Trump threatens to fire Dr Fauci in rift with disease expert

US President Donald Trump has suggested that he will fire Dr Anthony Fauci after Tuesday’s election, as his rift with the nation’s top infectious disease expert widens while the nation sees its most alarming outbreak of the coronavirus since the spring.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Opa-locka, Florida, Trump expressed frustration that the surging cases of the virus — that has killed more than 230,000 Americans so far this year — remains prominent in the news, sparking chants of “Fire Fauci” from his supporters.

“Don’t tell anybody but let me wait until a little bit after the election,” Trump replied to thousands of supporters just after midnight Monday, adding he appreciated their “advice”.

Trump’s comments on Fauci less than 48 hours before polls close all but assure that his handling of the pandemic will remain front and centre heading into Election Day.

It’s the most direct Trump has been in suggesting he was serious about trying to remove Fauci from his position. He has previously expressed that he was concerned about the political blowback of removing the popular and respected doctor before Election Day.

Trump’s comments come after Fauci leveled his sharpest criticism yet of the White House’s response to the coronavirus and Trump’s public assertion that the nation is “rounding the turn” on the virus.

Fauci has grown outspoken that Trump has ignored his advice for containing the virus, saying he hasn’t spoken with Trump in more than a month. He has raised alarm that the nation was heading for a challenging winter if more isn’t done soon to slow the spread of the disease.

In an interview with the Washington Post this weekend, Fauci cautioned that the US will have to deal with “a whole lot of hurt” in the weeks ahead due to surging coronavirus cases.

Fauci said the US “could not possibly be positioned more poorly” to stem rising cases as more people gather indoors during the colder fall and winter months. He says the US will need to make an “abrupt change” in public health precautions.

Fauci added that he believed Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden “is taking it seriously from a public health perspective” while Trump is “looking at it from a different perspective”. Fauci, who’s on the White House coronavirus task force, said that perspective emphasises “the economy and reopening the country”.

In response, White House spokesman Judd Deere said Trump always puts people’s well-being first and Deere charges that Fauci has decided “to play politics” right before Tuesday’s election. Deere said Fauci “has a duty to express concerns or push for a change in strategy” but instead is “choosing to criticise the president in the media and make his political leanings known”.

Trump in recent days has stepped up his attacks on Biden for pledging to heed the advice of scientists in responding to the pandemic. Trump has claimed Biden would “lock down” the nation once again. Biden has promised to heed the warnings of Fauci and other medical professionals but has not endorsed another national lockdown.

Trump has recently relied on the advice of Stanford doctor Scott Atlas, who has no prior background in infectious diseases or public health, as his lead science adviser on the pandemic. Atlas has been a public skeptic about mask wearing and other measures widely accepted by the scientific community to slow the spread of the virus.

Other members of the White House coronavirus task force have grown increasingly vocal about what they see as a dangerous fall spike in the virus.

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Pakistan school closure: Shafqat Mahmood issues clarification as coronavirus cases rise

Schools and other educational institutions are not being closed, stated Federal Minister for Education, Shafqat Mahmood on Monday despite a recent surge in coronavirus cases across the country.

"Rumours again afloat regarding school closures. It is again clarified that educational institutions are NOT being closed," he announced via a tweet.

He stated that the government will continue to monitor the health of students, teachers and school staff "but at the moment no such decision (about closing schools or educational institutions) has been made".

Mahmood's tweet comes a day after Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas also dismissed speculation that schools across the province were not being closed due to rising cases of the novel virus.

Rumours again afloat regarding school closures. It is again clarified that educational institutions are NOT being closed. We will continue to monitor the situation as health of the students, teachers and staff is very important but at the moment no such decision has been made

— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) November 2, 2020

"Keeping a very close watch on COVID 19 cases in Schools of Punjab. Random testing is being done continuously. There is a slight increase in numbers but nothing alarming. Situation being analysed on daily basis. There is NO plan to close Schools as of right now. Please follow SOPs," he had tweeted.

Pakistan imposed a countrywide lockdown on March 24, but began easing it 21 days later, even as COVID-19 cases were surging in the country. The deadly virus reached its peak in mid-June, when over 6,000 infections were recorded in a day with over 100 deaths.

Still, Prime Minister Imran Khan, who frequently spoke against strict lockdowns stressing the economic impact on daily wagers, announced the reopening of industrial and commercial sectors in phases with government-mandated health guidelines.

The country nonetheless saw a sharp decrease in COVID-19 cases in August, with as few as 213 new cases reported on August 30. Following this, the government decided to allow educational institutes to reopen from mid-September.

By October, infections were on the rise again.

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Pakistan school closure: Shafqat Mahmood issues clarification as coronavirus cases rise

Schools and other educational institutions are not being closed, stated Federal Minister for Education, Shafqat Mahmood on Monday despite a recent surge in coronavirus cases across the country.

"Rumours again afloat regarding school closures. It is again clarified that educational institutions are NOT being closed," he announced via a tweet.

He stated that the government will continue to monitor the health of students, teachers and school staff "but at the moment no such decision (about closing schools or educational institutions) has been made".

Mahmood's tweet comes a day after Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas also dismissed speculation that schools across the province were not being closed due to rising cases of the novel virus.

Rumours again afloat regarding school closures. It is again clarified that educational institutions are NOT being closed. We will continue to monitor the situation as health of the students, teachers and staff is very important but at the moment no such decision has been made

— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) November 2, 2020

"Keeping a very close watch on COVID 19 cases in Schools of Punjab. Random testing is being done continuously. There is a slight increase in numbers but nothing alarming. Situation being analysed on daily basis. There is NO plan to close Schools as of right now. Please follow SOPs," he had tweeted.

Pakistan imposed a countrywide lockdown on March 24, but began easing it 21 days later, even as COVID-19 cases were surging in the country. The deadly virus reached its peak in mid-June, when over 6,000 infections were recorded in a day with over 100 deaths.

Still, Prime Minister Imran Khan, who frequently spoke against strict lockdowns stressing the economic impact on daily wagers, announced the reopening of industrial and commercial sectors in phases with government-mandated health guidelines.

The country nonetheless saw a sharp decrease in COVID-19 cases in August, with as few as 213 new cases reported on August 30. Following this, the government decided to allow educational institutes to reopen from mid-September.

By October, infections were on the rise again.

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Cricket South Africa team arrives in Islamabad for security inspection

A four-member delegation from Cricket South Africa arrived in Islamabad for security assessment ahead of their team’s tour.

The team, led by CSA Operations Manager Mike Gajjer, underwent a COVID-19 test upon arrival. PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani had previously confirmed that the South Africa delegation will isolate for two days before starting their security inspection.

The visiting team is scheduled to check security measures at National Stadium in Karachi on November 4 then visit Lahore from November 5-7 before flying home.

The Green Shirts and Proteas are scheduled to clash in a three-match ODI series, part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League, in April 2021. The two teams will also play a T20i series.

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Faf du Plessis one of 21 foreign cricketers set to feature in PSL 2020 next month: PCB

Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis is "excited" to play the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020 next month, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced as play is set to resume eight months after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

The PCB, in a statement, said that a total of 21 foreign stars, including former South Africa captain Plessis, England batsman Alex Hales, Australia's Ben Dunk as well as World T20 winners Carlos Brathwaite and Darren Sammy have agreed to come back play the remaining matches of PSL 2020.

“I am very excited to join Peshawar Zalmi for the playoff stage games of PSL 2020. I have fond memories of playing in Pakistan when I toured with the ICC World XI in 2017 and I am sure this experience, although different due to COVID-19, will be a memorable one as well,” said Plessis.

The PSL 2020 was left incomplete in March following the outbreak of the COVID-19 in Pakistan. The PCB has scheduled its play-offs for November 14 and 15, with the final to be played on the 17th.

Ahead of the PSL restart, the PCB has released a list of foreign talents that have told the PCB they are open to coming back and taking part in the business end of the tournament.

From South Africa, Du Plessis (Peshawar Zalmi), Cameron Delport (Karachi Kings), Dane Vilas, David Wiese (both Lahore Qalandars), Rilee Rossouw, Imran Tahir (both Multan Sultans) and Hardus Viljoen (Peshawar Zalmi); from England, Hales (Karachi Kings), James Vince (Karachi Kings), Samit Patel (Lahore Qalandars), Adam Lyth, Ravi Bopara (both Multan Sultans) and Liam Livingstone (Peshawar Zalmi); and from the West Indies, Chadwick Walton (Karachi Kings), Sherfane Rutherford (Karachi Kings), Brathwaite (Peshawar Zalmi) and Daren Sammy (Peshawar Zalmi) will be in action.

"Bangladesh will be represented by Tamim Iqbal (Lahore Qalandars) and Mahmudullah (Multan Sultans), while Ben Dunk, who was one of the stars in the initial stages of the PSL 2020, will be aiming to help Lahore Qalandars win their first title in five attempts," the PCB press release detailed.

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ZC chairman lauds Pakistan for restoring international cricket

Zim­ba­bwe Cricket chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani has urged the international cricket bodies to appreciate Pakistan’s efforts for restoring international cricket.

“The world must understand that Pakistan has done everything possible within its capacity to make sure that international cricket comes back to the country,” Mukulani said at a news conference along with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ehsan Mani at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.

He said that the Zimbabwe squad was happy to be in Pakistan. “We feel at home, we are very comfortable and well looked after here,” he said, “The bio-secure bubble has been maintained very well.”

Recalling Zimbabwe-Pakistan relations, he said that both countries had very special relationship not only in the field of cricket but on government level as well.

“We share a long history not only cricket but other areas [as well],” he said, noting the isolation faced by Zimbabwe in the past.

“We are here to show solidarity with Pakistan and for international cricket as we have also gone through a phase of isolation,” he said.

To a query regarding Zimbabwe’s Indian coach Lalchand Rajput, who did not visit Pakistan for ongoing ODI and then T20 International series, Mukuh­lani said that Pakistan Embassy in Zimbabwe had issued visa for coach, but on the request of the Indian Government, Rajput opted not to visit Pakistan.

Mani appreciated Zim­babwe for their tour, while appreciating the performance of the visitors in the first ODI which was won by Pakistan on Friday.

“They have huge potential,” Mani said, adding that Pakistan will tour Zimbabwe next year while there are also plans underway for sending the Under-19 and women teams to Zimbabwe.

The PCB chief added that England will possibly send a second-string side to the country for their tour in January next year with the first team to be visiting Sri Lanka at the same time.

Mani also revealed that a security delegation from Cricket South Africa will be arriving in Pakistan on Monday to check the measures for Proteas’ upcoming tour to the country. The dates and venues for the tour will be finalised after the delgation’s visit.

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Trump threatens to fire Dr Fauci in rift with disease expert

US President Donald Trump has suggested that he will fire Dr Anthony Fauci after Tuesday’s election, as his rift with the nation’s top infectious disease expert widens while the nation sees its most alarming outbreak of the coronavirus since the spring.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Opa-locka, Florida, Trump expressed frustration that the surging cases of the virus — that has killed more than 230,000 Americans so far this year — remains prominent in the news, sparking chants of “Fire Fauci” from his supporters.

“Don’t tell anybody but let me wait until a little bit after the election,” Trump replied to thousands of supporters just after midnight Monday, adding he appreciated their “advice”.

Trump’s comments on Fauci less than 48 hours before polls close all but assure that his handling of the pandemic will remain front and centre heading into Election Day.

It’s the most direct Trump has been in suggesting he was serious about trying to remove Fauci from his position. He has previously expressed that he was concerned about the political blowback of removing the popular and respected doctor before Election Day.

Trump’s comments come after Fauci leveled his sharpest criticism yet of the White House’s response to the coronavirus and Trump’s public assertion that the nation is “rounding the turn” on the virus.

Fauci has grown outspoken that Trump has ignored his advice for containing the virus, saying he hasn’t spoken with Trump in more than a month. He has raised alarm that the nation was heading for a challenging winter if more isn’t done soon to slow the spread of the disease.

In an interview with the Washington Post this weekend, Fauci cautioned that the US will have to deal with “a whole lot of hurt” in the weeks ahead due to surging coronavirus cases.

Fauci said the US “could not possibly be positioned more poorly” to stem rising cases as more people gather indoors during the colder fall and winter months. He says the US will need to make an “abrupt change” in public health precautions.

Fauci added that he believed Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden “is taking it seriously from a public health perspective” while Trump is “looking at it from a different perspective”. Fauci, who’s on the White House coronavirus task force, said that perspective emphasises “the economy and reopening the country”.

In response, White House spokesman Judd Deere said Trump always puts people’s well-being first and Deere charges that Fauci has decided “to play politics” right before Tuesday’s election. Deere said Fauci “has a duty to express concerns or push for a change in strategy” but instead is “choosing to criticise the president in the media and make his political leanings known”.

Trump in recent days has stepped up his attacks on Biden for pledging to heed the advice of scientists in responding to the pandemic. Trump has claimed Biden would “lock down” the nation once again. Biden has promised to heed the warnings of Fauci and other medical professionals but has not endorsed another national lockdown.

Trump has recently relied on the advice of Stanford doctor Scott Atlas, who has no prior background in infectious diseases or public health, as his lead science adviser on the pandemic. Atlas has been a public skeptic about mask wearing and other measures widely accepted by the scientific community to slow the spread of the virus.

Other members of the White House coronavirus task force have grown increasingly vocal about what they see as a dangerous fall spike in the virus.

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