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State of the Nation<\/a> N.B. The following is “Call to Action<\/span><\/strong>” is a must read from the STAND FOR HEALTH FREEDOM<\/strong> site.\u00a0 Please, EVERYONE, circulate this important link far and wide: Since COVID-19 was declared a public health emergency on January 31, the American way of life has been completely upended. Schools and businesses are shut down, and nearly all of the US population \u2014 approximately 97 percent \u2014 has been ordered to stay at home by their state and local governments. The fallout has been significant: the trauma of loved ones dying all alone, living in constant fear of COVID-19, and losing numerous fundamental freedoms \u2014 from the ability to assemble and worship, to the ability to earn a livelihood.<\/p>\n With so many lives being profoundly affected in such a short time, people are now wondering whether the emergency measures being imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus are more harmful than the virus itself. Over the past few weeks, we have heard positive news reports that the virus is not nearly as lethal as originally projected. At the same time, we have witnessed a staggering rise in unemployment, with more than 16 million Americans<\/a> filing for unemployment benefits between March 15 and April 4. Many small businesses have been forced to shut down. Entire business sectors are in distress. And the International Monetary Fund is now projecting that our country is headed for the worst economic recession<\/a> it has experienced since the Great Depression.<\/p>\n Stand for Health Freedom recently conducted a survey of our readers to gauge how they are being affected by the pandemic. Nearly 6,000 individuals responded with heart-breaking stories of their struggles to survive financially, physically and emotionally. Some of the reports we received are dire: individuals being denied life-saving medical treatments to preserve supplies for COVID-positive patients; mothers being separated from their newborn babies; pregnant women being bullied into having C-sections to avoid hospital crowding; and widespread despair, depression and devastation from job losses, isolation and a lack of support systems.<\/p>\n These reports, along with knowledge about the devastating effects of joblessness \u2014 including stress-induced heart attacks<\/a> and suicide<\/a> \u2014 give rise to a growing realization\u00a0that government-sanctioned orders intended to contain the spread of the coronavirus are creating widespread devastation. One in four Americans<\/a> has either lost part or all of their income since the end of March, and the GDP has fallen by 24 percent<\/a>. A children\u2019s shelter in Indianapolis reported a 472% increase in demand for its services in a period of weeks. A restaurant owner<\/a> in Washington state spent more than eight years growing his establishment into an icon in his city \u2014 only to see his assets, retirement plan and livelihood shattered when he had to suddenly (and perhaps permanently) close his doors. Industries nationwide are seeking trillions in government aid. We are only weeks into this national emergency; the economic fallout under a continued lockdown will be far more profound.<\/p>\n On March 14, the Imperial College model \u2014 the model used as the basis for the drastic measures that were taken across the country \u2014 estimated that over 2 million Americans<\/a> would die if the entire nation was not locked down. The estimations also cited the need for social distancing measures for as long as 18 months \u201cuntil a vaccine is available.\u201d The lead author, Neil Ferguson, later unapologetically retracted that estimate, even though it had already adversely affected hundreds of millions of lives. Ferguson also acknowledged that two-thirds<\/a> of people whom the Imperial College projected would die from COVID-19 would have died with or without the infection due to chronic disease and related co-morbidities.<\/p>\n Likewise, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and an advisor to President Trump, also used the Imperial College estimates to spur President Trump\u2019s call for social distancing and widespread stay-at-home orders. A few weeks later, however, an editorial by Fauci in the New England Journal of Medicine\u201cCovid-19 \u2013 Navigating the Uncharted,\u201d<\/a> suggested the case fatality rate might be as low as 0.1% \u2014 in other words, akin to the mortality rate of a severe seasonal flu.<\/p>\n Moreover, an April 10 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that nearly 90% of those hospitalized for COVID-19 have an underlying condition<\/a>. This is in line with the Italian government\u2019s top health agency finding that 99% of COVID-related fatalities within their population were from individuals with pre-existing, life-threatening conditions.<\/p>\n Both the US health statistics agency<\/a> and the World Health Organization<\/a> have announced that the certification of \u201cdeaths by COVID-19\u201d require zero proof that the virus actually caused the death. This means that the official death statistics for COVID-19 do not require cases to be positively confirmed through virus testing. Cases in which COVID-19 are merely suspected to be a cause of death are being recorded as official COVID-19 deaths.<\/b> Public officials cannot make properly informed decisions based on inaccurate information, so we must urge them to reconsider drastic emergency measures they imposed based on faulty data.<\/b><\/p>\n Americans are wondering how long they will be required to comply with orders that force healthy individuals to indefinitely stay at home and businesses deemed as \u201cnon-essential\u201d to stay closed. We recognize that state governments have very broad police powers in times of emergency. However, the state must use those powers wisely. Arbitrary and oppressive government action is unconstitutional, even during a declared national emergency. This means that state and local lawmakers have a duty to take the least restrictive measures in response to issues that stem from an emergency.<\/p>\n There have been indications this week that states may plan to reopen soon. We must, however, let our governors and mayors know that it is not their job to<\/b> guarantee health or to privilege certain lives over others.<\/b> Individuals are capable of taking precautions to avoid COVID-19. Those who are vulnerable or who have COVID-19 should stay home, but healthy individuals need to return to work so that our jobs, our economy and our well-being are not destroyed.<\/p>\n It\u2019s time to stand and request commonsense policies to protect the vulnerable while restoring livelihoods and mitigating the repercussions of an indefinite shutdown. Email your governor and mayor NOW to urge them to lift all stay-at-home orders no later than May 1. Then share this with your family, friends and those in your community so they can have the opportunity to stand.<\/p>\n *If you live in Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah or Wyoming, your governor will not receive a letter because we found no indication of an order for healthy individuals to stay at home or for businesses to close.<\/p>\n **If you live in one of the top 250 cities in America by population, your mayor will receive a letter so long as your city is not one of the seven for which we found no indication of an order for healthy individuals to stay at home or for businesses to close.<\/p>\n
\nApril 28, 2020<\/p>\n
\nhttps:\/\/standforhealthfreedom.com\/action\/act-now-ask-your-mayor-and-your-governor-to-reopen-your-town-city-and-state\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\nACT NOW: Ask your mayor and
\nyour governor to reopen
\nyour town, city and state!<\/strong><\/h1>\n
\nOUR STAND<\/h2>\n
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\nCALL TO ACTION:<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Citizens Are Struggling To Survive Under Lockdown<\/b><\/h4>\n
US Deaths Dramatically Lower Than Expected<\/b><\/h4>\n
Decisions Affecting Millions Are Being Made Based On \u201cSuspected\u201d COVID Deaths<\/b><\/h4>\n
It\u2019s Time to Stand \u2013 Urge Your Lawmakers to Re-open Your City and State <\/b><\/h4>\n