I am concerned about the cavalier behaviors of so many citizens (and leaders). I get the challenge - people want the world to resume. The pathology data and the increasing evidence for long-term multi-organ damage from this disease make these behaviors seem so short-sighted. Even when accounting for my bias of over-emphasizing the risks of COVID, I have a hard time watching others disregard their own and each other's health.
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Latest data
FT data is still the best visualization I have found for country comparisons.
The NY Times has hotspot map is an excellent quick glace of rolling 2-week case change
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html
State Details:
https://public.tableau.com/views/Coronavirus-ChangeovertimeintheUSA/2_Corona?:display_count=y&:origin=viz_share_link
Rt data
The tableau data is from The COVID Tracking Project, which compiles and rates state-reported data. Please review:
https://covidtracking.com/
to understand the quality of the data.
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Twelve states now have "record spikes" in case numbers:
https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/prevention-cures/503842-12-states-show-record-spikes-in-coronavirus
I was not familiar with the notion of human challenge trials prior to the pandemic. Here is an editorial arguing that the risks outweigh the benefits for a coronavirus vaccine.
https://www.statnews.com/2020/06/23/challenge-trials-live-coronavirus-speedy-covid-19-vaccine/
Here are some of the differences in lung damage between COVID and flu patients:
https://hms.harvard.edu/news/distinctive-features
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2015432
An Australian article on the longer-term impact of COVID
Several articles are reporting on the linkage between physical, medical, or demographic traits and the likelihood of more severe COVID symptoms.
Here is a consumer-level discussion on baldness as a risk factor:
https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-and-sex-hormones-baldness-may-be-a-risk-factor-and-anti-androgens-a-treatment-140340
Headaches as early predictors:
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/932637
Here is an article on the "game-theory" like logic that each of us uses to make social interaction decisions. It highlights several points on bias and fallacy in human thinking.
I have an affinity for old-timey patent medicines from the 1800s. Oh, how easy my job would be if Dr. Hobbs Sparagus' Kidney Pills did anything. (:
https://www.si.edu/object/nmah_1339207
) Welcome back to the world of patent medicine in the form of colloidal silver for COVID.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/06/does-colloidal-silver-work-covid-19/613177/
Here are leaders of the Dream City Church in Phoenix discussing their new ionizing air filtration system. I have seen no data to suggest such systems decrease the spread of coronavirus. The most basic engineering issues around the volume of air movement required for such a venue are daunting. Social distancing, mask-wearing, limiting crowd size, and minimizing indoor events' duration are the best strategies we have some data for at this time. Or, better yet, don't do this.
https://twitter.com/VaughnHillyard/status/1275145487851458561?s=20
However, there is encouraging data that the protests in MN did not cause a spike in coronavirus cases.
https://www.wired.com/story/what-minnesotas-protests-are-revealing-about-covid-19-spread/
Infographic of the day: The Presidential Limo
https://i.redd.it/h8b85ipp3i651.jpg
Infographic of the day #2 Cryptids
https://bigthink.com/strange-maps/united-monsters-of-america
The world is so much larger than bigfoot and chupacabra. They feel so passe when creatures such as the Honey Island Swamp Monster and Pope Lick Monster could be out there. Full graphic here:
https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODYwNTUxNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNzM1MDQwOX0.CKPtpmWLg8ShrFeH0a3JS1OcrFdHsqnOuFyVJAFfA5c/img.jpg?width=980
Bonus Round: Follow up items
Last week, I wrote about the runners with raised fists - the iconic image of the 1968 Mexico City Olympics 200M medal ceremony. Last night I found a documentary on the event which highlights the context and pressures these runners experienced. It is remarkable how brave these guys were. In 1968, the Olympics were huge, media options were far fewer, and these guys were the focus of the world and under enormous pressure.
https://www.amazon.com/Salute-Peter-Norman/dp/B07VVMGBPG
My kids often make fun of me for my love of socks with sandals (around the house to be clear). I recently learned that I am in good company - with ancient Romans and Egyptians.
Clean hands and sharp minds,
Adam
