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U.S. NEWS Friday 8 January 2021
U.S. registering highest deaths yet from the coronavirus

By CARLA K. JOHNSON and strictions in states such as
LISA MARIE PANE Michigan, where armed
Associated Press supporters invaded the
The U.S. registered more statehouse last spring.
COVID-19 deaths in a sin- On Wednesday, the day
gle day than ever before a horde of protesters
-- nearly 3,900 -- on the very breached the U.S. Capitol,
day the mob attack on the disrupting efforts to certify
Capitol laid bare some of the election of Joe Biden,
the same, deep political the U.S. recorded 3,865 vi-
divisions that have ham- rus deaths, according to
pered the battle against Johns Hopkins University.
the pandemic. The numbers can fluctuate
The virus is surging in virtu- dramatically after holidays
ally every state, with Cali- and weekends, and the fig-
fornia hit particularly hard, ure is subject to revision.
reporting on Thursday a re- "The domestic terrorists
cord two-day total of 1,042 overran the Capitol po-
coronavirus deaths. Sky- lice, just as the virus has
rocketing caseloads there been allowed to overrun
are threatening to force Americans," said Dr. Eric
hospitals to ration care and In this Dec. 22, 2020, file photo, medical workers prepare to manually prone a COVID-19 patient Topol, head of the Scripps
essentially decide who lives in an intensive care unit at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in the Mission Hills section of Research Translational In-
and who dies. Los Angeles. stitute. "The U.S. lost control
"Folks are gasping for Associated Press of a Trump-incited mob
breath. Folks look like they're and a Trump-played-down
drowning when they are in line." gatherings and travel over them without masks, will pandemic virus." Some of
bed right in front of us," said About 1.9 million people the holidays. have on the spread of the the forces contributing to
Dr. Jeffrey Chien, an emer- around the world have A new, more contagious scourge. the eruption of violence
gency room physician at died of the coronavirus, variant of the virus is spread- Trump has long down- were partially foreseen by
Santa Clara Valley Region- more than 360,000 in the ing around the globe and played the virus and experts in global disease
al Medical Center, urging U.S. alone. December was in the U.S. Also, it remains scorned masks, and many planning when they held a
people to do their part to by far the nation's deadli- to be seen what effect the of his ardent supporters tabletop exercise in 2019,
help slow the spread. "I'm est month yet, and health thousands of supporters of have followed his example. said Dr. Eric Toner, a senior
begging everyone to help experts are warning that President Donald Trump He has also raged against scholar at the Johns Hop-
us out because we aren't January could be more ter- who converged this week lockdowns and egged on kins Center for Health Secu-
the front line. We're the last rible still because of family in Washington, many of protesters objecting to re- rity who directed the drill.q

Woman shot at Capitol was Air Force veteran who backed Trump

By ELLIOT SPAGAT ons against our officers." the Second Amendment.
Associated Press The scene was "unlike any She frequently retweeted
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The I have ever experienced in comments by the presi-
woman who was fatally my 30 years in law enforce- dent and his supporters
shot when a mob sup- ment here in Washington, about Wednesday's gath-
porting President Donald D.C.," Sund said in a state- ering and their discredited
Trump stormed the U.S. ment. claims of election fraud.
Capitol was identified by Ashli Babbitt's husband, Her last comment, posted
authorities Thursday as Aaron Babbitt, told KSWB- Friday, read, "Jan 6, 2021"
Ashli Babbitt, whose fam- TV, a Fox affiliate in San Di- with American flag and
ily described her as an Air ego, that he and his wife, thumbs-up emojis.
Force veteran and avid 35, live in San Diego and The Twitter account also in-
supporter of Trump and his that she was in Washington cluded news of a recall ef-
efforts to stay in office. on Wednesday to support fort against California Gov.
A U.S. Capitol Police of- Trump. Aaron Babbitt sent Gavin Newsom, a Demo-
ficer on Wednesday shot his wife a message about crat, including an endorse- Violent protesters, loyal to President Donald Trump, storm the
Babbitt, who later died at 30 minutes before the ment by Kevin Faulconer, Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington.
a hospital. The shooting shooting and never heard a former San Diego mayor. Associated Press
occurred as thousands back. Ashli Elizabeth McEntee is
of rioters forced their way "She loved her country and chief executive officer of a "wonderful woman with ers Pool Service.
into the House chamber, she was doing what she Fowlers Pool Service & Sup- a big heart and a strong The Air Force said Thursday
where members of Con- thought was right to sup- ply Inc. in Spring Valley, mind" in an email to The that Ashli Elizabeth McEn-
gress were hiding, accord- port her country, joining up California, near San Diego, San Diego Union-Tribune. tee was on active duty
ing to Steven A. Sund, chief with like-minded people according to California McEntee said he and Bab- from 2004 to 2008, most
of the Capitol Police. that also love their presi- secretary of state business bitt were married from April recently at Dyes Air Force
He said rioters "actively at- dent and their country," he records. The company's 2005 to May 2019. Base near Abilene, Texas.
tacked" Capitol police and told the news station. chief financial officer is A Facebook account with She was also member of
other law enforcement of- A Twitter account under Aaron Raymond Babbitt, Babbitt's name says she the Air Force Reserve from
ficers with metal pipes, dis- Babbitt's name identifies her husband. married Aaron Babbitt on 2008 to 2010 and the Air
charged chemical irritants her as a veteran, Liber- Babbitt's ex-husband, Tim- June 25, 2019, and identi- National Guard from 2010
and "took up other weap- tarian and supporter of othy McEntee, called her fies her employer as Fowl- to 2016.q