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Leaders of racist, extremist and white supremacist groups are encouraging people to spread the novel coronavirus to cops and Jewish people. This is according to information obtained by the FBI.
ABC News has obtained an alert from the FBI’s New York office:
“Members of extremist groups are encouraging one another to spread the virus, if contracted, through bodily fluids and personal interactions.”
The alert went out on Thursday, warning local police agencies that extremists might try to use spray bottles to spread fluids to cops on the street. They’re also encouraging members to spread the virus to Jewish people by going to “any place they may be congregated, to include markets, political offices, businesses and places of worship.”
Don Mihalek, the executive vice president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association and ABC News contributor added,
“Anti-government folks in America love to target law enforcement as a symbol of America’s authority. It’s just sad that that’s their focus at a time of crisis in the nation.”
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Michael Masters, the head of Secure Communities Network, who coordinates security for Jewish organizations and synagogues across the country, also offered a warning:
“From pushing the idea that Jews created the coronavirus virus to sell vaccines to encouraging infected followers to try to spread the illness to the Jewish community and law enforcement, as the coronavirus has spread, we have observed how white-supremacists, neo-Nazis, and others have used this to drive their own conspiracy theories, spread disinformation and incite violence on their online platforms.”
He continued, “While the world faces a deadly pandemic, it’s a stark reminder that certain groups–notably the Jewish community and law enforcement–must also continue the battle against those who wish to hurt or kill them. As the economic situation remains fragile and civil society disrupted, the potential for the followers of hate to act becomes more likely and more deadly.”
After Florida spring breakers received criticism for partying along the beaches and in public, they are now testing positive for COVID-19.
Fox 6 News reported that “five University of Tampa students are recovering after testing positive for COVID-19 during spring break. The university said the students were traveling together and with other UT students during spring break before testing positive.”
On Saturday night, the university said, “We sincerely wish our students and any others who may be affected, a full and rapid recovery.”
The news of the students not following CDC guidelines quickly became viral after a video started making rounds.
“If I get corona, I get corona. At the end of the day, I’m not going to let it stop me from partying,” said one spring breaker. “You know, we’ve been waiting, I’ve been waiting, for Miami spring break for a while; about two months we’ve had this trip planned. And we’re just out here having a good time. Whatever happens, happens.”
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Another student added, “It’s really messing up my spring break. What is there to do here other than go to bars or the beach? And they’re closing all of it. I think they’re blowing it out of proportion. I think it’s doing way too much.”
Yet another spring breaker chimed in, saying, “What they’re doing is bad. We need a refund. This virus ain’t that serious. There are more serious things out there like hunger and poverty, and we need to address that.”
In response, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered all beaches in the state closed, allowing only groups of 10 or less who properly practiced social distancing.
“The message I think for spring breakers is that the party’s over in Florida. You’re not going to be able to congregate on any beach in the state. Many of the hot spots that people like to go to, whether it’s Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Clearwater Beach, are closed entirely for the time being.”
As Germany works to slow down the spread of coronavirus, they will now ban groups of more than two people, with state premier Armin Laschet saying that “the danger lies in the direct social interaction.”
Chancellor Angela Merkel noted that the policy doesn’t apply to those who live in the same household and thanked “the overwhelming majority” of Germans who have been following social distancing rules. She also revealed that a doctor who gave her a vaccination had tested positive, so she would be entering self-quarantine herself.
“I know that it means sacrifice,” said Merkel. “I’m moved by the fact that so many are abiding by these rules. This way we show care for older and sick people, because the virus is most dangerous to them. In short: we are saving lives with this.
“With a certain distance, the risk of infections is reduced almost to zero,” she added. “Whether you are half a meter apart or 1.5 meters apart makes a huge difference.”
Many are encouraged to work from home if at all possible in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus.
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