Hello Readers,
Coronavirus statistics are very important for officials to make decisions and to measure how they are progressing towards controlling the pandemic. I always look at a few points to compare. 1. Death to Recovery ratio and 2. Per 100,000 population, how many cases and how many deaths. In the world, there is 1 death to 19 recoveries; in the US. about 17; Brazil, about 23; India, about 39; South Africa, about 40; Russia, about 49. The US has the lowest recovery ratio among the top 5 coronavirus case countries. Per 100,000 population, the top six countries leading in deaths are: India (38), Russia (109), South Africa (206), Brazil (517) and US (529). In both categories, the US is not doing great. Within the US, California has the highest cases, but their recovery ratio is very good. New Jersey has the highest deaths per 100,000 population (1805) and next is New York (1693), California (292), Florida (462) and Texas (355).
Two things are critical for reopening. First, schools are reopening in early September. Usually, schools open after Labor Day weekend. This year, due to the coronavirus, up until now no one knows 100% if schools will reopen or not. In New Jersey, 139 districts have already announced that their schools would open remotely, including Newark. It is very tough for the administrators and school boards to make any decision. How does this work for those who do not have computers, and if they do, have less than optimal wi-fi? Also, how will the parents go to work, when their kindergarten, elementary school and middle school children are at home? In some way, we must support them, as they are working hard to find solutions in this critical time. Once implemented, there will be some flaws, but those can be fixed. If no one tries, the schools will never open.
Also, the gyms should be reopened. A solution must be found to use social distancing and safely open them back up. It is very important for the health of hundreds of thousands, as well as jobs. Locally, New York has started to do so.
The Democratic National Convention is far different this year than any other year. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are in Delaware, while the convention is at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with delegates and a very few guests. The delegates officially nominated Joe Biden the Democratic Presidential candidate. The convention will traditionally have a speech from the VP nominee speech (Harris) and then conclude with one from the presidential nominee (Biden. On Tuesday former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter spoke to endorse Biden and Harris. The main topic in all of their speeches was Donald Trump not being fit to serve as President of the United States of America, and that everyone must vote for and support the Biden-Harris team.
Clinton said, “Donald Trump says we’re leading the world…Well, we are the only major industrial economy to have its unemployment rate triple.”
Jimmy Carter, 95, and former first lady Rosalynn Carter, 93, made a rare public appearance to endorse Joe Biden. Carter said, “Joe has the experience, character and decency to bring us together.”
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed an executive order to send ballots by mail to all registered voters. They have a right to mail in the vote or go a designated polling location. Each municipality in New Jersey will have at least one polling location. All polling locations will have provisional ballots. Also, the governor is working on online registration where registered voters can vote online by September 4, 2020. The Trump Campaign filed a lawsuit to stop the vote-by-mail system. Trump said that with absentee ballots, the registered voter has to apply and get the absentee ballot, but due to mailing the ballot, there is a chance of fraud. They have to prove this in court via a legal battle.
The hottest temperature in Iraq was recorded on July 22, 2020. In two places, it was recorded as 129 degrees Fahrenheit, which was the highest recorded temperature in the world. However, recently one temperature was claimed as 134 F in the desert of California – Furnace, Creek Ranch, California (known as Death Valley). For many years, the wildfires in California have been problematic for the fire department and administration. California usually has a high temperature between 106 to 115 Fahrenheit. The government should appoint a committee to examine and do a better job in stopping the wildfires.
Have a wonderful week.
I’ll talk to you next week.
