CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: April 14th

April 14, 2020

WRITER

Glenn gives the latest coronavirus numbers, updating YOU on everything needed to know as Americans and officials monitor China's new COVID-19 virus:

Daily Stats as of 5:30 AM CT (from John's Hopkins)

Total Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 1,934,754 (up from 1,862,254 yesterday)
Total Confirmed Deaths Worldwide: 120,438 (up from 114,980 yesterday)
Total Confirmed Recovered Worldwide: 456,776 (up from 431,666 yesterday)
US has 587,173 Confirmed cases and 23,644 deaths, up from 560,433 cases and 22,115 deaths yesterday
US now leads the World in both total Cases and Deaths from COVID-19, but is 15th in Deaths per 1 Million people, and 19th in Cases per 1 Million
1st Death in Wyoming - Officially All 50 States Now Have at Least 1 Death Attributed to COVID-19

Is COVID-19 Body-Shaming Americans? https://www.zdnet.com/article/nyu-scientists-largest-u-s-study-of-covid-19-finds-obesity-the-single-biggest-factor-in-new-york-critical-cases/

Novel-Coronavirus is upsetting the politically-correct "Woke" crowd by targeting overweight people for more dangerous infections and higher fatality rates compared to leaner, healthier Americans.
Researchers studied thousands of New York cases and found that being overweight or obese was the greatest risk factor for COVID-19 critical infections requiring hospitalization, slightly higher than age and significantly higher than smoking, diabetes or cancer.
Turns out that being fat and "out of shape" isn't just a cosmetic or lifestyle choice after all, but appears to actually be unhealthy and puts people at higher risk of death from infections...or so says science.
So far, no comment from Dove Soap or the hundreds of other "woke" brands that have promoted the "It's OK to be overweight" PC-narrative for the past 10 or so years.

Mutations in SARS-Cov-2 May Derail Vaccine Development https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3079678/coronavirus-mutation-threatens-race-develop-vaccine

Every known virus has mutations, most of which do not impact how the virus functions.
Novel viruses like SARS-CoV-2 undergo 1 mutation for about every 2,700 victims...each unique host increases the risk that the virus will mutate (part of the reason it's important to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to new victims).
So far, there are over 2,000 known strains/mutations of the virus that causes COVID-19. At least 2 strains have been shown to have different levels of virulence in humans.
Every new mutation of the virus is just as likely to be harmless as it is to make it more dangerous - mutations are completely random. Viruses don't "try" to mutate to become more dangerous, they merely adapt to each unique biochemical environment.
A new strain discovered in India showed changes in the mechanism used to bind the virus to human cells which could render current vaccine research futile.
Researchers had been targeting vaccines at the same cell-binding process that allows SARS-1 to infect healthy cells, but the new mutation could upend their assumptions.
The new strain found in India appears to bind to cells differently, which could make current vaccine approaches moot.
Researchers did point out that the strain found in India has not yet been found in any other location, so it is not yet widely spread. The mutation also could be an affectation of how the virus was grown for research purposes.
Researchers in India have sent the new strain to the CDC and EU-CDC for further testing.

1 Tyrant in DC vs 1,000 Tyrants All Over the Country - Mayors & Governors Test Freedom vs Emergency Powers https://thefederalist.com/2020/04/13/the-coronavirus-is-exposing-little-tyrants-all-over-the-country/

Not following Trump's lead of honoring basic civil rights, COVID-19 has exposed thousands of mini-Tyrants all over America.
Some mayors and governors are using the pandemic to exercise arbitrary and unlimited power over their fellow citizens.
Governors appear to believe they can order citizens to do (or not do) just about anything under the guise of protecting public health and safety.
Local and state governments have issued decrees about what people can and cannot buy in stores, they have arrested parents playing with their children in public parks, yanked people off public buses at random, removed basketball rims from private property, ticket churchgoers, and in one case try—and fail—to chase down a lone runner on an empty beach.
Several states, cities or counties have banned the sale of firearms and ammunition - violating the 2nd Amendment, or the sale of alcohol, violating the 21st amendment.
In one example, following a confusing, similar order in Vermont, the Governor of Michigan has ordered businesses to stop sales of "non-essential" items, including gardening supplies and seeds. https://www.michiganradio.org/post/garden-centers-large-stores-must-close-under-governors-order, https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2020/04/10/whitmer-stay-home-michigan-lottery/5129316002/
Meanwhile, Lottery tickets can still be purchased at grocery and convenience stores all over the state. Michigan receives about 8% of its annual revenue from the sale of lottery tickets.

With 60s-Style Sit-Ins Banned, Americans Resort to Group "Drive-Bys" to Protest Government Edicts https://www.foxnews.com/politics/coronavirus-stay-at-home-orders-protests-economy

At least 15,000 cars and trucks are expected to descend on Michigan's state capital on Wednesday to protest what they're calling Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's tyrannical new guidelines to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus in the state.
The so-called "drive-by" demonstration – in order to maintain social distancing - aims to bring traffic to gridlock in Lansing and protest the "Stay Home, Stay Safe" executive order by Whitmer.
Her orders mandate what businesses could stay home, what some businesses could sell and order people in her state against any gatherings – no matter the size or family ties.
"Quarantine is when you restrict movement of sick people. Tyranny is when you restrict the movement of healthy people," Meshawn Maddock, an organizer of the protest with the Michigan Conservative Coalition, told Fox News. "Every person has learned a harsh lesson about social distancing. We don't need a nanny state to tell people how to be careful."
Similar 'drive-by' or 'park-in' protests are planned in North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, and Michigan.
With gas prices nationwide near all-time lows due to lack of demand, this is one form of protest most Americans can afford.

Bucking the Trend, Governor Abbot, TX, Moves to Re-Open Economic Activity https://www.foxnews.com/politics/texas-gov-abbott-says-he-plans-to-announce-safe-and-healthy-strategies-to-reopen-state-economy

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday foreshadowed a potential executive order later this week to begin the process of reopening the state's economy.
This as President Trump publicly advocates for the U.S. to get back to business as quickly as possible amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The comments from Abbott come after he said on Friday last week that he planned to sign an executive order "about reopening Texas businesses ... in a way that will be safe for that economic revitalization."
"At the same time we cannot ignore the impact economically that the coronavirus has caused," Abbott said in his Monday remarks. "Later this week I will outline both safe and healthy strategies where we can begin the process of going about reopening businesses in Texas and revitalizing the economy."
Insiders indicated to Fox News that the executive orders would likely include allowing workers who are younger and have no underlying health conditions to return to work.

COVID-19 Survivors May Not Have Long-Term Immunity https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/13/who-officials-say-its-unclear-whether-recovered-coronavirus-patients-are-immune-to-second-infection.html

Researchers from the WHO and CDC echoed earlier studies from China, Hong Kong, and the US that it's yet unknown if survivors of COVID-19 develop long-term antibodies that render them immune.
While many patients who survive episodes of COVID-19 do test positive for Coronavirus anti-bodies, not all patients do.
Additionally, many survivors show such low anti-body count that researchers doubt they'd have sufficient antibodies to fight off repeat infections.
Finally, researchers warn that many other known Coronaviruses, including the Common Cold and SARS-1, only infer temporary immunity after recovery, lasting months but then fading in efficacy, and SARS-CoV-2 is too new for scientists to know to any certainty if survivors are permanently immune to reinfection, temporarily immune, or have any lasting immunity at all.

Pandemic Will Peter-Out by Summer, Says New Model https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/13/health/us-coronavirus-updates-monday/index.html

An influential coronavirus model cited by the White House predicts the pandemic will "peter out" in May, but experts are wary about its assumption that there will be no resurgence of the virus in the summer months.
The model, from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, was created by Dr. Christopher Murray, who told CNN Monday the country can essentially stop coronavirus transmission this summer.
"The one thing we absolutely know for sure is that social distancing measures work," Murray said. "It leads to a situation where every case is infecting less than one other case, and that means if you keep the course, you'll get transmission essentially down to zero."
Murray cited Italy and China as places where this was happening already. "There is no reason to expect that won't happen in the US," he said.
Critics of the model pointed out that in China, Hong-Kong, Korea and Japan, when social-distancing measures have been relaxed, new outbreaks have also emerged.
Murray's model has been cited by the While House COVID-19 Task Force and President Trump as recently as yesterday.

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What our response to Israel reveals about us

JOSEPH PREZIOSO / Contributor | Getty Images

I have been honored to receive the Defender of Israel Award from Prime Minister Netanyahu.

The Jerusalem Post recently named me one of the strongest Christian voices in support of Israel.

And yet, my support is not blind loyalty. It’s not a rubber stamp for any government or policy. I support Israel because I believe it is my duty — first as a Christian, but even if I weren’t a believer, I would still support her as a man of reason, morality, and common sense.

Because faith isn’t required to understand this: Israel’s existence is not just about one nation’s survival — it is about the survival of Western civilization itself.

It is a lone beacon of shared values in the Middle East. It is a bulwark standing against radical Islam — the same evil that seeks to dismantle our own nation from within.

And my support is not rooted in politics. It is rooted in something simpler and older than politics: a people’s moral and historical right to their homeland, and their right to live in peace.

Israel has that right — and the right to defend herself against those who openly, repeatedly vow her destruction.

Let’s make it personal: if someone told me again and again that they wanted to kill me and my entire family — and then acted on that threat — would I not defend myself? Wouldn’t you? If Hamas were Canada, and we were Israel, and they did to us what Hamas has done to them, there wouldn’t be a single building left standing north of our border. That’s not a question of morality.

That’s just the truth. All people — every people — have a God-given right to protect themselves. And Israel is doing exactly that.

My support for Israel’s right to finish the fight against Hamas comes after eighty years of rejected peace offers and failed two-state solutions. Hamas has never hidden its mission — the eradication of Israel. That’s not a political disagreement.

That’s not a land dispute. That is an annihilationist ideology. And while I do not believe this is America’s war to fight, I do believe — with every fiber of my being — that it is Israel’s right, and moral duty, to defend her people.

Criticism of military tactics is fair. That’s not antisemitism. But denying Israel’s right to exist, or excusing — even celebrating — the barbarity of Hamas? That’s something far darker.

We saw it on October 7th — the face of evil itself. Women and children slaughtered. Babies burned alive. Innocent people raped and dragged through the streets. And now, to see our own fellow citizens march in defense of that evil… that is nothing short of a moral collapse.

If the chants in our streets were, “Hamas, return the hostages — Israel, stop the bombing,” we could have a conversation.

But that’s not what we hear.

What we hear is open sympathy for genocidal hatred. And that is a chasm — not just from decency, but from humanity itself. And here lies the danger: that same hatred is taking root here — in Dearborn, in London, in Paris — not as horror, but as heroism. If we are not vigilant, the enemy Israel faces today will be the enemy the free world faces tomorrow.

This isn’t about politics. It’s about truth. It’s about the courage to call evil by its name and to say “Never again” — and mean it.

And you don’t have to open a Bible to understand this. But if you do — if you are a believer — then this issue cuts even deeper. Because the question becomes: what did God promise, and does He keep His word?

He told Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you.” He promised to make Abraham the father of many nations and to give him “the whole land of Canaan.” And though Abraham had other sons, God reaffirmed that promise through Isaac. And then again through Isaac’s son, Jacob — Israel — saying: “The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I give to you and to your descendants after you.”

That’s an everlasting promise.

And from those descendants came a child — born in Bethlehem — who claimed to be the Savior of the world. Jesus never rejected His title as “son of David,” the great King of Israel.

He said plainly that He came “for the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” And when He returns, Scripture says He will return as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah.” And where do you think He will go? Back to His homeland — Israel.

Tamir Kalifa / Stringer | Getty Images

And what will He find when He gets there? His brothers — or his brothers’ enemies? Will the roads where He once walked be preserved? Or will they lie in rubble, as Gaza does today? If what He finds looks like the aftermath of October 7th, then tell me — what will be my defense as a Christian?

Some Christians argue that God’s promises to Israel have been transferred exclusively to the Church. I don’t believe that. But even if you do, then ask yourself this: if we’ve inherited the promises, do we not also inherit the land? Can we claim the birthright and then, like Esau, treat it as worthless when the world tries to steal it?

So, when terrorists come to slaughter Israelis simply for living in the land promised to Abraham, will we stand by? Or will we step forward — into the line of fire — and say,

“Take me instead”?

Because this is not just about Israel’s right to exist.

It’s about whether we still know the difference between good and evil.

It’s about whether we still have the courage to stand where God stands.

And if we cannot — if we will not — then maybe the question isn’t whether Israel will survive. Maybe the question is whether we will.

America’s moral erosion: How we were conditioned to accept the unthinkable

MATHIEU LEWIS-ROLLAND / Contributor | Getty Images

Every time we look away from lawlessness, we tell the next mob it can go a little further.

Chicago, Portland, and other American cities are showing us what happens when the rule of law breaks down. These cities have become openly lawless — and that’s not hyperbole.

When a governor declares she doesn’t believe federal agents about a credible threat to their lives, when Chicago orders its police not to assist federal officers, and when cartels print wanted posters offering bounties for the deaths of U.S. immigration agents, you’re looking at a country flirting with anarchy.

Two dangers face us now: the intimidation of federal officers and the normalization of soldiers as street police. Accept either, and we lose the republic.

This isn’t a matter of partisan politics. The struggle we’re watching now is not between Democrats and Republicans. It’s between good and evil, right and wrong, self‑government and chaos.

Moral erosion

For generations, Americans have inherited a republic based on law, liberty, and moral responsibility. That legacy is now under assault by extremists who openly seek to collapse the system and replace it with something darker.

Antifa, well‑financed by the left, isn’t an isolated fringe any more than Occupy Wall Street was. As with Occupy, big money and global interests are quietly aligned with “anti‑establishment” radicals. The goal is disruption, not reform.

And they’ve learned how to condition us. Twenty‑five years ago, few Americans would have supported drag shows in elementary schools, biological males in women’s sports, forced vaccinations, or government partnerships with mega‑corporations to decide which businesses live or die. Few would have tolerated cartels threatening federal agents or tolerated mobs doxxing political opponents. Yet today, many shrug — or cheer.

How did we get here? What evidence convinced so many people to reverse themselves on fundamental questions of morality, liberty, and law? Those long laboring to disrupt our republic have sought to condition people to believe that the ends justify the means.

Promoting “tolerance” justifies women losing to biological men in sports. “Compassion” justifies harboring illegal immigrants, even violent criminals. Whatever deluded ideals Antifa espouses is supposed to somehow justify targeting federal agents and overturning the rule of law. Our culture has been conditioned for this moment.

The buck stops with us

That’s why the debate over using troops to restore order in American cities matters so much. I’ve never supported soldiers executing civilian law, and I still don’t. But we need to speak honestly about what the Constitution allows and why. The Posse Comitatus Act sharply limits the use of the military for domestic policing. The Insurrection Act, however, exists for rare emergencies — when federal law truly can’t be enforced by ordinary means and when mobs, cartels, or coordinated violence block the courts.

Even then, the Constitution demands limits: a public proclamation ordering offenders to disperse, transparency about the mission, a narrow scope, temporary duration, and judicial oversight.

Soldiers fight wars. Cops enforce laws. We blur that line at our peril.

But we also cannot allow intimidation of federal officers or tolerate local officials who openly obstruct federal enforcement. Both extremes — lawlessness on one side and militarization on the other — endanger the republic.

The only way out is the Constitution itself. Protect civil liberty. Enforce the rule of law. Demand transparency. Reject the temptation to justify any tactic because “our side” is winning. We’ve already seen how fear after 9/11 led to the Patriot Act and years of surveillance.

KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / Contributor | Getty Images

Two dangers face us now: the intimidation of federal officers and the normalization of soldiers as street police. Accept either, and we lose the republic. The left cannot be allowed to shut down enforcement, and the right cannot be allowed to abandon constitutional restraint.

The real threat to the republic isn’t just the mobs or the cartels. It’s us — citizens who stop caring about truth and constitutional limits. Anything can be justified when fear takes over. Everything collapses when enough people decide “the ends justify the means.”

We must choose differently. Uphold the rule of law. Guard civil liberties. And remember that the only way to preserve a government of, by, and for the people is to act like the people still want it.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Stand with Voddie Baucham’s family in this time of loss

In the quiet aftermath of a profound loss, the Christian community mourns the unexpected passing of Dr. Voddie Baucham, a towering figure in evangelical circles. Known for his defense of biblical truth, Baucham, a pastor, author, and theologian, left a legacy on family, faith, and opposing "woke" ideologies in the church. His book Fault Lines challenged believers to prioritize Scripture over cultural trends. Glenn had Voddie on the show several times, where they discussed progressive influences in Christianity, debunked myths of “Christian nationalism,” and urged hope amid hostility.

The shock of Baucham's death has deeply affected his family. Grieving, they remain hopeful in Christ, with his wife, Bridget, now facing the task of resettling in the US without him. Their planned move from Lusaka, Zambia, was disrupted when their home sale fell through last December, resulting in temporary Airbnb accommodations, but they have since secured a new home in Cape Coral that requires renovations. To ensure Voddie's family is taken care of, a fundraiser is being held to raise $2 million, which will be invested for ongoing support, allowing Bridget to focus on her family.

We invite readers to contribute prayerfully. If you feel called to support the Bauchams in this time of need, you can click here to donate.

We grieve and pray with hope for the Bauchams.

May Voddie's example inspire us.

From isolation to connection: Overcoming loneliness

Loneliness isn’t just being alone — it’s feeling unseen, unheard, and unimportant, even amid crowds and constant digital chatter.

Loneliness has become an epidemic in America. Millions of people, even when surrounded by others, feel invisible. In tragic irony, we live in an age of unparalleled connectivity, yet too many sit in silence, unseen and unheard.

I’ve been experiencing this firsthand. My children have grown up and moved out. The house that once overflowed with life now echoes with quiet. Moments that once held laughter now hold silence. And in that silence, the mind can play cruel games. It whispers, “You’re forgotten. Your story doesn’t matter.”

We are unique in our gifts, but not in our humanity. Recognizing this shared struggle is how we overcome loneliness.

It’s a lie.

I’ve seen it in others. I remember sitting at Rockefeller Center one winter, watching a woman lace up her ice skates. Her clothing was worn, her bag battered. Yet on the ice, she transformed — elegant, alive, radiant.

Minutes later, she returned to her shoes, merged into the crowd, unnoticed. I’ve thought of her often. She was not alone in her experience. Millions of Americans live unseen, performing acts of quiet heroism every day.

Shared pain makes us human

Loneliness convinces us to retreat, to stay silent, to stop reaching out to others. But connection is essential. Even small gestures — a word of encouragement, a listening ear, a shared meal — are radical acts against isolation.

I’ve learned this personally. Years ago, a caller called me “Mr. Perfect.” I could have deflected, but I chose honesty. I spoke of my alcoholism, my failed marriage, my brokenness. I expected judgment. Instead, I found resonance. People whispered back, “I’m going through the same thing. Thank you for saying it.”

Our pain is universal. Everyone struggles with self-doubt and fear. Everyone feels, at times, like a fraud. We are unique in our gifts, but not in our humanity. Recognizing this shared struggle is how we overcome loneliness.

We were made for connection. We were built for community — for conversation, for touch, for shared purpose. Every time we reach out, every act of courage and compassion punches a hole in the wall of isolation.

You’re not alone

If you’re feeling alone, know this: You are not invisible. You are seen. You matter. And if you’re not struggling, someone you know is. It’s your responsibility to reach out.

Loneliness is not proof of brokenness. It is proof of humanity. It is a call to engage, to bear witness, to connect. The world is different because of the people who choose to act. It is brighter when we refuse to be isolated.

We cannot let silence win. We cannot allow loneliness to dictate our lives. Speak. Reach out. Connect. Share your gifts. By doing so, we remind one another: We are all alike, and yet each of us matters profoundly.

In this moment, in this country, in this world, what we do matters. Loneliness is real, but so is hope. And hope begins with connection.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.