AlertsUSA Threat Journal - April 25, 2020

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April 25, 2020	Threat Journal is a weekly supplement to the AlertsUSA National Threat and Incident Notification Service for Mobile Devices

WEEKLY THREAT AND ALERT ROUNDUP
Published Each Saturday Afternoon

Borders Remain Closed, Immigration Slowed
CDC Warns of 'More Difficult' Second Wave

April 25, 2020

Between April 20-21, the following related Flash SMS
messages were sent to AlertsUSA subscriber mobile devices:

4/20 - DHS: “In close collaboration, the US, MX, and Canada have each agreed to extend restrictions on non-essential travel across shared borders for 30 add'l days."

4/20 - A short time ago, President Trump Tweeted the following: "I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!"

4/21 - Enroute airspace around DC to go ATC Zero from ~10 PM 4/21 to 4 AM 4/22. No ATC avail due to cleaning of Washington Center flwg COVID-19 case. More via email.

What You Need To Know

One month ago the Department of Homeland Security announced that in order to limit the further spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, the U.S. reached agreements with both Canada and Mexico to limit all non-essential travel across borders. Additionally, at that time it was announced that CBP would no longer detain illegal immigrants in their holding facilities but would immediately return these aliens to the country from which they entered. On Monday of this week, Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf announced that in close collaboration, the US, Mexico, and Canada have each agreed to extend the restrictions on non-essential travel across their shared borders for 30 additional days. As with the original order, essential commercial activity will not be affected.

Temporary Halt on Immigrant Visas

Also on Monday, President Trump announced via Twitter that he would be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States. Signed on Wednesday, that order suspends new immigrant visas for 60 days and applies to people who are currently outside the U.S. seeking entry and do not currently have a valid visa. The order does not apply to those people who are already lawful permanent residents or health care professionals seeking an immigrant visa to help combat the coronavirus in the U.S..

Read the Executive Order

Read the Fact Sheet

CDC Director Warns of Second Wave

Also this week, as states move ahead with plans to reopen their economies, CDC Director Robert Redfield warned Tuesday that a second wave of the COVID-19 coronavirus will be far more dire because it is likely to coincide with the start of flu season.

“There’s a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through. We’re going to have the flu epidemic and the coronavirus epidemic at the same time. Having two simultaneous respiratory outbreaks would put unimaginable strain on the health-care system."

Redfield went onto say that federal and state officials need to use the coming months to prepare for what lies ahead. As stay-at-home orders are lifted, officials need to stress the continued importance of social distancing. They also need to massively scale up their ability to identify the infected through testing and find everyone they interact with through contact tracing. Doing so prevents new cases from becoming larger outbreaks.

As of Friday evening, the U.S. has documented more than 890,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and more than 51,000 deaths. Thats more than 51,000 brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, grandparents, sons, daughters, and close friends all lost to this virus. AlertsUSA urges readers to use common sense, mask up when in crowded public venues and observe the social distancing guidelines, not only for your well being, but also that of others.

OFFICIAL CASE NUMBERS

World Health Organization
Centers for Disease Control (U.S.)
Johns Hopkins CSSE (Interactive map updated multiple times daily)

Johns Hopkins CSSE COVID-19 Case Count (Interactive map updated multiple times daily) - ALLOW IMAGES

Johns Hopkins CSSE COVID-19 U.S. Case Count Graph - ALLOW IMAGES

WHO RISK OF SPREAD & IMPACT ASSESSMENT

China Very High
Regional Level Very High
Global Level Very High

PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE RESOURCES

White House

Guidelines for Opening Up America Again

Official Coronavirus Information Pages:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Food and Drug Administration
Public Health Agency of Canada
Infection Prevention and Control Canada
World Health Organization

Official Pandemic Preparedness Guidance:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Department of Homeland Security / Ready.Gov
World Health Organization

DIY CLOTH MASK RESOURCES

Don't buy the masks online. At the present time, most retail masks are made in China anyhow. Make it at home.

CDC Homemade Cloth Face Coverings
Instructables DIY Cloth Face Mask
NYT How to Sew a Face Mask
The Olson Mask Pattern

Assorted Resources

(While some of the resources below were prepared for pandemic influenza, the broader guidance contain therein is directly applicable to the current coronavirus crisis).

Home Care for Patients w/ Suspected Coronavirus Infection
Community Mitigation Guidelines to Prevent Pandemic Influenza
Fundamentals of Emergency Planning for Schools
Healthcare Systems Preparedness for COVID-19
Pub Health Guidance for Community-Level Preparedness & Response (SARS)
Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist
Faith-based & Community Org. Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Checklist
WHO Checklist for Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Planning
Get Your Workplace Ready for Pandemic Flu
Dept of Defense Coronavirus Response Page
DHS Supplemental Instructions For Inbound Flights

View Last Week's Issue

AlertsUSA continues to monitor the domestic and international threat environment around the clock and will immediately notify service subscribers, via SMS messages to their mobile devices, of new alerts, warnings and advisories or any developments which signal a change the overall threat picture for American citizens as events warrant.

AlertsUSA.com

OTHER SMS ALERTS FROM THIS WEEK
NOT DETAILED IN THIS NEWSLETTER ISSUE

4/19 - M 6.4 earthquake near East coast of Honshu, Japan. Strongest shaking reported in Iwate & Miyagi prefectures. No tsunami threat expected. AlertsUSA monitoring..

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DHS Reserch Shows Sunlight, Heat & Humidity Kill Coronavirus Quickly

DHS Research Shows Sunlight, Heat & Humidity
Kill Coronavirus Quickly

April 25, 2020

What You Need To Know

On Thursday during the daily press briefing of the White House coronavirus task force, William N. Bryan, the acting Undersecretary for Science and Technology at the Department of Homeland Security, detailed recent lab studies on the COVID-19 coronavirus carried out by the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center at Fort Detrick, MD.

According to Bryan,

"Our most striking observation to date is the powerful effect solar light appears to have on killing the virus on both surfaces & in the air. We see a similar effect with both temperature & humidity ... increasing them is unfavorable for the virus."

Watch the full presentation HERE.

Coronavirus sensitivity to temperature, humidity and sunlight from DHS.

Best practices for every American by DHS.

Commentary / Analysis / Research

April 25, 2020

The Perfect Storm

If ever the modern world faced a “perfect storm,” this is it. The combination of a deadly and highly infectious virus, an emerging worldwide economic depression, the collapse of global governance, and an absence of a coordinated and effective international response—all have contributed to a tragedy of historic magnitude, one that will not be easily overcome. While quarantines and self-isolation have helped mitigate the crisis, few believe that these measures alone can solve it, let alone provide a roadmap for the future.

~ READ MORE HERE ~

In Chaos, There’s Opportunity … And That’s Bad News

If we’ve learned anything about cyber adversaries, it’s that they will seize on any opportunity to gain an advantage in targeting their victims, including exploiting the fears of the public during a global pandemic. As COVID-19 has moved from the East to the West, adversaries have followed suit, using lures that play into people’s desperation for information on the disease. In “The Art of War,” Sun-Tzu said“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”

~ READ MORE HERE ~

Coronavirus: Another 9/11 Moment for the West

Commentators and politicians today worry that the current situation might trigger a new cold war with China. They fail to understand that, in a similar but much more far-reaching pattern to the jihadist conflict, China has been fighting a cold war against the West for decades, while we have refused to recognize what is going on. The reality, in Beijing's book, is that the cold war between China and the West, which began with the communist seizure of China in 1949, never ended. Despite the Sino-Soviet split and subsequent US-China rapprochement in the early 1970s, for the Chinese leadership the US was still the implacable enemy.

~ READ MORE HERE ~

Fleet and Marine Tracker Map as of April 20, 2020 - ALLOW IMAGE8

USNI Fleet and Marine Tracker

April 25, 2020

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of April 20th, 2020 based on Navy, public data provided by the U.S. Naval Institute, and open source reporting. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship.

A Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II prepares to land on the USS America in the South China Sea, April 18, 2020.

World News Roundup

April 25, 2020

AMERICAS

US Military Bracing for Pandemic to Resurge
18 sailors aboard USS Kidd test positive for coronavirus
More than 25 Navy Ships Now Have Sailors Infected with the Coronavirus
US Military Prioritizes Special Ops, Nuclear Forces for COVID-19 Testing
Here's How the Army Is Planning to Restart Training for Large Combat Units
China rejects Pompeo's request for access to Wuhan lab
Top general: Air Force preparing for coronavirus to be cyclical
New Yorkers sue World Health Organization over coronavirus response
Chinese Agents Helped Spread Messages That Sowed Virus Panic in U.S.
U.S. Navy destroyer in Caribbean sees significant coronavirus outbreak
Five threats to US food supply chains
University stops using Chinese testing kits after some found to be contaminated
WTO report says 80 countries limiting exports of face masks, other goods
US boosts aid to Greenland over military tension with Russia, China in Arctic
Thunderbirds, Blue Angels Team Up for Dramatic Salute to COVID Responders
The pandemic could leave 'a profound economic impact' on the DoD
The Saudis Are Sending Us A 50 Million Barrel Oil Bomb
Oil Tankers Surround California With Nowhere to Unload
Coronavirus: World risks 'biblical' famines due to pandemic - UN
Bin Laden wanted to kill Obama so “unprepared” Biden would be president

EUROPE

General: Russia Is Testing US Military for Weaknesses Amid Pandemic
Coronvirus: Europe 'wary of confronting China over deaths'
The British economy is crumbling as the lockdown drags on
Coronavirus will make life hard for a long time, Angela Merkel says
Russia Abandons Its Nuclear Destroyer And Supersized Frigate Programs
Eurozone economy suffers 'unprecedented' collapse
Is Russia Finally Ready To Give Up On Its Aircraft Carrier Dreams?
WHO warns coronavirus 'will be with us for a long time'
Virus turns off the beer taps as Munich cancels Oktoberfest
A Trump-Putin 'Reset'? Behind-The-Scenes Diplomacy
Dutch Supreme Court rules doctors can euthanize dementia patients...
Coronavirus Puts Italy's Most Vicious Mobsters Back on Street...

MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA

Iran promises 'to crush' US forces if ships attacked in Gulf
Will the US Navy Sink Iranian Fast Boats in the Gulf? Maybe, Maybe Not
Iran Says Its Missiles Can Hit Ships More Than 400 Miles Away
Iran's Revolutionary Guards claim successful launch of military satellite
Are Egypt, Sudan, And Ethiopia On The Verge Of A War Over Water?
Ramadan in Somalia: fears coronavirus cases will climb as gatherings continue
U.S. Airstrikes Hit All-Time High as Coronavirus Spreads in Somalia
The U.S. Air Force Has a Spy Ship in the Persian Gulf

ASIA

Thousands sign up to US class action to sue China over coronavirus
China's PR Attempt To Showcase Its Wuhan’s Institute of Virology Backfires
U.S. warship sails through Taiwan Strait, second time in a month
USS America steams to intercept Chinese ships near Malaysia
Vietnam eases coronavirus restrictions after reporting zero deaths
China Sends $30 Million to W.H.O. After U.S. Freezes Funding
US, Chinese warships enter South China Sea as tensions rise over oil dispute
US 'Strongly Opposes China's Bullying' in the South China Sea
Australia, U.S. leaders discuss investigation into coronavirus pandemic
North Korea media silent on Kim's whereabouts as speculation on health rages
Kim Yo-jong: the sister of Kim Jong-un, fast 'becoming his alter ego'

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Travel Security

Department of State Seal - ALLOW IMAGES

The U.S. Dept. of State Travel Website is the authoritative federal source for information on the security situation at travel destinations worldwide. With tensions rapidly increasing in most regions, readers planning international travel, even to such common destinations as Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean Islands, are strongly encouraged to do a little research on the security situation at your destination well prior to departure.

Active USGOV Travel Notices

Worldwide Caution

Active USGOV Travel Advisories

Alphabetical Country List

Dynamic Map

Other USGOV Travel Resources

Traveler's Checklist

Smart Traveler Enrollment Prog (STEP)

Travelers with Special Considerations

Travel to High-Risk Areas

Faith-Based Travel Information

Information for Women Travelers

Cruise Ship Passengers

Students Abroad

Your Health Abroad

Driving and Road Safety Abroad

Overseas Security Advisory Council Logo - ALLOW IMAGES

The Department of State’s Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) provides a variety of resources to enhance the safety and security of the U.S. private sector businesses and organizations operating abroad.

CDC Logo - ALLOW IMAGES

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website is the authoritative federal source for information on current health issues related to specific destinations worldwide. These issues may arise from disease outbreaks, special events or gatherings, natural disasters, or other conditions that may affect travelers’ health.

Foreign Sources of Travel Guidance

		Global Affairs Canada

		Australia Dept. of Foreign Affairs

		UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Take Advantage of These Resources

Our social media channels provide a steady steam of important news and resources between issues of Threat Journal with little or no overlap of content. Combined with the AlertsUSA service for instant mobile notification of the really bad developments, you have an unmatched set of tools to keep yourself fully up to speed on the nation's threat environment. With times getting worse by the day, we urge you to utilize these resources.

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Ezekiel 33:3 - "Then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head."