Headlines

McConnell’s warning of lawsuit ‘epidemic’ undercut by lack of litigation

Bill Gates says there could be a ‘substantial’ reduction in coronavirus death rate by the end of 2020

Federal charges filed against 22 rioters in Portland

Joe Biden: Women ‘never had a fair shot’ in America

Ex-FBI agent Strzok due out with book about Trump, Russia

Twitter limits Trump Jr.’s access after he shared coronavirus misinformation

Chicago police create two new units to fight crime, rioters

Violent crime explosion forces Minneapolis residents to form militias

Italy to extend state of emergency until end of October

The Fed is extending its lending programs until the end of the year

Susan Rice reportedly on top of Biden’s VP shortlist

Texas doctor: Studies claiming HCQ doesn’t work are ‘fake science‘

STAND UP FOR AMERICA!

MexiCOVID

There is a coronavirus story that is not being told in the national media ... and that is that Mexico is one of the hottest spots in the world. Its cases, at 324 thousand, now top Spain (306 thousand) and italy (244 thousand). And its deaths, at 38 thousand, also top Spain (24 thousand) and Italy (35 thousand). Even Mexico’s new deaths so far today (668) are almost half the total for the whole world (1,481)!

Is the light starting to dawn ... why the Southwest of the United States might also be having a spike in new COVID cases and even a blip in new deaths? One would think that a good reporter (or the CDC) in this area of our country might investigate this further to see how many of our new cases there are actually border crossers ... ex-pats and Mexican workers attracted by our superior medical facilities?

STAND UP FOR AMERICA! 

Headlines

Poll shows Trump’s coronavirus approval at all-time low

Wearing masks is now the most important thing for the economy, Fed’s Kaplan says

New Christopher Steele evidence strengthens Durham prosecution

25,000 academics say U.S. citizenship is an ‘artificial distinction’

California investigating Google for possible antitrust violations

Already in economic meltdown, Lebanon endures blackouts 20 hours a day

Poll: Overwhelming majority want to keep police funding at current levels or increase it

Supreme Court, 7-2: House cannot force Trump to provide tax returns

Hannity gives Trump another chance to lay out his second-term agenda

Coronavirus live updates: Italy to extend state of emergency, Nevada rolls back reopen for bars

Report: U.S. Attorney Durham under  pressure to conclude investigation by end of summer

Ethiopia’s week of unrest shows 239 dead, 3,500 arrested

Quotable Quote

“Now came multitudes of men of the lowest class from the south of Italy, and men of the meaner sort out of Hungary and Poland, men out of the ranks, where there was neither skill nor energy nor any initiative of quick intelligence, and they came in numbers which increased from year to year, as if the countries of the south of Europe were disburdening themselves of the more sordid and hapless elements of their population.” — Woodrow Wilson

Afterward: Princeton erases the Woodrow Wilson (D) legacy ... see: Politico Story

Fractured Definition

Police — cooties that originated near a river in northern Italy.

Last of the Key Comparisons

I think that this might be my last post on this issue for a while ... as it seems things may be settling down.

It is difficult to compare the various country, and now state coronavirus statistics ... since they are so far apart in the big tables. So, once again,  I have taken some time to put together some of the critical measures (Tests per million, Cases per million and Deaths per million) for some key countries (USA, Sweden, Norway, Italy, South Korea, Germany) .... and states (California, Massachusetts, New York and Florida) one week after my first comparison. Here are the numbers as of May 22, 2020 ... see: Latest Data for verification. (If you check after 5/22/2020, the numbers will change.)

                   Tests  per million
USA                        59,154
Sweden                   29,291
Norway                  46,553
Italy                        66,970
South Korea           19,330
Germany                51,917

California               55,240
Massachusetts        97,161
New York             117,908
Florida                    51,586

                   Cases per million
USA                         5,817
Sweden                    4,149
Norway                    1,570
Italy                          3,870
South Korea                230
Germany                  2,208

California                  3,111
Massachusetts        14,808
New York                19,704
Florida                      2,802

                 Deaths  per million
USA                           383
Sweden                      452
Norway                        44
Italy                           567
South Korea                  5
Germany                    104

California                   113
Massachusetts         1,045
New York                 1,557
Florida                        122

Do you believe the numbers for South Korea? Actually, the more I inspect numbers, the more I am certain the politics and nationalism are infecting most results. This, of course, makes dealing with this pandemic very problematic ... unfortunately.

Newest Key Comparisons

I guess I’ll be doing this post every week for a while.

It is difficult to compare the various country, and now state coronavirus statistics ... since they are so far apart in the big tables. So, once again,  I have taken some time to put together some of the critical measures (Tests per million, Cases per million and Deaths per million) for some key countries (USA, Sweden, Norway, Italy, South Korea, Germany) .... and states (California, Massachusetts, New York and Florida) one week after my first comparison. Here are the numbers as of May 22, 2020 ... see: Latest Data for verification. (If you check after 5/22/2020, the numbers will change.)

                   Tests  per million
USA                        40,768
Sweden                   20,798
Norway                  41,178
Italy                        53,635
South Korea           15,653
Germany                 42,923

California               36,742
Massachusetts       72,758
New York               80,066
Florida                    37,973

                   Cases per million
USA                         4,904
Sweden                    3,251
Norway                    1,534
Italy                          3,770
South Korea                217
Germany                  2,139

California                  2,239
Massachusetts         13,070
New York                18,832
Florida                      2,266

                 Deaths  per million
USA                           291
Sweden                      389
Norway                       43
Italy                           537
South Korea                 5
Germany                     89

California                     92
Massachusetts            892
New York                 1,485
Florida                        100

Do you believe the numbers for South Korea? Actually, the more I inspect numbers, the more I am certain the politics and nationalism are infecting most results. This, of course, makes dealing with this pandemic very problematic ... unfortunately.

As another metric here is an interesting comparison. (I forgot where I found it.) I think it is a little dated and does not reconciled it with the above numbers ... but looks close:

Latest Key Comparisons

I guess I’ll be doing this post every week for a while.

It is difficult to compare the various country, and now state coronavirus statistics ... since they are so far apart in the big tables. So, once again,  I have taken some time to put together some of the critical measures (Tests per million, Cases per million and Deaths per million) for some key countries (USA, Sweden, Norway, Italy, South Korea, Germany) .... and states (California, Massachusetts, New York and Florida) one week after my first comparison. Here are the numbers as of May 15, 2020 ... see: Latest Data for verification. (If you check after 5/15/2020, the numbers will change.)

                   Tests  per million
USA                        32,166
Sweden                   17,590
Norway                  39,266
Italy                        46,426
South Korea           14,177
Germany                 37,585

California               27,957
Massachusetts       61,568
New York               67,035
Florida                    28,382

                   Cases per million
USA                         4,407
Sweden                    2,832
Norway                    1,513
Italy                          3,689
South Korea                215
Germany                  2,089

California                  1,897
Massachusetts        11,923
New York                18,155
Florida                      2,012

                 Deaths  per million
USA                           263
Sweden                      350
Norway                       43
Italy                           519
South Korea                 5
Germany                     95

California                     77
Massachusetts           795
New York                 1,410
Florida                          87

Do you believe the numbers for South Korea? Actually, the more I inspect numbers, the more I am certain the politics and nationalism are infecting most results. This, of course, makes dealing with this pandemic very problematic ... unfortunately.

Want vs. Need

Trump says we have the most coronavirus testing in the world and anyone who “wants” a test can get one ... whereas his medical experts say anyone who “needs” a test can get one. Of course the media Trump-haters (and they are rife) jump on these semantic differences and argue:

- Even if we are doing by far the most absolute testing globally, on a per capita basis, we are not the leaders in the world since a number of countries  ... Canada, Italy, Germany, etc. ... lead us. Both assertions are relevant but Trump is again a liar because the second assertion is not true. Isn’t this called “moving the goal posts?” We are a wide country with many areas devoid of this virus ... however, in our hot spots like New York,New Jersey and Massachusetts testing leads every country in the world ... on a per capita basis.

- Insofar as the difference between those who “want” or “need” a test. This is again an indication of the media putting Trump in a lose-lose situation. Clearly, everyone in America may want a test every other day. This creates an impossible metric that could never be met ... ever. So, there must be a filter on who gets tested ... and this is where the word “need” comes in. As far as I am concerned, when Trump says “want,” he really understands that there must be a smudged or “need” in this semantic.

Bottom line: if you can’t defeat Trump with logic, try demagogery!

Updated Key Comparisons

It is difficult to compare the various country, and now state coronavirus statistics ... since they are so far apart in the big tables. So, once again,  I have taken some time to put together some of the critical measures (Tests per million, Cases per million and Deaths per million) for some key countries (USA, Sweden, Norway, Italy, South Korea, Germany) .... and states (California, Massachusetts, New York and Florida) one week after my first comparison. Here are the numbers as of May 8, 2020 ... see: Latest Data for verification. (If you check after 5/8/2020, the numbers will change.)

                   Tests  per million
USA                        25, 119
Sweden                   14,704
Norway                  34,406t
Italy                        33,385
South Korea           12,773
Germany                 32,891

California               21,530
Massachusetts       51,482
New York               55,556
Florida                    24,035

                   Cases per million
USA                         3,906
Sweden                    2,438
Norway                    1,482
Italy                          3,570
South Korea                211
Germany                  2,022

California                  1,596
Massachusetts        10,793
New York                17,199
Florida                      1,885

                 Deaths  per million
USA                           232
Sweden                      301
Norway                       40
Italy                           495
South Korea                 5
Germany                     88

California                     65
Massachusetts           665
New York                 1,344
Florida                          78    

Do you believe the numbers for South Korea? Actually, the more I inspect numbers, the more I am certain the politics and nationalism are infecting most results. This, of course, makes dealing with this pandemic very problematic ... unfortunately.

Key Comparisons

It is difficult to compare the various country coronavirus statistics ... since they are so far apart in the big tabes. So I have taken some time to put together some of the critical measures (Tests per million, Cases per million and Deaths per million) for some key countries (USA, Sweden, Italy, South Korea and Germany). Here are the numbers as of May 1, 2020 ... see: Latest Dara for verification. (If you check after 5/1/2020, the numbers will change.)

                   Tests  per million
USA                       19,311
Sweden                  11,833
Italy                       32,735
South Korea           12,153
Germany                30,400

                   Cases per million
USA                         3,309
Sweden                    2,131
Italy                         3,398
South Korea               210
Germany                 1,947

                 Deaths  per million
USA                           193
Sweden                      203
Italy                            463
South Korea                   5
Germany                      79

Do you believe the numbers for South Korea?

Headlines

Colorado governor defends move to reopen

Coronavirus live updates: NY to plan phased reopening after hospitalizations decline for two weeks

U.S. deaths 53, 983 ...

Birx: Trump knows disinfectant ‘not a treatment’

“It bothers me that this is still in the news cycle,’ Birx says on Trump’s disinfectant and light comments

Trump pulls punches and clings to his China trade deal after backlash against Beijing grows

Mnuchin: Bounce-back by election ...

Adam Schiff: 50,000 Americans dead because Trump wasn’t removed

Italy and Spain announce plans to ease coronavirus lockdowns further

More than 5,000 New York pharmacies to give coronavirus tests in bid to screen 40,000 people daily

With Kim Jong Un’s health uncertain, focus shifts to powerful sister Kim Yo ...

[Gov.] Whitmer: ‘Most important thing we can do is vote by mail’

Headlines

Mark Cuban on Trump’s economy bullishness: ‘I wish he were right, but he’s not.’

Coronavirus live update: May 1 too soon to reopen, says Johns Hopkins director, UK PM discharged

NYT: Behind Trump’s failure on COVID-19 ...

Abbott: I’ll issue executive order on safe business reopening

Gridlocked Israel nears 4th consecutive election

Fauci says earlier social distancing measures ‘obviously’ would have saved more lives

Italy extends lockdown despite business pressure ...

VA governor signs universal background checks, gun rationing bill

Dozens arrested in Brussels riots during lockdown

OPEC and allies will hold an emergency virtual meeting Sunday night to finalize cut agreement

USA gave $3.7M to Wuhan lab at center of scrutiny ...

Kentucky officials will report license plates fo Easter churcfgoers

Headlines

Inside America’s two-decade failure to prepare for coronavirus

Coronavirus updates: Governors call for $500 billion in aid, Italy to set up ‘immunity passports’

Coronavirus found in air samples up to 13 feet from patients ..

Coronavirus vaccine may be developed by autumn, says Oxford prof

Mass burials surge as New York City set to hit 100,000 coronavirus cases

US coronavirus deaths highest in the world even as hospitalizations slow in New York epicenter

Fear of second wave in summer ... Cities begin cancels Fourth of July events ...

Pelosi: ‘We could have a depression’

Small business loan effort might be less generous than advertised

NYC mayor announces schools will remain closed  rest of academic year, but governor pushes back

Newsom approval soars to 83% ...

Federal data: 16.4M mail-in ballots went missing in 216-18 elections

Headlines

Bernie Sanders suspends his presidential campaign

Coronavirus updates: Italy’s new cases accelerate, WHO warns leaders against politicizing outbreak

DC braces for looming surge ...

Poll: Trump tops Biden as better leader for coronavirus ...

Oregon Rep. Walden: Nationwide mail-in voting would be a ‘recipe for disaster’

Oil surges in sudden move toward the end of trading, production cuts eyed

Farmers panic-buying to keep cows fed ...

‘His condition is improving’: Boris Johnson is ‘sitting up in bed’

Mnuchin hopes to unveil ‘Main Street’ lending facility this week

New York Gov. Cuomo says state won’t return to ‘normal’ as daily coronavirus  deaths reach new high

Obesity is major risk factor says epidemiologist ...

Harris poll: 77 percent of Americans blame China for coronavirus outbreak

Headlines

Trump calls on Russia and Saudi Arabia to cut oil production

Coronavirus live updates: Google relaxes ban on coronavirus ads, VW extends Tenn. plant closure

[Virus] Spreads just by breathing ...

Trump: ‘We’re not going to have farms’ without H-2A foreign workers

Pelosi forms new select committee to oversee $2 trillion coronavirus relief package

Oil surges 20% after Trump tells CNBC Saudis, Russia reach production cut agreement

Half humanity on lockdown ...

Italian gov: I was called ‘racist’ for wanting to test China travelers

Behind the scenes, Kushner takes charge of coronavirus response

US weekly jobless claims double to 6.6 millions

 Fed ‘temporarily’ eases capital requirements for big banks ...

Doctors see evidence of hydroxychloroquine benefits in fighting coronavirus

Headlines

Hillary Clinton mocks Trump’s science cred[ability]

Coronavirus live updates: Italy deaths jump by 743 in  a day, global cases top 400,000

Entire India lockdown ...

24 million Chinese cellphone users disappear in three months of epidemic

Andrew Cuomo to Trump administration: ‘You pick the 26k people who are going to die’

House panel says remote voting during coronavirus outbreak creates challenges

Flood of unemployment claims sparks delayed checks ...

Poll: Majority of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of coronovirus

Health care workers might get coronavirus shots this fall, vaccine company CEO says

Trump wants to ‘reopen’ economy by Easter, despite the deadly threat of coronavirus

Virus lingers on surface for 17 days ...

Fed promises unlimited QE, corporate, and muni bond buying

COVID-19 Data

“Just the facts, ma’am.” — Sgt. Friday on the old Dragnet TV show

My latest hero is Dr. Debrorah Birx, the numbers person on VP Mike Pence’s Coronavirus Task Force. She is an avid believer that decisions should be based on data and not speculation. And so she is a data hound, disclosing many important statistics from around the world that are driving many of President Trump’s decisions in our current crisis.

Here are a few of her recent revelations that are my favorites:

- there has been only one COVID-19 virus death in the whole world for those under the age of 15 ... a 14-year old boy in China

- only 1% of all virus deaths have been for people 50-years old and younger

- the average age of all those who have died in Italy is 85 ... with three debilitating health risks

- the mortality rate among those catching the virus in the US is about 1.3%. This compares favorably with a mortality rate in China of over 3%. However, as more testing of those who are asymptomatic proceeds, this death rate should decline. Trump believes that it could go as low as 0.7 or 0.8% versus the rate for our seasonal virus of 0.1%. Dr. Birx doesn’t seem to object to this number (S. Korea’s rate) although she doesn’t endorse it overtly.


I continue to look forward to Dr. Birx’s revelations daily ... as, I assume, Trump does also. (And I wonder why this is not seen as the most important news coming out of these pressers.)

Headlines

Desperate and angry state leaders push back on Trump admin claims of mass mask shipments

Coronavirus live updates’ Pelosi signals disagreement on massive relief package

Doctor in Italy: We no longer help those over 60 ...

Virus rebels from France to Florida flout lockdown practices

Fauci plays down disagreement with Trump over possible treatment

Financing programs for businesses hit by coronavirus could amount to $4 trillion, Mnuchin says

[Coronavirus cases] Could peak in 30 days ...

Left to MSM: Stop airing Trump live: ‘You will get people killed’

De Blasio asks Trump to send military to New York

New York state has more coronavirus cases than France or South Korea, as infections soar to 15,168

LA gives up on containing ...

Trump admin: No plan for nat’l lockdown

Headlines

Republicans suddenly find a bailout they can back

Coronavirus live update: Japanese flu drug could be effective treatment, Scotland to close schools

Mnuchin warns jobless rate could hit 20% ...

Utah: 5.7 mag earthquake

Surgeon General: 15 days of social distancing ‘likely not going to be enough’ to shalt coronavirus

Coronavirus lives for hours in air particles and days on surfaces, new study shows

People with type A blood more likely to catch [coronavirus]?

Italy death toll rises 16% in 24 hours

Iraqi officials say rockets strike Baghdad’s Green Zone

Rates rapidly reverse higher on growing costs to combat crisis, 10-year Treasury yield hits 1.2%

Dreadful choice for global leaders: Wreck economy or kill millions

Hungary declares successful isolation of coronavirus