News of the World

[kyonides]

First Confirmed Case of Coronavirus in Costa Rica!

An American woman who lives in New York with her husband is the first case of Covid-19 in Costa Rica. Her husband had been in contact with confirmed cases in New York before they traveled to sunny Costa Rica on March 1st. They visited Puntarenas province before she showed symptoms. The American Embassy has been contacted by the Ministry of Health and the couple has been isolated in an undisclosed location in San José province for prevention. The Ministry is currently waiting for the husband's test results. It is highly probable he might have contracted the coronavirus as the Minister had stated during the press conference.

Do not blame the husband! His acquaintances had not tested positive before they left the USA so he had no way to suspect something was going wrong with any of them.

By the way, the Ministry of Health is looking for 5 people the couple had met during their visit.

Source: Press Conference with the Minister of Health Daniel Salas and the President Carlos Alvarado

https://www.repretel.com/actualidad/se-c...ica-179520

Óscar Arias: “Me siento feliz de que nadie me haya echado la culpa del coronavirus”
Oscar Arias: "I'm glad that nobody has blamed me for the coronavirus"
https://www.crhoy.com/nacionales/oscar-a...ronavirus/
The former Costa Rican president kind of laughs at the crisis because during the swine flu pandemic he was the first Head of State in the world to contract the flu.

Reportan grave a paciente tico sospechoso de COVID-19
They report a seriously ill patient, a Costa Rican, suspect of contracting Covid-19
https://www.crhoy.com/nacionales/reporta...-covid-19/
The 54 year old man is diabetic and has showed symptoms and is suffering from pneumonia. He had visited Panama and returned on February 22nd. 6 days later he started showing symptoms similar to the coronavirus Covid-19. On March 6th his health condition got a lot worse than ever.

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Nintendo PlayStation: Ultra-rare prototype sells for £230,000
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51628836

The online bidder will end up paying $360,000 (£276,900) once the auction house's "buyer's premium" is added.

Just a little bit TOO MUCH for a simple game controller and something else, don't you think, guys?

[kyonides]

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard seeks absolution in virus fight
https://apnews.com/f7e6ea36b5c48118409f33c5795dfa17
It seems the special Ayatollah's military branch wants to wash its public image by spraying disinfectants all over the country. As if that would be enough to compensate the massacre of the Ukrainian plane in Teheran.

SpaceX launches station supplies, nails 50th rocket landing
https://apnews.com/d3c694c7b16fc5890a4ff198b475269c

The Dragon capsule, meanwhile, hurtled toward a Monday rendezvous with the space station.
It’s the 20th station delivery for SpaceX, which has launched nearly 100,000 pounds (45,360 kilograms) of goods to the orbiting outpost and returned nearly that much back to Earth since it began shipments in 2012.

O_o? NASA and the ISS now depend on SpaceX!? Has Musk's company become the Space UberEats Agency now!?

UN: 9 countries delay rotating troop and police over virus
https://apnews.com/0d00922e059a0ac307d711cb9b719517
Poor troops! They badly needed some time off the "battlefields" but now learn they should stay there for another 3 months.  

Trump names Rep. Mark Meadows his new chief of staff
https://apnews.com/cea977bd5514a17e5ced56d10553167f

Meadows has also made clear to the White House and those close to the president that he has no plans to try to rein in Trump, as others — like Mulvaney’s predecessor, retired four-star Gen. John Kelly — have tried and failed to do.

I guess that was expected from a loyalist.

Pence walks fine line on coronavirus response
https://apnews.com/19376394fdac9b7e700a5ef51ff6ad6e

Some criticize Vice President Pence, other praise him for his positive and collaborative mindset. So is he the guy for the job or not!?

Troy Collings: North Korea's 'first budget travel agent' dies aged 33
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-51732244
I dunno why anyone would dare to visit Kim Jong-un's lands as a humble tourist or guide. Especially if after one of more trips you end up contracting some serious disease in a mysterious way. Nope, it wasn't the coronavirus.

[kyonides]

5 Confirmed Cases of Coronavirus in Costa Rica!

Ministry of Health of Costa Rica
The tweet is written in Spanish only.
https://twitter.com/msaludcr/status/1236469225696395264

• An American couple from New York, age 49. The husband is an asymptomatic case. O_O
  
• Costa Rican male, age 54, hospitalized, suffers from diabetes, in critical condition
  
• Costa Rican female, age 73, aunt of the previous case
  
• Costa Rican female, age 41, the old lady's caretaker
  

7 suspected cases including Costa Ricans and foreign nationals.

First Confirmed Case in Washington DC!

Mayor Muriel Bowser
Not to be confused with King Bowser of Super Mario Brothers!
https://mobile.twitter.com/Clydesfan/sta...459456?p=v

A man in his 50s who is hospitalized and who is not known to have recently traveled overseas or come into contact with confirmed patients. D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser also said another middle-aged man appears to have contracted the virus while visiting the District; that person went to a hospital in Maryland, where the infection was confirmed.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/...ronavirus/

First Coronavirus Collapse!?  

Coronavirus quarantine hotel in China collapses, trapping dozens
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/m...ing-dozens

Second Member of French Parliament Has Contracted the Coronavirus!

Coronavirus spreads in French parliament
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health...KKBN20U0Q6
Other five members are being tested. A snack bar worker had also contracted the virus.

[kyonides]

Virulent Section

9 Confirmed Cases of Covid-19 in Costa Rica!

Ministry of Health Official Website - Spanish only
https://www.ministeriodesalud.go.cr/inde...a-amarilla

Tico Times News Article on the topic
https://ticotimes.net/2020/03/08/costa-r...s-citizens

Yes, it DOES say we included 3 Americans in the confirmed cases count. The third American is a 70-year-old female, resident of Costa Rica, with a recent travel record to the United States, including to two airports in that country. The rest of the patients are Costa Ricans.

Panamá descarta casos de Covid-19 por contactos con tico infectado
Panama disregards any Covid-19 cases after contacting people that had contacts with infected Costa Rican
https://www.crhoy.com/nacionales/panama-...infectado/
Yesterday the Panamanian authorities had been informed of the possibility of imported cases in Panama after a Costa Rican tested positive for Covid-19. He had been in the Tocumen International Airport. Today Panama announced that all tests returned negative.

Gobierno pidió aclaraciones a Guatemala por restricciones a pasajeros desde Costa Rica
Costa Rican Government asked for clarification to Guatemala for travel restrictions
https://www.crhoy.com/nacionales/gobiern...osta-rica/
The Costa Rican government was slightly alarmed after they had received reports from fellow Costa Ricans that were visiting Guatemala who stated that they found it more difficult to enter the Central American country and visit their tourist traps, err, nice tourist attractions. Their Guatemalan counterpart disregarded the claims and said their measures had a minimal impact on the tourists' travel experience for they only needed to pass a temperature test and fill a short form.

Ticos varados en Israel lograron salir y vienen de vuelta
Costa Ricans stuck in Israel managed to take a plan and are on their way home
https://www.crhoy.com/nacionales/ticos-v...de-vuelta/
After Israel had reported an increase in confirmed cases, fellow Costa Ricans and many other people had some real problem, how would they get out of Israel after several airlines canceled flights?
Gladly, a Turkish airline took them to Turkey and later to Spain. Now they're waiting for another plane that would take them back to Costa Rica.

Lockdown Subsection

Italy quarantines north in drastic bid to slow virus spread
https://apnews.com/f3be69cc2cf55f74a35118c557ad8461
It really seems to be a hard time for Italians and other people living there. Some people even prefer to run away from the North, even if they might unwillingly infect other people in the process.

I wonder how CharlieFleed is coping with this extreme situation.

Lockdown: Foreign governments take drastic action as coronavirus spreads
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/202...bia-lock-/
Not only China and Italy have enforced strong measures like quarantines, now Saudi Arabia is following their example! A key oil-producing province is under lockdown.

Ted Cruz undergoing self-quarantine after contact with CPAC coronavirus patient
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/202...us-patien/
The Republican Ted Cruz now prefers to stay away from the spotlight after he had partaken in the CPAC event in Washington DC.

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Animal News Section

Slothy Sunday: Six months in rehab
https://ticotimes.net/2020/03/08/slothy-...costa-rica

Oatmeal arrived as an electrocution case and was found on her deceased mother who had also been electrocuted. Oatmeal’s case has been an inspiring one, as no one had much hope for her and we didn’t think she would survive. Now, months later, she is climbing again, eating normally and all her hair has finally started to grow back. She has been through surgery, physiotherapy, long-term treatment, and she still puts a smile on our faces every day with her improvement and fighting personality.

Just in case you didn't get it, Oatmeal is a Costa Rican sloth.

[kyonides]

More on Coronavirus!

German health minister calls for cancellation of events as Covid-19 spreads
https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020...-covid-19/

"After many discussions with those responsible, I emphatically encourage the cancellation of events with more than 1,000 participants until further notice," Jens Spahn, the government's point man on coordinating action to contain contagion, wrote on Twitter.
...
Rules governing compensation for workers forced to cut working hours because of the crisis may also be eased, and investments may be ramped up to boost the economy.

So Melana and TsunamiJurai, you might soon miss many public activities in your respective areas.

Google tracked his bike ride past a burglarized home. That made him a suspect.
"I was using an app to see how many miles I rode my bike and now it was putting me at the scene of the crime," the man said.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/goo...m-n1151761
So it's unsafe to download exercise oriented Android apps!?

Still confused ─ and very worried ─ McCoy examined his phone. An avid biker, he used an exercise-tracking app, RunKeeper, to record his rides. The app relied on his phone’s location services, which fed his movements to Google. He looked up his route on the day of the March 29, 2019, burglary and saw that he had passed the victim’s house three times within an hour, part of his frequent loops through his neighborhood, he said.
“It was a nightmare scenario,” McCoy recalled. “I was using an app to see how many miles I rode my bike and now it was putting me at the scene of the crime. And I was the lead suspect.”

How do police enforcement agencies in the USA get this data? They do it via the geofence warrants. Google and other companies are forced to provide the police and FBI with data if they request it.

CIA funnels cash to private company aimed at defeating Huawei
Venture capital fund taps Parallel Wireless in bid to stop China's 5G dominance
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/202...at-huawei/

O_O Well, it seems you Americans kind of own a communications developer company after all. It's name is In-Q-Tel, the CIA-contracted venture capital fund.

[kyonides]

Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas are spending their holidays in Costa Rica! 

https://www.crhoy.com/entretenimiento/fo...osta-rica/
They arrived on Saturday after leaving Cuba...
What a bad timing, Batsie!

17 events were canceled due to Covid-19 - Spanish only
https://www.crhoy.com/nacionales/cancela...a-covi-19/
Even the X-Knights was included in that list.
The restriction will be in place for the next two weeks at least...  

Oh but you gotta go to school, high school or college!

CharlieFleed I mean Italy is under lockdown!
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51810673

Coronavirus: Death toll jumps again in Italy's 'darkest hour'
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51805727

Earlier on Monday, six inmates died amid riots at prisons across Italy after authorities suspended all visits.

Nope, things in Italy aren't easy at all.

Did you cough at me?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-51797751
When a cough meets threats...

Max von Sidow no longer exorcises invisible entities...
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-51804924
Take a peak on his past works on the silver screen.

Prince George's County On Alert!

Governor Hogan Announces Sixth Positive Case of Coronavirus in Maryland
https://governor.maryland.gov/2020/03/09...-maryland/

Now a well known Wulfo gotta be extremely careful!

Panama reports its First Case of Coronavirus!

https://apnews.com/56fee0b1fafc17e598e67a68427c335f

Trump and the Covid-19 Section

Two US lawmakers exposed to virus before meeting Trump

http://www.rfi.fr/en/wires/20200309-two-...ting-trump
The article states that Representatives Collins and Gaetz had been in contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus and in the last couple of days they have probably exposed President Trump to the Covid-19!

Republicans be strong!  

Normally I'd say Americans  but you know how Democrats can't stand Trump at all.

[kyonides]

Language Section

Tsundoku: Japanese term for buying books and just pile them up.

Really? Are they used to do such kind of weird things?
In my very personal experience, I might have to admit I don't read all the books I've got but I've read some pages at least before forgetting what was the last chapter I ever read.

A Crown Nobody Wants to Wear Section  

Panama registers it first fatal case of Covid-19 in Central America - in Spanish only
https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/mundo/cor...troamerica
Well, Panama had announced last night that they had their first confirmed case of coronavirus only to tell us today that another patient didn't make it... Who was this patient? A high school principal. There's another case in a delicate condition, he's being treated in an ICU.

That raises the number of confirmed cases in Panama to 8 and 1 decease.

The principal's school was shutdown for obvious reasons.

Costa Rica up to 13 confirmed cases of coronavirus, 179 suspected: What you need to know today
https://ticotimes.net/2020/03/10/costa-r...know-today
165 cases approximately are under study because of a doctor that traveled to Panamanian international airport to take his aunt back home or just met her there by chance according to some versions. The fact is that he went to work and kept contact with lots of people including patients and medical staff. Some say he might have infected lab technicians as well.

Since Inciensa is located in a building of its own so they can continue working on running the badly needed tests.

Two high schools and a primary school have been shutdown by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Public Education.

The decree cancelling mass events remains active.

More Maryland residents who took Egyptian cruises test positive for coronavirus, bringing state’s case total to nine
https://www.baltimoresun.com/coronavirus...story.html
Stay alert, Wulfo! Don't you love cruises? They say it's quite fun to be aboard.  

Coronavirus: Health minister Nadine Dorries tests positive
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51827356
So a politician in the UK has contracted this nasty virus. I hope this doesn't end up being a trend like in Iran or even France.

Confirmed Cases

Costa Rica - 13
PG County, MD - 3 (1 last night, 2 tonight)
Germany - 1.296 (source: Robert Koch Institut)

So keep at hand your hand sanitizer but don't go on a shopping rush!

[DerVVulfman]

More Maryland residents who took Egyptian cruises test positive for coronavirus, bringing state’s case total to nine
https://www.baltimoresun.com/coronavirus...story.html
Stay alert, Wulfo! Don't you love cruises? They say it's quite fun to be aboard.  

Nah. Last time a werewolf was on a cruise liner, he went overboard.

Hey, guys. Just so ya know, Dr. Fauci said that Trump's Travel Ban saved a lot of concern and suffering. And who is he? Anthony Fauci, M.D. is the head of the NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectiious Diseases). In essence, he said Trump's travel ban to China did the trick.

So what does that mean? It appears his rival political party wants to undo any travel bans! WHA? Yes, right now the GOP leaders want to halt this anti-Travel Ban bill because of the CoronaVirus. Seriously, if halting travel works, what are they thinking? Like... let travel back and forth between China and the US while infections are still high?

Meanwhile, it appears that Forrest Gump got infected.
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson now have the CoronaVirus
This... in Australia while working on a movie about Elvis Presley.

[kyonides]

Covid-19 PANDEMIC Section

Coronavirus pandemic declared: COVID-19 cases outside China soar 13-fold in two weeks
The UN agency said there is a "lack of resilience" in some public health systems and it wants better tracing of potential cases
https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-o...o-11955521
How does this affect you? Well, first of all stock markets always plummet after such serious announcements.  
Let's say it makes fearful investors think this is harder to stop than it might actually be. It also means investments in certain regions of the world might be canceled or postponed until further notice.  

Cuba confirms its first three cases of coronavirus
https://nationalpost.com/pmn/health-pmn/...oronavirus
Didn't I tell you about Cuba and my conspiracy theory? Nope? Well, I was right anyway! Cuba has confirmed cases!
Now my question would be... people like Batman, I mean Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas could be infected as well!? You see, they had been in Cuba before visiting sunny Costa Rica.

Another curious fact. Cuba's 3 patients had arrived on Monday while Batsie landed in Costa Rica on Satuday...
I guess he and Ana were lucky after all.

Costa Rica reaches 22 confirmed cases of coronavirus
https://ticotimes.net/2020/03/11/costa-r...oronavirus

Panama reports first coronavirus death, seven more people infected
https://nationalpost.com/pmn/health-pmn/...e-infected
You had already learned about the first decease but Panama surprised us when its authorities reported a total of 8 cases in their country.

Note: Worldometers reports 14 cases in Panama already...

Honduras confirms first 2 cases of COVID-19
2 Honduran women diagnosed recently returned from Spain, Switzerland
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/hondur...9-/1762458

El Salvador under lockdown due to Covid-19
https://www.crhoy.com/mundo/el-salvador-...-covid-19/
Curiously, their president is taking measures that make no sense. They've got no single case, yet.

More than 100,000 have fled Nicaragua crisis: UN
https://ticotimes.net/2020/03/10/more-th...-crisis-un
Who would expect that Nicaraguans would love to stay in their own country instead of fleeing away? Be sure not even Ortega and his allies would ever do that.
As a very short editorial I gotta say I don't expect Ortega to EVER admit they've got confirmed cases unless they can use it to blame the USA for it.

UPDATE: Governor Hogan Announces New Cases of COVID-19 in Maryland, Additional Actions
https://governor.maryland.gov/2020/03/11...l-actions/
And yet, there is just another confirmed case in PG county, werewolves!

E3 canceled amid coronavirus spread
The world's biggest gaming convention will be shelved for 2020. Microsoft and Ubisoft will showcase their games online instead.
https://www.cnet.com/news/e3-canceled-am...us-spread/
Yeah, if you had plans to visit the world's largest videogame convention, you better forget about it.

A Sharkish Section Finally  

Hammerhead sharks in Galapagos marked to study route through the Pacific
https://ticotimes.net/2020/03/11/hammerh...he-pacific

The Migramar acoustic marks will help “collect information on the migratory patterns of this species along the Eastern Pacific, when sharks pass through the areas where the receivers are installed,” the park said in a statement.
The network of receivers extends from the United States to Chile, and passes through protected areas of Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia. The Ocean Blue Tree organization also participated in the shark identification work.

Somehow I feel like they were playing Big Brother with my fellow sharks.

[kyonides]

Brazilian Official Who Met With Trump Tests Positive For Coronavirus
https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelsandl...ronavirus/
So could it be that Trump is a super spreader because he shows no visible symptoms!?
Or does it mean that the Brazillian government  spokesman is spreading it!?
By the way, they now suspect that the Brazillian president Jair Bolsonaro might be infected...

Trump ‘Not Concerned’ About Bolsonaro Aide Who Tested Positive For Coronavirus
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump...oronavirus
OK, you know him very well by now. You can't make him worry about such stuff.

I've been talking about Trump and forgot to take a look at his Northern neighbor...  

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau self-isolating over coronavirus fears
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51860702

Mr Trudeau's wife, Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, began to show mild symptoms of illness late on Wednesday after a speaking engagement in the UK.
The couple are staying home until the tests results are returned. Mr Trudeau is not exhibiting any symptoms.

Some Canadian Update

The wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tested positive for the coronavirus, according to reports
https://www.businessinsider.com/canadian...rus-2020-3
Well, we knew it was a possibility from the very beginning... Let's hope it'll be a case with mild symptoms.
Curiously the Prime Minister's Office doesn't want Trudeau to be tested for "he's not showing any symptoms." I guess he just needs to stay at home till she sheds the virus completely.

Spanish Soccer Suspended As Real Madrid Team Quarantined Due To Coronavirus; Major Tournaments Could Be Under Threat
https://deadline.com/2020/03/soccer-tour...202880748/
Nope, there won't be any match for the next two weeks, goalies and strikers!
You're asking me why!?  Well, a player was confirmed as a positive Covid-19 case... But he's a basketball player...

Costa Rica announces new measures to slow spread of coronavirus
https://ticotimes.net/2020/03/12/costa-r...oronavirus
The Minister of Health of Costa Rica Salas confirmed the 23rd case, a local health care worker.
International business travel for public workers has been suspended.

Nope, Costa Rica has not and does not plan to close its borders! They remain open!
President Alvarado and Minister Salas are against taking measures that could paralyze the country.
All of the Japanese tourists that had been kept in quarantine have been released after testing negative for Covid-19.

Coronavirus: EU condemns Trump travel ban on 26 European countries
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51857462
Last night Trump announced he ordered a travel ban on the Schengen zone and some other European countries but didn't do the same with the United Kingdom. He blamed EU for not doing anything to prevent them from becoming hotspots of coronavirus transmission.
European ambassadors obviously disliked his latest measure.

Please check out their map showing what countries will be affected since Friday 13th... What a lovely date he has chosen here!

Coronavirus LATEST: Stockholm changes policy on testing for coronavirus
https://www.thelocal.se/20200310/timelin...-in-sweden
Terrible news if you were Swedish or were visiting Sweden from now on.
Stockholm is no longer testing all suspected coronavirus cases, only elderly people and patients in hospital will be tested for the coronavirus from now on.

OK, this time I DO agree with Trump on not letting Swedish tourists enter US territory at all. There's no way, under current circumstances, that people around them could stay safe if nobody could know in a timely fashion they've already contracted the virus. I do understand Sweden's situation kind of desperate but their new policy is dangerous indeed!

Mikel Arteta: Arsenal manager tests positive for coronavirus
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/51865442

The Gunners have closed their training ground and club staff who had recent contact with Arteta will now self-isolate.
The Premier League will hold "an emergency club meeting" on Friday to discuss future fixtures.

And Some Slightly Laughable News

Mount Everest: Nepal's government shuts off mountain amid virus outbreak
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51866342
As a Wulfo once said "who the **** would try to climb it sick? Oh... yeah. The meme with Bilbo Baggins running with the contract..."