Strolling among the bluebells – Controversy about the overturning of the mask mandate – Evening statistics
JF, my visitor from New Jersey, is not a hiker per se – that is, he does not care to undertake steep ascents and rocky mountain trails. But he is quite a good walker on flatter trails, so we went together to Broad Run and afterwards to Manassas Battlefield Park, where we went on the First Manassas Loop – something over 12 miles in all for the two hikes combined. The bluebells were in full bloom along the Broad Run trails and along parts of Bull Run as well; slightly past the peak indeed, but overwhelmingly profuse nonetheless, along with other seasonal flowers such as bluets, spring beauties, white violets, and blue violets. We did not see many birds, somewhat to my surprise, for they are generally active at this time of year. But we did view a couple of hawks overhead along the Broad Run trails and a heron on the lookout for prey on an islet within Bull Run. After the rather chilly and grayish past few days we had perfect weather today, sunny, clear, with temperatures starting at 50 degrees in the morning and rising to the mid-60s in the afternoon.
Judge Mizelle’s overturning of the mask mandate is not the final word on the subject, it seems. The Department of Justice will appeal the ruling at the CDC’s request. I can understand why the CDC is displeased with the ruling, but this measure will probably not help matters. Any appeal process will surely take longer than the two weeks that the CDC has extended the mandate. Moreover, if the appeal reaches the Supreme Court, which has a conservative majority and is hostile to such mandates, its endorsement of Judge Mizelle’s ruling will hamper the CDC still further.
Today’s statistics as of 8:00 PM – # of cases worldwide: 506,757,955; # of deaths worldwide: 6,231,235; # of cases U.S.: 82,461,250; # of deaths; U.S.: 1,016,626.