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Coronavirus is a huge, costly problem. About 20,000 people have died so far this month from coronavirus, including at least 900 in the United States. At least 133 Americans died of it today, March 25. Congress is now passing a $2 trillion spending bill in response to it that will triple the budget deficit and make the national debt skyrocket. But I didn’t start writing about coronavirus until a couple weeks ago, when I repeatedly called for the closure of the schools to reduce the spread of the disease and give the healthcare system time to cope. Why did I...

Democrats are publicly talking about “contingency options” for their July convention in Milwaukee in case the coronavirus persists in being a public-health threat. But privately, some are also talking about needing a Plan B if Joe Biden, their nominee apparent, continues to flounder. Some Democrats are openly talking up New York governor Andrew Cuomo, whose profile has soared during the crisis, as a Biden stand-in. Yesterday, a Draft Cuomo 2020 account on Twitter announced that “Times have changed & we need Gov. Cuomo to be the nominee. Our next POTUS must be one w/an ability to lead thru this crisis.”...

Speaking during the government’s daily press coronavirus conference, Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised the public for having responded to the call for volunteers made by health secretary Matt Hancock on Tuesday afternoon so enthusiastically. Revealing the 405,000 volunteers meant there were already as many people giving up their time to help the NHS deal with the surge in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic as the entire population of the city of Coventry, the PM outlined the types of duties those involved could expect.

MONTREAL — Canadian hockey equipment manufacturer Bauer is offering to modify its production line to make protective visors for doctors, nurses and first responders. The protective equipment to help deal with the COVID-19 pandemic would be produced at the company’s innovation centre in Blainville, Que., as well as its facility in Liverpool, NY. Bauer’s vice-president of product innovation, Dan Bourgeois, said he’s received interest about the proposal from Montreal police, firefighters and hospitals. "We say we’re a protective company … Then why aren’t we starting to (make) protection for our doctors, nurses, hospitals, and their needs?" Bourgeois said, adding the...

~ The FReeper Canteen Presents ~ ~ Remembering Our Troops!! ~ TAKE THE NIGHT Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Login Loftis fires an M240 medium machine gun as Lance Cpl. Krikland Harrington looks through a night-vision device during Integrated Training Exercise 5-16 at Marine Air-Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms CA, Aug. 18, 2016. The exercise brings together the ground, air and logistics combat elements of the Marine Corps into one unit ready to respond to global uncertainty. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Timothy Valero Canteen Mission Statement Showing support and boosting the morale ofour military and our allies' militaryand...

It’s been confirmed that an individual who tested positive for COVID-19 in Iceland has been infected by two strains of the virus simultaneously. The second strain is a mutation of the original novel coronavirus. It is thought that this could be the first recorded dual infection case of this kind. Speaking to RÚV news yesterday, deCODE CEO, Kári Stefánsson confirmed the unusual infection. It is thought the mutated second strain could be more malicious or infectious because people infected by the dual-strain patient were only found to have the second strain. If this is the case, the virus could be...

Join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP/VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE and AMERICA: Government, Family, Military, Business, Education, Churches, and the Media. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 1 JOHN 5:14 Religion Forum threads labeled "Prayer" are closed to debate of any kind.

Scientists in Iceland found 40 mutations of the coronavirus among people with the deadly bug in the country — and that seven infections came from people who attended the same soccer match in the UK, according to a report. The researchers discovered the mutations — or small changes in the genome of the virus — by analyzing swabs of COVID-19 patients in the country, where nearly 648 cases had been reported as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the Iceland outlet Information. Health authorities, along with biopharmaceutical firm deCODE Genetics, tested 9,768 people, including those who had already been diagnosed, people...

Parishioners and pilgrims to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem are being called upon to take special precautions when visiting the site, including not touching or venerating any of the sacred sites or objects within it. This appeal was made by the leaders of the Christian communities represented in the various chapels of the Holy Sepulchre: His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem of the Orthodox Church; Francesco Patton, the Custos of the Holy Land (Franciscans); and Arch. Nourhan Manougian, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem. The appeal was published on the site of the Custos of the Holy...

Eight alleged gay men have been arrested by Spanish authorities after being accused of having a cocaine-fueled orgy during the coronavirus lockdown. An invitee reportedly snitched on the homosexuals who were partying it up in violation of the mandates issued by law enforcement. The cops showed up and allegedly caught the individuals in the act. In addition to finding cocaine, the cops also reported that ecstasy, speed and crystal meth were found at the sinful shindig. The hosts reportedly invited up to 30 people to attend the orgy and thought the officers would be joining in the action when they...

A Queens Uber driver passed away from the coronavirus Tuesday morning — more than two weeks after he stopped driving to avoid contracting the deadly disease, according to his family. Anil Subba, a Nepalese immigrant in his 40s from Jackson Heights, died at 12:30 a.m. Tuesday morning at Elmhurst Hospital, his family told The Post. Subba checked into the hospital about two weeks ago, according to his cousin Munindra Nembang. He had been hooked up to a ventilator for about two days before he passed, with no contact with his wife and three children, ages 22, 20 and 11.

March 25, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Amid the dire messaging and drastic steps of world leaders to separate citizens to stem the spread of the coronavirus – including the shutting down of Catholic Masses throughout the western world – the president of Tanzania told the people of his nation, “We [don’t] close down churches.” President John Magufuli, leader of a country of 57 million people located on the east coast of Africa, is a Catholic. He spoke at St. Paul's Cathedral in the nation’s capital. “I insist upon you my fellow Christians and even [Muslims], do not be afraid, do not...

A unique way to have a choir sing in these days of social distancing. A short YouTube clip. Might want to have a tissue handy. Hot link: https://youtu.be/0MnxZ7h9Kao

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Wednesday that Democrats will press for another wave of direct payments to Americans as Congress begins weighing the next round of emergency relief in response to the coronavirus crisis. House Democrats had proposed a $1,500 cash infusion for all Americans in their stimulus bill, up to a certain income level — a $300 increase over the Senate package, which is expected to reach the president's desk in the coming days. Pelosi suggested Wednesday that neither figure is high enough, calling for another round of checks in the next wave of stimulus — the fourth since...

Iranian regime officials stole more than $1 billion in humanitarian funds meant to be used to help the country’s people fight the spread of coronavirus, according to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. European countries intended for more than $1 billion cash for medical supplies to go to the Iranian people, who have been ravaged by the virus. But American officials say regime leaders instead pocketed the money and are now using it to protect themselves from the virus as it spreads throughout the population. This includes hoarding medical supplies that were meant to aid Iranian citizens...

Hopes were high after the Senate and the White House announced they had reached a deal on a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus package for Americans affected by the Wuhan coronavirus. But those hopes fizzled out after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi threatened another delay on the vote. Then four Republican senators noticed a "massive drafting error" that would result in "a strong incentive for employees to be laid off instead of going to work." But there were more issues where those came from. Sen. Bernie Sanders saw the Republicans' threat and raised them one of his own. In his eyes, the...

Admit it, you would tune in Sunday sermons every week if this was the norm.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Five of the nation's largest banks agreed to temporarily suspend residential mortgage payments for people affected by the coronavirus, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday. The announcement came as Newsom provided yet another grim statistic about the economic devastation from the virus: 1 million Californians have filed for unemployment benefits since March 13 as businesses shut down or dramatically scaled back because of a statewide “stay-at-home” order to prevent the spread of the virus. Meantime, Newsom said California is rapidly expanding its supply of equipment for health care workers and hospital beds in anticipation of the...

YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: Retired soldiers with medical experience are being asked to volunteer to return to duty because of the COVID-19 pandemic, with emails suggesting they "re-join the team" being sent directly to former military members. Calling it a "voluntary recall," the U.S. Army "is reaching out to gauge the interest of our retired officers, noncommissioned officers and soldiers who would be willing to assist with the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic response effort should their skills and expertise be required," said the email, which was first reported by TucsonSentinel.com.--snip--

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the high-profile freshman from New York, is leaving open the option of forcing House members to return to Washington to cast a vote on the $2 trillion stimulus package barreling through Congress. The New York Democrat has expressed her frustration with reports of the stimulus deal, suggesting it's too tilted towards corporations. The deal was reached between senators from both parties -- including the senior Democratic senator from her state, Chuck Schumer, and the White House. On Wednesday, Ocasio-Cortez told CNN she is not ruling out asking for a recorded vote, which would force lawmakers to return...