US Not Ready: New York and California Residents Told to Stay Home to Slow COVID-19

It’s Friday, so that means it's panel time.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Friday ordered all non-essential
businesses in the state to have their employees work from home as part
of the ongoing effort to stop the spread of the COVID-19 novel
coronavirus. He said that after looking at experts' numbers and
evaluating the available stocks of medical supplies, he's convinced
the state's health care system will be overwhelmed if the government
does not act. Cuomo specifically mentioned the 1918 flu pandemic and
how historians have pointed out that St. Louis, Missouri, took more
extreme measures to stop the spread, while Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
did not, and thus suffered many more deaths. The "pause" order, as the
governor is calling it, takes effect on Sunday night.

"The Trump administration is closing the border to all nonessential
traffic between the US and Mexico," TTWN reported Friday. "At the
White House, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called it a mutual
agreement with Mexico. The move is being made in response to growing
concerns about the coronavirus crisis."

"Brazilians on Wednesday held what was described as the largest
protest against far-right President Jair Bolsonaro to date, but the
demonstration did not take place in the streets," Common Dreams
reported Thursday. What’s going on in Brazil? "Instead, voluntarily
confined to their homes to prevent the spread of the novel
coronavirus, millions of people in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro took
to their balconies and windows to demand Bolsonaro's ouster over his
handling of the COVID-19 outbreak, which the president continues to
downplay even after more than a dozen members of his inner circle
tested positive for the disease." What's the difference between what’s
happening in Brazil and what’s happening in Spain and Italy?

"Promising to 'smash' Venezuela’s government during a 'maximum
pressure March,' Trump has imposed crushing sanctions that force
Venezuela to spend three times as much as non-sanctioned countries on
coronavirus testing kits," The Grayzone reported Tuesday. What has
happened to diplomacy and soft power? Could this be considered virtual
germ warfare?

"State officials and mayors critical of the federal response to the
coronavirus pandemic began imposing the most severe emergency measures
to date on Sunday, with four governors effectively forcing
restaurants, bars or other businesses to shut their doors," the
Washington Post reported Monday. Are these actions really necessary,
or is this just the tip of the iceberg?

GUESTS:

Caleb Maupin — Journalist and political analyst who focuses his
coverage on US foreign policy.

Dr. Yolandra Hancock — Board-certified pediatrician and obesity
medicine specialist who combines her hands-on clinical experience and
public health expertise with her passion for building vibrant families
and communities by providing patient-empowering, best-in-class health
and wellness care to children and adolescents who are fighting
childhood obesity.

Daniel Lazare — Journalist and author of three books: "The Frozen
Republic," "The Velvet Coup" and "America's Undeclared War."

Dr. Jack Rasmus — Professor of economics at Saint Mary's College of
California and author of "Central Bankers at the End of Their Ropes:
Monetary Policy and the Coming Depression."