The View from the Hermitage, Day 419

The pandemic is becoming something like a program shown on a split screen. Infections and deaths are falling in the world's richest nations while rising in the poorest. WHO says there were more cases reported in the last two weeks than in the entire first six months of the pandemic, with South Asia being hit the hardest. I wonder if Africa will be next. For comparison, here's the percent rise in new cases over seven weeks.

105%     Nepal

  82        Sri Lanka

  69        Maldives

  32        Costa Rica

  26        Honduras

  15        Malaysia

  11        Egypt

  10        India 

 -10        US

 -12        UK

 -12        Argentina

 -16        Italy

 -27        France

 -32        Australia

 -51        Israel

Argentina is a bit of an odd duck in that despite the fact that cases are falling, the country still registered 26,320 new cases on May 6.

The campaign to vaccinate the world continues but is not going well. The virus is spreading more rapidly than ever, and the longer it spreads, the more chances it will have to mutate. India is no longer providing vaccines to Covax; it is having trouble making enough for its own use. More scientists now say that the goal should not be herd immunity but to make the novel coronavirus more like its relatives that cause the common cold. Initial common cold infections give partial immunity so that subsequent infections become milder. This seems a more reachable goal than herd immunity.

On Saturday, India set another new record, this one for the 4,187 deaths reported. The founder of a volunteer organization that runs cremation grounds in eastern New Delhi said that they used to get six to eight bodies each day. Now, they are getting around 100 each day. By 8:30 one morning, he had already gotten 22 calls about picking up bodies. 

Cases from India continue to spill over to neighboring countries. Nepal reported over 9,100 cases Friday compared to a daily average of fewer than 100 only one month ago. Ascents of Mt. Everest have begun in earnest after 12 Sherpa guides finished affixing rope to the summit. In the process the team's leader, Kami Rita Sherpa, set a record for the most times summitting Everest--25.

New York City wants to park vaccination vans at tourist sites such as Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, and the Brooklyn Bridge with the aim of vaccinating tourists who did not get vaccinated at home before traveling to New York City. Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted, "New York City is open for business, one shot at a time." For those not seeking vaccination  because of a fear of needles, the following advice has been offered: (1) Seek professional help. Note: This covers matters other than a fear of needles. (2) Tell whoever is giving the vaccination about your fear before you get the shot. They may be able to reassure you and will hopefully also make it as painless as possible. (3) Distract yourself. Got some music on your phone, or a soothing video? Think of the cruise you'll be able to take. (4) Focus on the benefits. Overcoming your fear benefits not just yourself, not just your family, but everyone. You've read it here before but no one is safe until everyone is safe.

Finally, want, as do several families I can think of, to get back to cruising? If you're on a Norwegian Cruise Lines voyage, you may not be sailing out of Florida. Norwegian wants to require that all passengers and crew members be fully vaccinated, and Florida will prohibit businesses from requiring that patrons be vaccinated. Don't let that fear of needles keep you off the water!