Trump Extending Social Distancing to April 30 as Death Toll Increases

Between March 26 and March 29, the US COVID-19 related deaths doubled.

Although initially hopeful, Trump administration has accepted the possibility of hitting potentially 100,000 to 200,000 deaths as a result of the COVID-19. As such, Trump administration will extend the social distancing suggestion until end of April, 2020.

Trump announced that although it would have been nice to ease up on the social distancing guidelines by Easter, based on newly obtained data, US will continue social distancing policy until the end of the month to prevent the currently projected contamination and death rates.

Press generally posted a positive response to Pres. Trump’s ultimate decision to lengthen the social distancing policy deadline to April 30, rather than choosing to reopen earlier per guidelines by economic advisors.

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This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part with out the express written permission.

Nationwide Housing Market Sees Slowdown, not in Northern Virginia

As Coronavirus continues to threaten lives and the economy, the nation saw 30% drop in mortgage applications across the nation.

However, the picture isn’t so gloomy, as many areas such as Northern Virginia continues to see strong movement to sell and buy houses.

Although people are generally limited from much movement, people are regularly purchasing houses in the area. For example, at the local Apple Federal Credit Union, the current response time for mortgage approval is more than a week, even during the shutdown.

Although national and global economic forecasts look gloomy, due to low interest rates, many people will attempt to take advantage of the situation.

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Bill Gates Calls for a Nationwide Shutdown

As the Novel Coronavirus infection count continues its upward route in the United States, Microsoft’s co-founder Bill Gates stated that the US missed its opportunity for controlling the outbreak by refusing to force a shutdown faster.

In a TED Connects Program, Gates explained that the shutdown would have avoided the kind of pandemic now sweeping across Wuhan, China, Northern Italy or even New York City.

Unlike a more positive viewpoint of the White House, Gates noted that social distancing measures should be as strict as possible, and that ultimately, the cost to human lives would be greater than economic costs to the United States.

Gates stated that the shutdown should be in place for at least 6 to 10 weeks to minimize further damage. So far, the outbreak has infected more than 52,100 individuals so far and has caused massive closure of businesses, schools, and governments.

Although Gates was aware of Trump’s concerns regarding the economic impact of the disease, Gates remained firm in his resolve, arguing that brining the economy back would be done more easily than bringing people back from death.

Gates’ Foundation has committed $100 million towards resolution regarding the coronavirus, and the foundation is also working on providing home-testing kits in the Seattle, Washington area.

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This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part with out the express written permission.

VA Treats Veterans for Coronavirus

Tents are being erected outside the Veterans Administration hospital on Galvez Street in New Orleans. These tents will serve as a drive-through testing site for coronavirus. (James Varney/ The Washington Times)

The Department of Veterans Affairs currently tracks Veterans who have tested positive for coronavirus. As of Monday, 204 Veteran patients were found to have coronavirus. There are 8 in the Washington DC area.
5 are self-quarantined at home, with three in the hospital. Two Veterans have died from the disease so far.
VA has so far administered over 1,524 coronavirus tests nationwide and plans to administer more as coronavirus continues to spread.

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Companies or Individuals? Republicans and Democrats Fight Over Who Should Get the Stimulus

Senate Democrats blocked a $2 trillion coronavirus rescue bill on Monday, as parties split on who should receive the money, at 49-46. 60 vote threshold is need to advance the legislation for a final debate on the Senate.

Democrats argued that the bill does not help families and health care providers enough, while Republicans argued that the bill offers financial assistance to the entire economy and should be passed before more people lose jobs.

Democrats are especially concerned that $500 billion fund would be for businesses, states and cities with wide latitudes to spend, would focus on the big corporations and Wall Street over actual health care.

Republicans argued that Democrats are focusing only on special interest and organized labor.

As Dow Jones has lost 10,000 points in six weeks, with several million Americans without jobs, and it seems that the Senate is caught arguing about who should get what, yet again.

Current plan is for $500 billion loan program with $425 billion for companies, states and cities, $50 billion for passenger airline companies, $8 billion for cargo air companies, and $17 billion for firms deemed important for national security, with $350 billion for small businesses.

When or if the stimulus plan will actually pass, is a question that Congress cannot yet answer, and one, impacting the lives of many Americans.

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As Spring Arrives, so do the Snow Storms

The National Weather Service warned that a major system was bringing blizzards and tornadoes as far west as the Rockies and as east as Mississippi valley.

Snow is expected across the central Rockies through Thursday, with high winds that will create blizzard conditions in southeastern Wyoming, northeastern Colorado and western Nebraska.

More than 10 million people will be affected by the storm directly, but the front will be felt by even those on the Atlantic coast.

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This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part with out the express written permission.

Simon’s Properties: All of its Malls start closing at 7 pm Wednesday due to COVID-19

Due to Coronavirus, all malls start to closedown in the nation at 7 pm Wednesday as of March 18,2020.

The largest owner of shopping malls group, Simon announced that it starts to close at 7 pm today local time Wednesday and it expects to end March 29 in a news release.

The Mall of America also announced today the mall closing a while and all the big department stores are temporarily closed.

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Coree ILBO copyright © 2013-2020. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part with out the express written permission.

Trump Wants to Pump $1 trillion into US Economy: Pay Cash

As the stock markets reel from the after-effects of coronavirus hitting the US and European continents, Pres. Trump urged Congress to consider a plan that would pay cash to Americans in order to pay bills.

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said US could pour $1 trillion into the US economy to fight the economic effects of social distancing, which has led to school closures and shutdown of businesses. As economic forecasts look grim, recession seems unavoidable.

Initially, Trump proposed a payroll tax holiday, yet lawmakers including GOP members, expressed concern, as it would only help those who continued to have jobs.

Therefore, Trump is now seeking to come up with cash to give Americans directly. Trump also wants to make sure airlines stay in business, stating he would not want people to lose jobs or not having money to live.

Even the conservative republicans are choosing to consider the importance of taking the hit on the deficit, stating that although it is not their normal prerogative, the situation is so dire, that it was not the time to be fiscally cheap.

Senate Minority Leader, democrat Chuck Schumer of New York, has unveiled a proposal to send $750 billion to various sectors to include emergency health care workers and first responders, medicine, and food delivery systems for seniors, and for public transportation assistance.

In response, stock markets responded positively, showing a rise in the Dow Jones and Standard & Poor’s 500 after such news.

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This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part with out the express written permission.

US Begins Vaccine Testing for Coronavirus

As the coronavirus pandemic begins its spread across Europe and the US (among rest of the world), the US has begun trial of novel coronavirus vaccine trial on its first participant on March 16, 2020.

Currently at Phase 1 trial, it enrolls a total of 45 healthy adults over a six-week time frame, with each participant receiving two injections about a month apart in varying doses.

Phase 1 is only meant to test the safety of the vaccines; effectiveness will be tested later.

The vaccine uses a genetic material called messenger RNA, which is meant to target the virus’ natural RNA structure, disturb it, and destroy it.

World’s eyes are on the medical community to pull through for the rest of humanity.

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Coree ILBO copyright © 2013-2020. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part with out the express written permission.

A Cup of poem~~ 빈 의자가 있어요/김호천

청곡 김호천

호숫가 굽어진 길

은행나무 아래

빈 의자가 있어요.

호수 건너엔 다리가 있고

멀리 푸른 하늘이 보이는 곳.

그대 지치고 외로울 땐

남 몰래 보아 놓은 빈 의자로 와요.

다리만 건너면 되요.

같이 앉아 푸른 하늘을 바라보면

눈길만 주어도 위안이 될 거예요.

학이 날아 와 친구를 기다리나 봐요.

또 한 마리 날아와 짝을 이루네요.

지나는 구름이 학을 안고 흘러요.

부리를 비벼대며 흥겨운 춤을 추어요.

파문이 일어요.

나뭇잎 떨어져 잔 물결 이는 호숫가

아늑한 곳 외로움을 달래 줄

빈 의자가 있어요.

함께 앉아 우리 친구가 되어요.

세월에 상처 난 손

그대 잡아주기는 어려워도

거친 바다를 건너다 지친 날개를 쉬게 할

어깨는 있어요.

그러니 어서 날아와요.

다른 사람들이 앉으면

오래 기다려야 할는지도 몰라요.

호젓한 내 마음의 빈 의자로.

시집 <초원의 반란>

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This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part with out the express written permission.