Corona Log Entry- May 7,2021

Corona Log Entry- May 7, 2021

         It is a broiling-hot day here in SW Florida. Temperatures have climbed into the 90’s (F) for the last several days. We ran a number of errands this morning, including a visit to the dermatologist to see what damage the sun had wrought in the last year. A stop at the Library for books, and the drugstore for prescriptions, went without incident. Lastly, we stopped by De Romo’s gourmet market for coffee and some wonderful muffins. It was a pretty normal day here.

       The sense of impending Corona doom is lifted hereabouts. The air waves are still filled with horror stories about 4^th waves of Covid-19 infection in India and Japan. Hospitals there are again over run with Covid-19 patients. In the United States, an aggressive campaign of vaccinations has about 36% of the population fully vaccinated and up to 56 % of us with at least some protection. The vaccine supply now is actually over stripping the demand. There is however a stubborn segment of the population who either doesn’t believe in vaccinations, or for some screwy political reason, doesn’t want to get involved. 

       Much of the country’s business sector is beginning to reopen. Medical experts caution about moving too fast, but the country is weary of covid isolation. Tthey want to get out and about. The high rate of vaccinations will help. The rest we trust to fate.

        The financial markets are seemingly unaffected by all of the medical clamor. The Dow Jones cruises along at 34,791 points and has no large-scale retrenchments occurring. Money doesn’t pay attention to viruses, I guess.

         There are noises from the CDC that cruise limes may soon begin to test out voyages with everyone aboard, vaccinated and tested. That is going to be a tall order. We already lost out on a cruise up into the Baltic, in June. Nothing in the area is open. The European Union says it is leaving the ides of reopening countries for tourism to the individual country. But the pandemic is still raging across much of Europe and the vaccination rate is not yet high. That should settle that issue. Similarly, Canada on our northern border. We had booked a Canadian Rail trip for last August. It was cancelled due to the Covid virus. It looks like the Canadian border will not be open again this Summer. The vaccination rate is only at 17% and slow going. It will be a long time coming before the U.S Canadian border is wide open for tourism and business. The tourism sector is showing signs of life. Air fare costs are doubling and rental cars are almost impossible to find.

          Some of the major focus on vaccinations world-wide is with South America and Africa. Under the auspices of the United Nations, member countries are contributing many millions of vaccine doses and supplies of accompanying medical equipment. But, the more primitive conditions in these regions will hinder any major effort. The virus will probably run rampant there for years.

            In the news, drug companies are suggesting that everyone will need a “third shot” sometime this Fall, to ward off all of the variants of the virus that are running wild everywhere. We look at it as no great inconvenience to ourselves. Whatever trouble we have to go to, is well worth the price of our lives. We get a Flu and pneumonia shot every Fall already. One more puncture is no big deal.

           I don’t know if it is true or not, but many of us have a sense that the medical experts and government are finally getting a handle on this monster. Hopefully, none of us eases up on our caution. The monster is still there and lurking. I know we wear our masks everywhere inside, wash our hands frequently and disinfect whenever possible. Some day things will get back to normal. Until then, one day at a time.

                                             -30-

                                       (656 words)

                                   Joseph Xavier Martin