THE COVID-19 NATIONAL EMERGENCY WILL END IN THE U.S. ON MAY 11

From Worldometer (new  COVID-19 deaths yesterday):

         DAY  USA  WORLD    Brazil    India    South Africa

2020

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

2021

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

2022

Jan     7        2025      6729         148         285     140

Feb     2        2990   12012          946        991      175

Mar     2        1778     7756          335         173       28 

Apr     1          439      4056         290          52       12

May    5          225      2404         151            ?        64

June    2         216      1413         130           10        31

July    6          316      1627         335           35       12 

Aug    4          311       2138         258          70         ?

Sep    1           272       1732         174            ?         ?

Oct     6          281       1305         119            9         ?

Nov    3          167         980           16            ?         ?

        25            88         985           71             3        ?  

Dec    3          149       1029         131            3         ?

          8          194       1320         104             6       86

        15           147       1295         124             4         ?

        22          289       1637         165             9         ? 

        28          296       1768         337            2         ?

Jan    4          346       1534         207             ?         ?

         5           220       1611          183             ?         ? 

       12            270       1470         128             ?         ?

       19            225       1775         480             ?         ?

        26           351       1361           92             1         7

Feb    1           221       1261         126              ?         ?

Summary:

• 
  This might be the last time I show this table, for reporting of data is becoming more and more uneven, and China is not even included.  All signs point to that country dominating the world for two months.  It's probable that China has had more cases and deaths than the rest of the world, combined since December, and could well have been much, much worse.  Want to know more about China and covid?  Here is a rather thorough report, dated 2February2023.  Note that China Briefing emanates from Beijing, so you can determine yourself if all the truth is here.  However, the parent company, Dezan Shira & Associates, has foreign roots.

• 
  But for the record, yesterday Japan had the most new deaths with 308, USA #2 221 and Germany #3 154, while Japan was #1 in new cases with 55,538, Taiwan #2 with 31,765 and USA #3 with 24,388.

• 
  The sense is that these countries are the ones that do the most accurate reporting, so therefore are at the top.  However, Time magazine just reported that the U.S. still doesn't have good COVID-19 data and why:
• Hospitalizations, for example, are confusing and confused with other ailments.
• Dr. Leana Wen thought that deaths are likely overcounted, while others say this is undercounted.
• Reporting of state data to the CDC is uneven and subject to interpretation.
• Reporting of city/town data to their state is poor.
• Doctors don't have a national set of criteria for determining whether covid caused the death.
• There is very little testing done in hospitals for various reasons.
• There is a lack of demographic information.
• We seem to be chasing every variant and boosting everyone when this might not be necessary.
• There is insufficient data on what underlying cause is important, and what is not.  Turns out that high blood pressure is particularly bad, but this bit of info is NOT used in determining hospitalizations.

On top of all that, the Biden Administration has announced that our pandemic will no longer be considered a national or public health emergency.  

• Thus, on May 11, you're mostly on your own.  
• That's more than symbolic, for this means the government will stop footing the bill for all things related to covid, like tests, vaccines and treatments.  
• This will certainly affect those without an adequate medical plan--for states will now be able to dis-enroll marginal citizens, whatever they determine those might be.  Perhaps 15 million will no longer qualify for Medicaid.
• Any supplements to the needy will be discontinued.
• Private insurers will only assist in certain restricted circumstances.   
• That category called in-network or out-of-network providers will confuse everyone.  
• But it might not be all that bad for a while regarding vaccinations, for there remains the fact that they do prevent deaths.
• Part of this White House motivation is that Congress has not authorized more funding for much of the above, and the House will absolutely not be cooperative into the foreseeable future.
• Pfizer and Moderna will likely charge from $82 to $132/vaccine dose, about 3 to 4 times more than was paid by the government.  But those enrolled in a major medical plan will still have any upcoming vaccinations covered.
• Liability insurance for pharmacists regarding vaccinations will expire.
• Interestingly enough, much of telehealth will continue.
• Further, it is appearing that Paxlovid and other antiviral drugs will remain covered by Medicare.  This today cost the government $500/course.
• You might think Biden's declaration should not affect immigration or student loans, but it will in strange ways.  Keep track of what is happening to Title 42 and the forgiving of student loans to understand why.
• As "poorly" as U.S. covid reporting might be today, it will only get worse.
• No doubt, having heard that the pandemic is essentially over on May 11, fewer people will wear masks and bother about vaccinations.  Will there thus be another bump in the summer?

So what can you do....now?  For sure, stock up on free at-home COVID-19 tests.  Medicare and most medical plans reimburse the cost of up to 8 at-home tests/person/month.  Also ascertain about those free government issued tests.  Of course, these tests have expiration dates.  What are they?  Click here.

To end, if you are set to take an annual dementia test, we are now into 2023, a Thursday, February the second, or 2.  Valentine's Day is coming, but this is not a leap year.  2024 is.

If divisible by 4, it is a leap year.  Well, not quite, for 1700, 1800, 1900, 2100, 2200, 2300...following this pattern...are not.  Go to this site for the mathematics of leap year.  Always in the year of the Summer Olympics?  Generally yes, but the first was in 1896, and 1900 was not a leap years.  So until 2100, every coming Summer Olympics will be in a year that has February 29. 

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