This report comes at you as the cold, damp weather which has hung on late into the spring has returned. We’re told heat and sunshine will be back with us by this weekend. As we re-emerge to do necessary tasks or choose to move about for other reasons, please remember that we are being asked to keep social distance from those with whom we do not live, to wear masks when we can’t, to wash hands frequently and avoid touching our face. Stay home if you are sick and clean surfaces that might have been exposed to the virus.
International News:
As of mid-day, there are 4,295,764 confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide and 289,036 deaths. Yesterday there were 74,193 new cases confirmed and 3,403 deaths. This marks five consecutive days of reductions in new cases and seven consecutive days in reduction of deaths. While numbers are wildly uneven across the planet, with some countries struggling, the overall numbers are encouraging and may be forming a trend.
Some countries are fearing a resurgence. Singapore, which has received wide praise for controlling the pandemic has now seen its cases rise to over 20,000. China has reported an outbreak of 15 cases near its border with Russia and six new cases in Wuhan have prompted testing of all its 11,000,000 residents. South Korea, which had also received praise for its early testing and extensive contact tracing announced 100 new cases all traced to a man who visited multiple bars after they were re-opened. Bars have now been shut down, once more.
Other indications that the pandemic is still with us, include high-ranking officials who continue to get the virus. The primary spokesperson the Kremlin, a close personal aid for President Putin, has tested positive. This follows the positive test for the Russian Prime Minister and others. The latest diagnosis came the day after Mr. Putin declared an end to the “non-working period.” It also comes as the pandemic appears to be currently worse in Russia than any other country outside our own.
Germany’s rate of infection per positive test (the “R” factor) has increased as the country enters the second phase of reopening. Scientists say they are not yet concerned. Countries continuing to report high rates of spread include Russia, which now has the third highest total cases behind the U.S. and Spain, as well as Brazil, the U.K., India, Suadi Arabia, Mexico and Peru.
National News:
There are currently 1,389,696 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States. This is approximately five times more confirmed cases than the next country below us (Spain, 269,520). 18,196 new cases were confirmed, yesterday. Again, the U.S. continues to lead the world in number of new daily cases (Russia: 11,656, Brazil: 6,444, UK: 3877, India: 3,607).
That said, the encouraging news is that yesterday marked the fourth consecutive day of decline in numbers of new cases. Yesterday’s number of new cases is the lowest daily new number reported in the U.S. since March 26. If we could continue this trend line even as many states continue to reopen, that would be a wonderful interlude in the struggle.
There were 1,008 deaths reported in the United States in the last twenty-four hours from COVID-19, bringing the total to 82,122 deaths. This ends a four-day drop in deaths, but the current death rate is in the range of late March, and is much reduced from its highest point in mid-April when it was about 2 1/2 times as high. Again, it’s a short run, but it shows a serious slowing of deaths. Let us hope that we are able to maintain that pace or improve it.
Nationally, the White House and the government more broadly have been dominating the news cycle in the last twenty-four to forty-eight hours. A presidential aid and the chief spokesperson for Vice-President Pence have each tested positive for the virus. This has sent the White House into a frantic mode of response, sending a number of officials, such as Senator Alexander, are now in “self-quarantine” after exposure. Dr. Fauci is in a “modified quarantine,” as well as the head of the CDC and the FDA, all members of the White House Task Force.
This has caused changes in White House protocol where reportedly hardly anyone in the West Wing was wearing a mask prior to the latest diagnoses. Now we are told everyone will wear a mask in the West Wing, with the exception of the president and the vice-president. Even after the diagnosis of an aide, the president was photographed meeting around a table with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and no one wore a mask.
President Trump stated yesterday that the U.S. outpaces the world in testing, saying of testing, “We have met the moment and we have prevailed.” He noted, correctly, that the U.S. has given more tests than any other country in the world. The U.S., as of this writing, has given almost 10,000,000 tests. The next country below us is Russia, which has given nearly 6 million tests. In per capita testing, the United States ranks around 25th among modestly to highly populated countries.
Meanwhile, president Trump is putting his full weight behind opening the economy. In tweets over the weekend and in his press conference yesterday, he has stated that he feels Democratic governors are moving more slowly to open their states because it makes him look bad. He ended his press conference, yesterday, abruptly after receiving questions which he characterized as unfair to be directed to him.
State and Local News:
The state of Tennessee is now reporting 15,544 confirmed cases of COVID-19. This reflects an increase of 559 since yesterday. This represents one of the larger single-day increases during the pandemic. Deaths currently sit at 251, which is eight more than yesterday. 19 additional people were hospitalized yesterday and 11,408 were tested, for a total 273,277 tested. The rate of testing has continued to increase.
The Knox County Health Department reports 301 total cases, or an increase of six overnight. This is in line with most of the last month in which we’ve seen single digit increases. It is significantly better than yesterday’s increase of 23 cases, which the health department attributed to clusters which have been contained. There are still five deaths, a number that, thankfully, has not increased in over a week. There are two people currently hospitalized in the county and there are 62 currently active cases.
Health Department Briefing:
Dr. Buchanan began today’s press conference thanking care takers. She confirmed the numbers above and said there are now five probable cases. She said that overall, they are pleased with our current situation. She says clusters have been identified, hospitals are in good shape and the rate of increase continues to be slow. She pleaded with people to continue the five measures repeatedly emphasized: Wash hands repeatedly, maintain social distancing, wear a mask when you can’t maintain distancing, clean surfaces and stay home if you are ill.
Questions:
- Will anti-body testing be made available? There is some around already, but it is not as reliable as we’d like it to be. It doesn’t give a lot of useful information at this time.
- Please explain what you mean by a “three-day-shift” on benchmarks. It is a rolling average.
- What would you say to those who refuse to wear a mask? It isn’t required, but it is disappointing to see people choosing not to wear a mask. They are jeopardizing our community.
- Will businesses who do not comply with guidelines face penalties? We are relying on people to do the right thing.
- Is the fight against mis-information more difficult than the fight itself? It has been difficult throughout this. Please go to trusted resources to get information. This is a serious illness. We’ve been fortunate locally, so far.
- Models are used for planning, benchmarks are made for decision-making.
- Do we have any concern regarding supplies of Remdesivir? Not at this time.
- We are not using the “R” measure of spread at this time. We are watching the real numbers of transmission.