It’s not getting much media attention, but California is now the only state with more than 600,000 cases of the coronavirus. More than a third of their cases are in Los Angeles County. Behind California is Florida, with 563,277 cases. Texas, with 545,165 is in third. There are only four countries with more cases than California.
California has 11,146 deaths due to COVID-19, which is more than Texas or Florida, but less than New York with 32,407 and New Jersey at 15,903.
All together, the United States has 5.32 million cases and 168,335 deaths. This is a one-day increase of 59,441 and 1170, respectively.
Around the world, there are a reported 21.24 million cases and 766,488 deaths attributed to COVID-19. While much of the news coverage is about rising numbers in Spain, the UK, and Australia, no one is taking about South Africa climbing into fifth place with 579,140 cases. And not much is being written about how South and Central America are the new hot spots. Five countries from that region being among the top 10 worst outbreaks.
Underground Parties
The Wall Street Journal, of all places, published an opinion piece yesterday comparing the occurrence of underground pool parties, raves and drinking in the hills and forests outside urban centers to the speakeasies and underground parties of prohibition. As the author says:
“Blue-state politicians failed to learn the lessons of America’s failed experiment with liquor prohibition a century ago: Banning normal economic and social activity creates a black market.”
This is the kind of civil disobedience I prefer. A much better alternative to looting businesses and burning neighborhoods.
An article in The Atlantic says:
“Outraged by people frolicking on the lakeshore this week in Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot sent the police to barricade the beaches—a relatively low-risk setting for transmission—and threatened to shut them down. The combination of criminalization and unscientific moralism is ineffective and counterproductive, and often leads authorities to take actions that may yield more infection.”
The story goes on to call crackdowns by politicians and cop counterproductive, disproportionately affecting communities of color, and impeding public-health efforts.
