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Added on the 06/12/2023 18:14:44 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
Last year, data scientist Rebekah Jones was fired by the Florida Department of Health. Part of her job was to work on the state's COVID-19 dashboard. But the data scientist was fired in May after she said she refused to alter data related to the pandemic in the state. However, she continued to publish her own Florida COVID-19 data independently, through her own dashboard. In December, Florida law enforcement raided her home, brandishing weapons at her young children. They seized computers, phones, and external storage drives in connection with an alleged hack. Now, Business Insider reports an arrest warrant has been issued for Jones, although it's not clear with what crime Florida officials plan to charge. Jones has agreed to turn herself in, calling the charges 'bogus' and an attempt to silence her for being a scientist critical of the government.
After an alarming outbreak of a mutant coronavirus, multiple countries have canceled flights from the United Kingdom. According to Business Insider, the move was prompted by fears around the new variant of COVID-19. The mutant coronavirus is believed to be up to 70% more transmissible than the original strain. In order to stop its spread, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that London and surrounding areas would suddenly be plunged into lockdown. Dutch authorities confirmed at least one case of this COVID-19 variant had reached the Netherlands. Flights from the UK to The Netherlands are canceled until January 1st, as are those to Belgium. On Sunday afternoon, Italian foreign minister Luigi di Maio said that the government would be suspending all travel from the UK.
In what Italy's prime minister said was 'not an easy decision,' PM Giuseppe Conte has put the country on lockdown for the holidays. Business Insider reports Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte told reporters that experts fear there will be a jump in COVID-19 cases over Christmas. Italy wasn't the only European country to tighten restrictions over the holidays — the UK and Germany have both announced heightened coronavirus restrictions. Johns Hopkins University data reports that as of Saturday, Italy had recorded over 1.9 million confirmed cases of coronavirus since the pandemic began. Thus far, nearly 68,000 deaths from COVID-19 have been reported in Italy.
Business Insider reports UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has placed himself under self-isolation. The move comes after Conservative MP Lee Anderson, who Johnson spent time with last week, announced he and his wife tested positive for the coronavirus. A Number 10 spokesperson said Johnson 'does not have any symptoms of COVID-19' and is self-isolating. In March, Johnson was hospitalized for ten days for COVID-19. He was moved to intensive care and received oxygen treatment after his symptoms became severe. Currently, Johns Hopkins University reports the UK has over 1.3 million confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
For President Donald Trump, a positive diagnosis for COVID-19 couldn't have come at a worse time. Aside from the very serious risk to his health, focusing the nation's attention on the pandemic is the last thing the Trump campaign wants to do. As Trump has now been hospitalized, he's all but powerless to reset his reelection campaign around issues like the Supreme Court and the economy. Some world leaders, like British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, saw a bump in approval from the public following a coronavirus diagnosis. However, it's highly unlikely Trump will receive such grace. He mocked opponent Hillary Clinton in 2016 for contracting pneumonia. He has also jeered at Vice President Joe Biden numerous times for wearing masks and scrupulously observing public health recommendations.