Pfafftown Corona Chronicles: March 2020

01 Mar 2020: An official at US Health and Human Services said the agency had launched an investigation into manufacturing defect in CDC tests.

02 Mar 2020: Saudi Arabia's health ministry announced its first coronavirus case. The victim travelled from Iran to the Gulf kingdom through Bahrain, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported. Tunisia and Jordan also reported their first cases as the outbreak continues to spread in the Middle East.

TRUMP: “You take a solid flu vaccine, you don't think that could have an impact, or much of an impact, on corona?... A lot of things are happening, a lot of very exciting things are happening and they’re happening very rapidly.”

03 Mar 2020: Italy announced the death toll in the country reached 77, equaling the total deaths in Iran.

Super Tuesday! Woke up at 5am to work as an election assistant. Long day. Got home around 9pm, exhausted. Biden was not my first choice but I am ready to support him. Hopeful he will embrace some progressive policy proposals and defeat Trump in November. Still not worried much about the virus having a direct impact on my life.

04 Mar 2020: TRUMP: “If we have thousands or hundreds of thousands of people that get better just by, you know, sitting around and even going to work — some of them go to work, but they get better.”

05 Mar 2020: TRUMP: “I NEVER said people that are feeling sick should go to work… The United States… has, as of now, only 129 cases… and 11 deaths. We are working very hard to keep these numbers as low as possible!”

By March 15^th it is clear US numbers are artificially low because of inadequate testing.

06 Mar 2020: TRUMP: “I think we’re doing a really good job in this country at keeping it down… a tremendous job at keeping it down... Anybody right now, and yesterday, anybody that needs a test gets a test. They’re there. And the tests are beautiful…. the tests are all perfect like the letter was perfect. The transcription was perfect. Right? This was not as perfect as that but pretty good… I like this stuff. I really get it. People are surprised that I understand it… Every one of these doctors said, ‘How do you know so much about this?’ Maybe I have a natural ability. Maybe I should have done that instead of running for president… I don't need to have the numbers double because of one ship that wasn't our fault.”

07 Mar 2020: Coronavirus had killed nearly 3,500 people and infected another 102,000 people across more than 90 countries. China's Health Commission reported 99 new cases, down from 143 cases the day before, with a total of 80,651 cases nationwide. Official data, meanwhile, showed China's exports plunging 17.2 percent in the first two months of the year after the outbreak brought much of the country to a halt. In Iran, one of the worst-hit countries with 4,747 reported cases and 124 deaths, recently-elected MP Fatemeh Rahbar died from the coronavirus.

08 Mar 2020: Saudi authorities locked down the eastern Qatif region in a bid to contain the fast-spreading virus. Riyadh also said it was suspending all schools and universities across the country from Monday until further notice. In Italy, the government imposed a strict quarantine in the state of Lombardy and 14 other areas in the north, affecting a total of 16 million people.

TRUMP: “We have a perfectly coordinated and fine tuned plan at the White House for our attack on CoronaVirus.”

09 Mar 2020: Iran released about 70,000 prisoners because of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, Iranian judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi said, without specifying if or when those released would need to return to jail. Germany reported its first two deaths, with at least 1,100 confirmed cases in the country. US public health labs in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. are finally able to test for the novel coronavirus. New commercial tests authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration have also increased US testing capacity.
Most global markets reported severe contractions, mainly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and an oil price war between Russia and the OPEC countries led by Saudi Arabia. This became colloquially known as Black Monday. At the time was the worst drop since the Great Recession in 2008.

TRUMP: “This blindsided the world… The Fake News Media and their partner, the Democrat Party, is doing everything within its semi-considerable power (it used to be greater!) to inflame the CoronaVirus situation, far beyond what the facts would warrant.”

10 Mar 2020: Both Iran and Italy recorded their highest death tolls in a single day. A total of 54 people died in Iran over a 24-hour period; Italy recorded 168 new fatalities. Lebanon and Morocco reported their first deaths from the virus, while Democratic Republic of the Congo, Panama and Mongolia confirmed their first cases of infection.

TRUMP: "It will go away. Just stay calm. It will go away."

Several colleges and universities announced suspension of face to face classes, online classes only, and students told to leave campus. I texted Reid to bring his books home with him for spring break in case UConn makes similar announcement.

11 Mar 2020: WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, as Turkey, Ivory Coast, Honduras and Bolivia confirmed their first cases. Qatar infections jumped from 24 to 262 in a single day.

UConn announced suspension of face to face classes, online classes only, and students told to leave campus. Reid canceled his spring break vacation plans.

12 Mar 2020: Global death toll surpassed 4,600 with infections exceeding 126,100 cases. China reported 15 new cases, its lowest number since the daily reporting on infections began seven weeks ago.

Two confirmed cased in Forsyth County where I live. Oh crap, this just got real. Need a few groceries but shortages have been reported in local stores so I drove 30 minutes to Yadkin County Food Lion. Parking lot was full. Watched a doomsday prepper load large quantities of toilet paper, gallons of bleach, and more into her van. Ugh! Wearing a Cruise Critic jacket helped with social distancing inside the store. Was able to get most items on my short list but not all. Watched UConn virtual town hall online while simultaneously texting with Reid.

13 Mar 2020: TRUMP declared National Emergency “two very big words” along with barrage of tweets. “APPROVE A PAYROLL TAX CUT until the end of the year, December 31. Then you are doing something that is really meaningful. Only that will make a big difference!... I fully support H.R. 6201: Families First CoronaVirus Response Act, which will be voted on in the House this evening. This Bill will follow my direction for free CoronaVirus tests, and paid sick leave for our impacted American workers. I have directed..... ....the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Labor to issue regulations that will provide flexibility so that in no way will Small Businesses be hurt. I encourage all Republicans and Democrats to come together and VOTE YES!”

14 Mar 2020: Tinky Winky was trending on Twitter after someone posted “joke” he had coronavirus.

This caught my attention because Reid once was Tinky Winky for Halloween. I shared the tweet with him. He responded with news about the actor’s death two years ago. I posted the link and it went viral -- more than 72,000 views. Fact checking is fun. Bless my heart.

TRUMP: Tweets “BIGGEST STOCK MARKET RISE IN HISTORY YESTERDAY!” and “SOCIAL DISTANCING!”

NOTE: A stock market crash began Monday, March 9 with history's largest point plunge for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) up to that date. It was followed by two more record-setting point drops on March 12 and March 16. This crash included the three worst point drops in U.S. history.

https://www.thebalance.com/fundamentals-of-the-2020-market-crash-4799950

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/the-balance/

15 Mar 2020: Spain reported about 2,000 new coronavirus cases and more than 100 deaths over the last 24 hours. The new figures raise Spain's COVID-19 death toll to 288, with more than 7,700 people infected. Kazakhstan, the Phillipines and Austria announced tightened restrictions in a bid to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

Reid and I texted each other while watching the debate between Biden and Bernie, something we do during every debate. After spending the weekend together, Reid and Lauren made the difficult decision to quarantine separately for the next two weeks.

16 Mar 2020: New York Mayor Bill de Blasio ordered the city's bars, theatres and cinemas to close, as the number of cases keeps rising in the US. On the same day, more cases were reported in Turkey and Pakistan, while Iran registered a total of 14,991 infections and 853 deaths. The Gulf region marked its first death due to coronavirus in Bahrain. In Africa, Somalia confirmed its first case. Two South American countries, Chile and Guatemala, announced they have closed their borders.

Son Austin has been sick and out of work for 2 weeks so he visited his doctor for a follow up appointment. His symptoms were thought to be a sinus infection but he has not responded to treatment. Today his nostrils were deeply and uncomfortably swabbed to test for coronavirus. He was told to self quarantine at his apartment until the results are back, at least 48 to 72 hours. Law enforcement and/or health department staff conduct wellness checks and he could be arrested if he doesn’t stay home. He signed multiple forms acknowledging the consequences. The nurse then threw away the pen he used. Didn’t sanitize it; just threw it away. Flanked by medical staff wearing what he described as hazmat suits, he was then escorted through the rear exit of the clinic to the parking lot. He called Greg to tell him what had just happened. Greg asked him if he needed anything, groceries or supplies. Austin said he needed just a few things so I drove to a nearby grocery store and picked up what I could find, half of what he asked for. I then drove to Austin’s apartment, placed the supplies on his porch, walked back to my car and texted to let him know. While in King, I stopped at Amazing Thailand to pick up dinner for Greg and me. We had eaten there last week and there is plenty of food at home but I wanted to check on owner Ping and his employees. The elderly many at the cash register smiled when I walked into the empty restaurant. He told me business was very slow and he expected it to get worse. The very next day, March 17^th, Governor Cooper announced all NC restaurants and bars would close to dine-in customers, though take-out and delivery would continue.

17 Mar 2020: Italy reported 345 new coronavirus deaths over the last 24 hours taking its total death toll to 2,503 - an increase of 16 percent. Total number of cases in Italy rose to 31,506 from a previous 27,980, up 12.6 percent - the slowest rate of increase since the contagion came to light on February 21. Turkey reported its first death related to the pandemic, an 89-year-old person.

Thinking about my friend Nese and hoping she and her family in Turkey are healthy and safe. Chatted with Reid on the phone today. He and Lauren met briefly during her lunch break, keeping a safe 6’ distance from one another. She is currently working from home due to self quarantine and social distancing (living with her parents in Meriden) while Reid is now living at home with his dad, bonus mom and siblings in Southington, about 20 minutes away. It’s St. Patrick’s Day but I don’t care. I’m wearing a green tie dye T-shirt by accident, not intentional. During UConn’s second virtual town hall I learned that graduation ceremonies have been canceled. I texted my brother Randy to let him know.

18 Mar 2020: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison declared for the first time ever a "human biosecurity emergency" in the country. Morrison said the travel advisory had been upgraded to the top-most level and told Australians: "Do not travel abroad, do not go overseas." Italy recorded 475 new deaths, the highest one-day toll of any nation, taking its total to 2,978. The total number of infections in the country reached 35,713. For the first time since the start of the epidemic, no new domestic cases were reported in China.

Trump continues to use the term “China virus” and a reporter alleged someone in the White House said “Kung Flu”. I am disgusted by the blatant racism. Subtle racism is terrible; this is absurd. I’ve been fighting a mild chest cold for several days; dry cough, low energy. 99% sure it’s just a cold, nothing more serious. I’ve begun a journal to help process my thoughts and feelings about the pandemic. I’m spending hours reading and watching news, and scanning social media for both relevant information as well as humorous distractions. Noticed a post from Lauren’s cousin, an artist and musician selling ink drawings since his “sources of income are cooked for the foreseeable future.” I messaged him to ask for a sketch of Lauren and Reid together.

19 Mar 2020: Italy overtook China as the country with the most coronavirus-related deaths, registering 3,405 dead compared to 3,245 in China. The death toll in Spain soared by 209 to 767 fatalities from the previous day. A roughly 25 percent increase in infections was recorded, taking the country's total to 17,147. China's infections seemed to have peaked though 39 other countries have passed the 100 case threshold. 10,442 cases and 150 deaths have been reported in the US including 97 cases in NC and 96 in CT with three related deaths in CT and none in NC, yet.

First day of Spring. Ordinarily I would be full of joy and playing in the garden but I’m low energy this week. We’re still awaiting Austin’s test results. Remain hopeful and 95% confident results will be negative. But if results are positive then Greg and I will likely seek tests for ourselves. I can’t think about that right now. I’ve decided to convert my journal into a blog to share with others. I’m going to call it “Pfafftown Coronavirus Chronicles.” Greg thinks I’m nuts. Lauren texted to thank me for Zach’s drawing. I’m glad she likes it.