Covid cases in and around NY-23

Posted on April 13, 2020 by

 

Covid cases in and around NY-23

County 3-27 3-28 3-29 3-30 3-31 4-1 4-3 4-4 4-6
Broome 18 23 29 35 38 42 56 65 86
Chemung 11 12 15 20 22 35 36 49 55
Erie 219 318 358 376 438 464 720 808 1135
Monroe 160 192 219 242 292 349 464 512 596
Steuben 12 13 17 19 24 38 46 55 75
Tompkins  26 45 52 66 66 68 84 85 97
County 4-7 4-8 4-9 4-10 4-12 4-13 4-14
Broome 88 105 112 117 126 133 146
Chemung 55 59 59 60 60 60 64
Erie 1205 1362 1409 1472 1571 1624 1668
Monroe 651 698 742 767 798 823 850
Steuben 82 89 117 119 121 123 147
Tompkins  99 105 105 108 109 110 112
County 4-15 4-16 4-17 4-18 4-19 4-20 4-21
Broome 153 167 178 186 192 199 205
Chemung 69 70 71 72 73 73 75
Erie 1751 1850 1929 1997 2070 2109 2147
Monroe 884 932 975 1008 1032 1054 1070
Steuben 151 154 154 (sic) 160 167 167 170
Tompkins 115 116 117 117 (sic) 117 119 119
County 4-22 4-23 4-24 4-25 4-26 4-27 4-29
Broome 224 232 251 257 261 266 284
Chemung 76 79 103 106 108 113 122
Erie 2450 2603 2773 2954 3021 3089 3319
Monroe 1152 1199 1295 1316 1331 1371 1441
Steuben 171 171 204 207 209 210 216
Tompkins 119 121 126 126 126 126 128
County 4-30 5-02 5-03 5-04 5-06

 

 

 5-07 5-08
Broome 299 305 334 338 360 364
Chemung 123 124 125 126 129 130
Erie 3481 3598 3802 3891 4136 4255
Monroe 1478 1534 1595 1623 1688 1735
Steuben 216 217 219 221 224 225
Tompkins 128 128 129 129 130 131

What “data driven” action is warranted?

    • Published 4-13
    • Updated 5-02

Note: NYS posts the data a day late; the dates in the charts are the date NYS posted the data.

https://covid19tracker.health.ny.gov/views/NYS-COVID19-Tracker/NYSDOHCOVID-19Tracker-Map?%3Aembed=yes&%3Atoolbar=no&%3Atabs=n

Posted in Health Care | Tagged | 11 Comments

How to restart the economy?

Posted on April 12, 2020 by

shutdownHow to restart the economy? First it has never been stopped. The measures we have adopted are intended to slow the spread of the virus, not to defeat it. We don’t have the will to adopt the more extreme measures that appear to have been effective overseas. Our policies are predicated on the assumption that the vulnerable among us may die.

  • Essential workers continue to work, many in jobs that bring them into close contact with the public.
  • Essential workers lack protective supplies.
  • There are scofflaws, those who ignore the guidelines.
  • Several states continue to ignore the danger.

Restrictions are necessary, but are discriminatory:

  • Some can afford a loss of income, others can’t.
  • Some must work, some are prohibited from working.
  • Those who didn’t file a tax return with a bank account identified will have to fight for a stimulus payment.
  • Businesses (restaurants, hotels, retail stores) forced to close may fail.

Restrictions are intended to slow the spread of disease; they may be working. Slowing the spread of the disease relieves pressure on hospitals and funeral homes; it does little for vulnerable individuals–we will need to exercise caution until there is a prevention or cure. Any action to allow more social interaction puts many of us at risk of death.

It is a dilemma:

  • Letting some go back to work and prohibiting others from doing so is unfair.
  • Removing restrictions on some parts of the country and not on others is unfair.
  • Restricting some businesses but not their competitors is unfair.

I don’t know what will happen, but there will be winners and losers whatever it is. Will we strive for the greatest good, or will the voices of lobbyists prevail?

 

 

 

 

Posted in Economics, Ethics, Trump | Tagged | 24 Comments

It’s up to us

Posted on April 10, 2020 by

punditI can make policy, but will the people comply? — Gov. Cuomo

I’m a cheerleader — DJT

The virus will decide — Dr. Fauci

President Trump can’t restart the economy, that’s up to us. Retail stores won’t open if customers stay away. Restaurants will fail or turn to take-out if customers are afraid. People won’t send their children to school if they don’t think it safe. Barbers can open shop, but it won’t work if customers are afraid to come.

I believe Gov. Cuomo is right– people will do right when they understand the need.  Thus it is important to understand the facts. We don’t need wishful thinking from a cheerleader.

Dr. Fauci’s comment may be politically correct, but is false. The people will decide when it’s safe. For the more vulnerable among us, it may be a long wait.

Posted in Economics, Health Care, Trump | Tagged , , , | 17 Comments

Will stimulus work?

Posted on April 5, 2020 by

stimulus

In an article in Politico, Joshua Zeitz discusses the question of making the stimulus work. He writes:

Sweeping in its ambition, the (CARES ACT) package endeavors to infuse hundreds of thousands of small businesses, tens of millions of individuals and families, hospitals and health care systems, as well as the nation’s largest employers, with cash and liquidity.

But passing the bill was easy. Making it work is the hard part. Massive stimulus packages don’t just need votes. They require expertise, professionalism and skill to execute, and it’s not at all clear that the Trump administration has enough of that to make this program work.

Will the money get to the right people and will they use it as intended to stave off depression? Will businesses use the money to retain employees who are unable to work? Will individuals stuck at home spend money on goods and services as intended. There is reason for doubt.

Joshua Zeitz is an American historian. He is the author of  books on American political and social history He has written for The Atlantic,  The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The New Republic,  Dissent, and American Heritage.

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/04/04/does-the-trump-administration-have-the-talent-make-the-stimulus-work-163982

 

Posted in Congress, Economics, Political, President | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Is it dangerous to live or have lived in Detroit?

Posted on March 31, 2020 by

As a former resident of the city, I wonder if my life there put myself and my family at risk?

Higher-than-average rates of certain chronic conditions, including asthma, may make Detroit residents more vulnerable to severe complications of the disease. The prevalence of asthma is 29 percent higher among adults in Detroit than those living in the rest of the state, according to a 2016 report from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

I was aware of pollution:

  • Smoke from coal furnaces
  • Smoke from leaf burning
  • Industrial smoke
  • Emissions from chemical plants
  • Asbestos in old schools and churches

Nothing unexpected or  unusual for the time.  But now:

A Wayne State University study found elevated levels of high blood pressure in Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties, the very places now surging with COVID-19 cases. Michigan also has rates of type 2 diabetes that are slightly higher than the rest of the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Is the prevalence of diabetes and high blood pressure an environmental effect or a demographic effect?

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/coronavirus-comes-detroit-why-certain-michigan-residents-are-higher-risk-n1172096

Posted in Health Care | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

Problem Solvers release plan

Posted on March 22, 2020 by

PelosiWe’re working hard to get immediate relief to the American people during this Coronavirus outbreak…–Rep. Tom Reed

 

The Problem Solvers Caucus’ proposed recommendations include:

  1.  Economic Response for Businesses, Employees and the Self-Employed
  • Immediate, Direct Financial Payments to Individuals: Limited only to the crisis, significantly increase unemployment insurance benefits, including payment amounts, for hourly and salaried workers, under a certain income threshold. This relief should focus on mid-to-low-income workers and furloughed workers. Provisions to be made for freelancers and the self-employed to ensure the same relief.
  • Bridge Loans to Help Keep Businesses in Business: Low-or-zero-interest loans to businesses of all sizes willing to keep their employees (furlough, but preserving benefits) in their positions during the coronavirus crisis.  Must include long-term repayment options, and not exclude any industries.
  • Allow Individuals and Businesses to Defer Mortgage Payments and Rent: During the national crisis, stay all foreclosure and evictions proceedings.
  • Contract and Insurance Protections for Existing Contract and Business Insurance Policies: Legislatively declare the coronavirus a public health crisis, and, as such, a qualifying event for all existing force majeure contract provisions and business interruption insurance policies.
  • Loan Deferral and Forbearance: Develop and allow loan deference, modification, and forbearance mechanisms for individuals and businesses of all sizes, during the crisis (e.g. mortgages, lines of credits, student loans, and other qualifying loans).
  • Refundable Tax Credit to Employers for Employee Retention: During the crisis, provide immediately advanceable, refundable tax credits for employee retention by employers — including maintaining employment status or providing benefits for furloughed employees.

 

  1.  Health Care & Food Security Needs
  • Speed Testing to Market: Provide additional regulatory relief at FDA and CDC for market-based testing solutions and essential supplies (e.g. testing kits, ventilators, PPEs, reagent supply, and hospital conversion).
  • Childcare Enhancement: Reflecting new work and school environment, enact childcare assistance policies and regulatory relief to provide childcare coverage during term of crisis.
  • Price Gouging: Enact applicable measures to strictly enforce anti-price gouging measures.
  • Medical Personnel and Supplies:  Where available, deploy federal government excess medical personnel and equipment capacity, including military sources (e.g. vents), to affected areas needing service.
  • GI Benefits: Correct the technical glitch, so that, during this time of crisis, veterans can utilize GI benefits for online learning.

 

  1. Infrastructure Investment: Passage of a significant infrastructure package which would stimulate job growth and allow for borrowing at historically-low interest rates.

These seem reasonable; I wonder how many will be enacted? Support for Hospitals and people who must work–doctors, nurses, pharmacists, public servants, grocery clerks–should be considered. We need somehow to stop those who endanger themselves and others with indifference. What else was missed?

https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/problem-solvers-caucus-release-health-crisis-economic-revival-package/

Posted in Economics, Health Care, Reed's Views | Tagged , , , | 42 Comments

Government of, by, and for the Government.

Posted on March 8, 2020 by

spyErik Prince, the security contractor with close ties to the Trump administration, has in recent years helped recruit former American and British spies for secretive intelligence-gathering operations that included infiltrating Democratic congressional campaigns, labor organizations and other groups considered hostile to the Trump agenda, according to interviews and documents.–New York Times

Mark Mazzette and Adam Goldman, reporting in a front page article in The New York Times for Sunday, March 8, report on infiltration of domestic organizations by operatives with close ties to the Trump Administration.

Erik Prince, the brother of controversial Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, is linked to efforts to infiltrate and damage the National Federation of Teachers, which Secretary DeVos has attacked as having a stranglehold on politicians.

Whether or not the Trump Administration can be directly linked to spies working on its behalf, these activities aren’t fair play. Moles, hidden cameras, stolen documents have no place in our society. Even though Nixon had to resign and courts have ruled against these practices repeatedly, they go on unrestrained. Rather than government of, by, and for the people, this is government of, by and for government.

 

 

Posted in Campaigning, Education, Political, Rights | Tagged , , , | 19 Comments