Tuesday, June 28, 2022

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Chronology Article 81 Published 6/28/22; BA4 and BA5 Infections Extend US Wave 7; US COVID-19 Infections Rising in Southern States; 22 US States on the Mend from Wave 7 but 28 Are Not; Hot Zones Include Germany, Israel, Europe, UK, India, Brazil, South America, Mexico and the United States; 550 Million COVID-19 Cases Worldwide and 6.35 Million Deaths; Scientists Focus on BA5 Subvariant that is Gaining Dominance; 1 in 4 New COVID-19 Cases in United States Are in California; Independence Day Holiday Events May Increase US Infections Week of 7/11/22; Germany, France and Italy Account for One-Half of New Global Infections; COVID-19 Outbreak Waves Increasing in Israel, Japan, Australia and New Zealand; FDA Amends Emergency Use Authorization Allowing Pharmacists to Prescribe Paxlovid After a Positive Test; Worldwide COVID-19 Infections Increasing to Nearly 1 Million Cases Daily; US EXCEEDS 90 MILLION TOTAL CORONAVIRUS CASES AND 1.045 MILLION DEATHS GRIM MILESTONES
















 

By K E Stone (Keystone)

It is party time in America with the July 4th Independence Day holiday on Monday approaching fast. Pack all your bags and leave your cares behind, it’s time to go to Party Town. Some American workers will use 4 days of vacation time next week to create a holiday from 7/2/22 through 7/10/22. Parties will crank up from Thursday on with the big crescendo of festivities and fireworks on Monday.

With parties comes new COVID-19 infections. The BA4 and BA5 sublineages are extending the US BA2 Omicron Subvariant little sister wave. Many European nations saw the BA2 wave run its course separately and are now dealing with a new wave with BA4 and BA5 dominant. In the US, BA2, BA4 and BA5 are all a part of wave 7 that extends with a flatter (potential) top compared to the prior waves.

Two charts above illustrate the US behavior; the US BA2 Omicron Subvariant Wave 7 Extended by BA4 & BA5 Sublineages chart and the % of New US Infections that are BA4 and BA5 chart. Match up the time lines from 5/7/22 to 6/28/22 to compare the charts.

The Memorial Day holiday weekend 5/26/22 through 5/30/22 results in a slight increase in COVID-19 cases in early June but the bump is minor and the parties and memorial events cannot be called a superspreader. Keystone had a big barbecue party that weekend with vaccinated and unvaccinated folks and no one contracted covid from the fun. Many Americans do not think about the virus at all anymore.

The BA2 Omicron Subvariant creates wave 7 during May and June into July. The wave actually subsides in late May and early June and things are looking good but the Memorial Day festivities creates the mini bump in cases extending wave 7. At the same time, the % of daily new infections that are BA4 and BA5 are increasing rapidly nudging out BA2.

This month, June, as it comes to an end, sees the rate of BA4 and BA5 infections increasing to 35% of all new infections and this data is 10 days old. The BA4 and BA5 infections may account for about 50% of the US infections currently. The CDC will provide an update to their data in the days ahead.

The BA4 infection path is flatter than BA5. In Europe, they see BA5 as a worse bug than BA4 and this is proven out in the US as the chart clearly shows. The rate of increase in total BA4/BA5 infections is in lockstep with the rate of BA5 infections with BA4 preferring a flatter path forward. The silver lining in the nasty rise of BA5 is that the 7-day MA of US daily new cases trends lower to 90K cases per day (it is not moving higher).

BA5 may be trying to bite hard but its bark may be worse than its bite. BA5 may be trying to assume dominance over BA2 and BA4 but even so, US cases are trending lower.

The WHO tracks the variants on their website and assigns the asinine Greek names to the viruses so no one’s feelings are hurt. The WHO makes new changes to the nomenclature creating a confusing alphabet soup of letters. The B11529 Botswana/South Africa Variant dubbed omicron is the only listing under variant of concern (VOC). This is also called BA1 currently.

The WHO separates the virus information into ‘Previously Circulating VOC’s’ and adds ‘VOC-LUM’ which is variants of concern lineages under monitoring. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. There are also ‘Previously Circulating VOI’s’ which are variants of interest. Don’t forget the newly created FMV’s; the ‘Formerly Monitored Variants’. You have to laugh.

BA4 and BA5 are VOC-LUM’s. Whazzat? In fairness, the WHO is dealing with complicated lineages in real-time but Keystone’s head is spinning from the ridiculous acronyms. The WHO lives in Whoville.

The July 4th holiday parties will likely create a rise in US infections a la Memorial Day and the expectation is that the increase in cases will be minor. Perhaps BA5 has different plans?

Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee from 6/2/22 through 6/5/22 is a superspreader event. Also, Pope Francis’s masses in St Peter’s Square for Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday were superspreaders.

The US Independence Day holiday is not expected to be a superspreader in the US, using Memorial Day as a guide, but the answer will not be known until the cases numbers are reported for 7/11/22 through 7/18/22 especially 7/11/22 and 7/12/22 when a big bump in daily cases, should it occur, would appear.

The US daily new cases chart is shown above (the right-hand side of the chart for May and June was cut away and used for the wave 7 chart and discussion). The US reports 52K cases for Monday a big surprise since a far higher number would be expected. This week may be pivotal in beginning to end wave 7 even with a potential of increased infections coming from this weekend’s parties.

The 7-day MA for US daily new cases is trending lower at 90K cases per day. The week ahead determines if BA5 will rise as a big threat, or not. The jury is out but probably not as the 2 charts at the top of the article explain. South Africa and Portugal beat down their recent waves where BA4 and BA5 dominated so the same is expected to occur for European nations and the US.

The US active cases chart is shown above. The currently infected folks in the United States are trying to line-out sideways at 3.2 to 3.3 million cases. Flat is always better than up. If the trend lower in daily new cases continues, the active cases chart will roll over and begin forming the coveted bell shape to signal that the virus is being defeated.

The US daily deaths chart is shown above. The trend in US COVID-19 deaths is more sideways than down. 205 Americans continue dying from COVID-19 day after day 2-1/2 years into the pandemic. It is sickening. After all this time has passed, the mighty United States is still unable to reduce China Virus deaths below 2 hundo per day. It is nauseating. American mediocrity. The wealthy are not dying from covid; the poor are.

Infections are rising in the southern United States. The sweltering heat chases folks indoors for the air conditioning and the closer contact increases infections. The southern border crisis also creates higher cases. Mexico’s infections rise and covid is hitchhiking on the backs of migrants entering the US legally and illegally.

Texas’s daily new cases chart is shown above. The 7-day MA is going parabolic at 10.6K cases per day so the news is not good. The peak individual day for the current wave 7 in Texas is 16.7 cases on 6/21/22. Today is exactly one week later so the week on week comparison will be key. If today’s cases are below 16.7K, there is hope and the likelihood that the Texas wave will subside. If today’s cases are above 10.6K, however, the Lone Star State is not out of the covid woods as yet with more pain on the way.

Louisiana’s daily new cases chart is shown above. The summer infection wave that experts said would show up in the South this summer started in May as wave 7. Wave 2 started in mid-June 2020 and wave 5 (delta) started in July 2021 and now wave 7 (BA2/BA4/BA5 Omicron Subvariants) started in May 2022.

The South is better prepared than last summer when the vaccination rate was very low including among the elderly. Many of those folks bit the dust especially obese people with comorbidities. The southern states should fare better this time around but the jury is out.

Louisiana is the same set-up as Texas. The peak cases are 2.9K on 6/21/22 so today’s cases are key for the week on week comparison. Louisiana will be on its way to quickly rolling over the current wave if today’s cases come in below the 7-day MA at 1.8K cases per day but trouble will continue if cases are above 1.8K and worsen dramatically if above 2.9K.

The world’s daily new cases chart is shown above. The planet is on the cusp of 550 million total COVID-19 cases a sad milestone. China’s CCP has unleashed 2-1/2 years of horror upon the world. The 7-day MA for worldwide daily cases rises to 662K cases per day a miserable number. The planet was moving below 500K cases per day when the North Korea explosion in cases occurred ruining the happy trend lower.

As the cases subside in North Korea and Taiwan, the earth again trends lower towards 500K new infections per day then whammo, Mother Earth is slapped in the face with infections rising in Europe, UK, Israel, South America, India, Mexico and the US with BA5 flexing its muscles. The never-ending pandemic is never ending.

The BA4/BA5 waves in South Africa and Portugal were not a big deal (although deaths in Portugal matched the prior wave’s deaths) so this pattern should be repeated for Europe and elsewhere. Thus, the expectation is that the world’s daily new cases chart will show another bump like the hermit kingdom bump and the planet will begin moving towards and below 500K cases per day again setting up a nice summer and early Fall.

The world’s daily new deaths chart is shown above. Keystone has grown a beard like Rip van Winkle waiting for the global death rate to drop below 1K bodies per day. No such luck as yet. The worldwide death rate is at 1,267 deaths per day moving more sideways than down.

It is great that the death rate is the lowest since the start of the pandemic but global leaders are unable to make progress over the last month. Heaven and Hell receive a consistent number of covid souls each day over the last few weeks. The disadvantaged, destitute, unlucky and poor folks are dying from COVID-19, not the rich.

The UK daily new cases chart is shown above. The 7-day MA trend line is at nearly 19K cases per day heading higher. The peak day for the current wave is 33K cases on 6/22/22 so Wednesday’s daily cases are key for the UK for the week on week comparison.

The chart clearly shows that Queen Elizabeth’s naughty jubilee partying in early June creates a superspreader event for the month. You will not hear a disparaging word, however, since everyone loves the Queen. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, already in hot water due to the Partygate scandal where the UK was in lockdown unable to go anywhere while Boris and the gang had booze parties, can be blamed for the partying and superspreader.

The UK chart behavior provides a heads-up for what may occur in the States so a rollover of the current wave would be a welcome sight. The last 2 wave tops for active cases in the UK occurred about 11 days after the top in daily new cases. Thus, if the 6/22/22 top holds for daily new cases, the UK’s active cases should peak on 7/3/22 (Sunday). A lot is riding on the UK’s daily new cases on Wednesday.

Germany’s daily new cases chart is shown above. The Deutschland is under siege from COVID-19 with BA5 leading the charge. Coronavirus must have a penchant for lederhosen. Germany reports over 142K daily new cases yesterday. The clock just fell off the wall in Chancellor Scholz’s office. Scholz is meeting with other G7 leaders at Schloss Elmau in southern Germany. Keystone loves the skiing in the beautiful and scenic Bavarian Alps.

The 7-day MA for Germany’s daily cases has gone parabolic at 100K cases per day. Something has gone horribly wrong in Germany. It would be helpful to know the percentages of the BA1, BA2, BA4 and BA5 strains in the current new infections. Germany is a major bellwether for the rest of Europe, the UK and America, and requires a hairy eyeball over the coming days.

Damn. Israel’s daily new cases chart is shown above. Israel reports 14.6K daily new cases the most for the current wave and the 7-day MA is up to 10.3K cases per day. With Germany, you may think the big spike higher in cases is a one-off for one country, but the pop in Israel’s cases yesterday is also concerning. Since Israel has vaccinated their population like pincushions, the subvariants at play are not having trouble defeating this protection.

BA5 wants a bad reputation, like Joanie sings, so that is what it now has. The medical eggheads, scientists and researchers will be focusing on the BA5 subvariant in the coming days and the media will likely run more news stories about this subvariant du jour.

Hopefully, the spike in cases in Germany and Israel are one-offs or data aberrations and cases will flatten out. Hiram and Sumner are working 24/7 in an Israeli lab trying to come up with the sixth vaccine shot; the booster-booster-booster-booster.

India’s daily new cases chart is shown above. The 7-day MA trend line is up to 14.3K daily new cases per day and rising. Hopefully, it does not go parabolic. All of a sudden, there is a lot of hoping going on. The overall numbers are small compared to other waves but look at how fast those other waves erupted into chaos.

India folks should be told to be vigilant and simply keep distance between each other over the next month. If the cases in India explode out of control, the cases worldwide will remain elevated. Further, as the vaccine proponents will point out, a new outbreak in India or elsewhere may develop a new subvariant that will wash then around the globe prolonging the covid misery.

Brazil’s daily new cases chart is shown above. Brazil is struggling to contain the new outbreak running at 54K cases per day. South America is hit with higher infections that keep the global case numbers elevated.

Mexico’s daily new cases chart is shown above. Mexico’s daily new cases go parabolic at 12.4K cases per day; not good. The high rates of infection will bleed into the southern United States. The border crisis and ongoing migrant fiasco is about to become a very hot covid-infected mess.

The USA has the greatest number of total coronavirus cases in the world at 88.9 million. India is next with 43.4 million total virus cases. Brazil, France, Germany, UK, Russia, South Korea, Italy, Turkey, Spain, Vietnam, Argentina, Japan and Netherlands round out the top 15 worst nations. This ranking is steady for 2 months without changes.

COVID-19 has infected 550 million people worldwide. China (the CCP) owes reparations to the world for its heinous crime against humanity. 6.35 million people on Earth are dead from the China Flu a grim statistic. 526 million global citizens have recovered from the virus. 96% (526/550) of the people that become infected with COVID-19 recover in a reasonable time frame. Worldwide, 1.2% (6.35/550) of the people that are infected with covid die; 1 in 87.

7.2% (550/7670) of the world’s population of 7.67 billion people have been infected with coronavirus; 1 in every 14 people on earth. 0.08% of the world’s population (6.35/7670) died from the pandemic; 1 in every 1,208 people on earth died from China Virus.

In the United States, 88.9 million people are infected with covid. 1.04 million Americans are dead. 84.6 million Americans have recovered from coronavirus. This equates to 95% (84.6/88.9) of US citizens recovering after becoming infected with COVID-19.

In the US, 1.1% (1/89) of the people infected with COVID-19 die. 1 in every 88 US citizens that are infected with coronavirus die. Thus, if you are infected with China Virus in the United States, you have about a 1 in 90 chance of dying. 0.3% (1/330) of Americans have died from COVID-19 which is 1 in every 330 Americans over the last 2-1/2 years.

27% (88.9/330) of the American population of 330 million people have been infected with covid; 1 in every 4 Americans (3.7 to be exact). The CDC said a few months ago that one-half the US population, 50%, have been infected by COVID-19 and have some level of antibody protection; it is likely 60% or more now as the omicron bugs work through the system. The US is doing a good job at holding wave 7 at bay, in a flat rather than up posture, so herd immunity must be playing a role (vaccination and natural antibody protections).

The United States has 16% (88.9/550) of the COVID-19 cases in the world. 1 in 6 people that become infected with covid on the planet are Americans. The US vaccination program made an impact month’s ago, but not so much in recent months.

The US accounts for 16% (1.04/6.35) of the China Flu deaths in the world. 1 in 6 people that die from COVID-19 around the world are Americans. A year ago, it was 1 in 5 so vaccinations helped a little bit.

The Keystone Speculator Coronavirus Infection Rate Model, the Keystone Model for short, is a simple model that predicts when the active cases chart will flatten-out and roll-over lower. The active cases chart is the ‘flatten the curve’ chart that represents the maximum stress and strain on the medical system and healthcare workers. Once the active cases chart rolls over forming the bell shape, the virus is being defeated and healthcare workers can breathe easier.

The Keystone Model uses the peak in the daily new cases to forecast the peak and flattening of the active cases curve. The ‘flattening of the curve’ only pertains to the active cases chart. For communist nations where the populations must do what they are told or they receive a bullet in their heads (China), and for smaller authoritarian nations (Eastern European countries, Africa and Middle East nations), and many Asian nations where citizens follow government rules without questioning authority (South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Australia), the active cases curve will peak, on average, 11 days after the peak in daily new cases.

For the Western countries, such as the US and European nations, the so-called free societies, the active cases curve will peak, on average, 28 days after the peak in new cases. It takes about 2 weeks longer for a free society to tamp down a virus wave than a communist or authoritarian state because lockdowns are not strictly followed or enforced. As time moves along, nations become better equipped and experienced to fend off outbreaks so time between the daily new cases peak and active cases peak is shortening.

For example, the last 2 waves in the UK show only an 11-day difference between the peak in daily and active cases. After 2-1/2 years, Western nations are experienced at handling the virus so the distance between the daily and active cases peaks are decreasing towards the 11-day distance where the authoritarian and communist style nations are at that enforce the strict draconian rules to tamp down infections. Once the majority of the population is either vaccinated or had the virus, the path forward becomes easier.

All projections below for countries and the US states continue to use the 11 and 28-day periods for forecasting for consistency. When the peak in daily new cases occurs, if a subsequent day is within 8% of that peak top, it is identified as the peak in daily new cases day in reference to the Keystone Model.

The peak in the daily new cases is easily seen on the bar charts provided by Worldometer, the CDC and Johns-Hopkins. The daily new cases bar charts are shown on television news channels with a 7-day moving average (MA) line which is a smoothing mechanism that identifies the trend.

An update for The Keystone Model is provided since another 10-day period passes and more data and information become available to push the China Virus story forward. The Coronavirus Chronology identifies the real-time hotspots occurring around the world and within the United States. The chronology serves as a historical document that will be referenced for decades to come by those that want to experience the entire pandemic as it unfolds in real-time.

The Coronavirus Chronology compilation of articles will be published in the future by Amazon and others and distributed internationally. This is Article 81 in the Coronavirus Chronology that provides real-time information for historians, teachers, students, journalists, economists, market participants, corporate executives, financial managers, Wall Street, doctors, nurses, medical personnel, first responders, psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, neurologists, researchers, public officials, news organizations, traders, investors and politicians studying the COVID-19 pandemic both domestically (USA) and internationally.

This eighty-first article is published on Tuesday, 6/28/22. The Coronavirus Chronology series of articles are the only real-time source of information available continuously chronicling the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic from early 2020 into 2022; it is the China Virus Bible.

Readers live and breathe the pandemic, the worst in a century, as it occurs in real-time, experiencing the daily virus zeitgeist, good or bad, devoid of political correctness. This is not revisionist history-telling. It is the raw pandemic truth and human emotion occurring, recorded and chronicled in real time, without any allegiance to political parties or media sources. The information is direct and unapologetic. A chronology can be written no other way.

All 81 Coronavirus Chronology articles are archived on The Keystone Speculator blog. The last couple articles are linked below if you want to remain up to speed with the never-ending COVID-19 saga.

The seventy-ninth article is the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Chronology Article 79 Published 6/7/22; US Wave 7 Diminishing for 11 States but 39 Continue Dealing with the BA2 Omicron Subvariant Outbreak; North Korea and Taiwan Remain Hotspots but Conditions are Improving; Infections Increase in Brazil, Chile and other South and Central American Nations; 87 Million Americans Infected with China Virus and 1.03 Million Dead; 536 Million Earthlings Infected with COVID-19 and 6.32 Million Dead; Global COVID-19 Death Rate Below 1.2K Souls Per Day; Pennsylvania Governor Wolf Tests Positive for COVID-19 a 2nd Time After 4 Vaccination Shots and a Prior Infection; Moderna Develops Booster Shot More Effective Against Omicron; Taiwan Reports Deadliest Day of the Pandemic; Canada PM Trudeau Tests Positive for COVID-19 a 2nd Time This Year After 3 Vaccination Shots and a Prior Infection; Rolling Stones Frontman Mick Jagger Tests Positive for Virus; France and other European Nations Begin New BA4/BA5 Infection Waves; Pfizer’s Paxlovid Not Effective in Standard-Risk Patients; QUADRUPLE-VACCINATED WHITEHOUSE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFFICER DR FAUCI TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

The eightieth article is the Coronavirus (COVID-19)Chronology Article 80 Published 6/18/22; US Wave 7 Continues into Summertime;US COVID-19 Infections Rising in Southern States; BA4 and BA5 Infections Minglewith BA2 Wave 7; FDA and CDC Approve Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna Vaccines forToddlers from 6 Months to 5 Years Old; 256 Americans Continue Dying fromCOVID-19 Each Day but the Whitehouse and CDC Yawn; BA4/BA5 Waves Washing AcrossEurope Increasing Global Cases; China Virus Infections Increasing in South andCentral America and Mexico; India’s Daily Cases Rising into New Wave butNumbers Remain Small; Israel Begins New Infection Wave DespiteHighly-Vaccinated Population; Whitehouse Security Adviser Jake Sullivan TestsPositive for COVID-19; UK Cases Rise after Queen Elizabeth’s JubileeSuperspreader; Over 6.35 Million Earthlings Including Over 1.04 MillionAmericans Dead from China Virus

The Worldometer web site tracks coronavirus (COVID-19) around the world and its link is provided. Many charts in the coronavirus series of articles are provided courtesy of Worldometer and annotated by Keystone. The CDC COVID Data Tracker is another excellent source of information. The Worldometer, Johns-Hopkins and CDC data track each other well with the Worldometer data leading the others by a few days. The Worldometer data is far superior for forecasting since it is updated more reliably in real-time.

The countries with rising active cases charts are highlighted below with the worst nations at the bottom. The peaks in daily new cases are shown and the projected peaks for active cases are based on the Keystone Model. The peak and flattening of the active cases curves are extremely important since it represents the maximum stress on healthcare workers and the medical systems.

It will take longer for the active cases charts to roll over to form the bell shape for the troubled nations at the bottom of the list since they are still experiencing highs and peaks in their daily new cases. Hospitalizations lag the daily cases by a week or two and deaths lag hospitalizations by a week or two.

Costa Rica (Sixth Wave)
5/26/22 New Case Peak Date
6/6/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 11 days) (Costa Rica stopped reporting daily new cases but active cases chart is flattening; give it a few more days; the data now becomes suspect)
 
United States (Seventh Wave)
6/10/22 New Case Peak Date
7/8/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 28 days)
 
Ireland (Seventh Wave)
6/15/22 New Case Peak Date
6/26/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 11 days) (curve is flat and rolling over but give it a couple more days)
 
Singapore (Sixth Wave)
6/21/22 New Case Peak Date
7/2/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 11 days)
 
Switzerland (Seventh Wave)
6/21/22 New Case Peak Date
7/2/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 11 days)
 
France (Seventh Wave)
6/21/22 New Case Peak Date
7/2/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 11 days)
 
Italy (Seventh Wave)
6/21/22 New Case Peak Date
7/2/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 11 days)
 
UK (Seventh Wave)
6/22/22 New Case Peak Date
7/3/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 11 days)
 
Austria (Seventh Wave)
6/22/22 New Case Peak Date
7/3/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 11 days)
 
Ecuador (Seventh Wave)
6/22/22 New Case Peak Date
7/3/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 11 days)
 
Belgium (Seventh Wave)
6/23/22 New Case Peak Date
7/4/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 11 days)
 
Columbia (Fifth Wave)
6/23/22 New Case Peak Date
7/4/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 11 days) (curve trying to flatten)
 
Canada (Sixth Wave) (Canada’s data problems appear to finally be corrected)
6/23/22 New Case Peak Date
7/21/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 28 days)
 
India (Fourth Wave)
6/24/22 New Case Peak Date
7/5/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 11 days)
 
Paraguay (Fifth Wave)
6/24/22 New Case Peak Date
7/5/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 11 days)
 
Brazil (Fifth Wave)
6/24/22 New Case Peak Date
7/4/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 11 days)
 
Greece (Seventh Wave)
6/25/22 New Case Peak Date
7/6/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 11 days)
 
Chile (Seventh Wave)
6/25/22 New Case Peak Date
7/6/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 11 days)
 
Bolivia (Fifth Wave)
6/25/22 New Case Peak Date
7/6/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 11 days)
 
Guatemala (Seventh Wave)
6/25/22 New Case Peak Date
7/5/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 11 days)
 
Mexico (Fifth Wave)
6/25/22 New Case Peak Date
7/6/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 11 days)
 
Netherlands (Ninth Wave)
6/25/22 New Case Peak Date
7/6/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 11 days)
 
Pakistan (Sixth Wave)
6/26/22 New Case Peak Date
7/7/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 11 days)
 
Bangladesh (Sixth Wave)
6/27/22 New Case Peak Date
7/8/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 11 days)
 
Germany (Seventh Wave)
6/27/22 New Case Peak Date
7/8/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 11 days)
 
Israel (Eighth Wave)
6/27/22 New Case Peak Date
7/8/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (based on 11 days)

It is exciting to see the United States hanging in there with wave 7 with the projection for the active cases to flatten and roll over by 7/8/22 (only 10 days away). The active cases are currently flattening so fingers are crossed that the high in the daily new cases (for the purposes of the Keystone Model) remains 6/10/22.

The actual high for US wave 7 is 133,439 daily new cases on 6/3/22. Taking 8% away for the purposes of the Keystone Model is 123K daily cases and 6/10/22 was the last day that the US cases exceeded 123K. As long as the US remains below 123K cases going forward (cases are actually starting to favor consistent numbers under 100K) the US is on track for a better road ahead over the coming couple weeks. Happy times do not occur, however, until the active cases curve is rolling over heading lower.

Not one country was removed from the bad list over the last 10 days; lousy news. BA5 must have some bite to go along with its bark considering the staying power of the infections in the countries above. Germany and Israel must be watched like a hawk because what happens there is likely going to happen in Europe, the UK, Mexico and the US.

On the positive side, Ireland and Columbia are showing signs that they want to roll their active cases over to the downside and maybe they can serve as positive role models for other nations instead of Germany and Israel.

Bangladesh is added to the bad list with cases leaping higher and faster than its neighbor India. Belgium is also added to the list as its neighbors Netherlands, Germany and France become sicker. Switzerland, and Bolivia are also added to the bad country list. Trouble is occurring when the active cases are rising.

Conditions are improving in China if you believe the state-run media. No local cases are reported for Shanghai and Beijing the last couple days so restrictions are being eased. The CCP does not report the new infections occurring in the isolation wards. Despite the happy talk, indoor dining remains shuttered in the cities.

Hong Kong leaders say Xi will travel to their city on 7/1/22 putting an end to the on again off again speculation. Hong Kong’s cases nudge higher but remain tiny in comparison to the last wave. Dictator Xi is worried about catching COVID-19. The dictators that enjoy murdering others are cowards when it comes to their own lives.

Hong Kong officials refer to dirtbag Xi as ‘our new president’. Do any of you remaining idiots in Hong Kong not understand that you are now a communist? After the mainland takeover orchestrated by filthy Carrie Lam with instructions from Xi, Hong Kong is just another scumbag communist city now; it is Lam’s legacy.

Sadly, Singapore reports the first COVID-19 death in a child under 12 years old.

Back in the States, wave 7 should have a happy ending over the next couple weeks but this was also said 10 days ago. BA5 is flexing its ugly muscles creating mystery in the path ahead.

The initial COVID-19 strains in 2020 killed Americans because they attacked the lower respiratory tract (lungs). During 2021, the mutations and subvariants become less severe preferentially attacking the upper respiratory tract such as the soft tissue of the nose.

Is BA5 starting to attack the lungs and lower respiratory tract again? Keystone does not know the answer. The scientists will have to answer that question. That’s why they are paid the big bucks. Are the subvariants preferentially attacking the lower respiratory tract in Germany and Israel but the upper respiratory tract in Ireland and Columbia? Inquiring minds want to know. The real science is interesting but too many medical folks are playing in the political science arena.

The US list below provides insight into which states remain in the covid quagmire. The peak in daily new cases and projections for the peaks in active cases are provided as per the Keystone Model.

The flattening and roll over of the active cases curve forming the bell shape (see US active cases chart above) indicates the virus is being defeated and the caseload on healthcare workers will quickly improve. Healthcare workers are not under duress with wave 7 like prior waves.

The dates for the states to peak with active cases remain in July so this month may be the last hurrah for wave 7 and perhaps for the pandemic phase. The active cases charts for wave 7 have rolled over for 22 states thus far including the northeastern states that were first hit by the BA2 wave or BA2/BA4/BA5 combo wave.

New Jersey (Seventh Wave)
5/24/22 New Case Peak Date
6/21/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (curve trying to flatten and roll over)
 
Nebraska (Seventh Wave)
6/7/22 New Case Peak Date
7/5/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date
 
Kansas (Seventh Wave)
6/8/22 New Case Peak Date
7/6/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (curve trying to flatten and roll over)
 
Utah (Seventh Wave)
6/14/22 New Case Peak Date
7/12/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (curve trying to flatten and roll over)
 
Wyoming (Seventh Wave)
6/15/22 New Case Peak Date
7/13/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (curve trying to flatten and roll over)
 
Nevada (Seventh Wave)
6/15/22 New Case Peak Date
7/13/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (curve trying to flatten and roll over)
 
Arizona (Seventh Wave)
6/15/22 New Case Peak Date
7/13/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (curve trying to flatten and roll over)
 
North Dakota (Seventh Wave)
6/16/22 New Case Peak Date
7/14/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (curve trying to flatten and roll over)
 
Florida (Seventh Wave)
6/16/22 New Case Peak Date
7/14/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date
 
Texas (Seventh Wave)
6/21/22 New Case Peak Date
7/19/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date
 
Louisiana (Seventh Wave)
6/21/22 New Case Peak Date
7/19/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date
 
Kentucky (Seventh Wave)
6/21/22 New Case Peak Date
7/19/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date
 
Indiana (Seventh Wave)
6/21/22 New Case Peak Date
7/19/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (curve trying to flatten and roll over)
 
Alaska (Seventh Wave)
6/22/22 New Case Peak Date (not reporting data for a week)
7/20/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (curve trying to flatten and roll over)
 
Idaho (Seventh Wave)
6/22/22 New Case Peak Date
7/20/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date
 
South Dakota (Seventh Wave)
6/22/22 New Case Peak Date
7/20/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date
 
Georgia (Seventh Wave)
6/22/22 New Case Peak Date (data stopped)
7/20/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (curve trying to flatten and roll over)
 
Oregon (Seventh Wave)
6/23/22 New Case Peak Date
7/21/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date
 
Oklahoma (Seventh Wave)
6/23/22 New Case Peak Date
7/21/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (curve trying to flatten and roll over)
 
Arkansas (Seventh Wave)
6/23/22 New Case Peak Date
7/21/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date
 
Mississippi (Seventh Wave)
6/23/22 New Case Peak Date
7/21/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date
 
Colorado (Seventh Wave)
6/23/22 New Case Peak Date
7/21/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date
 
Montana (Seventh Wave)
6/24/22 New Case Peak Date
7/22/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (curve trying to flatten and roll over)
 
Tennessee (Seventh Wave)
6/24/22 New Case Peak Date
7/22/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (curve trying to flatten and roll over)
 
New Mexico (Seventh Wave)
6/24/22 New Case Peak Date
7/22/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date
 
California (Seventh Wave)
6/24/22 New Case Peak Date
7/22/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date
 
Missouri (Seventh Wave)
6/24/22 New Case Peak Date
7/22/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date (curve trying to flatten and roll over)
 
Alabama (Seventh Wave)
6/25/22 New Case Peak Date
7/23/22 Projected Active Case Peak Date

3 states are taken off the bad list; Washington, Iowa and Virginia. The 3 are added to the previous 19 for a total of 22 states that have rolled their active cases over to the downside and are on the mend. However, 28 remain on the bad list. On the positive side again, 14 of the states on the list, one-half of them, display flat active cases curves that are ready to roll over lower and defeat the virus.

The BA4 and BA5 subvariants are showing their ugly faces in many states above. The northeastern states that first dealt with the BA2 Omicron Subvariant wave 7, such as New York, Vermont and Maine, are still looking good but there is a concern for the week ahead.

The new waves for the southern states have big helpings of BA2, BA4 and BA5 bugs in the mix. BA4 and BA5 was not the major issue when the outbreak waves rippled through New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, for example, so the worry is that these 2 bugs will now work backwards and reattack those states. European countries worked through the BA2 wave only to now be slapped around by the BA4/BA5 wave so that is a wild card for the northeastern states.

The FDA is meeting right now considering what vaccinations need to be updated for the Fall. Get ready to roll up your sleeves. For some, it will be the fourth shot others the fifth; the booster-booster-booster. The alchemists are choosing the vaccine ingredients that will be mixed, cooked, packaged and distributed on Halloween. Don’t forget the rabbit’s foot and eye of newt.

The US vaccinationrate continues a downward slide at about 200K shots per day even with the robust kickoff of the childhood vaccination. It appears that parents are taking their kids to the pool instead of the doctor’s office.

US COVID-19 hospitaladmissions continue higher which is a disappointing sight. It is mainly the older folks that need the hospital beds.

US coronavirus hospitalizations are trying to flatten-out at 25K patients remaining far below the 150K peak in January during wave 6 but nothing to write home about. The BA4 and BA5 bugs are extending wave 7.

The CDC Community Transmissionmap is a hodgepodge of green (low infection rate), yellow (medium) and orange (high) colors. Keystone would replace the pastel orange with a pastel red or rose-type color since the public would more easily relate to the streetlight or stop light colors. Anyhoo, 12% of US counties are high infection orange areas and 31% are yellow for a total of 43% of the US in medium or high risk counties. The bad state list above has 28 names which is 56% of the US in covid trouble compared to the CDC's estimate of 43% (much of the difference is likely due to the CDC's data lag).

Masks should be considered when indoors in the yellow areas or consult with your healthcare providers to see if it is a good idea to where masks. The CDC recommends masks when indoors in the high-risk orange counties. Nearly one-half the nation is at medium or high risk which is not good. The data is at least 5 days behind so the picture may be brighter.

For example, Virginia is taken off the bad list above but the community transmission map shows it covered in yellow. It is also tricky now because the BA4 and BA5 infections may end up rippling northward into states that already went through the BA2 wave.

The United States is in coin-flip territory right now. The increasing cases in Mexico and the southern states are a concern until there are positive signs that the daily new cases are dropping. 22 states are on the mend (their active cases charts are dropping) but will they now step into the BA4 and BA5 covid rabbit hole?

It is plot twist time where the pandemic can write any story it wants for this week and July, good or bad. The BA4 and BA5 waves were not a biggie in South Africa and Portugal so that hints at a positive outcome for the US going forward.

However, watch Germany and Israel like a hawk. They have issues. These two nations need to lead by defeating the current BA4/BA5 waves pronto, otherwise, they will indicate trouble ahead for the US, UK, Brazil, Mexico, India and others.

It is not July 4th in America until the talented and beautiful Martina McBride sings Gretchen Peters’song Independence Day (that is actually about an abused woman but is adopted as a patriotic tune after 9-11). Americans have to remember that we all get along and ignore the *sshole media, demopublicans and republocrats that promote division, hatred and negativity each day to defend their sick, crony and corrupt power bases.

Find inspiration and comfort in music not in the destructive world of social media. US wave 7 may be the last hurrah for this once in a century pandemic.

Note Added Wednesday Morning, 6/29/22, at 4:00 AM EST: The US crosses the 1.041 million deaths grim milestone. People yawn. The initial few deaths from COVID-19 in early 2020 were a tragedy but a million deaths are only a statistic, paraphrasing Joseph Stalin. The US reports 78K daily new cases yesterday with the 7-day MA continuing to move sideways to sideways lower at 92K cases per day. As long as the daily cases are below the moving average, they will pull it lower. The 3-day MA prints a lower low maintaining the downward bias in the daily cases. Texas reports 9K daily new cases an encouraging number since the peak for the current wave is last Tuesday at nearly 17K cases. The US may have a brighter path forward than it appears over the last few days. California remains a trouble spot with cases running higher at over 18K per day. New Mexico cases continue higher at 1K per day. Tuesday to Tuesday, Louisiana's cases pull back from 2.9K to 2.4K an encouraging sign. Covid trouble remains across the southern states but some of these outbreaks may crest this week.

Note Added Wednesday Morning, 6/29/22, at 4:30 AM EST: New York State's daily new cases and active cases are moving sideways and no longer dropping. This is not good but the situation is no biggie at the moment and New York is fine overall. However, the concern is that the new BA4/BA5 infections will move into the mid-Atlantic and northeastern states further extending US wave 7. New Jersey reports 3.6K daily new cases the most in 2 weeks so it is experiencing a small lift in cases like New York. Illinois and Pennsylvania continue showing daily new cases and active cases in retreat so these 2 states are not seeing the micro-bump higher in cases showing up in New York and New Jersey. New York City media reports that Dr Jay Varma at Weill Cornell, former health advisor to the mayor's office, is very concerned over the number of BA5 infections in the city.

Note Added Wednesday Morning, 6/29/22, at 5:00 AM EST: The world's daily new cases continue higher at 683K cases per day; not good. Germany and Israel are a major focus in the days ahead. The world needs these 2 nations defeat their BA4/BA5 waves to paint a rosy picture for other countries. Thwack. Germany reports 134K daily new cases another record high for the current wave. The numbers are getting trickier to handle as the pandemic lingers on since many nations are reporting data in chunkier amounts skipping days in between. Some nations stop reporting for a week or two typically when the wave worsens. It is a political pandemic with corrupt leaders in every nation around the world always choosing to protect their power and reelection goals first with the people coming second. 175 Germans die yesterday the most since May. Israel reports 15K cases for Monday and 13K cases for Tuesday the highest for the current wave with the 7-day MA up to 10.5K cases per day heading higher. The UK reports 21K cases yesterday and the 7-day MA is up to 20K cases per day moving higher. Brazil remains challenged. Mexico's 7-day MA for daily new cases is over 12K cases per day but perhaps the upside will flatten-out with only 3.4K cases reported yesterday.

Note Added Wednesday Morning, 6/29/22, at 6:00 AM EST: The FDA advisory committee met yesterday and conclude that the coronavirus booster shots slated for this Fall should be adjusted to target the omicron variant and subvariants. It does not take an Einstein to come up with that conclusion. The panel is wishy-washy over whether the BA1 Omicron Variant should be specifically targeted or if the protection should be focused on the BA2, BA4 and BA5 subvariants. Panelists say the task is challenging which means they are making it up as they go along. Dr Fauci talks to the National Press Foundation yesterday proclaiming that the country will be in big trouble this Fall if Congress does not provide more COVID-19 funding. A prediction of 100 million new COVID-19 cases are forecasted which sounds like hyperbole considering the total infections are only now approaching 90 million for the entire pandemic thus far. 100 million infections means 1 in every 3 Americans will be infected with COVID-19 between October and January. What are they smoking over at the Whitehouse? Pass it around to the rest of us. The fear tactics are used to push Congress into action. With the mid-term elections only 133 days away, neither republicans or democrats want to be talking about spending more of taxpayer's money. Fauci decrees, "I and my colleagues on the coronavirus team from the Whitehouse are very concerned about the lack of responsiveness to our needs to both develop and distribute countermeasures in the form of vaccines, drugs and tests."

Note Added Wednesday Afternoon, 6/29/22: There are over 5K monkeypox cases in 51 countries worldwide. The first case appears in Pittsburgh with 8 total cases in Pennsylvania. A Michigan resident may also be infected. 27 US states have reported cases and monkeypox has doubled over the last week from about 150 cases to over 350 cases. Vaccinations are available to high-risk people such as gay men. Dr Simone Gold, an Ivy League educated doctor and lawyer, daughter of a Holocoast survivor, founder of America's Frontline Doctors that provides guidance on a wide range of treatments and therapies for COVID-19, and a thorn in the government's side, is sentenced to 60 days in a federal prison for getting caught up in the Capitol Hill Riot on 1/6/21. Gold was scheduled to speak that day about medical issues but that was cancelled and then her plight with the US government started. It is an interesting story that she explains at FreeDrGold.org. The US government targets any doctor that does not cheerlead the vaccine-only strategy despite 1 in 5 Americans not wanting anything to do with the COVID-19 vaccinations or multiple ongoing booster shots. 

Note Added Wednesday Evening, 6/29/22: Dr Fauci continues battling his COVID-19 illness. After testing positive for covid on 6/15/22, Fauci took Pfizer's Paxlovid a 5-day regimen of anti-viral oral pills. After 3 days of negative tests, quadruple-vaccinated Fauci tests positive again. This guy is leading the COVID-19 response? From his bed? Despite the rebound, Fauci proclaims that Paxlovid lessened his symptoms and kept him out of the hospital. A pale-faced Fauci decrees, "I am 81 years old, I was at risk for hospitalization and I didn't even come close to being sick enough to be hospitalized (but he acknowledges that he was sick which is not mild symptoms)." The CDC has issued a health advisory on the Paxlovid rebound situation. After 4 vaccine shots, including the booster-booster, and now also a COVID-19 infection under his belt, Fauci once again tests positive for COVID-19. American children are being indoctrinated into America's vaccine society via the Sesame Street Muppets. This is a repeat of the garbage that occurred about a year ago when the left-wing media CNN teamed up with the Sesame Street characters cheerleading and promoting vaccines. Is that their role? Do Americans want their kids to be brainwashed and indoctrinated into a pro-vaccine culture without any other options provided? Many young folks have distorted views and worries on climate change because they were brainwashed with that mantra for many years. The Elmo Muppet character receives a vaccination (to promote childhood vaccinations) and tweets; "Elmo got the COVID vaccine today, just like Elmo's mommy and daddy! Elmo's daddy had a lot of questions, but Elmo's doctor said the vaccine would help keep Elmo healthy, and all of Elmo's friends and family too." Is there a barf bag handy? Sesame Street does not tell the kids that many doctors were wrong and/or misguided during the pandemic. Why is marketing toys, candy and other products to children during cartoon television shows unwelcome by parents but a blind eye is turned to promoting vaccines to kids? Because America employs the drug and surgery medical model. Far-right Texas republican Senator Ted Cruz says Sesame Street is advocating for vaccinating children under 5 years old but they cite zero scientific evidence. Cruz has been demanding information and answers to his questions from the FDA about the childhood vaccinations.

Note Added Thursday Morning, 6/30/22, at 4:00 AM EST: The world reports 857K cases yesterday slapping Mother Earth in the face. It is the most daily cases in 6 weeks and the 7-day MA ramps higher to 715K cases per day. The hope for sub 500K cases per day is now a pipe dream. Global deaths are sneaking higher at 1.4K souls per day. Germany contributes 133K cases yesterday. Oh no. France reports a blow-out 272K cases over the last 2 days with 125K yesterday. Where's President Macron? Are you sleeping? Italy reports a big 94K daily new cases. Obviously, the wheels just fell off in Europe. BA4 and BA5, especially BA5, is biting hard. Austria reports 13K cases yesterday. Israel reports 10K daily new cases yesterday with its 7-day MA ramping higher to 10.4K cases per day. Brazil reports 76K cases the most since February. The data is going in the wrong direction. The UK reports 36K cases the most since April. Taiwan reports 42K cases. The US reports 100K cases yesterday so Germany, France, Italy, Brazil and USA account for 62% of the new COVID-19 infections yesterday; only 5 countries. If UK and Taiwan are lumped in, these 7 nations account for 71%, close to three-quarters, of all new China Virus infections worldwide. The WHO says BA4 and BA5 make up 55% of global samples with 43% the BA5 bug. The WHO says the US, Germany, Brazil, Italy and China are reporting the most cases. The China listing is a mystery since the communists are bragging that the zero-covid strategy is working. WHO Director Dr Tedros says covid is rising in 110 countries which is over one-half the nations on earth. Tedros proclaims that the pandemic is not over. "We have made progress, but it's not over." 

Note Added Thursday Morning, 6/30/22, at 5:00 AM EST: As mentioned above, the US reports 100K daily new cases yesterday an elevated number but it could be worse. The highest numbers of the week are typically Wednesday through Friday. The 100K daily new cases are a disappointment but it would be a win if today and tomorrow are the same number or lower. The 7-day MA for US daily new cases is up to 105K cases per day terrible news. Cases rise in the southern states as people flock indoors to escape the heat and the southern border crisis worsens. Louisiana reports over 3K cases the most since February. Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas report elevated cases. Texas cases continue higher averaging 10K per day. The United States is increasing its orders of Eli Lilly's bebtelovimab monoclonal antibody treatment since it is showing excellent neutralization capability against the omicron variant and subvariants including BA4 and BA5. A bebtelovimab infusion may be the treatment du jour for COVID-19 going forward.

Note Added Thursday Afternoon, 6/30/22: The second and third monkeypox cases appear in Pittsburgh with Pennsylvania at a dozen cases and the US approaching 400 total cases. Monkeypox cases in Europe total 4,500 tripling over the last month. The UK has 1,235 monkeypox cases. The US Supreme Court rules that President Biden can reverse former President Trump's implementation of the Migrant Protection Protocols (nicknamed the 'Remain in Mexico' policy) for folks crossing the southern border. Under Trump, migrants must wait in Mexico until their paperwork is processed but that is thrown out the window by the Supreme Court in a win for Biden, democrats and the push for more porous borders. With COVID-19 cases rising sharply in Mexico and the southern states, changing the law, to allow tens of thousands of folks into the US, will increase the number of covid infections; it is simply a matter of by how much. In a different case, the Supreme Court shoots down an appeal by New York doctors, nurses and others that pushed back against vaccine mandates on religious grounds. Tough beans for those noble folks fighting for liberty and freedom. America is becoming like China. If the government mandates vaccines, you must kneel before power and do what you are told. That's not freedom; it is tyranny.

Note Added Friday Morning, 7/1/22, at 5:00 AM EST: The world is at 727K daily new COVID-19 cases per day and over 1.3K global deaths per day. Terrible numbers. The planet is stalled in its fight against the covid menace. The daily cases numbers remain bad for Germany, France, Italy and other European nations. Ditto the UK and Israel. Cases continue higher in Brazil. Bangladesh cases continue higher at a sharp rate likely leading India. Boom. Mexico reports over 23K cases yesterday a big number the most for the current wave.

Note Added Friday Morning, 7/1/22, at 5:30 AM EST: China's communist Dictator Xi visits Hong Kong and declares the region "reborn from the ashes." That's funny. Reborn into what? Communism. It is the first time scumbag Xi visits Hong Kong in 5 years and the first time the dictator ventures off the mainland during the pandemic. Xi talks about the 'one country, two systems' policy that he says still exists for Hong Kong. What an *sshole. Xi, communist China, the CCP, with the help of dirtbag Lam, took over Hong Kong. It is just another dirtbag commie city now. The brain drain is huge. Professional folks do not want to live under communism. Hong Kongs' role as a financial hub is dirt now. The investment banks continue shrinking workforces and closing offices. Hong Kong is toast. Keystone will miss the ferry rides, beautiful skyline and of course, the cable ride to Big Buddha. Two days ago, Dictator Xi was in Wuhan, where the pandemic nightmare began in 2019 likely from a bioweapons research lab leak. He declares victory with his asinine zero-covid strategy and plans to continue this population-control methodology (another reason to leave Hong Kong since you may end up locked in an apartment). Xi simply wants to use COVID-19 as an excuse to round up dissidents or any person that disagrees with or makes fun of him (the CCP sends a red alert to your virus app on your smartphone and authorities pick you up under the guise of a covid infection; it's called communism). Today, Wuhan reports 2 new China Virus cases and there is concern about another localized outbreak. Xi is a lying communist scumbag that mistreats the Chinese people. They deserve better.

Note Added Friday Morning, 7/1/22, at 6:00 AM EST: The US reports 86K cases for Thursday a great number all things considered. The 7-day MA remains elevated at 102K cases per day. US active cases increase by a hair to 3.4 million cases. The active cases curve refuses to flatten and roll over to form the bell shape which is what America needs to prove that wave 7 is being defeated. 254 Americans continue dying each day while Sleepy Joe's answer is always that he is doing everything he can. He is not. Biden is an incompetent manager just like Trump. Biden's approval rating prints another record low. A majority of republicans and democrats believe the country is on the wrong track which is the kiss of death for the upcoming election (the democrats are going to get trounced in the mid-term elections in 130 days). Americans are trying to survive and keep their jobs and most could give a crap about the climate change agenda that, along with the massive government spending, created the runaway inflation disrupting everyone's lives. What a mess. All for windmills, limited-life solar cells and to try and force Americans to embrace and drive around in a $60K glorified electric golf cart. Do not forget the additional $3K to $5K for an electrician to set up your garage as a charging station (you will have a far higher electric bill). As they say in Brooklyn, "Good luck wit dat." Who owns an electric car when there is a gas station on every corner? The pandemic remains a confusing and chaotic mess. Louisiana reports over 3K daily new covid cases another record high for the current wave. The BA5 subvariant becomes a bigger worry for the world with each passing day. Will BA5 become a bigger monster or fold like a cheap suit?

Note Added Friday Afternoon, 7/1/22: 40K Army National Guard troops, about 13% of the total, remain unvaccinated as the deadline imposed by the Defense Department passes. The government threatens the troops saying negative comments will go on their records, they may face disciplinary action and they may be discharged from the service if they do not bend knee, bow and accept the injections. Isn't America great? People, institutions and governments want to exert their control over the population more than caring if any of the peons actually get covid or not. The National Guard situation is a twisted mess destroying people's attitudes all over a silly vaccine that is not a vaccine; it is a multi-shot COVID-19 death prevention protocol. The airports and air travel is a complete mess into the holiday weekend. Hey airline *ssholes, how are those mandatory vaccine shots going? The airlines chased away their brightest employees and fired others because they would not bend knee for the mandatory vaccine. Others were forced into taking the injection of mRNA serum into their bodies because they have to support their families. The way those employees can return the favor to *sshole management is to screw them every chance possible such as on busy travel weekends. Payback's a b*tch. Just think how many once-loyal employees of the airlines, that bragged about their jobs and enjoyed working there, now denigrate and destroy the company on social media, even go out of their way to screw the company from the inside, after being forced to take multiple injections into their bodies. If you do not understand human psychology and the man on the street, you should not be making these types of decisions (mandating vaccines). European air travel is as bad as the United States due to the COVID-19 outbreaks. Flights are cancelled due to staff shortages.

Note Added Friday Evening, 7/1/22: The Wall Street Journal reports that North Korea blames alien things entering their airspace and land for the explosive COVID-19 outbreak. The outside world still does not know the full extent of the pandemic within the hermit kingdom. North Korea says South Korea sent virus-tainted balloons across the border infecting their nation. How long did it take the tin-pot Dictator Kim Jong-un to come up with that one? Back in the States, the FDA opens an investigation into pulse oximeters potentially overestimating oxygen levels in people of color. This may help explain, at least in part, why some people of color perished during the pandemic. Remember, the stupid advice provided early-on in the pandemic by the mainstream television doctors, and followed by hospitals and clinics? They told COVID-19 patients to go home, monitor their oxygen levels (O2) and temperature, and if either started going in a bad way to call the office for follow-up. It was a major error of the pandemic since EARLY TREATMENT is the key to treating COVID-19. America's medical system did the opposite. Folks would return home and over a few days time, symptoms would worsen and oxygen levels would drop to the low 90%'s and below. These unfortunate souls, fed a bill of goods by the medical system, had to be admitted, intubated in an ICU, and then they would croak after a few days. People of color may have been screwed worse because the oximeter's may be giving them false high readings. For example, when Jasmin, DeAndre and Okoro were sent home with covid with their finger oximeters, their readings at say, 96%, were not okay since the device may be overestimating the level and in reality may be closer to 90% or lower. Obviously, by the time their oxygen levels dropped to the mid to low 90%'s (they were likely in the 80%'s) and they called the hospital for further guidance and help, the only things waiting for them there were three caskets.

Note Added Saturday Morning, 7/2/22, at 6:00 AM EST: The world reports 904K China Virus cases yesterday; bad news. A sub 500K cases per day number is only fantasy now. The 7-day MA for daily new cases for the planet is flying higher at 751K cases per day. Global deaths are at 1.4K souls per day moving sideways with an upward bias; lousy news. Europe and the UK continue adding big numbers to the world's tally. Brazil reports 2 days of over 76K cases each day the highest for the current wave. India's daily cases are averaging over 15K per day ramping higher. Bangladesh's cases are at 1.9K cases per day rising at a faster rate than India. Oh no. New Zealand is reporting a pop in cases and potential start of a new wave. Where's Jacinda? Sleeping? No, Adern is in the UK hobnobbing with the royalty gang. Jacinda, you may want to call your health secretary and find out what is going on with the new covid outbreak in between your photo-ops with the Queen. New Zealand will probably be added to the bad country list above. Boom. Israel reports 16K daily new cases yesterday the most for the current wave now at the same levels as the BA2 wave in late-March and early-April. Jacob and Sarah are working 24/7 in the Israeli vaccine lab trying to cook up the fifth shot, the booster-booster-booster, as fast as they can. Boom. Mexico reports 25K cases yesterday the most for the current wave lousy news for the southern United States. Mexico is in a parabolic up phase of new COVID-19 cases as incompetent, frail and confused President Biden opens the southern border door after the Supreme Court ruling shoots down the 'stay in Mexico' policy. The BA5 subvariant is showing its nastiness across Europe, the UK, Israel, Brazil, Mexico and the United States.

Note Added Saturday Morning, 7/2/22, at 7:00 AM EST: The Friday data is typically the big numbers of the week so a lot is riding on the results. The US reports 103K cases. It is over 100K but could have been far worse. The 7-day MA is at 104K cases per day so it is great the 103K is below even if only by a hair, and the US will likely see cases below 100K over the next week. The wild card is the infections in Mexico and the southern states. Texas's daily cases are averaging over 10K per day continuing higher. Cases are rising in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and other southern sates. Oh no. California reports 24K daily new cases yesterday with the 7-day MA at 19K cases per day ramping higher. 1 in 4 new covid infections in America are in California the land of fruits and nuts. It is shameful. Californication. New York reports a pop in daily cases to 9.5K yesterday; not good. New Jersey cases bump higher reporting 3.6K yesterday. BA4 and BA5 may be backtracking into New York and New Jersey. Pennsylvania reports a tiny lift in cases. America has its work cut out for it this week with the BA5 bug flexing its muscles and cases rising into the Independence Day holiday weekend when people will be hugging, kissing and partying. You only live once.

Note Added Sunday Morning, 7/3/22, at 10:00 AM EST: The UK Health Security Agency says there is an increase in people admitted to the hospital and requiring ventilators over the last few days. In China, a diplomat that met with jackass Dictator Xi tests positive for China Virus. A Beijing politician and cheerleader for the filthy CCP in Hong Kong, Steven Ho, announces on Facebook that he is testing positive for COVID-19 and in isolation. Al Jazeera reports that Ho met with Xi on Thursday and that day he had tested positive. Dirtbag Xi never stayed overnight in Hong Kong during the much-publicized trip. Instead, he slept in Shenzhen and then commuted to the Hong Kong events then back to Shenzhen. Never trust a filthy lying communist; they will slit your throat in the middle of the night. Boom. 1.4 million Chinese folks are forced into lockdown in Anhui province. COVID-19 infections continue across China despite idiot Xi that clings to his failed zero-covid strategy like an infant clutching a rattle. Mass testing is underway in many cities. The Chinese people have no choice but to follow what the CCP dictates since it is a communist authoritarian government. Millions of Chinese folks are now staring at the walls of their apartment jail cells for the next month. When do the stories begin again about the Chinese cops (puppets of the CCP) beating Corgi's to death in the streets with shovels (China thinks pets transmit COVID-19)?

Note Added Sunday Afternoon, 7/3/22: There are people out and about everywhere in the United States this holiday weekend. People are congregating in crowds and close quarters at barbecue parties, memorial events, parades, camping retreats, backyards, flea markets, parks and many other places enjoying the holiday weekend. There are lots of cars on the road so those folks all have destinations where they will no doubt enjoy the close company of friends and family. The covid incubation period is 4 to 14 days; some say 4 to 10 days. The chronology has identified 8 days as a sweet spot for verifying superspreader events. Thus, there may be a rise in COVID-19 cases starting Friday, 7/8/22, and especially watch the daily cases next Monday through Wednesday, 7/11/22 through 7/13/22. If a spike in daily new cases occurs then, the Independence Day holiday weekend will be a superspreader. After Memorial Day, as the chronology pointed out, there was a slight bump in cases, it was a subtle lift in cases, and short-lived, so it was not a superspreader. Using Memorial Day as a guide, July 4th should not be a big deal in creating infections, however, the jury is out until next week. Keystone is out and about reporting that there are people everywhere having a good time. Masks are as rare as hen's teeth even though the CDC releases a statement recommending masks in indoor settings for many US counties. The CDC Community Transmission map shows 1 in every 5 US counties (20%) are at high risk for COVID-19 infection (orange color) where masks are recommended indoors. 1 in every 3 counties (35%) are at medium risk where folks should consider masking indoors if there are underlying health issues or immune system deficiencies. If in a medium risk county, call your doctor or healthcare provider and ask them if you should wear a mask indoors. Thus, 55% of the counties in the USA, over one-half the counties, are at medium or high risk of COVID-19 infections currently. Washington State, California, Arizona, New Mexico and Florida are displaying the most orange. Infections are also active in Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Minnesota, Colorado and West Virginia. Blotches of orange also appear across the southern states including Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and into Illinois and Virginia. The map is 5 days behind. The CDC continues stating that the US case numbers are higher than reported because many Americans test positive at home and those numbers do not make it into the total. Sure this may be happening but from a mathematical and charting perspective, it does not matter at all. The wave trend is easy to distinguish and its pattern and duration will remain the same whether or not some additional cases should be in the tally. The CDC, NIH, FDA, WHO and other worldwide scientists should study stock market technical analysis and charting methods. Many charting techniques can be applied to pandemics, viruses and epidemiology for forecasting the infection waves as the chronology has demonstrated over the last 2-1/2 years.

Note Added Monday Morning, 7/4/22, at 5:00 AM EST: The world reports 693K cases per day falling back below 7 hundo. This is encouraging but it is only one day (the global rise in infections may be peaking right now). The global death rate is flat as a newlywed's soufflé at 1.3K souls per day. Germany's 7-day MA trend line for daily new cases rolls over to 89K per day a positive development. The peak in Germany's cases was 6/27/22, last Monday, at 142K cases, so a lot is riding on today's number. If cases come in under 142K, which they should and may be below 100K, Germany has likely peaked with daily cases. France and Italy remain under covid duress. Brazil's daily cases continue higher at 61K per day. Cases are rising in New Zealand. Israel continues reporting over 10K cases per day. Mexico is in bad shape with daily new cases parabolic at 18K per day and starting to print the second worst infection wave for the nation during the last 2-1/2 years. This trouble will impact the southern US especially with the porous border. Whitehouse pressroom spokeswoman, Karine Jean-Pierre, that is in over her head and not good at the job (did she get the job in today's society because she checked the female, black and gay boxes?) lies and says the southern US border is closed. Even the most left-wing media such as MSNBC calls out the Biden administration for the untruth since thousands of people are crossing the border each day. President Biden should be careful about the lies; he lies just like Trump. Americans cringe each time Sleepy Joe blames inflation on the Ukraine War since anyone halfway intelligent knows that Biden created the inflation with his massive fiscal spending and war on the oil, gasoline and natural gas industries. Each time Biden repeats the lie his poll numbers drop. He can fix inflation by opening up the drilling fields again, restarting the Keystone pipeline project and stop with the burdensome energy regulations, but he will not. Commodity traders are looking months ahead so if Biden reversed his mistakes, oil prices would immediately drop. Delusional Biden stupidly believes that everyone will be driving around in a glorified $60K golf cart. It is stupid and is not going to happen when there is a gasoline station on every corner. The needless destruction of the American economy puts Biden in company with former President's Herbert Hoover (The Great Depression) and Jimmy Carter (the 1970's runaway inflation and oil/gas crisis).

Note Added Monday Morning, 7/4/22, at 6:00 AM EST: Happy July 4th. Here are the peak days for the current US wave 7 which is the BA2 Omicron Subvariant little sister wave that is extended by the BA4 and BA 5 sublineages; 131K cases on 5/19/22, 132K cases on 5/26/22, 133K cases on 6/3/22, 131K cases on 6/24/22 and 130K cases on 6/29/22. These peaks occur on a Thursday, Thursday, Friday, Friday and Wednesday, respectively. Note that the US was overcoming the BA2 wave in late May, in a subtle way, then whammo, cases lift slightly higher after the Memorial Day holiday. This infection activity opens the door for BA4 and BA5 that extends wave 7 with infections increasing across the South due to summer heat chasing folks indoors and the ongoing border crisis with Mexico's infections parabolic (running straight vertical). It is encouraging for the United States that the peak individual day for wave 7 is 6/3/22 now one-month in the rearview mirror albeit the subsequent highs are teasing the same number. The key is not seeing any individual days over 130K cases going forward. If so, the wheels will be falling off in America. The better outcome is anticipated since Americans are either vaccinated, had COVID-19 and have natural immunities, or live lives of sufficient isolation where they are not concerned about the virus. The holiday will skew the data for the days ahead but it is important that now through Friday, 7/15/22, the cases remain sub 130K. If so, a rosy path is ahead. If not, there will be covid headaches and trouble this summer. The 7-day MA for US daily cases is down to 81K cases per day and the active cases pull back a hair to 3.3 million both are positive signs. It is sickening that 241 Americans die every day from COVID-19. Where's Biden? Sleeping? The peak in Texas cases for the current wave is 17K cases on 6/21/22 now almost 2 weeks ago. This is encouraging but Mexico's daily cases have gone parabolic. The US set-up is the same as Memorial Day. The infection wave was starting to peak and roll over but the partying extended the wave from the second week in June forward. Right now, the path forward is encouraging with the US perhaps peaking again for wave 7, and in the process of rolling over, however, Americans are out boozin' and cruisin' this holiday weekend so there will likely be a subtle increase in infections, like Memorial Day, then the roll over of wave 7 should quickly follow.

Note Added Monday Afternoon, 7/4/22: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos criticizes President Biden over recent comments on inflation tweeting; "Ouch. Inflation is far too important a problem for the White House to keep making statements like this. It's either straight ahead misdirection or a deep misunderstanding of basic market dynamics." Bezos is correct about inflation as explained above. Biden stupidly blames Putin for inflation when the majority of the country knows it is his policies that have created the mess. This is why Biden's poll numbers sink to new depths especially each time he opens his mouth and talks stupid on inflation. Airlines continue delaying and canceling flights as more officials begin admitting that the vaccine mandates are part of the problem. Airlines are having trouble finding new hires as many candidates do not want to work for companies that have vaccine mandates. It is a tall ask to expect unvaccinated folks to start the vaccine regimen with the fifth shot on deck for this Fall. It is ridiculous that you have to get a shot, then a month later another, then after that a booster, then at least one more booster if not a third booster, and this is a prerequisite for an airline job. Good luck wit dat. Airline problems will likely linger on indefinitely. The vaccine mandate garbage was a major mistake by Biden and America's corporations. Biden promised he would never impose a vaccine mandate on Americans but that was just another lie from Sleepy Joey. The US government is airing several television commercials encouraging people to get vaccinated. The US vaccination rate was at 200K shots per day 2 weeks ago and even after the vaccinations are allowed for kids under 5 years old, the rate continues lower and is likely down around 160K shots per day currently (the CDC data is in a constant lag of several days sometimes a week or more). Americans are losing interest in COVID-19 vaccinations. For comparison, the United States was administering over 3.1 million vaccination shots per day in March 2021. Now, in July 2022, 16 months later, America is only administering shots at about 5% of that peak rate. Many Americans likely feel slighted by the medical folks that said to get vaccinated and you will be protected from the virus. Wrong. People can still become infected and transmit COVID-19 despite vaccination. Many vaccinated parents infected their own kids with covid but erroneously blamed the 'unjabbed' (a new moniker for the unvaccinated that is making its way into American lexicon) for their dilemma. The medical profession has lost serious credibility during the pandemic.

Note Added Tuesday Morning, 7/5/22, at 2:00 AM EST: Oh no. Germany reports 148K daily new cases the most for the current wave so the situation worsens right when it appeared that the daily cases may be peaking. France is averaging 111K daily new cases per day moving higher. Italy is at 78K daily cases per day moving higher. Austria reports daily cases at over 10K per day. Europe remains challenged with one-half of the new COVID19 infections worldwide occurring in Germany, France and Italy. Oh no. Israel reports over 19K daily new cases yesterday the most for the current wave that is now worse than the BA2 Omicron Subvariant wave in March. Israel stuck their population with vaccinations like pincushions and it results in a nasty wave of infections like any other country that is less vaccinated. Japan reports a pop in cases over the last few days so a new wave begins in the island nation at over 20K cases per day. The pandemic is never-ending. Japan will have to be added to the bad country list above. Australia is concerned about the rise in infections due to the BA4 and BA5 sublineages. Scientists are working on a booster shot as a new wave begins. For now, Australia says the new strains are more infectious than BA2 but do not appear to cause more severe symptoms. New Zealand's new infection wave worsens averaging 7.2K new cases each day ramping sharply higher. India's daily cases are at 16K per day moving more flat than up which is a good thing. Bangladesh remains challenged reporting 2K cases per day moving higher. 11 Chinese cities are in partial lockdowns. Mass testing continues frustrating the Chinese people that see no end to Dictator Xi's failed zero-covid strategy. Cases are jumping higher in and around Shanghai. The ongoing COVID-19 problems in China will continue to negatively impact the global economy. The silver lining in this misery for the world is that China Virus deaths are remaining in check and not increasing in any appreciable way due to the BA4 and BA5 bugs.

Note Added Tuesday Morning, 7/5/22, at 2:30 AM EST: The US reports only 13K COVID-19 cases yesterday but the number is skewed lower due to the holiday reporting. The United States may improve and turn the corner on wave 7 in the days ahead but that was the case in June when the BA4 and BA5 bugs started showing their ugly faces. The 7-day MA for US daily new cases drops to 73K cases per day but it is pulled lower because of the low holiday weekend numbers. The week ahead will have to play out through Friday to gauge the extent of the BA4 and BA5 infections and then the cases early next week will determine if the holiday is a superspreader. US active cases drop a hair to 3.2 million. US wave 7 is not over until the active cases chart rolls over. 222 Americans continue dying from covid each day. Biden spends his time and energy pumping an anti-gun narrative due to a couple of shooting incidents in America while he turns a blind eye to over 2 hundo Americans dying each day from the virus. Go figure. One of Biden's major problems from day one is focusing on the wrong priorities. The country is falling apart because the two corrupt political parties pledge allegiance to their tribes rather than doing what is good for America. This is how the rigged crony capitalism system ends. The US is in a tricky covid period over the next 1-1/2 weeks. The data has to play catch-up after the holiday weekend and it will not be known if the Independence Day holiday is a superspreader until the middle of next week.

Note Added Tuesday Morning, 7/5/22, at 3:00 AM EST: The Guardian reports on troubling safety problems at UK laboratories. 47 accidents are reported in recent months including spills of virus samples, a mix-up with covid-infected monkeys and one researcher getting bit by an infected ferret. It is likely that lax safety protocols at the Wuhan Laboratories in China in 2019 led to the escape of the virus and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic disaster. China owes every country on earth reparations for the pandemic. The CCP keeps trying to deflect blame because the filthy communists do not want to own up to and pay for releasing the virus, either accidentally or on purpose, or a combination of the two, upon the world.

Note Added Tuesday Afternoon, 7/5/22: The music catalogue of fossil folk group Crosby, Stills and Nash reappears on Spotify. The band pulled the music off the platform last year in protest of Joe Rogan's comments concerning COVID-19 accusing the popular internet talk show host of spewing disinformation. Now the little babies are back on Spotify saying their managers and business partners want the music available again and they do not have control. How convenient. The band says the first 30 days of income will be donated to COVID-19 research to make themselves look like heroes, when in fact, they are zeroes showing they love money more than their faux concern for China Flu disinformation. The band followed Neil Young's lead in pulling his music from Spotify but the Young catalogue from the days of CSNY is also back on Spotify generating money. Young's solo work remains off of Spotify. Joe Rogan's work never left Spotify although the covid interviews now have a caution label displayed for the podcast. Crosby, Stills and Nash are mocked on social internet as they should be. People that market themselves as the righteous example for all humans to follow, typically aren't. Musicians, sports celebrities and movie and tv stars should stick to their talents and crafts rather than display their ignorance when opining about COVID-19. Teach Your Children to not be like them. Joe Rogan's podcasts are not disinformation simply different opinions; it was all fair game and guest such as Dr R W Malone provide important information and guidance to Americans during the pandemic. It was only guilty of not touting the US government's COVID-19 narrative which is 'shut up and get vaccinated'. 20% and more of Americans said they would not get vaccinated for covid before the research on the vaccines started and lo and behold, 19 months into the public vaccinations, 20% of the country continues to say they will not get vaccinated. Who would have thunk it? Stupid people are in charge of the country and its corrupt institutions. 

Note Added Tuesday Evening, 7/5/22: The rock band Mettalica cancels shows over the last week due to COVID-19 infections in the band's inner circle. The tour will be rocking again any day forward. Health is everything. Nothing Else Matters

Note Added Wednesday Morning, 7/6/22, at 9:00 AM EST: The world is averaging 769K daily new COVID-19 cases per day an elevated number the most since April. Global deaths remain flat at 1.3K souls per day. Germany is a mess reporting 131K cases yesterday another record high for the current wave. Bang. France's cases yesterday explode to 207K. Rivets are falling from the Eiffel Tower. Oh no. Italy reports 105K daily new cases yesterday a big spike higher. One-half of the new COVID-19 infections worldwide are in these three troubled European countries. Where's Scholz, Macron and Draghi? Sleeping? Brazil remains in big trouble averaging 58K cases per day. Chile's daily cases are improving. Mexico reports over 18K daily new cases per day moving higher. Boom. New Zealand reports 9.8K daily new cases a big spike higher the most in nearly 2 months. Where's Jacinda? Australia is averaging 34K cases per day moving higher. China reports 24 new infections in Shanghai that will prompt more mass testing and lockdowns. Sadly, the BA4 and BA5 subvariants are showing up inside China. Considering the garbage Chinese vaccines and the inadequate vaccination of the elderly population, the communist nation may be in for a tough stretch. The CCP implements a vaccine mandate in Beijing for anyone that wants to enter public places. It is a broad definition and under a communist authoritarian dictatorship it means get down on your knees and take the shot, otherwise, you will receive a metal shot to your temple. The dirtbag CCP tightens its control over the Chinese people. Vaccine mandates are a pathway to the land of unintended consequences.

Note Added Wednesday Morning, 7/6/22, at 10:00 AM EST: The US reports 46K daily new cases a great number since it is nowhere near 100K daily cases. It may still be holiday lag so there is no reason to celebrate until the cases are known for today, tomorrow and especially Friday. The 7-day MA for daily new cases is at 80K cases per day. 207 Americans continue dying from covid day after day. Confused Sleepy Joe yawns and ponders that someone should be doing something about all those poor folks, mainly minorities and disadvantaged Americans, that continue dying at such a high rate. Alzheimer Joe shrugs and asks the Whitehouse chef for some chocolate pudding. It takes three tries for the chef to understand the incoherent mumbling. There are reasons to be optimistic going forward with cases subsiding, however, there remains two unknowns. First, the case numbers may be low due to less reporting on the holiday so the week needs to play out. Second, the rise in infections from the Independence Day parties will not be known until the case numbers are revealed for Friday through Wednesday. It is a lull period. Is the US on its way to exiting wave 7, or is Uncle Sam about to fall down the covid rabbit hole due to the potential holiday superspreader? We will know in a few days.

Note Added Wednesday Afternoon, 7/6/22: The FDA amends its EUA (emergency use authorization) for Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir) allowing pharmacists to prescribe the 5-day oral pill regimen for a person testing positive for COVID-19. The new guidelines will help get Paxlovid to the poor and underserved communities. EARLY TREATMENT is the key to treating COVID-19 and getting Paxlovid to the people that need it faster will lower the shameful US daily death rate. The rich already have all the Paxlovid they need.

Note Added Wednesday Evening, 7/6/22: The NIH releases a study reporting that COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in the US in 2020 and 2021. The study analyzed death certificate data. Heart disease is the number one killer in America followed by cancer and now COVID-19. Accidents are fourth. Strokes are fifth. Humorously, if your arrhythmia, skin cancer, covid illnesses and falling off the ladder did not get you, the brain hemorrhage surely will. The China Flu smacked the 35 to 54 year old age group particularly hard in 2021 and was the top cause of death for the 45 to 54 year old's in 2021. Non-covid deaths increased in 2019 and 2020 as folks delayed medical care due to the pandemic. It will likely take a few years before the data is analyzed in enough detail to get a real accurate picture of what transpired over the last 2-1/2 years. If Uncle Willy, that has heart problems for years and wheezes when he walks to the mailbox, tests positive for COVID-19, is admitted to the hospital, and dies within a few days, is it due to his frail ticker or due to China Virus? There are likely lots of judgement calls involved that skew the data one way or another depending on how it is analyzed.

Note Added Thursday Morning, 7/7/22, at 5:00 AM EST: The world reports 961K daily new cases yesterday a horrible number comparing back to May (during the North Korea pop) and April. Bad news. Global citizens endure the lingering COVID-19 pain. The 7-day MA for daily new cases is over 800K cases per day and rising. The covid trouble in Europe continues. The UK is averaging 26K cases per day and moving higher as Prime Minister Boris Johnson, party-boy, is about to resign due to Partygate and other scandals. Johnson locked down the nation due to COVID-19 while he and his cabinet and others partied the night away at 10 Downing Street. Boris is the one wearing the lampshade on his head dancing a jig on the conference table while holding a glass of beer. Rules for thee, not for me. Do as I say, not as I do. The Party Is Over for Boris. Leadership is a serious matter. It is a calling. London Calling.

Note Added Thursday Morning, 7/7/22, at 5:30 AM EST:  Indonesia reports 2.7K cases the most since 4/1/22; not good. Boom. Malaysia reports 3.6K cases yesterday the most since April. Thwack. Japan is slapped with 33K daily new cases yesterday a big spike higher not seen since May. Holy Moses! New Zealand's daily cases explode higher yesterday to 18K. Pretty Jacinda may not even realize she is in deep covid trouble again; she was too busy hobnobbing with the royal's in the UK over the last couple weeks. Australia reports a pop in cases yesterday to 44K the most since May. The BA4 and BA5 subvariants are now likely infiltrating the nations that stuck to the stupid zero-covid and harsh draconian lockdown strategies over the last couple years including China, New Zealand and Australia. Brazil struggles to contain its outbreak with cases running higher at nearly 60K per day. Oh no. Mexico reports 28K daily new cases yesterday another high for the current wave now the second worst wave of the pandemic. Those infections keep knocking on the US southern border. Can America's herd immunity keep the infections at bay? 

Note Added Thursday Morning, 7/7/22, at 6:00 AM EST: The US reports 91K daily new cases yesterday so some of the weekend catch-up numbers may boost the cases over the next couple days. The 7-day MA is at 90K cases per day so it is never good to see an individual day above 90K since it will pull the moving average higher. Today's and tomorrow's cases will be interesting. Article 82 is on tap for a Saturday publication so the story will be told by then. Arizona reports 2.9K cases yesterday a new high for the current wave the most since February. Is it related to the high infection rate in Mexico migrating north? The US charts are encouraging but as stated previously, the days ahead will include the catch-up data from the holiday weekend and the new infections due to the holiday parties. Hopefully, it will be  a nothing-burger. The daily cases now through Wednesday dictate the fate of the United States for the next month and more. Keep your fingers and dirty toes crossed.

Note Added Thursday Morning, 7/7/22, at 8:00 AM EST: UK PM Boris Johnson resigns. Goodbye party-boy; we hardly knew ye. Johnson needed to follow the covid lockdown rules that he decreed upon everyone else. He did not so now he pays the price for his partying ways. In the States, a study reports that 1 in 7 American kids in kindergarten (5 years old) are obese. Not good. Parents, you have to tell your kids to turn the computer off and go outside and run around. Of the over 1 million US COVID-19 deaths, there are less than 1,200 American children under 18 years old that have died from covid. The children that have died from China Virus had other health problems and/or suffered from childhood obesity. Make sure your child gets in the habit of eating a salad during each dinner.

Note Added Thursday Afternoon, 7/7/22: Hong Kong is easing travel restrictions trying to lure international business back to the troubled region. The CCP took over Hong Kong so it is just another dirtbag communist city now. Scumbag Carrie Lam's legacy to humanity is that she destroyed Hong Kong bringing it under full communist control. Hong Kong is toast.

Note Added Friday Morning, 7/8/22, at 4:00 AM EST: Global COVID-19 deaths are flat as a pancake at 1.4K deaths per day for the last 5 weeks. The world's daily new cases are averaging 815K per day moving higher about to overtake the peak in world cases in May due to the North Korea outbreak. Netherlands reports 7.3K daily new cases the most since April so a new wave is beginning. Belgium reports a big 9.9K daily new cases yesterday and the 7-day MA ramps higher to nearly 7K cases per day. Europe remains under siege from covid. Germany, France and Italy continue struggling. Australia reports 43K cases yesterday another substantive bump higher. New Zealand's 7-day MA explodes higher to 9.2K cases per day going parabolic. Where's Prime Minister Ardern? Does she even know what is going on with this new COVID-19 outbreak in New Zealand? She's clueless. Singapore remains in bad shape. New outbreak waves are beginning in Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines but case numbers remain small. The BA4 and BA5 subvariants are happy that countries are relaxing travel restrictions. Tragic news out of Japan. Former Prime Minister Abe, known for Abenomics, is assassinated in cold blood by a deranged man with a homemade gun. Japan reports 45K daily new cases yesterday a huge spike higher. Japan is pummeled by grief and covid. Brazil's daily cases are steady at 58K cases per day. Paraguay reports a big spike in cases (its data is now reported on a weekly basis). Chile continues improving but slowly. Bolivia takes a turn for the worse reporting 2.5K cases yesterday and starting a new infection wave. Ditto Peru with cases averaging nearly 5K per day. Cases rise in French Guiana (north of Brazil on the coast). Venezuela covid cases are rising. Columbia is steady sideways at about 3.4K cases per day. Costa Rica struggles at containing its new infection wave. Wow. Guatemala reports a massive 5.8K China Flu cases yesterday threatening to be the worst wave of the pandemic. Boom. Mexico reports over 31K daily new cases yesterday another new high for the current wave. Mexico and Guatemala are in bad shape and those infections are moving north into the southern United States. 

Note Added Friday Morning, 7/8/22, at 5:00 AM EST: Bummer. The US EXCEEDS 90 MILLION TOTAL CORONAVIRUS CASES. 27% of Americans have officially contracted COVID-19, which is 1 in every 3.6 Americans. The CDC and other scientists estimate between 50% and 80% of the US population has had covid. 90% of the US adult population over 18 years old have been vaccinated with at least one shot. Some Americans that did not want vaccinated were forced to take the mRNA serum into their bodies by the US government or their employers. What opinion do you think these folks now have of their country and corporations? If you screw someone, they will screw you back. Combining the natural immunity and vaccinations creates a strong herd immunity in America that is now tested by the BA4 and BA5 trouble-maker's. The US reports 91K daily new cases for yesterday an encouraging number because far worse was feared. Perhaps the data is all caught up from the holiday so there may be no surprises there. However, today begins the key incubation window after the Independence Day holiday. If the parties and events last weekend were a superspreader, the cases should rise noticeably now through next Wednesday, 7/13/22. The daily new cases are critical today and early next week since they will dictate if the rest of the summer will be happy, or sad. The US EXCEEDS 1.045 MILLION TOTAL COVID-19 DEATHS A GRIM MILESTONE. Two lousy milestones are achieved today that no one ever wanted to see. American mediocrity is on display daily during the pandemic under the incompetent leadership and management of King Donnie Trump and Sleepy Joe Biden; Tweedledumb and Tweedledumber. Florida reports 13.3K cases yesterday not good since it teases the highest levels of the current wave. Holy smokes! Louisiana reports 5.4K cases yesterday a big spike higher. Damn. Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky and Georgia report substantive pops in cases yesterday. The southern states are in trouble. Folks are congregating around the air conditioning units indoors breathing each other's germs. The summer wave across the southern states is now fully involved. When will the pandemic misery end? Never?

Note Added Friday Morning, 7/8/22, at 7:30 AM EST: Malaysia Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin is on the job paying attention declaring, "The new wave is here." Jamaluddin proclaims, "BA5 will be the dominant subvariant driving daily cases. Although we have shifted to an endemic phase, we will face ebb and flow." This weekend is a religious holiday so the health minister urges Malaysians to be cautious in the days ahead. If Malaysia is in trouble, so is Indonesia and Philippines. Malaysia officials are remaining vigilant and proactive as a new wave develops while New Zealand bureaucrats may not even realize they are in a new wave as yet.