Baylor student cleared after testing for coronavirus
A Baylor University student who became ill after visiting China has tested negative for the novel coronavirus, Waco-based health officials … Read more

As was the TAMU student.

China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ is Perfect Pandemic Freeway for Coronavirus

By Chriss Street
Comments January 28, 2020 Updated: January 28, 2020

China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative, which aims to intertwine 152 nations, will allow the coronavirus to spread around the world, making it impossible to quarantine, Foreign Policy warns.

Experts identified the mystery virus as ‘2019-nCoV’ or “Wuhan pneumonia,” which has infected thousands in China. However, analysts say the true number of infections is likely much higher than China is reporting. Hospitals that have run out of coronavirus testing kits are labeling new “deaths as pneumonia or other sicknesses,” China Law Blog reported.

The “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR, also known as Belt and Road) initiative is part of a multi-trillion economic and political agenda to expand Chinese trade and infrastructure around the world. China is the world’s largest lender for land and maritime infrastructure across 70 core countries, accounting for two-thirds of the world population. At this rate, Foreign Policy said the disease will balloon into a “global menace.”-- excerpt, rest at link above --

Among other things.

China spurned CDC offer to send team to help contain coronavirus: US Health Secretary

By Madeline Farber | Fox News


State Department advises Americans to reconsider traveling to China amid coronavirus outbreak

U.S. officials ordered workers at the U.S. consulate in Wuhan to return to the United States; Rich Edson reports from the State Department.

Top U.S. health officials this week provided further details on the nation's "coordinated public health response" to the China-linked coronavirus that's killed more than 100 people and sickened thousands of others worldwide.

During a Tuesday news conference which included U.S. Health Secretary Alex Azar, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Robert Redfield, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease (NCIRD) Director Nancy Messonnier, and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Anthony Fauci, officials said the outbreak is a "potentially very serious public health threat" in the U.S., but the current risk to Americans remains low. To date, there are five confirmed cases of the novel virus in the U.S.

Azar said the Chinese have refused continued offers from the U.S. to send CDC officials to the country to help with the outbreak response. The offer was first made on Jan. 6, he said, adding U.S. officials have continued to urge more transparency from the country as the disease spreads.-- excerpt, rest at link above --

Southern California Takes Coronavirus Precautions After 2 Cases Confirmed
By Chris Karr
January 28, 2020 Updated: January 28, 2020

LOS ANGELES⁠—In Southern California, healthcare professionals are working to catch any other potential cases of coronavirus after two confirmed cases in the region.

Health officials confirmed both patients—one in Los Angeles County and one in Orange County—had traveled to Wuhan, China, the center of the outbreak. The outbreak corresponded with peak travel season in Asia as people celebrated the Chinese New Year on Jan. 25.

“We have signs out that [say] if you have been traveling to the Wuhan Province, please alert us right away,” said Jim Keany, a specialist in emergency medicine at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, on Jan. 27. “That way we can even go above and beyond and take those people out of the general population right away.”

The symptoms of coronavirus—including fever, coughing, and wheezing—are similar to common cold symptoms, which makes the virus challenging to diagnose.

-- excerpt, rest at link above --

Plane carrying US evacuees from China amid coronavirus outbreak diverted to California air base
By David Aaro | Fox News

CDC expands passenger screening to 20 airports in the U.S. in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

A plane carrying about 201 U.S. citizens evacuated from Wuhan, China – the epicenter of the deadly coronavirus – landed in the U.S. on Tuesday night to refuel in Alaska before it took off for California. The plane is en route to California’s March Air Reserve Base “for the logistics that they have,” an official said.

The Boeing 747 with red and gold stripes and no passenger windows was initially headed to Ontario International Airport in California. It landed in Alaska at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on Tuesday night, was refueled and took off for California. Every passenger passed the screenings.

“The whole plane erupted in cheers when the crew said, ‘Welcome home to the United States,’" Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink said.-- excerpt, rest at link above --

Google shuts down offices in China due to coronavirus concerns
Google joins wave of shutdowns in China as coronavirus concerns mount

Google temporarily shutting down all China offices amid coronavirus outbreak

Google is closing its offices in China, including Taiwan and Hong Kong due to fears over the coronavirus outbreak.

The company confirmed to FOX Business the story first reported by Tech website The Verge Wednesday afternoon According to Google's website, the tech giant has offices in Bejing, Shenzen, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong on the mainland, as well as five offices on the island of Taiwan. The offices, which had been closed for the Lunar New Year, will remain closed for the foreseeable future.
STARBUCKS & OTHER U.S. CHAINS SHUTTERING OPERATIONS IN CHINA

Google also said its charitable arm has issued a $250,000 grant to the Chinese Red Cross to assist in relief efforts. In addition, the company has launched an internal campaign for assistance and to date has raised $500,000.-- excerpt, rest at link above --

Thousands Trapped In Italian Cruise Ship Over Feared Coronavirus Cases
Samples from a Chinese couple were sent for testing after three doctors and a nurse boarded the ship in the port of Civitavecchia to tend to a woman running a fever.
WorldAgence France-Presse Updated: January 30, 2020 06:43 pm IST

https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/coronavirus-italian-cruise-ship-put-under-lockdown-2172196

Civitavecchia, Italy:

Over 6,000 tourists were blocked on a cruise ship in Italy on Thursday after the vast liner was placed on lockdown over two suspected cases of the deadly coronavirus.

Samples from a Chinese couple were sent for testing after three doctors and a nurse boarded the Costa Crociere ship in the port of Civitavecchia to tend to a woman running a fever, the local health authorities said.

Costa Crociere confirmed the ship, carrying some 7,000 people including the crew, was in lockdown.

It said it a 54-year old woman from Macau "was placed in solitary confinement in the on-board hospital last night with her travel companion", and was following instructions from the health ministry.


-- excerpt, rest at link above --

President Trump Establishes Coronavirus Response Task Force – Headed by HHS Secretary Alex Azar…
Posted on January 30, 2020 by sundance

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/01/30/president-trump-establishes-coronavirus-response-task-force-headed-by-hhs-secretary-alex-azar/

In response to potential health risks; and anticipating multiple agency aspects of the U.S. government would need a unified approach; President Trump has assembled a unified task force to coordinate all response efforts across the totality of government.

[White House] – President Donald J. Trump announced the formation of the President’s Coronavirus Task Force. Members of the Task Force have been meeting on a daily basis since Monday. At today’s meeting, which the President chaired, he charged the Task Force with leading the United States Government response to the novel 2019 coronavirus and with keeping him apprised of developments.

The Task Force is led by Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, and is coordinated through the National Security Council. It is composed of subject matter experts from the White House and several United States Government agencies, and it includes some of the Nation’s foremost experts on infectious diseases.

The Task Force will lead the Administration’s efforts to monitor, contain, and mitigate the spread of the virus, while ensuring that the American people have the most accurate and up-to-date health and travel information.

The President’s top priority is the health and welfare of the American people. That is why, in 2018, President Trump signed the National Biodefense Strategy (https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/National-Biodefense-Strategy.pdf) , which improves speed of action in situations such as this. The Administration, led by the President’s Task Force, will continue to work to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.


-- excerpt, rest at link above --

How to protect yourself from coronavirus

Basic hygiene is the best thing you can do, according to a doctor of infectious diseases.
Amanda Capritto
January 29, 2020 9:34 AM PST

As the respiratory illness coronavirus is quickly spreading through its origin country of China, fear is spreading just as quickly over the web and through social media. With five confirmed cases of coronavirus in the US (as of Tuesday, Jan. 28), we wanted to explore how likely it is for Americans -- especially those who have not recently traveled to China -- to contract the new strain of coronavirus, 2019 Novel Coronavirus, aka 2019-nCoV.

With the help of Dr. Tom Moorcroft, an osteopathic physician focused on infectious disease, we discuss the current risk of becoming infected with coronavirus, how to protect yourself and how to stay informed.

Right now, the risk is low for Americans, Moorcroft tells CNET. "We don't want to blow it off and not be concerned," he says, "but there's no need for mass hysteria because it's such a low risk at the moment."

As of Jan. 28, there are just five confirmed cases of coronavirus in the US, in California, Washington, Illinois and Arizona.-- excerpt, rest at link above --

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Very sensible.

FTA:

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On top of basic illness prevention, Moorcroft says the best (and only real) defense against disease is a strong immune system. Your body is better able to fight off illnesses when your immune system is really humming, he explains, and everyone should put in an effort to get theirs into tip-top shape. To do so, get enough quality sleep at night, stay hydrated, minimize overly processed foods and get enough micronutrients in your diet.

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Double up on your Elderberry....

FTA:

Quote

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On top of basic illness prevention, Moorcroft says the best (and only real) defense against disease is a strong immune system. Your body is better able to fight off illnesses when your immune system is really humming, he explains, and everyone should put in an effort to get theirs into tip-top shape. To do so, get enough quality sleep at night, stay hydrated, minimize overly processed foods and get enough micronutrients in your diet.

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Double up on your Elderberry....