Local (and other) COVID-19 updates

[edschweppe]

As of 4PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 16 newly reported confirmed COVID-19 deaths (for a total of 7,710 confirmed deaths), 182 newly reported confirmed cases (for a total of 102,651) and 7,532 new patients tested by molecular tests (for a total of 782,854), with a total of 985,711 molecular tests administered to date. The ratio of newly confirmed cases to individuals tested by molecular test is 2.4%. The state also reported zero newly reported probable deaths for the second day in a row (the total remains 180), 47 newly reported probable cases (for a total of 4,788), and 721 patients tested by antibody tests (for a total of 65,313). In total, the state reported 16 new deaths (for a total of 7,890) and 229 new cases (for a total of 107,439).

Deaths going down again and number of tests going up again are always good, and the three-day average death count has ticked down again. However, not only did the number of confirmed cases go up, so did the percentage of positive tests, and the count of hospitals using surge capacity ticked back up again to three. Still, all the long-term trends are going in the right direction - in Massachusetts, at least.

Not so much in the rest of the country. Things are bad and getting worse in much of the South and West - so much so that, when the European Union states reopen their borders to tourists, they may block American visitors because we don't have things under control. According to the New York Times:

BRUSSELS — European Union countries rushing to revive their economies and reopen their borders after months of coronavirus restrictions are prepared to block Americans from entering because the United States has failed to control the scourge, according to draft lists of acceptable travelers reviewed by The New York Times.

That prospect, which would lump American visitors in with Russians and Brazilians as unwelcome, is a stinging blow to American prestige in the world and a repudiation of President Trump’s handling of the virus in the United States, which has more than 2.3 million cases and upward of 120,000 deaths, more than any other country.

European nations are currently haggling over two potential lists of acceptable visitors based on how countries are faring with the coronavirus pandemic. Both lists include China, as well as developing nations like Uganda, Cuba and Vietnam. Both also exclude the United States and other countries that were deemed too risky because of the spread of the virus.

Travelers from the United States and the rest of the world already had been excluded from visiting the European Union — with few exceptions mostly for repatriations or “essential travel” — since mid-March. But a final decision on reopening the borders is expected early next week, before the bloc reopens on July 1.

[ ... ]

Prohibiting American travelers from entering the European Union would have significant economic, cultural and geopolitical ramifications. Millions of American tourists visit Europe every summer. Business travel is common, given the huge economic ties between the United States and the E.U.

Despite the disruptions caused by such a ban, European officials involved in the talks said it was highly unlikely an exception would be made for the United States. They said that the criteria for creating the list of acceptable countries had been deliberately kept as scientific and nonpolitical as possible.

Including the United States now, the officials said, would represent a complete flouting of the bloc’s reasoning. But they said the United States could be added later to the list, which will be revised every two weeks based on updated infection rates.

It was unclear if American officials were aware in advance of the exclusion of the United States from the draft lists, which have not been made public.

The draft lists were shared with the Times by an official involved in the talks and confirmed by another official involved in the talks. Two additional European Union officials confirmed the content of the lists as well the details of the negotiations to shape and finalize them. All of the officials gave the information on condition of anonymity because the issue is politically delicate.

Good thing I wasn't planning a trip to Europe this year, I suppose.

The town of Acton did not issue an update today; yesterday's report was of 173 cumulative cases with 3 individuals in isolation, 149 persons recovered and 21 fatalities.