Thought of the Day - August 29 2021 - By the Numbers

The good news from around the world is that the number of "official" cases and deaths has started declining for the first time in over a month. New cases have plateaued at around 600,000 a day, and deaths a little under 10,000.

The US continues to lead the world with about a million new cases per week, and a thousand deaths per day. Mexico, despite having 1/3 the population, is not that far behind in daily deaths. Thus, North American continues to be the "official" COVID epicentre in cases . . .

and deaths per capita.

Of course, while I have been talking about this for weeks now, the real tragedy continues to be tourist destinations. Top cases per capita in the past week include: French Polynesia, Guadeloupe, Martinique (who have now banned tourists), Montenegro, Saint Lucia, Cuba, Sint Maarten - all in the top 10. And in deaths, much the same list: French Polynesia, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Sint Maarten, Aruba, Montenegro etc. The good news is measures taken in the BVIs, which included curfews, have turned things around there.

When will we learn that while vaccines improve the body's ability to cope with SARS-CoV-2 they have little effect on infectivity!

Witness Israel, with one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, they are in the top 10 in new infections per capita (double that of the US).

So how are with doing in Canada's fourth wave? Well, not so good.

In the past two weeks, deaths, albeit still low, have more than tripled.

Hospitalizations are also up in the US and Canada.

The main spread in Canada, at present, is still in the west:

The NYT is still struggling, with a rate three times the Canadian average and climbing. They are right up there with the average infection rate in the US.

All other Canadian Provinces/Territories are doing better than any US state - for now.

This week's shout-out goes to Nunavut. They are the only mainland region in North America that has no active cases.

Cheers

Cliff