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7 thoughts on “Coronavirus Growth in Western Countries: May 1 Update”

  1. golack

    DE dropped below 25 new cases/day/100K; MO drifted above 10. CO plateaued ca. 31, MI now at 40 and still dropping.
    Five states above 25; Eight states plus NMI below 10.
    vax: 10 states above 50% (first dose); 6 states below 35%.
    Hotspots (50+, CovidActNow Metro areas):
    Muskegon MI, 64 new cases/day/100K
    Fairbanks, AK, 61
    Midland, MI, 52
    Pueblo, CO, 50

    More reopenings as case numbers go down, but keep mask mandates, esp. indoors, until vaccination rates up. If you're fully vaccinated, wear a comfortable mask and be patient.

    1. Mitch Guthman

      I don’t necessarily disagree with the overall thrust of what you’re saying. But I’m not nearly as patient today as I was yesterday. California is making real progress but it looks like we won’t be seeing a return to normal anytime soon in part because we’re reorganizing our society to accommodate a bunch of petulant assholes. We need vaccine passports because limiting indoors activities and travel to vaccinated people is the pathway to normal for the overwhelming majority of people.

      We need to reward people who are vaccinated and not bend over backwards to reward those who are free riding on everyone else’s efforts.

      1. Special Newb

        And also to protect folks who can't take the vaccine medically or who do take it but it fails (suppressed immune system).

        1. Mitch Guthman

          I would like more information on people who can't take the vaccine. My understanding is that people with compromised immune systems are advised to take the vaccine even though it may be not completely effective for them. But they would certainly qualify for vaccine passports and so, it seems to me, what's left is to figure out whether such people would be safer in a world in which the virus was suppressed to the maximum extent possible or a world in which the larger society bent to the will of a determined group of weirdos who are maintaining the pandemic and preventing us from returning to normal.

          It seems to me that people who are more vulnerable would be better off if we were able to restore the status quo ante rather than prolonging both the pandemic and delaying the return to normal.

        2. Mitch Guthman

          Reply edited to add:

          I think perhaps I misunderstood this argument. If the point was that if everyone gets vaccinated that will massively reduce the prevalence for the virus thereby making everyone safer, then I agree.

          But, ultimately, the rest of us want to get back to normal and that’s not going to be possible if we cater to a bunch of knuckleheads.

      2. golack

        CA almost at 50% vaccinated (1st dose), and should be over 65% by the end of this month...so 75% of normal in a month?

        Disneyland reopened--what more could you want? 😉

        1. Mitch Guthman

          I want indoor dining to be able to safely reopen, I want to get rid of masks ASAP, and I want to be able to travel and go to squash tournaments.

          I’m not going to be able to do those things if society organizes itself to accommodate a bunch of petulant assholes. I have no problem with quarantining these people and denying them the opportunities that vaccinated people should be enjoying.

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