Corona log entry Nov. 16,2020

Mon.- November 16, 2020

         It is a sunny and very warm day here in SW Florida. The heat and humidity is unusual in mid-November, even for Florida. Hurricane Iota has just formed in the Caribbean, near Central America. It is the 13^th major Hurricane to form this season, a record not equaled since the 1850’s.We are hoping Iota keep on its projected path westward and stays away from us.

        The news this morning was good for a change. Moderna, a drug firm announced that the trials of their new Corona Vaccine were showing a positive cure rate of 94% from a sample of 15,000 subjects. Taken in two successive shots, the drug also does not have to be stored at super-cooled temperatures, like the Pfizer vaccine, that has a 90% cure rate.

       Dr. Anthony Fauci of the CDC said both drugs were promising cures and the development and distribution of the vaccines could start in a few months. The only kicker is that the “distribution" will cost an estimated six Billion dollars, money that the states and localities do not have.

The new Administration will have to come to terms with this situation immediately. Most knowledgeable observers suggest that the military is the only organization equipped to deal with such a massive distribution effort. The last such occurrence of something on this scale, was in utilizing the Salk Polio vaccines of the early 1950’s.

      Also noted, is the problem of distribution of the vaccines into communities of color and other economically depressed areas, that have an absence of drug stores and doctor’s offices.

Still, the news that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how far way, is good news.

     In real time, the infection continues to spread. The United States now has nearly 245,000 Corona related deaths and over ten million infections. New cases are now snowballing. 145,000 new infections were reported during one day this week. With the approach of family gatherings, on Thanksgiving, the potential for infection spreading is exponential. The new virus can’t be developed any too soon, before this pandemic cripples the nation.

     New York State, at one time, had their new infection rate of those tested down to a conservative 1%. Now, it has mushroomed to 8.5% and is rising. Governor Cuomo is predicting new business closures if the rates continue to climb. Paradoxically, he is suggesting sending children back to schools. The infection rate there is only at the 5 % level, as opposed to letting the kids play in the neighborhood where the infection rate is double that. The next few months will be a tester for everyone.

     Predictably, the financial markets rose, in some sectors, at the Moderna vaccine news. The price of crude oil rose, yet tech stocks lagged. I have no idea why. Perhaps analysts are throwing darts at a big board and betting on the stock where the dart lands.

    In context, the whole “we was robbed” feeling seems to be calming down, amidst the outgoing administration, regarding the presidential election. There is a coming realization that the nation is in a world of hurt and needs everyone to man the oars to beat back the plague. Hopefully this new feeling develops into a peaceful transition of power, as it has for the last two centuries.

      Locally, we rode our bikes this morning, in the warm sunshine, and had coffee afterwards on the club house lanai, talking about sports, medicine and politics. Like everyone else, we approach this problem, one day at a time.

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