June 23, 2020 - European Union May Bar Americans
European Union May Bar Americans
June 23, 2020
We are riding a COVID-19 roller coaster in Alabama, complete with peaks and valleys. The valleys are getting higher and so might the peaks. After bottoming out around 250-300 daily cases a couple of weeks ago, our numbers rose to a high of 1,041 on June 14. After three straight days of declines, we again reached a bottom - at 400. After a one-day spike to 894, we again witnessed four days of decline, bottoming at 433 yesterday. That trend ended today when ADPH reported 643 new cases (including probables). The question is, will today’s number be a one-day spike or is it the beginning of a steep march to a higher peak?
We received more bad news with the report of 23 deaths. Only once since May 12 have more Alabamians died in a single day. There were also 50 new hospitalizations, the third highest total since the end of April. The 7-day average of current hospitalizations also reached a new high over 650. If this is the beginning of another spike, our hospitals will be challenged like never before.
Meanwhile, I cannot fail to acknowledge what is happening elsewhere in the country. To our east, Georgia reported 1,750 new cases, well above its 7-day average of 1,227. To our west, Louisiana reported 1,474 cases, three times its 7-day average of 455. As of 6:00 pm (central time), almost 35,000 cases were reported nationwide, with several states yet to report. It is no wonder that the European Union may bar American travelers to Europe as of July 1 - lumped in with Russians and Brazilians.
If you are wondering why the EU might take this action, consider this: the U.S. saw its first COVID case on January 21; Italy's first confirmed case was on February 21. By March 15, the U.S. had 98 new cases while Italy reported 3,590. Today, the U.S. had more than 35,000 cases - Italy only 115. Which country has a strategy and which doesn't?
The failure of the Trump Administration and Gov. Ivey to accept reality or to provide leadership in the fight of our lives is unconscionable. We are seeing the consequences in our state and throughout the nation. It makes me furious. Here are the totals:
6/10 - 567
6/11 - 856
6/12 - 865
6/13 - 891
6/14 - 1,041
6/15 - 657
6/16 - 640
6/17 - 400
6/18 - 894
6/19 - 796
6/20 - 547
6/21 - 472
6/22 - 433
6/23 - 643
Jefferson again led the way with 75 new cases, followed by Montgomery Co. with 53 and Marshall Co. with 43.