As the virus continues to spread seemingly unchecked, states are experiencing huge upswings of virus cases. We broke the world's record for the most cases in a day on July 3 with more than 55,000 cases. For the 27th day in a row, the US seven day-case average has been broken. Amazing as it seems, we now have 2,888,729 cases here in the US and have had 129,947 deaths. Even though Europe, Australia and New Zealand got a handle on the virus and have all but extinguished it, there seems to be no end in sight for the situation here.
VIRUS NEWS:
A doctor slammed President Trump for his early 4th of July celebration at Mt. Rushmore that did not require social distancing or masks.
Kimberly Guilfoyle, the girlfriend of the president's son, Donald Trump Jr, tested positive for the virus just before the Mt. Rushmore event.
Representative Greg Gianforte, who is running for governor of Montana, has paused his in-person campaign activities after Kimberly Guilfoyle tested positive for the virus. Gianforte's wife and running mate recently attended an event with Guilfoyle.
But even though the country now has a record number of cases, the president seems more focus on continuing to divide the country instead of focusing on the pandemic.
While the president celebrated at Mt. Rushmore (7/3) and the White House (7/4), the rest of America either celebrated virtually or at crowded beaches and other places.
Even after campaign workers and secret service members were infected at the rallies in Tulsa, Oklahoma and the Youth for Trump event in Phoenix, AZ, the Trump Administration plans to hold a rally on Saturday in New Hampshire. "There will be ample access to hand sanitizer and all attendees will be provided a face mask that they are strongly encouraged to wear," the Trump campaign people said.
Cases are rising in 40 of 50 states.
The mayor of Austin, Texas is upset with the president for lying about the virus.
The president recently stated that 99% of coronavirus cases are harmless. A speaker for the FDA would not back up the president's claim. He does avoid talking directly against the president's claims. He also would not confirm the president's promised timing of a vaccine by the end of the year.
Canada flattened its curve quickly and has kept it so. We have more than 10 times the cases. This video report shows how they did it.
As the virus rates flare here, one state in Mexico is trying to keep Americans out. (And no, the irony of that is not lost on me.)
Trump's behavior in general and the total lack of control of the COVID 19 infection rate has drastically hurt the US's reputation with the European Union.
A doctor fact checked the president's inaccurate tweets about the virus.
A republican senator from Iowa, who criticized President Obama for "failed leadership" during the ebola outbreak (when 2 US citizens died) refused to criticize the current president, despite the thousands that have died so far.
Hundreds of researchers say that the virus is airborne and have asked the World Health Organization to revise their recommendations accordingly.
Doctors "prescribe" at-home, mail-in voting.
Doctor appointments via phone or video call have surged due to the pandemic.
Researchers at Duke University have discovered a mutation of the coronavirus that helps the virus spread faster. EEK!
The CDC has reminded people that you do not need to be showing symptoms to get tested for the coronavirus.
Georgia Tech will reopen in the fall, but the school will not require face masks when it does.
The president has signed an extension to the COVID 19 relief bill for businesses.
State lawmakers are hoping for a bailout to cover budget shortfalls due to the virus.
An actor, who has been dealing with the virus for 107 days, discussed what it is like.
A study shows that horror movie fans are able to better cope with the pandemic than non-fans.
Speaking of horror, entrepreneurial company is making horror movie-themed face masks.
An Eagle Scout has been busy sewing thousands of face masks which he has donated.
Which is better, face masks or face shields?
The Better Business Bureau warns that scams surrounding the coronavirus pandemic are on the rise.
STATES:
Massachusetts is set to begin Phase 3 of its reopening later today.
New York's Governor Cuomo says the state added 533 new cases yesterday as the state begins Phase 3 reopening today.
New Jersey is starting to see small spikes of infection linked to out-of-state travel.
Virginia added 639 new cases on Sunday, for a grand total of 65,748.
A YMCA camp in Georgia had to close after campers and staff tested positive for the virus.
On Saturday, the state of Florida rang in the 4th of July with a record 11,458 new confirmed cases of the virus. There were 10,059 reported on Sunday. The state now has more than 200,000 cases altogether.
Pennsylvania saw 500 new cases reported overall on Sunday. Penn State is tracking those who were in contact with the 21-year-old student there who died from COVID 19.
Ohio continued to have cases above its 21-day trend with 968 new cases of infection.
Indiana had 522 new confirmed cases as of Sunday.
For the first time since March 17, Michigan had no virus-related deaths for a single day. However, 364 new cases were reported. A strip club in the state is suspected of being the center of an outbreak of at least 13 cases. Expect the states numbers to rise in a few weeks after a crazy, crowded 4th of July at a lake party in Cass County. Jeepers!
Tennessee had 1,291 new cases on Sunday for a grand total of 51,431.
In Mississippi, state lawmakers have tested positive for the virus.
Alabama added 1,081 new cases yesterday.
Hospitalizations in Louisiana are increasing.
Fox News reports that Texas has seen a record 8,181 hospitalizations. Hospitals in at least two counties in Texas are at capacity as more and more COVID 19 cases come in. The governor said he realizes his early reopening of businesses, specifically bars, was a mistake. Texas mayors are freaking out about the rising number of cases.
Colorado had 254 new cases added to its total number (now 33,866) as of Sunday.
Idaho had 362 new cases on Sunday for the state's second highest number ever.
Arizona's virus numbers keep multiplying. A report from NPR says that 1 out of every 4 virus tests taken is positive. The mayor of Phoenix (which hosted the Youth For Trump rally not long back) says that Arizona reopened too soon.
121 University of Washington students have tested positive for the virus. In Spokane, Washington, an individual who tested positive but refused to self-isolate, is being held in jail.
GLOBAL:
New confirmed cases rose by 212,326 globally in one 24 hour period over the weekend for a new record. There are now 11,451,030 cases around the world with 534,320 reported deaths globally from this virus.
London reopened pubs and restaurants---and crowds came en mass...with apparently no concern with social distancing or face masks.
England has reopened travel to 52 countries...but the US is not one of them.
Spain locked down a county in the northwest section of the country on Saturday for fear of a new virus outbreak there. A second county went on lockdown again on Sunday.
In Australia, there is a "hard lockdown" of 3,000 residents banned from leaving their homes for any reason due to an outbreak there.
CALIFORNIA:
There are 19 counties in the state that are being watched for spreading virus numbers. Three Bay Area counties are now among those on the list.
Orange County was up 663 new cases yesterday and had three more deaths.
TIME has an article on how the state went from success story to hot spot in just 5 weeks.
LOCAL:
Tulare County may bring back shelter-in-place orders if the viral numbers there keep increasing.
The Fresno County Jail now has 643 inmates and employees that have tested positive for the virus.
While local law enforcement will not be citing people for not being mask compliant, another type of law enforcement may be doing that in their stead.
A large crowd formed at Millerton Lake on July 4th. Social distancing and masks were encouraged, with a less-than-capacity crowd allowed in.
An employee of a Dutch Brothers Coffee in Fresno has tested positive for the virus.
Tachi Palace Casino is temporarily banning smoking during the pandemic.
CREATIVITY:
Here is a parody utilizing a song from the Broadway smash HAMILTON, filmed in front of the Richard Rogers Theatre where the show is currently on hold until the virus is gone:
Here is a song parody, DUMB WAYS TO DIE:
MAIL:
My former co-worker, Jenny sent me a quick note with some awful news.
"My mom, who had a stroke last November, is in a really nice residential facility," she said. "She is 96 and there are four other women in their 90s. I learned today one of the residents tested positive for the virus. I'm waiting now to hear results from her and the others."
David, my friend in Australia, sent me a brief note:
"Things here are okay," he said. "There have been new outbreaks in Victoria only (Of course it had to be my state), so some suburbs have been returned to lockdown. As from midnight last night, that also includes my zip code. Ugh.
"Someone said Australia was having the Spice Girls Effect. Everyone is trying really hard and Victoria is ruining it for everyone."
SHIRLEY:
Shirley is just getting older and older. In the past, when I would get up in the mornings, she would be wandering around the kitchen or waiting by the sliding door to go out. She hasn't wanted to go out at all lately. She hasn't even come out of her box (other than when she crawls through the hole she made in the back to go to the area behind her box that I know refer to as her back patio). I did put her out Friday morning, but it was so hot out, I just brought her back in a few hours later. She didn't leave her box Saturday or Sunday. It's been so hot out, I just let her be.
Below is a shot of her, with part of herself sticking through the rear end of her box. Her plate of food is in front, and it is evident that she is still eating---even in her self-exile from the heat outside. She's no dummy. She's keeping it cool...
ME:
I don't have much to report either. I made a grocery run again and had the curbside pickup where they load the groceries in the car. Oooo...
The only traditional celebratory thing I did for the 4th of July was have a big slice o' watermelon. Ahhh... I watched (stupid) movies on the 4th while fireworks sizzled and popped and exploded all around the neighborhood all evening long. There were at least three big parties in the area--two on my block and a third you could hear not so far away. Geez! People can be so stupid. I hope my street doesn't become virus central in the coming weeks.
My friend Greg's (who lives in the Bay Area) 90-something year-old mother died. He is flying back to Wisconsin on Thursday. The whole flying thing is weird now. He has heard vague rumblings that he might be put in isolation if he travels...and there is also word that due to the virus, the family may not be able to hold a funeral.
My friends Erich and Irene are taking a trip to Los Angeles tomorrow, returning home (to the Bay Area) on Friday. I'm super worried about them. They already know things are closed up and they won't be able to go out for drinks or dine in any restaurants. All the tourist things (museums, etc.) are closed. It won't be any fun---and they are aware of this. Irene is going for a simple medical procedure. She could get it done in San Francisco, but she prefers the place in Los Angeles she is going to, plus it gives her an excuse to travel a bit. I just hope they are super, super careful...
The original film is below. Give it a watch, if you'd like. It's kind of slow at the beginning, but it evolves into something quite beautiful in a way by the conclusion. If you really need to see me on the toilet (my face isn't really shown--thank goodness), I'm at the 12 minute 17 second mark. (I do have to confess that that was staged. It's not easy to film yourself all day when you live alone.)
Stay SAFE. Stay SHELTERED. Stay ALIVE.
CHEERS!
Continue to the next part HERE.
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