Glenn gives the latest coronavirus numbers, updating YOU on everything needed to know as Americans and officials monitor China's new COVID-19 virus:
Daily Stats as of 5:30 AM CT (from John's Hopkins)
- Total Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 185,461 (up from 171,105 yesterday)
- Total Confirmed Deaths Worldwide: 7,332 (up from 6,531 yesterday)
- Total Confirmed Recovered Worldwide: 79,935 (up from 77,783 yesterday)
- 162 Countries have confirmed cases (up from 158 yesterday) 3 more have suspected cases
- 6% of Active Cases are considered serious (requiring hospitalization), down from 7% yesterday and down from 19% just 3 weeks ago
- US has 4,743 Confirmed Cases and 93 Deaths, up from 3,802 cases and 69 deaths yesterday
- In the US, only West Virginia does not have at least 1 Active Case https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-west-virginia-only-state-no-case-ac32ce6d-5523-4310-a219-7d1d1dcb6b44.html
The Economy or Lives: You Can Only Pick Onehttps://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/15/business/economy/coronavirus-economy-impact.html
- In a script that is playing out in similar fashion all over the world, Governments are forced to pick between saving lives and economic activity.
- US and Western economies are particularly impacted...in the US, 70% of total economic activity is generated via Consumer spending.
- Across the US, Small Businesses appear to be the hardest hit, especially those that directly serve consumers such as bars, restaurants, dry cleaners, etc.
- A study from Case Western University estimates that nearly 50% of service jobs in the US will be impacted, with as many as 1 million jobs lost in the next 30 days.
- Experiences from other countries seem to leave governments little choice: either shut down activities where people congregate, or risk COVID-19 deaths to skyrocket.
- In Italy, Iran and Wuhan, China, the Case Fatality Rate was 6%, 9% and 3.5%, respectively, compared to an estimated 1% or lower Case Fatality Rate in countries that practiced active social distancing and extreme isolation.
- By limiting human to human interaction through Social Distancing and Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions such as wearing masks to prevent shedding virus through respiration, washing hands, people can help "Flatten The Curve" to ensure a total Case Fatality Rate of 1% or less.
US Testing First of Its Kind Vaccinehttps://news.yahoo.com/participants-receive-first-dose-experimental-191933437.html
- As TheBlaze reported nearly two weeks ago, a new kind of experimental Vaccine is now entering human trials.
- The vaccine is unique in that it does NOT use the live virus as are used in traditional vaccines.
- Rather the new approach was to synthetically construct an RNA strand that copies the genetic code of the Virus to teach human cells to produce antibodies.
- Viruses work by taking over human cells and turning each cell into a virus-producing factory, which is how they replicate.
- The synthetically-produced RNA strand used in the new Vaccine does not self-replicate, but should still activate antibody production.
- Researchers warned that even if the human trials started this week are successful, it may still be 18 months before the new Vaccine could be widely distributed. The Trump administration vowed on Monday that 'all barriers' would be removed to accelerate testing and production if successful.
- Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, said the United States must shut down all but essential businesses and government agencies to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.
- "The time has come for extraordinary measures to combat the Chinese coronavirus," Cotton tweeted Monday. "What seems extreme today will seem obvious tomorrow."
- Cotton, chairman of the economic policy subcommittee of the Senate Banking Committee, said he is drafting legislation that would give "cash stipends" to workers and their families affected by COVID-19, "so they can buy food and pay the bills during this crisis," Cotton said.
- So far, 'an essential business' definition has varied by state but does seem to include Grocery stores, pharmacies, medical facilities and, in some markets restaurants for pick up.
- Over 7 Million Californians have been ordered to shelter in place at home for 3 weeks.
- Order is effective as of Midnight last night. Residents are allowed outside for walks, to acquire food/medicine from local stores, or to travel to medical appointments.
- All non-essential activity outside the home is effectively illegal, although law enforcement are being asked to practice patience and provide guidance and warnings rather than arrest people who refuse to comply.
- Similar "house-arrest" orders are being considered throughout the country and elsewhere in California, including Alameda Country, LA County and Orange Country, officials indicated.
- In total, including similar activity restrictions in Washington, New York, Pennsylvania and other locations, an estimated 30 million Americans are currently experiencing some degree of travel or activity restrictions.
- So far, the ACLU's only response to COVID-19 is a strongly anti-Trump landing page indicating that Trump will help "Lead" the Panic and asking for Donations to defeat him in November 2020. https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-coronavirus-outbreak-a-civil-liberties-perspective/
- For the next 15 Days at least, all travel will be restricted into the EU, with all non-EU residents requiring special travel permits for medical reasons to enter any EU member state.
- The ban on travel to the EU does include bans on travel from Asia, Africa, The Middle East and S America.
- So far, The EU has yet to accuse itself of racism or bigotry for enacting a travel ban, although officials in Brussels officially rebuked The US for it's travel-restrictions just last Thursday and that official rebuke has yet to be rescinded.
- Overall, there is plenty of food & medical supplies to stock America's store shelves...when measured Nationally.
- The challenge for some markets is ensuring regional supply chains can keep up with "surge" buying caused by local orders for residents to stay put for 2-3 weeks or longer.
- While stores like Kroger, Wal-mart, etc do have regionally located warehouses, localized buying sprees as residents stock up for long-stints at home can empty regional logistics facilities, requiring retailers to shift stock from one region to another.
- Further disruptions may be caused by lack of labor itself, as residents are ordered to 'shelter in place', warehouse workers, truck drivers and stocking clerks may fail to show up for shifts.
- Suddenly, Doctors and Nurses aren't the only "essential workers" in the US.... In a shelter-at -home economy, The Stockboy at your local grocer may be just as important.
