Germany is leading Europe toward extending economically devastating lockdowns as Western Europe scrambles to quell a second more deadly wave of COVID-19, potentially exacerbated by “mutant” strains like B.1.1.7, first isolated as a driver of infections in the UK. As Germany prepares to extend a nationwide lockdown until the end of January, other governments in Europe are considering taking similar steps to prolong or strengthen restrictions on movement and businesses.
With these mutant strains available as a convenient boogeyman to justify more draconian measures as winter in the northern hemisphere drags on, leaders from across Europe are considering prolonging or strengthening restrictions to battle highly contagious mutations of coronavirus.
As Germany reported a series of record numbers for cases and deaths over the holiday period, cries for extending the lockdown intensified.
“Premature easing would set us back very far again,” Markus Söder, the premier of Bavaria and leader of the CSU, one of Germany’s governing parties, said on Sunday, after the heads of the country’s 16 states met virtually over the weekend. “The numbers are simply still far too high,” he added. “As annoying as it is, we have to stay consistent and not give up too soon again.”
Europe’s outbreak hasn’t outpaced the US, but it remains a bastion for the pandemic in a world where much of the world continues to struggle with the virus.
Germany’s infection rate currently is at triple the level that policymakers deemed “safe” to start reopening last spring. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to meet with the heads of Germany’s states to discuss plans for the expansion, before making an announcement.
Even Boris Johnson has warmed to the possibility of delaying the return of students to British schools.
The French government moved on Saturday to move a nightly curfew in 15 states in the east and south-east of the country back from 2000 local time to to 1800 as incidence of coronavirus in those areas has been climbing more rapidly than elsewhere in France. France has also delayed the reopening of cinemas and museums, though schools are still expected to resume after the holiday.
Christian-Driven America-First Precious Metals.
Before markets collapse, the smart play is to move wealth or retirement to precious metals. Contact Genesis Gold now to make it happen smoothly with no hassles from a group driven by fellowship.
Over the last week, Ireland, which embraced strict lockdowns early on, has seen new cases, hospitalizations and deaths accelerate. Deputy PM Leo Varadkar said further restrictions could not be ruled out even after Dublin already ordered new restrictions for the second time in eight days last week. “I think the situation is very alarming. We can see hospitalizations increasing at a rapid rate, numbers in ICU increasing too,” Varadkar said in an interview with reporters. He added that the “explosion” of cases in the days since Christmas has outpaced the modeling.
Some are criticizing European nations (France, in particular) for taking too long to roll out vaccination campaigns. In France, lawmakers are selecting 35 people to form a “collective of citizens” in charge of deciding on vaccine strategy in the country. To the chagrin of public health officials, Europeans are refusing the vaccines in larger numbers than they anticipated.
But if we’ve learned anything, it’s that frantic warnings about lockdowns and overflowing hospital wards is often enough to convince some people to change their minds.
Will America-First News Outlets Make it to 2023?
Things are looking grim for conservative and populist news sites.
There’s something happening behind the scenes at several popular conservative news outlets. 2021 was bad, but 2022 is proving to be disastrous for news sites that aren’t “playing ball” with the corporate media narrative. It’s being said that advertisers are cracking down, forcing some of the biggest ad networks like Google and Yahoo to pull their inventory from conservative outlets. This has had two major effects. First, it has cooled most conservative outlets from discussing “taboo” topics like Pandemic Panic Theater, voter fraud, or The Great Reset. Second, it has isolated those ad networks that aren’t playing ball.
Certain topics are anathema for most ad networks. Speaking out against vaccines or vaccine mandates is a certain path to being demonetized. Highlighting voter fraud in the 2020 and future elections is another instant advertising death penalty. Throw in truthful stories about climate change hysteria, Critical Race Theory, and the border crisis and it’s easy to understand how difficult it is for America-First news outlets to spread the facts, share conservative opinions, and still pay the bills.
Without naming names, I have been told of several news outlets who have been forced to either consolidate with larger organizations or who have backed down on covering certain topics out of fear of being “canceled” by the ad networks. I get it. This is a business for many of us and it’s not very profitable. Those of us who do this for a living are often barely squeaking by, so loss of additional revenue can often mean being forced to make cuts. That means not being able to cover the topics properly. Its a Catch-22: Tell the truth and lose the money necessary to keep telling the truth, or avoid the truth and make enough money to survive. Those who have chosen survival simply aren’t able to spread the truth properly.
We will never avoid the truth. The Lord will provide if it is His will. Our job is simply to share the facts, spread the Gospel, and educate as many Americans as possible while exposing the forces of evil.
To those who have the means, we ask that you please donate. We have options available now, but there is no telling when those options will cancel us. We have our GivingFuel page. There have been many who have been canceled by PayPal, but for now it’s still an option. Your generosity is what keeps these sites running and allows us to get the truth to the masses. We’ve had great success in growing but we know we can do more with your assistance.
Thank you, and God Bless!
JD Rucker