Life in the Age of Corona

A Daily Diary

Friday, October 23rd, 2020

Masks

Given masks are now part of our daily life I figured I might as well make them fun. So a few days ago I placed orders for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas masks, most of which arrived today - with the exception of the scary pumpkin mask - and are rather fun. I will between now and Halloween wear my vampire cat mask to Aikido practice. Though I do find it does not look much like a cat, more like boobs with whiskers. Waiting to see what the Aikidoka have to say tomorrow.

The sun has set on another beautiful autumn day. I had taken half the day off as I feel EM and I need some mental health time. So, went for my daily swim and a lovely sail late in the afternoon. Perfect weather, not cold, not hot, beautifyl breeze. She is now spending the night at her friend Julia’s house on the promise that she will not turn into a sulking teen in the morrow.

Meanwhile I have lit a fire in my portable pit and am sitting in my garden reflecting on the day and events in general. I skipped the presidential debate last night preferring to spend the evening with two colleagues over a glass (or two)  of red wine. It was a wonderful evening to be outside, even though we did not congregate until 21:00 we sat out until close to midnight. Indian summer at its best.

Not sure what to do with this much entertainment – Aikido on Tuesday, book club on Wednesday, drinks on Thursday and a perfect sail today. Can it get better?  Very much dreading to return to confinment as winter approaches. For now enjoying the moment.

The read out of the debate is that Biden won, outlining actual policies while the Covidiot, oh well, did what he does. A bunch of lies like the virus will go away and his usual bullshit.

Clearly, the virus is going nowhere. The US today had the highest rate of new infections since July (77k). Hospitals, especially in rural areas, are overwhelmed, and so on. Same, same sad old story. Virus transmission risk from surfaces is minimal. It is the unmasked socializing that is the killer! One in every 1.000 Americans has tested positive for the virus and two in every 100.000 have died with an explosion of infections across most of rural America.

Staying informed about Coronavirus might be stressful. Inc has some suggestions how to be minimize information stress; in essence what I have been doing. But my newsfeed does drive me crazy sometimes. 

While global cases have reached 42 million and the USA is now reporting 8.7 million there is a scramble for a cure. In this spirit the FDA today licensed Remesdivir as a treatment. This is strange as studies conducted by the WHO have found it to be largely ineffective. Now research finds convalescent plasma to be equally ineffective in preventing death. I have no doubt though that the FDA will license this too, after all the moron in chief was treated with it.

Here is a glimpse of how the pandemic could end, and I am not convinced I like the outcome.