Virus notes: May 5-6. 2020

MERCED (BLJ) – Merced County Public Health Department on reported 146 cases (six new) and three deaths.

California reported 58,790 cases (2,484 new) and 2,379 deaths (85 new).

The United States reported 1,243,456 (22,556 new) and 72,800 deaths (7.235 new).

The global report is 3,682,968 cases (64,643 new) and 257,906 deaths (4.525 new).

 

The only thing actually proven to slow the daily increase in COVID-19 sickness and death is physical distancing, precisely what Republicans are attacking in the name of business. Has there ever been a clearer example of why socialism arose to protect people against anti-social capitalism? For years, since the Gingrich assault on the House of Representatives, the US has tried to reduce all thought to the simple dogmas guidelines established by Samuelson’s college economics text, at least those Republicans got good grades in Econ 101. Now mentally, morally and intellectually-deficient plutocrats  are at the where and physicians and surgeons are wringing their hands backstage.

What is going on the US today is a naked struggle between Care and Greed – not for the “soul of the nation,” but for the increase or decrease of the rate of COVID-19 death that can be laid to the reduction of physical distancing and increase of business activities instead of providing food and rent relief for the millions of unemployed. -- blj