Monthly Archives: April 2020

National Situation Update- 4/19/2020

WEEKLY THREAT AND ALERT ROUNDUP


New Whitehouse Guidelines to Reopen America

New White House Guidelines to Reopen America


April 18, 2020


  

Between April 14-17, the following related Flash SMS
messages were sent to
AlertsUSA subscriber mobile devices:

4/17 – VPOTUS: All 50 states and all territories are now under a federal disaster declaration for the first time in American history.

4/16 – Guidelines for Opening Up American Again: Note that “Use of face coverings while in public” is in the guidance for all phases.
4/16 – White House releases Guidelines for Opening Up America Again, incl proposed gating criteria, state resp, guidelines for individuals & employers, etc. See email.

4/16 – Governors of IL, IN, KY, MI, MN, OH & WI form partnership to reopen the economy in the Midwest region while maximizing health and safety. More via email.

4/15 – Sec of Agriculture Perdue: Bare shelves in grocery stores are “a demand issue, not a supply issue. In the U.S. we have plenty of food for all of our citizens.”

4/14 – POTUS halts all funding of World Health Organization as USGOV investigates their recent failed response to the COVID-19 coronavirus.

What You Need To Know

This week President Trump announced a three-phase road map to reopening the country’s economy and for the states to begin lifting restrictions on businesses and social gatherings. These guidelines explicitly leave the time table for opening up their states to the governors.

Before the phases can be initiated, states must meet a series of “gating criteria” including a downward trajectory of confirmed cases, as well as a decreasing number of cases of patients with Covid-19 symptoms over a 14-day period.

During phase one, vulnerable populations continue to shelter at home, outside the home social distancing is still practiced and gathering in groups of more than ten people is not allowed. Schools remain closed but restaurants and other gathering places can operate only while enforcing strict physical distancing protocols.

In phase two, gatherings of more than 50 people are discouraged, but non-essential travel can resume. Schools can reopen and large venues including restaurants can operate with only moderate physical distancing.

Phase three represents a return to what is being called the “new normal” – going about normal life with a focus on good hygiene, hand-washing and keeping as much space as possible between people when outside the home and with everyone avoiding crowds wherever possible.

It is important to note that in each of these phases, the guidelines call for the wearing of masks while in public. And for the doubters, yes, they do work.

1.) They offer protection for you by reducing the possibility of inhalation of infectious aerosols.

2.) They offer protection for others by reducing the possibility of YOU spreading infectious aerosols. Remember, one can be infected with the virus and be completely asymptomatic, while still being wildly infectious.

View the guidelines HERE

Download the guidelines HERE (PDF)


O

FFICIAL CASE NUMBERS

World Health Organization
Centers for Disease Control (U.S.)
Johns Hopkins CSSE (Interactive map updated multiple times daily)

Johns Hopkins CSSE COVID-19 Case Count (Interactive map updated multiple times daily) - ALLOW IMAGES

Johns Hopkins CSSE COVID-19 U.S. Case Count Graph - ALLOW IMAGES


WHO RISK OF SPREAD & IMPACT ASSESSMENT

China Very High
Regional Level Very High
Global Level Very High


PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE RESOURCES


White House

The President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America (PDF)


Official Coronavirus Information Pages:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Food and Drug Administration
Public Health Agency of Canada
Infection Prevention and Control Canada
World Health Organization

Official Pandemic Preparedness Guidance:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Department of Homeland Security / Ready.Gov
World Health Organization

DIY CLOTH MASK RESOURCES

Don’t buy the masks online. At the present time, most retail masks are made in China anyhow. Make it at home.

CDC Homemade Cloth Face Coverings
Instructables DIY Cloth Face Mask
NYT How to Sew a Face Mask
The Olson Mask Pattern


Assorted Resources

(While some of the resources below were prepared for pandemic influenza, the broader guidance contain therein is directly applicable to the current coronavirus crisis).


Home Care for Patients w/ Suspected Coronavirus Infection
Community Mitigation Guidelines to Prevent Pandemic Influenza
Fundamentals of Emergency Planning for Schools
Healthcare Systems Preparedness for COVID-19
Pub Health Guidance for Community-Level Preparedness & Response (SARS)
Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist
Faith-based & Community Org. Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Checklist
WHO Checklist for Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Planning
Get Your Workplace Ready for Pandemic Flu
Dept of Defense Coronavirus Response Page
DHS Supplemental Instructions For Inbound Flights


View Last Week’s Issue


AlertsUSA continues to monitor the domestic and international threat environment around the clock and will immediately notify service subscribers, via SMS messages to their mobile devices, of new alerts, warnings and advisories or any developments which signal a change the overall threat picture for American citizens as events warrant.


AlertsUSA.com

OTHER SMS ALERTS FROM THIS WEEK
NOT DETAILED IN THIS NEWSLETTER ISSUE

3/31 – Shallow M6.5 earthquake in Southern Idaho, 72km W of Challis. AlertsUSA monitoring for damage reports.

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* Threat Info Direct to Your Mobile Device
* Get Away Early, Give Your Family Extra Safety.
* In Wide Use By Gov, 1st Responders, Travelers.
* 24/7/365 Monitoring. No Hype. Just the Bad Stuff.
* Issued Hours and Days before the MSM.
* On your Cell Phone, Tablet or Email.
* We Give The Clear Truth, Unlike the MSM.
* 18 Years in Operation!

We are NOT part of the government.
In fact, they are our customers!


Server Farm

Feds Warn of N. Korea Cyber Threat
to Critical Infrastructure


On April 15, the following related Flash SMS message
was sent to
AlertsUSA subscriber mobile devices:

4/15 – State Dept, Treasury, DHS & FBI issue advisory highlighting disruptive / destructive cyber activities of DPRK affecting US critical infrastructure.


What You Need To Know

On Wednesday, AlertsUSA subscribers were notified of a joint advisory issued by the State Dept, Treasury, DHS & FBI highlighting the disruptive and destructive cyber activities of North Korea affecting US critical infrastructure. North Korea’s malicious cyber activities threaten the United States and the broader international community and, in particular, pose a significant threat to the integrity and stability of the international financial system.

Under the pressure of robust U.S. and UN sanctions, North Korea has increasingly relied on illicit activities – including cybercrime – to generate revenue for its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. These activities include a wide range of malware tools, Cyber-Enabled Financial Theft and Money Laundering, Extortion Campaigns through compromising an entity’s network and threatening to shut it down unless the entity pays a ransom, as well as cryptojacking, which is a scheme to compromise a victim’s machine and steal its computing resources to mine digital currency.

Download the full advisory HERE (PDF – Dept. of Treasury website)



Medical staff stand by at the ready to recieve incoming patients at an outdoor triage center.


We Are Probably Only One-Tenth of
the Way Through This Pandemic


Getting out of the lockdown — and out of your shelter-in-place bunker — is not the beginning of the end of the pandemic. It is only the end of the beginning — the very brief beginning of what seems likely to be an epically long saga of disease, fear, and uncertainty.

~ READ MORE HERE ~


Even Expected Pandemics Are Problematic.
Still, We Can Learn From Them

Generals are often accused of “fighting the last war,” meaning they prepare for wars similar to ones most recently fought, rather than preparing for a different type of warfare that the future will bring. The next security challenge America faces will likely take a still different form. Working together, Congress, states and administration will need to effectively address the deficiencies uncovered in this emergency while being careful not to undermine other areas of national security.

~ READ MORE HERE ~


How WHO Parroted Chinese Lies as
Coronavirus Pandemic Unfolded

The World Heath Organization has found itself with serious questions to answer after President Trump accused the UN agency of ‘severely mismanaging’ its response to the coronavirus pandemic and withheld $500million in funding.

The WHO has been spearheading global efforts to fight the virus, but has come under attack for playing along with China as the country sought to minimize its initial outbreak and the threat the disease posed.

~ READ MORE HERE ~


China’s Aircraft Carriers: Bark or Bite?

China currently has two carriers and a third in the shipyard, with a fourth planned. But what is the Chinese aircraft carrier program like?

~ READ MORE HERE ~



Fleet and Marine Tracker Map as of April 13, 2020  - ALLOW IMAGE8

USNI Fleet and Marine Tracker



These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of April 13th, 2020 based on Navy, public data provided by the U.S. Naval Institute, and open source reporting. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship.


Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Micah Callwood signals an Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey to land during flight operations aboard the USS America in the Philippine Sea, April 14, 2020.

World News Roundup


AMERICAS

Canada to keep border restrictions with U.S. for a ‘significant’ time
World Marks 100 Days Since The Iranian Downing Of Ukraine Int’l Flight 752
Canada, Ukraine reject report Iran seeking legal immunity for fatal plane crash
U.N. warns downturn could kill hundreds of thousands of children in 2020
COVID-19 to have ‘immediate and drastic’ impact on Canadian meat supply
USS Theodore Roosevelt Outbreak Is Linked to Flight Crews, Not Vietnam Visit
PRC, Russian Subs May Soon Face UUV-Launched US Sea Mines
HIV-Discoverer Says COVID-19 “Could Only Have Been Created In A Lab”
Police collect nearly 800 bodies from Ecuador’s virus epicentre
Warnings as Nicaragua continues life as normal
U.S. offers $10 million reward for Hezbollah’s commander in Iraq
How the coronavirus is reshaping terrorists’ attack plans

EUROPE

A third of French aircraft carrier crew have Covid-19, says defence ministry
US sailors aboard French aircraft carrier have tested positive for the virus
Russia’s Coronavirus Outbreak Is ‘Changing for the Worse,’ Putin Warns
Russian Covid-19 cases exceed 21,000, Putin warns of ‘extraordinary crisis’
Russian Veterans Urge Putin to Postpone WWII Parade Over Virus
Russia tests anti-satellite missile, US general says
Russian jet buzzes Navy P-8 Poseidon within 25 feet, intercept lasts 42 minutes
Russia says it’s ready for hypersonic missile talks with U.S.
Italy’s Covid-19 death toll tops 20,000
Hundreds of thousands return to work as Spain relaxes coronavirus lockdown
UK to remain in lockdown as coronavirus deaths rise above 11,000
Promising ‘better days,’ Macron extends France’s lockdown until May 11
Huawei urges UK not to make 5G U-turn after pandemic
Trump halts US funding for WHO as it conducts coronavirus review
WHO chief says he ‘regrets’ Trump’s decision to suspend funding

MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA

Iranian boats come ‘dangerously’ close to US navy warships
American F-35s overfly Special Operations bases in Syria
US Flexes Military Might Near Russian Forces In Syria
Armed men board vessel in Gulf of Oman
U.S. oil sanctions against Iran are unjust: Rouhani
Iran records 4,585 coronavirus deaths as restrictions eased
Turkish parliament passes bill to release thousands from prison amid COVID-19
Yemen ‘faces nightmare’ as first coronavirus case confirmed
COVID-19: 4 health officials sacked in Saudi Arabia
Libyan coronavirus hospital closes amid attacks
Second wave of locusts in east Africa said to be 20 times worse
Ebola deaths in Congo halt plan to declare virus eradicated

ASIA

Possible Chinese nuclear testing stirs US concern
DPRK fires barrage of missiles on eve of founder’s birthday, ROK’s elections
On N. Korea’s most important holiday, Kim Jong Un was nowhere to be seen
Chinese Communist Party didn’t warn public for 6 KEY DAYS
IMF: Pandemic to bring Asia’s 2020 growth to halt for first time in 60 years
A few reasons why China’s navy gloating is badly misplaced
China’s claim of zero coronavirus infections in military is bogus, expert says
China Gleeful That 4 US Carriers Hampered By COVID-19
China expects no large-scale foreign investment withdrawal amid outbreak
China’s Export Restrictions Delaying Medical Supply Shipments To U.S.
It’s Not Just the WHO: How China Is Moving on the Whole U.N.
China tries reviving economy after lockdown but consumer engine sputters
Kazakhstan Protests Over Chinese Article Questioning Its Territorial Integrity



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Travel Security

Department of State Seal - ALLOW IMAGES

The U.S. Dept. of State Travel Website is the authoritative federal source for information on the security situation at travel destinations worldwide. With tensions rapidly increasing in most regions, readers planning international travel, even to such common destinations as Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean Islands, are strongly encouraged to do a little research on the security situation at your destination well prior to departure.


Active USGOV Travel Notices

Worldwide Caution


Active USGOV Travel Advisories

Alphabetical Country List

Dynamic Map


Other USGOV Travel Resources

Traveler’s Checklist

Smart Traveler Enrollment Prog (STEP)

Travelers with Special Considerations

Travel to High-Risk Areas

Faith-Based Travel Information

Information for Women Travelers

Cruise Ship Passengers

Students Abroad

Your Health Abroad

Driving and Road Safety Abroad


Overseas Security Advisory Council Logo - ALLOW IMAGES

The Department of State’s Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) provides a variety of resources to enhance the safety and security of the U.S. private sector businesses and organizations operating abroad.

CDC Logo - ALLOW IMAGES

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website is the authoritative federal source for information on current health issues related to specific destinations worldwide. These issues may arise from disease outbreaks, special events or gatherings, natural disasters, or other conditions that may affect travelers’ health.

Foreign Sources of Travel Guidance

Canadian Flag - ALLOW IMAGES

Global Affairs Canada


Australian Flag - ALLOW IMAGES

Australia Dept. of Foreign Affairs


UK Flag - ALLOW IMAGES

UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office


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Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.



Via: threatjournal

Welcome to your new Freedoms: “Shoot them dead”

In the words of Rahm Emanuel, former Chief of Staff to Barack Obama, “never let a good crisis go to waste.”

Emanuel first said this during the 2008/2009 financial crisis… meaning that politicians can use a crisis as an opportunity to push through radical ideas that would otherwise never be accepted.

Late last month, Emanuel uttered the same words on ABC News This Week, admonishing politicians to not let this crisis go to waste either… and use it as a springboard to pass sweeping policy changes while people are too terrified to care.

And at this point in the pandemic it’s pretty clear that plenty of governments are absolutely not letting this crisis go to waste. Here’s a roundup of what’s happening around the world:

Philippines: “Shoot them dead”

In 2016 the President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, was elected on a “tough on crime” platform.

He wanted to bring back hangings for criminals convicted of murder and rape.

After being elected, Duterte said that drug traffickers, drug dealers, and even drug users should be shot dead in the street.

Other government officials insisted Duterte was exaggerating, just using theatrics to get his point across.

But sure enough, thousands of alleged drug dealers and users have been killed since 2016. Some were killed by police, and others by vigilantes.

Now the Philippines, like most of the world, is on lockdown to try to prevent the spread of CoronaVirus.

And in Duterte’s own words, “if there is any trouble” enforcing the lockdown, or people who ignore the rules, police should “shoot them dead.”

Hong Kong: GPS trackers

Hong Kong’s government (which at this point is basically an extension of mainland China) is forcing some people to wear bulky GPS trackers on their wrists.

This is happening at a time when Hong Kong is experiencing its second wave of Covid outbreaks. So the government started requiring new arrivals to strap on a wristband in order to ‘geofence’ people into their quarantine areas.

Once you arrive to your destination (your hotel, apartment, etc.) you have one minute to walk around so that the GPS tracker can map out the perimeter. And if you leave the area, the authorities are immediately alerted.

Violators face up to six months in prison and fines up to USD $3,200.

This is probably going to become the standard in the West, and I’ve been told by a source in Hong Kong that the World Health Organization is trialing these bracelets for release in western countries.

Poland: Mandatory selfie photos

Poland’s government developed a special app where users are forced to upload selfie photos to prove that they are inside and not violating the lockdown.

It’s called the “Home Quarantine” app, and it’s required for people returning to Poland from abroad who must self-quarantine for 14 days.

When the app requests a photo, users have twenty minutes to upload a selfie from inside their home, or the police come knocking.

Russia: 100,000 cameras with facial recognition across Moscow

After Russia’s Duma (parliament) voted in early March to allow Vladimir Putin to defy constitutional term limits and continue to seek re-election as President, the government has now deployed a network of 100,000 cameras with facial recognition in the streets of Moscow to track individuals who are supposed to be in quarantine.

Violations in Russia can carry severe penalties, up to seven years in prison.

Furthermore, even spreading what the government deems as ‘fake news’ about Covid-19 could result in up to five years in prison.

India: Flights and trains suspended, supply chain breaks down

India’s government ordered its population to quarantine last month… and then shut down the country’s primary transportation systems.

The government suspended both domestic flights and train travel, apparently not realizing that millions of people would be stranded and unable to return home to self-quarantine.

Unsurprisingly, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that supply chains in India have also started to break down, causing shortages of certain foods.

Singapore: tracking everyone else you meet

Singapore’s government is using bluetooth and GPS data from its citizens mobile phones to map who everyone comes into contact with. They at least have announced that they will publish the source code of the tracking app.

Land of the Free: Ankle bracelets on, medical privacy off

The Commonwealth of Kentucky has begun ordering house-arrest ankle bracelets for some citizens who they deem susceptible to violate curfew.

Massachusetts, Alabama, and Florida have abandoned medical privacy laws, and officials are now informing the police and paramedics which homes have a resident who tested positive for Coronavirus.

South Africa: Bride and Groom arrested at their own wedding

A wedding that took place despite a nationwide ban on public gatherings in the South African state of KwaZulu Natal was broken up by police last weekend.

All 50 guests, plus the minister performing the service, and the bride and groom, were arrested and hauled off to jail.

Understandably, I imagine many readers might think, “Well that was stupid and a little bit selfish to hold a public gathering at a time like this.”

I agree. But it’s hard to ignore the fact that basic freedoms: freedom of assembly, freedom of worship, freedom of speech, privacy, etc. have gone out the window, all over the world.

Laws and constitutions everywhere are being violated. And while most of the discussion about this pandemic is ‘when will the public health emergency subside,’ and ‘when will the economy go back to normal,’ there’s hardly any discussion about “When will our freedoms be restored?”

It’s hard to imagine they’re going to stop the GPS tracking, the facial recognition, the criminal ‘fake news’ penalties, and the countless other ‘emergency measures’ anytime soon.

Think about it– 9/11 was nearly two decades ago and we’re still dealing with the freedom-eroding consequences of that event.

So we have to be honest with ourselves about this pandemic– the longer these freedoms are restricted, the more unlikely they’ll ever be restored.

To your freedom.

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

 

 

Via: threatjournal

 

Via: SovereignMan.com

National Situation Update- 4/5/2020

WEEKLY THREAT AND ALERT ROUNDUP


CDC recommends the use of cloth face coverings, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. - ALLOW IMAGES

CDC: Everyone Should Wear Face Masks In Public


April 4, 2020

Between March 28 – April 3, the following related Flash SMS
messages were sent to
AlertsUSA subscriber mobile devices:

4/3 – POTUS: CDC recommending all Americans wear basic cloth mask to slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. This is voluntary, but recommended.

4/2 – NY Mayor tells city residents they should wear homemade face coverings in public to help prevent further spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

4/1 – POTUS: US launching enhanced counter-narcotics ops in the Western Hemisphere. Add’l ships & aircraft being deployed to E. Pacific and Caribbean.

4/1 – USNORTHCOM Cmdr. Gen O’Shaughnessy: DoD to incr mil presence on US/MX border to protect nation from poss COVID-19 migrants. Hundreds of troops to deploy soon.

4/1 – FL Gov. DeSantis to issue 30-day stay-at-home order for state’s ~21 million residents unless they are pursuing “essential services or activities.”

3/31 – POTUS: “Absolutely critical to follow the guidelines for the next 30 days. It’s a matter of life and death.” “This is going to be a rough two-week period.”

3/30 – VA Gov. issues stay-at-home order for the state. MD Gov. issues stay-at-home order for the state. PA Gov. closes all schools indefinitely.

3/29 – TX Gov orders mandatory 14-day quarantine for arrivals, by air or land, from LA, NY, NJ & CT. Trip details & contact info collected, to be enforced by TX DPS.

3/29 – FL Gov. orders checkpoints at state borders to stop drivers coming from COVID-19 hot spots. Trip details & contact info collected, quarantine orders given.

3/28 – The CDC urges residents of NY, NJ, and CT to refrain from non-essential domestic travel for 14 days effective immediately. More via email.

3/28 – Speaking to reporters minutes ago, POTUS says considering imposing a quarantine for COVID-19 hot spots such as NY, extending to NJ & CT. AlertsUSA monitoring..

What You Need To Know

On 12 occasions this week AlertsUSA subscribers were notified via SMS messages to their mobile devices regarding safety and security matters. 11 these alerts dealt with the worsening domestic and international public health crisis caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus.


DOMESTIC TRAVEL ADVISORY


Beginning last Saturday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Domestic Travel Advisory for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, urging residents of these three state to refrain from non-essential domestic travel for 14 days. While the CDC does not generally issue advisories or restrictions for travel within the United States, cases of coronavirus disease are widespread in each of these states, and in crowded travel settings, there may be an increased chance or getting or spreading COVID-19, particularly as it is possible to be shedding the virus while being completely asymptomatic.


FLORIDA HIGHWAY CHECKPOINTS


Last week, Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-80 in response to a growing number of individuals fleeing these states, arriving in Florida and exposing residents to the disease. The action mandates individuals arriving in Florida from these states must isolate or quarantine for a period of 14 days from when they arrive, or for their entire stay if shorter than 14 days.

This week, DeSantis issued a new Executive Order extending the quarantine requirement to motorists arriving in Florida from areas with significant community spread (LA, NY, NJ, CT, etc..), and to require those persons to provide information, including in a written form, regarding the origin of their travel and the address of their location of isolation or quarantine for a period of 14 days. Failure to complete the form and failure to follow isolation or quarantine orders from the Dept. of Health are considered a violation of Florida law.


TEXAS HIGHWAY CHECKPOINTS


On Sunday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an Executive Order mandating a 14-day quarantine for road travelers arriving in Texas from any location in Louisiana. The self-quarantine procedure will mirror the process outlined in the Governor’s previous Executive Order requiring mandatory self-quarantine for air travelers from the New York Tri-State Area and New Orleans.

These quarantine orders for both Florida and Texas do not apply to travel related to commercial activity, military service, emergency response, health response, or critical infrastructure functions.


ANOTHER 30 DAYS


Also on Sunday, President Donald Trump extended the voluntary national shutdown for another 30 days as sickness and death from the coronavirus pandemic continue to rise in the U.S


ROUGH TWO-WEEK PERIOD


On Tuesday afternoon during the daily Coronavirus Task Force briefing, President Trump warned the nation to brace for a “rough two-week period” ahead as new projections indicate there could be 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the U.S. from the coronavirus pandemic even if current social distancing guidelines are maintained. Public health officials stress that the number could be less if people change their behavior. According to Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the Coronavirus Task Force, “We really believe we can do a lot better than that” if all Americans take seriously their role in preventing the spread of disease.


TROOPS TO THE BORDER


On Wednesday, AlertsUSA subscribers were notified of an announcement by Gen. Terrance O’Shaughnessy, the commander of U.S. Northern Command, that the Dept. of Defense would be increasing the military presence on US/Mexico border to protect nation from possible COVID-19 migrants. Lt. Gen. Laura Richardson, the commander of U.S. Army North, said the additional 540 U.S. troops would help Border Patrol with newly granted authorities to apprehend and immediately return migrants potentially infected with COVID-19.


CDC RECOMMENDS MASKS


And on Friday, President Trump announced a new CDC recommendation that all Americans wear basic cloth masks, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission of the coronavirus. According to the CDC, recent studies show that a portion of individuals with coronavirus are “asymptomatic,” or not showing any symptoms, but can still transmit the virus to others. This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity, including just speaking, even though no one might be exhibiting symptoms at that time.

In light of this new evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain such as in grocery stores and pharmacies, and especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. For clarity, this is a voluntary public health measure, and is intended to compliment, and not replace, the President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America, which remains the cornerstone of the national effort to slow the spread of the disease.


DIY CLOTH MASK RESOURCES


Don’t buy the masks online. Most are made in China anyhow.


Make it at home.

CDC Homemade Cloth Face Coverings
Instructables DIY Cloth Face Mask
NYT How to Sew a Face Mask
The Olson Mask Pattern



OFFICIAL CASE NUMBERS

World Health Organization
Centers for Disease Control (U.S.)
Johns Hopkins CSSE (Interactive map updated multiple times daily)

Johns Hopkins CSSE COVID-19 Case Count (Interactive map updated multiple times daily) - ALLOW IMAGES

Johns Hopkins CSSE COVID-19 U.S. Case Count Graph - ALLOW IMAGES

WHO RISK OF SPREAD & IMPACT ASSESSMENT


China Very High
Regional Level Very High
Global Level Very High


PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE RESOURCES


White House

The President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America (PDF)


Official Coronavirus Information Pages:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Food and Drug Administration
Public Health Agency of Canada
Infection Prevention and Control Canada
World Health Organization


Official Pandemic Preparedness Guidance:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Department of Homeland Security / Ready.Gov
World Health Organization


Assorted Resources

(While some of the resources below were prepared for pandemic influenza, the broader guidance contain therein is directly applicable to the current coronavirus crisis).

Home Care for Patients w/ Suspected Coronavirus Infection
Community Mitigation Guidelines to Prevent Pandemic Influenza
Fundamentals of Emergency Planning for Schools
Healthcare Systems Preparedness for COVID-19
Pub Health Guidance for Community-Level Preparedness & Response (SARS)
Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist
Faith-based & Community Org. Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Checklist
WHO Checklist for Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Planning
Get Your Workplace Ready for Pandemic Flu
Dept of Defense Coronavirus Response Page
DHS Supplemental Instructions For Inbound Flights



View Last Week’s Issue



AlertsUSA continues to monitor the domestic and international threat environment around the clock and will immediately notify service subscribers, via SMS messages to their mobile devices, of new alerts, warnings and advisories or any developments which signal a change the overall threat picture for American citizens as events warrant.



AlertsUSA.com

OTHER SMS ALERTS FROM THIS WEEK
NOT DETAILED IN THIS NEWSLETTER ISSUE

3/31 – Shallow M6.5 earthquake in Southern Idaho, 72km W of Challis. AlertsUSA monitoring for damage reports.

AlertsUSA Service for Mobile Devices Ad - ALLOW IMAGES

* Threat Info Direct to Your Mobile Device
* Get Away Early, Give Your Family Extra Safety.
* In Wide Use By Gov, 1st Responders, Travelers.
* 24/7/365 Monitoring. No Hype. Just the Bad Stuff.
* Issued Hours and Days before the MSM.
* On your Cell Phone, Tablet or Email.
* We Give The Clear Truth, Unlike the MSM.
* 18 Years in Operation!

We are NOT part of the government.
In fact, they are our customers!



Communication is key to any mission and Soldiers from the 63rd Expeditionary Signal Battalion are supporting U. S. Army North (Fifth Army)in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by providing reliable communications for medical units, logistical units, and headquarters staff. These missions are part of Defense Support of Civilian Authorities (DSCA). Teams are actively providing support to medical units at the Jacob Javits center in New York City and have postured at Joint-Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ and Anderson, SC for follow-on missions. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) - ALLOW IMAGES


Pandemics and the U.S. Military:
Lessons from 1918

The novel coronavirus will hit the U.S. military and its allies hard, as already there have been outbreaks at the Marine Corps boot camp at Parris Island and on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. How hard will depend on a number of variables — some having to do with the virus itself (how and to what extent it mutates, whether it comes back in subsequent waves, etc.) and others having to do with what measures militaries take to protect themselves. But it would be foolhardy to underestimate the damage COVID-19 could do.

~ READ MORE HERE ~


Why A Coronavirus Vaccine May Be Years Away

Dr. Paul Offit, Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia and co-inventor of the rotavirus vaccine, says, “I don’t see eighteen months—Dr. Anthony Fauci could see something I don’t here, he is certainly closer to it—but I think eighteen months is a very, very, very optimistic timeline.”

~ READ MORE HERE ~


Coronavirus: China Floods Europe
With Defective Medical Equipment

As the coronavirus rages across Europe, a growing number of countries are reporting that millions of pieces of medical equipment donated by, or purchased from, China to defeat the pandemic are defective and unusable

~ READ MORE HERE ~


These 23 Air Force Missions Are
Transferring to the Space Force

The U.S. Air Force has identified 23 organizations and units with space-specific missions that will transition to the U.S. Space Force over the next six months.

~ READ MORE HERE ~



Fleet and Marine Tracker Map as of April 3, 2020  - ALLOW IMAGE8

USNI Fleet and Marine Tracker



These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of April 3rd, 2020 based on Navy, public data provided by the U.S. Naval Institute, and open source reporting. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship.


USNS Comfort arrives in New York Harbor, March 31, 2020.


World News Roundup



AMERICAS

With COVID-19 threat, USAF takes steps to protect its most important missions
Naval War College pandemic war game in 2019 had eerie parallels
Navy Rushes Shipbuilding Deals To Keep Yards Going In Pandemic
World’s largest aircraft will now test hypersonics for the military
Pentagon orders 100,000 body bags as 200,000 people are expected to die
500 troops to Mexican border to aid agents struggling with security
Trump sends Navy destroyers and combat ships to crack down on ‘traffickers
Marine Corps boot camp base Parris Island stops accepting new recruits
Treasury sanctions Quds force fronts in Iraq
265 MILLION Americans – 80% of the population – ordered to stay home
Amid coronavirus scare, Americans flock to remote land, survival retreats
Outbreak could leave lasting imprint: Masks as normal part of life…
NYC mayor urges people to cover faces in public
One in four coronavirus patients have NO symptoms, CDC director
Half of humanity now on lockdown as 90 countries call for confinement
3.4 million travellers poured into US as coronavirus pandemic erupted
Why A Coronavirus Vaccine May Be Years Away
Navy fires captain of aircraft carrier over leak of letter to leadership
Economic fallout mounts, worldwide cases top 1 million
Venezuelan Navy boat rams German cruise ship and sinks


EUROPE

Coronavirus Started in China, but Europe Became the Hub for Its Global Spread
U.S. paying Russia for entire planeload of coronavirus equipment
Nato names expert panel after Emmanuel Macron ‘brain death’ remarks
France reports new daily record of 509 coronavirus deaths
French PM warns lockdown will not be lifted ‘in one go’
UK reports daily death toll of 563 in worst day of coronavirus crisis
Trump tears into Boris Johnson’s failure to respond early to coronavirus crisis
Prince Charles: COVID-19 is ‘strange,’ ‘frustrating’ and ‘distressing’
Wimbledon is CANCELLED for the first time since World War II
Germany suffers biggest daily jump in coronavirus deaths for 2nd day in a row
Merkel tells Germans to stay home until after Easter to beat virus


MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA

Iran warns about American ‘military moves’ in Iraq
Trump warns Iran of ‘heavy price’ in case of attack on US troops
U.S. says believes Iran directly involved in killing of Iranian dissident in Turkey
Africa faces an ‘existential threat’ as virus cases spread
ISIS tells followers to show no mercy and launch attacks during COVID-19 crisis
2nd aircraft carrier set to leave the Middle East
South Africa: Impressions from a country in lockdown
With no space or water, Cape Town slum has little to face coronavirus
Coronavirus outbreak hinders run-up to Ethiopia elections
Somalia bans swimming over Covid-19
East Africa locust swarms gather as coronavirus curbs delay pesticides
G-20 prepares coronavirus rescue package for Africa
Iran hits out at US as virus death toll passes 3,000
Coronavirus: Iran is facing a major challenge controlling the outbreak
Turkey’s coronavirus death toll rises to 277, with 15,679 total cases
War-torn Yemen ‘not equipped’ for potential coronavirus outbreak
Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia asks Muslims to delay Hajj bookings
Israelis told to mask up in public, mark religious holidays with close family only
Israel to transfer all travelers from abroad to quarantine facilities


ASIA

Japanese warship, China fishing boat collide in East China Sea
Beijing ‘will not stand by and watch Huawei be slaughtered
Wuhan Residents Line Up for Hours to Buy Graves for Loved Ones
Wuhan’s lockdown is being lifted but doubts remain it will ever return to normal
Coronavirus fear stokes panic buying and price rises in Afghanistan
Indonesia bans foreigners as study warns 240,000 could die from coronavirus
Australia’s slow reaction to the coronavirus crisis
Australia starts putting time limits on ‘draconian’ virus measures
Chinese county goes into coronavirus lockdown amid fear of second wave
China says new coronavirus cases drop, starts posting asymptomatic tally too
China reports asymptomatic cases — nearly 150 — for first time
Wuhan’s first ‘imported case’: Chinese student, 16, who studies in the UK
Beijing comes cautiously back to life as COVID-19 hits hardest beyond China
Coronavirus: How China’s using surveillance to tackle outbreak
Virus data: What’s known and not known about China’s numbers



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Travel Security

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The U.S. Dept. of State Travel Website is the authoritative federal source for information on the security situation at travel destinations worldwide. With tensions rapidly increasing in most regions, readers planning international travel, even to such common destinations as Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean Islands, are strongly encouraged to do a little research on the security situation at your destination well prior to departure.


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The Department of State’s Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) provides a variety of resources to enhance the safety and security of the U.S. private sector businesses and organizations operating abroad.

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website is the authoritative federal source for information on current health issues related to specific destinations worldwide. These issues may arise from disease outbreaks, special events or gatherings, natural disasters, or other conditions that may affect travelers’ health.


Foreign Sources of Travel Guidance

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Global Affairs Canada


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