Coronavirus Special Coverage

A collection of news posted throughout the week for those that want signal, not noise.

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COVID-19: key developments for Tuesday, June 2, 2020

There are nearly 6.5 million global cases.  There have been over 381,000 deaths around the globe. There are over 1.88 million cases in the US. There have been over 108,000 deaths in the US alone.

Fauci says a COVID-19 vaccine may not confer immunity for very long. This is particularly true if the pandemic virus acts like a typical coronavirus—folks don’t tend to be immune to colds for a long duration.

It turns out N95 masks are far more protective than surgical/procedural masks. Nobody is surprised by this. So why aren’t medical personnel encouraged to wear n95s more often over the less protective masks? How many health care workers have been infected because they were told by the WHO, CDC, and clinical administrations that a surgical mask was sufficient? Why aren’t workers in the meatpacking industry supplies with N95s? If the shortage of N95s is behind the refusal to acknowledge the safety issues, there needs to be more advocacy for rapid domestic production of the needed equipment.

Think coronavirus treatments will made affordable for the US population? Not so fast:

Economic woes are intensifying: the GDP is predicted to drop over 53% in Q2 of the fiscal year—estimates are up from the 30s-40s. A prolonged dip in manufacturing is affecting the models. Some economists still expect a relatively quick economic rebound. Others are not so optimistic and say that 8 trillion dollars could evaporate from US coffers over the next decade.

COVID-19 deaths are absolutely underestimated. If you want to know why, take a look at excess deaths:

The silver-pesticide-infused sock masks we mentioned before that had been distributed by a Tennessee official are no longer being distributed.

Seniors are dying alone in their homes and people aren’t finding out because of social distancing measures. They’re not necessarily dying of coronavirus, either. They’re simply not being found because people aren’t going about their normal business and others aren’t checking on them.  Some senior complexes are equipped with pull-chord emergency alarms. In some of these same complexes, there are few building employees now to monitor the alarms. This sad trend also contributed to the COVID-19 death toll being underestimated—the dead aren’t often tested for the virus.

We know that loss of smell and taste is a syndrome experienced by many COVID-19 patients. Some aren’t getting them back.

Convalescent plasma seems to be helpful in reducing mortality from COVID-19. Antibodies from people who have recovered are helping those who are suffering to live. Large-scale studies on this therapy are still in the works.

Preventing societal collapse through socioeconomic policy:

COVID-19 Testing Czar standing down this month. There are no plans for a replacement.

Protests will spread coronavirus. Without doubt.


  • 3 Comments

    • Hardened

      > COVID-19 Testing Czar standing down this month. There are no plans for a replacement.

      I’m starting to feel like I’m living in Terry Gilliam’s Brazil.  Reality is becoming stranger than fiction.

      10 |
      • Vaylon Hardened

        “Listen, kid. We’re all in this together.”

        7 |
      • Hardened Vaylon

        Thanks, that gave me a good chuckle!

        6 |