The corona virus is also spreading in the United States. Several states impose curfews. A Trump Vice Pence employee is infected. And the citizens stock up on weapons and ammunition.
The spread of the corona virus not only unsettles many people – in the United States, the crisis also leads to a rush for weapons and ammunition. Ammo.com, the ammunition dealer, said this week: “We have seen a significant increase in sales that is directly related to the growth of Covid-19 and its spread across the country.”
Between February 23 and March 15, sales more than quadrupled compared to the same period before. People not only hoarded things like toilet paper and staple foods, but “even unprecedented ammunition.”
The United States Firearms Industry Association (NSSF) said on Friday (local time) that arms and ammunition sales were increasing. There was growth especially among first-time customers. A few days ago, an NSSF statement said that Americans were lining up at local gun stores to stock up on weapons and ammunition. The FBI had informed the NSSF that requests for background checks from potential firearms buyers were around twice as high as a year ago.
Curfews in several states
With the Corona crisis expanding, the U.S. states of California and New York have taken drastic measures. In the two states with a total of around 60 million inhabitants, all unnecessary shops are closed and residents are asked to leave their homes as little as possible. US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he was currently not considering a nationwide curfew.
In the evening, the US state of Illinois also announced an extensive curfew. The measure will apply from 5 p.m. (11 p.m. CET) today until April 7, Governor J.B. Pritzker in Chicago. Pritzker also announced that there would be numerous exceptions. “Life will not change very much for the vast majority of you who have already taken precautions.” People are allowed to continue shopping, refueling, going to the pharmacy, seeing a doctor, walking, or walking the dog as long as they take precautions. Many people would continue to go to work. However, non-essential businesses would have to close.
Border closures to Mexico and Canada
President Trump made it clear at a White House press briefing on Friday that a nationwide curfew is currently not under consideration. “I don’t think we’ll ever think that’s necessary,” Trump said. There are “hotspots” like California and New York; however, many other US regions would not have “the same problem”. In the fight against the spread of the virus, the US borders with neighboring countries Mexico and Canada will close from now on for travel.
While an agreement with Canada had already been announced on Wednesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the decision on Mexico on Friday. “Not absolutely necessary” trips are prohibited, but this allows a number of exceptions. The transport of goods and goods is not affected.
A trillion dollars for emergency relief package
Pompeo, meanwhile, called on the Chinese leadership to be more transparent in the corona virus crisis. “The Chinese government was the first to know about this risk to the world,” said Pompeo at Trump’s press conference. Beijing therefore has a special responsibility to share data on the virus with US scientists. Trump and other government officials have accused China of lacking transparency in the pandemic. The US President has been talking about the “Chinese virus” regularly for some time – much to the annoyance of Beijing.
Meanwhile, the US Senate is working flat out on an economic emergency relief package that is said to be worth around $ 1 trillion. The opposition Democrats criticize that the package proposed by Trumps Republicans is aimed too much at companies and not sufficiently at the citizens. A vote is scheduled for Monday. The aid package then goes to the House of Representatives. For citizens and entrepreneurs, the government announced that there should be a three-month tax deferral.
Wall Street ends worst week since 2008 financial crisis
Meanwhile, the worst week since the 2008 financial crisis ended on Wall Street in New York. The leading Dow Jones index lost another 4.6 percent in view of the Covona virus pandemic on Friday and was around 19,174 points at the close of trading. Over the week, the Dow Jones lost about 17 percent. It is now lower than when US President Donald Trump took office in January 2017.
The corona crisis has sent stock markets down worldwide – despite massive interventions by governments and central banks. The Dow Jones lost nearly 13 percent on Monday, the worst drop since Black Monday in October 1987.
Coronavirus infection in Vice President Pence’s office
According to the White House, an employee of the US Vice President Mike Pence’s office is also infected with the corona virus. Neither Pence nor Trump was in close contact with the person, the Vice President’s spokeswoman, Katie Miller, said. Under increasing pressure, Trump had the corona virus tested last Friday – the test was negative. So far, nothing is known about a test by Pence.
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