Today's headline is Yesterday’s News

Meanwhile, an even bigger and very tragic milestone hit yesterday; in which (according to John Hopkins University) over One Half Million US lives had been lost to COVID in less than one year’s time. That is more deaths from a deadly disease sweeping the USA than Americans died in WWI, WWII, and the Vietnam Wars combined. If this reality means nothing to you, then, you have no heart for other people.

“February 21: The United States continues to remain the worst affected due to COVID-19 as cumulative cases in the country surpassed 28 million on Sunday. According to Johns Hopkins University, as many as 28,038,274 people have detected positive for the COVID-19.”

When that happened yesterday, it was barely mentioned on the news. The US has grown so accepting of the situation that one more million cases of COVID doesn’t seem to make much difference to most people anymore. Meanwhile, states and cities continue to reduce their coronavirus preventing restrictions.

The US now has almost 3 times the number of COVID cases as the next highest country; which BTW has about 4x more population than the USA. The United States also has close to 26% of the entire World’s cases; plus close to 21% of the total Planet’s COVID deaths.

Yet, unlike people in several other countries, most Americans are not willing to tolerate any kind of restrictions to their “personal freedoms”; even if it could help bring COVID in the USA under control. Perhaps we should look a bit to New Zealand and Australia; both which have turned the tide in their countries; even without vaccinations.

It took the USA 99 days to reach 1 million cases on April 28, 2020.

Now, here we are in February the next year: 10 months and 27 Million MORE new, confirmed COVID cases later… Although the rate of additional new COVID cases currently have slowed down - from the historic highs in January & early February - it still has only taken 14 days to add yet another one Million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the USA. That seems rather fast to me for the states to now consider “emergency restrictions” to no longer be necessary.

The US went on “lock down” back in April 2020 before that 1 Million COVID Case mark was hit. How the view on what is "dangerous" has since changed in America. Although some others may, I personally don’t see things now as being “safer” for most than what they were last April. The virus is still claiming too many victims and lives at a relatively fast pace. The virus says that we are not yet ready to return to life as we once knew to be normal. Vaccinations are also just getting started.

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Food for Thought

4/04/20
America back at a time when the country felt that “Lock Down” was needed
New Daily Cases: 34,196 Daily DEATHS: 1,331
vs
2/21/21
America as State & Local governments “ease remaining COVID restrictions”
New Daily Cases: 70,646 Daily DEATHS: 1,793

Looking at these facts, COVID daily statistics today seem actually be somewhat worse than last Spring when lock down was deemed necessary. However in general – even with 28 Million confirmed COVID infections and ½ Million COVID deaths – many Americans just don’t seem to care.

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On a good note, “Caring about all Americans” has returned to the White House.

This evening, President Joe Biden honored the 500,000 American lives lost to coronavirus on Monday, speaking of the collective grief of a nation and in personal terms. Biden then participated in a moment of silence, standing by 500 lighted candles outside the White House, joined by first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff: https://pbase.com/britestar/image/171434824

In remembrance of the deaths, Biden also issued a presidential proclamation Monday afternoon that ordered the flag of the United States to be flown at half-staff for five days at all federal buildings and military posts in the US and abroad. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has also ordered flags at the US Capitol, "be flown at half-staff due to the passing of 500,000 Americans from COVID-19," according to a statement from her spokesperson Drew Hammill.

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My photo above today is a declining Amaryllis blossom. It seems to fit.