The Corona Virus May 31, 2020

There are currently 1,829,842 reported case in the US and 105,919 deaths.

New York has 375,782 cases and 29,784 deaths
New Jersey has 160,445 cases and 11,698 deaths
Illinois has 120,260 and 5,390 deaths
California has 111,807 cases and 4,172 deaths
Massachusetts has 96,965 cases and 6,846 deaths

I've continued to track the number of case increases across the country, the state and Bergen County. I've added the numbers for the previous week and updated the numbers for the week before that.

US Cases and Percentage Increase
March 30 - April 5 -- 196,983, 155.5%
April 6 - April 12 ---- 226,490, 66.7%
April 13 - April 19 -- 206,029, 36.4%
April 20 - April 26 -- 215,086, 27.9%
April 27 - May 3 ---- 198,464, 20.1%
May 4 - May 10 ----- 175,910, 14.8%
May 11 -- May 17 ---  158,286, 11.6%
May 18 - May 24 ---  161,280, 10.6%
May 25 - May 31 ---  148,601,  8.8%

The US cases took a bit of a dip so maybe the Memorial Weekend revelry didn't cause as many problems as was feared but there's still a ways to go yet.

New Jersey Cases, Percentage Increase and Positive Tests
March 30 - April 5 -- 24,119, 180.2%, 51.8%
April 6 - April 12 ---- 24,345, 64.9%, 54.6%
April 13 - April 19 -- 23,451, 37.9%, 53.4%
April 20 - April 26 -- 23,737, 27.8%, 45.3%
April 27 - May 3 ---- 17,706, 16.2%, 34.1%
May 4 - May 10 ----- 11,788,   9.3%, 31.5%
May 11 -- May 17 ---   7,802,   5.6%, 12.7%
May 18 - May 24 ---   7,820,   5.3%,  6.7%
May 25 - May 31 ---   6,291   4.1%,  3.7%

The numbers in New Jersey were pretty flat with just a slight drop. The number of tests jumped to over 150,000 for the week. 

Bergen County Cases and Percentage Increase
March 30 - April 5 -- 4,018, 185.2%
April 6 - April 12 ---- 3,597, 58.1%
April 13 - April 19 --  2,855, 29.2%
April 20 - April 26 -- 2,326, 18.4%
April 27 - May 3 ----  1,220, 8.2%
May 4 - May 10  ----    744, 4.6%
May 11 -- May 17 ---    432,  2.6%
May 18 - May 24 ---    443,  2.6%
May 25 - May 31 ---    468,  2.6%

Bergen County was flat but the state appears to have resolved most of the cases that didn't an identified county. That number went from around 1,000 to 64 and I'm sure some of those unknown cases were from Bergen County.

My wife has scheduled an antibody test the second week in June on the advice of her doctor. I'm going to see if I can get a prescription from my doctor to have one as well. I'll call my primary care physician's office first and if that doesn't work out I'll call my pulmonologist. More on this in the weeks to come.

George Floyd

George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis when a police officer kneeled on his neck for almost nine minutes.

This has led to protests, sometimes violent, in cities across the country including in Washington D.C. in front of the White House. Trump invited his supporters to come down for a "MAGA rally."

This was a clear call for violence but since Trumpettes are as yellow as French's Mustard, and will only show up if they're the only ones armed, no one took him up on it.

The saga of George Floyd, based upon media reports, police reports and video footage, goes like this:

-- The owner of a convenience store called police alleging that Floyd passed a counterfeit $20 bill.

-- Two officers arrive and talk to Floyd who is in the driver's seat of an SUV. There is also a passenger in the front passenger seat.

-- The two officers arrest Floyd and handcuff him.

-- They take him across the street to their patrol car.

-- A third officer arrives who is sent by the original officers to stay with the passenger in the SUV.

-- According to the police report Floyd begins to purposely fall down.

-- Two more officers, including officer Derek Chauvin, arrive.

-- Floyd is placed in the rear seat of the police car still handcuffed.

-- According to the police report Floyd claims that he is claustrophobic and can't breathe.

-- The police take Floyd out of the police car.

-- Floyd appears to fall to the ground,

-- The officers hold him down. Chauvin is kneeling on his neck, another officer is holding him down by his back and a third officer is holding his legs.

-- Floyd claims he can't breathe and he's told that he's talking OK. The implication being if he can talk then he can breathe.

-- Bystanders, including a white woman and the young son of the shop owner complain to the officers that Floyd appears unresponsive but are ignored.

-- After about nine minutes the officers realize something is wrong and call for paramedics.

-- Floyd is transferred in an ambulance to the hospital where he is pronounced dead.

The initial autopsy report says that Floyd did not die from strangulation or asphyxiation but as the result of underlying medical conditions including hypertension and coronary artery disease. The family has demanded a second independent autopsy which sounds like a really good idea to me.

The officers involved have been fired and Derek Chauvin has been arrested and charged with third degree murder and manslaughter. His wife has filed for divorce. It was not a good day for Chauvin but it was infinitely worse for Floyd.

Clearly the police officers were negligent. The kneeling on the neck bit is, as I understand it, an outlawed technique (Edit #1: but apparently it's NOT banned in Minneapolis) because it's so dangerous.

But this doesn't justify rioting in the streets, looting and burning down stores. Two wrongs don't make a right. Peaceful protests aren't out of place over this travesty but violence is never a good idea.

Making a case against Chauvin isn't going to be easy and it's not clear to why the fourth officer (Edit #2: There were four officers by Floyd. A fifth officer was across the street and, to my knowledge, since his view was obstructed hasn't faced any repercussions) across the street has been fired. His view of what was happening was obscured and his post was by Floyd's SUV.

Where this is going to go once things calm down is anybody's guess. I suppose we shall see what we shall see.

The Corona Virus May 24, 2020

There are currently 1,680,882 reported case in the US and 98,164 deaths.

New York has 366,464 cases and 28,221 deaths
New Jersey has 154,154 cases and 11,138 deaths
Illinois has 110,304 and 4,856 deaths
California has 94,020 cases and 3,754 deaths
Massachusetts has 92,675 cases and 6,372 deaths

I've continued to track the number of case increases across the country, the state and Bergen County. I've added the numbers for the previous week and updated the numbers for the week before that.

US Cases and Percentage Increase
March 30 - April 5 -- 196,983, 155.5%
April 6 - April 12 ---- 226,490, 66.7%
April 13 - April 19 -- 206,029, 36.4%
April 20 - April 26 -- 215,086, 27.9%
April 27 - May 3 ---- 198,464, 20.1%
May 4 - May 10 ----- 175,910, 14.8%
May 11 -- May 17 ---  158,286, 11.6%
May 18 - May 24 ---  160,921, 10.6%

The US cases remained flat over the last week. Given all of the photos of people out enjoying the Memorial Weekend in tightly packed crowds, here's hoping we don't get a big spike this week or next. I sort suspect that's not going to happen.

New Jersey Cases, Percentage Increase and Positive Tests
March 30 - April 5 -- 24,119, 180.2%, 51.8%
April 6 - April 12 ---- 24,345, 64.9%, 54.6%
April 13 - April 19 -- 23,451, 37.9%, 53.4%
April 20 - April 26 -- 23,737, 27.8%, 45.3%
April 27 - May 3 ---- 17,706, 16.2%, 34.1%
May 4 - May 10 ----- 11,788,   9.3%, 31.5%
May 11 -- May 17 ---   7,802,   5.6%, 12.7%
May 18 - May 24 ---   7,820,   5.3%,  6.7%

The numbers in New Jersey were flat as well. The number of tests jumped to over 116,000 for the week. Here's hoping New Jersey hasn't started including antibody tests as some other states have been reported doing.

Bergen County Cases and Percentage Increase
March 30 - April 5 -- 4,018, 185.2%
April 6 - April 12 ---- 3,597, 58.1%
April 13 - April 19 --  2,855, 29.2%
April 20 - April 26 -- 2,326, 18.4%
April 27 - May 3 ----  1,220, 8.2%
May 4 - May 10  ----    744, 4.6%
May 11 -- May 17 ---    432,  2.6%
May 18 - May 24 ---    443,  2.6%

Same for Bergen County, flat as well. I'm not sure what's going on here.

I did go to the doctor and I'm good for another year. The parking lot there is usually pretty packed but last Thursday it was just about empty. The waiting room services four or five doctors offices and it's usually pretty packed as well and it was also just about empty.

I got two of the three things I ordered from Office Max. I like the two bottle of hand sanitizer and hated the masks. The masks were made of felt, flimsy and i=one use only. I must have missed that.

Still waiting for the dozen sanitizer bottles. 

The Corona Virus May 17, 2020

There are currently 1,519,065 reported case in the US and 90,068 deaths.

New York has 355,347 cases and 27,515 deaths
New Jersey has 146,334 cases and 10,363 deaths
Illinois has 94,191 and 4,177 deaths
Massachusetts has 86,010 cases and 5,797 deaths
California has 79,927 cases and 3,240 deaths

I've continued to track the number of case increases across the country, the state and Bergen County. I've added the numbers for the previous week and updated the numbers for the week before that.

US Cases and Percentage Increase
March 30 - April 5 -- 196,983, 155.5%
April 6 - April 12 ---- 226,490, 66.7%
April 13 - April 19 -- 206,029, 36.4%
April 20 - April 26 -- 215,086, 27.9%
April 27 - May 3 ---- 198,464, 20.1%
May 4 - May 10 ----- 175,910, 14.8%
May 11 -- May 17 ---  158,118, 11.6%

The US cases continue to show improvement but the opening of the economy in places is just underway so hopefully we're not just seeing a lag. The media and some on the left are making like ghouls and predicting devastation as states reopen. I think that's going to happen now. It might happen in the fall.

New Jersey Cases, Percentage Increase and Positive Tests
March 30 - April 5 -- 24,119, 180.2%, 51.8%
April 6 - April 12 ---- 24,345, 64.9%, 54.6%
April 13 - April 19 -- 23,451, 37.9%, 53.4%
April 20 - April 26 -- 23,737, 27.8%, 45.3%
April 27 - May 3 ---- 17,706, 16.2%, 34.1%
May 4 - May 10 ----- 11,788,   9.3%, 31.5%
May 11 -- May 17 ---   7,802,   5.6%, 12.7%

The numbers is New Jersey continue and the number of tests jumped as well. Clearly there was a lag in the test counts and I just don't know how accurate the numbers are. It is clear that of positive tests is dropping.

Bergen County Cases and Percentage Increase
March 30 - April 5 -- 4,018, 185.2%
April 6 - April 12 ---- 3,597, 58.1%
April 13 - April 19 --  2,855, 29.2%
April 20 - April 26 -- 2,326, 18.4%
April 27 - May 3 ----  1,220, 8.2%
May 4 - May 10  ----    744, 4.6%
May 11 -- May 17 ---    432,  2.6%

Bergen County is no longer the county with the most cases. Hudson county now has that dubious distinction.

The twinge in my tooth seem to be gone and I'm preparing for my first excursion in eight weeks. I'm leaning toward keeping my appointment with the vascular surgeon. Let's hope I don't live to regret it.

I went and started my car, hugged and smoothed the steering wheel and expressed my undying love. I wonder how much of my decision to keep my doctor's appointment is because I'll get to do some meaningful driving?

I have to call the office tomorrow because they want to change the time. I'll ask then about the current protocols in place. I'm might change my mind depending upon what they say. More on that tomorrow.

I've expanded my range of online buying with orders from Office Max and a Walmart 3rd Party vendor. I haven't done too bad with the online purchases but I need to rein things in because it's costing me a lot of money.

To Doctor or not to Doctor

As states start to reopen the simple fact is that no one knows what’s going to happen. It’s a calculated risk.

I have a long standing appointment with my vascular surgeon next Thursday for a sonogram to check his handiwork from two years ago.

Should I go? I probably should since a burst aorta or iliac artery will kill me even more certainly than the virus. Is it likely I have a weakening artery wall? Probably not but if it wasn’t for the virus I would certainly go get it checked. The doctor’s office seems to think I’m coming.

It’s also possible I may have already had the virus. No one knows because I wasn’t tested. But that may not matter because no one knows if having it confers any immunity.

There are just way too many things that we still don’t know and that’s not good.

The biggest issue with going to the doctor is I’m not only taking a risk for myself but for my family because, if I get sick, they’re probably going to get sick too.

The Corona Virus May 10, 2020

There are currently 1,365,498 reported case in the US and 80,688 deaths.

New York has 345,871 cases and 26,776 deaths
New Jersey has 138,754 cases and 9,256 deaths
Massachusetts has 77,793 cases and 4,979 deaths
Illinois has 77,741 and 3,406 deaths
California has 67,533 cases and 2,715 deaths

I've continued to track the number of case increases across the country, the state and Bergen County. I've added the numbers for the previous week and updated the numbers for the week before that.

US Cases and Percentage Increase
March 30 - April 5 -- 196,983, 155.5%
April 6 - April 12 ---- 226,490, 66.7%
April 13 - April 19 -- 206,029, 36.4%
April 20 - April 26 -- 215,086, 27.9%
April 27 - May 3 ---- 198,464, 20.1%
May 4 - May 10 ----- 176,648, 14.9%

The US cases are showing some improvement however the numbers for the past week are preliminary and subject to revision. Basically the cases are shifting from the coasts into the interior but because the population density is less the numbers aren't growing nearly as fast.

New Jersey Cases, Percentage Increase and Positive Tests
March 30 - April 5 -- 24,119, 180.2%, 51.8%
April 6 - April 12 ---- 24,345, 64.9%, 54.6%
April 13 - April 19 -- 23,451, 37.9%, 53.4%
April 20 - April 26 -- 23,737, 27.8%, 45.3%
April 27 - May 3 ---- 17,706, 16.2%, 34.1%
May 4 - May 10 ----- 11,788,   9.3%, 31.5%

The number New Jersey appear to be dropping but the number of tests also went down from around 52,000 to only 37,000. However the percentage of positive tests also dropped.

Bergen County Cases and Percentage Increase
March 30 - April 5 -- 4,018, 185.2%
April 6 - April 12 ---- 3,597, 58.1%
April 13 - April 19 -- 2,855, 29.2%
April 20 - April 26 -- 2,326, 18.4%
April 27 - May 3 ---- 1,220, 8.2%
May 4 - May 10  ----    744, 4.6%

Bergen County is clearly improving. There were days in early April where there were more new cases than the 744 over the last week.

My tooth has been behaving itself but I just bit down and felt a twinge. Let's hope we're not starting that again.

The Corona Virus May 3, 2020

There are currently 1,183,970 reported case in the US and 68,197 deaths.

New York has 323,232 cases and 24,708 deaths
New Jersey has 126,744 cases and 7,871 deaths
Massachusetts has 68,087 cases and 3,846 deaths
Illinois has 61,521 and 2,622 deaths
California has 54,732 cases and 2,212 deaths

There are several ways to look as the progression of this pandemic. The first is in absolute number of cases. The second is in percentage increase and the 3rd is in percentage of positive tests. I've been tracking US, New Jersey and Bergen County numbers and if you consider them on a weekly basis some patterns start to appear.

US Cases and Percentage Increase
March 30 - April 5 -- 196,983, 155.5%
April 6 - April 12 ---- 226,490, 66.7%
April 13 - April 19 -- 206,029, 36.4%
April 20 - April 26 -- 215,086, 27.9%
April 27 - May 3 ---- 196,669, 19.9%

The US cases are flat. The percentages are dropping because the numbers are against an ever increasing base. The other question is whether the number is limited by testing.

New Jersey Cases, Percentage Increase and Positive Tests
March 30 - April 5 -- 24,119, 180.2%, 51.8%
April 6 - April 12 ---- 24,345, 64.9%, 54.6%
April 13 - April 19 -- 23,451, 37.9%, 53.4%
April 20 - April 26 -- 23,737, 27.8%, 45.3%
April 27 - May 3 ---- 17,706, 16.2%, 34.1%

New Jersey is in a slightly different situation because we know that the percentage of positive tests is dropping and the number of testing per week has increased from about 45,000 in the first three weeks to 52,000 in the last two weeks. That's still not enough though.

Bergen County Cases and Percentage Increase
March 30 - April 5 -- 4,018, 185.2%
April 6 - April 12 ---- 3,597, 58.1%
April 13 - April 19 -- 2,855, 29.2%
April 20 - April 26 -- 2,326, 18.4%
April 27 - May 3 ---- 1,220,   8.2%

Bergen County was the hardest hit county in New Jersey but clearly things have slowed down there. What will happen when the economy starts to re-open is anyone's guess.

As states allow businesses to open and relax the various forms of "stay home" orders we will have to see how things go.

The antibiotic helped my tooth but I had some serious sinus upset. I started taking Sudafed which seems to have helped but now I have a nasty drip into my throat. It's just one thing after another. We spent most of the day trying to air out the house. The air quality in here has to suck.