GOOD NEWS FOR SOME ON THIS GOOD FRIDAY

         From Worldometer (new  COVID-19 deaths yesterday):

          DAY  USA  WORLD    Brazil    India    South Africa

June     9     1093     4732         1185        246       82

July    22      1205     7128         1293      1120     572

Aug    12      1504     6556        1242        835     130

Sept     9      1208      6222       1136       1168       82

Oct     21      1225      6849         571        703       85

Nov    25       2304    12025        620        518      118

Dec    30       3880    14748       1224       299      465

Jan     14       4142    15512       1151       189      712

Feb      3       4005    14265       1209       107      398

Mar      2       1989     9490        1726       110      194

April     6        906    11787         4211       631       37

May     4        853     13667        3025      3786      59 

June    1        287    10637         2346      3205      95

 July    7         251      8440        1595        817     411

Aug     4         656    10120        1118         532     423 

Sept   22      2228      9326          839        279     124

Oct      6       2102      8255          543        315       59

Nov    3        1436      7830         186         458       23

Dec     1       1633      8475          266        477       28

Jan     7        2025      6729         148        285      140

Feb     2        2990   12012          946        991      175

Mar     2        1778     7756          335        173        28 

         11        1022      6002         465           88       28

         18          721      5214         380           69       39

         24          649      5008         300           82       33

         31          676      4287         276           28       44

Apr     1          439      4056         290           52       12

           7          409      3554         253           44         5

          14         331       3383         158            21       16

          15         361       3369         145             5         6

Summary:  

• The U.S. is back to #1 in new deaths, with the UK #2 at 350 and Germany #3 at 309.
• Finland, with a population of 1.9 million jumped into the spotlight with 28,891 new cases (15,206 new cases/million) and 183 new deaths (96 new deaths/million).  In comparison, the U.S. is at 127 new cases/million and 1 new deaths/million.
• New cases in the U.S. and World are actually again increasing because of the Omicron BA.2 subvariant.  However, new deaths have stabilized, and should again soon decline.  Rarely does any fully vaccinated and boosted individual actually die.  Almost all such deaths are of the unvaccinated.

A new COVID-19 test option with results available in three minutes was just approved by the FDA.  This is a breath test which detects chemicals associated with the virus.  The size of the equipment is about that of carry-on luggage.  A positive result should be followed by a PCR test, which takes a day or two or more for results.  

This article also indicated that the 81 million or so cases in the USA should be much higher, for people are more and more taking rapid at-home tests, and if testing positive, just stay home for a few days because the symptoms are almost surely mild, especially if vaccinated.  These individuals generally don't report their infection.  When you add the number of asymptomatic cases, that means the 25% (81 million divided by our population of 334 million) of Americans having caught COVID-19 could well be at least 50%.

A British study showed that those who were fully vaccinated and boosted are 93% less likely to die from COVID-19.  The percentage drops to 81% with no booster.  The time has come now for most to get a second booster.  At 15 Craigside, this will come later this month.  Fewer than 50% of Americans have been boosted.  In the UK this figure is 65%.

In the U.S., those over 65 account for 16% of the population.  However, early on, 80% of COVID-19 deaths came from this group.  More recent data have this figure at 75%.  Also, 95% of Americans killed by this disease were 50 or older!

However, as of February of this year, more than from five to seven million children globally have lost a parent, grandparent or family member who helped care for them to COVID-19.  Three of four were fathers.  In the U.S., ethnic minority communities were especially hurt.  As 6.2 million have been killed by this virus, a child was affected by most of these deaths.

Have you ever wondered why Good Friday is called Good Friday?  After all this is the day when Jesus was crucified and died.  Has to do with the pious and holy aspects of the word good.  Some say that Good Friday is a corruption of God Friday.  In any case, other countries call this Long Friday, Black Friday, Sorrowful Friday or Holy Friday.

While Good Friday is a national holiday for 135 countries, did you know that only 12 U.S. states are among them?  Germany is especially restrictive, as it prohibits certain acts such as dancing and horse racing.  A whole bunch of countries pass on this day, including, Italy.  Why?  This not a day of celebration.  India with a Christian population of 3% has Good Friday as a national holiday.

Today, the Stock Market is closed.  The Post Office and banks remain open.  Most schools remain open.  78% of Americans are Christian.  Yet Good Friday and the Monday after Easter are skipped as public holidays.  Why?

• We already have Christmas as a Christian tradition.
• We want to separate church and state as much as possible.
• Hawaii is one state that makes Good Friday a state holiday.  Read this article to understand why.

Well, anyway, I have some good news for some of you.  Usually, your Federal taxes are due today, April 15.  But not this year.  You know why?  Not Good Friday.  This is also Emancipation day, observed in Washington, D.C. marking the freeing of slaves.  Federal employees are given the day off, including at the Internal Revenue Service.  As the 16th is Saturday and 17th Sunday, the deadline for tax filing was pushed forward to April 18.  How many of you knew this?  Did you also not know that the average refund is $3,226?

-