Free Republic

Lurking among the jubilant americans venturing back out to bars and planning their summer-wedding travel is a different group: liberals who aren’t quite ready to let go of pandemic restrictions. For this subset, diligence against COVID-19 remains an expression of political identity—even when that means overestimating the disease’s risks or setting limits far more strict than what public-health guidelines permit. In surveys, Democrats express more worry about the pandemic than Republicans do. People who describe themselves as “very liberal” are distinctly anxious. This spring, after the vaccine rollout had started, a third of very liberal people were “very concerned” about...

Everyone undecided, or not taking this vaccine, remember this: If you are having future scheduled medical procedures done, bank some of your blood ahead of time. These mrna snippets get inside cells, that includes blood cells. Don’t forget this is another vector where you could wind up with mrna vaccine in you even though you avoided the shot, or haven't decided if you want it or not.

Pennsylvania members of the Committee to Protect Medicare said Thursday that politically-motivated attacks on Gov. Tom Wolf’s actions to control COVID-19 are a danger to their patients and all state residents. They said they are speaking out because of this week’s opinion by a federal judge which said restrictions including the state-wide state-at-home order were unconstitutional. The lawsuit was driven by Republicans who echo views similar to President Donald Trump, who pressed Wolf and other governor’s to “reopen” their states even as COVID-19 cases were rising and public health officials feared hospitals would be overwhelmed. “As physicians, we’re concerned that...

Dr. Deborah Birx said nothing of any need to “reopen” restaurants or bars or anything else in Pennsylvania sooner. She wasn’t ambiguous about face masks — she wore one herself during her appearance near Harrisburg and stressed the need for children to wear them. Rather, Birx, the coronavirus response coordinator for President Donald Trump, had much praise for Pennsylvania’s response to the pandemic. That includes restrictions on bars, restaurants and gatherings initially made in response to an early-summer COVID-19 spike in the Pittsburgh region. “I never give anyone an A, but I think they’re close to a B-plus, A-minus range,...

Pennsylvania bars and restaurants were the focus of targeted coronavirus mitigation restrictions put in place by Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration nearly a month ago, and they likely won’t be going away anytime soon. That’s because the state’s goal is to have students of all ages return to at least some in-person learning this fall, and keeping coronavirus case counts from spiking is the only way that can happen, Wolf said. The governor said at a news conference in York Thursday the restrictions on restaurants and bars have made a difference. Owners and employees in the foodservice industry, along with their...

If President Donald Trump delivers his nomination address at Gettysburg National Military Park, it could involve an outdoor crowd of no more than 250 — the state-imposed limit due to the pandemic. The Gov. Tom Wolf administration late Monday responded to the possibility of Trump coming to Gettysburg to deliver his address following his formal nomination as the Republican presidential candidate on Aug. 27. Trump announced on Twitter on Monday afternoon he is considering delivering the address at Gettysburg. He said it’s been narrowed down to two possible locations, with the White House being the other. He wrote “We will...

Channel 13 Israel reported that a doctor at Ramat Gan’s Sheba Medical Center first came down with the virus in April, according to the Times of Israel, while she tested negative for COVID-19 in May and June. Now, after reportedly coming in contact with an infected individual, she has again tested positive. While doctors have observed antibodies in many patients immediately following the disease, there is concern that they may not last long in the body, or that some patients may not naturally develop antibodies at all.

June 11, 2020 Barnabas, Apostle Dear Siblings in Christ, Care for God’s people, bear their burdens, and do not betray their confidence. So, discipline yourselves in life and teaching that you preserve the truth, giving no occasion for false security or illusory hope. Witness faithfully in word and deed to all people. Give and receive comfort as you serve within the church. And be of good courage, for God has called you, and your labor in the Lord is not in vain. I’m reminded of the words above from the service of ordination as the COVID-19 crisis continues … and...

When he announced on May 1 that masks would be worn in public places, Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker was emphatic. "We view this as common sense. This is going to be basically a way of life. No ifs, no ands, no buts, no doubts." However, doubts are showing up. First, Baker's order said to wear face coverings when in public places and unable to keep a social distance of six feet. Why'd he pick six feet? There is no research showing that six feet means anything in a public space. That six-foot idea is an arbitrary guess that was "conjured...