Fourth of July is Celebrated

July 5

It was definitely a very different 4th of July compared to a year ago. President Biden gave us his assurance of this when he addressed the nation on his 100th day in office in early spring. He didn't accomplish his goal of 70% adults beginning the vaccination process by this date  - through no fault of his - but we came close (67%), and the impact has been so tremendous. A year ago leaders were imploring caution as we entered the holiday weekend. Overcrowded beaches and parks were a huge concern. This year gatherings were in full swing. Firework displays were back. 

The 4th fell on a Sunday and we hosted a dinner on all three weekend evenings out in our garden. Rob and Katie on Friday evening told us all about their passion for rock climbing. They took on famous mountain slopes for multiple day climbs. Sleeping on a rock ledge? No thank you! We saw Jennifer and David for the first time since their wedding. Traveling to Tahiti was a big topic. On Sunday evening Katya, Hugh, Bruce and Janette brought potluck contributions and the 6 of us feasted on summer's bounty. We each shared our experiences and impressions of arriving in America after having lived abroad. What a great conversation theme that turned out to be since each of us had such unique perceptions.

Though our day to day lives feel so normal these days, Covid news is far from benign. The Delta variant is delivering a new plot twist, and returning pandemic news to the front pages. Delta is outcompeting the Beta strain in South Africa and has caused a steep spike in cases as the country weathers its third surge and another lockdown. The fragile economy will be crushed but there doesn't seem to be an alternative. Thankfully, Mum is now fully vaccinated. The vulnerable and the essential work force is currently prioritized for vaccination and I'm sure that will translate to a manageable situation.

More surprising is Australia. A cluster of Covid cases was traced to an airport limousine driver two weeks back. When positive cases grew to a total of 128, the premier of New South Wales imposed a lockdown. Sydney is experiencing its first lockdown since April 2020. This is major. Outbreaks in other states followed - including West Australia and a week ago Perth went into a snap lockdown after 2 cases of community spread. Australians, unnerved, are furious at the sluggish vaccination pace in their country.

The UK's surge is of interest to everyone. What impact will the Delta variant have when almost half the adult population is vaccinated? Daily new cases are currently close to 25,000. That number is expected to double in 2 weeks. However, Boris Johnson is determined to open up fully on July 19. Israel, the world's most vaccinated population, has been battling a rise in positive cases for the first time in many months. Today, they released a study showing that Pfizer is 64% effective against the Delta strain in preventing symptomatic illness, but over 90% effective in preventing hospitalizations and death. Here, in California, and in the US as a whole, our new daily cases have started to trend up. LA County's health department is suggesting that the vaccinated wear masks in indoor public settings. Not the news we want to hear after months of progress. The tension doesn't let up.

Just wanted to note that Europe is doing well. In Germany and France new daily cases are below 1,000 and vaccination has sped up. Canada is another bright spot. They now have a bigger percentage vaccinated than us.

The next weeks will reveal a lot. Data from the UK will inform exactly how serious the Delta variant is. Its transmissibility is clear, but is it more deadly? Though India took a beating from Delta, it's harder for researchers to crunch data from there. In an article I read in the Atlantic two days ago, Ashish Jha, an infectious disease expert, expressed certainty that everyone will eventually develop immunity. The unvaccinated will eventually contract the virus. It's a matter of time. 

Other News

Hogging the headlines in the past two weeks was the collapse of a high rise apartment building in Surfside, Florida. The cause, structural missteps, makes this especially tragic. Over 100 people are still buried in rubble despite ongoing rescue efforts.

Then there's the saga of the postponed 2020 Olympics in Japan. For some unfathomable reason, the host country has an overwhelming unvaccinated population. But this summer, despite controversy and concern, athletes from all over the globe will participate in the usual games we've come to expect every 4 years.

Despite the ongoing upheaval globally, life is significantly better for us here in California.