December 24 – 78,674,530 confirmed infections; 1,730,000 deaths
November 26 – 60,334,000 confirmed infections; 1,420,500 deaths
October 29 – 44,402,000 confirmed infections; 1,173,270 deaths
US (Map)
December 24 – 18,455,660 confirmed infections; 326,100 deaths
November 26 – 12,771,000 confirmed infections; 262,145 deaths
October 29 – 8,856,000 confirmed infections; 227,675 deaths
SA (Tracker)
December 24 – 974,260 confirmed infections; 25,660 deaths
November 26 – 775,510 confirmed infections; 21,2010 deaths
October 29 – 719,715 confirmed infections; 19,111 deaths
News blues…
Highest ever single-day increase in Covid-19 cases, with more than 14,000 recorded in SA in 24 hours. With more than 400 deaths recorded in 24 hours for only the third time, health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize warns that current restrictions need to be reviewed. This is the highest single-day increase in cases. The previous highest total was 13,944 recorded on July 24.***
As The Donald continues his “pardon-a-thon” and ill-uses the presidential pardon system to nullify his cronies wrong-doing, other whacka-doodleitude continues: - A San Jose salon owner is refusing to comply with Santa Clara County's health order and keeping his doors open to customers despite risk of citation or worse. "I refuse to close," James Griffiths, the owner of Salon Blu, told NBC. "If they’re not having a real shutdown, I’m talking about the grimy little liquor store down here, the gas station, Home Depot, Starbucks, if they don’t shut them down then I’m not shutting down."
- An elderly man hospitalized in Southern California for treatment of COVID-19 was fatally struck by a roommate who became annoyed when the victim began praying. The 82-year-old victim was struck with an oxygen tank on Dec. 17 while housed in a two-person room at Antelope Valley Hospital and died the next day.
- Soon-to-be-ex-President Donald Trump reportedly suggested more than once that he wouldn’t mind seeing a granite image of his own visage on South Dakota’s Mount Rushmore next to Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington; but since that seems to be literally impossible, some insiders are now saying he has lowered his sights to something more attainable: putting his name on a major airport. Anonymous White House sources said that Trump once asked what kind of “paperwork” would have to be done to make Trump International Airport a reality.
***
Humor could save us:
Fauci on a Couchi (1:33 mins)
The Kiffness If you go down to the beach today… (1:44 mins) (Not a perspective I fully endorse but I appreciate The Kiffness.)
’Twas the night before Christmas (7:30 mins)
With lockdown going on for longer than anyone would have guessed, it becomes harder to offer readers positive examples. Today’s offering addresses bullet 1:
Our plan to enjoy lunch together hatched, unhatched, then repeatedly hatched, unhatched upon prevailing circumstances. (My mother’s moods, plans, and actions highly influential.) Our plan appeared definitely unhatched when my neighbor’s neighbor, with whom she visits every morning, was tested for Covid. Results were expected yesterday, but due to overwhelm at the testing lab, the holidays, etc., results were delayed. We agreed to scrap our planned get-together, but I’d cook the meal anyway and deliver her portion through her (sanitized) window.
This morning, however, we learned the results of the test: negative.
The plan’s back on!
I’ll pop the roast in the oven, leave Martha (domestic worker) to oversee it, drive three containers of dog food - giblets, pet mince, and rice – to the Care Center, visit my mother, and feed and walk the dog. After that, I’ll drive to my neighbor’s house, pick her up to bring to the upper security gate (that involves a lot of unlocking, tugging and pushing since the automatic opener is malfunctioning due to flooding), and, carefully, walk my neighbor to the verandah. (None of the latter would be necessary if she could negotiate the long staircase leading to the house. She can’t. Nor could my mother…which is why my mother isn’t here for Christmas lunch.
Word of warning: when you reach 80 years old, do not purchase a house with 20 stairs, a landing, then 5 more stairs. It might make your dogs “happy” to have a large garden but 25 stairs are guaranteed – despite your denial to the contrary - not to serve you, the human, well for long.)
The Kiffness If you go down to the beach today… (1:44 mins) (Not a perspective I fully endorse but I appreciate The Kiffness.)
’Twas the night before Christmas (7:30 mins)
Healthy planet, anyone?
This segment of this blog is designed to 1) raise awareness about how pandemics will continue to be a feature of life as long as We the People – and our leaders-in-denial – refuse to recognize how out-of-control consumption risks our planet, ourselves, 2) offer positive examples of people and countries grappling with how to create and institute a healthier planet and people.With lockdown going on for longer than anyone would have guessed, it becomes harder to offer readers positive examples. Today’s offering addresses bullet 1:
To prevent future pandemics, we must stop deforestation and end the illegal wildlife trade. Do you agree? Of course you do, because what’s not to like? The buck stops with the evil other. The question is, will doing those things solve the problem? And the answer is, probably not. They will help, but there’s another, potentially bigger problem closer to home: the global north’s use of natural resources, especially its reliance on livestock.Read “Time for some home truths about deforestation” >>
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…
My plan for Christmas lunch with my elderly neighbor almost came adrift yesterday. She’s not been out of her house for 10 months, due to health conditions making her high risk if she contracted Covid. I visit her every 7 to 10 days, enjoy a cup of tea and cookies, catch up on and share the latest neighborhood gossip, and refresh my Afrikaans language “skills”.Our plan to enjoy lunch together hatched, unhatched, then repeatedly hatched, unhatched upon prevailing circumstances. (My mother’s moods, plans, and actions highly influential.) Our plan appeared definitely unhatched when my neighbor’s neighbor, with whom she visits every morning, was tested for Covid. Results were expected yesterday, but due to overwhelm at the testing lab, the holidays, etc., results were delayed. We agreed to scrap our planned get-together, but I’d cook the meal anyway and deliver her portion through her (sanitized) window.
This morning, however, we learned the results of the test: negative.
The plan’s back on!
I’ll pop the roast in the oven, leave Martha (domestic worker) to oversee it, drive three containers of dog food - giblets, pet mince, and rice – to the Care Center, visit my mother, and feed and walk the dog. After that, I’ll drive to my neighbor’s house, pick her up to bring to the upper security gate (that involves a lot of unlocking, tugging and pushing since the automatic opener is malfunctioning due to flooding), and, carefully, walk my neighbor to the verandah. (None of the latter would be necessary if she could negotiate the long staircase leading to the house. She can’t. Nor could my mother…which is why my mother isn’t here for Christmas lunch.
Word of warning: when you reach 80 years old, do not purchase a house with 20 stairs, a landing, then 5 more stairs. It might make your dogs “happy” to have a large garden but 25 stairs are guaranteed – despite your denial to the contrary - not to serve you, the human, well for long.)
Meanwhile, for today, let the lunching begin!
