Local (and not-so-local) COVID-19 updates
Jun. 11th, 2020 08:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
edschweppeAs of 4PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 37 newly reported confirmed COVID-19 deaths (for a total of 7,337 confirmed deaths), 354 newly reported confirmed cases (for a total of 100,504) and 10,833 new patients tested by molecular tests (for a total of 678,925). The ratio of newly confirmed cases to molecular test results is 3.3%. The state reported 1 probable death (for a total of 155), 165 newly reported probable cases (for a total of 4,163), and 1,534 patients tested by antibody tests (for a total of 54,574). In total, the state reported 38 new deaths (for a total of 7,492) and 519 new cases (for a total of 104,667).
Today's deaths are down from yesterday's, which is obviously good. But yesterday's spike in deaths caused the three-day average to tick upward, which is not good; neither is the upward tick in confirmed cases and the percentage of molecular tests coming back positive.
Meanwhile, Wall Street apparently finally noticed that the number of coronavirus cases is getting worse (not better) in way too many states, as the major stock indices fell sharply today:
Seriously. Until there's either a safe and effective vaccine against this virus, or there's a sufficiently effective treatment for this virus that catching it becomes an annoyance rather than a death threat, people gathering in crowds are just begging for superspreader events. And, unfortunately, too many people in too many states don't understand that this is in fact a highly contagious and highly lethal virus - presumably because conservative news media are busily playing down any dangers, and Donald Trump is pretending he's already fixed all the problems.
Arrgh.
The town of Acton has yet to issue a new report today; yesterday morning's report was of 171 cumulative cases with 7 individuals in isolation, 143 persons recovered and 21 fatalities.
Today's deaths are down from yesterday's, which is obviously good. But yesterday's spike in deaths caused the three-day average to tick upward, which is not good; neither is the upward tick in confirmed cases and the percentage of molecular tests coming back positive.
Meanwhile, Wall Street apparently finally noticed that the number of coronavirus cases is getting worse (not better) in way too many states, as the major stock indices fell sharply today:
Stocks fell sharply on Wall Street Thursday as coronavirus cases in the U.S. increased again, deflating recent optimism that the economy could recover quickly from its worst crisis in decades.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank more than 1,800 points and the S&P 500 dropped 5.9%, its worst day since mid-March, when stocks had a number of harrowing falls as the virus lockdowns began.
Many market watchers have been saying that a scorching comeback in the market since late March was overdone and didnt reflect the dire state of the economy. The S&P 500 rallied 44.5% between late March and Monday.
The selling comes as coronavirus cases rise in the U.S., with some of the increase likely tied to the reopening of businesses and the lifting of stay-at-home orders. Cases are rising in nearly half the states, according to an Associated Press analysis, a worrying trend that could intensify as people return to work and venture out during the summer.
Investor optimism for a speedy recovery in the economy was also dimmed by the Federal Reserve, which warned Wednesday that the road to recovery from the worst downturn in decades would be long and vowed to keep rates low for the foreseeable future.
[ ... ]
The S&P 500 dropped 188.04 points to 3,002.10, it's biggest decline since March 16. The Dow skidded 1,861.82 points, or 6.9%, to 25,128.17. The Nasdaq composite, which rose above 10,000 for the first time a day earlier, lost 527.62 points, or 5.3%, to 9,492.73.
Seriously. Until there's either a safe and effective vaccine against this virus, or there's a sufficiently effective treatment for this virus that catching it becomes an annoyance rather than a death threat, people gathering in crowds are just begging for superspreader events. And, unfortunately, too many people in too many states don't understand that this is in fact a highly contagious and highly lethal virus - presumably because conservative news media are busily playing down any dangers, and Donald Trump is pretending he's already fixed all the problems.
Arrgh.
The town of Acton has yet to issue a new report today; yesterday morning's report was of 171 cumulative cases with 7 individuals in isolation, 143 persons recovered and 21 fatalities.