COVID-19 update: USA is still #1

The US represents less than 5% of the world’s population, yet we account for more than 25% of all coronavirus cases.

Coronavirus Cases by Country

As cases continue to spike in roughly half of states, health officials and media outlets remind people to keep a safe distance, wash their hands, and wear a mask among other safety tips. 

US CDC recommendations and governmental restrictions are relatively moderate compared to some countries. 

Trump discourages restrictions and downplays health concerns by focusing on positive yet misleading talking points such as the current worldwide trend of slowing coronavirus death rates. Forbes reported the US had the 7th worst COVID-19 death rate per 100,000 people on June 23. Worldometer ranked the US death rate as the 9th worst as of June 29. As of today, 1 in 4 coronavirus deaths are in America. 

Worldwide cases trended up in June as deaths rates trended down. 

Trump claimed the US administered more tests than any other country though Worldometer determined the US trails China by 60 million tests. Also, the US is in 26th place for per capita testing based on population.

While the Trump administration claimed only 3% of counties nationwide have hot spot outbreaks, they failed to mention the significance of those counties being among the most populated in each state. Cases are in fact spiking around the country. 

Compared to other historical events, the pandemic is responsible for a significant number of deaths. 

During the most recent 2 weeks, cases have risen by 84% in states without mask requirements. In states where mask wearing is mandatory, cases fell by 25%. 

In a recent poll, ABC News reported 89% of Americans say they wear masks regularly. An earlier study by the Pew Research Center indicated 65% of Americans wear masks all or most of the time while 15% reported wearing masks some times; 80% combined. A Fox News poll stated 80% of Americans have a favorable view of mask-wearers including 89% of democrats, 68% of republicans, and 61% of those who strongly approve of President Trump’s job performance. 

A survey from Fairleigh Dickinson University in NJ found that overall, more than three-quarters of Americans support three measures to control the spread of coronavirus:

• mandatory temperature checks before entering enclosed public spaces,
• wearing masks once inside, and
• required isolation for people who test positive.

  

Liz Cheney posted a photo of her dad and former VP Dick Cheney wearing a mask which helped #RealMenWearMasks trend.

#WearaMaskSaveaLife video features people with disabilities putting on masks with captions including, "Don't give us any excuses. If I can put on a mask, so can you."  

In the spirit of sharing softer news and/or silly vibes:

• Bruce Springsteen shared a message meant for Trump.
• Daily Show video pondered if/when Trump might be joking.  
• Dixie Chicks changed band name to The Chicks and released new song and video. 
• Author Ibram X Kendi visited the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. 
• Sarah Cooper Trump-splained how to lobster and how to second term.

Daily pandemic update:  

• Australia's second most populous state is considering re-imposing social distancing restrictions after country reported its biggest one-day rise in new coronavirus infections in more than two months. Propelled by Victoria state reporting 75 cases, Australia recorded 85 new COVID-19 infections in the past 24 hours, its biggest daily outbreak since April 11.
• European Union announced plans to bar travelers from US, Brazil and Russia due to continued surge in infections.
• Gulf region coronavirus cases surpassed 400,000. 
• Pakistan cases passed 200,000 after 3,602 new infections were reported.
• US health secretary Alex Azar warned "window is closing" for decisive action to curb virus as cases surge.
• WHO reported pandemic was getting worse globally. Death toll exceeded 500,000 people while the number of cases worldwide exceeded 10 million.

Aljazeera.com timeline

29 June 2020	Cases		Deaths		Recovered
10:03 GMT*	Fri 6/26	Mon 6/29	Fri 6/26	Mon 6/29	Fri 6/26	Mon 6/29
World	9,739,522	10,267,672	492,395	504,779	5,272,015	5,568,810
US	2,504,676	2,637,077	126,785	128,437	1,052,389	1,093,456
NY	414,274	416,787	31,373	31,484	87,713	89,037
CT	45,994	46,303	4,298	4,316	9,545	10,012
NC	57,385	62,197	1,332	1,356	37,705	37,705

US Coronavirus Deaths

Feb 25:                0

Mar 25:           938

Apr 25:       53,755

May 25:      98,220

Jun 25:      124,355

A moment of silence for those we’ve lost to coronavirus, including the first 100 and the first 100,000 in the US.

As of today 11% of closed cases in the US resulted in death; 89% recovered.

Globally 8% of closed cases resulted in death worldwide; 92% recovered.

Currently 1% of all active cases are considered serious or critical.  

*Documenting time of day because real time data updates continuously.
Tracking specific states:  NY is US epicenter. Son Reid lives in CT. I live in NC. 
Worldometers     Coronainusa     Starsexpress2020     https://ncov2019.live/

In the news: 

• 65 faculty from Attorney General William Barr’s alma mater, George Washington University Law School, said he failed to fulfill his oath of office.
• Aurora CO police forcefully ended peaceful violin vigil honoring Elijah McClain.
• Boston is now largest city on east coast to ban facial recognition technology.
• British steroid drug study suggests dexamethasone may help sickest patients though it may be risky for patients with milder illness; timing is critical.
• CA Gov Gavin Newsom ordered bars closed in several counties to slow spread of COVID-19.
• Devin Nunes (R-CA) defamation lawsuit against Twitter over parody accounts was dismissed by judge.
• FACT CHECKS: DOJ warned against fake face mask exemption cards. Meanwhile false claims about health risks associated with face masks were debunked.
• Federal judge ruled migrant children held with parents in family detention centers must be released. Don Winslow released a video about Trump style chain migration.
• Federal Reserve study determined Trump tariffs on imports caused job losses and higher prices.
• Fireworks continue to disturb residents in multiple communities. Law enforcement may be linked to some instances although increased availability of pyrotechnics, boredom, and cancellation of July 4th events may also be contributing factors. Utah wildfire was sparked by fireworks.
• Gilead announced price for remdesivir coronavirus treatment: between $2,340 and $3,100 per patient for most Americans. 
• John Oliver explored rent and eviction crisis on episode of Last Week Tonight.
• Lincoln Project released new video supporting Biden, along with multiple videos critical of Trump including Debt, Bounty, and Truth. Group also supports MT democrat Steve Bullock for senate. Additional videos were shared by @FindAClearTruth, For the People, Really American, and VoteVets.org.
• Meidas Touch released new videos #WeWantJoe, #CommenceChange, #EmergencyAlert, #MoreLiesMoreDie, #TrumpKillsUs, and #ByIvankaSequel. Also, they purchased http://MAGA2020.com domain to promote Meidas Against Grifter Autocrats campaign, offering to give it to Trump if he would drop his case against the Affordable Care Act.
• Mississippi legislature voted to remove and replace state flag which displays confederate battle emblem.
• More advertisers joined #StopHateForProfit campaign by pulling ads from Facebook including Arc'teryx, Ben & Jerry's, Beam Suntory, Coca-Cola, Dashlane, Eddie Bauer, Eileen Fisher, Hershey's, Honda, JanSport, Levi Strauss, Magnolia Pictures, Patagonia, North Face, REI, Starbucks, Upwork, Unilever, and Verizon. 
• Mother Jones appreciated Stephen Colbert’s interview of John Bolton.
• NYC mayor’s office announced city will paint Black Lives Matter mural on 5th Ave in front of Trump Tower before July 4th. Project is 1 of 7.  
• Russia reportedly offered bounty payments to Taliban for killing US soldiers in Afghanistan. Trump denied knowledge of intelligence briefings. Russia denied allegations. #TRE45ON and #TraitorTrump trended as news broke and people began reconsidering some of Trump’s recent actions: he sent medical supplies to Russia, invited Putin to join G7 summit, announced US troop reductions in Germany, and failed to act against growing Russian cyber action in US.
• Russian and US aircraft were involved in at least 12 recent intercepts in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), Baltic Sea and Black Sea. Russian fighters in Libya also raised concerns.
• Sasha Baron Cohen infiltrated a right wing Washington State Three Percent event and staged a racist sing along to expose and mock their racism.
• Seattle CHOP autonomous zone remains fluid as some protestors leave while others stay.
• St Louis MO couple held guns outside their home in a private gated community as protestors marched by on their way to mayor Lyda Krewson's home. Days earlier the mayor had revealed the identities of citizens advocating to defund police, reading their names and addresses during a Facebook Live stream, exposing them to potential retaliation. The couple called police, alleged protestors had broken a gate to enter the community and claimed some protestors were armed. No arrests were reported. Incident investigation is ongoing. 
• Students for Trump co-founder John Lambert, aka Eric Pope, pled guilty to $46,000 fraud scheme.
• Supreme Court struck down restrictive Louisiana abortion law in 5-4 vote.
• Swing state polls favor Biden though advisors encourage campaign not to get complacent.
• TX Gov Greg Abbott announced re-closure of bars, reduced occupancy in restaurants, and ban on river rafting trips to slow spread of COVID-19. VP Mike Pence attended church event, finally wore a mask in public, encouraged others to wear masks, and praised Gov Abbott as 100+ church choir members sang without masks.
• Trump administration attempt to lower nutritional standards of school meals was rejected by federal judge.
• Trump administration filed a new brief with Supreme Court to end Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
• Trump campaign is suing Priorities USA super PAC over their video criticizing his coronavirus response.
• Trump cancelled planned golf trip to his NJ property to “make sure law and order is enforced” in DC, then golfed at his VA property where he was met by protestors.
• Trump had difficulty articulating his second term goals during Fox News Hannity interview.
• Trump re-tweeted and deleted a video of a supporter in FL shouting “White Power” to Trump protestors.
• Trump’s use of $2.5 billion Pentagon funds for US-Mexico border wall was ruled illegal by federal appeals court.
• UN called Yemen world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Conflicts in Yemen have been exacerbated by US and UK weapons sales to Saudi Arabia. Trump administration reportedly wants to end congressional review of foreign arms sales to avoid scrutiny.
• US House passed bill to grant statehood for Washington DC. Senate republicans are expected to block the bill, along with hundreds of other bills. However, NDAA National Defense Authorization Act is expected to pass.
• VP Pence refused to say Black Lives Matter in part, he said,  because he believes BLM encourages violence (which it does not) and because Martin Luther King Jr promoted peaceful activism. Pence also cited his pro-life (anti-abortion) beliefs that all lives matter, born and unborn.

  

NC News

• 311 Speedway cancelled races after backlash following owner Mike Fulp’s racist social media posts and offers to sell Bubba Ropes.
• 3 women were arrested for impeding traffic during SlowDown2StopRacism protest on I-40 in Raleigh.
• 4 protestors in Durham were arrested for blocking police headquarters.
• Bob Steinburg (R-Chowan) was exposed for racist and conspiracy laden Facebook posts. Tess Judge is running against him in November. Long Leaf Pine Slate supports NC democrats running against vulnerable republicans.
• Graham permit request for protest was denied. 
• NC Gov Cooper issued an executive order requiring masks be worn in public, and extending phase 2 Safer at Home for 3 more weeks.
• ReOpenNC protested the mask order while at least 5 county sheriffs announced they would not enforce it: Halifax, Alamance, Sampson, Beaufort and Burke.
• Grocery store Harris Teeter with HQ in Matthews near Charlotte announced, “For those not in compliance, our policy is for a member of store management to approach the shopper to inform them of the Order and offer a free, disposable mask. If the individual declines, we must remember and understand that there are many exceptions outlined in the order, and our associates are not authorized nor qualified to ask an individual to present proof that they qualify for an exception.”
• Lt Gov Dan Forest threatened to sue Gov Cooper over his executive orders restricting business operations during the pandemic.
• Wilmington NC police dept fired 3 cops (Michael K. Piner, Jesse E. Moore II, and James Gilmore) after dash cam revealed disturbing racial threats and hate speech.
• Winston Salem mayor Allen Joines issued an order requiring masks be worn in public through mid August, similar to an order issued by Greensboro mayor Nancy Vaughan a few days earlier.   

Following Kenny Beck’s lead to share a few signs of hope:

Global Citizen Global Goal: Unite for Our Future summit and virtual concert hosted by Dwayne Johnson raised nearly $7 billion in cash and loan guarantees to assist poor people around the world. Support includes 250 million doses of a vaccine for poor nations if one is successfully developed.

In my personal life…

I finally finished the audio book How to Be an Anti-Racist, listening to the final hour twice. Author Ibram X Kendi covered a lot of ground. Takeaways: Most people claim not to be racist. It takes thoughtful action, not silence, to be anti-racist. Focus on changing bad policies. People are not bad; however, some policies are bad. Discuss history of bad policies instead of using terms like institutional racism or systemic racism. Be aware of personal biases to deconstruct them. I want to discuss the book with other people but some of my friends haven’t finished yet so I’m waiting.

Saturday Greg and I cleaned the outside of our storage building which was slightly stained with pollen and mildew. We used a simple solution of 1 part bleach to 4 parts water mixed in a bucket and applied with a long handled brush. I followed behind with the water hose to rinse. It looked good as new when we finished.

We are frugal people but we paid full price ($20) to stream Jon Stewart’s new film Irresistible starring Steve Carell, Rose Byrne, Chris Cooper and Mackenzie Davis; worth every penny. We also enjoyed Eurovision comedy with Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams on Netflix and Ode to Joy with Martin Freeman. We’re watching season 3 of Yellowstone and the new Perry Mason miniseries on HBO too.   

Son Austin called Greg Thursday morning. He had a low grade fever so his boss insisted he be tested for COVID-19 with negative results before returning to work. Austin suspects his fever is related to his pancreatitis. He went to CVS where test results are advertised to come back within 2 to 4 days. (Apparently CVS offers rapid results only for tests ordered by doctors.) He finally received his test results Monday afternoon; negative. 

Greg ordered groceries online today, delivered by Oscar. Even though he didn’t wear a mask when he dropped off bags, he found most everything on our list except smoked salmon and Sprite. We’ll likely drive to the open air market in Cana VA tomorrow to pick up some additional fresh produce. We also might stop by Fresh Market or another local store for salmon and soda pop. Definitely won’t be spending any money at Harris Teeter since they don’t require customers to wear masks. 

During this long break from blogging my days have run together so I can’t remember all the meals we’ve eaten. Greg picked enough blueberries from our garden to make blueberry muffins from scratch one morning, enough for two days of breakfast plus a few between meal snacks. Last night he made omelets for dinner with eggs, Neese’s sausage, shredded cheese and fresh chives from the garden. One night I made pork chops in the air fryer with oven roasted squash from our garden. Another night we had ham with rice and oven roasted zucchini from our garden. Also picked lettuce for salads. Greg wanted Manwich one night but a shopper substituted Del Monte brand Sloppy Joe sauce which Greg didn’t like as much; I couldn’t tell a difference.

My daily actions for racial justice have been listening, reading, watching and thinking plus a few small political donations. I would like to join a discussion and action group but am having trouble finding one locally. One night after Greg went to bed early I listened to a podcast On Being with Krista Tippett featuring therapist and trauma specialist Resmaa Menakem about noticing silent rage expressed through body language. It was fascinating to the point I will likely listen to it again. I also watched multiple interviews with author Ibrim X Kendi trying to better understand his book How to Be an Anti-Racist. I’m still reading Wilmington’s Lie and hope to finish soon. I’m considering reading White Fragility next though some reviews have been critical. Other books have been recommended so there are lots of options.