Corona Log- Jan. 18, 2021

          It is a chilly morning today in SW Florida, at 46 degrees. It is even colder up north. A wintery blast is sweeping through the northeast, dumping lots of snow.The AFC and NFC play-off games of the NFL capture everyone's attention. I had PT early this morning. Then, we ran errands at the Library, drug store and Publix for groceries. The line- up, to buy tickets to the Wed. Powerball lottery drawing, was lengthy. The sun came out in late morning and made everything nicer. We drove down to the 12^th Street Naples Pier and sat for a time, enjoying the timeless visage of sand, surf and water.

         This morning was an on-line sign up for Covid-19 vaccines in Collier County. Mary patiently tried many times, on three devices,  to get us onto the schedule, but we were unsuccessful. There are lots of people in need and not enough vaccine shots available. Johnson and Johnson should get FDA approval, for their vaccine, in the next week or so. This whole process of administering vaccines here in Florida is awful. Older people are literally crying in frustration, after spending hours on the phone trying to get a place in line for vaccinations. There is real fear, of this dreaded plague, in their faces. The fear is real. One accidental slip and the elderly and infirm are doomed.

        The death toll nationwide is has risen to 400,000 souls lost. Some 4,000 people per day pass away from the effects of the virus. Twenty-four million Americans have become infected since last March. There is hope on the horizon. President-elect Biden unrolled a five-point plan on the manner in which his administration will attack the virus. The use of FEMA, the National Guard, mobile vaccination vans and other outreach techniques will help with distribution. The enactment of the National Defense Act to commandeer industrial facilities and  increase production of the vaccine should also help to beef up the supply chain. Biden’s stated goal is to administer 100 million vaccine shots during the first 100 days of his administration. At least, the nation now feels that someone is directing the full force of the government, to addressing all of the medical concerns brought about by the Corona virus.

       In other parts of the world, the spread of infection is equally taxing. Britain, Germany and Denmark have shut their schools down for a month. North of us, the Canadian border is still closed through February.

        When in distress, you must find humor to lighten the load. We were shopping at Costco the other day. We picked up a bottle of Pepcid ( for indigestion) and thought “what the heck. We might as well buy two.” At the checkout register, the computer rejected the purchase of Percid. One bottle per customer was the limit. I guess the whole country is suffering some pretty nasty agita, in dealing with the Covid-19  crisis. I can picture our beloved Senior citizens lining their basement with bottles of Pepcid, to match the seven hundred rolls of toilet paper that they already have stored there.

       The financial markets suffered a small set back. Experts are predicting a retrenchment in all sectors ( except oil and gold) as a reaction to the massive unemployment and business slowdown in the U.S. Maybe someone finally tipped them off that the Corona virus is here and gnawing away at our financial vitals.

      As a backdrop to all of the medical trauma, the Congress of the United States has formally indicted President Trump for “high crimes and misdemeanors,” in inciting insurrection in the storming and trashing of the U.S Capitol building last week. Hundreds of the rascals who stormed the building are either now under arrest for a class -A felony, or are being sought by the FBI for prosecution. Most of the criminals are on social media while trespassing and destroying public property. Several miscreants have already used “the President made me do it” defense. One prominent “Qanon shaman,” featured prominently in taped news reels of the assault,  has already petitioned the president for a full pardon.

      We go about our carefully, waiting for our turn in line. “Un giorno ala volta.” (one day at a time)