Covidiots

The Hill reports: Former White House coronavirus coordinator Deborah Birx said in an interview aired Sunday that there were “definitely” people within the White House who believed the virus to be a hoax. “There were people in the White House … who definitely believed that this was a hoax,” Birx told CBS’ Margaret Brennan. Asked how such conspiracy theories emerged …

The Washington Post reports: Five prominent anti-vaccine organizations that have been known to spread misleading information about the coronavirus received more than $850,000 in loans from the federal Paycheck Protection Program, raising questions about why the government is giving money to groups actively opposing its agenda and seeking to undermine public health during a critical period. The groups that received …

The South Florida SunSentinel reports: A staunch opponent of wearing masks became the latest South Floridian to wind up behind bars over COVID-19 rules when she refused to cover her face inside a West Boca bagel shop, deputies say. The mask showdown happened Thursday when Cindy Falco-DiCorrado, 62, of Boynton Beach, refused to cover her face inside an Einstein Bros. …

Via press release from Democratic Rep. Brad Schneider: Last Wednesday, after narrowly escaping a violent mob incited by the President of the United States to attack the Capitol and its occupants, I was forced to spend several hours in a secure but confined location with dozens of other Members of Congress. Several Republican lawmakers in the room adamantly refused to …

The Seattle Times reports: Rep. Pramila Jayapal tested positive for coronavirus Monday night, her office said, after she was in lockdown during Wednesday’s siege of the Capitol with “Republican lawmakers who cruelly and selfishly refused to wear masks.” Jayapal’s office said she was locked in a secure room, as a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol, for “multiple hours” and several …

Insider New Jersey reports: Today, U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12) received a positive rapid antigen test result for COVID-19. The congresswoman said she believes she was exposed during protective isolation in the U.S. Capitol building as a result of insurrectionist riots. As reported by multiple news outlets, a number of members within the space ignored instructions to wear masks. …

Oregon Live reports: Security video obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive under a public records request clearly shows Rep. Mike Nearman, a Republican from Independence, open two doors to the Capitol during a Dec. 21 special legislative session, allowing violent demonstrators who were protesting immediately outside the door to illegally enter the building. Oregon’s Capitol was and is closed to the public …

Mediaite reports: Pro-Trump speaker Clay Clark at a Washington, D.C. rally on Tuesday afternoon encouraged fellow Trump supporters to hug each other at the event in Freedom Plaza. “Turn to the person next to you and give them a hug. Someone you don’t know, go hug somebody. Spread it out, mass spreader. It’s a mass-spreader event! It’s a mass-spreader event!” …

The New York Post reports: An anti-masker who believed the COVID-19 crisis was just a “political” stunt issued an emotional plea to skeptics from his hospital bed — after becoming seriously ill with the virus. In a Facebook video shared by a pal on Monday, Chuck Stacey gasps for breath as he admits he was wrong about the pandemic that’s …

The New York Daily News reports: A weary UK doctor walked out of the hospital where he spent New Year’s Eve treating COVID-19 patients and into a crowd of maskless protesters shouting “COVID is a hoax.” “I’m disgusted but mostly heartbroken,” Matthew Lee tweeted along with video he shot of the hundreds of protesters outside London’s St Thomas’s Hospital. “I …

Los Angeles’ ABC News affiliate reports: Despite warnings from public health officials to stay home on New Year’s Eve, a number of public gatherings took place throughout Southern California, including another maskless event hosted by actor Kirk Cameron. In recent weeks, Cameron has openly defied COVID-19 mandates and hosted two caroling events in Thousand Oaks as the region deals with …

NBC News reports: New York state authorities yanked the liquor license of a restaurant that played host to a “Covid conga line” and might have led to at least one infection, officials said Thursday. The Whitestone Republican Club threw its Christmas bash at Il Bacco in Queens. “After video surfaced of a potential superspreader holiday party at Il Bacco with …

ABC News reports: A family is outraged over a video of a Niles pastor seemingly blaming their family member’s – and one of his parishioners – COVID-19 death on a lack of faith. Michiana Christian Embassy previously held a funeral service for Les Tom, but now, Lead Pastor Rev. Jeffrey Whittaker’s Dec. 13 sermon is adding to the family’s heartache. …

Complex reports: Originally shared on TikTok, the three videos show how the woman refused to mask up, then began a lengthy outburst while an onlooker recorded the incident all the way up to police arriving at the scene. The woman can be seen talking at the bystander’s phone as one of the employees in the store (reportedly located in Georgia) …

The Queens Eagle reports: At least one person has been hospitalized for COVID-19 after attending an indoor Christmas dance party hosted by the Whitestone Republican Club earlier this month, the Eagle has learned. James Trent, chair of the affiliated Queens Village Republican Club, was admitted to North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset where he is recovering from COVID-19, he said …

The Hill reports: Celebrity doctor Drew Pinsky, famously known as “Dr. Drew,” revealed this week that he has tested positive for COVID-19. The diagnosis comes months after Pinsky apologized for downplaying the threat of the pandemic in a video that went viral on social media. The video included clips of Pinsky on his online show “Ask Dr. Drew,” his podcast …

CBS New York reports: A Staten Island bar cited for numerous social distancing violations is set to reopen Wednesday. This comes as one of the owners, Danny Presti, is scheduled for a court case on Jan. 11. Presti allegedly hit a sheriff officer with his car earlier this month, dragging him 100 yards and breaking both of his legs. Indoor …

San Antonio’s ABC News affiliate reports: San Antonio Police arrested one person, Eric Matthew Braden, in connection to an unauthorized protest at North Star Mall over wearing masks to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Police say they responded to the mall around 7 p.m. on Dec. 22 for a criminal trespassing call. Mall security confronted an organized protest with people …

USA Today reports: Lil Pump is no longer welcome to fly JetBlue Airways after violating COVID-19 safety protocols. The 20-year-old rapper, whose real name is Gazzy Garcia, is banned from flying on JetBlue after refusing to wear a face mask during his Sunday flight, JetBlue confirmed to USA TODAY. On his flight from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles, the “Gucci …

Of particular relevance to the post below this one: Arizona is reporting a record number of patients in intensive care units (ICUs) who have or are suspected to have the coronavirus, announcing more than 10,000 new cases and 42 more deaths due to the virus on Sunday. The Arizona Republic reported on Monday that 4,390 hospitalized COVID-19 patients were confirmed …