CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: March 18th

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 202,272 (up from 185,461 yesterday)
  • Total Confirmed Deaths Worldwide: 8,012 (up from 7,332 yesterday)
  • Total Confirmed Recovered Worldwide: 82,813 (up from 79,935 yesterday)
  • 167 Countries have confirmed cases (up from 162 yesterday) 4 more have suspected cases
  • 6% of Active Cases are considered serious (requiring hospitalization), steady from 6% yesterday and down from 19% just 3 weeks ago
  • US has 6,524 Confirmed Cases and 116 Deaths, up from 4,743 Cases and 93 deaths yesterday
  • In the US, all 50 States plus Washington DC and 4 US Territories all have at least 1 confirmed case
Doctor Urging Younger Patients: COVID-19 Causes Permanent Lung Damage to All Survivors https://nypost.com/2020/03/17/coronavirus-doctor-says-lung-scans-for-young-patients-were-nothing-short-of-terrifying/
  • In a bid to disabuse younger patients of the notion that COVID-19 is only dangerous to older people, a Doctor in Belgium who has treated several younger victims said: "The images we took yesterday are nothing short of terrifying."
  • "They just walk in, but they are terribly affected by the virus," Dr Ignace Demeyer told the Belgian broadcaster VRT.
  • He said CT scans indicated they were suffering from severe lung damage.
  • The report seems to validate reports out of Hong Kong and Korea that even younger victims who recover from COVID-19 may have permanent lung damage due to scarring on lung tissue, with one study suggesting a 20% permanent loss in lung function.
  • "They are younger people who do not smoke, who have no other conditions such as diabetes or heart failure," Demeyer added.
President Andrew Yang Mitt Romney Donald Trump Pushes for $210 Billion "Free" Dollars Month To US Adults https://apnews.com/22b4db74a897c8803d228269827d8612
  • President Trump pressed Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin to get checks of $1,000 per person per month into the hands of Americans starting within two weeks.
  • The $1,000 per month stimulus would cost approximately $210 Billion per month, given the fact there are just over 209 Million American adults over the age of 18.
  • "Millionaires would not receive the Freedom Dividend stimulus", Trump said.
  • No details were provided as to who would be eligible to receive the stimulus or how monies would be distributed.
  • His total proposed economic package alone could approach $1 trillion, a rescue initiative not seen since the Great Recession.
  • Trump wants checks sent to the public within two weeks and is urging Congress to pass the eye-popping stimulus package in a matter of days.
  • As analysts warn the country is surely entering a recession, the government is grappling with an enormous political undertaking not seen since the Global Financial Crisis of 2008.
  • Former Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang said, "It's a great idea, and I'm glad he thought of it."
Bored During COVID-19 Quarantine? Dr Oz Has Some Friendly Advice for Couples https://www.tmz.com/2020/03/17/dr-oz-sex-couples-quarantine-coronavirus-weeks/
  • In a bid to help couples avoid going stir crazy during Quarantine, Dr Oz recommends turning off Netflix and enjoying some 'quality time'.
  • "The Best solution if you're holed up with your significant other in Quarantine is to have sex." Dr Oz suggested to TMZ.
  • The Doctor indicated that having sex can reduce stress, plus studies show that human Immune System response is improved via regular lovemaking, the Dr indicated.
  • "It's certainly better than staring at each other and getting on each other's nerves," he said.
  • "Plus, you might make some babies, so go for it," the Doctor suggested.
US Hospital Ships Activated https://news.usni.org/2020/03/17/pentagon-preparing-navy-hospital-ships-mercy-comfort-for-coronavirus-response
  • Secretary of Defense Mark Esper confirms that two US Hospital Ships have been activated and will be anchored off the East and West Coast of the US.
  • USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort began the several days-long process of deployment on Tuesday, the Pentagon confirmed.
  • DoD officials indicated the ships would most likely be used to take on Non-COVID-19 cases, allowing Hospitals to care for the most critically ill.
  • Each ship is capable of adding approximately 1,000-bed additional capacity to regional hospitals.
Type A Blood May Be More Likely to Catch COVID-19? https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8122493/People-Type-blood-likely-catch-coronavirus.html
  • People with Type A blood are significantly more likely to catch coronavirus than those with Type O, Chinese academics have found.
  • The study in Wuhan - the epicenter of the disease - also found those with Type A blood are more likely to die from COVID-19, with no clear indication as to why that might be true.
  • Researchers note: The controversial correlation has yet to be scrutinized by other academics in peer review and the researchers are unable to explain why infection varies by blood type.
COVID-19 Cured By Existing Anti-Viral Drug Cocktail? https://www.heraldsun.com.au/lifestyle/health/coronavirus-australia-queensland-researchers-find-cure-want-drug-trial/news-story/93e7656da0cff4fc4d2c5e51706accb5
  • University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research director Professor David Paterson said today they have seen two drugs used to treat other conditions wipe out the virus in test tubes.
  • The Doctor is pressing Australian authorities to grant him leave to begin human clinical trials by the end of the month.
  • Prof Paterson, who is also an infectious disease physician at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, said it wasn't a stretch to label the drugs "a treatment or a cure". "It's a potentially effective treatment," he said.
  • The Doctor did warn that even if the anti-viral drugs prove to be effective, it may take months to get the studies through human clinical trials.
  • "...If we can test it in this first wave of patients, and we do fully expect that there are going to be ongoing infections for months and months ahead, and therefore we'll have the best possible information to treat subsequent patients," Dr Paterson said.
Amazon No Longer Shipping Cheap Clothes and Knick Knacks to Warehouses, Memo Indicates https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-amazon-suspends-all-non-essential-shipments-to-warehouses-2020-3
  • Amazon told sellers and vendors on Tuesday that it was suspending shipments of all nonessential products to its warehouses to deal with the increased workloads following the coronavirus outbreak.
  • Amazon is now prioritizing medical supplies, household staples, and other high-demand products to its warehouses until April 5.
  • The change only affects shipments to Amazon's warehouses, not the last-mile deliveries to consumers.
  • "We are temporarily prioritizing household staples, medical supplies, and other high-demand products coming into our fulfillment centers so that we can more quickly receive, restock, and deliver these products to customers," the message read.
  • Thousands of household items currently show as out of stock or are back-ordered on Amazon's website, including canned goods, cleaning supplies, paper towels, toilet paper and hand soap.
First Dog Diagnosed With COVID-19 Has Died https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3075650/first-dog-found-coronavirus-has-died-after
  • The 17-year-old Pomeranian, which belonged to a Covid-19 patient, had been quarantined at a government facility since February 26, and returned home on Saturday.
  • The owner said she was not willing to allow an autopsy to determine the cause of death, according to Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.
  • Doctors said the death does not necessarily indicate that COVID-19 is dangerous to pets or other animals, noting that other forms of Coronavirus including SARS-1 and MERS have not proven to be dangerous to animal health, even though they can be carriers of the virus and pass them to humans.
Achieving True Herd Immunity Requires Extreme Measures, According to New Study https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-report-us-uk-strategies-e45bc5d4-d2f1-40e2-825e-429b2b7c1b50.html , https://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/medicine/sph/ide/gida-fellowships/Imperial-College-COVID19-NPI-modelling-16-03-2020.pdf
  • A startling new report from Imperial College London warns that 2.2 million Americans and 510,000 Britons could die from coronavirus if extreme action isn't taken to change the course of the outbreak.
  • The report's dire warnings prompted a quick course correction from both the American and British governments on their strategies, but its strict recommendations and long timeline — 18 months — to stem the tide could have far-reaching implications for both populations and economies.
  • The report states the effectiveness of "mitigation," which includes isolating only the sick and those linked to them while advocating social distancing for at-risk groups, is extremely limited.
  • It instead recommends "suppression," a much more wide-ranging tactic to curb coronavirus' spread, including extreme social distancing for several months.
  • The researchers say that suppression "will minimally require a combination of social distancing of the entire population, home isolation of all suspected cases and household quarantine of their family members for any household with even 1 infection."
  • It also recommends school closures for up to 6 months, including Primary schools and Colleges.
  • The report notes that this strategy could have to be in place until a vaccine is developed, which could take 18 months — saying it is "the only viable strategy at the current time" to avoid high death rates.
  • The study warned that based on the current Serious/Critical ratio of infected to those requiring hospitalization, over 250 hospital beds would be required for every 1 bed currently available.
image.png

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.

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.

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.