The USA hurdles towards 200K deaths
If everyone wears masks, University of Washington experts project 200K deaths by October 1. Without universal masks, it's much worse. And, the federal government has now published a PPE shortage list.
The second half of August is underway with a COVID-19 infection and death tally that would have been unimaginable six or even four months ago. That may not be news, but please pause for a moment and reflect on the 170,178 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in the USA. Even if universal mask mandates were implemented, the USA’s death toll is projected to reach 200,000 by October 1, according to the University of Washington Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. If there are no major changes in COVID-19 mitigation strategies, the number likely is 215,000 or higher.
But there is some good — or at least, encouraging — news:
Ten states now have at least slight 30-day downward trends, including California and Florida. But COVID-19 continues to increase in many locations, including some areas that were relatively free of cases earlier in the pandemic. For an easy to read visualization of data compiled by the Johns Hopkins COVID tracker, visit https://www.covid19projections.com/.
As expected, the FDA has approved the inexpensive, rapid saliva test to detect COVID-19 that was developed by researchers from Yale University along with the NBA and others. SalivaDirect uses saliva that can be collected without special devices, and the protocol is being shared via an open-source model so that it can be used widely and at low cost.
Supply shortages: Thanks to a provision of the CARES Act, the FDA has now published a list of personal protective and other COVID-19 related medical equipment in short supply. The list includes everything from ventilators to gloves, gowns and masks.
Brace for it: Another “cure” for COVID-19 has caught the president’s attention via his friends and FoxNews. The White House has informed FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn about the product, which is based on an extract from the oleander plant and has not gone through any of the usual scientific testing that federal law requires for new drugs. (Pressure to approve hyrdoxychloroquine continues, too.)
Worth a few minutes to listen: NPR interviewed a scholar about her new book on disinformation. Author Nina Jankowicz had several very interesting observations about how disinformation has contributed to COVID-19’s trajectory.
Keep those faces covered and spaces protected. And, please keep washing your hands.