Data (Sigh...)

As we have seen, there is disagreement regarding whether the pandemic is over, or whether it matters whether it is over or not (open at all costs!).  I thought that, since everyone seems to be weighing in on this, that you and I should be able to, as well.

So - here's a CDC site that will provide you with the actual data (if that's how you roll), and you can use it to conclude anything you want.  The site is a little buggy, but it provides granular detail regarding testing, positivity, cases, deaths, etc.  Now you can be an expert, as well!

Here's Barnstable County, MA (Cape Cod), where we own a rental house in Cape's most rural town.  We've been hiding out from COVID here in the pines for as much time as possible (click to embiggen):

Interestingly, here's the data for Otsego County, where we actually live:

Lots wrong with this one.  In August/September of 2020, the students returned to the two colleges in our small city (SUNY Oneonta and Hartwick College) and, since SUNY O didn't require student testing, there were over 700 cases within two weeks.  There's a little blip on the screen for that time, but not 700+.  Also, according to the NY Times COVID tracker, there have been 88 COVID deaths in Otsego County; according to the county Health Department, there have been 111 "COVID-related deaths."  None show up on the CDC tracker.

Anyway, in both cases, we're practically at zero.  It' over!  But wait - it's trending upward.  Oh no, a surge!

So - how do we know when the pandemic is over if we can't rely on anyone's data, or what it means?  Frustrating, to say the least.  The answer, I suppose, is to use the data you like the best, depending on what you want it to mean.  That's what everyone else is doing!

Blacks and Long COVID

It seems that in some states,  COVID   is   over, even though it  clearly  is   not.  The new world has yet to appear, although we're beginning to see some outlines.  Here's one piece of the puzzle:

It has long been clear that Black Americans have experienced high rates of coronavirus infection, hospitalization and death throughout the pandemic.

But those factors are now leading experts to sound the alarm about what will most likely be the next crisis: a prevalence of long COVID-19 in the Black community and a lack of access to treatment.

Note that this statement has two parts:  Blacks have a disproportionately higher rate of infection, and therefore long COVID, and Blacks have disproportionately fewer options and resources when it comes to necessary healthcare.  Just the way we set it up; no surprise here.  When we "go back to normal," that's what it will look like.

It's worth the time to read the whole article, for a little clearer view of what the new world will look like.  It'll look like this:

“We expect there are going to be greater barriers to access the resources and services available for long COVID,” said one of the authors, Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, director of Yale University’s health equity office and former chair of President Joe Biden’s health equity task force.

“The pandemic isn’t over, it isn’t over for anyone,” Nunez-Smith said. “But the reality is, it’s certainly not over in Black America.”