The pandemic and overdoses – The firing of Michelle Fiscus – Increase in new cases – Evening statistics
I speculated some months ago that the amount of suicides, particularly by means of overdoses, would probably increase as a result of the pandemic; and I regret to say that this prediction was accurate. The number of overdoses in 2020 was about 93,000, a 29% increase over the amount of overdoses in 2019. The pandemic not only isolated those struggling with drug addiction, but made treatment more difficult ot obtain on account of the resources being diverted to combat the ravages of COVID. Ironically, the fact that suspensions of evictions and extended unemployment benefits leaving addicts with more money than usual was also a factor; with the increased amount of funds on hand, they stocked up on the drug supply.
Michelle Fiscus, Tennessee’s top immunization official, was fired this week after distributing a memo that said some teenagers could be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine without their parents’ consent. Tennessee’s State Supreme Court made a ruling, 37 years earlier, that allows health care providers to treat minors age 14 and above without parental consent if the providers decide those teenagers are mature enough. But the state’s Department of Health not only has fired Fiscus for reaching out to minors, but has halted all advertising about vaccines (not only those for COVID) aimed at adolescents, had stopped all vaccine events on school properties, and plans to exclude teenagers from receiving the postcards that adults receive to remind them to get their second doses of the vaccine. The so-called Department of Health seems determined to ensure that the state’s vaccination rate will be as low as possible. If that is their goal, they have certainly succeeded. At this point only 37.5% of its adults are fully vaccinated, making it one of the states with the lowest vaccination rates in the country.
In this connection it may be mentioned that as the Delta variant continues to circulate, our infection rates are going up again. Both yesterday and today witnessed more than 30,000 new cases apiece and over 300 deaths.
Yesterday’s statistics as of 8:00 PM – # of cases worldwide: 189,131,853; # of deaths worldwide: 4,073,941; # of cases U.S.: 34,846,846; # of deaths; U.S.: 623,806.
Today’s statistics as of 8:00 PM – # of cases worldwide: 189,692,150; # of deaths worldwide: 4,082,495; # of cases U.S.: 34,882,725; # of deaths; U.S.: 624,184.