Pandemic Update for August 2020

The Covid-19 Coronavirus has changed life in the world and it appears that things will never be the same.  It started in Wuhan, China in late 2019 and has spread world-wide.  There is not a vaccine yet but they are feverishly working on that.

As of today, here are the statistics.

World cases:  22,792,401
World deaths:     795,460

USA cases:  5,740,306
USA deaths:    177,220

Florida cases: 588,602
Florida deaths:  10,052

Virginia cases:  109,882
Virginia deaths:    2,427

I personally know a few people who have had it and it is a horrible experience - quite unlike the regular flu.  One of my friend's mother died and her father was extremely ill for months.   My hairdresser in Florida, her daughter, and granddaughter had it.  It lasted over 4 weeks for them.   

A friend from my retirement community in Florida was in the hospital for weeks and had to be intubated.  He came near death.  Another friend of mine lost her son.  They found out his positive test results one day and he died the very next day.... only 46 years old!!

You can become infected from droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.  You may also be able to get it by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it.

There are ways to avoid getting it such as wearing a mask, social distancing at least 6 feet from people, wash your hands, and stay at home as much as possible. 

Sadly, this has become a political issue and there are MANY people who simply refuse to wear a mask, saying it's a free country and they can do as they please.  Yet, they wear seat-belts???

Several colleges and school have tried to reopen but some had to close in a week or two because the virus hit so hard and fast.  One main problem is that young people continue to have BIG parties and go to bars with NO masks and packed together like sardines.

Having school is a quandary because children NEED to be in school to get effectively educated and they need to be with other children.  But this virus spreads so rapidly, many are getting sick along with their teachers within a few days of opening.

There are several cases where churches met after being told by their ministers that God would protect them.  They ended up with a lot of people getting sick, including at least one minister who died.

We have been quarantined (in lockdown) since March 18, 2020.  Things are slowly opening up (and some had to close again).   The retirement communities have been extremely vigilant even bringing mail and 3 meals daily to the doors of their residents.  

I could go on and on...... just as this Covid-19 virus is doing.  

I pray that people will cooperate and wear masks, a vaccine will be developed, and we can go out without fear.  

I pray for God to bless us with kindness, mercy, healing, and wisdom - especially wisdom - in coping with this horrible disease.  Let's all pray for an end to this Pandemic.

I'm partly writing this for my own history.  I've been doing this blog since 2008 and it is fun to look back on events I'd forgotten about.