Dear Reader:

Worldometer, June 22: Almost 180 million cases and getting closer to 4 million deaths recorded worldwide. Getting closer to 35 million cases and closer to 618 thousand recorded deaths in the U.S., with 10,571 new cases and 237 new deaths yesterday (Mon June 21)

AP Associated Press, US hitting encouraging milestones on virus deaths and shots, Monday, June 21: “COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. have dipped below 300 a day for the first time since the early days of the disaster in March 2020, while the drive to put shots in arms approached another encouraging milestone Monday: 150 million Americans fully vaccinated.

“The coronavirus was the third leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2020, behind heart disease and cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But now, as the outbreak loosens its grip, it has fallen down the list of the biggest killers.  CDC data suggests that more Americans are dying every day from accidents, chronic lower respiratory diseases, strokes or Alzheimer’s disease than from COVID-19.

“The U.S. death toll stands at more than 600,000, while the worldwide count is close to 3.9 million, though the real figures in both cases are believed to be markedly higher. About 45% of the U.S. population has been fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. Over 53% of Americans have received at least one dose of vaccine. But U.S. demand for shots has slumped, to the disappointment of public health experts… The virus still has a chance to spread and mutate given the low vaccination rates in some states, including Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Wyoming and Idaho… COVID-19 hospitalizations in southwest Missouri have risen 72% since the beginning of the month as of Friday.  The fall will bring new waves of infection, but they will be less severe and concentrated more in places with low vaccination rates… Anyone who is not vaccinated can become infected and transmit the virus”.

anita