Morning statistics – Placido Domingo – Nick Cordero – On the Bull Run/Occoquan Trail – Phase 2 of re-opening in Virginia – Difficulties in distinguishing satire from reality – News from abroad – Evening statistics
Today’s statistics as of 8:00 AM — # of cases worldwide: 6,603,139; # of deaths worldwide: 388,502; # of cases U.S.: 1,902,779; # of deaths U.S.: 109,159.
News about performers whom the virus has afflicted. Placido Domingo has made a full recovery and is planning to return to the stage in August. Nick Cordero, unfortunately, is not doing well. After two months of continual struggle and any number of special procedures, his condition has worsened and the physicians are holding out little chance of his recovery.
The warmer weather has begun. It was over 90 degrees yesterday, but not hazy or humid. Today was slightly lower in temperature but also a bit hazier – not overly humid as yet. But we can expect the usual torrid temperatures coming soon. For me, this is the most difficult season in which to hike. You can always add more clothes in winter, but there’s a limit to how many you can take off in summer. Today I went along the Bull Run/Occoquan Trail, which has opened again, starting from Fountainhead, having lunch at Bull Run Marina, and then going back: about 14 miles in all. An amusing incident occurred: at one point during my return, a young woman hiker was ahead of me and as she saw me approach she broke into a run for a short distance. Then she resumed normal walking speed and I started to close the gap again. This occurred a few times and finally she stopped, saying to me, “Go ahead – I’ve been half-running to stay in front, but I’m tired out now; you’re just too fast for me.”
Virginia will enter Phase 2 of the re-opening tomorrow. Farmer’s Markets will be operative again. Retailers can re-open but will need to limit the stores to 50% occupancy. Pools will be open, but only lap swimming, diving, exercise, and instruction will be permitted. Hot tubs will remain closed. Outdoor performing arts and sports venues will be allowed (with certain seating restrictions) but no indoors ones as yet. Museums, zoos, and aquariums may re-open, but social distancing has to be maintained within them. Religious services may resume, but people must sit six feet apart from each other; family groups are allowed to sit together, provided that they are six feet from everyone else. Beauty salons, barber shops, and spas are encouraged to serve clients by appointment only. Employees and clients must wear masks while inside the building.
“Study: Many of Nation’s Problems Could Be Solved by Having a President.” As so often happens with the titles of Andy Borowitz’s satirical articles, I had to do a double-take to verify that it is only a joke and is not reporting something that actually happened. I can easily imagine a study of our national state of affairs undertaken in complete earnest coming to such a conclusion. Numerous military leaders probably would agree; they have turned on Trump in great numbers for his latest conduct during the protests, condemning him for polarizing the nation instead of trying to unify it.
The death toll in both Brazil and Mexico are rapidly accelerating. Brazil is now second only to the U.S. and the U.K., and it will overtake the U.K. in a few days. Mexico is now seventh on the list; its death toll is exceeded by the U.S., the U.K., Brazil, Italy, France, and Spain. Its death count is still well below the other six, but I believe it will be a different story in two or three weeks. Belarus’s case count is now approaching the 0.5% mark. Sweden’s case count is also steadily rising; and, somewhat unexpectedly, its mortality rate is over 10%. Chile is in a somewhat better position than these others; its incidence rate is high (over 0.6%) but its mortality rate is still low.
Today’s statistics as of 8:00 PM — # of cases worldwide: 6,688,679; # of deaths worldwide: 392,123; # of cases U.S.: 1,923,637; # of deaths U.S.: 110,171.