The Big Apple is about to get very interesting…  A dense, mostly liberal population, all bound up in close proximity, now instructed by executive order and forced mandatory compliance, to essentially shut down.  [Link to NYC Press Releases]

New York Mayor de Blasio – “Our lives are all changing in ways that were unimaginable just a week ago. We are taking a series of actions that we never would have taken otherwise in an effort to save the lives of loved ones and our neighbors.

Now it is time to take yet another drastic step. The virus can spread rapidly through the close interactions New Yorkers have in restaurants, bars and places where we sit close together. We have to break that cycle.”

Effective tomorrow, March 16, New York City schools will close.

“Tomorrow, I will sign an Executive Order limiting restaurants, bars and cafes to food take-out and delivery. Nightclubs, movie theaters, small theater houses, and concert venues must all close. The order will go into effect Tuesday, March 17 at 9:00 AM.”

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Right now, today, the retail food supply-chain is trying to recover from previous panic buying. Across the nation grocery stores are wiped out. Warehouses are emptying trying to replenish the stores. The upstream suppliers are trying to resupply the warehouses.

Supermarkets are closing early and opening late while trying to stem panic and fulfill customer demand.  Now is exactly the wrong time to limit food choices and push more people into those retail food stores.

No advance notice. No time to prepare or plan… just an immediate order.

Imagine what will happen tomorrow morning in Ohio and Illinois at grocery stores.

Notice these orders from short-sighted governors are in effect almost immediately. Meaning no-one has had the time to prepare for this type of a disruption in the total food supply chain.

These governors do not have any experience, policy framework, or previously established state-wide systems (having been tested through experience) for a process of rapid food distribution as a result of a state emergency. They are flying by the seat of their pants, and taking advice from the wrong people with the wrong priorities and the wrong frame-of-reference.

A government cannot just shut down 30 to 50 percent of the way civil society feeds themselves, without planning and advanced preparation for an alternative. Those who ARE the alternative, the retail food grocers, need time to prepare themselves (and their entire logistical system) for the incredible impact.  Without preparation this is a man-made crisis about to get a lot worse.

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The White House COVID-19 task force led by Vice President Mike Pence will be holding an update on coronavirus mitigation efforts at 5:00pm.  Livestream Links below:

UPDATE: Video Added

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Based on increasingly panicked statements from local officials, yesterday it became more likely that government officials were going to take extreme measures.

Moments ago Illinois Governor  J.B. Pritzker held a press briefing and announced the mandatory closure of all restaurants and bars across the entire state.

“I am ordering all bars and restaurants in the state of Illinois to close to the public as of the close of business, Monday night, March 16th through March 30th.

We are working with restaurant owners and food delivery services across the state to see if restaurants can safely keep their kitchens open so the restaurants can keep the food delivery to people at their homes.  Additionally, we are allowing drive-through and curbside pick-up for restaurants to serve the public through this period”… (link)

Dr. Anthony Fauci appears on Fox News to discuss the latest administration efforts to mitigate the impacts of the coronavirus.  As soon as the interview begins Fox News Chris Wallace makes a startling claim about Americans returning from abroad:

“You can see them here, in close proximity, coming back from Europe, some of them carrying the coronavirus“…

Really?   Chris Wallace criticizes the administration over every granular word assembly; yet, amid his pathological need to hype fear and panic, Wallace seemingly has no self-awareness about his own statements.  Again, more ridiculousness.

If taken at its purest presentation (and it shouldn’t be)…. If what Wallace claims is correct, doesn’t the appearance of infected people at U.S. airports by itself explain the need for the screening he is criticizing?

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Additionally, it is becoming increasingly clear Dr. Fauci has entered a psychological phase where he’s become addicted to his own sense of importance. His need to appear on all media everywhere, is now a detriment to the administration effort.

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Telling people to remain calm and simultaneously forcing people to remain in their homes would seem to be a contradiction in messaging; potentially only worsening the panic.  However, this is one of those, “well, yes it’s unconstitutional except when….” moments, that may have rather profound consequences.

The Democrat mayor of Hoboken New Jersey has announced a mandatory curfew between 10pm and 5am where all residents are not permitted to exit their residence; and all bars must close due to the coronavirus.

I don’t know if this is the first ‘mandatory’ coronavirus curfew, or even how such an effort could feasibly be enforced, but it’s likely not going to be the last:.

New Jersey – 10:45pm ET – Hoboken Mayor Ravinder Bhalla announced a citywide curfew will be in effect starting Monday. The curfew also places major restrictions on bars and restaurants.

The curfew will be in effect from 10 p.m.- 5 a.m.starting on Monday, and until further notice.  Residents will be required to stay home, except for emergencies, or if needed at work by their employer.

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After President Trump decided to take the coronavirus test, the physician to the President releases the following information:

Democrats/media react:

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Following a 10:00am meeting with President Trump and the COVID-19 task force members, Vice-President Mike Pence will be holding a press briefing at noon.

UPDATE: Video Added (Just Hit Play)

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At approximately 1:00am this morning the House of Representatives passed the Coronavirus Response Act [H.R.6201]  (House Link Here)

The final text of the bill is also embedded below.

The Bill passed: 363-Yay/40-Nay with 26-Not Voting [Vote Tally Here]

[scribd id=451664181 key=key-TpgzK792x3tz3D3azeRw mode=scroll]

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Additionally, President Trump exercised statutory authorities to declare a national emergency in response to the coronavirus.  The unprecedented action invites States, territories, and tribes to access over $42 billion in existing funding to combat the coronavirus.

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This is a bold step for the brand.  It takes very strong leadership to make a decision like this. All Apple Inc. retail stores will be closed; however, on-line distribution centers will remain open.  Workers will continue to receive their regular pay despite the closures.

(Via CNBC) Apple said it will close all of its stores outside of Greater China until March 27 to reduce the risk of the coronavirus spreading.

The iPhone maker’s online store will remain open as well as its “Apple Store” app.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company had learned lessons from the outbreak in China and that is why it is taking these steps.

“One of those lessons is that the most effective way to minimize risk of the virus’s transmission is to reduce density and maximize social distance,” Cook wrote in a blog post late on Friday. “As rates of new infections continue to grow in other places, we’re taking additional steps to protect our team members and customers.” (read more)