The View from the Hermitage, Day 410

The US is advising its citizens not to travel to India and telling the ones already there that they should leave "as soon as it is safe." I'm actually surprised it took this long for advisories such as these. India has continued its string of record-breaking days. Thursday there were 379,257 new cases and 3,645 deaths. Overall totals are now 18.28 million cases and 204,832 deaths. The US will send more than $100 million in supplies including almost a thousand instant (well, 15 minutes) test kits, along with 1,000 refillable oxygen cylinders and 1,799 concentrators that produce oxygen for patients from the air. The US is also providing the supplies with which India can produce more than 20 million AstraZeneca doses. 

The supplies being sent by the US will help but are not likely to be enough. India's largest drug manufacturer says it is so overwhelmed by demand that it could take five or six months for it to be able to manufacture the 3,000 doses per month that doctors say they need for New Delhi alone. With critical shortages of ventilator beds, medical oxygen, and medicines mass vaccinations become more important in helping to stop or even slow the progression of covid. About 26 million people have been fully vaccinated, but that is only two percent of the population.

By June or July, European kids between 12 and 15 years of age may be receiving the Pfizer vaccine. That will make herd immunity much easier to reach. Right now, bodies are piling up in Rome. Some of the deaths occurred as far back as January. One warehouse may be holding 2,000 bodies. There just aren't enough empty cemetery sites to meet the number of bodies that need to be buried. Elsewhere in Europe, France is preparing to lift some of the restrictions in force there. All schools should reopen next week, followed by museums, cinemas, shops, and outdoor dining. Inside dining may start in mid-June. President Macron did say that the restrictions might be reimposed in regions if cases rise.

So far, over 100 colleges and universities say they will require students to be vaccinated before they return in the fall. Some schools will require the same of faculty and staff. The question is how might this work in states that have prohibited the issuance or use of vaccine passports. Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida is re-thinking their decision to require vaccinations since Florida is one of the states to outlaw vaccine passports. Norwegian Cruise Lines is re-considering whether it can sail from ports in Florida while requiring all passengers to be vaccinated. I don't think this vaccine passport issue will be settled in the near future. Vaccinations in the US continue to slow down. Two weeks ago, 3.4 million people were vaccinated; this week, 2.7 million.

Early voting is not very popular yet; one morning or afternoon shift had but two voters. My bag is packed with a book, a crossword puzzle book, and some sashiko stitching I need to finish. That should be enough to fill four hours.