Tag: pandemic

The Earth is literally vibrating less because of coronavirus lockdowns

The drop in human activity due to coronavirus lockdowns has quieted noise levels in big cities and left streets eerily empty. The silence is deafening — or, at the very least, measurable, according to geoscientists reporting from the U.S. and Europe. Seismologists (scientists who study earthquakes and other seismic activity on the Earth) have noted a reduction in human-related ‘seismic noise,’ which usually stems from vehicles and industrial work. With governments putting a pause on both of those activities to stem the spread of Covid-19, this means the Earth itself is literally vibrating less these days.

The reduction of seismic noise could allow researchers to make clearer and more accurate measurements with their instruments, detecting smaller earthquakes and other natural occurrences that cause vibrations such as volcanic activity. It’s an exciting prospect for scientists.

“There’s a big chance indeed it could lead to better measurements,” seismologist Thomas Lecocq told Nature. He and his team were already making plans to conduct tests while the lockdowns are still in place. Continue reading.

Most Americans Rate Governors Far Better Than Trump In Pandemic

As the number of infections and deaths from the coronavirus pandemic increases, more than 3 in 5 registered voters (61 percent) said Trump was unprepared to handle the outbreak, while only 32 percent said he was prepared, according to a Politico/Morning Consult poll released on Wednesday.

The poll showed a much more favorable view of governors, with 47 percent of respondents saying state leaders were prepared and 45 percent saying they were unprepared.

The same poll showed that 62 percent rated governors as doing an excellent or good job, with only 43 percent saying the same of Trump. Continue reading.

Why All Americans Still Can’t Get Free Coronavirus Treatment

Access to COVID-19 treatment is key to helping Americans combat the disease, as well as containing its spread. To their credit, on March 29, Humana and CIGNA—the fourth- and fifth-largest health insurers—under massive public pressure, waived “all COVID-19 costs” for all of their members. But, tens of millions of other Americans continue to face powerful financial barriers to care. Our corporate health care system is not designed to ensure everyone gets needed care, much less to protect the public health.

Over the last month, as the novel coronavirus laid siege on the US, the largest health insurers did nothing to reduce barriers to COVID-19 care. Instead, their web sites advised their members to practice good hygiene and suggested they visit the CDC online for more information. News reports revealed that Americans were loath to seek care for fear of the cost. And, that remains the case for most of the 87 million uninsured and underinsured in this country.

Today, United Healthcare, the largest health insurer in the country, waived all cost-sharing for its members. But, Anthem, the second-largest health insurer, does not appear to have waived costs for treatment. Aetna, the third-largest health insurer, has only waived some costs for some of its members. Continue reading.

Coronavirus: One more death in Minnesota, cases rise to 742

The numbers are up to date as of 8 p.m. Apr. 1, but the total number of cases is likely much higher. — 2:15 p.m. update

The latest updates from the Minnesota Department of Health and Gov. Walz media briefing at 2 p.m.

– The latest death was a 69-year-old Hennepin County resident, not associated with a long-term care facility.

– State trooper who was in Gov. Tim Walz’s security team has since recovered and is fully back.

Continue reading.

Several states have yet to issue stay-at-home orders

The Hill logoTwelve states have yet to issue stay-at-home orders to their residents despite a rising number of coronavirus cases and deaths across the country.

The number of states that have yet to impose strict recommendations on people to stay at home is steadily decreasing, and those not doing so are likely to come under heavy pressure in the wake of new estimates from the Trump administration that as many as 240,000 people could die from the coronavirus even with heavy social distancing.

Every state has imposed at least some restrictions, such as making all restaurants switch to takeout or delivery only, banning large gatherings, and closing schools. And some states have issued stay-at-home orders for affected regions or the most vulnerable populations.

Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a statewide state-at-home order on Wednesday after coming under heavy pressure for days. Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf also expanded a stay-at-home order to the entire state after initially limiting it to certain counties. Continue reading.

Trump wants to bail out an industry that doesn’t pay US taxes

Virtually every ocean cruise line serving the United States sails under a foreign flag — but Trump wants to bail them out anyway.

The cruise ship industry is almost entirely made up of companies that are based in foreign countries and avoid paying U.S. taxes. But Donald Trump has repeatedly vowed to bail out the industry after much of its revenue evaporated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At Sunday’s coronavirus briefing, Trump said the nation needed to set aside money to help save businesses.

“Look at the cruise lines. That’s a big — that’s a tremendous business, a big business. Very important to Florida,” he said. “We can’t let the cruise lines go out of business. … And it doesn’t take much to keep them going. So we have to — we have to provide for that.” Continue reading.

Mike Pence slammed for claiming Trump never ‘belittled’ COVID-19 threat: ‘Stop lying to our faces!’

AlterNet logoVice President Mike Pence on Wednesday defended President Donald Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic by falsely claiming that the president had never sought to belittle the threat the virus posed.

“I don’t believe the president has ever belittled the threat of the coronavirus,” Pence said.

A massive trail of evidence shows otherwise, however.

“Because of all we’ve done, the risk to the American people remains very low,” Trump said on February 26th. “When you have 15 people, and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero.” Continue reading.

Trump resists pressure to declare nationwide stay-at-home order

The Hill logoPresident Trump is holding back on declaring a nationwide stay-at-home order, even as some governors resist imposing restrictions that Trump’s top public health officials say are needed to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The president has been reluctant to wade into matters he argues are better left to governors. But the pressure is growing for Trump to be decisive as Republican-led states like Texas, Iowa and Missouri are among the final holdouts to issue stay-at-home directives.

Lawrence Gostin, director of the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University, said Trump may not have the legal authority to halt interstate travel or require governors to lock down a state. But the president has yet to fully use the power of his bully pulpit to encourage them to do so. Continue reading.