COVID-19: IT'S GETTING WORSE!

Worldometer:

The coronavirus COVID-19 is affecting 199 countries and territories around the world and 1 international conveyance (the Diamond Princess cruise ship harbored in Yokohama, Japan). The day is reset after midnight GMT+0.

• Now
• Yesterday

Search:

Country, Other	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Tot Deaths/ 1M pop
USA	96,968	+11,533	1,477	+182	4
Italy	86,498	+5,909	9,134	+919	151
China	81,340	+55	3,292	+5	2
Spain	64,059	+6,273	4,934	+569	106
Germany	50,178	+6,240	338	+71	4
France	32,964	+3,809	1,995	+299	31
Iran	32,332	+2,926	2,378	+144	28
UK	14,543	+2,885	759	+181	11
Switzerland	12,928	+1,117	231	+39	27
S. Korea	9,332	+91	139	+8	3
Netherlands	8,603	+1,172	546	+112	32
Austria	7,642	+733	58	+9	6
Belgium	7,284	+1,049	289	+69	25

  WORLD                           585,041         +53,231           26,850         +2,782 

On the change of deaths over the past 24 hours:

DAY     China   Italy   USA   Spain   Germany   S. Korea  WORLD

Mar 18        11  475       41      105             2     
        19         8  427       21      165            15 
        20         3  627       18      213            15
        21         7  793       32      285            15
        22         6  651       98      375              9               6
        23         9  601       85      435            24               7        1631
        24         7  743     100      489            33               9        1983
        25         4  683     129      454            47               6        1987
        26         6  712       73      498            33               5        1801
        27         5  919     182      569            71               8        2782

Summary:

• The past 24-hour period was alarming.  Humanity is losing control.  
• The World had 53,231 new cases with 2,782 new deaths, with now a total of 26,850 deaths.
• Note that the USA now has the most cases, Italy is #2 and China #3.
• The two calming influences continue to be China and South Korea.

Analysis:

• The number of new deaths, globally, is approaching the daily lives lost in traffic accidents, 3280.
• A rough average of flu-related deaths per year is around 500,000, or 1370/day, half the number dying from COVID-19 over the past 24 hours.  In other words, twice as many people are now are dying from this coronavirus compared to the seasonal flu.
• The recent H1N1 Pandemic of 2008-9, according to the CDC, resulted in 151,700 to 575,400 people dying worldwide.  Taking the midpoint and dividing by two years (this really should be less), I get 498 deaths/day.  There were two waves, and a vaccine was developed, but after the end of the second wave.  Interestingly enough, the older generation was somewhat immune from earlier H1N1 influences, and 80% of deaths occurred in people younger than 65.  In China, more than half of all COVID-19 deaths were to people older than 70.
• What do the above numbers mean?  First, so far, there have been "only" 2782 deaths from COVID-19, which is less than the DAILY deaths from traffic accidents.  The previous H1N1  pandemic killed up to 574,400.  There is good reason to believe that we are only at the beginning of this pandemic.  However, if as many people die--meaning 574,400--from COVID-19, the odds of you being one of them is one in 13401.  I would think that your chances are probably a lot better to live because some countries have already found ways to control this coronavirus.  With tests soon to be available for everyone, serious lockdowns, and the growing availability of ventilators, the chance of the 26,850 deaths rising to 574,000 surely has to be small.  I hope.
• The expectation without considering COVID-19 was:   60 million global deaths in 2020, with 18 million people dying from heart disease, 10 million from cancer, 6.5 million from respiratory diseases, 1.6 million from diarrhea, 1.5 million in road incidents, and 1 million deaths from HIV/AIDS. Suicides could number 800,000.  This coronavirus should be inconsequential relative to usual deaths.
• Back to the USA, the Federal government needs to be more pro-active.  The Chinese leadership sent 23,000 doctors and nurses into Hubei, plus hospital equipment,  while building 1000- and 1600- bed hospitals in one week.  I don't see anything like this applied to New York, the U.S. epicenter.  Soon, New Orleans, Chicago and Detroit could use this type of input.  Has the White House learned anything?

Here are some additional news:

• What about Quercetin?  
• Is a natural product, a polyphenol.
• A dietary supplement.
• Like all the other suggestions, needs clinical trials before full application.

• I was sent information that cold weather reduces immunity to viruses in general.  Another indicating that heat kills the coronavirus.  So why is Scandinavia so successful in fending off COVID-19?  

• Saunas can improve your immunity:  
      A number of studies have investigated the antiviral effects of sauna bathing. For example, a clinical study involving 50 volunteers showed regular sauna bathers had half the rate of common cold compared to nonusers. Those who use a sauna at least two or three times per week also have a lower risk of influenza and pneumonia.
• Take all the first line precautions.  Then, as a second line defense, take saunas.
• Me?  I take hot baths.
• As much as baths can be beneficial, not sure about preventing the coronavirus.
• Cold baths improve your immune system.  But do I want to do this?  Seems like a contradiction to getting a cold by being in the cold.

The House swiftly found a way to pass the $2.2 trillion survival legislation, which was immediately signed by President Donald Trump.  No Democrats were invited to this ceremony.  After a couple of good days, the Dow Jones Industrials today declined 915 to 21,637.

Did you know that today is International Whisky Day?

A coronavirus, mixed with whisky, dies.  At least I would expect so.  The best buy of an international whisky today is Suntory Toki.  I should know.  I imbibe a lot of this potion.  Now and then sells for $35.  Check with Marukai:

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