Virus Blog

11/19/20

One Quarter Million. That's the number of dead in the US and yesterday 1,964 people died.

The Good News. We have two vaccine candidates that while yet approved, appear to be safe and 95% effective. We were told a vaccine could be approved at a 50% effective rate and most would have been happy with 70%. The first home test kit was approved. Reportedly it's 90% accurate and within 15 minutes will tell you if you are positive or negative for the virus. It's expensive but reasonable at $50 but it requires a doctor's prescription...for clearly no good reason. Trump's presidency continues to wither on the vine although it's been 16 days since the election, he has not conceded, continues to bet on his long-shot challenges and has resisted an orderly transition. Nevertheless, it's good news because we're closer to January 20, 2021.

The Economy. Initially 22 million jobs were lost. Something like 12 million have since been hired back. The 10 million person hole, however, is more than the 2008 recession (biggest since the great depression). These job losses are predominantly in the Service sector which disproportionately impacts those that can least afford to be without work. This is a disease that disproportionately impacts those with the fewest resources.

Thanksgiving. The plan is for both boys to get a test and then isolate themselves before coming home for Thanksgiving. We've told them to bring their "ski gear" because we plan to have all the windows open for the week that they are here. Kevin got tested and has enough food in his house so that he doesn't have to leave until he arrives this weekend. We plan to wear masks throughout. We are talking about eating outside. We are nervous and part of us thinks maybe we should just forget about it, but when the kids call and say they want to come home for Thanksgiving, as parents its something that is hard to say "no" to. Our heads say one thing. Our hearts say another. We're trying to find a compromise in between. We hope that's enough.

11/20/20

Election Theft. It's over and yet the LAME duck president appears to be doing everything he can to overthrow the votes. His lawyers are making arguments that are not supported by any evidence. Instead, they promote theories that have long been debunked. He invited local Republicans to the White House to pressure them to ignore the throw out the vote under the unsupported claim that all the votes were fraudulent and instead the state legislatures should overturn the will of the people. We are watching this happen in slow motion. Few in the Republican party think this is of any concern. The last four years has felt like an alternate reality and my hope that that would end once we passed election day, was clearly wrong. No one expects him to be successful but to see this as his 'right' to pursue all legal options is distasteful.

Thanksgiving. A little nervous about those boys coming into the house. It's weird to be nervous around your children.

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