L’America di Trump ha deciso di tirare fuori uno scheletro che per anni l’establishment politico-sanitario ha cercato di tenere chiuso nell’armadio. E non è uno qualunque. La (dimissionaria) direttrice dell’Intelligence Nazionale, Tulsi Gabbard, ha annunciato venerdì la desecretazione di documenti inediti che confermano l’esistenza di una rete globale di 120 biolaboratori finanziati dal governo statunitense, distribuiti in oltre 30 Paesi – tra cui l’Ucraina. Lo riporta Just the News, citando l’annuncio ufficiale.

Per anni, l’amministrazione Biden e figure come il dottor Anthony Fauci avevano negato o minimizzato. Ora, Gabbard – ex democratica diventata indipendente e approdata nell’esecutivo repubblicano e ora pronta a lasciare – rovescia il tavolo. «Politici, sedicenti esperti sanitari ed entità del team di sicurezza nazionale di Biden hanno mentito agli americani sull’esistenza di questi biolaboratori, e hanno minacciato chi tentava di esporre la verità», ha dichiarato senza mezzi termini.

L’ombra del “gain-of-function”

Il timing non è casuale. L’annuncio arriva in attuazione di un ordine esecutivo firmato da Donald Trump che vieta i finanziamenti federali per la ricerca gain-of-function considerata pericolosa, imponendo al contempo trasparenza totale. Secondo il report dell’ODNI, molti dei 120 laboratori hanno condotto proprio questo tipo di studi – quelli che rendono un virus più trasmissibile o letale – con una sorveglianza inadeguata o inesistente. Perché si tratta di una ricerca pericolosa? Perché se un virus potenziato sfugge (per errore umano, guasto, o contaminazione), potrebbe scatenare un’epidemia o pandemia;

«Nonostante il potenziale di impatto catastrofico globale, ci hanno mentito», ha ribadito Gabbard su X, spiegando che la comunità dell’Intelligence aveva già avvertito in passato che un biolab Usa in Ucraina conteneva patogeni pericolosi. Oggi, con la guerra in corso, quelle strutture sono un bersaglio vulnerabile: attacchi russi, incursioni o danni accidentali potrebbero trasformarle in una bomba epidemiologica.

Ucraina, il nodo che nessuno voleva toccare

Proprio l’Ucraina è il punto più caldo della vicenda. Da anni circolano teorie (spesso strumentalizzate dalla propaganda di parte) su laboratori segreti finanziati dal Dipartimento della Difesa Usa. Ora arriva una conferma da fonte ufficiale americana, ma con una narrazione diversa: non si tratterebbe di armi biologiche offensive, bensì di progetti di «cooperazione scientifica» per la sorveglianza di patogeni – finiti però sotto la lente per la mancanza di controlli. In buona sostanza, i misteriosi biolab esistono ma non avrebbero – secondo Washington – scopi militari.

Come riporta un documento ufficiale del Dipartimento della Guerra, dal 2005, il Pentagono, attraverso il Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, ha investito circa 200 milioni di dollari in Ucraina per sostenere 46 laboratori, strutture sanitarie e siti diagnostici ucraini. L’obiettivo principale di questi interventi è migliorare la biosicurezza, la biosicurezza e la sorveglianza delle malattie umane e animali, al fine di ridurre i rischi derivanti dai patogeni residui del vecchio programma sovietico di armi biologiche illegale. Tutti i laboratori, almeno secondo Washington, sono di proprietà e sotto la gestione esclusiva del governo ucraino, non del Dipartimento della Guerra.

Gabbard promette che l’ODNI continuerà a lavorare con altre agenzie per censire ogni laboratorio, ogni ceppo virale e ogni linea di ricerca. «Identificheremo dove si trovano, quali patogeni contengono e cosa diavolo ci fanno».

L'articolo L’ultima verità di Tulsi Gabbard: la rete segreta di 120 biolab finanziati dagli Usa in 30 Paesi, Ucraina compresa proviene da InsideOver.

The American economy has been the backbone of US President Donald Trump’s success, but the coronavirus has ⁠— for now at least ⁠— disrupted years of economic growth.

This is a significant risk to the Republicans’ electoral fortunes in November. Although the reliability of opinion polls has been questioned in recent years, a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted last week discovered that 44 percent of registered voters would back the Democrats’ presumptive nominee ⁠— former Vice President Joe Biden ⁠— if a general election was called tomorrow. Meanwhile, only 40 percent of them would support Trump.

Trump’s Fortunes Depend on the Economy

The President brushed off the Reuters poll. Considering most opinion polls hinted he was going to lose to Hillary Clinton in 2016, Trump has some reason for confidence, but he cannot afford to dismiss them entirely. This is likely to be a close election and the GOP must hope that the American economy surges before November. The coronavirus may not have been Trump’s fault, but many voters are quick to judge the governing party if the economy turns sour under its watch.

That is why Trump’s election strategy is to re-open the economy as soon as possible. The first part of his four-step plan to remove the US’s lockdown involves ending income support to force citizens back to work. The Labor Department has decided that furloughed employees ‘must accept’ an employer’s offer to return to work and ultimately forfeit any unemployment benefits they receive.

What is Trump’s Plan to End the Lockdown?

Former US Seretary of Labor Robert Reich wrote recently in The Guardian that other steps in Trump’s four-point strategy to lift America’s lockdown involve ending the current restrictions without knowing how many people have been infected. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Trump administration’s leading virus expert, warns that reopening poses ‘a really significant risk’ without more testing. The US President would do well to listen to Fauci instead of trying to block him from testifying before Congress. South Korea in particular has proved how effective testing can be.

Reich further argues that Trump’s plan involves strengthening the case for freedom by instructing his Attorney General, William Barr, to enable the Justice Department to issue legal action against any state or local authorities imposing lockdown measures that could be “violating the constitutional rights and civil liberties of individual citizens.”

Furthermore, the President is providing a “liability shield” against legal action by workers or customers who get infected with the virus. The proposed legislation would provide state and local governments with funding they desperately need which must include legal immunity for corporations that cause workers or consumers to become infected.

Testing is the Key to Ending the Lockdown

South Korea managed to initiate an effective response to Covid-19 without the need for a nationwide lockdown. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the nation’s tally of coronavirus cases currently stands at 10,765. 247 people have died because of the virus so far. The South Korean Government was able to “test, trace and contain” the pandemic in its early stages.

It is understandable why the Trump administration dislikes lockdowns. Investor Michael Burry, who earned fame for predicting the 2000s housing bubble, said there is no need for the current lockdown measures. Protesters in Michigan and Ohio are becoming increasingly impatient with their own statewide lockdowns.

Initially it was unclear how many tests the President would like to conduct. Trump said that he wanted to test five million people a day and later denied that. Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Brett Giroir reiterated that he hopes the US will be able to test 8 million people per month by May.

Regardless of how many tests the Trump administration intends to conduct, they must do so soon if they are serious about reopening the economy. South Korea is a model to nations throughout the world, including the US. If the President does not increase the number of tests soon, he will not have the advantage of a booming economy by November, and that could cost him the election.

L'articolo Will Trump’s Plan to End America’s Lockdown Work? proviene da InsideOver.

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump said that he will rely on “a lot of facts and instincts” when deciding on the timeline for certain sections of the American economy to reopen during the Covid-19 outbreak. He is torn between ensuring that the economy gets moving again and protecting millions of Americans from the virus.

Fauci: Travel and Gathering Restrictions Must Remain

The head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a leading member of the Trump administration’s coronavirus task force, Anthony Fauci, said that restrictions banning non-essential travel and large gatherings must remain in place.

Some states have announced they are retaining these measures until June despite a substantial surge in unemployment across the country.

Balancing Public Health With Economic Survival

Either way, the American President is presiding over an Opening Our Country Council that will consist of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Trump’s senior adviser and daughter Ivanka Trump.

Trump has realized that he must strike a balance between preserving the American economy and ensuring millions of US citizens are protected from Covid-19 which has now killed over 20,000 Americans. With an election around the corner, the way Trump leads his country during this dark time will undoubtedly determine his chances of getting re-elected, especially as this could be such a close election.

Why Is Denmark Lifting Its Covid-19 Restrictions?

Nonetheless, some countries are already preparing to return to normal following the coronavirus pandemic. Denmark is about to relax restrictions that its government imposed to tackle Covid-19. From Wednesday, children aged 11 and younger will be returning to schools and nurseries after a month of closures.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said her nation’s moves will be slow and cautious. She likened them to “walking a tightrope.”

Denmark has been able to get to this stage because it introduced numerous measures designed to tackle Covid-19’s spread earlier on. A raft of restrictions was announced on March 11 that included limiting gatherings to 10 people, requesting employees to stay at home, and closing Danish borders.

The Danish Government’s strategy seems to have paid off. The country has only experienced 260 Covid-19 deaths. Total numbers of hospital admissions and patients in intensive care have fallen since the beginning of the month.

Still, Denmark’s lockdown has started to take its toll on many livelihoods and it is unclear when some businesses such as restaurants and pubs can reopen their doors.

If the USA and other nations followed Denmark’s example sooner, they might not have needed to be so heavy-handed with their own lockdown measures.

Iran’s Economy is Being Crippled

Meanwhile, the Iranian Government recently permitted businesses and workers to return to work on Saturday even though the coronavirus continues to heavily impact the nation. The lockdown there has cost the Iranian economy $20–30 billion, some 15 percent of its GDP.

Iranian hospitals need 35,000 beds, approximately 15,000 respirators and 7,000 intensive care units.

As malls prepare to reopen and transport restrictions are lifted, this strategy risks exposing people who are carrying the virus to come into close contact with those who do not.

Iran is different to Denmark for the simple reason that the former’s economy is being crippled by US sanctions. The Trump administration will not lift its sanctions on Tehran as they hope they can devastate the Iranian economy further and topple its government.

The Iranian Government has introduced expensive policies to ease the effects the coronavirus is having on the Iranian economy, such as an economic assistance program to provide about $60 a month to every needy person who is already receiving state subsidies. It is clear that the government has concluded Iran cannot afford to remain in lockdown indefinitely and it is certainly in a weakened position economically compared to many other other nations.

Trump wants the US economy to return to normal, but because of his administration’s slow response to Covid-19, it will be a while before America can catch up with Denmark. Iran is taking a huge gamble by reopening its economy now. The situation shows the difficulty of crucial decisions during the pandemic.

L'articolo Why Some Countries Are Gradually Moving on from Covid-19 proviene da InsideOver.

American President Donald Trump is so fascinated by the healing capabilities of the Indian anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine that he has forgotten his bonhomie with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and gone to the extent of threatening retaliatory actions if India does not permit exports of the drug to America.

Hydroxychloroquine Has Shown Some Positive Results in Treating Covid-19

Hydroxychloroquine has been successfully used by some doctors in the treatment of coronavirus and has been termed as a game-changer by Trump in the fight against coronavirus.

Hydroxychloroquine is popularly known as an antiviral agent has displayed strong antiviral effects on the coronavirus infection and is currently being experimented by many countries as a possible treatment for SARS-CoV-2 that causes Covid-19. China found that chloroquine could slow down SARS-CoV-2 in vitro, and indicated apparent efficacy in treating COVID-19 in humans. A small trial in France also found hydroxychloroquine to be a promising potential treatment.

The findings have prompted Trump to advocate hydroxychloroquine as a game-changer in the fight against Covid-19. New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and many others have also echoed Trump’s optimism and advocated its use.

The US drug regulator, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), authorized “compassionate use” of hydroxychloroquine (or chloroquine) for severely ill patients in mid-March and recently ratified its emergency use. The drug is being prescribed to Covid-19 patients in New York City, the epicenter of the American outbreak. WHO has also added the drug to its large global solidarity trial to test a variety of potential treatments. But virologists and infectious disease experts term the excitement as premature.

Why India Banned Exports of Hydroxychloroquine

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recommended HCQ for use as a preventive medication for Covid-19 high-risk groups. It has also prescribed the drug for persons involved in the care of “suspected or confirmed cases of the coronavirus, healthcare workers involved in the treatment of COVID-19,” and for asymptomatic household contacts of laboratory-confirmed patients. Reportedly, each COVID-19 patient needs 14 tablet courses. India needs around 24 million tablets per year for the treatment of lupus, malaria, and rheumatoid arthritis.

India manufactures 70% of the world’s supply of and exports elsewhere. Ipca Laboratories, an international pharmaceutical company based in Mumbai, India is the top manufacturer of hydroxychloroquine globally.

The order was given because of the growing number of positive cases of Covid-19 with the current tally standing at 5,194 positive and more than 149 deaths, according to the latest data released by India’s Ministry of Health.

Why is the US Divided on Hydroxychloroquine?

Trump has termed hydroxychloroquine as a potential “game-changer”, whereas experts of his coronavirus task force and other virologists and infectious disease experts say the excitement as premature. The experts have warned against over-hyping the drug that is yet to pass the safe remedy test, particularly for patients with cardiac issues. An article in The Lancet medical journal, warned of dangerous side effects if the dose of hydroxychloroquine is not carefully administered. After reports of adverse side effects, some hospitals in Sweden stopped prescribing hydroxychloroquine to coronavirus patients, according to Swedish news media. However, doctors in New York and elsewhere have been administering it in desperation, even without conclusive scientific studies.

Trump’s brazenness in pressing the use of hydroxychloroquine over the advice of advisers, like Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease specialist, has raised questions about his motives. According to the New York Times, if hydroxychloroquine becomes an accepted treatment, numerous pharmaceutical companies and their shareholders and senior executives with proximity to the President stand to gain. Trump also has a financial interest in Sanofi, the French drugmaker, which makes Plaquenil, the brand name for hydroxychloroquine. Trump has three family trusts, each had investments as of last year in a mutual fund whose largest holding was Sanofi, according to the New York Times.

The New York Times quoted Dr. Joshua Rosenberg, the medical director at Brooklyn Hospital Center, as “I understand why the president is pushing it. The president of the United States has to project hope when there is a situation without hope. Even if there isn’t a lot of science behind it, at this point, hydroxychloroquine is the best, most available option for use.”

According to others in the current political scenario, Trump needs a miracle to get reelected. If hydroxychloroquine turns out to be a panacea, he can say, “I did it, America. I saved all your lives” and claim that he defeated Covid-19 in order to sweep the elections.

India’s Reaction to Trump’s Comments

The US President’s comments haven’t gone down well with many in India, with critics pointing out that Trump’s rude behavior was uncalled for when Modi had already agreed to help. After Trump’s remarks, the Foreign Affairs Ministry announced that India would supply essential drugs to nations affected by Covid-19. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said “Given the humanitarian aspects of the pandemic, India would license hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol in appropriate quantities to all our neighboring countries who are dependent on our capabilities. We will also be supplying these essential drugs to some nations who have been particularly badly affected by the pandemic.”

Because of the growing demand for hydroxychloroquine, Indian pharmaceutical companies are ramping up monthly production of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine by four hundred percent to 40 metric tons by the end of April and five to six hundred percent to over 70 metric tons by May.

L'articolo Indian Malaria Drug Hydroxychloroquine is Trump’s Panacea for Coronavirus proviene da InsideOver.

Since the White House has finally recognized the threat the coronavirus has brought to the country, President Donald Trump has been in front of the press regularly. However, while addressing the nation, he has continued his tradition of often offering “alternative facts.”

Trump’s Initial Downplaying of COVID-19

It is in keeping with his character — yet deeply worrisome — that Trump first downplayed the seriousness of the situation for a long time, claiming that COVID-19 was no more threatening than an ordinary winter flu. He indicated that it would take care of itself quickly and that the virus was under control. When it became evident that this was not the case, Trump announced that he had recognized and pointed out the danger from the start – which remains a complete and brazen falsehood.

Fortunately, however, there is also a voice of reason among his advisors in the current situation. During the briefings, the nation’s premier expert remains discreetly in the background until a question comes up that only a sophisticated scientist can answer, and he is asked to come forward. Some of these moments have gone viral by now. In them, Dr. Fauci sometimes looks down on the ground or fidgets in embarrassment with his collar, visibly signaling that he disagrees with what Trump is saying. He could hardly interrupt the President, he commented on the quiet gestures in a television interview the other day. “I cannot jump in front of the microphone and knock him to the ground.” He would rather try to correct the President’s ongoing inaccuracies and misleading statements at the next opportunity.

Fauci: ‘The Virus Sets the Timeline’

Fauci delivered an example of his approach to CNN on Wednesday evening. “You have to be realistic and understand that you are not setting the timeline. The virus sets the timeline,” Fauci said. It was essential to adapt flexibly to reality instead of to a certain extent, stipulating when normalization should be considered. There was no need to explain who the advice was for. It was evident to everyone.

Trump had previously indicated that normal life could resume in large parts of the United States by Easter but has since reconsidered.

“You cannot make an arbitrary decision before you see what you are dealing with. You need the data,” replied Fauci. Today it was announced that Trump has now corrected the Easter idea and that the situation could only change on April 30 at the earliest — very likely thanks to Dr. Fauci.

Expertise vs. Bluster

Fauci is the most distinguished member of the White House Corona Task Force. If he outlines the situation, he does so in short, calm sentences, which is in striking contrast to Trump’s often excessive and self-focused monologues. Fauci has headed the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984. He previously convinced Ronald Reagan to perceive the risk of AIDS when it spread dangerously fast in the eighties. Weeks ago, when the White House downplayed the risk of the coronavirus, he advised energetic steps to combat it instead.

The United States urgently needed to conduct more tests, Fauci demanded, while Trump still covered up the acute lack of test kits with flowery words. At a congressional hearing, Fauci stated straightforwardly that the national health system was not well prepared for this crisis. The other day, he warned soberly of false hopes after Trump raved about the anti-malaria drug chloroquine, which he claimed could undoubtedly be used in the fight against corona. “The answer is no,” Fauci said when asked if chloroquine was a cure for the virus. Trump had based his hope on groundless anecdotes, not clinical data.

Because of his expertise in a time of national emergency, Fauci is thus allowed to do the unthinkable: contradict the president in public. The nation’s health crisis desperately needs voices of reason especially for an administration that — outside of Dr. Fauci — has appeared flustered and incompetent at times. For Trump, however, he would do well to continue to take Dr. Fauci seriously and listen to his guidance so the nation can see that the best measures are being taken: Trump’s political future could depend on it. Indeed, this crisis will most likely determine whether or not Trump gets reelected in November.

L'articolo The Voice of Reason in America’s Fight Against COVID-19 proviene da InsideOver.