CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: April 17th

April 17, 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: 2,197,161 (up from 2,094,897 yesterday)
Total Confirmed Deaths Worldwide: 147,512 (up from 135,569 yesterday)
Total Confirmed Recovered Worldwide: 557,596 (up from 520,946 yesterday)
US has 687,210 Confirmed Cases and 34,641 deaths, plus 13,369 Active Cases in Serious/Critical condition
Of all global confirmed cases that have had an outcome of either Recovered or Dead, 21% of COVID-19 victims have died

China Revises Wuhan Death Rate Upward by 50%, WHO To Praise "Transparency"https://apnews.com/599338c54097ab68a1f2eda09c2d8a3b

Those of us who have been calling "BS" on China's COVID-19 numbers have been 100% vindicated.
The Chinese Communist Party issued a revision indicating they are 90% positive their original Case Fatality Rate was off by only 50%, adding 1,300 new deaths to their official count.
There is also a 99% probability that the WHO will issue a statement praising the transparency of the CCP for having the bravery to admit their original numbers were about as accurate as guessing the outcome of a coin-flip.
The hashtag "China Lied, People Died" [#chinaliedpeopledied] has been replaced, and now the hashtag "China made stuff up and so the rest of the world finally woke up to the fact that the CCP is an enemy to all mankind so we should buy American made products instead" is now trending on Twitter [#chinamadestuffupandsotherestoftheworldfinallywokeuptothefactthattheccpisanenemytoallmakindsoweshouldbyamericanmadeproductsinstead].

Vegas Card Dealers To Wear Masks & Gloves in Bid to Reopen Casinoshttps://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2020/04/16/vegas-dealers-to-wear-masks-casino-patrons-to-get-temps-checked-in-reopening-plan/

Under the major's new proposal, dealers would wear masks and gloves, chairs would be moved further apart at Blackjack tables, and customers would have temperatures checked via what she called "noninvasive" means.
"This shutdown has become one of total insanity in my opinion," said Mayor Carolyn Goodman. "For there is no backup of data as to why we are shut down from the start. It makes no sense. It's not scientific."
When confronted with the scientific fact that COVID-19 is contagious when carriers are pre-symptomatic (i.e. before they exhibit a temperature)...the mayor's office had no comment.

Pandemic Will LIkely Kill Hundreds of Thousands of Children Who Never Become Infectedhttps://www.foxnews.com/world/united-nations-warning-coronavirus-lockdowns-could-kill-hundreds-thousands-children

UN Warns that 10s of thousands of children will likely die due to the economic impact of COVID-19 shutdowns.
"Economic hardship experienced by families as a result of the global economic downturn could result in hundreds of thousands of additional child deaths in 2020, reversing the last 2 to 3 years of progress in reducing infant mortality within a single year," the U.N. report said.
The United Nations estimated that between 42 million to 66 million children could fall into extreme poverty as a result of the crisis, adding to the 386 million already in extreme poverty in 2019.
The report added that 188 countries had closed schools nationwide, affecting more than 1.5 billion children, according to Reuters.
"The potential losses that may accrue in learning for today's young generation, and for the development of their human capital, are hard to fathom," the U.N. said.
The UN reiterated its call for a 10% global GDP tax that each country would pay directly to the UN to help stamp-out child-killing poverty worldwide.

Guidelines for Reducing Social Distancing Rules Released by White House Task Force https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-announces-new-coronavirus-guidelines-for-opening-up-america-again

The plan calls for three Phases of reduced social and economic restrictions, each with a 2-week period in between showing that COVID-19 spread was stable and not increasing.
The strategy would enable states or even counties to determine where they are on the curve and follow their own path to reopen schools, businesses and other events.
News of the plan follows orders from New York, California and numerous other states that Social Distancing and Stay At Home orders would be extended through May 15th.
Guidelines for all 3 phases included the recommendation that people wear face-masks while out in public.

California Governor States "Curve Arguably Flattened"https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/04/16/governor-newsom-curve-has-arguably-flattened-california-nears-900-covid-19-deaths/

27,036 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in California, which represents a 47.7 percent increase from the 18,309 people who had tested positive when Newsom briefed the press last Thursday.
"You have successfully bent and arguably flattened the curve in the state of California," Newsom said.
"We continue to need to maintain our vigilance, guided not by political decision-making, guided by data, guided by facts, guided by science, guided by health professionals all throughout the state of California."
Officially, California's Shelter-in-Place orders are set to expire May 3rd.
California would review its status per the new Federal guidelines issued by President Trump to determine if it is ready to enter Phase I of re-opening its economy, Newsom indicated.

Anti-COVID-19 Paint Soon Availablehttps://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3080294/japans-nippon-paint-develops-anti-coronavirus-coating-protect

Nippon Paint's Antivirus Kids Paint has been developed in partnership with US-based Corning company.
5 million yuan worth of the new product has been donated to four hospitals in Hubei province, the company said.
It has been successfully tested in the US by Texas-based Microchem Laboratory and can render inactive almost 100 percent of Feline Calicivirus, an upper respiratory infection in cats.
The product has been under development since 2017, the company said.
The US Environmental Protection Agency has approved Feline Calicivirus as a suitable proxy for detecting human norovirus, rhinovirus and coronavirus.
According to the World Health Organisation, SARS-CoV-2 might stay on surfaces for up to several days. People can catch the virus by touching contaminated surfaces or objects, and then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
No word yet when the paint might be available in the US as consumer safety testing and certification was still ongoing.

Join Glenn TONIGHT for BlazeTV's exclusive VP debate coverage!

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POLL: Can the VP debate affect the election?

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The first (and likely only) Vice President debate will be held on CBS News on Tuesday, October 1st.

The debate takes place at 9 p.m. Eastern Time and will be the first time we see J.D. Vance and Tim Walz face off in person. Typically, the VP debate is little more than a formality, and rarely does it affect the election in any significant way. But this is no ordinary election. The stakes are higher than they have been in years, and Trump and Harris are still in a razor-thin race, according to the polls. Both Vance and Walz are relative newcomers to the national stage and still have room to make an impression on the American people, and with the race as tight as it is, that might make all the difference.

So what do you think? Can this VP debate make an impact on the election? Are you going to tune in? And what sort of questions and issues need to be brought up? Let us know in the poll below:

Will this VP debate be important in the overall election?

Are you going to watch the VP debate?

Should the debaters be asked about the Biden-Harris administration's failing economy?

Should the debaters be asked about climate change and energy policy?

Should the debaters be asked about the rise of globalism?

Five things that PROVE Kamala's plan for climate authoritarianism

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If you wanted to cripple America for years, what would be the best way to go about it?

If your mind immediately went to the power grid, you think a lot like Glenn. For decades the secret to America's growth and prosperity has been its abundant and relatively cheap energy. Electricity has been so cheap for so long that many Americans take it for granted, though raising prices has put it back on many people's radars.

There are forces on the Left, including Kamala Harris, who is working to be "unburdened by what has been," and plunge America into a dystopian future where only the elite can afford "luxuries" like A/C and dishwashers. While Kamala has either remained silent or been dismissive of her radical climate policies, here are things that prove that Kamala has disastrous plans for our energy future:

Kamala endorsed the Green New Deal

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

In 2019, then-Senator Harris was proud to co-sponsor the Green New Deal. This was, by all metrics, the most authoritarian legislation in U.S. history. It was so over the top, cartoonishly evil, that it hardly seemed real. It aimed to ban all coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear power, and dismantle and rebuild every aspect of our lives, from what we eat to how we travel (for the worse). It also aimed to provide economic security to those "unwilling to work," aka, money for nothing.

Had several failed climate actions

Alex Wong / Staff | Getty Images

After the Green New Deal was defeated, Kamala tried several times to pass something similar. First was the "Comprehensive Climate Plan" which she introduced during her 2019 presidential bid. This plan had a staggering 10 TRILLION DOLLAR price tag, which is double the entire U.S. federal budget and aimed at exceeding the Paris Agreement climate goals.

In 2020, she introduced the Climate Equity Act, which would have created another government office called the "Climate and Environmental Equity Office.” This office would review all congressional bills and judge their potential impact on "communities that have experienced environmental injustice or are vulnerable to climate injustice.” As if that wasn't overreaching enough, it would also require every government agency to publish a biannual "climate and environmental justice accountability agenda.”

Finally, she pushed the “Environmental Justice for All Act,” which is exactly what it says on the tin. It boils down to a bunch of new rules and advisory bodies that would give cash handouts to "environmental justice communities." Fortunately, just like the other two this one never saw the light of day.

Inflation reduction act

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The crowning jewel of Kamala's "historic" vice presidency was when she cast the tie-breaking vote to pass the Green New Deal Jr, otherwise known as the Inflation Reduction Act. While it was obvious from the beginning that the Inflation Reduction Act had nothing to do with inflation, and was just a climate change bill in disguise, Biden recently confirmed this to all the nay-sayers. Kamala confirmed that this was more than just another Biden gaffe when she admitted that it is "the single largest climate investment in American history.”

So what fruits does this wonderful piece of legislation have to offer? 60 out of the promised 2,000+ EV school buses. It is unclear if the delay is caused by schools backing out of the program due to the technological limitations of the busses or the outrageous cost- more than three times that of a traditional bus. Kamala's vision of the future sure is bright.

Skyrocketing home prices

PATRICK T. FALLON / Contributor | Getty Images

If the Inflation Reduction Act is the greatest climate bill ever, then we have a pretty good idea of how it affects the average American: poorly. Over the past year, U.S. electricity prices have risen 3.6 percent, which outpaces inflation. Current estimates suggest the average American is paying 5,000 dollars a year more on utilities than they were before Biden and Kamala took office. Not to mention all the new green mandates enforced on new homes, which on average is adding 31,000 dollars to the price of homes.

Judging by the climate-leading state of California, this is pretty standard. Californians' electricity bill has gone up over three times faster than the rest of the nation since 2008 and Californians collectively owe more than 2 billion dollars in unpaid utility bills. Not to mention the havoc green energy is playing on the electric grid.

Ban fracking

Spencer Platt / Staff | Getty Images

Over the last fifteen years, the U.S. has reduced our emissions more than any other nation, but this was accomplished despite the authoritarian legislation, not because of it. Natural free-market developments have encouraged a transition from coal to natural gas, largely due to fracking, which has dramatically increased the availability of the fuel. A whopping 43 percent of American electricity is generated by natural gas, meaning its price has a huge impact on the cost of energy. So naturally the Biden-Harris administration has cracked down on natural gas and oil exploration, and in 2019 Kamala stated that she favored banning fracking. She has since walked back that statement, but seeing how hostile the administration has been towards fracking it's almost certain that a Kamala presidency would spell doom for natural gas.

The TRUTH about Kamala's climate agenda

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Her strategy on controversial energy issues is one of ‘strategic ambiguity.’ That might as well be her campaign slogan.

If people wanted to cripple the United States for the long term, they’d attack our energy supply — and the left is already doing it. America’s abundance of energy resources built this nation, and we’ve long enjoyed reliable, affordable energy that many of us take for granted. It’s easy not to treat energy as a top election issue, but we ignore it at our own peril.

Kamala Harris and other forces on the left are bent on dismantling America’s energy independence and, in the process, stripping away much of our freedom. This isn’t alarmism — it’s reality. It started on day one of the Biden-Harris administration, and you feel it every time you pay your electricity bill.

The League of Conservation Voters wouldn’t be spending $55 million if it didn’t know Kamala Harris is fully aligned with its radical agenda.

When it comes to government policy, perhaps nothing will affect your day-to-day life more than what the left wants to do with green energy. If you don’t believe this is a critical issue, consider that 24 states, including the District of Columbia, now have 100% clean energy goals, impacting more than half of the U.S. population.

Kamala Harris is a climate radical. But she’s hiding it — for now. According to the Pew Research Center, climate ranks near the bottom of voters’ priorities, so Harris can’t risk alienating voters by revealing her true stance. For her entire national political career, she has been a zealous leader of the green energy movement. In fact, Reuters recently reported that Harris’ strategy on controversial energy issues is one of “strategic ambiguity.” That might as well be her campaign slogan.

Harris cannot afford to discuss her real green policies openly — not with battleground states like Pennsylvania and Ohio in play. Instead, we get her soft rebranding at the DNC where she talks about “the freedom to breathe clean air.” So now she and the rest of the climate radicals are freedom fighters? That’s rich.

Repackaging her authoritarian climate agenda as “freedom” is a joke. This is reverse psychology. Harris, Tim Walz, and the Democratic Party want more control and regulation over your daily life, not less. For now, Harris is keeping quiet about her plans, but major left-wing climate groups are speaking for her.

The radical environmental group League of Conservation Voters is running a $55 million ad campaign for Harris. The LCV is no ordinary environmental group — it has deep ties to the left’s dark money network, particularly through the Arabella Advisors. The group has pushed hard for green policies that would end the use of fossil fuels in America.

The LCV is already plugged into the White House and has led internal training for climate-related political appointees. It knows exactly where Harris stands. It wouldn’t be spending $55 million if it didn’t know she’s fully aligned with its radical agenda.

Let’s not forget Harris’ track record. As a senator, she was a “proud” cosponsor of the Green New Deal, the most authoritarian piece of legislation in U.S. history. It sought to ban coal, oil, natural gas, and even nuclear power. The plan aimed to eliminate all airplanes, combustion-engine vehicles, and, of course, those flatulent cows. It even promised “economic security for all who are unable or unwilling to work.”

Harris didn’t stop there. In 2019, she ran for president on a $10 trillion climate plan — double the entire federal budget from last year. She wanted to, as she put it, “exceed” the Paris Agreement goals. Her obsession with climate “equity” and “environmental justice” only deepened, introducing the Climate Equity Act, which would create a new government office to review congressional bills for their impact on so-called “climate injustice.”

In 2020, she introduced the Environmental Justice for All Act, which created advisory bodies and government programs, including grants — just another term for taxpayer-funded handouts to her favored “environmental justice” communities. Once she became vice president, Harris cast the tie-breaking vote for the Inflation Reduction Act, a Green New Deal in disguise. Joe Biden himself admitted it, saying they should have named it for what it truly was: a massive climate bill.

Harris recently reaffirmed her support for the Inflation Reduction Act, calling it “the single largest climate investment in American history.” But “investment” is an interesting choice of words. Just look at Harris’ $5 billion electric school bus plan. So far, the program has only produced 60 buses — each costing over three times more than a traditional diesel bus. And these buses lose one-third of their range in cold weather. Fifty-five school districts have already pulled out of the program, citing performance concerns.

This is Kamala Harris’ vision for America: an authoritarian climate regime, backed by dark money and radical green activists. Don’t be fooled by her rebrand as a “moderate freedom fighter.” If you vote for Harris, you are voting to dismantle the infrastructure that has given us the reliable energy we’ve thus far had the privilege of taking for granted. And you will be voting for the consolidation of the energy sector under centralized government control veiled under trendy climate talking points. Let’s not go there.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on TheBlaze.com.

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