COVID19: By the Numbers

   I wish I could report that things are better in New York, and the US, and the world, since the last time I wrote...but that is certainly not the case.  One of the ways in which I cope with the stress of this time of quarantine is to record the statistics...a grim form of keeping a daily record of how a virus grows exponentially.  I began doing this on scrap paper, then began using a notebook.  Each day I write down the number of cases and the number of deaths, morning and afternoon, for the world (WW), New York (NY), New York City (NYC), and Monroe County (MC), also in New York State.  I glean statistics from reputable sources like the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control.  I triangulate them with what I see reported on news sources such as the BBC, MSNBC, CNN, and CBS.  It's remarkable how much the numbers differ, depending on the news station and time of day.  I'm sharing these as a rough collection of raw data, not as anything official.  See below for my table, which is far from perfect, and is not complete.
   Each day I tune in to Governor Andrew Cuomo's daily address to fellow New Yorkers, and to the nation.  I trust Dr. Fauci's information, but it's now too difficult for me to watch the news updates from the man who calls himself president.  I prefer truth.
   How are we coping?  How am I coping?  Locally in Rochester, NY, a group on FaceBook started streaming live musical performances every day at 6:00 p.m.  Musicians of all stripes, ages, and backgrounds have posted their contributions.  There are groups of artists all around New York State who are using technology to make art together.  My husband and I are taking walks nearly every day, and/or exercising at home with videos. We call our children and they call us. Once a week we order takeout from a favorite restaurant in our fair city.
   So far we are fine.  Our family in New York is holding together while being separate.  I keep informed while trying not to perseverate on the news every day.  Netflix movies definitely help, and The Little Theatre, our local Indie/Foreign film theatre, is now streaming some films online for free.  And of course, there are books...online, hard copy, or audible.
   One way I keep my spirits up is to make photo slideshows of past travels (all of our 2020 trips have been cancelled).  I watch these slide shows and dream...of yesterday.

Alaska, August 2019

           Unofficial COVID19 Statistical Data

WW (Worldwide)

US

NY (state)

NYC

MC (Monroe County, NY)

Date, A.M./P.M.	Location	Cases	Deaths
3/17/20 A.M.	US	4500	90
3/17/20 P.M.	US	6010	104
3/18/20 A.M.	MC	18	0
	WW	200,000	7900
	US	6100	112
	NY	1400	19
3/18/20 P.M.	MC	19	0
	US	6200	120
	NY	2382	19
3/19/20 A.M.	US	9400	152
	NY	9400	152
	MC	22	0
3/19/20 P.M.	US	10,442	152
	NY	5200	29
	MC	30	0
3/20/20 A.M.	US	14,040	152
	NY	7102	34
	MC	36	0
	WW	255,901	10,000
3/20/20 P.M.	WW	264,359	11,134
	US	15,219	201
	NY	7102	36
	MC	36	0
3/21/20 A.M.	WW	277,300	11,000
	US	20,000	201
	NY	8377	46
	MC	36	0
3/21/20 P.M.	WW	303,816	12,973
	US	24,783	307
	NY	10,000	201
	MC	46	0
3/22/20 A.M.	WW	307,045	13,000
	US	26,000	340
	NY	14,000	114
	MC	46	1
Date:  A.M./P.M.	Location	Cases	Deaths
3/22/20 P.M.	WW	310,000	14,356
	US	30,565	384
	NY	15,168	114
	NYC	9654
	MC	68	1
3/23/20 A.M.	WW	341,000
	US	35,000	470
	NY	16,887	150
	NYC	9654
	MC	68	1
3/23/20 P.M.	WW	372,000	16,300
	US	42,200	520
	NY	20,875	157
	NYC	415	10
	MC	80	2
3/24/20 A.M.	WW	380,000
	US	46,000	590
	NY	25,665	210
	NYC	14,900	125
	MC	81	2
3/24/20 P.M.	WW	415,800	18,500
	US	51,900	668
	NY	25,665	210
	NYC	15,597
	MC	106	3
3/25//20 A.M.	WW	423,000	18,500
	US	53,852	728
	NY	25,665	210
	NYC	15,597	192
	MC	118	3
3/25/20 P.M.	WW	467,351	21,168
	US	65,000	800
	NY	30,811	285
	NYC	17,856	200
	MC	121	3
3/26/20 A.M.	WW	500,542	22,334
	US	74,982	1078
	NY	37,258	385
	NYC
	MC	142	3
3/26/20 P.M.	WW	510,000	22,000
	US	85,000	1290
	NYC
Date: A.M./P.M.	Location	Cases	Deaths
	MC	184	4
3/27/20 A.M.	WW	510,000	22,000
	US	85,000	1290
	NY	40,000	500
	NYC
	MC	148	4
3/27/20 P.M.	WW	541,626	24,137
	US	93,568	1433
	NY	44,635	519
	NYC	25,398
	MC	166	4
3/28/20 A.M.	WW	629,471	28,964
	US	104,837	1711
	NY	44,635	519
	NYC
	MC	190	4
3/28/20 P.M.	WW	694,000	30,249
	US	120,000	2000
	NY	52,318	728
	NYC	26,697	450
	MC	202	5
3/29/20 A.M.	WW	700,000	30,249
	US	124,686	2191
	NY	59,513	728
	NYC	30,765	672
	MC	217	5
3/29/20 P.M.	WW	713,171	33,597
	US	135,029	33,597
	NY	59,513	728
	NYC	136,800	672
	MC	223	6
3/30/20 A.M.	WW	724,945	34,041
	US	143,000	2500
	NY	59,513	672
	NYC
	MC	223	6
3/30/20 P.M.	WW	724,945	34,041
	US	150,000	3000
	NY	66,497	2019
	NYC	36,221	914
	MC	246	6
Date:  A.M./P.M.	Location	Cases	Deaths
3/31/20 A.M.	WW	800,049	38,714
	US	164,000	3100
	NY	67,636	1224
	NYC	37,183
	MC	250	6

COVID19: Farewell to Normalcy

  When I began this blog in 2016, it was intended to be a discussion of grief and loss brought on by death.  Now as I return to it, it's an entirely new discussion of grief and loss - of normalcy.  As I write this, our country and the rest of the world are reeling from a new crisis, the COVID19 virus.  I wish I could say we didn't see this coming, but some of us did.  As long ago as 2006, Dr. Larry Brilliant foretold this pandemic through writings, talks, and as a consultant for the disaster film, "Contagion."  We didn't listen.
In December, China experienced the first cases of COVID19.  They tried to warn us.  Our leaders didn't listen.  By January, South Korea and Italy began experiencing the virus, with quite a bit of television coverage.  Our President called this a hoax, propagated by the Democrats.   Concerned scientists tried to influence his opinions.  It was of no avail.
   Finally, cases of the virus began to explode in Washington State, then New York City, spreading to New York State, where I live.  Within the space of one week, the cases in New York, now the highest concentration in the U.S., rocketed from 1400 on March 18th to 8377 on March 21st.  I had heard on the news that the virus would expand exponentially, roughly doubling every six days.  Meanwhile, cases in Italy have overwhelmed the system.  At last count (this morning), I read that there are over 8000 cases in New York, 20,000 cases  in the U.S., and 277, 300 cases in the world.  These are only the cases that are being tested, verified, and reported.  It's suspected that there are many, many more.
   One week ago today was the last "normal" day I've had.  I went to my YMCA to work out, came home, went to the grocery, and gassed up my car.  By that evening, all the schools in my county, the YMCAs, and most churches had closed.  As of tomorrow, all of New York State, with the exception of "essential businesses" (grocery stores, pharmacies, media, doctors' offices, hospitals) will be asked to stay home.  100% of the workforce not included in the "essential" category may not return to work until further notice.
   It could be weeks.  Or months.
   There was panic in the grocery stores.  Long lines, some fights that required police intervention, and shortages ensued.  People are hoarding things, causing further shortages.  In short, our lives are beginning to resemble a disaster movie.  "Contagion," perhaps?
   The international stock market continued the tumble that had begun a few weeks ago.  At this point we estimate that it has lost approximately 50% of its value...not a pretty picture for retirees.  Not at all.
   What will become of us?  We honestly have no idea.  Hospitals are being built in state fairground buildings.  Hotels, motels, and college dormitories will be taken over to house patients, and possibly military troops who are called in to help organize food pantries and keep order in the streets.  There are currently so many shortages of medical supplies that some hospitals are asking civilians to sew home-made medical masks.
   When I began this blog 4 years ago, I had no idea that it would become a place to discuss an international pandemic.  It was a blog created to be an intergenerational discussion of grief, as I was taking a course on death and dying at seminary and needed a project that would be open to all for discussion.
   Now it's going to be a discussion of what a pandemic looks like.  Our lives are changed forever.  How are you coping?  Feel free to discuss, and add to the conversation.  And truly, yesterday never looked so good.  And yes, it is hard to say goodbye.