According to the NY Times. the United States on Wednesday had its single-worst daily death toll with 2,760 deaths related to Covid-19 being recorded. This breaks the previous high of 2,752 set on April 15. In addition, hospitalizations from the virus topped 100,000 for the first time ever, more than double the number at the beginning of November. That is a clear indicator of what the days ahead may look like. “If you tell me the hospitalizations are up this week, I’ll tell you that several weeks down the road, the deaths will be up,” said Dr. Jeremy Faust, an emergency medicine physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
If that doesn’t get your attention, then there is this. The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned on Wednesday that the nation is facing a devastating winter, predicting that total deaths from Covid-19 could reach “close to 450,000” by February unless a large percentage of Americans take more precautions. “The reality is, December, January and February are going to be rough times,” said Dr. Robert Redfield, the head of the C.D.C., in an address to the Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “I actually believe they’re going to be the most difficult time in the public health history of this nation.”
To add further to your stress, Iran responded Wednesday to the assassination of its top nuclear scientist by enacting a law ordering an immediate ramping up of its enrichment of uranium to levels closer to weapons-grade fuel. The measure also requires the expulsion of international nuclear inspectors if American sanctions are not lifted by early February, posing a direct challenge to President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.
And the Michigan Wolverines announced the cancellation of their football game with Maryland this weekend due to Covid-19 issues within the Michigan football program.
On the bright side, the Spartan Men’s basketball team beat the DuKe Blue Devils for the first time under Coach Izzo at Duke’s Camdon Indoor Arena on Tuesday. It was adominating performance by the Spartans in the last 30 minutes of the game. The BIG is looking like it is the best conference in NCAA Men’s Basketball this year. Hopefully, they can get the national championship which has eluded the conference since 2000.
Please were your mask, social distance, and wash your hands regularly. The virus is getting worse. We have been doing this for over 8 months. We can do it for another 4 months when the vaccine will be readily available for most people.
“If you have it and you know you have it, then you have it. If you have it and don’t know you have it, you don’t have it. If you don’t have it but you think you have it, then you have it.” Jackie Gleason.