My Coronavirus Diary #91

There have been 5,997,163 confirmed cases of the virus in this country. There have been 183,069 deaths here. A revised model shows 317,000 deaths by December 1st. At least four people have tested positive after attending the maskless/non-socially distant RNC last week. What a surprise... Wait, weren't they speaking as if the pandemic were already over? I guess they didn't get the memo that more than 1,000 people died every day of the convention...

VIRUS NEWS:

Small gatherings are quietly emerging as source of coronavirus infections.

An indoor wedding in Maine has been linked to 123 cases of the virus.

The Foster Farms plant outbreak in Livingston, CA has infected 358 employees and killed 8 of them. At least one employee says he is scared to go back.

Older and male? You are still the virus candidate most likely to die, a new report says.

An air filter invented in Texas claims to kill 99.9% of the coronavirus in the air and is planned to be installed in schools and a convention center.

COVID 19 seems to be becoming less deadly in Europe, but scientists do not know why.

A mutated coronavirus strain has been discovered in Indonesia as cases jump there.

There is a documented, confirmed reinfection of the virus in Nevada.

The new dilemma affecting "long haulers" is that, as antibodies fade and some were never tested, many cannot prove they ever had COVID 19 to begin with.

Mask wearing in public, even outdoors, is being enforced by the police in Europe, as a way of keeping the virus levels low.

A report says that masks should be worn in public restrooms as inhalable coronavirus particles may be in the air from "plumes" after flushing.

Philadelphia mask use outdoors has grown so that 90% of people in the city participate. Bravo!

Trump campaign adviser (and daughter-in-law), Lara Trump, told Fox News that the campaign is "always following the guidelines," despite there being few masks and no social distancing at the RNC and other Trump events.

At a speaking engagement in New Hampshire, Trump supporters (not socially distancing and without masks) were asked to put masks on in accordance with the governor's orders...and the audience BOOED.

A one-year-old is now the youngest victim of the virus to die in Georgia.

A report says kids can carry the virus in their respiratory tracks for weeks.

Minnesota has been working to get school air systems ready for kids to safely be back in schools.

28 children in Los Angeles County in California have developed the inflammatory syndrome linked to COVID 19.

A high school student in a Pennsylvania school is thought to be positive for the virus.

A teacher working from home due to the pandemic, had to flee her residence after receiving several death threats for wearing a T-shirt that read "I can't breathe."

As more and more colleges become hot spots, college towns are closing bars and taking other measures. Colleges in general are advised to keep students on campus.

San Diego State University students are ignoring COVID 19 rules as infections spike at the school.

Western Michigan University has positive cases.

Kansas State University has had outbreaks in four sororities.

Infections at Georgia Tech doubled in just one week.

Students at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville staged a "die in" protest after more than 530 cases of the virus were reported at the school.

452 students have tested positive at Arizona State University.

The University of Alabama now has more than 1,000 positive cases of the virus on its campus.

Stanford University in California is closing most of its campus down due to the pandemic.

Moderna has increased the number of minorities in its clinical trial of its experimental vaccine...but the number of minorities is still too low say some researchers.

Operation Warp Speed officials say that vaccine trial results should be available by the end of the year.

Vaccine will probably be available to the general public in early 2021.

Can there be more than one winner in the virus vaccine?

Regardless of what vaccine becomes available, a single dose of it will probably not do the trick of protecting you.

A vaccine trial in Florida was put on hold due to "political pressure."

The FDA is willing to fast track a coronavirus vaccine before phase three trials end. (EEEK!)

With winter coming, now more than ever a flu shot is a must.

The new stimulus plan favored by the president would give the average American 42% less money and hurt Social Security.

Twitter removed a QAnon supporter's false claim about coronavirus death statistics that Trump had retweeted.

Former National Security Advisor, John Bolton, slammed the president for his inept response to the virus.

Secret Service agents are battling coronavirus cases as the presidunce continues to host in-person gatherings.

An Immigration & Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) facility in Arizona reported more than 200 cases of the virus.

Troops in Guam are dealing with a second lockdown.

As the pandemic continues, more and more companies have had to close or lay off employees.

Two men from Florida were caught stealing more than $3 million in Coronavirus Relief Aid.

For whatever reasons, people have started buying boats during the pandemic---and there is now a shortage.

The Tour de France started---with new virus measures in place.

The Fernando de Noronha archipelago off the coast of Brazil has reopened to tourists...but only those who have already had COVID 19,

SeaWorld in San Diego, California reopened.

And how did the president spend yesterday--while thousands continue to die, there have been violent protests (that he and his supporters have encouraged), Russian interference in the election and bounties on our soldiers, and many other issues? He was golfing...for the 276th time of his presidency.





GLOBAL:

There have been 25,225,985 cases of the virus around the world. There have been 846,436 deaths globally.

Here is a 30-second Australian ad about the virus:

Fox News reports India had a one-day spike of 78,761 new cases yesterday.

Brazil has now had more than 120,000 deaths.

China reports 9 "imported" new cases of the virus but no community spread cases in 14 days.

South Korea added 299 new cases on Saturday.

As the UK prepares to go back to school, new guidelines were put in place that union leaders called "reprehensible."

Anti-mask and anti-vaccine demonstrations occurred recently in Switzerland.

Germany had a protest against the virus precautions in that country resulting in 300 arrests.

This was posted last Saturday, the number of that day's deaths in several developed countries. The combined population of the other countries shown far exceeds that of the United States, yet our daily deaths are off of the charts.

STATES:

The Midwest is finally feeling the brunt of the virus as it has begun attacking there in increasing numbers.

Massachusetts had 421 new cases and 12 deaths on Saturday.

New Jersey was up 388 new cases with 4 more deaths Saturday.

Maryland added 630 cases on Saturday.

Virginia recorded 1,217 new cases Saturday. There were 938 new cases on Sunday.

North Carolina jumped up 2,585 cases on Saturday. A reporting error is blamed for the huge jump.

South Carolina faced 1,250 new cases and 42 deaths on Saturday.

Georgia had 2,298 new cases Saturday and another 1,298 on Sunday.

Florida reported 2,583 new cases and 14 deaths yesterday.

West Virginia had 143 new cases and 10 deaths on Saturday.

There were 1,216 new cases and 21 deaths in Ohio on Saturday.

Kentucky added 825 new cases on Saturday.

Alabama reported more than 5,000 new cases of the virus last week.

Mississippi checked in with 647 new cases and 14 deaths yesterday.

Wisconsin was up another 843 new cases and 2 deaths on Saturday.

Illinois has now lost more than 8,000 people to the virus.

Iowa had a record 2,579 new cases on Friday. The state added 1,081 new cases and 17 deaths on Saturday.

Louisiana added more than 1,600 new cases in two days as a backlog of tests are included.

Minnesota tallied up 1,032 new cases and 4 deaths Saturday.

There were 375 new cases and 2 deaths in North Dakota on Saturday.

After 3,972 new cases and 196 deaths reported in Texas on Friday, the state jumped up another 4,732 cases with 154 deaths on Saturday.

Colorado had 268 new cases yesterday.

Oklahoma's number of cases grew by 1,093 on Saturday.

Utah was up 458 new cases on Saturday.

Idaho had 293 new cases and 5 deaths on Saturday.

Nevada added 609 new cases on Saturday, 497 of those in Clark County (Las Vegas). There were also 15 deaths that day.

Washington caught 578 new cases of the virus on Saturday.

252 more people in Oregon now have the virus as of Saturday with 7 unlucky souls having lost their lives.




CALIFORNIA:

The state added 4,981 cases on Saturday.

Governor Newsom has ordered stricter, slower guidelines for reopening businesses and schools. This report takes a closer look at the plan.

August has been Sacramento's deadliest month so far.

Orange County is one of those in the most-restrictive tier of the governor's new reopening plan.

Napa is on Tier 2 of the governor's plan, meaning several businesses can reopen--with restrictions.


LOCAL:

In the span of one week, the virus has claimed 3 dozen lives here in Fresno County.

Fresno County officials say that the virus infection rate has plateaued here (for now?).

The governor's new tier reopening plan will allow local salons and shopping malls to reopen. Bars and restaurants will remain closed.

A local relief fund helps healthcare workers from Community Medical Centers that have been sidelined due to infection from the virus.

Military healthcare workers helping out at Kaweah Delta Hospital in Visalia have been honored.

A local mom had a back-to-school routine for her children to follow to keep a sense of normality going for them.



VOTE:

Register to vote or check your registration HERE.

The director of national intelligence has stated he will no longer brief Congress in person on foreign election interference.

A House Representative has called for possible criminal penalties if Trump refuses to provide election security briefings.

Coronavirus concerns force election officials to get creative in Ohio.

50,000 voters in Iowa need to reapply for a ballot after a judge sided with the Trump Administration and invalidated them.

Despite Post Master DeJoy's promise to the contrary, postal unions say mail delays still persist...and the election is just a little more than 2 months away.

CREATIVITY:

THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT did a smart/funny (but depressing in context) short spoof of the Jackson 5 song A-B-C about the R-N-C last week:

Here is a clever parody of Billy Joel's WE DIDN'T START THE FIRE about 2020:

This is an interesting (not great, but amusing) musical remix of speeches between the candidates:

The political ads of this time are smart, focused and need to be shown as the Trump Administration continues to divide us, spread fear and hate, incite violence, and is trying to steal the election. Here are a few of the latest examples:

MAIL:

I had a quick note from my author friend Scott Nicholson in North Carolina. I hadn't seen him on Twitter in weeks--and I was concerned.

"We are doing well," he said. "I don't spend a lot of time on Twitter these days. It's too depressing. I'm trying to balance being informed without overloading on the crappy zeitgeist, and the goats get jealous if I spend too much time indoors."


Another author friend Christa Polkinhorn  in Santa Monica, CA also checked in briefly:

"I'm fine," she said. "There's no smoke from the fires here in Santa Monica. The bad ones are up in your area, aren't they?

"I'm trying to meet with a friend at a new outside restaurant tomorrow to see how that goes. Other than that, morning walks, exercise at home, writing, reading, playing guitar, baking, cooking. I have no problem keeping busy.

"I'm thinking of checking out a place called Tehachapi, a town north east from L.A, about 2 1/2 hours' drive. My friend Diane in Cincinnati, who used to live in California, is looking for places to move to. I'm her 'scout,' but so far I haven't felt like venturing far.

"I'm tempted to spend a couple of days in Paso Robles or Cambria in late fall, but the fact that you have to be careful like crazy and wear masks and, who knows?, deal with people who don't wear them, makes it less attractive. Perhaps I'll just stay home and invest the money here, like getting some stuff for the home that I've been putting off.

"But we'll see, one day at a time."

She later sent pictures of her experience at the restaurant, The Cloverfield.

My friend Kim, my CNA friend in Wisconsin, sent a note yesterday:

"Things are going okay here," she said. "We did have a co-worker test positive at work.  Everyone is doing good there. No one has symptoms. They will test us all again Wednesday.

"The co-worker is doing very well. She had mild symptoms; low-grade temperature, lack of smell and taste, and low energy.  She will need to stay off for two weeks.  AT LEAST!  For now anyway. I am glad that she is okay.  She is on the older side.  She was a big one complaining about wearing the mask everywhere.  She has changed her mind about the mask mandate.  She never wants to go through this again.

"I still see so many people not wearing masks!  It drives me nuts.  I wear them 8 to 12 hours most days.  They can wear them for 5 minutes.

"We are doing well at the hospital. I worked my 12-hour weekend this weekend.  Yesterday, I worked the whole 12.  Then today we dropped to 8 patients on our floor, so I got Low Census and got to go home a couple of hours early.  I did not mind at all.  It has been busy, so for it to slow down is a blessing.

"On the home front, my family and friends are all doing well.  Hopefully it stays that way."


My former co-worker Michele texted this image to me:

SHIRLEY:

Shirley has been okay. The smoke has not been so bad the last few days so I have been kicking her out every day this weekend so she can have some outside time (which she does not seem to want). On Friday, I discovered she'd peed and had diarrhea---and had made a gross mess. So, she got a bath before I put her out.

She stayed out several hours and ate well before coming to the door and wanting in. On Saturday, I put her out again. She ate and stayed out about four hours.

I put her out for a couple of hours on Sunday as well. She didn't eat, but wanted in when I came to the door to check on her.

Instead of going to her cardboard condo/box, she went back to the refrigerator corner and got in one of her cardboard box pieces. I had been calling those her "shacks"...but maybe "mobile home" is more appropriate?

Maybe she thinks she's a hermit crab? Silly girl...



ME:

I had another dental appointment on Friday, the last medical appointment before my insurance with work expires after being terminated (for my medical condition--not for anything else). I have to get my COBRA paperwork in today to keep my insurance up.

After leaving the dentist, I had to swing by my bank. I went to the branch in Old Town Clovis and noted the outdoor dining arrangement at the Old Town Cafe...

...and at Luna's Pizzeria.

This is the 90th edition of my Coronavirus Diary. When I started this diary, I had never envisioned the pandemic lasting this long. Had we actually had a capable president who took action, we might actually have been beyond the worst of it by now. (As most of the other developed countries are.) I thought by the end of April, May, or June at the latest it would be mostly over. Instead, we continue to wallow in it.

I have many other things I want to and should be doing. But I literally spend way too much time on the virus diary blog. So, like I've done in the past, I'm scaling it down again. This will be the last edition for Mondays. Starting in September (which is tomorrow--already!) I will be putting out my blog on Fridays only.


Stay SAFE! Stay SHELTERED! Stay ALIVE!




CHEERS!




Continue to the next part HERE.