Coronavirus outbreaks 12/11/20

Unreal: Researchers now believe roughly 330,000 COVID-19 cases across the US and around the world can be traced back to the two-day Biogen conference in Boston.

Infections from this one gathering made up 2% of all the US cases, @hannaskrueger reports https://t.co/OvilBh9hK5
— Ellen Barry (@EllenBarryNYT) December 11, 2020

After Giuliani visit, Michigan House says nearly 30 have tested positive for Covid this year https://t.co/hIX8q67psb
— julie k. brown (@jkbjournalist) December 10, 2020

Owner of an events company says his 4-day swingers convention in New Orleans last month has been tied to 41 new coronavirus infections. https://t.co/wNWakLHjEs
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) December 2, 2020

Fifteen members of the Aragonez family have tested positive for coronavirus since a get-together on November 1. Although the family is still healing, they took the time to make a public service announcement warning against large gatherings of this sort. https://t.co/efyaPWX4sK
— CNN (@CNN) November 24, 2020

A Washington state wedding that was called a "super-spreader" event may have caused deadly COVID-19 outbreaks in two long-term care facilities. https://t.co/GRfP3y5vdQ
— ABC News (@ABC) December 6, 2020

A birthday lunch left 15 Texas relatives battling covid-19: "Please don’t be like my family" https://t.co/8E7l04uNEk
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 23, 2020

A traveler who tested neg 48 hrs prior to flight was infectious by day of flight, pre-symptomatic; using genomic analysis, traced to 4 cases of in-flight transmission

This doesn’t mean don’t get tested; it means *don’t travel unless an emergency* #covid19 https://t.co/1DIundqlY5
— Abraar Karan (@AbraarKaran) November 21, 2020

900 on Mayo Clinic staff have contracted coronavirus in last two weekshttps://t.co/9vJ3JwzeQw
— Jesse Lehrich (@JesseLehrich) November 18, 2020

NEW: I investigated a giant, unsanctioned “superspreader” homecoming dance in Missouri. Turns out it was thrown by parents, and they may have tried to hide the number and identities of attendees in order to make contact tracing harder. https://t.co/SARHeOoimX
— Olivia Messer 🌻 (@OliviaMesser) November 13, 2020

The Texas lawsuit is garbage

Trump and 106 Republicans in the House support it. They won’t accept that Trump lost. It’s frightening. The majority of Republicans will never accept that Biden won. This is doing permanent damage.

There will be more voter suppression to prevent the fraud that didn’t happen.

A longshot, Trump-supported lawsuit from Texas is asking SCOTUS for an emergency order to invalidate the ballots of millions of voters in four battleground states — Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania — despite no evidence of widespread fraud. https://t.co/dGs7ym3qtF
— CNN (@CNN) December 10, 2020

Trump supports ‘garbage’ TX lawsuit asking the Supreme Court to invalidate millions of votes @GloriaBorger @RonBrownstein discuss pic.twitter.com/P22h2SJA5I
— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) December 10, 2020

More than half of the House Republican caucus now says they support Trump's latest undemocratic attempt to overturn the 2020 election @kaitlancollins reports pic.twitter.com/fvOjuPy1l2
— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) December 10, 2020

"Seditious abuse of the process." Damn right. https://t.co/iGfu3Cpj2y
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) December 10, 2020

More than half of the caucus. We're in trouble. https://t.co/qSArLZidVv
— Brendan Nyhan (@BrendanNyhan) December 10, 2020

Here are current GOP House members plotted by how conservative their district is (horizontal) and how conservative their voting behavior is (vertical). Amicus brief signers (in red) are only slightly more conservative on both scales. pic.twitter.com/uRoOexbTiH
— Seth Masket (@smotus) December 10, 2020

thank you Senator Cornyn. there is no legal theory and the conservative majority Supreme Court will reject it out of hand. https://t.co/3UTDsrlWyC
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) December 10, 2020

Today, a number of my colleagues will be filing an amicus brief in support of the lawsuit filed by the State of Texas regarding the election results of several other states. Respectfully, I will not join because I believe the case itself represents a dangerous violation… (1/5)
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) December 10, 2020

Ohio's GOP AG tells Supreme Court his state opposes Texas' election suit — says it would violate Constitution's electors clause for a federal court to change election rules adopted by state legislature. (That position was widely held by conservatives until a few weeks ago.) pic.twitter.com/yTgkx1Lsoc
— Greg Stohr (@GregStohr) December 10, 2020

BREAKING: Today, I joined 22 other attorneys general in filing a brief with the United States Supreme Court opposing Texas’ radical, anti-democratic lawsuit. This suit seeks to overturn the will of the people by throwing out the votes of tens of millions Americans. 1/
— Josh Stein (@JoshStein_) December 10, 2020

GOP superlawyer Ben Ginsburg: "I don't think the Supreme Court, for an instant, will consider taking up this case. What it shows you, I think… is that how far the Republican party has sort of corroded in basic beliefs under Donald Trump in this area." https://t.co/C0ufmzJjTz
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) December 10, 2020

I'm still seeing a lot of concern about the Texas Supreme Court filing, which is understandable. From a certain angle, it looks imposing.

So here, in sum, is why there's no need for alarm (thread):
— Elie Honig (@eliehonig) December 10, 2020

This is not a serious legal case or argument, writes @CillizzaCNN. It "isn't about winning a legal fight. It's about preserving political strength." | Analysis https://t.co/CEHZEAkrew
— CNN (@CNN) December 10, 2020

READ: Brief from 106 Republicans backing Texas' Supreme Court lawsuit seeking to overturn President Trump's defeat in four battleground states https://t.co/cEuxlFuw2n pic.twitter.com/u3mQxv71Ze
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) December 10, 2020

Think people are underrating the possibility that the SCOTUS takes up this case, and holds that the original intent is that state legislatures DO have plenary authority over allocation of electors. That doesn’t overturn this election but sets the stage for a future GOP takeover. https://t.co/WBf4SALrIt
— Will Stancil (@whstancil) December 10, 2020

Good point – Republicans may be trying to have legislatures appoint electors in the future

Biden will have the White House cleaned before he moves in

Good idea! It’s a covid hotspot. I wouldn’t go there now.

Before the Bidens move in, the White House will first undergo a Covid-19 cleansing, top to bottom, from East Wing to West Wing. The total for the amplified White House inauguration deep clean right now hovers near a half-million dollars https://t.co/Er02VjNCZe
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) January 12, 2021

Expect a White House deep clean when Joe Biden moves in https://t.co/Hl3foyGWxH pic.twitter.com/CFVE0p9Tin
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) December 10, 2020

There have been over 40 COVID-19 cases in Donald Trump’s circle, so Joe Biden's team plans to “thoroughly clean and disinfect” all the surfaces in the White House before moving in. https://t.co/f0kv8qn0C3
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) December 10, 2020

That includes plans to "thoroughly clean and disinfect" all furniture, doorknobs, handrails and light switches, before Biden and his team move in.

A private contractor will provide "disinfectant misting services" to clear the air of lingering droplets. https://t.co/j7Fr7vLPSM
— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) December 10, 2020

Perdue’s shady financial dealings

New: Georgia Senator David Perdue sold his home last year, in a private deal, to an official whose organization had business before his committee.https://t.co/cQzJ139g2V
— Robert Faturechi (@RobertFaturechi) December 10, 2020

New: @sendavidperdue sold up to $165,000 in shares of a casino company that later shuttered and made an investment in a company that manufactures personal protective equipment on the same day he attended his first classified pandemic briefing. https://t.co/sKCmo1KJSu
— Mark Elliott (@markmobility) December 2, 2020

Sen. David Perdue owned up to $250,000 in FireEye stock when he promoted the company’s reports to the Senate’s cybersecurity committee, says reports https://t.co/WKlBW8INbl
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) December 2, 2020

This is wild! "An examination of Mr. Perdue’s stock trading during his six years in office reveals that he has been the Senate’s most prolific stock trader by far, sometimes reporting 20 or more transactions in a single day." https://t.co/NRMNxAUMQk
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) December 2, 2020

Salon: David Perdue traded bank stock while passing pro-bank legislation on the Senate Banking Cmte.

From 2017 to 2020, Perdue co-sponsored 14 bills benefitting the financial industry. He also accepted $1+ mil in contributions from financial interests.https://t.co/iqNePvw4FN
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) November 28, 2020

'Investigators found that Cardlytics’ chief executive at the time, Scott Grimes, sent Mr. Perdue a personal email two days before the senator’s stock sale that made a vague mention of “upcoming changes.” 'https://t.co/J3LdJDJ9K1
— Trip Gabriel (@tripgabriel) November 25, 2020

Let’s put it bluntly. Sen. Perdue’s campaign lied to reporters for weeks/months by insisting he had no input on his stock sales. The Times report shows he clearly didhttps://t.co/wYZthfybaV

Via @sambrodey
— Sam Stein (@samstein) November 25, 2020

"A series of swift transactions in his portfolio told a different story, however, showing the senator dumped some company stocks, while investing in others — like protective equipment maker DuPont & pharmaceutical company Pfizer — that were poised to do well during the pandemic" https://t.co/smOQh8kFJH
— Ronald Brownstein (@RonBrownstein) November 25, 2020

Sen. David Perdue, one of two Republicans facing a runoff election in Georgia, began buying large amounts of ultimately profitable shares in a Navy contractor just before taking over as chair of a Senate subcommittee that oversees the Navy fleet. https://t.co/vDBQzb4SIn
— The New York Times (@nytimes) November 19, 2020

Anti-mask ignorance

The political battle over masks in some rural areas and small towns has led to a sharp spike in local COVID-19 cases, which now surpasses the rates of new cases in urban areas. https://t.co/ldE82sjyeG
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) December 11, 2020

Dave Ramsey, who does not require masks at Ramsey Solutions and said he would like to "start a crusade" against them, has had more than 100 cases of COVID-19 at his 800-employee company.

They're planning a giant Christmas party.https://t.co/hBaItBDoju
— Steve Cavendish (@scavendish) December 11, 2020

Been waiting for this ⁦@MonicaHesse⁩ piece to run.

“From then on, when a male customer requested she take off her mask — and it kept happening — it almost felt like he was asking her to take off her shirt.”

NOW can we eliminate the tipped wage?! https://t.co/upIeL15YHU
— Karla L Miller (@KarlaAtWork) December 10, 2020

Tensions rise over masks as virus grips smaller US cities (from @AP) https://t.co/sekjCoZPQH
— darlene superville (@dsupervilleap) December 10, 2020

He refused to wear a mask at a Florida Best Buy. Then he started coughing, police say https://t.co/qxk16z1CJZ
— Miami Herald (@MiamiHerald) December 9, 2020

An anti-mask mob descended on the home of a county commissioner as she prepared to vote on a mask mandate—while she was at the office and her kids were home alone. @MichaelDalyNYC calls her "a true patriot in a time of preposterous imposters." https://t.co/ew7etOGl1i
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) December 10, 2020

Idaho public health officials abruptly ended a COVID meeting after the Boise mayor and chief of police said intense protests outside the health department building – as well as outside some health officials' homes – were threatening public safety.https://t.co/ikGdjQr2KJ
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) December 9, 2020

Anti-mask protesters burned face masks in Brooklyn, NY, as COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the U.S. pic.twitter.com/or09iUkvMV
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) December 7, 2020

Anti-masker in San Jose, California wants to talk to corporate about the mask policy pic.twitter.com/OHlMY1ir81
— Fifty Shades of Whey (@davenewworld_2) December 9, 2020

South Dakota’s poor responsee to COVID-19

It starts with their governor

1 in 3 South Dakotans has now been infected with Covid. Stunning.
— Dr. Tom Frieden (@DrTomFrieden) December 9, 2020

A crushingly powerful account of coronavirus illness and death in a South Dakota town, from @anniegowen:https://t.co/7juaIMERTs
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) December 9, 2020

Even before the pandemic, Pine Ridge Reservation in #SouthDakota had the lowest life expectancy in the U.S. Now, more than 1 in 1,000 people statewide are dead from COVID. SD State Rep. #PeriPourier & Sen. @RedDawnFoster1 join me 8aET & 9aET. #velshi #IndianCountry
— Ali Velshi (@AliVelshi) November 29, 2020

But freedom or something. This is a goddamn tragedy and it was avoidable. https://t.co/ovv7YaA5fs
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) November 28, 2020

S. Dakota COVID-19 deaths bust record—and Noem tweets about shopping https://t.co/fDS1AvEpho
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) November 28, 2020

🚨BREAKING: South Dakota records its deadliest day of COVID pandemic with 54 more dead.

Adjusting for population, that would be like ~20,000 deaths in 1 day nationwide.
— Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) November 28, 2020

A South Dakota lawmaker who earlier this week visited Gov. Kristi Noem's mansion and attended her budget address in Pierre has tested positive for COVID-19. https://t.co/EexFNR5zaT
— argusleader (@argusleader) December 10, 2020

See how this works:

Vermont:
* population – 627,180
* total cases – 5,285
* total deaths – 86
* follows mask/social distancing

North Dakota:
* 760,900
* cases 86,149
* deaths 1,080
* limited restrictions late

South Dakota
* 892,631
* cases 88,023
* deaths 1,147
* "freedom"
— Amy Siskind 🏳️‍🌈 (@Amy_Siskind) December 10, 2020

Things I don't understand: SD's death rate is now 71% of NY's at its peak. How can there not be a huge backlash against the see-no-viral-evil governor? pic.twitter.com/XVr2VVQeRv
— Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) November 24, 2020

Wilbur Ross

Wilbur Ross, one of President Trump’s longest-serving cabinet members, has been under investigation for most of his tenure in office, according to a report issued Thursday by the inspector general of the Commerce Department.https://t.co/vrGDKWIM6Y
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) December 9, 2020

Trump’s unhinged supporters

He’s just inciting them like he has in the past

As Trump rails against his election loss, his supporters become more threatening https://t.co/NVb2ragPYt pic.twitter.com/mM1Zr4MuE6
— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) December 9, 2020

“If I would say to you, ‘I don’t want to do it,’” she said about signing the letter, “I’d get my house bombed tonight.” https://t.co/fS9UMX1T6j
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) December 9, 2020

"If Trump can keep exerting influence over the GOP, one can envision him — and the Republicans carrying his mantle — seeking to maintain among supporters a kind of permanent state of warfare against the legitimacy of our institutions." – @ThePlumLineGS https://t.co/9vr4hqm2H3
— Niskanen Center (@NiskanenCenter) December 9, 2020

Georgia voter suppression

Republicans have cut the number of Early Voting sites in Georgia’s Cobb County in half — primarily removing sites in minority neighborhoods.

Cobb County has over half a million voters and went for Biden by 14 points in November.

This is what actual election stealing looks like.
— Nate Lerner (@NathanLerner) December 9, 2020

Georgia Just Can’t Quit Trying to Suppress the Vote, Reduces Early Voting Locations by Half in 3rd Largest County https://t.co/tlKjZ1YYW7 via @Yahoo
— Don Winslow (@donwinslow) December 9, 2020

Election officials in Cobb County, Georgia, the state's third most populous county, are planning to open fewer than half the early voting locations for the Senate runoff elections in January.

The county swung heavily to Democrats in the general election. https://t.co/owB6tzHGhu
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) December 8, 2020

Georgia Activists Are Primed to Fight GOP Voter Suppression Tactics In State's Runoff https://t.co/cYelDP5WR2
— LaTosha Brown (@MsLaToshaBrown) December 8, 2020

Voter suppression, in GA

The GOP never learns. 4 of 10 most populated areas are reducing the number of polling locations

Black & Latino areas

They increased our motivation to vote & make sure our friends vote#wtpBLUE #wtpBiden #DemVoice1 #FreshSenate https://t.co/07xR9kev6E
— Maggie-Mae 🌊🌊 💛 (@Sbh08Mae) December 8, 2020

Back to normal in Georgia. Closing polling places in those areas with high numbers of African Americans and most likely to vote Democratic. Will the Republican “heroes” who stood up to Trump stand up for democracy here? No. This is what they do. This is who they are. https://t.co/fJ5ANGGlsX
— Eric Holder (@EricHolder) December 8, 2020

Vaccine polls 12/08/20

AP-NORC poll: Only half in US want shots as vaccine nears https://t.co/J3CDOia0GU
— Nigel Duara (@nigelduara) December 9, 2020

This is hugely important — https://t.co/filIZ8yH38
— J U A N A (@jmsummers) December 9, 2020

“A Medscape UK reader poll of 308 UK doctors found 4 in 10 would not have a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as one is approved by the MHRA.”

Are UK Doctors Sceptical of COVID-19 Vaccine? https://t.co/bPMb0X002V
— Anna Brees (@BreesAnna) November 25, 2020

58% of Americans said they would get a COVID-19 vaccine if an FDA-approved vaccine was available right now, according to a Gallup poll conducted in late October. https://t.co/ybzmrdTvUH pic.twitter.com/YitKlRrS2s
— FiveThirtyEight (@FiveThirtyEight) November 20, 2020

9/ As I guessed, the fear that folks might not take vaccine is receding w/ efficacy/safety news, along w/ seeing that @US_FDA stared down Trump & re-earned trust. New poll: ~70% would take vaccine if endorsed by health officials (read: Fauci), up from 50% https://t.co/VrbTpML1KX
— Bob Wachter (@Bob_Wachter) November 25, 2020