Just how political is Hydrochlorqoquine? Links 1, May 12, 2020

1. It really does appear that there are opposing forces using hydroxychloroquine as a battle ground, not because it works or is good, but because of any potential political fall out from its success.

https://twitter.com/zev_dr/status/1259988184345251847

2. Switzerland rolls back coronavirus lockdown earlier than expected: What you need to know

The Swiss government brought forward a plan to ease lockdown restrictions in the country meaning pubs, restaurants gyms and other sites can reopen sooner than expected so the country “can learn to live with the virus.”

 

In a press conference on Wednesday, Prime Minister Simonetta Sommaruga and Health Minister Alain Berset announced the easing of restrictions which began on April 27th.

 

While some of these had been announced previously, others – including removing restrictions on restaurants, pubs museums, art galleries, libraries and on sporting competitions – were surprising as these were initially planned to reopen on June 8th. 

 

Sommaruga said that the relaxations were sooner than expected largely because of the success of the lockdown measures, however she warned that the battle was not over. 

“We have achieved a lot. We don’t want to endanger that,” she said. “We will have to live with the virus for a while.”

Minister of Health Alain Berset said that while reopening bars and restaurants was originally planned for June 8th, doing so on May 11th “is a good way to learn to live with the virus.”

 

Swiss authorities also stopped short of imposing making face masks o, although masks are recommended in public transport – particularly in peak hours. 

This is the latest plan to ease restrictions in Switzerland.

3. Afghan attack: Babies killed as gunmen storm maternity ward

Two babies and 11 mothers and nurses have been killed in a militant attack on a hospital in the Afghan capital.

Another 15 people, including a number of children, were injured when several gunmen attacked the Kabul hospital on Tuesday morning, officials said.

 

Part of the hospital is run by the international medical charity, Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF), and some of those working there are foreigners.

Meanwhile, in the east, an attack at a police funeral has killed at least 24.

 

Dozens more were injured in that bomb blast and casualty numbers in both attacks could rise. It is not clear who carried out either attack.

 

In Kabul, locals heard two blasts, then gunfire. One doctor who fled during the assault, which began at about 10:00 local time (05:30 GMT), told the BBC about 140 people were in the hospital when the gunmen began their attack. Another doctor described to news agency AFP how “total panic” took hold as the attack unfolded.

 

“The attackers were shooting at anyone in this hospital without any reason,” vendor Ramazan Ali, who saw the attack begin, told news agency Reuters. “It’s a government hospital, and a lot of people bring in their women and children for treatment.”

(So a bunch of muslim terrorists murder women and children and BABIES and they still don’t rate being called terrorists by the BBC. Notice the use of the term, ‘Militants’. Much more emotive adjectives are used against white people or Christians who do far far less offensive things.)

4. RAIR Foundation list of videos on German anti-lockdown protests and police suppression of them.

Above there are several videos showing the German police being quite harsh against protestors. One video not in that list is the following. Granted, we are not shown why the police beat one man into unconsciousness, we just know they did.

5. Some of the BS artists that are making laws and policy based on phoney climate science, or more accurately, scientism.

Thank you all who posted thoughts and news today. It has been a slow day. But there are things in the works.