NOTES,  30 MARCH 2021

Welcome, blog reader, on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. It is time for our weekly check on the crises we have been following for over a year now.

PANDEMIC. According to our usual source, Worldometers, the numbers for last week (March 22-29) were mixed. There were signs of a new surge in the pandemic in the world and in America, but numbers looked much better in our southeastern states.

In the world, new cases jumped from 3,468,200 in the week of Mar. 15-22 to 3,916,780 last week, Mar. 22-29. Deaths also increased, from 62,708 (Mar. 15-22) to 68,491 (Mar. 22-29). While the United States remains the epicenter of the pandemic, some other countries as Brazil and the European states are seeing alarming upsurges in new cases and deaths. Some have resorted to new lockdowns.

In America, new cases increased last week over the earlier week, from 440,117 to 441,029. The U.S. is now reporting 30,962, 803 cases of COVID-19. As new cases arose last week, deaths declined, from 8,080 in the earlier week to 7,212 last week (Mar. 22-29). This means that a thousand Americans are dying every day in this plague. The total U.S. dead is now 562,526.

Fortunately, our southeastern states are showing mitigation. New cases in South Carolina fell from 8,161 (Mar. 15-22) to 7,617 (Mar. 22-29). SC is now reporting a total of 549,199 cases. Deaths in SC also declined, from 132 in the earlier week to 115 last week. SC is now listed 9,122 dead of COVID-19. As the state, Charleston County is also showing signs of improvement. New cases there fell from 685 (Mar. 15-22) to 507 (Mar. 22-29). The county is now reporting a total of 40,436 cases. Last week, the county reported 3 deaths, down from the 9 of the earlier week. In all, 478 residents of Charleston County have died of the coronavirus. 

Alabama is showing the same hopeful trend. It reported a drastic drop in new cases, from 7,787, in the earlier week, to 2,931 last week. AL is now listing 514,391 cases. Deaths in the state also fell, from 109 (Mar. 15-22) to 90 last week. Even so, AL is reporting 10,526 deaths from COVID-19.

Meanwhile, vaccinations in the U.S. are accelerating. As of 29 March, 52,614,231 Americans have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. This is moving up on 20% of the population. It is still too soon to know if the uptick in new cases in America is a new surge or a temporary blip. Many experts are worrying aloud that the growing disregard of precautions among the public will lead to a new rise in cases/deaths. We shall see.

SCHISM. Nothing new to report. We are still waiting on the South Carolina Supreme Court to respond to the Episcopal diocese's appeal of Judge Dickson's order. All of the briefs have been submitted to the court.

Meanwhile, the two dioceses are moving along on selecting new bishops. In the Episcopal diocese, the next step will be the walkabouts on April 12-14. The candidates will answer questions and provide more information about themselves in the morning sessions. This will be "virtual" on Zoom and on Youtube. The election will be on May 1, 2021.

Even in times of trouble, life goes on and the rhythms of nature continue uninterrupted. It should be a comfort to everyone to know that there is a universe much greater than ourselves that continues on with order and meaning. Here, the Japanese Snowball (Viburnum plicatum) is the spectacular star of my garden as it is every year in early spring. Although snowball bushes are common in the south, I have not seen one as large as this. Nor do I know the reason why since I routinely neglect it. Perhaps that is what it likes best--to be left alone to enjoy the sun and its happy environment. I think there may be a message in there somewhere.

As always, I think it is important that we remember why we are here. These are our days. This is the time that was given to us; and this week of all weeks should make us reflect on the triumph of life over death. Peace.