What recourse do we have when our public health officials completely and utterly fail us?  I don’t know if we could have prevented COVID-19 from spreading widely in the United States even if everything had been done perfectly, but the truth is that we will never know.  When this outbreak first started, visitors from the affected areas were allowed to fly into the United States without being properly screened, and as you will see below this is still happening in many instances.  And once the virus started spreading on U.S. soil, we needed to immediately test any suspected cases so that we could isolate them as rapidly as possible.  But even though South Korea has managed to test more than 140,000 of their citizens, less than 9,000 Americans have been tested so far…

The CDC revealed on Tuesday that 8,554 Americans have been tested for coronavirus, but the agency’s director says state and local health labs are understaffed and ill-equipped to keep up with crisis.

According to figures published on the CDC’s website on Tuesday, 3,698 tests had been done in its lab, and another 4,856 had been done in public health labs.

Can anyone out there explain why we can’t do at least as good as South Korea is doing?

So far, I haven’t found a single person that can explain this to me.

Even after everything that has transpired, victims at the very epicenter of the outbreak in the Seattle area that are “showing symptoms of the respiratory illness” are still not being tested…

The Seattle-area nursing home at the epicenter of one of the biggest coronavirus outbreaks in the United States said on Monday it had no kits to test 65 employees showing symptoms of the respiratory illness that has killed at least 13 patients at the long-term care center.

The staff in question, representing more than a third of the Life Care Center’s 180 employees, are out sick with symptoms consistent with coronavirus, and a federal strike team of nurses and doctors is helping to care for 53 patients remaining in the center.

Are you kidding me?

This is the biggest public health crisis that any of us have ever seen, and the virus has already killed a bunch of residents at that particular nursing home, but we still don’t have enough kits to get those employees tested?

I don’t know if there are words that are strong enough to describe how badly our health officials have dropped the ball.

Do we have to wait until this crisis is over to fire every decision maker at the CDC and completely rebuild it from scratch?

To say that their performance has been “horrifyingly bad” is actually a tremendous understatement.

Of course the CDC is blaming their problems on a lack of funding…

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield said state and local public health labs are underequipped and understaffed.

“The truth is we’ve not invested, we’ve underinvested in the public health labs,” Redfield said at a House Appropriations hearing for the 2021 CDC budget.

“There’s not enough equipment, there’s not enough people, there’s not enough internal capacity, there’s no surge capacity,” Redfield added.

Actually, the CDC receives more than 6 billion dollars in federal funding every year, and much of that goes into paying their salaries.

There are “168 key employees at CDC who earn more than $200,000” a year, and those very highly paid experts were supposed to make sure that our country was ready for a pandemic like this.

Now we are at a tipping point.  The number of confirmed cases in the U.S. has more than doubled over the past 48 hours, and an expert that used to work in the White House is telling us that we are “10 days from our hospitals getting creamed”.

10 days.

And thanks to the devastating impact that this outbreak has had on the Chinese economy, there are 30 different drugs that are already in short supply, and that list will grow with each passing week.

At this juncture, it is going to be nearly impossible to get this virus under control in the United States.  In an article that he just posted, Mike Adams outlined the steps that would need to be taken if we were really serious about ending this outbreak…

• Block all international flights into the USA from all countries
• Close all borders and stop cross-border traffic
• Shut down all domestic commercial air travel
• Order all public schools, universities, government offices and churches to close
• Cancel all public events, including concerts, conferences, etc.
• Quarantine all US cities, block all highways in and out
• Shut down all public transportation, including subways, buses, taxis and rail
• Enact nationwide medical martial law and prevent people from leaving their homes or gathering in groups of any kind

Needless to say, the American people are not about to accept such measures, and Mike Adams acknowledges that it would be “a month of hell”…

These efforts might achieve a 90% suppression factor, which would break the cycle of the coronavirus within 3-4 weeks.

In other words, America would have to endure a month of hell to stop the virus in its tracks.

So this virus will just keep spreading, and the number of confirmed cases will just keep on doubling.

Meanwhile, as I mentioned above, many travelers that are coming into the U.S. from countries where this outbreak is completely out of control are still not being properly screened…

U.S. travelers arriving into John F. Kennedy International Airport from locked-down Italy revealed that many passengers are not having their temperatures taken, despite a widespread coronavirus outbreak in the European country.

In exclusive interviews with DailyMail.com on Tuesday afternoon, American travelers arriving back in the country from Rome said Italians remain ‘unfazed’ by the deadly outbreak and ‘are still out having fun’.

Considering the fact that the entire nation of Italy is now locked down, why are we still allowing flights from Italy to land here in the first place?

There are now more than 1,000 confirmed cases in the United States even though we have done such minimal testing.

As testing expands, the number of confirmed cases will rise rapidly, and that will cause the level of fear to dramatically escalate.

Already, Costco stores all over the country are being raided by desperate consumers when they open each day.  Just check out what happened at one Costco store in southern California on Monday morning…

Shoppers were pictured lining up outside a Costco store in Burbank, California, on Monday morning, with a queue of people and their empty shopping karts snaking through the parking lot, waiting to rush in and emergency stockpile goods the second the doors opened.

One eager customer, Jeffrey Schaefer, 45, said the line of shoppers continued all along the side of the huge wholesale store building, through the parking lot and back up the sidewalk.

If our health officials had been on top of things from the very beginning, the outlook for the months ahead could have been very different.

But now we are being told that we are past the “containment” phase and that officials will simply try to do their best to “mitigate” the damage that this outbreak will do from this point forward.

This is a complete and utter nightmare, and it looks like we are still only in the very early chapters of it.

About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe. I have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. This article may contain opinions on political matters, but it is not intended to promote the candidacy of any particular political candidate. The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and any way that you can share these articles with others is a great help.

The post The U.S. Response To This Coronavirus Outbreak Has Been Horrifyingly Bad appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

There are only two reasons why anyone would sleep outside in the dead of winter.

You’re either a hard-core adventurist or a survivalist (or both).

And when the winter months come along camping changes for the colder.

For every inch of snow and for every degree colder it gets, sleeping outside becomes more dangerous.

That’s why winter camping requires special gear.

And the most critical piece of winter equipment to invest in is a high-quality cold weather tent.

Because your super-lightweight summer camping tent won’t cut it.

Of course, there are ways to secure shelter and stay warm even if you don’t have a cold weather tent (we’ll get to a few of those later).

But you never want to solely rely on your improvisation skills with something as critical as shelter. Because in the worst climates, cold weather tents become the only layer between warmth and death.

That’s why today I’m going to cover the following winter tent topics:

• Choosing The Right Winter Tent For You
• 7 Best Cold Weather Tents On The Market Today [with video reviews]
• From Animal Hide To Nylon – A Brief History Of Tents 
• No Tent? No Problem – 3 Makeshift Winter Survival Shelters

Note: Feel free to skip ahead to any section by clicking the links above…

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our Ultimate Camping Essentials Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT WINTER TENT FOR YOU

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It was the dead of winter, and I was working with a filmmaker in the far Alaskan north on an arctic nature documentary.

And let me tell you – it was freaking FRIGID out there.

Colder than I knew nature could get.

Well, the plan was to stay out there for a couple of weeks. A prospect I was altogether reluctant to get excited about.

That was until I saw his cold weather tent. The thing was huge. It had a massive vestibule, a thick waterproof shell, and a wood-burning stove complete chimney.

His tent was big enough for five plus the massive amount of film gear we were lugging.

It became our home-base and was always a welcome sight after a long day in the cold.

I tell this story for two reasons: 1) to illustrate how effective these tents can be. The Arctic Oven Tent that we were using out on that freezing tundra kept us cozy as koozies.

And 2) not every tent is right for every situation.

We needed a super-warm form of shelter big enough to house us and all our equipment. We knew we weren’t going to be moving it, and we had a bush plane to carry the tent/stove apparatus.

But I wouldn’t want that tent for most situations. It would be way too warm, way too big, and way too heavy for most situations. Sure, it worked for the arctic tundra, but it’s overkill for one night in Rocky Mountain National Park.

So there are a few considerations you need to take into account:

What will you be using your cold weather tent for?

If you plan on staying a month out in the coldest regions of the Yukon, you’re gonna need a big ol’ tent. However, if you’re planning a backpacking trip for a day of ice fishing, you’ll want something far smaller.

Will you be carrying or driving your tent around?

I’ll go back to the big Arctic Oven we used in Alaska – that cold weather tent required heavy equipment to move it around. There’s no conceivable way we could have carried something that heavy over any distance.

So if you intend to use your cold weather tent for vehicle camping only, you’ll have no issues going BIG. But if you’re winter backpacking, keep it light and packable.

How many people and how much gear do you plan on housing in your tent?

If you’re taking your entire family, or have a ton of gear and supplies, you’ll need a big tent. If you’re by yourself and practicing minimalist camping, go light because you won’t need a large one.

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our Ultimate Camping Essentials Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

7 BEST COLD WEATHER TENTS ON THE MARKET TODAY

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4 season winter tents come in all shapes and sizes to accommodate anyone, no matter the budget or circumstance. The variety is vast. So many choices that deciding becomes overwhelming.

That’s why I compiled the following list of excellent winter camping tents. Tents that will keep your butt cozy in the coldest temperatures imaginable.

Some are high tech, a few are more basic, but they all serve the same general purpose: warmth and shelter.

1 – Arctic Oven 12’x18′ With Vestibule [~ 5 – 10 Person Tent]

I had to start with this tent because The Arctic Oven was one of the coolest warmest tents I’ve ever been inside.

There was so much space inside. And the tent trapped SO MUCH heat we started sweating even when it was -7 degrees outside.

That’s crazy good.

The tent comes in a variety of options and several sizes – and the prices vary from a few hundred dollars to several thousand.

• PROS

This one’s extremely warm includes futuristic technology and is HUGE (226 square feet). It’s a four-season tent and can fit ten to eleven people inside during the summer. It includes an oven, has a vestibule, and is very durable and wind-resistant.

• CONS

This beast weighs 110 pounds (don’t plan on carrying it anywhere). It only sleeps five to six people during winter (w/ cots and stove) and takes a while to set up. It’s also a bit of an investment.

Check Out Today’s Price

Also, take a few minutes to watch this setup video of this massive winter tent:

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2 –  ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian 3 – [3 Person Tent]

This is a lightweight winter tent, but The ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian 3 is still fairly heavy if you’re carrying it solo.

The small dome-shaped 3 person tent is warm, and its shape makes it nice and spacious.

• PROS

This one is cost-effective, small, and packable. It’s spacious inside, includes a large and high vestibule. It offers 14 square feet of space for cooking and storage.

• CONS

Not the most durable tent in the world (could have benefited from ripstop technology).

Unfortunately, it’s relatively heavy at 9 lbs 2 oz. Heavy enough to be a pain in the back on a long trip. This option is best for people with sleds or cars. Also, the tall sidewalls make it more susceptible to wind.

Check Out Today’s Price

Note: Here’s the 2 person version of this tent. It’s a more compact tent, weighs a bit less, and costs less too.

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3 – Snugpak Scorpion 2 Camping Tent – [2 Person Tent]

Another smaller cold weather tent that’s perfect for people who won’t be lugging along tons of gear or lots of people.

The Snugpack Scorpion 2 will keep snow and rain out with it’s RipStop waterproof Fly Sheet. This is combined with a heavy-duty, waterproof  Ground Sheet that provides you with a durable design that can withstand prolonged exposure to the elements.

It’s also equipped with DAC Featherlite aluminum poles with press-fit connectors.

• PROS

One word, lightweight! (only 5 lbs 8 oz) making it ideal for winter backpackers. This is the one you want if you’re bugging out in the winter months.

• CONS

A few people mentioned the zippers and the plastic snap-buckles feel a bit cheap.

Check Out Today’s Price

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4 – GEERTOP Winter Backpacking Tent [2 Person Tent]

Geertop is a newer arrival to the winter tent marketplace, but that doesn’t mean they don’t make a quality product.

This tent features 210T anti-tear checkered polyester, which is also coated with a 3000mm water-resistant finish. This gives the Geertop superior durability and an impenetrable shell from snow or snowmelt.

• PROS

This tent utilizes a 2 layer design with anti-tear, water-resistant polyester.

• CONS

Zippers are not top-notch.

Check Out Today’s Price

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5 – Nemo Chogori 2P Mountaineering Tent – [2 Person]

The Chogori 2 Person Mountaineering Tent is designed with an integrated fly and external pole structure. This helps to reduce setup time – which is crucial in extreme weather.

This external pole innovation also trims overall weight by 25% – this heavy-duty mountaineering tent only weighs 8.42 lbs!

The Chogori uses a silicone-treated 20D Nylon Ripstop fabric. This fabric is significantly stronger than most other types and doesn’t require seam tape.

• PROS

This is an innovative design that keeps you safe in the worst of extreme weather conditions. Plus, it has a very cool bonus feature that allows 2 of these tents to be connected together. This turns 2 smaller tents into 1 larger tent. 

• CONS

You get what you pay for, but you have to invest a bit more for this extreme winter tent.

Check Out Today’s Price

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6 – MoKo Waterproof 4 Season Camping Tent – [3 Person]

The MoKo Waterproof 4 Season Tent is one heavy-duty cold weather tent – but that comes at a bit of a weight cost. This tent is listed at 10.6 lbs, which is brutal to carry on your back.

But if you’re only using it for car camping –then this is a great option.

It features a durable & high-quality flysheet that’s 2500mm+ waterproof. And it uses a 5000mm (1000D polyethylene) for the floor.

• PROS

This is a very spacious, sturdy, and waterproof winter tent at a very affordable price point.

• CONS

Heavy – you won’t want to carry it very far from your vehicle.

Check Out Today’s Price

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7 – Big Agnes Battle Mountain Mountaineering Tent

The Big Agnes Battle Mountain Mountaineering Tent is built with bomber materials. The kind of material that can withstand the most rugged of high-alpine adventures.

The fly uses polyester ripstop. This ripstop uses high tenacity yarns, which increase tear strength by 20-25% over standard nylon or polyester ripstop fabrics.

• PROS

This isn’t just any cold-weather tent – it’s made specifically to withstand high-alpine adventures.

• CONS

Expensive – overkill for anyone who’s not using it for high alpine camping.

Check Out Today’s Price

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Note:  You should also consider getting a tent heater to pair with your winter tent to make it even more comfortable!

Canvas Cold Weather Tents

So far, we focus only on the best nylon and polyester tents; however, another fantastic cold weather tent option you might want to look into is a high-quality, durable, and warm canvas tents.

Check out our 3,000-word post called Canvas Tents – How To Find The Best One For You

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our Ultimate Camping Essentials Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

FROM ANIMAL HIDE TO NYLON – A BRIEF HISTORY OF TENTS

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Shelter is necessary for survival.

Our human ancestors sought shelter in forests and caves. And eventually in huts, homes, and tents. In fact, portable, packable shelters were extensively used by nomadic cultures throughout history.

The very first recorded ruins of tents were discovered in Russia. Hunter-gatherers of this region used mammoth hides to create warm, wind-resistant shelters. In this way, they protected themselves from the intense Siberian weather.

Later in history, teepees and yurts became popular. They enabled people to set up camp to hunt and gather until resources became scarce, and they needed to move on.

Mobile sheltering was a lifestyle for Mongolians and Native Americans. Yurts are still a trendy design today. For example, you can find them in use throughout the Rocky Mountains.

The Romans were also big into tents. Not because they moved their civilization from place to place (after all, they built Rome). But their armies conquered most of Europe, parts of Africa and the Middle East. So they needed portable transportation.

They used tents everywhere. Big tents, little tents, fancy tents, whatever kind of old-school tent you can imagine. Most of their tents were fashioned from calf or goat skins.

In fact, tents have been an essential survival tool for every single war since ancient times. The French Revolution, the American Revolution, the American Civil War, WWI, WWII, and beyond.

Tents are such a useful mechanism for portable shelter they’ll likely be popular well into the future.

Today, after all those thousands of years using and refining tent technology, we’ve come a long way. And cold weather tents are a perfect example: durable, warm, water-resistant, and windproof.

The bottom line is tents have come a long way since the days of hunkering down under mammoth hides.

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our Ultimate Camping Essentials Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

NO TENT? NO PROBLEM! 3 MAKESHIFT WINTER SURVIVAL SHELTERS

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Actually, that isn’t precisely accurate. If you get stuck outside in winter without a cold weather tent to take shelter inside of, you DO have a problem. One that threatens your life, in fact. But there are lots of ways to improvise in such a situation.

1 – Build An Igloo

Tried and tested, the igloo is one of the best cold weather shelters in history. Carve a bunch of bricks of snow and start stacking.

The tough part about building an igloo is the fact that it takes a long time. If you know you’re stranded outside for the night and have all day to prepare, go for an igloo.

The snow and ice walls work very well as insulation against harsh temperatures and winds.

Here’s a comprehensive video on igloo building:

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2 – Dig a Snow Cave

Similar to an igloo, this concept uses snow as an insulator to keep you warm. Snow caves are nice because they are faster to dig out, and they don’t have to be very big.

Just large enough for you to crawl inside of, curl up, and suffer through the harsh night.

Snow caves have saved countless lives over the years. So if you ever need a quick, warm shelter in a pinch, start digging. You need to scoop out enough snow to fit inside, and then jimmy-rig a door.

(Using a large snowball, a chunk of ice, a winter jacket, rain jacket, piece of plywood, etc. works very well). The trick with the door is to make it as airtight as possible. Otherwise, all the heat you build up inside escapes and you freeze to death.

(But be careful, making your snow cave too airtight can result in suffocation. Find that balance…)

Here’s a time-lapse video of an elaborate snow cave being built.

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3 – Insulate a Summer Tent With Snow

There have been times I’ve been backpacking in the spring, totally confident it would stay warm and sunny, only to get caught in a freak blizzard.

What can you do? If you’re carrying a tent (even if it is not a cold-weather tent), you can add insulation – as long as there’s snow. When you pack a couple of inches of snow onto the outside of your tent, you increase that tent’s ability to hold heat.

Unfortunately, if the snow melts and your tent isn’t waterproof, chances are you’re getting soaked. But if the snow is melting, then it’s not all that cold out anymore.

Yeah, you survived.

FINAL THOUGHTS

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Hypothermia is a deadly killer – responsible for thousands of deaths a year. The cold weather is dangerous. (This hopefully isn’t news to you).

Sadly, that fact can get in the way of outdoor activities during the winter. But that doesn’t mean you have to let it stop you from enjoying the outdoors! You only need to make sure you’re prepared. And the first step towards preparing yourself for winter camping/survival is to get your hands on a cold weather tent.

Yes, everyone is going to need something different. But I assure you, there’s a winter tent out there with your name on it.

But be careful and do your research before you buy – not all cold weather tents are created equal. Do your research and know your needs.

Owning a cold weather tent is like owning a portable hunting lodge, cross-country skiing yurt, or warming hut. Surviving in winter weather gets a lot more difficult without a cold weather tent.

If you consider yourself self-reliant, someone who’s ready for any survival situation, you need a high-quality cold weather tent.

Will Brendza

P.s. Do you know where the closest nuclear bunker is from your home?

There are a lot of natural nuclear shelters in the US that are absolutely free. And one of them is near your home.

Click here to see the Closest Natural Nuclear Bunker to Your Home?

Click on the image above to find out where you need to take shelter.

The post 7 Best Cold Weather Tents On The Market Today [With Video Reviews] appeared first on Skilled Survival.

If you thought that we had more time before this coronavirus pandemic exploded out of control in the United States, I am sorry to say that you are out of luck.  In all of the major nations in the western world, the number of confirmed cases escalated dramatically over the past few days.  Here in the U.S., COVID-19 has now reached 33 states, and the number of confirmed cases seems to literally be changing every few minutes as more announcements are made.  Over the weekend, we witnessed another wild round of panic buying as people feverishly stocked up for an extended pandemic, but at least Americans are not throwing punches at each other over toilet paper like we are witnessing elsewhere in the world.  Needless to say, all of this insanity is badly rattling Wall Street.  The markets are going absolutely nuts, and it looks like this could be a truly historic week.  Much more importantly, it looks like any hope of containing this virus is now completely dead.  In fact, Dr. Scott Gottlieb of the Food and Drug Administration just told the entire nation that we are “past the point of containment” now.

Once this virus gets into an area, it can spread like wildfire.  If you doubt this, just look at what is happening in New York.  Just a few days ago there was one confirmed case, and now there is 105.  The following comes from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo…

UPDATE: There are 16 additional confirmed cases of #Coronavirus in NYS, bringing total to 105.

Westchester: 82

NYC: 12

Nassau: 5

Rockland: 2

Saratoga: 2

Suffolk: 1

Ulster: 1

We’re testing aggressively & we are seeing the number of confirmed cases go up as expected.

Cuomo also shocked many members of the media when he absolutely lambasted the CDC.  The guidelines that the CDC imposed upon the states greatly suppressed the amount of testing up to this point, and Cuomo seems to be among those that believe that this was a huge mistake…

The governor said that officials are working hard to identify new cases but have been greatly hindered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), saying it is ‘outrageous and ludicrous’ that the agency has not authorized private labs to conduct automated tests.

‘CDC, wake up. Let the states test. Let private labs test. Let’s increase as quickly possible our testing capacity so we identify the positive people, so we can isolate them,’ he said.

It would be difficult to overstate the anger that many Americans are feeling toward the CDC right now.  So far, South Korea has been able to test more than 140,000 of their citizens for COVID-19, but as of Saturday the CDC had tested fewer than 1,600…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has tested 1,583 people for the coronavirus since the first cases were identified in the U.S. in January, health officials said Saturday.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Stephen Hahn told reporters at the White House that figure would increase as more tests are shipped nationwide to address demand. But officials made clear that an individual could be tested only if it was approved by a doctor or public health official, contradicting President Trump’s pervious claims about test availability.

If the number of confirmed cases in the U.S. is rising so rapidly with such limited testing, what will happen to the numbers now that testing will really be ramping up?

I think that we all know that answer.

Originally, U.S. officials had hoped to keep any outbreaks inside the United States strictly contained, but now that plan is out the window.

On Sunday, Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams openly admitted that we have now shifted to the mitigation phase…

The US response to coronavirus has now shifted from containment to mitigation, Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.

“Initially, we had a posture of containment so that we could give people time to prepare for where we are right now. We’re shifting into a mitigation phase, which means that we’re helping communities understand you’re going to see more cases,” Adams said.

So how many more cases will we ultimately see?

Chillingly, some experts believe that it will be in the millions.

If that turns out to be accurate, can you imagine what that will do to our economy?

Things are really starting to get crazy out there.  On Sunday, we learned that even U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has gone into “self-quarantine” because he came into contact with someone that was infected by the virus.

For the moment, our healthcare system will be able to handle the number of cases, but that could soon change.

In fact, it is being estimated that all available hospital beds could be completely filled by May 8th…

A sobering analysis of how coronavirus is likely to impact the US healthcare system suggests that hospitals will be quickly overwhelmed with patients, and that all available beds will be filled by around May 8th if the virus tracks with Italy’s figures and 10% of patients require an ICU.

Of note, the Straits Times reported last week that thousands of people were waiting for hospital beds in South Korea as the disease surges.

Liz Specht, a PhD in biology and the associate director of Science and Technology for the Good Food Institute laid out her concerns in a lengthy Twitter thread on Friday, which you can see here on Twitter, or continue reading below.

So if you get sick after that, you may be out of luck.

Over in Italy, this pandemic has already progressed to an extremely dangerous stage.  The Italians now have the highest death toll of anywhere outside of China, and the number of confirmed cases has been escalating at a pace that is difficult to believe.

In a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding, the Italian government has locked down “more than a quarter of its population”…

The Italian government is locking down 17 million people—more than a quarter of its population—including in Milan, the surrounding Lombardy region and 14 neighboring provinces, in the most sweeping steps any European country has prepared to take against the coronavirus epidemic.

A decree from the Italian Prime Minister’s office says people living in Lombardy, where Milan is the capital, and the named provinces in Lombardy’s nearby regions must “absolutely avoid any movement into and out of the areas.”

Will that work?

We better hope so, because the progression of this outbreak in Italy has been truly frightening…

#Coronavirus in Italy:

1st Feburary: 2 cases

20th February: 3 cases

22nd Feburary: 62 cases, 2 deaths

28th February: 528 cases, 12 deaths

1st March: 1694 cases, 34 deaths

4th March: 3089 cases, 107 deaths

8th March: 7375 cases, 366 deaths & counting

Terrible.

Of course we will see similar numbers in country after country pretty soon.

In the UK, they appear to be on a very similar track…

Confirmed coronavirus cases, UK:

March 8: 273 people

March 5: 115 people

March 2: 39 people

February 28: 20 people

February 25: 12 people

February 22: 8 people

Fighting this virus has been compared to trying to fight the air, because COVID-19 spreads from person to person really easily.

In fact, one team of scientists is now telling us that it looks like it may “spread through air-conditioning units”…

Traces of the coronavirus found in a hospital air duct has led scientists to believe the disease could be spread through air-conditioning units, making it more contagious than initially thought.

Swab analysis of rooms used by three coronavirus patients by experts at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases in Singapore suggest that the respiratory illness spreads easier than previously thought.

Where will this end?

Is it inevitable that there will be a raging pandemic in every nation on Earth?

If millions die from this virus, global financial markets will utterly collapse, economic conditions will be unimaginable, great civil unrest will erupt all over the planet and our society will be unrecognizable.

So far, this virus has a higher death rate than the Spanish Flu, and the Spanish Flu pandemic killed between 50 million and 100 million people.

This is not a drill.  This pandemic is out of control and the dead bodies are really starting to pile up.  The months ahead are going to be really challenging, but with God’s help we will find a way to get through this.

About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe. I have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. This article may contain opinions on political matters, but it is not intended to promote the candidacy of any particular political candidate. The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and any way that you can share these articles with others is a great help.

The post Out Of Time: U.S. Cases Explode As The Coronavirus Pandemic Reaches A Tipping Point appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

Written by Pat Henry on The Prepper Journal.

The Corona virus (COVID-19) is all over the news, with plenty of fear-mongering spread among the analysis and good information. Because of that, I don’t think there’s a lot for me to write about this without spending a ton of time digging into it or coming up with conspiracy theories.

That said, I do think the tendency of some I know to dismiss the seriousness of the threat is misguided. It seems COVID-19 has a longer symptom-free period where the carrier is contagious, can last longer on solid surfaces, and may or may not have a higher mortality rate than the ‘normal’ flu. There is a lot of contradictory information out there.

That said, it seems as if medical professionals are expanding their screening for potential carriers. I went to the urgent care because I had the flu that turned into bronchitis, and one of the screening questions was “have you traveled outside the country within the past 30 days?”

I answered ‘no’ since I haven’t, but I wonder if they have any follow up questions if someone answers yes. I think I’ll ask some medical field friends about that.

In the meantime, I’ve come across two good websites where you can track the disease’s spread and infection and mortality rates.

The first one is from Worldometers.com/coronavirus. It gives the number of cases, active cases, deaths, recovered, and much more. It breaks the information down by country and gives ages of the infected where it can. Worldometer.com was voted as one of the best free reference websites by the American Library Association.

The second tracking site is from John Hopkins via the geolocation and mapping company, ESRI. This one shows the sources where its data comes from,  and allows you to click on the location indicators to get specific data about the area. I don’t believe it’s live, but seems to be regularly updated.

For some background on the Corona Virus, the World Health Organization has a Q&A section on it that might be helpful.

Stay safe.

The post Corona Virus Mapping appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

There’s a lot of misinformation hitting the Internet about the coronavirus. So we’re here to bring you the coronavirus facts so you stay informed and, more importantly, stay healthy.

Did you hear the one about 38 percent of Americans won’t drink Corona beer because of the coronavirus? Two misnomers there: Firstly, the coronavirus has nothing to do with Corona beer. Drink on. Secondly, that was a misleading stat picked up by almost every major news outlet in America because some journalists don’t do research anymore. As The Atlantic points out, “the original press release from 5WPR notes that in a survey of 737 beer-drinking Americans, 38 percent said they ‘would not buy Corona under any circumstances now.’”

• RELATED STORY — Invisible Killers: Fighting Ebola and Other Deadly Disease

That has nothing to do with the coronavirus. People just might not like the beer. This is the exact misinformation we’re trying to avoid here. So we spoke with several doctors and are the coronavirus facts they gave us in private.

Coronavirus Facts

Doctors are very worried COVID-19 and not only as a public health crisis. Like you should be, they are concerned for their safety. Here’s why and what you can plan for:

1. It’s Deadly

Want some coronavirus facts? How about this? COVID-19 currently has an average lethality rate from 1 to 2 percent. Children have the highest survival rate, while 10 percent of infected people over 80 years old would be expected to die. By comparison, SARS and MERS were much deadlier with kill rates about three times higher. However, the SARS and MERS viruses weren’t particularly contagious while COVID-19 is as easy to catch as ordinary flu, but more than 20 times as deadly. The virus can spread through the air in the tiny invisible droplets of moisture in the outward breathing of the infected and can survive for hours on surfaces. If COVID-19 got into major urban areas, tens of millions could be infected. If 30 million people were infected, at a 1 percent lethality rate, 300,000 would be expected to die.

2. It Could Overwhelm Our Healthcare System

As if that wasn’t bad enough, COVID-19 is a heavy hitter and 15 percent of infected patients will require hospitalization and ICU treatment to recover. Without it, they are likely to die too. With 30 million people infected, 4.5 million will need ICU care. If the number of seriously ill patients exceeds ICU beds, COVID-19’s lethality rate is going to go up.

3. Tailor Made For a Pandemic

The thing that worries doctors most about COVID-19 is they don’t know who has it and they can’t see it coming. Unlike previous deadly viral outbreaks, COVID-19 is contagious while asymptomatic. An infected person without symptoms goes about their normal activities unknowingly spreading the virus to others for days before they realize they are sick. In fact, a certain number of infected will never show symptoms at all.

Obviously, those thermal scanners in use at airports won’t detect infected people in the asymptomatic stage. What’s worse is that, at present, most doctors and hospitals can’t even determine if an obviously sick person has COVID-19 in a timely manner. The grim fact is the test facilities and materials for detecting it are in critically short supply. If massive improvements in test capabilities aren’t made immediately, by the time a COVID-19 outbreak is detected here, it may already be at epidemic proportions.

4. Expect Isolation

Plan for at least two weeks of forced isolation. Reduce your chance of infection by minimizing your exposure to people. Avoid close contact (within six feet) and confined spaces, which are ideal for transmission of the virus. During a serious outbreak, expect schools, churches, and businesses to close. If you don’t have what you need when an epidemic hits your community, you might not be able to get it.

5. Nourish Your Body

For sustenance in insolation, stock up to the extent you can on non-perishable food, water, your prescription medicines, and multi-vitamins (to make up for any deficiencies in your diet).

6. Have a Strategy To Avoid Infection

Protect yourself from infection and check the spread of the virus. Have plenty of soap (anti-bacterial is slightly better than ordinary soap), hand sanitizer (at least 60 percent alcohol for use where washing is impossible), face masks or respirators (R95 rated), disinfectants to kill the virus on hard surfaces (alcohol, bleach, Lysol spray and wipes), extra laundry detergent, rubber gloves, paper towels, toilet paper, and tissues. The main prophylactic against any virus is not touching the face and eyes. Also, maintaining excellent hygiene is important, particularly frequent handwashing with soap (for at least 20 seconds in warm or hot water).

7. Masks Are Important, Despite What You’re Being Told

COVID-19 enters the body most easily through the lungs, followed to a much lesser degree by ingestion and lesser still by absorption through the eyes. To protect your lungs when you expect exposure to COVID-19, have masks to filter out the virus from the air. Better than that would be a reusable, commercial or medical respirator, rated P95, R95, N95, or better. Ordinary surgical-type masks, or improvised ones, also need to be on hand for anyone in the household showing signs of illness. By immediately donning a mask, the ill person reduces the danger of virus transmission.

Anyone sick should go to the hospital immediately for testing and isolation. Others sharing the same living space, but not showing symptoms, must remain isolated at their residence. They should mask up until they are determined to be heathy or ill. For those known infected with COVID-19, home isolation is risky and problematic. Most private residences don’t have negative-pressure isolation wards to effectively contain airborne viruses.

8. Zinc Lozenges

To treat normal flu and colds at home have Ibuprofen (for fever), Gatorade and Pedialyte (for restoring fluids), Saltine crackers (an easy-to-digest carbohydrate to keep your strength up) and zinc lozenges. Unlike vitamin C or prescription Tamiflu, over-the-counter zinc lozenges (ex. Cold-eze) might actually reduce the likelihood of catching COVID-19 in the same manner they reduce the chances of catching a cold. My doctor said six months of prophylactic use was tolerable for me without negative health effects. Consult your doctor to see if extended use of zinc lozenges is safe for you.

Handwashing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of germs. What you need to know about handwashing: https://t.co/UyYggQjM9T pic.twitter.com/40UeHzhwg9

— CDC (@CDCgov) March 4, 2020

Want to know more? Check out these related articles:

Preparing for Coronavirus: What To Buy

Preparedness Tips for Those with Elderly Family Members

A SHTF Plan For Your Pets | Bugging Out With Man’s Best Friend

According to the Washington DC Metro Police, in 2018 alone the city averaged 80 car break-ins a day; that is a little shocking! One of the most painful things that can happen to you, as a car owner, is the “smash-and-grab” car break-in. They don’t even steal your whole car, just the valuable items in it – which you then have to painfully replace while dealing with the costly window repair process. My wife’s friend from college used to play in a band. One night after a show in Milwaukee, she left all of her musical equipment in the car, only to wake up in the morning to a broken window and she found everything was stolen. I can report that she took a little vacation from being in a band after that. 

Contributed by By Mark, Former Marine Reconnaissance Team Leader, Marine Infantry Officer, Cross Fit Coach, and Survivalist.

In this day and age of concealed carry and being prepared, many people like to keep handguns and spare money in their car in case of emergency. Losing a handgun would make a typical smash-and-grab even more painful,  since now you would have to report a missing gun to the police and possibly your state firearms registration office (depending where you live).

My New Toy

I recently upgraded from my old truck to the new Jeep Gladiator, which I have been waiting patiently to come to market for a few years. This is my first Jeep, and I can already see the problem with owning a Jeep: There are just too many options for aftermarket modifications. It is like Legos for adults! It very much reminds me of the AR-15 market, where you buy a rifle and then a year later you have 20 things hanging off the end of your rifle for the zombie apocalypse. I can see myself already saying, “The steel bumper on the Gladiator Rubicon is fine, but what if…..”

Also Read: V-Line Brute Gun Safe

But one thing that I needed right away was a place to securely store my valuables inside the new Jeep. Of course, with the Jeep Gladiator being a new model, the options for lockable center console or glove box are limited. I also wanted something that was quickly accessible. I did not want a key lock; I feel like a key lock would be too slow in an emergency. I wanted something that either came with a combination lock or possibly a fingerprint scan system (combination lock was the preferred method – batteries are always a bad option).

Choices

So after searching both Google and Amazon for the “center console safe for Jeep Gladiator”, I found products from two companies, Tuffy and Lock’erDown. I read a lot of reviews and contacted both of their customer service departments to ask detailed questions about the products. Lock’erDown seemed to have people available all day to answer questions and they really took their time with me and made me feel like they knew their stuff. Tuffy on the other hand, left me on hold for sometime. They also answered my questions but I seemed to get transferred around on their phone tree before finally finding a human. Another feature I loved about Lock’erDown that they build all of their safes in the United States. It is always best to support American based workers!

The construction of the Lock’erDown center console safe seemed to be superior based on reviews and description of the product. Lock’erDown uses both 10 gauge & 12 gauge steel in their product, while Tuffy uses inferior 16 gauge steel.  The Lock’erDown also came with a Lifetime Warranty; that is pretty tough to beat. 

Description of Lock’erDown Exxtreme Console for the Jeep Gladiator:

• Heavy 12 Gauge Gauge cold rolled plate steel construction.
• 10 Gauge plate welded to lid.
• Welded tab and notch seams.
• Superior 3 point locking system resists prying.
• Drill resistant locks.
• Easy 10 minute installation.
• Must be assembled inside console.
• Counter balanced door with spring assisted hinge.
• Largest selection of lock options in the industry.
• Only product in industry with lifetime warranty.

Don’t Follow My Lead

Installation: Installation would have been easy but I did not read the directions completely before I (Mr. Know It All) started to install the center console safe. By not reading the instructions, I skipped a major step that bit me in the butt by the time I finished. On my first attempt to install, the center console lid would not close properly when I finished installing the safe. I went back and re-read the directions and realized that I skipped over a critical step that was made pretty clear in the instructions. I am not going to go into the installation steps in this review, just read the directions and don’t be a (Mr. Know It All) like me. 

Also, there is a center console light in the Jeep Gladiator that makes the installation of the top door of the safe a little difficult. I chose not to mess with it and just popped off the plastic cover to the light using a small flat head screwdriver. The top safe door went on easy after that. As you can see in the picture with the installation complete and the main center console door open, I just have a little light bulb with no protective cover. The light actually works better now since it is not restricted to pointing down. Either way, not a big deal to me.

Also Read: 3M Window Security Film Review

Setting the Combination: Again, this is one of the steps where you want to take your time. I can report that after I screwed up the installation, I took my time and read and re-read the combination directions. I made sure not to screw this part up, and neither should you – or else you might be locked out of your new center console safe. So take your time, “measure twice and cut once” as they say. I would recommend setting the combination lock prior to the last step and “for sure”, try locking and unlocking the lock prior to closing the safe door and locking it for real.

I have had the Lock’er Down Extreme Console safe now installed in my 2020 Jeep Gladiator JT for over two months. I haven’t had any attempted break ins with my Jeep to report but I do feel pretty confident leaving it parked anywhere that when I come back, the contents of my safe will still be there.  Lock’erDown makes center console safes for many models of vehicles. Check out their site to see if they make a model for you.

Visit Amazon Affiliate Sponsor Products of Survival Cache

The post Survival Gear Review: Lock’er Down Exxtreme Center Console Safe appeared first on Survival Cache.

Written by Pat Henry on The Prepper Journal.

Recoilweb recently published a good article about the probabilities of unlikely events, The Surprisingly Solid Mathematical Case of the Tin Foil Hate Gun Prepper, and how it applies to the “zombie apocalypse”.

The 2018 article discusses the likelihood of a revolution or other major event happening, and how preppers are generally along the leading edge of surviving these events.

It does contain non-common core math calculations, so those who are triggered by such things would be best served by not reading it.

The post Who Needs an AR-15, Anyway? appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

Concealed carry has numerous questions that must be addressed to be effective and meet the important criteria of ease of access to your handgun. Two of the important questions are: Do you wear Inside the Waistband (IWB) or Outside the Waistband (OWB), and secondly, which holster provides the most comfort and ease of access to your handgun.

By Dan C., contributing author to Survival Cache and SHTFblog

Naturally, there are several other issues that you must address when concealed carrying such as cover clothing, belt, and size of the handgun. However, how you wear your handgun and what holster you chose both play a vital roles in many aspects of concealed carry.

Prior to discussing the pros and cons of the above-mentioned topics, it is important that we review the reasons and practicality of why you are wearing a firearm. There are three very important criteria you must consider when wearing a firearm. First, it is a tool that you may need instantaneously and with minimal effort. With that in mind, you must be able to withdraw your handgun effortlessly. And thirdly, if you draw your handgun, then it must be easy to reholster the handgun safely.

All of these factors are influenced by how you are wearing and concealing your firearm. Thus, your holster is a vital part of meeting the expectations of the criteria listed above.

Also read: Ten Tips Everyone Should Know Before Carrying Concealed

Let’s begin with, how do you wish to carry? This is a huge question based on numerous factors such as laws in the location where you are carrying, why are you carrying, weather, and the activity you are planning while wearing. Several factors must be taken into consideration when wearing your handgun.

Local laws play a role in deciding how you are going to conceal your firearm. For example, in some states, open and conceal carry is legal. Thus, being highly concerned about concealment is not so much an issue. On the other hand, some states have strict concealment laws and maintaining concealment at all times is critical. So when making the decision on “How to concealed carry” the local laws must be the determining factor to making that call.

Why are you carrying? The answer is simple, in case you encounter a situation that requires you to draw your firearm. In most of those situations, you wish to use all you can to your advantage. There are five attributes you can use to your advantage in a bad situation: Situational Awareness, Stealth, Distance, Darkness and Speed. Taking these elements into consideration is one of the decisions making factors when deciding How to Carry and What Holster.

Weather is one of the major factors affecting how you are going to carry and concealment. For example, if it is winter and you are in an area where jackets and sweaters are needed then concealment becomes easier. However, as the weather warms and you are wearing shorts and tee shirts, concealment and holster stability become more concerning. So weather plays an instrumental role in determining How you are going to carry and What Holster is going to meet those needs.

The activity you are participating in plays an additional role in deciding How to carry and What Holster. Naturally, if you are only going to the mall or grocery store, then it is less likely you will be concerned with concealment and holster security. On the other hand, if you are going bike riding, running, walk in the park then it is reasonable to be more concerned about concealment and holster security.

With all these considerations in mind let’s talk about: is IWB or OWB the best way to concealed carry?

There are numerous advantages of IWB concealed carry. The best way to present them is by bullet points.

The advantages of IWB carry are:

• The holster and handgun are held close to your body
• The holster is more secure and stable
• The holster and handgun are less bulky, thus more concealable
• Less clothing or cover garments are needed
• Less likely to get caught on things such as seat belts
• It is less likely anyone will see the holster and handgun if inadvertently exposed
• The holster can be more easily adjusted to allow you to access it
• There are more locations such as appendix or even 6:00 (middle of your back) you can wear IWB

The disadvantages of IWB carry are:

• You must have pants that allow you to wear IWB
• The holster can be uncomfortable if not worn correctly
• It is more adaptable for compact and sub compact handguns
• You have less access to increased levels of retention such as thumb brakes

The advantages of OWB carry:

• It can be easier to access your handgun
• Larger selection and styles of holsters
• Can wear a larger assortment of handguns, such as full size
• Can make it easier to wear an extra magazine

The disadvantages of OWB  carry:

• Can be bulky and harder to conceal
• May need to wear more cover clothing
• Can interfere with seat belts and get caught on things
• Can be less secure to your body that IWB

So now we must decide which type of holster is best for concealed carry. This is the key to concealed carry. If you do not have an excellent holster that fits you and your handgun well, then you will be constantly adjusting it and uncomfortable.

Also Read: Survival Gear Review: Craft Leather Pancake Holster

Kydex holsters have really set the standard for IWB carry. There are so many advantages of Kydex holsters when IWB concealed carry. A list of advantages:

• Provides consistent and repeatable draw effort. This is incredibly important when practicing, wearing different attire, and being comfortable with managing your handgun
• Stays secure, will not move if running crawling on the ground, changing positions
• Does not collapse when the handgun is removed, thus making reholstering safe and easy
• Is easily removed if needed and replaced
• Easy to draw from and reduces the need for additional levels of retention
• Easy to feel secured retention when reholstering
• Highly durable
• Easy to adjust cant – and in some cases – the height of the holster attachment to your belt.

OWB holsters allow for more flexibility in the materials they are made from. Kydex holsters are equally and well proven with OWB concealed carry. Leather holsters can be equally comfortable and effective. Listed below are some key points to choosing an OWB holster for concealed carry:

• There is less concern about the holster collapsing when the handgun is removed
• You have a larger assortment of holster attachments to your belt
• You can have added levels of retention that can be more easily managed with OWB holsters
• A wider range of material may be selected for OWB holsters

So there is a lot to think about when choosing your method of carrying a handgun and the holster you select. It is not something you should take lightly, as you have read in the article there are many key factors that are very important when choosing a holster and determining your method of carry. One final note, when choosing a holster make sure you choose a holster maker with a strong commitment to quality, an excellent reputation for customer service and wide range of products. There are lots of holster makers out there and you are buying something that you may need in a life and death situation so you want the best and a holster you can count on.

All Photos by Drew and Doc Montana

The post IWB or OWB: Which is the Best Holster For Concealed Carry? appeared first on Survival Cache.

This is already the most frightening virus outbreak that we have seen in the past several decades, and it appears that it is just getting started.  A week ago, there were about 3,000 confirmed cases outside of China and now there are more than 10,000.  4,812 cases have been confirmed in South Korea, 2,036 cases have been confirmed in Italy, and 1,501 cases have been confirmed in Iran at this point.  Of course by the time you actually read this article those numbers are likely to be significantly higher.  It is like we are watching a really bad Hollywood disaster movie play out right in front of our eyes, and so far every effort to contain this virus has failed.  On Monday, Dr. Anthony Fauci stunned many people when he told NBC News that COVID-19 has likely reached “pandemic proportions”…

News of the additional deaths came after Dr Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told NBC News on Monday that the disease had likely reached ‘pandemic proportions’ as 100 cases were confirmed across the U.S.

‘We’re dealing with an evolving situation. We’re dealing with clearly an emerging infectious disease that has now reached outbreak proportions and likely pandemic proportions,’ Dr Fauci said. ‘If you look at multiple definitions of what a pandemic is… multiple sustained transmissions of of a highly infectious agent in multiple regions of the globe.’

Dr. Fauci is definitely not an alarmist, and for him to use the word “pandemic” is a major red flag.

Last week a lot of people were pointing out that not a single American had died from this virus yet, but now six victims have died in the state of Washington alone…

Four more people have died of the coronavirus in Washington state, raising the death toll in the state and the nation to six, health officials said Monday.

Jeffrey Duchin, a health officer in King County and Seattle, said at a news conference Monday that five of the deaths were people from King County and one was from Snohomish County, north of Seattle.

If you live in the Seattle area, you need to understand that you are in the middle of a crisis zone.  As I discussed yesterday, it is likely that the virus has been circulating in that region for weeks, and each day the number of potential carriers will only get higher.

At this point, local officials are specifically warning everyone to “avoid crowded settings if possible”…

“To increase your chances of staying healthy, avoid crowded settings if possible,” King County Public Health said on Twitter. “Especially if you are over 60, or have other chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, or a weakened immune system.”

There’s particular concern about the spread of the virus in nursing homes. One such  facility, Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington, said in a statement that one of its residents and one of its associates have been diagnosed with COVID-19. The center is banning visitors for now.

And this doesn’t mean that you will need to change your behavior for a few days or even a few weeks.

At a minimum, if you live in the Seattle area you are going to want to avoid crowded settings for the next several months.

Of course it is just a matter of time before other major cities are facing similar outbreaks.  In recent days the number of states with confirmed cases has grown quite a bit larger…

• Arizona – 1
• California – 20
• Florida – 2
• Illinois – 4
• Massachusetts – 1
• New York – 1
• Oregon – 3
• Rhode Island – 2
• Washington state – 18 (includes 6 fatalities)
• Wisconsin – 1

Unfortunately, this list probably only represents the very small tip of a very large iceberg.  Up until just recently, the CDC was mandating that the only people that should be tested are those that have traveled to China or those that have had close contact with a known victim.  By using such restrictive criteria, the number of Americans being tested was kept extremely low, and a lot of infected people slipped through the cracks.

Now this virus has escaped containment, and authorities are telling us that “community spread” is inevitable all over the United States.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 continues to sweep across much of the rest of the planet like wildfire.

In Iran, the fact that a top adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei just died from the virus made headlines all over the globe…

AN adviser to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has died of coronavirus, state media reported today.

Mohammad Mirmohammadi, 71, died in hospital in Tehran as the pariah nation reels from a worsening outbreak that has left several senior officials in hospital.

But despite the fact that the number of confirmed cases in Iran is escalating at an exponential rate, and despite the fact that dozens of Iranians have already died, many Iranians continue to engage in the practice of “kissing and licking Shi’ite shrines throughout the country”…

Videos spreading on social media are showing Iranians kissing and licking Shi’ite shrines throughout the country as many call to close the shrines amid a severe coronavirus outbreak in the Islamic Republic.

The epicenter of the outbreak in Iran, Qom, is a religious city home to several shrines. The shrines remain open as some reports place the death toll in Iran in the hundreds.

Can you believe that?

We live at a time when it seems like much of the world has gone nuts.  Most people believe whatever they feel like believing, and most people do whatever they feel like doing.  But there are always consequences for our actions, and I have a feeling that this virus is going to spread particularly rapidly in the Middle East.

Here in the United States, it appears that this outbreak is far more extensive than we are being told.  As the U.S. starts to finally ramp up testing, it is inevitable that a lot more existing cases will be found.  In fact, in just a little while I will be posting an article on End Of The American Dream about an ER doctor in New York that is claiming that there is “going to be thousands” of confirmed cases inside this country by next week.

I don’t think that it is going to happen quite that rapidly, but it appears to be inevitable that the number of cases is going to be steadily rising.

This is not a drill.  This is an exceedingly dangerous virus that is killing people all over the planet, and we need to prepare for a scenario in which this crisis could extend for many months or even for several years.

About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe. I have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. This article may contain opinions on political matters, but it is not intended to promote the candidacy of any particular political candidate. The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and any way that you can share these articles with others is a great help.

The post “Pandemic Proportions”: COVID-19 Is Starting To Spiral Out Of Control All Over The Globe appeared first on The Economic Collapse.