Covid in California

Covid Diary (July 22-31, 2020)

July 22

California now leads the USA in recorded Covid cases in the USA. Total today is 415,000 with 7,890 deaths. New York state's total deaths is 32,600 - a higher death rate, but also testing for the coronavirus back in the spring was dire.

Trump, on July 21, acknowledging in a newly resumed Covid press briefing that at close to 70,000 daily new cases in the nation and 1000 daily deaths, the country has a problem. Duh! He actually promoted the use of masks. Reluctantly. Obviously coached by an advisor.

The progress on vaccine candidates is in the news. Published results of a Phase 1 trial of the Jenner Institute out of Oxford University showed success, giving the world hope. Phase 3 of their trial is in progress in South Africa, Brazil and the UK. Two other candidates out of the US, led by the NIH and sponsored by Operation Warp Speed is about to go into Phase 3 trials too.

It's looking increasingly likely that we're mid Pandemic and by December things may look up.

Meanwhile, it's high summer. Daily morning fog this month has made my morning runs blissful. The evenings, with daylight lingering, have been gorgeous. After dinner I either do garden chores or we go for a walk in our neighborhood, looping around Holiday Hill Road. I've been buying delicious sweetcorn, tomatoes and strawberries from Lane Farms where it's easy to feel safe from Covid. The freedom to do food shopping is such a thrill. Something I've always taken for granted. In pandemic times we've been staying away from our favorite grocery stores like Trader Joe's. I popped into Sprouts at 7:00 in the morning when practically no customers were around. I loved cruising through the aisles and grabbing a selection of items we'd been deprived of.

In our CSA box we've been getting exquisite plump, sweet blackberries. Their strawberries and melons are divine too. Can't complain really.

We saw the comet Neowise from our garden this evening. Due to streetlights we had to use binoculars which enabled us a decent view of this rare astronomic event. Visible just this week, it appears below the Big Dipper.

July 23

Covid cases today: Worldwide 15,500,000; USA 4,125,000; Brazil 2,200,000; India 1,300,000 and South Africa (in 5th place) 400,000. California has exceeded 400,000 cases, recording a record 12, 800 cases yesterday. USA daily deaths now around 1,100 and in California daily deaths close to 150.

Distressingly, our state's numbers are just not budging. The positivity rate is at a hopeful 7.5%.

Outside the disastrous USA, Latin America, the Middle East, South Asia and South Africa continue with explosive new daily cases.

Dr. Fauci, the nation's leading expert in Infectious diseases, our Cassandra, has not been invited to Trump's press briefings, since his honest assessments clash with politics. However, it's heartening to see that media outlets give Dr. Fauci plenty of air time and his voice is heard daily, far more than Trump's thankfully.

July 27

California's 14 day average of identified Covid cases is 9,400. Average number of deaths is 95. In the past week the state recorded its highest daily death tolls and hospitalizations. Testing has ramped up in the state. Hoping desperately for better news in August.

South Africa has also broken daily records for new infections, hospitalizations and deaths. They've discovered a mistake in their numbers which they attempted to correct resulting in a frightening spike of over 572 deaths on one of the days. Last week's daily death toll hovered between 200 and 300.

Big News Items:

The debate on opening schools. Epidemiologists are divided. Knowledge about infections and transmissibility among kids is vague, inconclusive. It seems that every decision is the wrong decision. Dr. Fauci says to base school openings on local Covid situation. South Africa's president announced a 4 week closure of public schools in anticipation of a peak in their Covid numbers.

Congress is debating another stimulus package since $600 weekly unemployment payments are about to expire. The Democrats are requesting a continuation of these payments until January of 2021 and Republicans are opposed to it.

Good news on the therapeutics front. Moderna has begun Phase 3 trials of its vaccine candidate.

Dr. David Ho, brother of our dentist, is hopeful about a new treatment he is working on which uses neutralizing antibodies. His research has just been published in the journal Nature.

The beach has become a favorite place for entertainment. Last week I took advantage of the combination of low tide and fog and did my morning run from Goleta Beach to Campus Point and back. I saw dolphins every time. On our weekend beach walks we saw a cluster of seals close to the Bacara Resort. Simply delightful.

July 31

Covid numbers for this last day of July: USA 4,6 million and 155,000 deaths; California 485,000 and 8,900 deaths. Santa Barbara County recorded 105 new cases on July 30. In the past week new daily cases in the country plateaued at an eye watering average of 68,000 and California's 14 day average stands at 9,200. Daily deaths have broken records, the 14 day average at 112, and on this last day of July 219 deaths reported, the highest ever since the outbreak. Daily death toll in Florida and Texas higher than California, spiking to above 200 and 300. The graph for the USA shows an upward trend though we haven't reached April death numbers yet.

South Africa, holding on to 5th place on Worldometers, appears to have peaked at 13,000 daily cases, though the daily count continues to hover around that peak. Half a million identified cases. Volatile situation there.

Distressing situation in Australia with an outbreak in Victoria, leading to a lockdown in Melbourne. But all week the daily count rose and new cases found in New South Wales and Queensland too.

In Europe there are flare ups in Spain and France. Vacations in Spain went pear shaped. Amazes me that people foolishly make travel plans knowing that a Covid hotspot to emerge anywhere at any time.

Other News: President Obama delivered the eulogy at the funeral service for Congressman John Lewis, a prominent civil rights activist and advocate for Black issues. The morning of July 30 was dedicated to this event taking place at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. I watched Obama's moving speech in real time, knowing that it would be something special. While praising Lewis's achievements, in his famously thoughtful way Obama wove in the Civil Rights chapter with today's Black Lives Matter protests. He pointed to defective societal practices and politics that mar progress.

Biden's VP pick will be announced within a week. I found out today that my favorite, Susan Rice, has a son who is a Republican MAGA nut. Don't know what to make of that. Another contender, Congresswoman Karen Bass, has risen to the top. We'll soon know ...

Dr. Fauci, the nation's Cassandra, testified to Congress this morning on the continuing dire Covid situation and what we need to do. He's so skilled at delivering facts, diplomatically pointing out missteps and what needs to change, and keeping things positive with his reassurances that a successful vaccine is on the horizon.

Hope keeps us going ...