22 APRIL 2020, NOTES

It is Wednesday, April 22, 2020; and our dark hour continues. Sometimes I feel as if I am only the bearer of bad news and I wish I had something good to relay. However, as painful as the numbers are, it is important that we pay attention to them. My philosophy is that knowledge is good and we cannot have too much of it because it leads to wisdom. 

The statistics of the last two days, according to Worldometer, our constant source, continue to show rapidly rising numbers of cases and deaths from the coronavirus but also a lessening of the rates here and there. 

In the world in the last two days, 20-22 April, there were 151,985 new cases reported for a total of 2,573,003. This is a rising rate of 6%, down from the previous two days (18-20 Apr.) of 7%. As for deaths in the world, there were 12,668 in the last two days for a total of 178,558. This is a present rate of 8%, a rise from the earlier two days' 7%. 

In the United States, there were 54,910 new reported cases in the last two days for a total of 819,175. This is an upward rate of 7%, down slightly from the 8% of the previous two days. As for deaths in the U.S., 4,778 people died of the disease in the last two days for a total of 45,343. This is a rate of 12%, well up from the previous two days' rate of 9%. It is clear from these statistics that the rate of people dying from the virus is climbing in the world and in America. Thus, we have not reached the height of the curve. There is no leveling off, no plateau. The plague is growing ever more deadly.

In South Carolina, there were 231 new cases in the past two days for a total of 4,608, a rise of 5% and down from the previous two days' rate of 7%. However, there were 15 more deaths in SC for a total of 135. This is a climbing rate of 13%. In Alabama, 424 new cases were reported in the last two days for a total of 5,327. This is a rate of 9%, climbing from the earlier two days' rate of 7%. As for deaths, Alabama lost another 26 people for a total of 186. This is a rate of 16%, climbing from the earlier two days' 6%.

To give us more perspective, we can go back and look at the numbers for the past two weeks, April 8 to 22. 

World cases:   1,446,986 to 2,573,003

World deaths:   83,090 to 178,558

U.S. cases:   400,549 to 819,175

U.S. deaths:   12,857 to 45,343

SC cases:   2,417 to 4,608

SC deaths:   51 to 135

AL cases:   2,197 to 5,327

AL deaths:   64 to 186

The alarming news in these figures relates to America. The rate is spread in America is much greater than in the world. Worst of all is the much higher death rate in the U.S. New reported cases in America more than doubled in the two weeks while deaths more than tripled. Just look at those numbers: at least 32,000 Americans have died of COVID-19 in the past two weeks! The real number is probably much higher.

How do the rates in the U.S. compare with other countries? According to Worldometer, the American death rate is relatively high per 1m population as compared with other countries. As for tests, there are many countries that conducted more tests per 1m population. The charge that the U.S. has a low death rate and conducts more tests than anyone percentage-wise is flatly false. The U.S. response to the pandemic has been relatively poor. For more details, see worldometers.info/coronavirus/ . 

At the moment, there are two items of concern. The first is the disappearance of Dr. Fauci from the daily televised presidential briefing. He has not appeared in the briefing for the past four days. He is still on the task force and still appears for interviews otherwise on TV. Obviously President Trump does not want Fauci at the briefings. We can only speculate at the reasons for this. 

The other item of concern is the rush propelled by right-wing forces in the country, to open up everything. Numerous southern states are moving to re-open places that have been closed even though this is in violation of the federal guidelines for re-opening which say there has to be a decline in rates of infections for 14 days. There is no decline, quite the opposite. There has been a swirling fight going on in Washington about when and how to re-open the country. Dr. Fauci is a powerful advocate for a "go slow" approach and is being overruled by some governors in the country. Dr. Birx continues to appear at the daily briefing but she talks only about testing which the administration is insisting is fully functioning when it is not by the statistics. 

The rush to "re-open" is a highly risky business, particularly the way Georgia is going about it. Tattoo and massage parlors are to re-open. There is no way one can do these businesses by social distancing. If numbers begin to spike, states will have to reconsider and close down again which would be even harder on people. South Carolina has started rolling back its closures even though numbers there continue to climb. In Alabama, the closures remain until the 30th but the sensible Republican governor hinted yesterday she may extend the quarantines.

We are in the midst of a terrible and terrifying pandemic. This is like nothing we have ever known. There is no point in trying to disguise or diminish the truth. In fact, that would do more harm than good. As hard as it is, it is best to face reality and come up with realistic responses to this awful crisis that is upon us whether we want to see it or not. And, many, many people are responding well, even heroically, in this emergency.

It is trite to say, but still true, we are all in this together and we will get through it together. Remember, we are here for the living of this hour. Peace.