Archive for the ‘Rand Paul’ Category

Letter: Herd immunity isn’t solution to COVID pandemic – The Daily Freeman

Dear Editor:

Given the Trump administration's failure to implement an effective national policy against COVID-19, is its strategy actually to allow this deadly disease to spread, to create herd immunity? Rather than preventing infection and deaths until a vaccine is available?

There's always a "tell." Here, people are thinking they'll gamble with our chips.

The Washington Post reported that in a June 20 email, Dr. Paul Alexander, a Trump appointee to the Department of Health and Human Services, said, "Importantly, having the virus spread among the young and healthy is one of the methods to drive herd immunity."

Sen. Rand Paul's attempt to out-doctor Anthony Fauci in a Sept. 23 Senate hearing included his suggestion that in New York City, "they've developed enough community immunity that they're no longer having the pandemic because they have enough immunity in NYC to actually stop." Fauci refuted Paul's thesis.

HHS Secretary Alex Azar met on Oct. 5 with Trump adviser Scott Atlas and three other proponents of building herd immunity through infection spread, and later tweeted that the meeting provided "strong reinforcement" of the administration's strategy.

Publicly available information shows the costs of a strategy of immunity by infection: 1. The current US COVID-19 infection rate is estimated at a 2% to 3% national average, with some areas as high as 20%. 2. Herd immunity requires an infection rate of 65% to 70%. And 3. Several million Americans would die while we reach that level.

Modern nations, and states like New York, largely beat the virus and reopened their economies with uniform policies aimed at keeping their citizens alive while vaccines are developed. Back in modern times, the world beat smallpox and polio with mitigations and vaccination.

We did not give the administration permission to send us as cannon fodder in a suicide charge at the virus so it could "win" with little effort.

Johannes Sayre

Kingston, N.Y.

Read the original here:
Letter: Herd immunity isn't solution to COVID pandemic - The Daily Freeman

Stephen Miller has tested positive for coronavirus. Heres everyone else in the White House cluster whos tes – Vox.com

More than 20 people in and around the White House have recently tested positive for the coronavirus including President Donald Trump himself.

The president announced on Friday, October 2, after midnight that he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for the coronavirus that causes Covid-19, joining several other high-ranking US government officials who have contracted SARS-CoV-2. Trump went to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, on Friday evening to undergo treatment. He was discharged on Monday, October 5.

On Tuesday, Stephen Miller, a top Trump adviser, reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus. His case was just the latest revealed among top White House officials. Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany tested positive on Monday for the coronavirus; four of her aides reportedly also have tested positive. McEnany like others in the White House cluster failed to immediately quarantine after Trumps diagnosis, and she appeared in front of reporters without a mask in the following days.

McEnany and other Republican officials attended a White House event on September 26 honoring the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. GOP Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina announced after Trumps diagnosis that they had tested positive; both were at the event, which took place indoors and outdoors. Several other people, including former senior White House counselor Kellyanne Conway and Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien, also tested positive after attending the event.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, another attendee, announced that he tested positive and checked into a hospital.

Barrett, for her part, was diagnosed with Covid-19 over the summer but has recovered. It is unknown whether she now carries immunity.

But its not just the one event. On Saturday, October 3, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) announced he had tested positive. Johnson was not at the Barrett event, but he did attend a lunch with other Republican senators last week.

Beyond the relatively well-known senators, members of the press, and White House officials who have tested positive, less well-known government staff members and security officers have been infected with the coronavirus in recent days. A number of such cases have been confirmed, including McEnanys deputies, Trump aide Nicholas Luna, and military officials assigned to the White House. Vice Commandant Charles Ray of the Coast Guard tested positive on Monday, and other military leaders entered quarantine.

The White House, in other words, is now a Covid-19 hot spot. And the administration appears to be doing little to trace the outbreak, creating concern that the White House will become a source of community spread. At least one likely secondary infection has been reported: New York Times journalist Michael Shear, who traveled with the president the evening after the Barrett event and tested positive shortly after, said his wife tested positive following his diagnosis.

While its not clear how the president was exposed, Trump was in regular contact last week with senior counselor Hope Hicks, whose positive coronavirus test was revealed on Thursday, October 1. Hicks had traveled with Trump multiple times last week, including to the September 29 presidential debate in Cleveland, Ohio.

Over the summer, Republican Sens. Rand Paul and Bill Cassidy were diagnosed with Covid-19 but have successfully recovered. The virus has also infected at least 14 House members nine Republicans and five Democrats since March. But this is the first time the virus, which has killed more than 210,000 Americans, has spread in such a concentrated manner among White House officials, staffers, and members of the press corps.

As of Tuesday, Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen have both tested negative, as have Democratic nominee Joe Biden and his wife Jill. Some other Trump administration officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, tested negative as well.

Trump and his staff have been traveling to campaign events for several weeks. Just in the past week, the president has held rallies in Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota, in addition to the September 29 debate in Ohio. Eleven people tested positive for the coronavirus in cases traced to pre-debate planning and set-up, according to the Cleveland mayors office.

One way to mitigate the White House outbreak would be to undergo a major contact tracing operation, though the Trump administration has made few efforts on that front so far. As Voxs Dylan Scott explained, the only way to figure out the full extent of the outbreak is contact tracing: identifying who has been in close contact with the president since he became contagious, and asking them to quarantine to prevent Covid-19 from spreading to others, and to get tested themselves.

The Trump campaign announced in a statement Friday that he and his family are suspending in-person events. Pences campaign travel will continue, and he plans to participate in the vice presidential debate against Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris on Wednesday.

Heres what we know about who has tested positive and negative for SARS-CoV-2 so far.

This list includes people who attended the September 26 Barrett event and/or have had close recent contact with the White House.

Crede Bailey, the head of the White House security office, has been hospitalized with Covid-19 since September, according to Bloomberg. He reportedly became sick before the Amy Coney Barrett event.

Two housekeeping staff members at the White House tested positive roughly three weeks ago, according to the New York Times.

Vice Commandant Ray, Sen. Johnson, and Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel have also recently tested positive. Johnson and McDaniel were not at the Barrett event, but McDaniel had contact with Trump in the days before it.

Given the level of uncertainty created by this news, Vox has compiled a list of key administration figures who help run the country, key lawmakers who have been in contact with the president, and key Democrats in the 2020 election cycle who have recently gotten negative test results for the virus.

While it could take several days for an individual who has contracted the virus to test positive, these are the initial negative tests. Heres a partial list so far:

Will you help keep Vox free for all?

The United States is in the middle of one of the most consequential presidential elections of our lifetimes. Its essential that all Americans are able to access clear, concise information on what the outcome of the election could mean for their lives, and the lives of their families and communities. That is our mission at Vox. But our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources. Even when the economy and the news advertising market recovers, your support will be a critical part of sustaining our resource-intensive work. If you have already contributed, thank you. If you havent, please consider helping everyone understand this presidential election: Contribute today from as little as $3.

See the original post here:
Stephen Miller has tested positive for coronavirus. Heres everyone else in the White House cluster whos tes - Vox.com

Trump claims he has a ‘protective glow’ – Queensland Times

US President Donald Trump's doctor has announced he is no longer considered a risk of infecting other people with the novel coronavirus, and the President has claimed he is now "immune" and has a "protective glow".

Mr Trump's doctor Sean Conley released a memo on Sunday clearing him.

"By currently recognised standards, he is no longer considered a transmission risk to others," Dr Conley said.

"Now at day 10 from symptom onset, fever-free for well over 24 hours and all symptoms improved, the assortment of advanced diagnostic tests obtained reveal there is no longer evidence of actively replicating virus," he added.

RELATED: Trump's hand raises eyebrows in speech

RELATED: 'Coward': Fury at Biden's latest non-answer

RELATED: Trump holding event despite diagnosis

The White House first announced he had been diagnosed with COVID-19 on October 1.

Mr Trump was ready to declare victory over the virus on Monday morning (AEDT) as he returned to Fox News for an interview with Maria Bartiromo, days after he called in and spoke to her on the network for almost an hour last week.

"The note which says you are no longer considered a transmission risk, does this suggest you no longer have COVID Sir?" Ms Bartiromo asked.

"Yes, and not only that it seems like I'm immune," Mr Trump said.

He said he could be "immune" for "maybe a long time, maybe a short time, it could be a lifetime, no body really knows but I'm immune," Mr Trump claimed.

"The President is in very good shape to fight the battles," he added.

"I have to tell you, I feel fantastically. I really feel good. And I even feel good by the fact that, you know, the word immunity means something - having really a protective glow means something," Mr Trump said.

US Senator for Kentucky Rand Paul, a staunch libertarian, said early Monday morning that he'd spoken to the President and that he "sounds great".

Mr Paul added that Mr Trump was also "ending the war in Afghanistan" and wants "a stop to our endless wars", with a desire for troops to be home "by Christmas".

The US is preparing to vote for either the re-election of Donald Trump or the installation of Joe Biden on November 3.

More than 214,000 deaths have been contributed to COVID-10 in the US.

Originally published as Trump claims he has a 'protective glow'

Link:
Trump claims he has a 'protective glow' - Queensland Times

Economist Moore claims he had a ‘similar’ experience to Rand Paul following Trump convention speech – The Hill

Economist Stephen MooreStephen MooreSunday shows - Leaked audio of Trump's sister reverberates Economist Moore predicts 'exuberance' in financial markets if coronavirus cases decline, schools reopen Moore says private US companies are resilient amid the pandemic MORE said Sunday that he experienced a similar situation to Sen. Rand PaulRandal (Rand) Howard PaulTrump decries DC protesters as 'thugs' Trump returns to campaign trail in preview of final sprint Sen. Rand Paul says he and his wife were 'attacked by an angry mob' after Trump speech MORE (R-Ky.) while leaving the Republican National Convention Thursday night.

While a good portion of the RNC was virtual, several speeches, including President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump to visit Kenosha on Tuesday amid unrest Warner calls Intelligence chief's decision to scale down congressional election security briefings 'outrageous' Katyusha rocket lands in Baghdad 'Green Zone': report MORE's closing speech, was given to a crowd on the grounds of the White House.

Outside of the White House, protestors held demonstrations expressing their discontent with Trump as president and outrage over Kenosha, Wis., police shooting Jacob Blake, a Black man, in the back seven times at close range in front of his three children on Sunday afternoon.

The conservative senator tweeted early Friday morning that he and his wife were attacked by an "angry mob" as they were leaving the White House.

Just got attacked by an angry mob of over 100, one block away from the White House. Thank you to @DCPoliceDept for literally saving our lives from a crazed mob.

Video of the incidentdoes show D.C. police escorting Paul and his wife away from the White House as protesters heckled and jeered at him.

D.C. police officers had to escort @RandPaul to the Hotel Washington as dozens of demonstrators followed and jeered him. At least one person is being treated by protest medics for what appears to be an OC spray injury. pic.twitter.com/fOrKQ2C29D

When I walked out of the [White House] the security guard said, Be careful out there. I didnt know what he meant," Mooretold radio host John Catsimatidis on WABC 770AM. I went about three or four blocks from the White House ... and I walked right into a Black Lives Matter rally. And it was very similar to the experience Rand Paul had."

Moore, who has advised the Trump White House on economic policy, added: "There were many, many [convention attendees] who were being harassed. It was a very dangerous situation. They started screaming lewd and vile things at me."

John Catsimatidis is an investor in The Hill.

See the original post here:
Economist Moore claims he had a 'similar' experience to Rand Paul following Trump convention speech - The Hill

Video: Rand Paul says he was attacked by an angry mob on D.C. street – The Mercury News

  1. Video: Rand Paul says he was attacked by an angry mob on D.C. street  The Mercury News
  2. Rand Paul thanks police after videos show crowd surrounding him near White House  CNN
  3. Amid Peaceful Protest, Crowd Surrounds Rand Paul After Trump Speech  NPR
  4. Rand Paul Says Crazed Mob Attacked Him By White House, But Videos Raise Questions  Forbes
  5. Sen. Rand Paul says he was 'attacked by an angry mob' after leaving White House  ABC News
  6. View Full Coverage on Google News

Visit link:
Video: Rand Paul says he was attacked by an angry mob on D.C. street - The Mercury News