CDC Director Robert Redfield warns that the US could see its worst fall in history in terms of public health if coronavirus guidelines are not followed 

DR. REDFIELD GROWS A SPINE 
WARNS AMERICA ABOUT TRUMPVIRUS 

CDC issues dire warning that America will see the worst fall in history for public health if people don't wear masks and social distance as the US records nearly 1,500 new deaths - the highest daily spike since May

It came as the US reported 55,910 new cases and 1,499 deaths on Wednesday - the highest number of fatalities reported in a single day since May

Redfield said measures like masks and social distancing are only effective if at least 95 percent of the population adhere to them

'I'm not asking some of America to do it. We all gotta do it,' he said

He also stressed the importance of Americans getting vaccinated for the flu 

Redfield said hospitals will likely be overwhelmed if a bad flu season arrives on top of the pandemic

By MEGAN SHEETS FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

PUBLISHED: 13 August 2020



CDC Director Robert Redfield warned that the US is approaching what could be the worst fall in public health history if people fail to follow guidelines on slowing the spread of coronavirus

The US is approaching what could be the worst fall in public health history if people fail to follow guidelines on slowing the spread of coronavirus, the CDC has warned.

CDC Director Robert Redfield issued the warning on Wednesday as the US reported 55,910 new cases and 1,499 deaths - the highest number of fatalities in a single day since May.

More than 166,000 Americans have now died from COVID-19 and the average number of deaths has remained at just over 1,000 per day for two weeks.

Cases, which have now surpassed 5.2 million, have been falling nationally for three straight weeks and the average daily infection toll remains steady at about 52,000.

As autumn draws near, the CDC is heightening pleas for the public to stay vigilant in preventing the spread of the virus by wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and staying smart about gatherings.

Redfield said that if the CDC's guidelines are not followed, this could be 'the worst fall, from a public health perspective, we've ever had' as the coronavirus pandemic is compounded with flu season.


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Redfield's warning came as the US reported 1,499 new deaths on Wednesday - the highest number of fatalities reported in a single day since mid-May

Nationwide 55,910 new cases of coronavirus were reported on Wednesday


The graphic above shows daily increases in coronavirus cases and deaths. On Wednesday the US saw its largest daily increase in fatalities since mid-May. A significant spike is shown on one day in late June when a large number of deaths that occurred on previous days were reported

'For your country right now and for the war that we're in against covid, I'm asking you to do four simple things: wear a mask, social distance, wash your hands and be smart about crowds,' Redfield said in an interview with WebMD.

'I'm not asking some of America to do it. We all gotta do it,' he added, stressing that the guidelines are only effective if between 95 and 99 percent of people adhere to them.

Asked what he thinks the pandemic will look like by Thanksgiving, Redfield cited the opening line from Charles Dickens' 1859 novel A Tale of Two Cities.

'It's dependent on how the American people choose to respond,' he said. 'It's really the worst of times or the best of times, depending on the American public. I'm optimistic.'

Redfield's comments came as:
Florida, Georgia and Texas report record high numbers of daily deaths, driving the US increase of 1,499
Texas testing falls to its lowest rate since June while the positivity rate hits a record 24.5 percent
California begins to turn a corner with fewer daily cases and hospitalizations
Arizona is found to have the highest rate of pediatric infections - accounting for 12 percent of total cases 

National cases continue to decline despite infection rates rising in some rural areas

Redfield said that this year it will be more important than ever for people to get the flu vaccine to avoid overwhelming hospital systems already stretched with coronavirus patients.

'If there's one thing we all can do to prepare ourselves for the fall, [it is] to get the flu vaccine,' he said.

'By getting vaccinated, you can protect your children. When we look at the mortality that we see with flu, one thing is for certain. The kids that get vaccinated, they basically get protected against death.'

He noted that last year just 47 percent of the US population opted for a flu vaccine, and said the CDC is hopeful that that rate will be at least 65 percent this year.

The CDC has already purchased 10 million doses of the flu vaccine for uninsured adults this year, compared to the typical 500,000 doses.


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The 1,499 deaths reported on Wednesday marked the largest daily increase since mid-May. However, there is one day in late June with a large increase due to deaths that had occurred earlier in the month but were added to the total late

Redfield said he is 'very cautiously optimistic' that one or more coronavirus vaccines will be available by the beginning of 2021.

There are currently 270 vaccine trials underway, and Redfield said six of those candidates are 'moving forward very rapidly'.

He said that three vaccines entered phase three clinical trials two weeks ago and a fourth is expected to enter the final phase of trials soon.

'No one can predict scientific success, but we think from a scientific threshold, developing a COVID vaccine is not as complex as an HIV vaccine,' he said.

'I'm very optimistic that we're going to have one or more vaccines available.'

National health officials are currently seeking to quash rampant anti-vaxxer conspiracy theories about forthcoming coronavirus vaccines.

Some of the most popular theories include that the vaccines are part of a CIA scheme to take over the world, that they will be used to insert tracking devices into people, and that they've been developed using monkey brains.

A CNN poll from May found that a third of Americans said they would not get vaccinated against COVID-19, even if the vaccine is affordable widely available.

Dr Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, told the outlet he was taken aback by those findings.

'Speaking for myself, I think I underestimated the level of public resistance,' Collins said. 'I didn't expect it to be that widespread.'

'We are behind here,' Collins added. 'We haven't done a good job of getting [coronavirus vaccine] information out there.'

In his interview with WebMD Redfield emphasized that there's still much to be learned about the novel coronavirus.

He said what has surprised experts the most is how infectious the virus is compared to earlier coronaviruses such as SARS and MERS, which don't spread as rapidly between people.

Another key difference is the fact that many infected individuals don't show any symptoms - which is why it's critical for everyone to do their part and follow CDC guidelines.

Universal adherence to those guidelines has proved challenging as the Trump administration has sought to undermine the CDC's authority and refused to introduce federal mandates for measures like face coverings.

As a result many states have seen a surge in cases and deaths over the past two months.

While cases have finally begun to decline nationwide, deaths are on the rise as the total number of fatalities rose by nearly 1,500 on Wednesday, following an increase of 1,300 on Tuesday. 

Nationwide daily new cases have finally begun to fall after a large surge in July

Daily deaths increased by nearly 1,500 on Wednesday, the largest single-day spike since May

The increase in deaths was driven, in part, due to Florida, Georgia and Texas reporting record high fatalities.

Florida reported 276 new fatalities on Tuesday and 212 on Wednesday, bringing the statewide death toll to 8,765.

Meanwhile, the number of cases in Florida continue to trend downward following a huge summer spike across the Sunbelt states. The state reported 8,183 cases on Wednesday, down from the record 15,000 in mid-July.

In Georgia, a record high of 136 deaths were added to the state's death toll on Tuesday, followed by 109 on Wednesday, bringing the total to 4,456.

There has been an uptick in deaths in the state since late July and the average death toll increased by five percent last week compared to the previous seven days.

The increase in deaths comes after infections across the state started trending upwards in late June. Cases appeared to plateau in Georgia in late July but are now increasing slightly after a decline in the first week of August.

Texas broke its record for new deaths with 324 reported on Wednesday, bringing the state total to over 9,000.

The positivity rate in Texas currently stands at 24.5 percent - the highest rate since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the Texas Department of State Health Service.

Meanwhile testing for COVID-19 in the state dropped to its lowest level since June, with fewer than 35,000 new tests conducted Wednesday.

Texas reported 6,200 new cases on Wednesday, down significantly from its peak in mid-July when there were several days with more than 10,000 new cases.

In the last week, 11 states saw increases in COVID-19 cases including Hawaii (124%), Vermont (27%), North Dakota (19%), Indiana (18%), South Dakota (16%), Illinois (15%), Virginia (15%), Arkansas (7%), Idaho (5%), Kansas (5%) and Minnesota (3%).


The increase in deaths was driven, in part, due to Florida and Georgia reporting record high fatalities. Florida reported 212 new deaths and 8,183 new cases on Wednesday, bringing the statewide totals to 8,765 and 550,901, respectively

Florida reported 109 new deaths and 3,660 new cases on Wednesday, bringing the statewide totals to 4,456 and 226,153


Texas broke its record for new deaths with 324 reported on Wednesday, bringing the state total to over 9,000

The continuing decline in national cases comes largely from the recent hotspots of California, Arizona, Florida and Texas where infections have slowed after seeing huge spikes in the last two months.

California reported 11,645 new cases on Tuesday. While that number is well above the state's seven-day rolling average of 8,762, officials emphasized that more than half of the cases reported had been confirmed on previous dates.

The state also reported 180 new deaths, bringing the state death toll to 10,648.

In Arizona, just 229 new cases and seven deaths were reported on Tuesday, though that number is expected to increase as more comprehensive information becomes available.

Arizona currently leads the nation with pediatric coronavirus cases, according to a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The state's rate of cases in children and young adults ages 19 and younger is 1,206.4 per 100,000 people in that age group. It's also the only non-Southern state in that group, alongside South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana and Mississippi.

As of Tuesday, more than 23,000 Arizonans under age 20 have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and 11 have died.

In New York, the hardest-hit state in the early months of the pandemic, 737 people tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday. The positivity rate in the state hit a record low of 0.78 percent this week. 

CDC warns the public of the risk of getting coronavirus

California reported 11,645 new cases on Wednesday. While that number is well above the state's seven-day rolling average of 8,762, officials emphasized that more than half of the cases reported had been confirmed on previous dates


In Arizona, just 229 new cases and seven deaths were reported on Tuesday, though that number is expected to increase as more comprehensive information becomes available

In New York, the hardest-hit state in the early months of the pandemic, 737 people tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday. The positivity rate in the state hit a record low of 0.78 percent this week


Read more:
Redfield: This Fall Could Be ¿Worst¿ We¿ve Seen
US coronavirus: The CDC issued a dire warning for the fall - CNN

Dr Fauci tells Matthew McConaughey that the death toll would be 'enormous' if the US tried to achieve herd immunity - as new CDC model projects 189,000 American fatalities by September 5

During Instagram discussion on Thursday, Dr Fauci told Matthew McConaughey that death toll would be 'enormous' had the US tried to achieve herd immunity

'If everyone contracted it, even with the relatively high percentage of people who are without symptoms... a lot of people are going to die,' Fauci said 

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a grim forecast predicting 189,000 deaths from COVID-19 by September 5 

So far, at least 167,071 Americans have died from COVID-19; the US is also reporting the highest number of cases globally with more than 5.2 million

By VALERIE EDWARDS FOR DAILYMAIL.COM 14 August 2020

Dr Anthony Fauci explained to Matthew McConaughey on Thursday that the death toll would be 'enormous' had the US attempted to achieve herd immunity.

In a discussion with the actor on Instagram, the nation's top infectious disease expert said: 'If everyone contracted it, even with the relatively high percentage of people who are without symptoms... a lot of people are going to die.'

'If you look at the United States of America with our epidemic of obesity as it were, with the number of people with hypertension, with the number of people with diabetes, if everyone got infected the death toll would be enormous and totally unacceptable,' Fauci said.

'And that's the reason why we are against saying "let if fly, let everybody get infected and we'll be fine" that's a bad idea,' Fauci, who is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, added.

His comments come hours after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a grim forecast that predicts 189,000 Americans could die from COVID-19 by September 5.

Fauci warns McConaughey about 'enormous' herd immunity death toll





Dr Anthony Fauci explained to Matthew McConaughey on Thursday that the death toll would be 'enormous' had the US attempted to achieve herd immunity

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Fauci's remarks came on the same day the CDC updated its ensemble model (pictured) that is now predicting that 189,000 Americans could die by September 5


'This week’s national ensemble forecast predicts that 4,200 to 10,600 new COVID-19 deaths will be reported during the week ending September 5 and that 180,000 to 200,000 total COVID-19 deaths will be reported by that date,' the agency's website reads

'This week’s national ensemble forecast predicts that 4,200 to 10,600 new COVID-19 deaths will be reported during the week ending September 5 and that 180,000 to 200,000 total COVID-19 deaths will be reported by that date,' the agency's website reads.

The CDC also said that 'state- and territory-level ensemble forecasts predict that the number of reported new deaths per week may increase over the next four weeks in Colorado and may decrease in Arizona, the Northern Mariana Islands, Vermont, and Wyoming'.

Previously, the ensemble forecast that was published on August 6 predicted that about 181,000 people in the US could die by August 29.

So far, at least 167,071 Americans have died from COVID-19. The US is also reporting the highest number of cases globally with more than 5.2 million.

Washington has invested more than $10billion in six vaccine projects and signed contracts guaranteeing the delivery of hundreds of millions of doses should they be approved following clinical trials.

So far, at least 167, 071 Americans have died from COVID-19. The US is also reporting the highest number of cases globally with more than 5.2 million


If a COVID-19 vaccine is proven effective, the US will ensure it's distributed for free to all Americans, officials said Thursday.

The vaccine doses themselves will be paid for by the government.

Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), said he was 'cautiously optimistic' that at least one of the six vaccines the US had invested in would come through by the end of the year.

Critics of President Donald Trump have expressed worries that the administration may bypass safety precautions to announce a vaccine is available before the election on November 3 - a charge Paul Mango, a senior health department official, denied.

'We are not at all reducing the regulatory rigor with which we will evaluate and hopefully approve vaccines,' he said, adding that the US 'is on track to deliver hundreds of millions of doses by January 2021'.

Russia this week approved a vaccine even before the start of the last phase of clinical trials, in which the drug is injected into tens of thousands of volunteers to verify its effectiveness and safety.

'I hope that the Russians have actually definitively proven that the vaccine is safe and effective, but I seriously doubt that they've done that,' Fauci said at a virtual panel hosted by National Geographic.

The speed at which Russia is moving to roll out its vaccine highlights its determination to win the global race for an effective product, but has stirred concerns that it may be putting national prestige before sound science and safety.

AOC urges Donald Trump to release his college transcripts after he called her 'not a good student'

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez challenged President Donald Trump to release his college transcript after he called her a 'poor student' 

'Let's make a deal, Mr. President: You release your college transcript, I'll release mine, and we'll see who was the better student,' she tweeted 

She said that the loser 'has to fund the Post Office,' which has become a political football between the Trump White House and Congressional Democrats

By NIKKI SCHWAB, SENIOR U.S. POLITICAL REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

PUBLISHED: 14 August 2020

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez challenged President Donald Trump to release his college transcript after he called her 'not even a smart person' and a 'poor student' in a Thursday morning interview.

'Let's make a deal, Mr. President: You release your college transcript, I'll release mine, and we'll see who was the better student,' the New York Democrat tweeted. 'Loser has to fund the Post Office.'

Trump went on a woman-bashing spree during his interview with Fox Business Network's Maria Bartiromo, lashing out at Joe Biden's VP pick Kamala Harris, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 'Morning Joe' co-host Mika Brzezinski and progressive firebrand AOC.



Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez challenged President Donald Trump to release his college transcript after he said she was 'not even a smart person' and a 'poor student' during a Thursday morning interview on Fox Business Network


Rep. Ocasio-Cortez said the academic loser would have to 'fund the Post Office,' which has become a political football in recent months

THE ACADEMIC RECORDS OF REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ VERSUS DONALD TRUMP


DONALD TRUMP

Alma Mater: Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, after first attending Fordham University for two years

Degree: Bachelor's degree in economics

Year Graduated: 1968

His commencement brochure indicates that he was not among the graduates to receive honors

In his niece's new book, she claims he paid someone to take his SATs so he was able to get into Wharton, which he denies

ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ

Alma Mater: Boston University

Degree: Bachelor's degree in international relations and economics

Year Graduated: 2011

Her school named her a 'Distinguished Alumni' in 2019

Some news reports say she graduated cum laude, which Snopes.com rated as 'true'

That means she had to have at least a 3.0, or B, grade average at graduation 

The president claimed that Biden, the Democrats' presumptive nominee, was going to increase taxes to pay for 'AOC's plan,' which was perhaps a reference to the Green New Deal.

Biden hasn't come out in support of the 'Green New Deal' by name, but has committed to spending $2 trillion during his first term as president to combat climate change and boost green job growth.

Trump then went into full attack mode on Ocasio-Cortez.

'AOC was a poor student - I mean, I won't say where she went to school, it doesn't matter,' Trump said. 'This is not even a smart person, other than she's got a good line of stuff. I mean she goes out and she yaps.'

Ocasio-Cortez graduated from Boston University in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in international relations and economics. Her school named her a 'Distinguished Alumni' in 2019. A Boston University spokesperson has yet to respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment on more information about her academic record.

Some news reports say she graduated cum laude, which Snopes.com rated as 'true.' That means she graduated among the top 30 per cent of her class, but not within the top 15 per cent. The BU website said that all of their students who receive so-called 'Latin honors' have above a 3.0, or B, grade average.

Trump's niece Mary alleged that he paid someone else to take his SATs to get into the University of Pennsylvania's prestigious Wharton business school, a claim that the president denies. Reporting from The Daily Pennsylvanian suggests that Trump did not graduate with honors, according to a program from the school's 1968 commencement ceremony. He transferred to Wharton after spending two years in New York at Fordham University.

Trump has never released his transcripts.

The president then suggested that 'these guys' - meaning other Democrats - are 'all afraid of her because if you notice all of these progressives are beating the regular Democrats.'

Trump pointed to Rep. Eliot Engel, who had chaired the House Foreign Affairs Committee, being ousted in the New York Democratic primary by Jamaal Bowman, a progressive endorsed by AOC.

'You know you look at Eliot Engel, poor Eliot Engel, he's still going, "What happened? What happened? Has anybody seen what happened, what are the results?"' Trump said. 'You lost, Eliot.'

Trump the predicted that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer would 'get beaten by her' if Ocasio-Cortez challenges him for his Senate seat in 2022.

'And he knows that and he's going to get beaten by her unless he can talk her out of doing it, he has no chance,' Trump predicted. 'Of course she's done so many bad things who knows whether or not she'll get there,' Trump added.

AOC's challenge to have Trump fund the Post Office comes as the agency has become a political football in recent weeks.

Trump has said he opposes additional funding for the Post Office, which is struggling financially. But he's also said that by not funding the Post Office it will be more difficult for states to convert their voting systems into mail-in ballots, which Democrats say is sabotage.

The president has previously suggested he believes Republicans are hurt when elections are held by mail. 

California judge DENIES Uber and Lyft's requests for more time to appeal injunction forcing them to reclassify drivers as employees after DoorDash became the latest gig economy company to face injunction

A San Francisco Superior Court judge on Thursday denied Uber and Lyft's requests for more time to appeal the injunction granted on Monday

Judge Ethan Schulman said he found no reason to push back his 10-day stay on the injunction set to go into effect on August 20 

Uber and Lyft have said they will appeal the latest ruling on the extension

It came one day after the heads of both companies said that they will be forced to shut down service if Monday's injunction isn't overturned

The injunction will require the companies to immediately reclassify their drivers as employees rather than independent contractors 

It was filed as part of a lawsuit accusing Uber and Lyft of violating a state law 

San Francisco's district attorney on Wednesday filed a similar preliminary injunction against DoorDash, which is also accused of violating the law

By MEGAN SHEETS FOR DAILYMAIL.COM and REUTERS 13 August 2020

A California judge has refused to grant Uber and Lyft more time to appeal his decision requiring the ride-sharing companies to classify drivers in that state as employees rather than independent contractors.

At a hearing in San Francisco Superior Court on Thursday, Judge Ethan Schulman said he found no reason to push back his August 20 deadline for the companies to appeal the preliminary injunction he issued on Monday before it could take effect.

'I am unconvinced that any extension of the 10-day stay is required,' Schulman said. 'Both applications are denied.'


Uber and Lyft have said they will appeal the latest ruling, which came one day after the heads of both companies said that they will be forced to shut down service if Monday's injunction isn't overturned.

The injunction came in a lawsuit where California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and the attorneys for Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco accused Uber and Lyft of violating Assembly Bill 5, a new state law making it harder to treat 'gig' workers as independent contractors.

San Francisco's district attorney on Wednesday filed a similar preliminary injunction against food delivery firm DoorDash, which is also accused of violating AB5.


A California judge on Thursday refused to grant Uber and Lyft more time to appeal his decision requiring the ride-sharing companies to classify drivers in that state as employees rather than independent contractors (file photo)

All three app-based companies have argued that their workers prefer the flexibility that comes with being classified as a contractor worker.

The companies have saved millions of dollars each year with the designation, because treating workers as employees would require benefits such as minimum wage, paid sick and family leave, unemployment insurance and workers' compensation insurance.


San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ethan Schulman (pictured) said he found no reason to give Uber and Lyft an extension on their 10-day deadline to file an appeal against the injunction he granted on Monday

Uber and Lyft have indicated that they will both have to suspend service in California for several months beginning on August 20 if the injunction goes into effect on that date.

'If the court doesn't reconsider, then in California, it's hard to believe we'll be able to switch our model to full-time employment quickly,' Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told MSNBC on Wednesday.

'We will have to shut down until November.'

Lyft co-founder and president John Zimmer issued the same warning about a probable shutdown on a call with investors.

'We may appeal this ruling and request a further stay. If efforts here are not successful, we would be forced to suspend our operations in California,' Zimmer said.

Becerra balked at the threats of Uber and Lyft leaving the state in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday.

'Any business model that relies on shortchanging workers in order to make it probably shouldn't be anywhere, whether California or otherwise,' he said.
Uber may be forced to stop California operations after court ruling

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi is pictured in an MSNBC interview on Wednesday, where he warned that the ride-sharing company could be forced to shut down service in California for several months if a state court does not overturn a ruling requiring it to reclassify its drivers

In his Monday ruling, Schulman concluded that there is an 'overwhelmingly likelihood' that the Uber and Lyft are in violation of AB5, which requires companies to classify workers as employees if they controlled how workers did their jobs, or the work was part of their normal business.

Lawyers for the firms had said they are not violating the law because drivers are not fundamental to the business, arguing the companies are 'multi-sided platforms' whose activities encompass much more than transportation.

But Schulman rejected that argument, writing that it 'flies in the face of economic reality and common sense' and assailing the companies' 'prolonged and brazen refusal' to comply with state law.

He also addressed the companies' gripe that restructuring will take a long time and cost a lot of money, saying that low ridership during the pandemic means that now could be the best time for them to make changes.

Neither Uber nor Lyft is profitable, and both have suffered steep ridership declines during the coronavirus pandemic.

Shares in both firms took a hit on Thursday afternoon, with Uber's down 0.9 percent and Lyft's down 4.8 percent. Lyft had reported dismal second-quarter results late on Wednesday, fueling the drop.

Labor advocates praised Schulman's ruling as a milestone in their fight to apply traditional worker protections to a fast-growing segment of the labor force.

'This is a resounding victory for thousands of Uber and Lyft drivers who are working hard - and, in this pandemic, incurring risk every day - to provide for their families,' Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer said in a statement.


California Attorney General Xavier Becerra (right) and Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer (left) are leading the state's lawsuit against Uber and Lyft. After their injunction was granted on Monday, Feuer said: 'This is a resounding victory for thousands of Uber and Lyft drivers who are working hard - and, in this pandemic, incurring risk every day - to provide for their families'


Both Uber and Lyft have pledged to spend more than a hundred million dollars to support a November ballot measure, Proposition 22, that would exempt them from AB5. Pictured: Drivers protest the proposition on August 6 in Los Angeles

San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin filed a lawsuit accusing DoorDash of violating AB5 in June, and on Wednesday sought an injunction against the company.

'We are seeking an immediate end to DoorDash's illegal behavior of failing to provide delivery workers with basic workplace protections,' Boudin said.

'All three branches of California's government have already made clear that these workers are employees under California law and entitled to these important safeguards.'

A DoorDash spokesman responded to the motion by saying it was ill-timed and that the company's internal data suggested the majority of its workers wanted to remain as contractors.

'In the midst of one of the deepest economic recessions in our nation's history, today's action ... threatens billions of dollars in earnings for California Dashers and revenue for restaurants that rely upon sales from delivery to keep their businesses open', the spokesman told Reuters.

If the injunction is granted, DoorDash is expected to file an appeal.

Should they lose their respective appeals, Uber, Lyft and DoorDash will have to refocus their fight on a November ballot measure, Proposition 22, which would exempt certain gig economy companies from AB5.

Together with Instacart and Postmates, the companies are spending more than $110million to promote Proposition 22 and ensure that it passes.


DoorDash is facing an injunction to reclassify its California contractors as employees - marking the latest effort by state prosecutors to force gig economy companies to provide benefits to their workers, including health insurance, paid time off and sick leave (file photo)

Uber CEO Khosrowshahi has warned that permanently restructuring its operations in California would result in 'much smaller service [and] much higher prices', hurting both drivers and customers.

'That's a reality, so it's not a game of chicken one way or another,' he said. 'It's really up to the courts and we're going to comply with the law, and we will look to get going again.'

He said that service would have to pause for a few months, and when it resumed it would be much more limited and concentrated in cities rather than suburbs.

Khosrowshahi penned an op-ed in the New York Times over the weekend calling for states to require all gig economy companies to establish benefit funds for their workers instead of forcing them to classify workers as employees.

He called the current employment system 'outdated and unfair' and said it 'forces every worker to choose between being an employee with more benefits but less flexibility, or an independent contractor with more flexibility but almost no safety net'.

'Uber is ready, right now, to pay more to give drivers new benefits and protections,' Khosrowshahi wrote.

'But America needs to change the status quo to protect all workers, not just one type of work.'
Judge blocks Uber and Lyft from classifying drivers as contractors

California judge DENIES Uber and Lyft's requests for more time to appeal injunction

No Pasaran! (THEY SHALL NOT PASS)
Hundreds of protesters clash with ICE agents during tense 10-HOUR standoff in Bend, Oregon after blocking buses carrying two undocumented violent criminals who've been longtime residents in the sanctuary city
Protesters in Bend, Oregon rallied to block ICE agents from detaining two men
The men, including one identified as Marcos, were arrested early Wednesday morning and loaded onto two unmarked white buses
Word of the arrests spread in the community after one of the men called his wife
Crowds gathered at a parking lot for hours to block the vehicles' path
ICE officials said the men have a 'history of criminal violent behavior' and had warrants out for their arrests
Members of the community said the two men had lived in the area for a decade

By KAREN RUIZ FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 13 August 2020

Hundreds of protesters in Bend, Oregon, clashed with ICE agents during a tense 10-hour standoff on Wednesday after they detained two undocumented immigrants in the sanctuary city.

Crowds of people gathered in the city's Old Mill district on Wednesday afternoon to block two unmarked white buses transporting two men who were taken into custody earlier that morning.

One of the men had been located at a gas station and the other had been pulled over in his car, immigration attorney Micaela Guthrie, who is working with the two detainees, told OPB.

ICE officials on Thursday said they had been operating on a mission to 'arrest criminal aliens presenting a danger to public safety and take them off the street.'

The two men had a history of criminal violent behavior, according to authorities.

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Protesters clashes with federal agents during an hours-long standoff on Wednesday after they tried to block ICE officials from detaining two undocumented immigrants in Bend, Oregon

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Crowds of people gathered at the parking lot of Crane Shed Common on Wednesday afternoon to block two unmarked white buses transporting two men who had been arrested earlier that morning

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Protesters stood their ground for hours, demanding authorities release the detainees or provide an arrest warrant

'While ICE respects the people to voice their opinion peacefully, that does not include illegally interfering with their federal enforcement duties,' the agency said in a statement.

'ICE will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of its officers and detainees, and will vigorously pursue prosecution against anyone who puts them in harm's way.'

Both of the detainees were described as 'long term residents' of Oregon.

A family member said word of their arrests had spread in the area after one of the detained men, identified only as Marcos, called his wife.

Members of the community banded together after locating the two buses in the parking lot of Crane Shed Commons, where an hours-long protest ensued.

Dramatic video footage of the scene showed protesters swarming the vehicles and blocking their path for hours as they demanded officials release the men or produce an arrest warrant.

The standoff continued late into the night until a team of Border Patrol agents in tactical gear arrived to disperse crowds with pepper spray, KTVZ reported.

Protesters cleared the area by midnight after federal agents emptied the buses and took the two men away, according to OPB.

Bend, located three hours southwest of Portland, is set in Deschutes County, a sanctuary county where local authorities do not enforce immigration law.

Mayor Sally Russell said on Twitter that the arrests were not an immigration sweep and that she had been informed the men had warrants out for their arrest.

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As night fell, protesters continued to rally against the ICE operation in the sanctuary city

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The clash continued into the late hours of the night, when authorities dispersed crowds with pepper spray

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Protesters gathered at a parking lot to block the path of two white buses carrying two undocumented immigrants

'To be clear, in no way do I support ICE. Nor can our Bend Police Force, because Oregon is a sanctuary state and it is illegal. I am very worried for everyone in our community, and especially our Latinx community,' Russell said in a tweet.

'This is a very tough moment. ICE is a Federal agency and frustratingly we have no power over the Executive Branch of our country.'



Spontaneous protest to stop ICE from detaining two longtime residents of Bend is in its 6th hour. pic.twitter.com/UeHvvxfGUd— Emily Cureton (@emilycureton) August 13, 2020

Guthrie said the two men had lived in central Oregon for almost a decade. Details of their alleged crimes were not released.

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said officers had responded to a call from a federal official seeking help with the people blocking their path earlier that afternoon.


One woman was seen cleaning off one of the buses after it was vandalized by one of the participants

Immigration attorney Micaela Guthrie, who is working with the two detainees, said the men were long term residents of Oregon








The Bend Police Department confirmed they had been called to the scene to help control crowds, but were not involved in the ICE operation

+9



ICE officials said the two men had warrants out for their arrest and had a history of 'criminal violent behavior'

In a statement posted on Twitter around midnight, Krantz confirmed officers arrived to help keep the peace but were not involved in the ICE operation.

'We do not use funds or personnel or equipment to enforce federal immigration laws or to detain people based on immigration status. This is consistent with Oregon Law and Department policies,' Krantz said.

'We are on scene to allow free speech and a peaceful area to assemble and to provide life safety support. We are not there in an assisting role with ICE.'

Portland-based nonprofit Innovation Law Lab has asked a federal court to keep ICE from taking the men out of central Oregon, the ACLU announced Wednesday night.

JEFF BEZO'S IS A PRICK CAPITALIST
Amazon cuts ties with seven delivery service partners forcing companies to lay off 1,200 delivery drivers and close several facilities across the country

Amazon cut ties with several of its delivery service partners across the country

The move has resulted in more than 1,200 layoffs and closures of facilities 

At least seven delivery companies have announced job cuts since their contracts were terminated 

Earlier this month, Amazon celebrated the success of its Delivery Service Partner program (DSP) which now operates across five countries

By KAREN RUIZ FOR DAILYMAIL.CO 13 August 2020
VIDEO AT THE END

More than 1,200 Amazon delivery drivers have been laid off and some facilities have been forced to close, after the company cut ties with several of its smaller delivery service partners.

At least seven delivery firms have reported hundreds of job cuts over the last month after Amazon ended their contracts with its Delivery Service Partner program (DSP), CNBC reported on Thursday.

According to Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications (WARN) filed across New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, the companies announced 1,205 drivers will be let go, while some centers will be shutting down completely.


Amazon cut ties with several of its delivery service partners, resulting in 1,200 layoffs for drivers across the country


At least seven delivery firms have announced job cuts or site closures after Amazon ended their contracts with the company's Delivery Service Partner program
Amazon promotes Delivery Service Partners in 2019

Delivery service company Prime EFS announced 388 of its employees will be laid off in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and Courier Distribution Systems said 273 drivers in its Pennsylvania and Wisconsin locations will be let go.

Systemize Logistics, based in Massachusetts, also announced it was closing its facilities in New York and Connecticut, which will result in 121 job losses.

AMAZON CUTS TIES WITH SEVEN DELIVERY SERVICE PARTNERS

Courier Distribution Systems
Systemize Logistics
TL Transportation
Prime EFS
JST Transportation
Deliverol Global
Sheffield Express

Sheffield Express said it was closing its facility in Connecticut and would lay off 95 employees.

While details on why the company severed ties with the contractors were not released, Amazon told CNBC it regularly evaluates its carrier partnerships.

'We have ended relationships with some partners and Amazon is working closely with all impacted drivers to ensure they find opportunities to deliver Amazon packages with other local Delivery Service Partners with little to no disruption to pay,' a spokesperson said in a statement.

Amazon launched the delivery service program in 2018 which allows smaller companies or budding entrepreneurs to team up with the e-commerce giant to deliver orders to customers' doorsteps.

In a blog post published earlier this month, Amazon celebrated the success of the program, revealing it now has 1,300 DSPs operating in five countries and has created more than 85,000 jobs.

The company is among the very few businesses that have benefited from the coronavirus pandemic, which forced many consumers unable to visit physical stores to shop online more.

In March, it was even forced to hire thousands of temporary employees to meet a surge in consumer demand.

CEO Jeff Bezos last month told lawmakers the company had hired 175,000 employees during the pandemic, including many who were laid off from other jobs.

It later announced it would offer permanent jobs to about 70 per cent of the short-term U.S. workforce it hired.


CEO Jeff Bezos last month told lawmakers the company had hired 175,000 employees during the pandemic, including many who were laid off from other jobs

Despite its success, the company had come under fire during the health crisis after it was accused of putting employees' health at risk by keeping nearly all its warehouses operational.

In May, an Amazon employee told Reuters at least 800 US-based workers had tested positive for Covid-19.

The following month the company was sued for allegedly fostering the spread of the coronavirus by mandating unsafe working conditions, after one employee died.

IS TOBE HOOPER FILMING A REMAKE OF TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE IN TORONTO?

Terrifying moment two chainsaw-wielding shirtless men dripping blood charge at people on Toronto's lakeside beach

People on Cherry Beach in Toronto encountered two men covered in blood and holding running chainsaws in their hands on Sunday morning 

Suspects were injured in earlier brawl and returned with chainsaws 

Video shows them yelling obscenities and walking towards terrified beachgoers while revving their power tools 

Police arrived and arrested both men, who required medical attention

By SNEJANA FARBEROV FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

PUBLISHED: 13 August 2020

VIDEO AT THE BOTTOM

A chilling scene befitting a horror film played out on a popular lakeside beach in Toronto last weekend when a pair of shirtless men covered in blood and brandishing chainsaws charged at bystanders.

The bizarre incident unfolded on Sunday morning at Cherry Beach and was captured on video.

A short clip that has been making the rounds on social media shows two bloodied men wielding power tools walking towards a group of beachgoers, yelling: 'You're f***ed.'

Two chainsaw-wielding men terrify beachgoers in Toronto

A scene worthy of a slasher movie took place at Cherry Beach in Toronto on Sunday morning when a pair of bloodied men appeared brandishing running chainsaws


Police said the shirtless duo had sustained injuries during an earlier fight and later returned with 'weapons.' Videos of the incident have been circulating on social media

This man is heard in the video yelling at bystanders: 'Who the f*** hit me?'

Blood can be seen streaming from the back of the man's tattooed head, down his bare back

As they rev up the chainsaws in their hands, one of the men seen covered in tattoos shouts at the fleeing onlookers: 'Who the f*** hit me?'

A second video that has been circulating online shows the bare-chested duo being arrested by police.

'I told you you're gonna go to jail,' a man recording the video yells at the men laying face down on the ground, surrounded by police officers training their Tasers on them.

One of the suspects screams at the officers, 'Look at our f***ing head,' pointing to injuries they purportedly had sustained during a prior incident.

Toronto police have confirmed that they were called to the beach just before 10am for reports of a massive brawl, according to Toronto City News.

'It is alleged that two men involved in the original altercation suffered injuries. They then left and returned with weapons,' police said in a statement without specifying the nature of the weapons.

Police said both men are facing charges, but their names have not been released because they are also considered victims.


Police responded to 911 calls reporting the incident and quickly cornered the shirtless men. They ordered them to lay down on pain of being tasered

One of the suspects scream at police, 'Look at our f***ing heads,' referring to their injuries

Officers armed with stun guns ordered the duo to raise their hands

Both men are facing unspecified charges stemming from the chilling incident

No injuries were inflicted on anyone by the chainsaws, police noted.

Witnesses quickly took to Twitter to share news of the terrifying ordeal worthy of a slasher movie.

'Encountered two man bleeding, carrying running chainsaws on my morning ride on the trail leading to Cherry Beach from Tommy Thompson,' said Valeria Laurin. ;Let me repeat: RUNNING CHAINSAWS. Face to face with them in the middle of the trail... SCARY AF out of a fucking movie... WTF Toronto.'

In recent weeks, Cherry Beach has become a site of weekly gatherings organized by people protesting the wearing of face masks to stop the spread of the coronavirus. 

GREAT BRAND NAME RECOGNITION


One of the chainsaws is seen resting on the ground during the arrest


The names of the men have not been revealed because they are also considered victims

The so-called anti-maskers have been known to rally at Queen's Park on Saturdays, before heading to the beach for an after-party, as blogTO reported.

Toronto anti-mask activist Chris Sky, whose real name is Chris Saccoccia, spoke to Rebel News about the incident, saying the shirtless men showed up on the beach as the party was winding down and had some words with someone.

They later returned carrying chainsaws and allegedly turned their anger at a DJ who was packing up his equipment and helping clean up.

'Like any sane person would do, he kept his distance between him and them and they literally went and cut all his equipment right in half,' said Saccoccia, who estimated the damage caused by the chainsaws at $4,000.

It remains unclear what sparked the initial brawl that left the shirtless men injured and gushing blood.

Toronto Mayor John Tory said the city will be keeping a 'very careful eyes' on gatherings at Cherry Beach.