We have 2,739,879 cases of the virus here in the US. There have been 128,740 deaths. We have only 4% of the world's population and yet we have 25% of the cases. As the virus continues to ravage the country, many people are saying that this is the second wave. It is not. It is still the first wave...it is just growing to tsunami-sized proportions. On Wednesday alone, the US had 48,477 new cases, on Thursday, it was more than 50,600; record numbers that seem to be broken almost every day. Dr. Fauci warned Congress that new cases could reach 100,000 a day very soon.
Officials are also now saying that our death toll is "substantially undercounted," and that as many as 30% of deaths related to COVID could be labeled as being caused by something else.
VIRUS NEWS:
The virus is spiking in a staggering 45 states. It is exploding everywhere. Governors in states are starting to retract reopening plans. Hospitals are getting crowded. Yet, Vice President Mike Pence has vowed to keep reopening the country.
Conservative lawmakers want the Coronavirus Task Force shut down and disbanded.
President Trump, who disbanded the National Pandemic Office that President Obama had established, is going ahead with plans to launch a similar office in the face of the viral disaster that the pandemic has become.
As the situation gets out of hand, COVID 19 test providers warn that factors could put a kink in testing and results.
The Trump campaign canceled a scheduled rally in Alabama and is holding off on in-person rallies and events as the virus continues to surge. However, the president is having a huge pre-4th of July fireworks spectacular tonight at Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota, with no social distancing. Masks will be offered, but not required. (However, a 4th of July party at the White House will, reportedly, feature social distancing.)
Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Trump had a rally a while back, has started seeing a spike in cases. Coincidence? It is too early to tell. However, a reporter who covered the rally has tested positive.
Oklahoma, incidentally, voted to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Healthcare Act (Obamacare), something the president was trying yet again to abolish just last week in the midst of the pandemic.
Remember when the republicans were trying to scare people about the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) with bogus talks of "death panels"? Republican-run Arizona has created a score card to triage which patients to help and which to pass on as things get more and more critical in their hospitals.
President Trump says he is all for masks -- just not for himself personally--and still believes the virus will eventually disappear.
Republican leaders are now changing their tune about mask wearing. Senate leader Mitch McConnell even said, "We must have no stigma - none - about wearing masks when we leave our homes."
Mask makers are getting innovative to make masks cooler and more desirable.
Mask it or casket... Here is Jason Voorhees from the FRIDAY THE 13TH movies with a public service announcement:
HALLOWEEN star Jamie Lee Curtis is also masking up.
The president's son, Donald Trump Jr., posted a dangerous meme that is trying to shed doubt on the effectiveness of mask wearing. CNN fact checked it.
The United Nations is urging a cease fire for several conflicts while the virus rages around the world.
The World Health Organization is warning that lockdowns may need to occur again in order to beat this thing. This report talks about getting ready for another lockdown.
A report says that those Americans who stayed home before they were told to do so helped save lives.
Trump took credit for the job market improvement in June while completely sidestepping the rising virus numbers which will shutter or diminish that improvement in July.
Gilead, the pharmaceutical company that makes Remdesivir, the drug being used to help COVID 19 patients, has set a crazy high price on the drug. Jeepers! Profiteering from the pandemic. How shocking! Health officials slammed the US for an agreement that will take 90% the drug produced for the next three months for US patients, basically buying the world's supply.
A report says Pfizer and BioNTech's proposed vaccines are showing promising results thus far.
Indonesia, worried they won't have access if and when a vaccine is created, has started work on a vaccine of its own.
Moderna has had to delay testing on its potential vaccine.
Only about 50% of Americans plan on getting a vaccination if/when one becomes available.
A synthetic antibody could help prevent and/or treat COVID 19.
An at-home virus testing kit has been approved.
One woman got a virus test...and it ended up costing her $1,840.
Biden slammed Trump and his virus response, saying that our "wartime president has surrendered."
An ex-CIA official says Trump has been "AWOL" from dealing with the pandemic.
More and more people are getting vocal about their outrage with the lack of leadership and guidance during this pandemic -- and rightly so. Europe has gotten the virus down to almost nothing and we still have hundreds of thousands of cases--with tens of thousands of cases reported daily. Here are some recent political ads looking at the problem:
The president now says he supports another stimulus package for citizens.
There is concern that a second wave could really do serious damage to the economy.
Young people, unconcerned with the coronavirus, "may be killing people" one report says.
Young people are throwing coronavirus parties specifically with a goal of infecting at least one "winner" who gets a payout.
There are 80 students living in frat houses at the University of Washington who are positive for COVID 19.
A 30-year-old man went into a crowded bar...and ended up on a breathing tube.
One young woman in Texas, who survived coronavirus, says her state opened up too early.
A California man posted on Facebook that he got the coronavirus after regretfully attending a party. He died the day after his post.
This article shared the latest on what we know and don't know about the virus and how to treat it.
Doctors are having to use telehealth more than ever before.
A sex scandal at a quarantine hotel in Australia may be the cause of a new outbreak there.
A 62-year-old man with COVID 19 in France may possibly have scientists adding a new symptom to the list....a 4-hour erection.
A Wisconsin man survived 97 days in the hospital while battling COVID 19.
After having several outbreaks, Amazon is closely monitoring the virus at distribution centers. The company is also giving $500 million in bonuses to its frontline employees.
Outbreaks at meat processing plants are apparently being hushed up.
Air conditioning may be helping spread the virus.
The FDA is listed more toxic hand sanitizers. These contain the ingredient methanol.
Despite the struggling economy and massive unemployment, 18 billionaires in Massachusetts only got richer over the last few months.
Green-carded residents hoping to become naturalized citizens have been having drive-thru naturalization citizenship ceremonies amidst the pandemic.
One airline now requires face masks and face shields.
New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are planning on quarantining visitors from California for 15 days.
Special Olympics have gone virtual this summer due to the virus.
AMC Theaters will delay opening again until July 30.
Walmart plans to turn 160 of its parking lots into drive in theaters starting in August.
STATES:
Massachusetts' governor responded to reports that the federal government downplayed the virus in February, but refused to flat out fault them for it. The state had no deaths associated with the virus on Tuesday for the first time since March.
New York county subpoenaed party-goers to force them to speak to contact tracers.
New Jersey is reopening casinos and amusement parks...despite having more deaths and new cases.
North Carolina broke it's one-day record of new cases with 1,843 on Wednesday. Yesterday, the state reported 1,629 new cases, which marks the ninth day in a row of more than 1,000 new cases.
Georgia has its fair share of virus news. A report states that "superspreading" occurred across Atlanta. The main TSA checkpoint in Atlanta's airport was closed down due to virus exposure. Face masks are now required in Savannah, Georgia.
Florida had 10,109 new cases reported yesterday--a new record.
The governor of Pennsylvania is now allowing local governments to dictate coronavirus precautions. Despite growing numbers, Pittsburgh is planning to reopen nursing homes to visitors. Penn State had its first coronavirus student fatality, when a 21-year-old student there died.
The virus is on the rise again in Ohio. Dayton will be the first city in Ohio to mandate the wearing of masks starting today.
The bar in Michigan that became the scene of a hotspot breakout now has 138 confirmed cases associated with it. Employees at a Red Robin restaurant in the state have tested positive. A garage sale in Michigan was the site of another outbreak.
Iowa added 676 new cases yesterday. Black Hawk County in Iowa is urging residents to wear masks.
South Dakota added 67 new cases yesterday. Stay tuned to see that number rise in a couple of weeks after the non-socially distanced, mask-optional early 4th of July celebration tonight in front of Mt. Rushmore.
Alabama is trying to stop infected students from attending parties.
Tennessee has identified 4 counties with rising case numbers to watch.
The mayor of Kansas City, Missouri received racist threats after mandating masks for his citizens.
A New Orleans housing leader warns of an "eviction avalanche" as unemployment continues.
Texas had 8,076 cases on Wednesday, a new state record. A hospital in Houston is full, with many patients stuck in the emergency room, waiting for an open bed. San Antonio's mayor is closing all of the parks ahead of the 4th of July holiday. Hospitals in the San Antonio area have seen a sharp rise in cases--especially in the younger population. Dallas County is bracing for potentially "catastophic" 4th of July fallout in a couple of weeks. 300 children in daycare centers have tested positive for the virus. A bar owner there is fighting the shutdown. The Lt. Governor of Texas lambasted Dr Anthony Fauci by saying he was wrong about everything, while appearing on Fox News. (Hmm. Maybe he hadn't gotten the memo about the increased cases and full hospitals?)
Colorado has had active COVID 19 outbreaks in grocery stores, summer camps and restaurants.
Two businesses in Utah, one in American Fork and one in Spanish Fork, have been tied to COVID 19 outbreaks there. A jail in the state had 59 inmates get infected.
Arizona has ordered a shut down.
Washington state has ordered businesses to require face coverings starting July 7.
Oregon's governor has issued an ultimatum to residents: wear a mask or business will have to close and schools will not reopen. Despite the orders, Oregon State Police have not even been complying.
GLOBAL:
There are 10,871,362 confirmed cases of the coronavirus throughout the world. There have been 521,298 deaths.
A groom in India died from the virus after infecting 100 wedding guests. There are more than 600,000 cases in India.
Brazil is being ravaged by the virus. Yet, bars and restaurants are reopening there, despite sky-high virus numbers.
Unemployment is soaring in Latin America in the wake of the coronavirus.
Prague, in the Czech Republic, celebrated the end of lockdown and almost vanquished country-wide cases of the virus, with a massive dinner party and a 1,600-foot dinner table.
CALIFORNIA:
By and large, Governor Newsom shut many counties down for the most part on Wednesday. Restaurants, movie theaters, card rooms, wineries, and other recreational facilities need to close down or find other ways of serving customers. Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino were some of the counties the governor put restrictions on.
Hospitals in the state are starting to feel the weight of the rise in virus cases.
4,924 prison inmates throughout the state have tested positive for the virus prompting the state to consider early release for some prisoners.
The LA County Health Director imploring said that "immediate action" was necessary to slow the spread.
Ventura County is seeing its positive numbers increase at an alarming rate.
Residence and visitors in West Hollywood can now be fined $300 for not wearing a face mask in public.
San Diego County's numbers are creeping up and the county may find itself on the governor's watch list very soon.
Governor Newsom extended the eviction moratorium until September 30. Grants in the city of Fresno have been set up to help renters catch up on rent.
40 school principals from Santa Clarita were told to quarantine after a person not showing symptoms attended an in-person meeting with them.
The state superintendent laid out plans for a return to school in the fall, which will involve masks, hybrid learning, and other changes.
Santa Clara County has issued new orders amid rising numbers.
LOCAL:
Although the month is just starting, The Fresno Bee is predicting a very "tragic July" based on how bad June was for the Valley.
Fresno County's hospitals are finally seeing the surge and are getting impacted.
Porterville's hospital is just about maxed out.
A report states that 66% of COVID 19 deaths in Fresno County so far have been Hispanic.
507 inmates at the Fresno County Jail tested positive for the virus.
COVID 19 cases among Valley youth is up 30%.
A FAX (Fresno Area eXpress) employee has tested positive for the virus.
An employee at the courthouse in Porterville has tested positive.
Local police will not be enforcing Governor Newsom's latest orders about closing down restaurants for indoor dining. However, restaurants are complying...but are also really struggling to stay afloat.
Local entertainment businesses are finding it very frustrating to be closed down again just when they were preparing to reopen. Many fear they will be forced to go out of business altogether.
Fresno City Hall had to be sterilized after the Fresno City Council's president tested positive for the coronavirus.
Representative Devin Nunes spammed my email once again with a survey asking if we, his constituents, thought Governor Gavin Newsom's new reversal on opening restaurants, etc. was worth it or not economically or for health reasons. What a slimeball and why pick a fight? We have to do what we should have been doing all along to get this virus gone---shut down. (The longer we wait, the more the economy will suffer in the long run...AND the more people will die.)
Looking for fireworks for the 4th? Most have been canceled, but there are still some happening and an interesting virtual celebration for runners in Woodward Park.
CREATIVITY:
There isn't much out there, but Randy Rainbow has another great new one:
Here's another parody for time in lockdown, a spoof of Bruce Springsteen's BORN IN THE USA:
MAIL:
My friend Mauro, who lives in Italy, sent me a quick note. He recently went on vacation in southern Italy with his wife after the lockdown there ended.
"Here COVID 19 is calm for now," he said "Natalia and I came back yesterday. First work day after two weeks off. AWFUL. Lol."
My friend Angel in Colombia sent me the briefest video showing me what it is like at his work with everyone masked up:
SHIRLEY:
Shirley hasn't wanted out much. I didn't force her out on the days it was really hot (108 was the highest so far). But on other days, I have put her out. On Tuesday she didn't come back to the house to come in to sleep. I looked all over for her and found her inside of her favorite bush. I picked her up to bring her in...and she was covered with ants. I am guessing they were after the pea residue on her face from her meal earlier. Beyond that, she's just been quarantining in her cardboard condo.
ME:
There's not much going on with me either. I haven't gone anywhere or done anything...not even visited the drive in.
I do seem to be falling apart. My leg and foot continue to be numb post biopsy surgery. (And no, I do not have the results yet.) Now I've got this weird muscle (?) issue that keeps me awake with pain running down my right arm, to my shoulder and down my back to the right of my spine. UGH! It has been miserable.
O' the joy of being me. NOT!
I hope all is well with you.
Stay SAFE. Stay SHELTERED. Stay ALIVE.
CHEERS!
Continue to the next part HERE.
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