TRAVEL ADVISORIES

  From Worldometer (new  COVID-19 deaths yesterday):

          DAY  USA  WORLD    Brazil    India    South Africa

June     9     1093     4732         1185        246       82

July    22      1205     7128         1293      1120     572

Aug    12      1504     6556        1242        835     130

Sept     9      1208      6222       1136       1168       82

Oct     21      1225      6849         571        703       85

Nov    25       2304    12025        620        518      118

Dec    30       3880    14748       1224       299      465

Jan     14       4142    15512       1151        189     712

Feb      3       4005    14265       1209       107      398

Mar      2       1989     9490        1726       110      194

April     6        906    11787         4211       631       37

May     4        853     13667        3025      3786     59 

June    1        287    10637         2346      3205      95

 July    7         251      8440        1595        817      411

Aug     4         656    10120        1118        532      423 

Sept   22      2228      9326          839       279     124

Oct      6       2102      8255          543       315       59

Nov    3        1436      7830         186        458       23

Dec     1       1633      8475          266        477       28

Jan     7        2025      6729         148         285     140

Feb     2        2990   12012          946        991      175

Mar     2        1778     7756          335         173       28 

Apr     1          439      4056         290          52       12

May    5          225      2404         151            ?        64

June    2         216      1413         130          10        31

July    6          316      1627         335           35       12 

Aug    4          311       2138         258          70         ?

Sep    1          272       1732         174            ?         ?

Oct     6          281       1305         119            9         ?

         13         246        1240           44          10      52

         20         175        1301           66          10        ? 

         26         262        1349         163            ?        ?

         27         214        1169           53           12       ?

Summary:

• The USA led the world in new deaths yesterday with 214.  #2 Germany with 184 and #3 Italy with 94.
• While the U.S. regularly has the most new deaths/day, that is partially because we have a large population.  For example, in new deaths/million population yesterday:
• #1      Liechtenstein  26
• #2      Taiwan  4
• #3      Four European countries (Latvia, Croatia, Germany, Italy)  2
• #21    USA  0.6
• In terms of total deaths/million population:
• #1      Peru  6373
• #2      Bulgaria  5545
• #3      Bosnia/Herzegovina  5000
• #4      Hungary  4992
• #7 to #12 are all former Soviet countries 
• #16    USA  3265
• #61    Germany  1817
• #66    South Africa  1675
• #84    Israel  1261
• #88    Canada  1195
•           World  845
• #113  Norway  762
• #122  New Zealand  617
• #125  Australia  597
• #129  South Korea  566
• #133  Taiwan  525
• #136  Thailand  469
• #145  Japan  370
• #155  UAE  231
• #220  China  4
• Note that those countries of the Orient dominating the high numbers for new cases/day, like Japan, Taiwan and South Korea, began to be infected after vaccinations were prevalent, so they suffered few deaths.  Same for Australia and New Zealand.
• The Diamond Princess had 13 deaths on a ship with 3711 people.  Doing the mathematics, the deaths/million was 3503, which would place it at #13, slightly worse than the USA.
• In all the comparisons above, note that European countries have fared poorly, or, in other words, they had a high incidence of COVID-19 deaths.

Yesterday, Condé Nast Traveler headlined:

What to Know About the State Department's New Travel Advisories for Europe

• In all of Europe, only the Scandinavian countries, with one exception, and Finland, have the lowest Level 1 advisory, meaning it is safe to visit those areas.
• Keep in mind that travel advisories also relate to general safety and security in addition to this pandemic.
• For example, Peru is at Level 3, and even though they have the highest COVID deaths/million in the world, the current advisory is for crime and terrorism, not this disease.
• Also, nothing to do with the pandemic:

Level 4 warnings stating not travel to the country should be heeded, Laitamaki says. As of press time, that list includes Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Burma (Myanmar), Central African Republic, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tonga, Venezuela, Yemen, and Ukraine.

• Here is a selected list of world travel advisories:
• Antarctica  Level 2
• Hong Kong  3
• Japan  1
• Macau  3
• New Zealand 1
• Belgium  2
• Denmark  2
• France  2
• Germany  2
• Netherlands  2
• UK  2
• Spain  2
• UAE  3  (what?)

Country Summary: The possibility of attacks affecting U.S. citizens and interests in the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula remains an ongoing, serious concern.  Rebel groups operating in Yemen have stated an intent to attack neighboring countries, including the UAE, using missiles and drones. Recent missile and drone attacks targeted populated areas and civilian infrastructure.  However, I further checked, and Dubai apparently is safe.  Problems seem to be focused on Abu Dhabi.  As a further aside, I was surprised to learn that in Dubai, a 10% service charge is automatically added to restaurant bills, but that wait staffers expect an additional 15-20% gratuity for their efforts.  Tipping is minimal to non-existent in Thailand and Singapore, the other two countries of our next trip.

• Cayman Islands  3
• Haiti  4
• India  2
• Italy  2
• Jamaica  3
• South Korea  1
• Marshall Islands  3
• Mexico  Other (what does this mean???--if you're going to Mexico, READ THIS)

Country Summary: Violent crime – such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery – is widespread and common in Mexico. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas of Mexico, as travel by U.S. government employees to certain areas is prohibited or restricted. In many states, local emergency services are limited outside the state capital or major cities.

• Micronesia  3
• Nicaragua  3
• Pakistan  3
• Peru  3
• Philippines  2
• Qatar  1
• Russia  4
• Saudi Arabia  3
• Singapore  1
• South Africa  2
• Taiwan  1
• Thailand  1
• Venezuela  4
• Tonga  4  (volcanic eruptions)
• China  3

To close on this splendid Friday, someone sent me this saying of Mr. Magoo.

Don't remember him?  His full name is J. Quincy Magoo, and he is a fictional character created in 1949.  Extremely near-sighted, but through uncanny streaks of luck, does well.  Won Oscars for When Magoo Flew (1954) and Magoo's Puddle Jumper (1956).  Of course, the voice is that of Jim Backus.  You might remember him on Gilligan's Island.

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