved, as she danced in the Streets of Chinatown (SF) in late February. Biden agreed with her, but soon admitted that I was right!"

-  at 9:06 am EDT:  "The Trump Campaign has more ENTHUSIASM, according to many, than any campaign in the history of our great Country - Even more than 2016. Biden has NONE! The Silent Majority will speak on NOVEMBER THIRD!!! Fake Suppression Polls & Fake News will not save the Radical Left."

-  at 2:30 pm EDT:  "So the Washington Post is running the Reagan Foundation, and RINO Paul Ryan is on the Board of Fox, which has been terrible. We will win anyway, even with the phony @FoxNews suppression polls (which have been seriously wrong for 5 years)!"

-  at 3:31 pm EDT:  "There is NO WAY a place like Pennsylvania can vote for the Radical Left and their puppet, Joe Biden, when they are against fracking, steel production, and just about everything else that Pennsylvania stands for. Likewise, Texas, and many other states!!!"

-  at 3:37 pm EDT:  "The Lamestream Media, including @FoxNews, which has really checked out, is refusing to show what is REALLY going on in Portland, Seattle, and other places. They want the American public to believe that these are just some wonderful protesters, not radical left ANARCHISTS!"

-  at 3:44 pm EDT:  "Because of my strong focus on the China Virus, including scheduled meetings on Vaccines, our economy and much else, I won't be able to be in New York to throw out the opening pitch for the @Yankees on August 15th. We will make it later in the season!"    **** I love the royal "we" in the last exclamation. ****

-  at 4:51 pm EDT:  "The 2020 Election will be totally rigged if Mail-In Voting is allowed to take place, & everyone knows it. So much time is taken talking about foreign influence, but the same people won't even discuss Mail-In election corruption. Look at Patterson, N.J. 20% of vote was corrupted!"
 **** Voting by mail is so dangerous that Mike Pence and his wife, Bill Barr, Ronna McDaniel Romney, Kayleigh McEnany, Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Melania Trump, Betsy DeVos, Larry Kudlow, Wilbur Ross, Brad Parscale, and Donald J. Trump, himself, use it. ****

-  at 6:37 pm EDT:  "The "protesters" are actually anarchists who hate our Country. The line of innocent "mothers" were a scam that Lamestream refuses to acknowledge, just like they don't report the violence of these demonstrations!"

-  at 7:54 pm EDT:  "We do more testing than any country in the World, by far, over 55 million tests. Fake News @CNN says we should do more testing. But even if we did 100 times more, they would then say it is still not enough. They are totally discredited, just want Sleepy Joe to win in November!"
 **** Just a small reminder that there are more than 330 million people living in the US... 55 million is a small percentage of the total population - and people are still waiting from 10 to 20 days for the results of their COVID-19 tests. ****


27 July 2020  -   From the Devex article:  
"Total cases as of July 27:   16,296,635  and  649,662 deaths.
    Nearly 15 million children were vaccinated against measles in a 10-day vaccination campaign in Ethiopia, according to a WHO press release.  It was originally scheduled for April but delayed because of the challenges of conducting a vaccination campaign during the pandemic.
   In the first quarter of this year, 1.5 million children in Africa missed their first dose of the measles vaccine compared to the same time frame last year.  There are at least nine scheduled measles vaccination campaigns that "were or continue to be at risk of being cancelled" because of COVID-19.
   "By taking the appropriate measures, we ca continue to provide essential services while striving to end this pandemic.  Millions of children are at risk of vaccine-preventable diseases and waiting for the end of COVID-19 to restart immunization campaigns is a gamble we cannot afford," writes Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa.
   New research from WHO and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine shows that the world has reached a milestone in the fight against hepatitis B infections, with prevalence rates among children under 5 years old at less than 1% in 2020.  However, further progress is hampered by COVID-19 and low hepatitis B vaccination coverage in regions like sub-Saharan Africa.  The pandemic has disrupted prevention, testing, and treatment services, as well as supply chains for hepatitis, and financial and human resources are being diverted to address COVID-19.
News dated July 26  -  Vietnam reimposes social distancing restrictions in the city of Danang after confirming new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases over the weekend.  The last case of local transmission was reported in April.
   Globally, confirmed cases of COVID-19 surpass 16 million.
News dated July 24  -  Fifteen lawmakers and 11 parliamentary staff test positive for COVID-19 in Zambia.
   In March and April, HIV tests reduced by 33% in Kenya, says Mutahi Kagwe, cabinet secretary for health, during a national briefing.  There has also been a "notable decrease" in the identification of pregnant women with HIV.  Additionally, while the country was previously experiencing an upward trend in new enrollments on HIV antiretroviral treatment, there is now a decline.
   "I'm appealing to our people to not shy away from utilizing our HIV testing services which we have seen has had a major decline since the pandemic struck in our country," Kagwe says. "

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report for the world:
       16,396,954 cases      651,902 deaths

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report in the US:  
     4,286,663 cases          147,588 deaths
     4,360,000 cases           150,000 deaths  (from the Google COVID-19 site)

Colorado COVID-19  Report:
     44,565 cases         1,799 deaths  (from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment)

*******                            "No I won't be going, no."
- President Donald Trump, when asked if he will pay his respects and honor the late 
US Representative John Lewis, lying in state at the US Capitol Rotunda.
Rep. Lewis is the first Black lawmaker to receive this honor.    *******

From the WHO Situation Report: 
Afghanistan confirms a total of 36,263 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,269 deaths.
Albania confirms a total of 4,763 cases.  It also confirms a total of 138 deaths.
Algeria confirms a total of 27,357 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,155 deaths.
Andorra confirms a total of 904 cases.  It also confirms a total of 52 deaths.
Angola confirms a total of 932 cases.  It also confirms a total of 40 deaths.
Anguilla confirms a total of 3 cases.
Antigua & Barbuda confirms a total of 82 cases.  It also confirms a total of 3 deaths.
Argentina confirms a total of 158,321 cases.  It also confirms a total of 2,913 deaths.
Armenia confirms a total of 37,390 cases.  It also confirms a total of 711 deaths.
Aruba confirms a total of 117 cases.  It also confirms a total of 3 deaths.
Australia confirms a total of 14,403 cases.  It also confirms a total of 155 deaths.
Austria confirms a total of 20,486 cases.  It also confirms a total of 712 deaths.
Azerbaijan confirms a total of 30,050 cases.  It also confirms a total of 417 deaths.
Bahamas confirms a total of 326 cases.  It also confirms a total of 11 deaths.
Bahrain confirms a total of 39,131 cases.  It also confirms a total of 141 deaths.
Bangladesh confirms a total of 223,453 cases.  It also confirms a total of 2,928 deaths.
Barbados confirms a total of 108 cases.  It also confirms a total of 7 deaths.
Belarus confirms a total of 66,846 cases.  It also confirms a total of 524 deaths.
Belgium confirms a total of 65,933 cases.  It also confirms a total of 9,821 deaths.
Belize confirms a total of 48 cases.  It also confirms a total of 2 deaths.
Benin confirms a total of 1,770 cases.  It also confirms a total of 35 deaths.
Bermuda confirms a total of 154 cases.  It also confirms a total of 9 deaths.
Bhutan confirms a total of 95 cases.
Bolivia confirms a total of 68,281 cases.  It also confirms a total of 2,535 deaths.
Bonaire, Saint Eustatius & Saba confirms a total of 11 cases.
Bosnia & Herzegovina confirms a total of 10,332 cases.  It also confirms a total of 285 deaths.
Botswana confirms a total of 686 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Brazil confirms a total of 2,394,513 cases.  It also confirms a total of 86,449 deaths.
British Virgin Islands confirms a total of 8 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Brunei Darussalam confirms a total of 141 cases.  It also confirms a total of 3 deaths.
Bulgaria confirms a total of 10,427 cases.  It also confirms a total of 340 deaths.
Burkina Faso confirms a total of 1,086 cases.  It also confirms a total of 53 deaths.
Burundi confirms a total of 361 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Cabo Verde confirms a total of 2,307 cases.  It also confirms a total of 22 deaths.
Cambodia confirms a total of 225 cases.
Cameroon confirms a total of 17,110 cases.  It also confirms a total of 391 deaths.
Canada confirms a total of 113,556 cases.  It also confirms a total of 8,885 deaths.
Cayman Islands confirms a total of 203 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Central African Republic confirms a total of 4,598 cases.  It also confirms 59 deaths.
Chad confirms a total of 915 cases.  It also confirms a total of 75 deaths.
Chile confirms a total of 345,790 cases.  It also confirms a total of 9,112 deaths.
China confirms a total of 87,028 cases.  It also confirms a total of 4,659 deaths.
Colombia confirms a total of 240,795 cases.  It also confirms a total of 8,269 deaths.
Comoros confirms a total of 354 cases.  It also confirms a total of 7 deaths.
Congo confirms a total of 3,159 cases.  It also confirms a total of 54 deaths.
Costa Rica confirms a total of 14,600 cases.  It also confirms a total of 98 deaths.
Cote d'Ivoire confirms a total of  15,596 cases.  It also confirms a total of 96 deaths.
Croatia confirms a total of 4,857 cases.  It also confirms a total of 136 deaths.
Cuba confirms a total of 2,495 cases.  It also confirms a total of 87 deaths.
Curacao confirms a total of 29 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Cyprus confirms a total of 1,057 cases.  It also confirms a total of 19 deaths.
Czechia confirms a total of 15,324 cases.  It also confirms a total of 371 deaths.
Democratic Republic of the Congo confirms a total of 8,830 cases.  It also confirms a total of 203 deaths.
Denmark confirms a total of 14,438 cases.  It also confirms a total of 613 deaths.
Djibouti confirms a total of 5,050 cases.  It also confirms a total of 58 deaths.
Dominica confirms a total of 18 cases.
Dominican Republic confirms a total of 62,908 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,063 deaths.
Ecuador confirms a total of 80,694 cases.  It also confirms a total of 5,515 deaths.
Egypt confirms a total of 92,062 cases.  It also confirms a total of 4,606 deaths.
El Salvador confirms a total of 14,630 cases.  It also confirms a total of 400 deaths.
Equatorial Guinea confirms a total of 2,350 cases.  It also confirms a total of 41 deaths.
Eritrea confirms a total of 263 cases.
Estonia confirms a total of 2,034 cases.  It also confirms a total of 69 deaths.
Eswatini confirms a total of 2,207 cases.  It also confirms a total of 32 deaths.
Ethiopia confirms a total of 13,968 cases.  It also confirms a total of 223 deaths.
Falkland Islands (Malvinas) confirms a total of 13 cases.
Faroe Islands confirms a total of 191 cases.
Fiji confirms a total of 27 cases.
Finland confirms a total of 7,393 cases.  It also confirms a total of 329 deaths.
France confirms a total of 169,222 cases.  It also confirms a total of 30,078 deaths.
French Guiana confirms a total of 7,342 cases.  It also confirms a total of 41 deaths.
French Polynesia confirms a total of 62 cases.
Gabon confirms a total of 6,984 cases.  It also confirms a total of 49 deaths.
Gambia confirms a total of 277 cases.  It also confirms a total of 6 deaths.
Georgia confirms a total of 1,137 cases.  It also confirms a total of 16 deaths.
Germany confirms a total of 205,609 cases.  It also confirms a total of 9,118 deaths.
Ghana confirms a total of 32,437 cases.  It also confirms a total of 161 deaths.
Gibraltar confirms a total of 185 cases.
Greece confirms a total of 4,193 cases.  It also confirms a total of 202 deaths.
Greenland confirms a total of 13 cases.
Grenada confirms a total of 23 cases.
Guadeloupe confirms a total of 203 cases.  It also confirms a total of 14 deaths.
Guam confirms a total of 329 cases.  It also confirms a total of 5 deaths.
Guatemala confirms a total of 45,053 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,734 deaths.
Guernsey confirms a total of 252 cases.  It also confirms a total of 13 deaths.
Guinea confirms a total of 7,008 cases.  It also confirms a total of 43 deaths.
Guinea-Bissau confirms a total of 1,954 cases.  It also confirms a total of 26 deaths.
Guyana confirms a total of 360 cases.  It also confirms a total of 20 deaths.
Haiti confirms a total of 7,297 cases.  It also confirms a total of 157 deaths.
Honduras confirms a total of 38,438 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,098 deaths.
Hungary confirms a total of 4,448 cases.  It also confirms a total of 596 deaths.
Iceland confirms a total of 1,847 cases.  It also confirms a total of 10 deaths.
India confirms a total of 1,435,453 cases.  It also confirms a total of 32,771 deaths.
Indonesia confirms a total of 98,778 cases.  It also confirms a total of 4,781 deaths.
Iran confirms a total of 291,172 cases.  It also confirms a total of 15,700 deaths.
Iraq confirms a total of 110,032 cases.  It also confirms a total of 4,362 deaths.
Ireland confirms a total of 25,881 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,764 deaths.
Isle of Man confirms a total of 336 cases.  It also confirms a total of 24 deaths.
Israel confirms a total of 61,339 cases.  It also confirms a total of 463 deaths.
Italy confirms a total of 246,118 cases.  It also confirms a total of 35,107 deaths.
Jamaica confirms a total of 837 cases.  It also confirms a total of 10 deaths.
Japan confirms a total of 29,989 cases.  It also confirms a total of 996 deaths.
Jersey confirms a total of 332 cases.  It also confirms a total of 31 deaths.
Jordan confirms a total of 1,168 cases.  It also confirms a total of 11 deaths.
Kazakhstan confirms a total of 83,122 cases.  It also confirms a total of 585 deaths.
Kenya confirms a total of 16,643 cases.  It also confirms a total of 278 deaths.
Kosovo confirms a total of 7,094 cases.  It also confirms a total of 167 deaths.
Kuwait confirms a total of 63,773 cases.  It also confirms a total of 433 deaths.
Kyrgyzstan confirms a total of 33,296 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,301 deaths.
Laos confirms a total of 20 cases.
Latvia confirms a total of 1,219 cases.  It also confirms a total of 31 deaths.
Lebanon confirms a total of 3,750 cases.  It also confirms a total of 51 deaths.
Lesotho confirms a total of 505 cases.  It also confirms a total of 12 deaths.
Liberia confirms a total of 1,162 cases.  It also confirms a total of 72 deaths.
Libya confirms a total of 2,669 cases.  It also confirms a total of 60 deaths.
Liechtenstein confirms a total of 87 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Lithuania confirms a total of 2,008 cases.  It also confirms a total of 80 deaths.
Luxembourg confirms a total of 6,272 cases.  It also confirms a total of 112 deaths.
Madagascar confirms a total of 9,295 cases.  It also confirms a total of 85 deaths.
Malawi confirms a total of 3,664 cases.  It also confirms a total of 99 deaths.
Malaysia confirms a total of 8,897 cases.  It also confirms a total of 124 deaths.
Maldives confirms a total of 3,302 cases.  It also confirms a total of 15 deaths.
Mali confirms a total of 2,510 cases.  It also confirms a total of 123 deaths.
Malta confirms a total of 700 cases.  It also confirms a total of 9 deaths.
Martinique confirms a total of 269 cases.  It also confirms a total of 15 deaths.
Mauritania confirms a total of 6,171 cases.  It also confirms a total of 156 deaths.
Mauritius confirms a total of 344 cases.  It also confirms a total of 10 deaths.
Mayotte confirms a total of 2,873 cases.  It also confirms a total of 38 deaths.
Mexico confirms a total of 385,036 cases.  It also confirms a total of 43,374 deaths.
Moldova confirms a total of 23,034 cases.  It also confirms a total of 740 deaths.
Monaco confirms a total of 99 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Mongolia confirms a total of 288 cases.
Montenegro confirms a total of 2,851 cases.  It also confirms a total of 43 deaths.
Montserrat confirms a total of 13 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1 death.
Morocco confirms a total of 20,278 cases.  It also confirms a total of 313 deaths.
Mozambique confirms a total of 1,669 cases.  It also confirms 11 deaths.
Myanmar confirms a total of 350 cases.  It also confirms a total of 6 deaths.
Namibia confirms a total of 1,774 cases.  It also confirms a total of 8 deaths.
Nepal confirms a total of 18,613 cases.  It also confirms a total of 45 deaths.
Netherlands confirms a total of 52,946 cases.  It also confirms a total of 6,140 deaths.
New Caledonia confirms a total of 22 cases.
New Zealand confirms a total of 1,206 cases.  It also confirms a total of 22 deaths.
Nicaragua confirms a total of 3,004 cases.  It also confirms a total of 108 deaths.
Niger confirms a total of 1,132 cases.  It also confirms a total of 69 deaths.
Nigeria confirms a total of 40,532 cases.  It also confirms a total of 858 deaths.
North Macedonia confirms a total of 10,086 cases.  It also confirms a total of 460 deaths.
Northern Mariana Islands confirms a total of 40 cases.  It also confirms a total of 2 deaths.
Norway confirms a total of 9,0815 cases.  It also confirms a total of 255 deaths.
Oman confirms a total of 76,005 cases.  It also confirms a total of 384 deaths.
*Other*  confirms a total of 741 cases.  It also confirms a total of 13 deaths.
Pakistan confirms a total of 274,289 cases.  It also confirms a total of 5,842 deaths.
Palestine (occupied) confirms a total of 13,125 cases.  It also confirms a total of 79 deaths.
Panama confirms a total of 58,864 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,275 deaths.
Papua New Guinea confirms a total of 62 cases.
Paraguay confirms a total of 4,328 cases.  It also confirms a total of 40 deaths.
Peru confirms a total of 379,884 cases.  It also confirms a total of 18,030 deaths.
Philippines confirms a total of 80,448 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,932 deaths.
Poland confirms a total of 43,065 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,671 deaths.
Portugal confirms a total of 50,164 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,717 deaths.
Puerto Rico confirms a total of 15,143 cases.  It also confirms a total of 201 deaths.
Qatar confirms a total of 109,305 cases.  It also confirms a total of 165 deaths.
Reunion confirms a total of 657 cases.  It also confirms 3 deaths.
Romania confirms a total of 44,798 cases.  It also confirms a total of 2,187 deaths.
Russia confirms a total of 818,120 cases.  It also confirms a total of 13,354 deaths.
Rwanda confirms a total of 1,823 cases.  It also confirms 5 deaths.
Saint Barthelemy confirms a total of 7 cases.
Saint Kitts & Nevis confirms a total of 17 cases.
Saint Lucia confirms a total of 24 cases.
Saint Martin confirms a total of 49 cases.  It also confirms a total of 3 deaths.
Saint Pierre & Miquelon confirms a total of 4 cases.
Saint Vincent & the Grenadines confirms a total of 52 cases.
San Marino confirms a total of 716 cases.  It also confirms a total of 42 deaths.
Sao Tome & Principe confirms a total of 863 cases.  It also confirms a total of 14 deaths.
Saudi Arabia confirms a total of 266,941 cases.  It also confirms a total of 2,733 deaths.
Senegal confirms a total of 9,681 cases.  It also confirms a total of 191 deaths.
Serbia confirms a total of 23,730 cases.  It also confirms a total of 534 deaths.
Seychelles confirms a total of 108 cases.
Sierra Leone confirms a total of 1,723 cases.  It also confirms a total of 66 deaths.
Singapore confirms a total of 50,369 cases.  It also confirms a total of 27 deaths.
Sint Maarten confirms a total of 94 cases.  It also confirms a total of 15 deaths.
Slovakia confirms a total of 2,179 cases.  It also confirms a total of 28 deaths.
Slovenia confirms a total of 2,082 cases.  It also confirms a total of 111 deaths.
Somalia confirms a total of 3,178 cases.  It also confirms a total of 93 deaths.
South Africa confirms a total of 445,433 cases.  It also confirms a total of 6,769 deaths.
South Korea confirms a total of 14,175 cases.  It also confirms a total of 299 deaths.
South Sudan confirms a total of 2,305 cases.  It also confirms a total of 46 deaths.
Spain confirms a total of 272,421 cases.  It also confirms a total of 28,432 deaths.
Sri Lanka confirms a total of 2,782 cases.  It also confirms a total of 11 deaths.
Sudan confirms a total of 11,424 cases.  It also confirms a total of 720 deaths.
Suriname confirms a total of 1,381 cases.  It also confirms a total of 23 deaths.
Sweden confirms a total of 78,997 cases.  It also confirms a total of 5,697 deaths.
Switzerland confirms a total of 34,325 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,700 deaths.
Syrian Arab Republic confirms a total of 650 cases.  It also confirms a total of 38 deaths.
Tajikistan confirms a total of 7,192 cases.  It also confirms a total of 59 deaths.
Tanzania confirms a total of 509 cases.  It also confirms a total of 21 deaths.
Thailand confirms a total of 3,295 cases.  It also confirms a total of 58 deaths.
Timor-Leste confirms a total of 24 cases.
Togo confirms a total of 868 cases.  It also confirms a total of 18 deaths.
Trinidad & Tobago confirms a total of 147 cases.  It also confirms a total of 8 deaths.
Tunisia confirms a total of 1,452 cases.  It also confirms a total of 50 deaths.
Turkey confirms a total of 226,100 cases.  It also confirms a total of 5,613 deaths.
Turks & Caicos confirms a total of 97 cases.  It also confirms a total of 2 deaths.
Uganda confirms a total of 1,115 cases.  It also confirms a total of 2 deaths.
Ukraine confirms a total of 65,656 cases.  It also confirms a total of 1,616 deaths.
United Arab Emirates confirms a total of 58,913 cases.  It also confirms a total of 344 deaths.
United Kingdom confirms a total of 299,430 cases.  It also confirms a total of 45,752 deaths.
United States of America confirms a total of 4,148,011 cases.  It also confirms a total of 145,727 deaths.
United States Virgin Islands confirms a total of 361 cases.  It also confirms a total of 7 deaths.
Uruguay confirms a total of 1,174 cases.  It also confirms a total of 34 deaths.
Uzbekistan confirms a total of 20,820 cases.  It also confirms a total of 117 deaths.
Vatican City (Holy See) confirms a total of 12 cases.
Venezuela confirms a total of 14,929 cases.  It also confirms a total of 138 deaths.
Vietnam confirms a total of 420 cases.
Yemen confirms a total of 1,685 cases.  It also confirms a total of 480 deaths.
Zambia confirms a total of 4,481 cases.  It also confirms a total of 139 deaths.
Zimbabwe confirms a total of 2,512 cases.  It also confirms a total of 34 deaths.
    *Other* is The Diamond Princess, a cruise ship


28 July 2020  -   From the Devex article:  
*****  Devex did NOT update their site today....  Beginning 1 August I will gather information from WHO itself to share with you...   *****

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report for the world:
       16,660,138 cases      658,813 deaths

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report in the US:  
     4,364,748 cases          149,180 deaths
     4,430,000 cases           1501,000 deaths  (from the Google COVID-19 site)

Colorado COVID-19  Report:
     44,314 cases         1,807 deaths  (from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment)

US Attorney General William Barr  testified before the House Judiciary Committee today.  The  hearing was delayed about an hour, as one of the committee members was involved in a traffic accident (with no injuries) on the way to the Capitol Building.  First, Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler made a 7 minute statement; then Minority Chair Jim Jordan made a short statement, followed by a 9-minute video compilation - which broke the Committee rules, and was so noted by Nadler.  Then Barr was allowed 5 minutes for a summation of his 6-page opening comments, which had been presented to the committee (and the media) at 9 pm EDT last night.
   Then each member of the 40 person committee had 5 minutes in which to speak and/or ask questions of AG Barr.   - I watched every minute of the proceedings. - Barr kept trying to talk over and argue with points the Democrats were making.  I hear at least 15 Representatives  say, "That was not a question, sir. That was a statement." and probably as many as 15 had to keep state that they were "reclaiming my time" as Barr tried to talk over and through them.  The Republicans, of course, fawned over him and heaped praises upon his head, and frequently asked him to say what he had tried to say in response to a previous Democratic Rep. that he was talking over.  If any had any of their allotted time left, they gave it to Jordan, for him to lambast Nadler and the other Democrats.
  At one point, when asked if it was illegal for a President to ask another country for any type of help to win an election in the USA, the AG said, "It would depend..." - questioned a second time, he took almost a minute to reply that it would be illegal, according to the Constitution.  -  In that instance, he was essentially handed a "Get Out of Jail Free" card by his Democratic questioner.

On to today's news headlines:

-  Fauci Says We "Can't Afford" Another Surge

-  Trump Walks Out Of News Briefing After CNN Question

-  Republicans Revolt Against GOP's Stimulus Plan

-  Five Takeaways From a Combative Barr Hearing

-  NYC Woman Killed By Shark in Maine  *****(I'm including this because there's a photo of a mountain lion that accompanies this article...???)*****

-  Stella Immanuel: Trump's New COVID-19 Doctor  Believes in Alien DNA, Demon Sperm and Hydroxychloroquine

-  From the Start, Federal Agents Demanded a Role In Suppressing Anti-Racism Protests

-  Iran Blasts Dummy US Aircraft Carrier With Missiles

-  The Unethical William Barr: 27 Lawyers, 4 Powerful Allegations of Dishonesty and Deceit


29 July 2020  -   From the Devex article:  
*****  Devex did NOT update their site today....  Beginning 1 August I will gather information from WHO itself to share with you...   *****

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report for the world:
       16,950,407 cases      664,961 deaths

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report in the US:  
     4,423,917 cases          150,649 deaths
     4,500,000 cases          153,000 deaths  (from the Google COVID-19 site)

Colorado COVID-19  Report:
     45,796 cases         1,822 deaths  (from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment)

SOURCE:  CNN - Politics - The PO!NT with Chris Cillizza; Analysis by Lauren Dezenski; updated at 7:19 pm EDT on Wednesday, 29 July 2020

How Louie Gohmert Proved Exactly The Opposite of His Point
   Texas Republican US House of Representative Louie Gohmert has an outsized reputation for flouting coronavirus mask-wearing guidance.
   While at the US Capitol, he has spent ample time on the House floor not waering a mask, often talking with aides and lawmakers at length while not maintaining an appropriate social distance, as CNN's Manu Raju and Clare Foran wrote last month.
   At the time he explained that he didn't wear a mask because he had been tested and didn't have the virus: "But if I get it, you'll never see me without a mask," Gohmert said.
   Now, he has tested positive for coronavirus.
   Gohmert, who said he is asymptomatic, says that now he "will be religiously wear a mask" if it is possible that he will come into contact with anyone else, and plans to isolate for the next 10 days in accordance with US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
   But Gohmert didn't leave it there - instead, he suggested he might have contracted the virus because of the mask.
   "I can't help but wonder if by keeping a mask on and keeping it in place, if I might have put some... of the virus on the mask and breathed it in," Gohmert told Texas affiliate KETK on Wednesday.  When masks are worn incorrectly, it can lead to exposure, health officials say.
   Gohmert noted that despite his earlier comments, "in the last week or two, I have worn a mask more than I have in the whole last four months."  He's also not changed his views on mask-wearing, saying "this used to be a free country."
   The CDC advises people wear cloth face coverings in public settings and when around people who don't live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
   Many of the counties in Gohmert's East Texas district asre not enforcing the state's mask mandate, KETK reports.
   Gohmert is one of multiple members of Congress flouting the mask requirements put in place on Capitol Hill to keep members, their staff and employees of the complex safe.
   Last week, a longtime staffer for GOP Florida Rep. Vern Buchanan died from coronavirus.
   Unlike the White House's protocols for those in contact with President Donald Trump, there is no requirement for members of Congress or staff to be tested for coronavirus.  Gohmert learned he was positive because he was slated to travel to Texas with Trump on Air Force One, so he received a test as part of that protocol.  However, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said today that congressional leaders are now discussing a testing process.
 The Point:  Not wearing a mask, or even inconsistent mask-wearing while not social distancing, puts the people around you at risk. Full stop.


Follow-up Headlines:

 -  "One of the Silliest, Dumbest Things I've Ever Heard":  Biologist On Gohmert's Mask Claim

 -  Pelosi Mandates Masks in House Chamber After Gohmert Tests Positive For COVID-19

 -  Experts Call For Re-Set In US COVID-19 Response


30 July 2020  -   From the Devex article:  
"Total of cases through July 30:   17,067,754   and 668,250 deaths.
    Globally, confirmed cases of COVID-19 surpass 17 million.
   In the past 25 days, COVID-19 cases on the African continent have almost doubled, says WHO Africa Regional Director Matshidiso Moeti during a press conference.
   "We are seeing in Africa and in other parts of the world that when measures to suppress COVID-19 transmission are eased, cases creep up," she says.
   Not only does testing need to increase across the African continent, but people need to get their test results back more quickly, says John Nkengasong, director of the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, during a separate press briefing.
   "Reduce the turnaround time, track those who have tested positive, and make sure that they are isolated appropriately," he says.
   Six months have passes since WHO declared COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern. "

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report for the world:
       17,222,008 cases      671,042 deaths

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report in the US:  
     4,487,987 cases           151,834 deaths
     4,580,000 cases           154,000 deaths  (from the Google COVID-19 site)

Colorado COVID-19  Report:
     46,204 cases         1,822 deaths  (from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment)


31 July 2020  -   From the Devex article:  
******  No new reports posted on Devex today, July 31 ******

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report for the world:
       17,507,359 cases      677,538 deaths

From the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Report in the US:  
     4,558,994 cases           153,311 deaths
     4,640,000 cases           156,000 deaths  (from the Google COVID-19 site)

Colorado COVID-19  Report:
     46,809 cases         1,838 deaths  (from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment)
****** Note: Senate Leader Mitch McConnell sent members of the Senate home for a 3-day weekend on Thursday afternoon, knowing that almost everything in the CARES Act for the pandemic would expire at midnight on Friday, 31 July 2020. *****

  Source:  POLITICO - News - COVID-19 - Congress:  Written by Marianne Levine and Heather Caygle; updated on Friday, 31 July 2020  at 4:19 pm EDT
"Pelosi Duels With White House As Unemployment Aid Set to Expire
Negotiators remain at an impasse over a massive coronavirus relief package.
   White House officials and Democratic leaders tried to blame each other for the impasse over the new coronavirus relief bill, even as millions of Americans are set to lose $600 per week in federal unemployment benefits.
   White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Speaker Nancy Pelosi spent Friday morning accusing the other of being unwilling to reach a compromise on a new relief package, with both sides unable to come to an agreement on unemployment benefits, state and local aid and a slew of other issues.
   Meadows said he'd made "no less than four" different offers to Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D - NY) on extending boosted unemployment benefits and a moratorium on evictions.  He and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin had been in talks with the Democratic leaders throughout the week but the negotiators couldn't reach a deal before Congress left Washington.
   "Those four different offers have been actually rejected but more importantly than that they've not even been countered with a proposal," Meadows said at a White House press conference.  "The Democrats are certainly willing today to allow some of the American citizens who are struggling the most under this pandemic to go unprotected."
   Pelosi was equally as pessimistic in her weekly press conference on Friday, slamming Republicans for refusing to concede anything in the negotiations and thus making the prospects of a deal seem a distant possibility.
   "We don't have shared values, that's just the way it is.  It's not bickering, it's standing our ground," Pelosi told reporters.  "We recognize the gravity of the situation, they don't."
   President Donald Trump later tweeted that Pelosi and Schumer had "no interest" in reaching a deal and said they "blocked desperately needed unemployment payments, which is so terrible, especially since they fully understand that it was not the workers fault that they are unemployed."
   The partisan standstill comes as a federal $600 weekly benefit for unemployed Americans from March's CARES Act is set to expire at midnight.  Democrats are pushing for a full extension of the benefit into next year, but Senate Republicans argue the $600 boost provides a disincentive for out-of-work Americans to return to work and want to see it adjusted in any next relief package.
   The need, however, has only become more urgent.  Coronavirus continues to spread throughout the U.S., with an estimated 1,000 Americans dying a day from the virus, while the economy suffered its worst quarterly contraction on record.
   In a sign of how pessimistic Democratic leaders are of reaching a deal soon, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D - MD) announced Friday that members would be sent home with a 24-hour notice to return in August to vote on a relief package once an agreement is reached.  But Hoyer gave no indication of when that vote might occur - offering an unsteady start to what would normally be the kickoff of a five-week August recess for lawmakers.
   "We will not start the August district work period until we pass appropriate COVID-19 relief to meet the current health and economic crisis," Hoyer announced on the House floor.
   Republicans offered Thursday to extend the $600 boost for one more week, but Democrats rejected that move. Pelosi said Friday the proposal didn't make sense given how far apart the two sides are on a broader bill.  Typically, congressional negotiators will agree to a one-week extension of certain expiring programs to allow time for a larger deal to work its way through both the House and Senate.
   But in this case, as Pelosi said, there is no larger relief agreement looming.  Instead, both parties remain far apart on several critical issues, including unemployment benefits, state and local funding, federal food assistance and money to prop up the flailing postal service and for election security.
   "What are we going to do in a week?" Pelosi said.  "First of all, they don't even have the votes for it in the Senate.  Let's get real about who says what."
   Meadows and Mnuchin met with Pelosi and Schumer Thursday evening for more than two hours, but the meeting - the fourth this week - once again yielded no progress.  Pelosi and Schumer will speak with Meadows and Mnuchin by phone Friday and meet in person Saturday beginning about 9 a.m.
   The dispute over extending the unemployment benefits comes after two weeks of partisan fighting, as well as a Republican intra-party divide over how to approach the next coronavirus relief package.  The White House has floated a temporary "skinny bill" that would address unemployment and evictions, but Pelosi and Schumer argue they don't want a "piecemeal" approach.
   "It surprises me that when we talk about compassion and caring about those that are truly in need that a temporary solution to make sure that enhanced unemployment continues has been rejected not once but multiple times," Meadows said.  "  The Democrats believe they have all the cards on their side and they're willing to play those cards at the expense of those that are hurting."
   Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is also trying to step up the pressure on Senate Democrats and took procedural steps Thursday that would allow for floor votes next week on a range of procedures.
   Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) attempted to pass his own proposal Thursday, which would renew federal unemployment payments at 66% of lost wages or $200 per week.  But Schumer rejected it, and instead offered the House's $3 trillion Heroes Act, which Republicans have dismissed as a Democratic wish list. "
   *****
This information is updated daily...
* Look at other daily anowbo blogs for further news stories. *

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