November 20, 2020 -- The global Covid-19 surge killed a record 11,990 people today, almost 500 people every hour, while infecting 659,699 people. The world is bracing for the Holiday season as covid fatigue is setting in (covid fatigue is still preferable to covid death). Covid-19 vaccines are in the process of being approved and manufactured. We collectively need to heed the warnings from local authorities and follow the mitigation measures we know work to reduce the spread of the disease: maintain distance from people who do not live in your household, wear a mask when you leave the house, wash your hands and let us all understand that we are a few months away from the global distribution of the vaccine. It will be a long winter as we wait for the vaccine to be available everywhere, but that is no longer a wish, it is a certainty.

Over a month ago, Canada celebrated its Thanksgiving. As people gathered, they shared a lot more than thanks: Canada's daily infections peaked four days ago and today's report is about twice what it was on Canada's Thanksgiving Day, October 12. We have a clear example of what mixing households will do if we celebrate in person with people who do not live with us. The graph is featured below.

Next week, for Thanksgiving, do not mix households, do not invite covid into your house, and if you are tempted to take advantage of Black Friday, do it online only! The traditional Black Friday crowds would be the kind of covid super spreaders that would ruin your Holidays. This Holiday Season, click and collect!

Tip: click on any of the graphs for larger and clearer images and click on READ MORE to view the complete articles. Also, please forgive the occasional typos.

An international group of scientists has written a response to a push for a "herd immunity" approach to managing the pandemic, which would involve letting the virus spread.

The WHO last week denounced the herd approach—a term used for vaccines—as "scientifically and ethically problematic," because it could greatly boost deaths and expose more people to a virus that may have long-term health consequences. However, a document, known as the Great Barrington declaration, with a list of supporters of the approach was reportedly embraced by the White House.

The Infectious Diseases Society of America has denounced the document, and pushback gained more steam today with the publication in The Lancet of the John Snow Memorandum, which includes scientific references and has now been signed by more than 2,000 scientists, researchers, and health professionals.

42 states reported at least 1,000 new COVID-19 infections in the last 24 hours. Today’s national report reached above 200,000 for the first time, ending at 201,083 new infections. Covid-19 killed 1,951 Americans today. Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, California, and Utah broke their daily records while most of the other states fueled today's troubling record, less than a week before the Thanksgiving Holiday. As you can see on the map above, the entire nation is in the grip of the deadly virus surge with only 5 states rated as "at risk of outbreak". Also today Illinois moved ahead of New York into the 4th rank of total confirmed covid-19 infections.

COVID-19 in the USA

11/20/2020 COVID-19 UPDATE: Reporting 54 cases from the public and 36 cases from Valley State Prison (total 90 cases) bringing the total number of reported cases to 5,714. We also regret to report 1 additional death.

Of the 5,714:

1 additional death

Today, the seven local counties together reported 1,200 new infections and 13 new coronavirus deaths. In the combined 7 counties, COVID-19 has infected 120,081 people and has killed 1,559 residents of our region since it claimed its first central valley victim, in Madera, on March 26, 2020. Our friends and neighbors are needlessly dying, many families are suffering. Science and the courage to follow its logic will solve this pandemic, any other discourse is inadequate.

COVID-19 in Madera + 6 local counties (+% is the positivity rate)

COVID-19 in the 7 counties together

This is the 36th weekly report since the pandemic reached the central valley. Sadly, the local surge is following the national trend. This week's report is the highest it has been since the third week of August, with 5,587 new cases detected in the 7 counties and a surge in covid-19 related deaths (+33), which is the highest report in a month. Over a month ago, Canada celebrated its Thanksgiving, and its case and death numbers have been surging with no sight of slowing down. The CDC is clear: do not mix households this Thanksgiving and only shop online this coming Black Friday. Above all, stay at home if you can.