How COVID-19 is affecting society

[Innula Zenovka]

Coronavirus Sanofi: French drug giant rows back after vaccine storm

Sanofi's apparent readiness to favour the US market with any Covid-19 vaccine caused a row in France.

www.bbc.co.uk

France has said it would be "unacceptable" for French drug giant Sanofi to prioritise the US market if it develops a Covid-19 vaccine.

The government was reacting to remarks by Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson, who said "the US government has the right to the largest pre-order because it's invested in taking the risk".

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said access for all was "non-negotiable".

Many labs worldwide are involved in research to find a Covid-19 vaccine.

Vaccines usually take years to develop.

"For us, it would be unacceptable for there to be privileged access to such and such a country for financial reasons," Deputy Finance Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher told France's Sud Radio.

The prime minister later tweeted that a vaccine should be for the benefit of everyone worldwide. President Emmanuel Macron said that recent efforts proved that a vaccine should not be subject to market forces, the Elysée Palace said. He is due to meet top Sanofi officials next week.

I assume Mr Hudson's comment reflects what the US government has told him is their position.

 

[Sid]

"Bright to you by Satan" the sign says.
Do they really believe that? I thought Evangelical nuttiness was US thing.

It is not only American.
We have a bible belt in the Netherlands too, with very conservative churches. Nothing open on Sunday there, One group doesn't even drive a car, watch tv or cook food then. Only 2x to the church for a service and then at home reading the bible and sing psalms and contemplate.
But praise the Lord, they are divided, so we have 3 tiny parties with 1 or 2 seats each (out of 150) in parliament. One party was even declared unconstitutional because they did not allow women to get elected for their party. I think they have one city councilor in Amsterdam now (because progressive people voted for her, just to screw that party). A lot of them don't vaccinate their kids. In their beliefs it is the will of God when you get ill.

We have one bigger Christian/catholic party as well, but they are very moderate and right in the middle of the political spectrum. That is a very useful party, very often involved in the coalition that forms the government.

 

[Isabeau]

But praise the Lord, they are divided...

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Thread



(It would seem that to stop a bad guy with an axe you need a good guy with an axe, or the cops).

ETA

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Lengthy (and seemingly damning) piece by a major scholar for a highly influential and impartial academic research institute

Strategy for a Pandemic: The UK and COVID-19

Lawrence Freedman explains why the UK misjudged the speed and severity of the pandemic.

www.iiss.org

 

[Sovereignty]

California tells hospitals to consider having a lottery for sought-after Covid-19 drug

Remdesivir.

 

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

Thread



(It would seem that to stop a bad guy with an axe you need a good guy with an axe, or the cops).

ETA

I was under the impression that the wording was “bear arms”. Or perhaps the NRA is now deciding what a well regulated militia is. Read: spent money with one of the assorted firearms manufacturers. Nyuk.

 

[Romana]

I was under the impression that the wording was “bear arms”. Or perhaps the NRA is now deciding what a well regulated militia is. Read: spent money with one of the assorted firearms manufacturers. Nyuk.

Well, Gov Whitmer is really over that shit:

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Across Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, views of the US handling of the coronavirus crisis are uniformly negative and range from horror through derision to sympathy. Donald Trump’s musings from the White House briefing room, particularly his thoughts on injecting disinfectant, have drawn the attention of the planet.

“Over more than two centuries, the United States has stirred a very wide range of feelings in the rest of the world: love and hatred, fear and hope, envy and contempt, awe and anger,” the columnist Fintan O’Toole wrote in the Irish Times. “But there is one emotion that has never been directed towards the US until now: pity.”

World looks on in horror as Trump flails over pandemic despite claims US leads way

The president’s outlandish behavior as Americans suffer has inspired horror and confusion while alienating allies

www.theguardian.com

ETA

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Turkey's lockdown rainbows have become another symbol of division

In a country highly polarised along political and religious lines the symbol has become another cultural battleground

www.theguardian.com

Like many children across the world sent home from school, youngsters in Turkey were encouraged to draw pictures of rainbows and place them in windows to cheer up the country in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Orders to teachers from some local education boards to stop because the rainbows were part of a “plot” to turn children gay were met with surprise.

Instead of boosting morale, the lockdown rainbows have become yet another symbol of division, the latest cultural battleground in a country highly polarised along political and religious lines.

“Unfortunately this sort of anti-LGBTQ mentality is widespread even if ordinary people don’t see a connection between children’s drawings and gay rights,” said Meral Gülsen, a representative for teachers union Eğitim Sen.

 

[Pamela]

Note the cdc now appends “if feasible” to guidelines. So the headline is wrong. You don’t have to meet guidelines to open, if not feasible. Wheich it mostly is not.

 

[Kalel]

I just drove to work in almost blinding rain conditions... There is a tropical disturbance slamming south florida with heavy rain and wind even tho hurricane season doesn't technically start until june 1st, The water is already getting warm and the conditions will be ripe for more storms. there is lots of talks about double preparing and dealing with Corona Pandemic while in the middle of hurricane season and how to adapt. opening more shelters... when to start evacuating.. while maintaining social distancing..( would take approximate 4 full days to evacuate the millions in south florida alone..) this is our new norm...

Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook

Coronavirus and hurricane season: Tampa Bay prepares for double disaster

Hurricane season is just weeks away and bay area emergency management agencies are having to prepare for more than just a potentially busy season. Emergency Management officials in Hillsborough Cou…

www.wfla.com

Florida adds coronavirus into its plans for hurricane season

With another expected active hurricane season starting June 1, Florida emergency management officials are taking into account a big new factor: the coronavirus. Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz said last week his…

www.sun-sentinel.com

 

[Free]

Was this already mentioned?

Fox News is telling its employees to work from home for at least another month while its TV hosts push for businesses to reopen

In a memo last week, Fox told employees they will continue to work from home until June 15 — at the earliest.

www.businessinsider.com

• Employees of the Fox Corporation, which includes Fox News, were told their offices would remain closed until June 15 at the earliest, according to CNN.
• Fox News hosts have been calling on the president and state leaders to relax stay-at-home orders for weeks, arguing non-essential businesses should be permitted to reopen.
• Like most networks, Fox has been operating in a way that allows most to work from home with only essential personnel to report to offices to keep the network on the air amid the pandemic.

 

[Pamela]

A Study in Leadership

A short film

www.theatlantic.com

Says it all.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

 

[Free]

Not even shit for brains.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Religious Right Mounts Bizarre Attack on COVID-19 Vaccine

Opposition to stem cell research and conspiracy theories about the “mark of the beast” are fueling the furor.

www.thedailybeast.com

Demented.

 

[Romana]

Not even shit for brains.

I couldn't resist looking to see how she was getting dragged for this.
This is my early favorite for best reply:


And the Hoarse Whisperer, of course;

 

[Katheryne Helendale]

I couldn't resist looking to see how she was getting dragged for this.
This is my early favorite for best reply:


And the Hoarse Whisperer, of course;

That bitch got me sent to Twitmo when I replied to someone who called her a bimbo by saying "referring to Tomi as a bimbo is an insult to bimbos". I got 24 hours for that one.

 

[Sid]

That bitch got me sent to Twitmo when I replied to someone who called her a bimbo by saying "referring to Tomi as a bimbo is an insult to bimbos". I got 24 hours for that one.

Well worth it.