Disasters in Slow Motion (pt. 20) - Sept 7, 2020

Sorry it has been so long, Facebook had removed the ability to create notes and it has just now returned. So, let’s get into this shall we? I’ll start by stating that my Covid-19 test came back negative (as I expected). No need to bury the lead though.

September 7 (02:17 GMT) - Actual Numbers vs. August 4 (20:31 GMT)
Worldwide Cases: 27,288,655 (+8,640,749)
Worldwide Deaths: 887,549 (+186,348)
Worldwide Mortality Rate: 3.25% (-0.51%)
Worldwide Mortality Rate (without US): 3.33% (-0.60%)
US Cases: 6,460,250 (+1,553,614)
US Deaths: 193,250 (+33,280)
US Mortality Rate: 2.99% (-0.27%)
US Total Recovered: 3,725,970 (+1,251,298)
Florida/Collier Cases: 646,431 (+149,101) / 11,994 (+2,097)
Florida/Collier Deaths: 12,001 (+4,599) / 184 (+55)
Florida/Collier Mortality Rate: 1.85% (+.37%) / 1.53% (+0.23%)

So, in the past month, some interesting (and rather disturbing) things have happened. Both Florida and Collier county in specific, have seen an increase in the mortality rate of Covid-19. Now, both are still WELL below the national average, but there is another disturbing stat that isn’t on the above list. Of the 11,994 Covid-19 cases in Collier county, there are still 11,810 listed as “active”.

The ONLY closed Covid-19 cases in Collier County have resulted in death.

That is a real eye opener.

In my last update I had moved my date for the 200k death mark up to Sept 11. Now, I’m thinking more likely the 13th. In some ways I’m glad for the slight delay (Sept 11th has enough emotional significance here in the US without adding more to it) but in other ways I’m infuriated. 200k Americans did not have to die...and we are STILL fighting some sort of weird culture war against wearing masks and stopping the spread of Covid-19.

WTF

Now, the biggest news still hinges around efforts to create a Covid-19 vaccine. Russia approved a vaccine on August 11th, while experts in the US question both its safety and efficacy. Regardless, Russia has received international requests for 1 billion doses. That the vaccine hasn’t even finished Stage 3 human trials doesn’t bother the international community. It does, however, bother the Russians who are being told will be the first to take it.

More realistically, Australia is expecting to receive a different vaccine in January, 2021.

With so much uncertainty, only one thing is certain. In a matter of a week or two, we will pass 200k Americans dead from Covid-19...and this is still far from over.