With all of the violence and protests (and looting) in the wake of George Floyd's murder, the coronavirus has kind of fallen off of the radar of many people. I'm sure the president welcomes this distraction, even though many feel he has continually fanned the flames that may have helped spark the current situation with his racist remarks and attitude.
The president was billing himself as a "wartime president" as we battled the unseen viral adversary. We are closing in on 2 million cases of the virus here in the US (1,790,191 as I write this) and have had 104,383 deaths. I guess he lost the war...or just gave up on it? He did spend Sunday hiding in a bunker (instead of leading or at least trying to calm people down and bring them together) at the White House while protesters in the George Floyd case rioted outside.
Following the coast to coast protests in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, there is new concern about outbreaks as protesters were not social distancing and many were not wearing masks either.
Previously, I mentioned a Memorial Day pool party in Missouri, with hundreds of people in attendance. Sure enough, someone there has tested positive for the virus, and possibly (probably) infected potentially hundreds of others.
New York is seeing it's lowest number of daily deaths since mid-March.
New Jersey's deaths have now climbed to 11,698. Even so, there is a push to reopen the Atlantic City beach, boardwalk and casinos by the 4th of July.
In North Dakota, sharing the joy of a new baby caused an outbreak within one family.
A spike in Michigan, experts say, is due to residents not following the state's guidelines.
Ohio's deaths total 2,155 and climbing...
Minnesota has had more than 1,000 deaths.
Iowa is pushing towards 20,000 cases.
In Missouri, two more hairstylists have tested positive and had been working while infectious.
One farm in Tennessee found that every single farm worker there was infected with the coronavirus on the eve of harvest.
Oklahoma added 88 new cases.
Dallas, Texas is seeing an uptick in cases and deaths for three days straight.
Utah added 264 new cases yesterday. This marks the third consecutive day the state has seen a spike upwards.
Arizona cases and hospitalizations are climbing. The state reported 790 more recently.
Oregon reported no new deaths and only 58 new cases.
In the wake of President Trump's actions against Twitter after they fact checked his tweets, CNN posted a slew of fact checked inaccuracies and lies the president has been spreading about the coronavirus and more.
Virus or not, President Trump is set on having a huge Fourth of July celebration.
A new gene study suggests that the virus originated in the pangolin after all, instead of bats.
Silent spreaders, those asymptomatic individuals who spread the infection without realizing it, continue to baffle scientists. More baffling is the ones who are infected who don't spread the virus.
The impact of COVID 19 on hospitals had been grossly underestimated, as patients can take weeks or months to recover.
One new study shows that 1 in 10 patients with diabetes who develop COVID 19 dies within a week of contracting it.
A genetic study shows the US missed its chance to slow/stop the virus early on. (As if we didn't know that already, Mr. President.)
A doctor in Italy is saying that a new form of the virus that is showing up is far less lethal.
A doctor on YouTube explains how the virus works and why it may be impossible to cure in an easy to understand way, in case people still have questions.
A vaccine from China is said to be ready by the end of the year. We will see....
With a possible/probable second wave of the virus in our future, a look back at how it was handled in 1918 may give us a clue as to how to best prepare.
The Heroes Act, which is the proposed new relief bill for struggling small businesses and individuals, actually has billions of dollars earmarked for defense contractors written into it, according to Business Insider.
The Supreme Court rejected a plea from California churches, saying the state's limiting of those allowed to worship interfered with the religious freedoms set forth in the Constitution.
GLOBAL:
There are 6,171,182 cases of the virus around the world and there have been 372,116 deaths.
An amusement park in Japan is set to reopen with new COVID 19 rules, one of which is no screaming.
Europe is planning to reopen for the summer tourist season.
A prince from Belgium has tested positive after attending an illegal lockdown party in Spain.
Russia confirms it has more than 400,000 cases of the virus.
Colombia will not ease its quarantine any time soon as the country is being slammed. However, despite rumors that its healthcare system is collapsing, the country's health minister denies that.
Chile is reaching new highs in deaths from the virus. One 111-year-old Chilean has made a full recovery, though.
Brazil is now the fourth highest country with COVID 19 deaths.
A 5-month-old baby survived 32 days in a coma after getting COVID 19 in Brazil.
South America, in general, seems to be the global hot spot.
CALIFORNIA:
Lassen County was one of the first counties in the state to reopen. It is closing up again as new cases of infection there surge.
San Bernardino County's virus rates are growing faster than the state allows for reopening.
Los Angeles County had its highest one day count of new cases on Saturday. It had 2,112 new infections. Yikes!
Alameda County is a hot spot. A recent report details why experts think that is the case.
A study into where the infection in the state have been started gives the state guidelines for what to watch for and where to watch.
LOCAL:
There are 4,736 cases in the Central Valley. 2,025 have recovered. There have been 133 deaths.
Fresno County is urging residents to get tested.
More than 300 inmates in Avenal State Prison have tested positive for the virus.
The Fresno City Council bought produce from farmers and donated it non-profit groups.
A South Valley pot dispensary teamed with an LGBT+ group for donations to a non-profit group during the coronavirus crisis.
Tenaya Middle School graduates received a parade to celebrate the occasion.
Two young musicians from the Valley have collaborated on a new song inspired by the quarantine situation.
Swap meets in the area have reopened with safety precautions.
Corner Stone Church, in the old Wilson Theater downtown, reopened yesterday with safety precautions.
CREATIVITY:
It's been kind of slim pickings lately. Here is one that is a take off on a Britney Spears song (I think...I'm not familiar with it).
Jimmy Kimmel played WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE with his kids:
It's no secret I love all things tiki. Famed tiki mug makers, Tiki Farm, is teaming up with Trader Vic's for a fun, creative and unusual benefit. The info about it is here:
If you are interested, more information and the raffle tickets can be found HERE. I splurged and spent $30 (which got me 4 tickets instead of 3). Win or lose, it does got to a good cause. As I write this (last Friday afternoon), they've already raised $5,591. Good luck to anyone who enters.
In Elgin, Illinois, the old Door Bell Ditch game has been resurrected...with a surprising and pleasant twist.
A couple in Inglewood, CA had a surprise wedding when their dream wedding was canceled due to the pandemic.
MAIL:
Kim, my CNA friend in Wisconsin, dropped me an email.
"So far, I am doing well," she says. "Wisconsin is now one of the hot spots. Yikes! We do not have any new positives in the hospital, but a lot of people are telling me about people testing positive and are having no symptoms. That is scary! Also, the nursing homes and assisted living homes are now testing all staff and residents. That could be a cause of the jump in positives. A nursing home in Waupaca and another in Oshkosh have a couple positives. I got tested for St Joe's yesterday. I'm praying we have no positives. I'm praying I do not get a phone call.
"There are some people wearing masks around here and some don't. I think people think it has gone away. I have not been going out to much. I will go to Kwik Trip, Dollar General, and the coffee shop. It's too soon to get back to going all over the place.
"My aunt did call me yesterday. She bought me a first class ticket to Kaui, March 25th through April 2nd. She wants to stop in San Francisco first, then fly to Kaui from there. She wants to go to Alcatraz and do a tour. I am excited, but... If there is no vaccine, I do not see how we will be able to go. If we are unable to, we can change the dates. I am okay with that. Like I said, it's something to look forward to."
SHIRLEY:
Shirley hasn't been up to anything adventurous (or mischievous) that I am aware of. After a few days of trying to hide out in the bushes over night (which is not allowed, because the sprinklers will get her---and I do not want her getting sick), she has been walking up to the patio and coming in to the house on her own accord. She's been sleeping in, too. Yesterday it was just after 11 that she finally woke up and wanted out.
Here she is eating some peas. She seems happy and content.
ME:
There is not much going on with me either. I have noticed over the last little while that my house has become quite messy. There is clutter and debris everywhere. I finally started cleaning my bedroom on Saturday. I got a pretty good amount done, but have at least another day to go on it, perhaps even two (and then I have the rest of the house left to deal with. EEK!). I would have continued work on it Sunday, except I had to work on this blog all day. So, that is one reason why I have decided to cut back on this blog/diary even further. Instead of three days a week, I am now thinking two days are sufficient (unless something really newsworthy comes along). So, from now on, I'll put these out on Mondays and Fridays only.
Our Zoom meeting with Ashley and Sai was canceled on Sunday. Ashley, who is a school psychologist, forgot that she had her school's drive by graduation ceremony was scheduled for Sunday afternoon. That's okay. We can do it another time.
Later today, I have my telehealth consultation with the immunologist/rheumatologist. I hope she wants to get aggressive and start testing me. I'll let you know.
My car is jam-packed full of recyclables that I hope to take to the recycle center on Tuesday (I'd go Monday, but I want to go early to beat the heat...and my telehealth doctor appointment is at 10 a.m.), before running other errands.
Stay SAFE. Stay SHELTERED. Stay ALIVE.
CHEERS!
Continue to the next part HERE.
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