Category: policy

500,000 people dead due to COVID-29

500,000 souls lost to COVID-19

The news today reported that half-a-million Americans have died from COVID-19. That’s more Americans dead from COVID-19 than died in WWI, WWII, and the Vietnam War put together. That’s enough dead to fill Arlington Cemetery. Perhaps if we keep talking about the dead in terms of numerical comparisons we don’t have to feel the pain and sadness of the pandemic. Perhaps if we focus on a headcount we don’t have to think about how our government failed to address the crisis. But every soul lost has left an empty spot behind on the hearts of all who knew them. No amount of counting will erase that.

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July 15, 2020 – A Turning Point for Trust

Today is the day that I no longer fully trust the COVID-19 data being pushed out by the federal government. “As of Wednesday, hospitals are being instructed by HHS not to use [the CDC’s] system and instead to report to a new site set up by the department using a private contractor called TeleTracking. “The new system was set up by TeleTracking, a private company based in Pennsylvania, which was awarded the $10 million contract in a noncompetitive bid in April. Sen. Patty Murphy, D-Wash., the ranking member of the Senate health committee, wrote a letter to CDC Director Robert Redfield on June 3 asking why TeleTracking was awarded the contract on a noncompetitive basis.” Source: White House Strips CDC Of Data Collection Role For COVID-19 Hospitalizations via NPR

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June 28, 2020 – 10 Million Cases Reported Worldwide

There are just over 10 million people who have contracted COVID-19. About 25% of those are in the US, despite having only 4% of the world’s population. 500 thousand people have died worldwide. Again, the US accounts for about 25% of those, despite being only 4% of the world’s population. Also this week the CDC released data that showed that actual infection rates in much of the US is ten times higher than previously reported rate. TEN TIMES!

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Source: @amplifyart

June 15, 2020 – Is a Mask a Political Statement?

#MaskUp for everyone’s good health. Somehow, there’s a debate around whether or not to wear a mask to slow the spread of COVID-19. Some people make the argument that being required to wear a mask violates their constitutional rights. Other people make the argument that cloth masks are ineffective and so it doesn’t make sense to make people wear them. Personally, I’m most concerned about what cloth masks can do to stop the spread. Because, well, if you get sick and die you’re not going to be able to exercise your constitutional rights anyway. Several common misconceptions are getting in the way of people understanding how a mask can help stop the spread of COVID-19 and keep them healthy. Some people think that wearing a cloth mask doesn’t do anything. But woven cloth acts as a physical barrier, keeping droplets from coughs, sneezes, and just talking from spreading. the virus

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