On Topic Discussion 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2)

[KaraBulut]

With all of the opposition to face masks, social distancing, stay at home orders, etc. I suspect that there are millions of people who will never step up to be tested, even if they, themselves, suspect that they are sick.

People who fear being taken from their home, and people who refuse to be stuck in one place with home quarantine and monitoring. And, of course, those who fear social rejection from appearing on records.

It may become a condition of employment. Some employers are already mass-testing employees because it's a liability issue if there are infected employees in the workplace.

Also, with the knowledge of the permanent/long-term damage this virus can cause, many people will fear any records of the virus showing up as a pre existing health condition when applying for new health insurance.

Well, then you might want to vote out Republicans in November. The Affordable Care Act says that insurance companies can't discriminate based upon pre-existing conditions. The Trump Administration and multiple Republican State Attorneys General are in Federal Court trying to get the ACA declared unconstitutional. If the ACA is repealed then pre-existing condition screening will be allowed again.

 

[KaraBulut]

21-Jun-2020:

Global COVID-19 Mortality/Morbidity
- Global Cases reported: 8,843,418 (up from 8,693,005 / 1.7%) - *‬*150,413 new cases yesterday
- Global Deaths: 465,475 (up from 461,786) - **3,689 people died yesterday

US COVID-19 Mortality/Morbidity
- Cases reported in the US - 2,267,387 cases (up from 2,222,576 / 2.0% yesterday), ‬**44,811 new cases, 29.8% of world's new cases were in the US
- Yesterday's cases in NJ/NY - 1,054 (3.2%), outside NJ/NY - 31,489 (96.8%)
- Deaths reported in the US - 119,846 deaths, 715 deaths yesterday , 19.4% of the world's deaths yesterday were in the US
- Yesterday's Deaths in NJ/NY - 90 (15.3%), outside NJ/NY - 498 (84.7%)
- Testing: - 26,566,553 tests (up from 25,982,613 yesterday, +583,940 tests), 8.1% of the US population has been tested, 8.5% positive rate

Coronavirus cases/deaths in active countries (preference to countries with JUB members):

• US: 2,267,387 (up from 2,222,576 / +44,811 / 2.0%) - 119,846 deaths (+715)
• Brazil: 1,032,913 (up from 1,032,913 / +0 / 0.0%) - 49,976 deaths (+1,022) - no case update
• Russia: 583,879 (up from 576,162 / +7,717 / 1.3%) - 8,101 deaths (+109)
• India: 410,451 (up from 395,048 / +15,403 / 3.9%) - 13,254 deaths (+306)
• UK : 305,803 (up from 303,285 / +2,518 / 0.8%) - 42,717 deaths (+171)
• Iran : 204,952 (up from 202,584 / +2,368 / 1.2%) - 9,623 deaths (+116)
• Turkey: 187,685 (up from 185,245 / +2,440 / 1.3%) - 4,950 deaths (+45)
• Mexico: 175,202 (up from 170,485 / +4,717 / 2.8%) - 20,781 deaths (+387)
• Sweden: 56,043 (up from 56,043 / +0 / 0.0%) - 5,053 deaths (+0) - no update

Coronavirus cases/deaths in recovering countries:

• Spain : 246,272 (up from 245,575 / +697 / 0.3%) - 28,323 deaths (+8)
• Italy : 238,499 (up from 238,011 / +488 / 0.2%) - 34,634 deaths (+73)
• France : 196,724 (up from 196,083 / +641 / 0.3%) - 29,636 deaths (+16)
• Germany : 191,272 (up from 190,670 / +602 / 0.3%) - 8,895 deaths (+0)
• Canada : 102,886 (up from 102,314 / +572 / 0.6%) - 8,477 deaths (+69)
• China: 84,556 (up from 84,525 / +31 / 0.0%) - 4,639 deaths (+1)
• Belgium: 60,550 (up from 60,550 / +0 / 0.0%) - 9,696 deaths (+0)
• Netherlands : 49,801 (up from 49,710 / +91 / 0.2%) - 6,109 deaths (+1)
• Switzerland : 31,292 (up from 31,243 / +49 / 0.2%) - 1,956 deaths (+0)
• Ireland: 25,379 (up from 25,368 / +11 / 0.0%) - 1,715 deaths (+1)
• Japan: 17,780 (up from 17,720 / +60 / 0.3%) - 955 deaths (+4)
• South Korea : 12,421 (up from 12,373 / +48 / 0.4%) - 280 deaths (+0)
• Australia : 7,461 (up from 7,436 / +25 / 0.3%) - 102 deaths (+0)
• New Zealand: 1,511 (up from 1,509 / +2 / 0.1%) - 22 deaths (+0)

 

[cabinfever]

Really cool video today of all the living California Governors - both Republican and Democrat - YES!

https://twitter.com/i/status/1274997980005675009

 

[rareboy]

^ Well done them.

 

[KaraBulut]

22-Jun-2020:

Global COVID-19 Mortality/Morbidity
- Global Cases reported: 8,999,645 (up from 8,843,418 / 1.8%) - *‬*156,227 new cases yesterday
- Global Deaths: 468,907 (up from 465,475) - **3,432 people died yesterday

US COVID-19 Mortality/Morbidity
- Cases reported in the US - 2,286,457 cases (up from 2,267,387 / 0.8%% yesterday), ‬**19,070 new cases, 12.2% of world's new cases were in the US
- Yesterday's cases in NJ/NY - 972 (3.8%), outside NJ/NY - 24,878 (96.2%)
- Deaths reported in the US - 120,036 deaths, 190 deaths yesterday , 5.5% of the world's deaths yesterday were in the US
- Yesterday's Deaths in NJ/NY - 57 (22.1%), outside NJ/NY - 201 (77.9%)
- Testing: - 27,084,900 tests (up from 26,566,553 yesterday, +518,347 tests), 8.2% of the US population has been tested, 8.5% positive rate

Coronavirus cases/deaths in active countries (preference to countries with JUB members):

• US: 2,286,457 (up from 2,267,387 / +19,070 / 0.8%) - 120,036 deaths (+190)
• Brazil: 1,083,341 (up from 1,032,913 / +50,428 / 4.9%) - 50,591 deaths (+615) (includes Sat)
• Russia: 591,465 (up from 583,879 / +7,586 / 1.3%) - 8,196 deaths (+95)
• India: 425,282 (up from 410,451 / +14,831 / 3.6%) - 13,699 deaths (+445)
• UK : 306,761 (up from 305,803 / +958 / 0.3%) - 42,732 deaths (+15)
• Iran : 207,525 (up from 204,952 / +2,573 / 1.3%) - 9,742 deaths (+119)
• Mexico: 180,545 (up from 175,202 / +5,343 / 3.0%) - 21,825 deaths (+1,044)
• Sweden: 58,932 (up from 56,043 / +2,889 / 5.2%) - 5,122 deaths (+69)(includes Sat)

Coronavirus cases/deaths in recovering countries:

• Spain : 246,504 (up from 246,272 / +232 / 0.1%) - 28,324 deaths (+1)
• Italy : 238,499 (up from 238,499 / +0 / 0.0%) - 34,634 deaths (+0)
• France : 197,008 (up from 196,724 / +284 / 0.1%) - 29,643 deaths (+7)
• Germany : 191,768 (up from 191,272 / +496 / 0.3%) - 8,897 deaths (+2)
• Turkey: 187,685 (up from 187,685 / +0 / 0.0%) - 4,950 deaths (+0)
• Canada : 103,119 (up from 102,886 / +233 / 0.2%) - 8,482 deaths (+5)
• China: 84,603 (up from 84,556 / +47 / 0.1%) - 4,639 deaths (+0)
• Belgium: 60,550 (up from 60,550 / +0 / 0.0%) - 9,696 deaths (+0)
• Netherlands : 49,866 (up from 49,801 / +65 / 0.1%) - 6,109 deaths (+0)
• Switzerland : 31,310 (up from 31,292 / +18 / 0.1%) - 1,956 deaths (+0)
• Ireland: 25,379 (up from 25,379 / +0 / 0.0%) - 1,715 deaths (+0)
• Japan: 17,813 (up from 17,780 / +33 / 0.2%) - 955 deaths (+0)
• South Korea : 12,438 (up from 12,421 / +17 / 0.1%) - 280 deaths (+0)
• Australia : 7,474 (up from 7,461 / +13 / 0.2%) - 102 deaths (+0)
• New Zealand: 1,513 (up from 1,511 / +2 / 0.1%) - 22 deaths (+0)

 

[KaraBulut]

A couple of weeks ago, there were some odd statements from tennis player Novak Djokovic about vaccines and coronavirus. Djokovic was recently spotted partying at a crowded nightclub. Now, he and his wife have tested positive for coronavirus.

Novak Djokovic tests positive for coronavirus after Adria Tour event [CNN]

Novak Djokovic has tested positive for the coronavirus following an exhibition event he organized in Croatia.
The Adria Tour, which went to Zadar last weekend, has received criticism after the final, which Djokovic was due to play in, was canceled following Grigor Dimitrov's positive test.
The world No. 1 confirmed Tuesday that both he and his wife Jelena had also tested positive for Covid-19 upon returning home to Serbia, while his children's results were negative...

Djokovic added that he would remain in self-isolation for the next 14 days and have another test in five days' time.

 

[rareboy]

^ SMH.

I am sitting in meetings 6 feet apart from 5 other people max...wearing a mask.

And meanwhile people are out doing crazy shit everywhere.

We can't keep going on this way in different directions.

 

[Kahaih]

/\ Maybe it's time to start charging people with Negligent homicide. Or, at least reckless endangerment.

Where does child protection appear in this story. I mean, there are places where it's illegal to smoke in a car with children on board.

 

[KaraBulut]

23-Jun-2020:

Global COVID-19 Mortality/Morbidity
- Global Cases reported: 9,131,445 (up from 8,999,645 / 1.5%) - *‬*131,800 new cases yesterday
- Global Deaths: 472,856 (up from 468,907) - **3,949 people died yesterday

US COVID-19 Mortality/Morbidity
- Cases reported in the US - 2,313,445 cases (up from 2,286,457 / 1.2% yesterday), ‬**26,988 new cases, 20.5% of world's new cases were in the US
- Yesterday's cases in NJ/NY - 825 (2.6%), outside NJ/NY - 30,619 (97.4%)
- Deaths reported in the US - 120,451 deaths, 415 deaths yesterday , 10.5% of the world's deaths yesterday were in the US
- Yesterday's Deaths in NJ/NY - 86 (20.2%), outside NJ/NY - 339 (79.8%)
- Testing: - 27,553,581 tests (up from 27,084,900 yesterday, +468,681 tests), 8.3% of the US population has been tested, 8.4% positive rate

Coronavirus cases/deaths in active countries (preference to countries with JUB members):

• US: 2,313,445 (up from 2,286,457 / +26,988 / 1.2%) - 120,451 deaths (+415)
• Brazil: 1,106,470 (up from 1,083,341 / +23,129 / 2.1%) - 51,271 deaths (+680)
• Russia: 598,878 (up from 591,465 / +7,413 / 1.3%) - 8,349 deaths (+153)
• India: 440,215 (up from 425,282 / +14,933 / 3.5%) - 14,011 deaths (+312)
• UK : 306,761 (up from 306,761 / +0 / 0.0%) - 42,731 deaths (-1)
• Iran : 209,970 (up from 207,525 / +2,445 / 1.2%) - 9,863 deaths (+121)
• Turkey: 188,897 (up from 187,685 / +1,212 / 0.6%) - 5,001 deaths (+51)
• Mexico: 185,122 (up from 180,545 / +4,577 / 2.5%) - 22,584 deaths (+759)
• Sweden: 60,837 (up from 58,932 / +1,905 / 3.2%) - 5,161 deaths (+39)

Coronavirus cases/deaths in recovering countries:

• Spain : 246,504 (up from 246,504 / +0 / 0.0%) - 28,325 deaths (+1)
• Italy : 238,720 (up from 238,499 / +221 / 0.1%) - 34,675 deaths (+41)
• France : 197,381 (up from 197,008 / +373 / 0.2%) - 29,723 deaths (+80)
• Germany : 192,437 (up from 191,768 / +669 / 0.3%) - 8,914 deaths (+17)
• Canada : 103,418 (up from 103,119 / +299 / 0.3%) - 8,510 deaths (+28)
• China: 84,640 (up from 84,603 / +37 / 0.0%) - 4,640 deaths (+1)
• Belgium: 60,810 (up from 60,550 / +260 / 0.4%) - 9,713 deaths (+17)
• Netherlands : 49,930 (up from 49,866 / +64 / 0.1%) - 6,114 deaths (+5)
• Switzerland : 31,332 (up from 31,310 / +22 / 0.1%) - 1,956 deaths (+0)
• Ireland: 25,383 (up from 25,379 / +4 / 0.0%) - 1,720 deaths (+5)
• Japan: 17,875 (up from 17,813 / +62 / 0.3%) - 965 deaths (+10)
• South Korea : 12,484 (up from 12,438 / +46 / 0.4%) - 281 deaths (+1)
• Australia : 7,492 (up from 7,474 / +18 / 0.2%) - 102 deaths (+0)
• New Zealand: 1,515 (up from 1,513 / +2 / 0.1%) - 22 deaths (+0)

 

[rareboy]

This is so troubling.

COVID 19 could end up just being like the common cold. Only deadly.

https://god.dailydot.com/this-is-no...6FJdEd4yvkZKtvVDlOOW3TLyk9aaQfusLhldCkiA1ZxQ4

This question has come up before and I saw this news elsewhere a week or so ago....

 

[KaraBulut]

This is so troubling.

COVID 19 could end up just being like the common cold. Only deadly.

https://god.dailydot.com/this-is-no...6FJdEd4yvkZKtvVDlOOW3TLyk9aaQfusLhldCkiA1ZxQ4

This question has come up before and I saw this news elsewhere a week or so ago....

Hopefully, they're going to test her and see why her antibodies and B cells aren't functioning as expected.

The interesting thing that this woman said was that that she got sick both times. That differs from some of the research that we're seeing coming out of countries that had infections earlier this year.

What's really bad news for people who are "asymptomatic" or who have mild cases- they may not produce enough antibodies to protect them from a later infection from SARS-CoV-2. The studies of MERS and SARS-1 patients showed that they had humoral immunity (i.e. antibodies) that protected them for up to 12 months. Studies of COVID-19 patients showed that the people who were infected but had a mild case only produced antibodies that lasted for a few months, which puts them at risk for a second infection.

You May Have Antibodies After Coronavirus Infection. But Not for Long. [NY Times]

Antibodies to the virus faded quickly in asymptomatic people, scientists reported. That does not mean immunity disappears...

Several studies have now shown that most people who are visibly ill with Covid-19 develop antibodies to the virus, although it has been unclear how long those antibodies last. The new study is the first to characterize the immune response in asymptomatic people.

The researchers compared 37 asymptomatic people to an equal number who had symptoms in the Wanzhou District of China. The investigators found that asymptomatic people mount a weaker response to the virus than those who develop symptoms.

Antibodies fell to levels below the threshold for a seropositive diagnosis in 40 percent of asymptomatic people, compared with just 13 percent of symptomatic people.

 

[cityboy-stl]

^ So is this saying there is really no hope for an effective vaccine?

Where do these antibodies go anyway? Why don't they stay around like, for example, antibodies for the measles?

 

[KaraBulut]

And another cautionary tale:

Republican congressman Tom Rice reveals he and his family have coronavirus - two weeks after he refused to wear a mask on the House floor [Daily Mail]

U.S. Representative Tom Rice has revealed that he, his wife and his son had all contracted Covid-19, two weeks after he refused to wear a mask on the House floor.

The Republican congressman, who made the revelation in a post on Facebook on Monday, is the second member of South Carolina's congressional delegation to contract the virus.

Rice said all three had had symptoms, but were recovering.

 

[KaraBulut]

^ So is this saying there is really no hope for an effective vaccine?

Where do these antibodies go anyway? Why don't they stay around like, for example, antibodies for the measles?

If you think back to childhood immunization schedules, there are some shots you get once/twice and there are others that you have to get a "booster" for every few years.

That's probably going to be the solution with SARS-CoV-2. You may need to get 2-3 shots and then every few years, get a booster.

There have been some good signs on the vaccine front:

• Back in 2003 during the SARS-1 (another virus in the coronavirus family), the US government started developing a SARS vaccine and the trials were going well before the project was defunded.
• The trials of the SARS-2 vaccines are going well. There have not been any unusual reactions in human trials. The patients in the trials are developing antibodies. There has been a misstep- someone has to coordinate the efforts between the 100 different vaccines being developed and the countries doing the testing. Normally, this would be a joint effort between the US CDC and the WHO. Trump just announced that he's withdrawing the US from the WHO which means that, unless Trump gets defeated in November, the US will not be an active partner in the development of a vaccine (and it's likely that China will be the coordinating country).
• The COVID-19 coronavirus doesn't have an animal host that we're aware of, so once we get a certain population of people who have immunity (either through having had COVID-19 or via a vaccine), we will all be at less of a risk. So, even if your immunity wanes over a period of time, because of the herd immunity concept, there won't be as much risk of any one person coming into contact with another person who is actively infected.

One of the really frustrating things about how the US handled their cases is that the rush to reopen has now established this coronavirus as something that is very embedded in the population in the US, Mexico and South/Central America. This virus could have been eliminated or at the very least, controlled until we were able to get a vaccine developed. Unfortunately, because of the incompetence of the leaders in countries like Brazil and US and the stupidity of a segment of the population that is refusing to wear masks and physically distance, everyone on the planet will be waiting for a vaccine so that we can hopefully begin to get back to normal.

 

[KaraBulut]

24-Jun-2020:

Global COVID-19 Mortality/Morbidity
- Global Cases reported: 9,295,365 (up from 9,131,445 / 1.8%) - *‬*163,920 new cases yesterday
- Global Deaths: 478,289 (up from 472,856) - **5,433 people died yesterday

US COVID-19 Mortality/Morbidity
- Cases reported in the US - 2,348,956 cases (up from 2,313,445 / 1.5% yesterday), ‬**35,511 new cases, 21.7% of world's new cases were in the US
- Yesterday's cases in NJ/NY - 916 (2.5%), outside NJ/NY - 35,627 (97.5%)
- Deaths reported in the US - 121,279 deaths, 828 deaths yesterday , 15.2% of the world's deaths yesterday were in the US
- Yesterday's Deaths in NJ/NY - 107 (12.2%), outside NJ/NY - 770 (87.8%)
- Testing: - 28,065,065 tests (up from 27,553,581 yesterday, +511,484 tests), 8.5% of the US population has been tested, 8.4% positive rate

Coronavirus cases/deaths in active countries (preference to countries with JUB members):

• US: 2,348,956 (up from 2,313,445 / +35,511 / 1.5%) - 121,279 deaths (+828)
• Brazil: 1,145,906 (up from 1,106,470 / +39,436 / 3.6%) - 52,645 deaths (+1,374)
• Russia: 606,043 (up from 598,878 / +7,165 / 1.2%) - 8,503 deaths (+154)
• India: 456,183 (up from 440,215 / +15,968 / 3.6%) - 14,476 deaths (+465)
• UK : 307,682 (up from 306,761 / +921 / 0.3%) - 43,011 deaths (+280)
• Iran : 212,501 (up from 209,970 / +2,531 / 1.2%) - 9,996 deaths (+133)
• Mexico: 191,410 (up from 185,122 / +6,288 / 3.4%) - 23,377 deaths (+793)
• Turkey: 190,165 (up from 188,897 / +1,268 / 0.7%) - 5,001 deaths (+0)
• Sweden: 62,324 (up from 60,837 / +1,487 / 2.4%) - 5,209 deaths (+48)

Coronavirus cases/deaths in recovering countries:

• Spain : 246,752 (up from 246,504 / +248 / 0.1%) - 28,325 deaths (+0)
• Italy : 238,833 (up from 238,720 / +113 / 0.0%) - 34,675 deaths (+0)
• France : 197,804 (up from 197,381 / +423 / 0.2%) - 29,723 deaths (+0)
• Germany : 192,871 (up from 192,437 / +434 / 0.2%) - 8,926 deaths (+12)
• Canada : 103,767 (up from 103,418 / +349 / 0.3%) - 8,512 deaths (+2)
• China: 84,655 (up from 84,640 / +15 / 0.0%) - 4,640 deaths (+0)
• Belgium: 60,898 (up from 60,810 / +88 / 0.1%) - 9,722 deaths (+9)
• Netherlands : 50,012 (up from 49,930 / +82 / 0.2%) - 6,116 deaths (+2)
• Switzerland : 31,376 (up from 31,332 / +44 / 0.1%) - 1,958 deaths (+2)
• Ireland: 25,391 (up from 25,383 / +8 / 0.0%) - 1,720 deaths (+0)
• Japan: 17,963 (up from 17,875 / +88 / 0.5%) - 967 deaths (+2)
• South Korea : 12,535 (up from 12,484 / +51 / 0.4%) - 281 deaths (+0)
• Australia : 7,521 (up from 7,492 / +29 / 0.4%) - 103 deaths (+1)
• New Zealand: 1,516 (up from 1,515 / +1 / 0.1%) - 22 deaths (+0)

 

[KaraBulut]

As noted above, 35,627 or 97.5% of the new cases in the US yesterday were NOT in New York or New Jersey.

Here are some numbers from yesterday for the 10 States with the most new cases:

• California - 6,828
• Texas - 5,142
• Arizona - 3,779
• Florida - 3,286
• Georgia - 1,747
• North Carolina - 1,394
• Louisiana - 1,356
• Virginia - 1,049
• South Carolina - 906
• Tennessee - 750

New York had 597 new cases. New Jersey had 319 new cases.

 

[rareboy]

NBC was reporting a staggering 45,000+ new cases for Wednesday, but I don't see any verification by the leading tracking sites.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-new...wj_FAc9TjqKHYfvyT6EfW8TPJxpiqNEYqWaxTigN_Qs38

But 2 consecutive days of over 36,000 new cases per day?

It seems to be related to the re-opening of states around Memorial Day?

And at least the deaths per day still remain less than 1000....which may indicate that most new cases being found are asymptomatic or not life threatening.

I will be watching the active versus resolved cases and the number of critical cases over the next few weeks.

 

[KaraBulut]

NBC was reporting a staggering 45,000+ new cases for Wednesday, but I don't see any verification by the leading tracking sites.

Yesterday's number will be 32,413 new cases in the US from the JHI numbers.

But 2 consecutive days of over 36,000 new cases per day?

It's gone up 21% in a week but it hasn't exceeded 36,000 new cases on 2 consecutive days. Yet. It will probably be running around 40K per day by the end of next week.

18-Jun - 26,766
19-Jun - 26,703
20-Jun - 31,376
21-Jun - 32,543
22-Jun - 25,850
23-Jun - 31,444
24-Jun - 36,543
25-Jun - 32,413

It seems to be related to the re-opening of states around Memorial Day?

There's probably 3 things that are factors:

1. Reopening that occurred before 14 consecutive days of declining cases in each of the States. Many of the States had problems in prisons , long term care facilities and workplaces (e.g. meatpacking plants) that were not dealt with during May- basically, they incubated pockets of virus while the rest of us were at home. When States allowed people to return to work and go to bars and other public places, those incubators seeded the rest of public.
2. Liberal definitions of "essential workers". Some states had very loose definitions of "essential workers" that kept the working poor and lower income people in public where they were at risk for exposure. The essential workers were getting sick while the rest of us were at home.
3. Poor messaging and compliance on masks and physical distancing. When reopening started, governors overruled local authorities on masks and physical distancing. So for example, Texas' governor overruled the local authorities in Dallas and Houston who wanted to make masks mandatory. In places like Florida, the media has been focusing on the beaches and totally ignoring all the packed bars and nightclubs. Rumor has it that the governor of Florida is pressuring the State's Department of Health to make their numbers look better next week so that tourists won't be scared away over the July 4th holiday.

And at least the deaths per day still remain less than 1000....which may indicate that most new cases being found are asymptomatic or not life threatening.

It's more connected to a demographic shift.

In NY/NJ, the virus got into congregate living facilities early. It was the elderly in nursing homes, veteran's retirement homes and prisons who died en masse. If you look at their death statistics, NJ/NY had about 30-40% of their deaths connected to elderly or workers in congregate living facilities.

In Florida, California and Texas, the majority of new cases are affecting a younger demographic who are less likely to die from the virus. Unfortunately, these younger people are also more likely to spread the virus quicker and more efficiently than older people.

If you want to see an example of a supremely stupid public servant, listen to Gov DeSantis of Florida. He blames testing. He blames immigrants. He blames poor people. He blames the media. He refuses to put out clear guidelines and mandate masks. He refuses to release numbers for patients in hospitals and he refuses to release numbers for available hospital beds and ventilators. I'm hearing from contacts in South Florida that several hospitals in the Palm Beach County and Broward County area are already running out of ICU beds and they are still days away from their peak... and we're about to hit the July 4th tourism season in Florida.

And here is DeSantis a month ago attacking the media and the Democrats along with Fox News propaganda. He also gloats about Florida's low case numbers. And now, a month later, Florida is predicted to be on the track that New York and New Jersey were on in early March.

 

[rareboy]

The U.S. today is getting closer to the worst-case scenario envisioned in the spring — a nationwide crisis, made worse by a vacuum of political leadership, threatening to overwhelm hospitals and spread out of control.

The article notes that there has been a 30% increase in cases since the beginning of the month.

https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-s...aCQ3G-YZ5hEwb2Fy196v80ll8GjdxfD-mdC7dhEJZf9mo

DeSantis and Trump should note that it isn't testing that is filling the hospital beds.

It is sick people.

 

[rareboy]

Kara, you note the LTC cases.

Today we learn that to our eternal shame, Canada's long term care death toll was twice that of other developed countries.

A lot of this had to do with transfer protocols and the diminished oversight; even though residents should likely have been moved out of the residences immediately, because there was no 'cure' for COVID and because ventilating the frail elderly is usually a death sentence anyway, a lot of deaths that would have occurred in hospital then occurred in the LTC facility. But the move to privatization and less stringent standards for care that came with the conservative government under Mike Harris have also led to this result.

Every person over the age of 30 should pay attention. Eventually, the LTC system will just get worse unless everyone advocates for better care for the elderly now.