Day 150

 Saturday August 8, 2020 The weekend is here...Does anyone care anymore? I suppose people who have worked through the pandemic still look forward to weekends. I guess we all do, out of habit, but it feels so contrived.  I long for the authentic and spontaneous feeling of T.G.I F. Some day...

It has been a few days since I have looked at COVID numbers.  The seven day average in the world for new cases daily is an incredible 255,000+.  Since July 7th we have been over 200,000 a day on average and climbing. Here is what the chart looks like:

The trend continues to rise and still people in the United States are refusing to where masks and or social distance.  Although our daily case average has decreased the last two weeks cases are still surging in many states and it ought to be obvious to everyone this virus is not going away anytime soon.  A good trend is death totals have decreased and are well below the peak levels. 

This chart indicates the seven day average of new cases in the United States:

The latest news revolves around schools and how they will operate this coming fall. Many districts are beginning classes this month and most are going remote to start. 

New York City, the largest district in the nation, returns to school after labor day.  The decision is not clear which model they will follow. Governor Cuomo has endorsed in person learning in some format. (the two models are a hybrid of in-person and remote and a cohort model of inperson with little movement of students throughout the day)  Mayor de Blasio says a final decision will be made at a later date.   Since the beginning of the virus outbreak and subsequent pandemic we have learned much about how the virus is transmitted. 

The virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly from person to person, mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Spread is more likely when people are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).  And although many mysteries still remain some new research has found:

Asymptomatic spread. A new report from South Korea provides more evidence that people without symptoms can unwittingly spread the virus. Researchers found that people with no symptoms had just as much virus in their nose, throat and lungs as those with symptoms, and for almost as long. Roughly 30 percent of those infected never develop symptoms, the study says, but are probably still capable of spreading the virus.

Airborne transmission. A leaked report from the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment provides one of the clearest examples yet that the coronavirus can be transmitted through the air. The study examined a retirement home where almost an entire ward of patients was infected. Health authorities found large quantities of the virus in the air-ventilation system.

Stay safe friends. Wear a mask. Keep your distance from others. Wash your hands more often.