We Built It Blog by Larry Jacob

Number 42. Does that have any special meaning for you, or is it just another number? Baseball fans, civil rights advocates, and students of history will recognize it as the uniform number worn by Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers. It should be noted that that uniform number has two other major significances:

1. It is the only number to have been retired by every major league baseball team (1997); and
2. since 2004, every year on April 15 on what is known as “Jackie Robinson Day,” every player wears that number in tribute to Jackie Robinson in recognition of the anniversary of his debut in the major leagues in 1947.  On that historic date Jackie became the first African American to play in the major leagues since the 1880s.

Unfortunately, this year the baseball season is in limbo due to the CV, so we will not be able to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day on the appointed date.  Hopefully, the MLB season will get underway soon, and we will be able to do so later in the season.

In order to put this in its proper perspective one must realize the racial situation in 1947. Life was radically different, a reality which few of us who live in the PC era can appreciate.  Much has changed in the intervening 73 years.

For example:

1. Segregation was the law of the land. “Jim Crow” was alive and well.
The “Brown” Supreme Court decision integrating public schools would not come until 1954.
2. Even though many AAs had distinguished themselves during WWII the armed forces would not be integrated until 1948.
3. A disproportionate percentage of MLB players were from the South and espoused all the values, attitudes and experiences of the region regarding AAs.  Most of them had never played ball with an AA.  Many had rarely even associated with one as peers.
4. The prevailing attitude among players, sports writers, and fans was that AAs were not good enough and did not have the “temperament” to succeed in MLB.

Very few of us lived through that era, and consequently, we cannot imagine the circumstances Jackie had to overcome.

Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia.  His parents chose his middle name in honor of President Teddy Roosevelt, who had recently died.  He was the youngest of five children.  One of his older brothers, Mack, would later earn some notoriety by winning the silver medal in the 100 meter dash in the 1936 Olympics, (the Games held in Berlin at which Jesse Owens embarrassed Adolph Hitler and the Nazis by winning four gold medals).

Jackie’s parents were sharecroppers and barely scraping by, so in 1920 they moved to Pasadena, California seeking a better life.  In high school and college Jackie excelled in five sports – baseball, basketball, football, track and tennis.  Basically, he was an all-around athlete who excelled in any sport he tried.  At UCLA he became the school’s first athlete to “letter” in four sports (all of the above except tennis).  One of his teammates on the 1939 UCLA football team was the future actor, Woody Strode.  Ironically, statistically, at least, baseball was his worst sport of the four.

In 1941 Jackie left UCLA just shy of graduating to play semi-pro football, but in early 1942 he was drafted and stationed at Fort Riley in Texas.  He applied for admission to OCS. Initially, his application was rejected as few blacks were accepted at the time, but following a personal appeal from Joe Louis, the reigning heavyweight boxing champ, he was accepted.

Jackie’s tenure in the army was marred by one unfortunate incident in which his fiery temperament got him in trouble.  While riding an Army bus one day the driver told him to move to the back.  Jackie refused.  As a result he was nearly court-martialed for insubordination and other “trumped up” offenses.  A conviction would have changed the course of his life and, possibly, the country’s as well, but he was acquitted.

In 1945 Jackie signed to play for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues. Unbeknownst to him, Branch Rickey, President of the Brooklyn Dodgers, was looking for a Negro to break the major leagues’ “color barrier,” which had been in place since the 1880s.  He had compiled a list of the best players in the Negro leagues and was evaluating them for suitability.  There were many players better than Jackie, notably Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson, but due to age, temperament and other factors, they were all eliminated in favor of Jackie.

Rickey knew the first AA player would have to “turn the other cheek” to a great deal of verbal, physical and emotional abuse.  Otherwise, it might be many more years before the next one got a chance.  When he told Jackie this, Jackie was shocked and replied: “Are you looking for a Negro who is afraid to fight back?” Rickey’s famous reply was that he was seeking a Negro “with guts enough not to fight back.”

To make a long story short, Rickey signed Jackie.  He played for the Montreal Royals, the Dodgers AAA minor league affiliate in the International League, in 1946.  He “tore up” the league, winning the MVP award.  The next year he made his debut in the major leagues.

To me, his debut was one of the most significant events not only in baseball history, but also in the country’s history.  There was tremendous resistance not only from other Dodgers, but from players on other teams as well.

Again, it is very hard for us to appreciate the level of abuse to which Jackie was subjected. Breaking into the major leagues is hard enough, physically. The added mental and emotional pressures Jackie and other AAs had to overcome was mind-boggling. Jackie had to endure a tremendous amount of prejudice and abuse both on and off the field (name calling, spiking, “beanings,” separate lodgings and restaurants on the road, etc.  Eventually, other AAs would join him in the majors. They had to overcome many of the same obstacles.  Some were unable to survive, but many more did.

Luckily, Dodger management was behind Jackie 100%.  When some Dodgers players threatened to quit, strike or demand a trade, the team’s manager, Leo Durocher, a fiery, no nonsense person himself, nipped the rebellion in the bud.  He declared: “I do not care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a f****** zebra.  I’m the manager of this team, and I say he plays.”  Players on other teams also threatened to strike, but MLB Commissioner “Happy” Chandler quelled that rebellion quickly as well.

CONCLUSION

Rickey chose well with Jackie.  In baseball parlance, he “knocked it out of
the park.”  Attendance soared and not just in Brooklyn but in every other city as well. Black people came in droves to see their hero, Jackie Robinson, play.  In those days, attendance was the primary source of ball clubs’ revenue, so Jackie made money for everyone.

Not only did Jackie “take” all the abuse without incident, he starred on the field and became an integral part of one of the most storied teams in baseball history, the “Boys of Summer.”  In a ten-year period from 1947-1956 that team dominated the National League.

It won six pennants, lost another in a playoff and lost another by one game.

Among Jackie’s many MLB accomplishments:

1. Rookie of the year in 1947 (the first one).
2. National League MVP in 1949.
3. Appeared in six World Series.
4. World champion in 1955.
5. First ballot hall of famer in 1962.
6. Member of the MLB All-Century team.

Jackie was extremely versatile,  Although he came up as a second baseman, he also played first, third and the outfield.  Many times, he was among the league leaders in fielding at his position.  He was one of the best “clutch” players I have ever observed.  He could beat you with the bat, the glove or on the bases.  I have never seen a better baserunner or a tougher competitor.  When on base, he would drive the opposing pitcher crazy with his antics.  He was always a threat to steal a base.  I saw him steal home in the 1955 World Series.  When caught in a rundown he often escaped, which, generally, was a rarity.  His aggressive style of play was unique for the 1940s and 1950s.

As an example of his extremely competitive nature, one story will suffice.  In the decisive third game of the 1951 playoff with the NY Giants, when the Giants’ Bobby Thompson hit the game winning home run, all the Dodgers left the field immediately with their heads down in defeat.  All except for Jackie.  He watched and made sure that Thompson touched all the bases on his home run trot.  He would not accept defeat until Thompson had completed his circuit.

Jackie retired from baseball after the 1956 season worn down by age and diabetes, but he did not retire from life.  For example, he became very active in the civil rights movement; he became the first black to serve as vp of a major corporation (Chock Full O’Nuts); he went into broadcasting; and he acted in a movie of his own life story.

Ultimately, however, his fierce competitiveness could not overcome ill health.  Jackie died on October 24, 1972 at the relatively young age of 53 from complications of heart disease and diabetes.  I’m sure that all the stress he had to endure on the playing field also contributed to his early demise.

Jackie’s legacy, however, lives on.  There are countless, statues, schools, parks and roads named in his honor.  Moreover, every time a black or other minority takes the field in the major leagues, the NFL or the NBA, he owes a debt to the pioneer who made it all possible.

In all likelihood, eventually the 2020 baseball season will commence, and there will be a “Jackie Robinson Day” at some point when all players on every team will wear “42” to pay homage to Jackie.   At that time, take a moment to appreciate the special achievement of one Jack Roosevelt Robinson.

Well, that didn’t take long. The anti-Trumpers are at it again.

The same purveyors of fake news that peddled disingenuous stories of voter fraud in the 2016 presidential election, Russian election interference on behalf of Mr. Trump, the fake Russian dossier, unsubstantiated evidence to fraudulently obtain the FISA warrants, phony accusations of Mr. Trump’s alleged racism and xenophobia, phony accusations of sexual assault against Justice Kavanaugh, and many other similar journalistic assassinations, are at it again.  Even during a pandemic that represents an existential threat they can’t resist.

In my opinion, the media has been biased against President Trump since before he was elected.  I think most objective observers of the political landscape would concur.  I have blogged about this bias, in detail, several times over the last 3+ years.  There is no need to rehash it all now.

The latest example is the media’s attempt to rewrite the history of Mr. Trump’s reaction to the CV.   Over the weekend the NYT published a piece full of exaggerations, half=truths, misconceptions and outright lies with respect to Mr. Trump’s record of combatting the virus.  Basically, the Times claimed he repeatedly ignored the advice of his advisors and delayed taking action necessary to protect American lives, and as a result he caused thousands of fatalities.

The story was featured by both Chris Wallace on his Sunday news show, “Fox News Sunday” and on “60 Minutes” on Sunday evening.  Both programs presented a biased story designed to make Mr. Trump look bad.  In my blogs on the CV I have made it a point to try to be as neutral as possible.  As I have said many times, this is not the time for politicking.  But, the unfairness of this blatant attempt to reconstruct history has angered me no end as it should you as well.

Apparently, a refresher course is in order to set the record straight.  Below please find a timeline of the significant developments beginning in December, 2019.  If you doubt the accuracy of any of the following you may follow the advice of the late Casey Stengel and “look it up.”  Evidently, the fake news media and Trump haters have not done so or they think the American voters can be fooled.

1. 12/19 – The first case and first death reported in China.
2. 1/6/20 – The CDC issued a travel advisory regarding Wuhan Province.
3. 1/1120 – The CDC issued a Level 1 travel ban regarding the province.  At this point, there were no CV cases in the US.
4. 1/14/20 –  WHO tweeted there was “no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission” of CV.
5. 1/1720 –  The CDC authorized screening of travelers from Wuhon at airports.
6. 1/20/20 – CNN quoted Dr. Fauci- “It is unclear how easily [the] spread [from person to person] can happen.”
7. 1/21/20 – The first case in the US was reported.
8. 1/27/20 – CV had still not spread “widely” within the US.
9. 1/30/20 – The first human-to-human transmission in US was reported.
10. 1/31/20 – Mr Trump issued a travel ban of anyone from China.  At this point, according to the CDC,  there were still no US fatalities.  Later, he issued bans on travelers from Europe.  It is important to recall that following these actions he was castigated as a racist and xenophobic by several leading Dems, including Pelosi, Schumer and Biden, as well as most of the media, including the usual suspects (CNN, MSNBC and the networks).  So, let’s all fully understand; when Mr. Trump imposed these travel bans he was criticized for doing so.  Then, a few days ago he was criticized for delaying action.  His critics want it both ways.
11.  1/31/20 -Dr. Fauci characterized CV as “low risk” to the American people.
12.  2/1/20 – Biden dismissed Mr. Trump’s travel ban as “fearmongering.”
13.  2/5/20 – NYT headlines -“Who says it’s not safe to travel to China? and “The CV travel  ban is unjust and doesn’t work anyway.”
14.  2/17/20 – Dr. Fauci in USA Today –  The risk of CV in US is “miniscule.”
15.  Late Feb – The same people and media outlets were downplaying the danger of the virus.  They repeatedly opined it was “not a big issue in the US” and “not as bad as the flu.”  They were  encouraging people to attend celebrations of the Chinese New Year in various cities’ Chinatowns.  NYS Gov Cuomo and NYC Mayor DeBlasio were encouraging people to “take the subway,” which we have since ascertained is the absolute worst thing to do.  I said before, and I’ll repeat it now that I am convinced that action was a major reason why NYC ended up with such a high concentration of CV cases.
16.  3/1/20 – Second confirmed fatality in US reported.
17.  3/9/20 – Dr. Fauci in “Forbes” – “Cruising is ok if you’re healthy.”
18.  3/15/20 – CDC issued recommendation banning gatherings in excess of 50 persons.
19.  3/16/20 – President Trump issued recommendation banning gatherings of more than ten persons.  Eventually, this evolved into the situation we have been living under, namely, people working in “non-essential” jobs are either working from home or not at all.

It should be emphasized that President Trump, Drs. Fauci and Birx, and all the rest of our policymakers were relying on information received from the Chinese government, which, in retrospect, we know was inaccurate and perhaps intentionally understated and misleading.  So, anyone who is now asserting that Mr. Trump did not act quickly enough is either very forgetful, lying, or blinded by bias.  Most medical people, including Drs. Fauci and Birx, acknowledge that Mr. Trump’s early travel bans were extremely beneficial in moderating the number of CV cases and deaths in the US.  Even reporter Maggie Haberman, no supporter of the President’s, wrote in the NYT that the bans were “effective.”  Furthermore, some two weeks ago the Biden campaign released a statement acknowledging Mr. Trump was correct to issue the bans.

Does anyone seriously believe he should have closed down the economy any earlier, such as when there was only one reported death. Of course, not.  Let’s be fair.  He would have been crucified and vilified as an autocrat who wanted to throw working-class people out of work.

The anti-Trumpers have been blaming the president for the shortage of hospital beds, PPE, and other vital supplies.  It is important to note that each state was responsible for its own preparedness.  Some were prepared; most were not.  The federal supplies were only intended as a backup.  If anything, the blame, if any, should be shared by everyone, not Mr. Trump exclusively.

What is beyond dispute is that when the federal government became cognizant of the shortages it acted quickly and decisively to resolve the matter.  It has been providing massive amounts of these items, and it even built several hospitals in hotspots from scratch.  As it turns out, much of what it provided was not even used.  Moreover, it has fully engaged the private sector, which has been providing PPE and is even working on developing therapeutic treatments and vaccines.

Virtually all of the governors have praised the federal government for its support.   At the present time, it appears that not one state is lacking the resources it needs to combat the CV.

CONCLUSION

The media has been constantly trying to stir up controversy between Mr. Trump and Drs. Fauci and Birx.  This is absurd.  At yesterday’s presser Dr. Fauci reiterated that there not have been and currently are not any problems among them.  Whatever he and Dr. Birx have recommended Mr. Trump has agreed to right away.  One reporter even had the audacity to ask Dr. Fauci if he was speaking “voluntarily” or under duress.  He said, yes, everything he does or says is “voluntary,” but how ridiculous to even ask such a question!

It should also be recalled that during most of the above period the Dems were obsessed with pursuing their Don Quixote-like impeachment and trial of Mr. Trump.  What a waste of time, money and effort, and one can see how it likely caused a distraction from the CV and other serious matters.

Let’s be realistic.  The blame for the scope and seriousness of the pandemic is China and China’s alone.  They lied about everything related to it, and the rest of the world is paying the price.  What, if anything can be done about it is a complicated issue for another blog.

Now, we are working on when and how to reopen the economy.  Most people agree we should do so as soon as it is safe.  The primary questions seem to be the methodology and who has the authority to do so, the president or the various state governors.  Some governors have even banded together to challenge Mr. Trump’s authority in this endeavor.  It appears to me that the constitution is ambiguous on the issue.  The current wrangling is unseemly and counterproductive, although not exactly surprising.

In any event, I don’t see how the reopening of any particular state can be successful without the concurrence of both the president and each state’s governor.  No astute politician would want to take sole responsibility for it in case something were to go wrong.   The obvious solution would be to cease the “breast-beating” and reach a compromise solution.  I hope and expect that they will do so.  People want to go back to work.

Phase 1 of dealing with the Coronavirus Pandemic is almost finished.  Many areas have already passed their peak.  Many others are approaching their peak.  As Drs. Fauci and Birx have explained many times that even though the fatality count is still rising in many areas that statistic is viewed as a lagging indicator.  Doctors focus on the number of hospitalizations, which are levelling off or decreasing in many areas.

Currently, most medical professionals are of the opinion that the curve is flattening.  That is great news.  But, now, we will be facing another challenge, which I believe will be just as dangerous and just as much a threat to our way of life.  Perhaps, in the long run, it will be more so.  Of course, I am referring to Phase 2, the reopening of the economy. More on this later.

Just a month or so ago, the economy was roaring; unemployment was at historic lows; consumer confidence was high; and the stock market was at an historic high.  Now, unemployment is at levels not seen since the Great Depression; consumer confidence has eroded; and the stock market, though recovering, is down substantially from its highwater mark.

Why?  Our political leaders and virtually all medical professionals had determined that in order to defeat the CV we had to completely shut down the economy except for essential services.  Most of them agreed at the time, and still do, that such a shutdown was necessary.   The tradeoff was to save lives from a deadly, highly contagious virus recognizing that we would be severely damaging the economy in the short run.  The hope was that after we had dealt with the virus the economy would recover.  For example,

1. Entire industries have been virtually shut down.
2. Many small businesses, the very backbone of our economy, have gone out of business.  Many more are on the verge of doing so.
3. Over 16 million people are out of work, just like that, and through no fault of their own.  We are talking about real lives, which may never be the same again.
4. Schools have been closed.
5. “Broadway” in NYC has gone “dark.”
6. Professional and amateur sports, which many people need and want as an “escape,” have had their seasons disrupted and/or cancelled.  Major League baseball has delayed the 2020 season and may not be able to resume until late summer/early fall.  The NBA and NHL may not be able to complete their seasons.  The 2020 NFL season will, at the very least, be severely disrupted.  All NCAA sports have been disrupted and/or cancelled, including, among others, the highly-popular and profitable men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments.  All this has affected not just the athletes, but also the countless ancillary jobs and services that depend on them.
7. The list goes on and on.

Next, we will face a unique situation.  We will have to reopen the economy.  This has never been done before.  No one really knows how to do it.  No one really knows what the ramifications will be.  There will likely be unintended consequences that will last for years, if not decades.  Everyone has an opinion.  Who will make the final decision?  The President?  Individual governors?  Whose advice will be paramount?  The medical professionals?  The business people?  A combination?  Again, no one knows.  Anyone who claims to is lying and not to be trusted.

Opinions as to how to proceed differ radically.  Generally, the medical professionals are being cautious.  Many of them are warning of substantially more deaths or even a resurgence of the CV if we move too quickly.  Some of the more conservative ones would like to wait until we have developed a proven vaccine.  More on this later.

The businesspeople and the unemployed individuals are becoming increasingly concerned about the possibility of losing their livelihood permanently.  Many economists are warning us that the longer we wait the harder it will be to return the economy to the way it was.  The politicians are caught in the middle.  They know that regardless of what they do people will suffer.  They also know that their decisions will be closely scrutinized after the fact, and if things turn out wrong they will be blamed, and perhaps lose their positions.  More on this decision-making process later.

Below please find an outline of some of the recent significant developments as reported by various news outlets including the NYT, Fox News, CNBC, and CNN, among others:

1. According to Worldometer, as I write this the total cases worldwide are in excess of 1.8 million with some 110,000 fatalities.  In the US the numbers are approximately 533,000 cases and over 21,000 fatalities.  Moreover, the total US deaths when all is said and done are projected to be 60,000.  Every death is a tragedy, but we should be happy that the current projected total is considerably fewer than the 100,000 to 240,000 that was predicted just a few weeks ago..
2.  The situation in various states varies widely.  Some have been hard-hit, others not so much.  Some have reached their peak, while others are not close.  In all likelihood, this will result in a variance of restart dates for their respective economies.  I do not envision a “one size fits all” situation.  For example,

a.  The governors of TX and FL are already discussing reopening schools and businesses in their respective states.

b.  On the other hand CA, PA, WA and NY are exhibiting more caution.  NY Gov Andrew Cuomo told reporters he will not reopen non-essential businesses until “widespread testing” for CV is available.  Schools in NYC, CA, PA and WA will be closed through the end of the school year.

3.  Most likely, the timing and nature of the restart will also differ by industry.  For instance, healthcare, beauty salons and restaurants will probably get up to speed fairly quickly.  There is a pent-up demand for those services. (If you doubt me, talk to your wife.)  It has been reported that the auto industry is targeting May 4.  On the other hand, the airline and cruise ship industries will probably not return to normal until 2021, if ever.  Of course, these and all other businesses will be dependent on child care facilities being up to speed.

4.  Some industries, such as financial services will likely have to adapt to a new normal.  Many employees of financial institutions have been working from home successfully throughout this period.  This arrangement has been aided and abetted by the wonders of modern electronic communication.  Moreover, it has yielded several financial benefits to both employers and employees.  There may be no returning to the old ways.

5.  The retail industry as we knew it, is in grave trouble.  People have gotten used to shopping on-line.  They have experienced and gotten used to the obvious advantages.  Brick and mortar stores will find it increasingly difficult to compete, and many will be closing.

6.  As we return to work both employers and employees should be mindful of the federal guidelines for dealing with the CV, many of which are common sense:

a.  Test as many people as possible or practicable.

b. Take your temperature before going to work.

c.  Wear protective gear, i. e. face mask and gloves

d.  Practice social distancing.

e. Employees that feel sick should go home or to a doctor immediately.

f. Avoid sharing any items, such as headsets, that people keep near their face.

g.  Try to avoid congregating in groups.

h.  Keep the workspace clean and disinfected, especially frequently-touched surfaces, such as counters and bathrooms..

7.  The latest controversy is over Easter church services.  Individual states are dealing with them differently.  For example, FL and TX have exempted them from the stay-at-home order, whereas in GA and IN worshippers are being urged to attend services online.  Authorities in KY will record group worshippers’ license plates and hand them over to local health officials who will then enforce a 14-day quarantine.  Some church groups have been protesting any restrictions as impinging on their constitutional right to freedom of religion.

8.  The daughter of a woman who died at the Seattle nursing home where there was a cluster of CV-related deaths has filed a lawsuit against the facility.

9.  Dr. Chris Murray, director of the IHME, which created the model that the White House has been using, told CNN that he believes the US’s daily death toll, which exceeded 2,000 Friday, has peaked.   Worldometer has reported that Saturday’s US death count was minimal.  Despite this, Drs. Fauci and Birx continue to warn that we should not get overconfident.  They caution that we need to continue to follow the mitigation guidelines that have worked so well.  If not, they and others predict a spike in infections and fatalities.

10.  Widespread testing is generally considered to be critical in controlling the CV.  According to President Trump the US is “leading the world in testing” thanks, in large part, to Abbott Labs’ development of a five-minute test.   Currently, the US is conducting in excess of 100,000 tests per day and has completed over 2 million in total.

CONCLUSION

President Trump has characterized the decision of when and how he will seek to restart the country’s economy as “without question the biggest decision I’ve ever had to make.”  Accordingly, he has said he will consult with a broad spectrum of experts, including doctors, economists, business people and federal, state and local politicians of both Parties.  He will also consider what has and has not worked in other countries.  Finally, he will be introducing an “opening our country council” on Tuesday, which will be heavily involved in all decisions.  I think this is the correct approach.  It is wise to cast as wide a net as possible.  As the old saying goes, “better to have him/them inside your tent p***ing out than outside your tent p***ing in.”

Apparently, some people are concerned that Mr. Trump will make decisions regarding the economy unilaterally.  This is absurd on its face.  Nevertheless, in response to reporters’ questions on this matter the president has repeatedly assured he will “listen to the experts.”  In addition, he has assured that “we’re not doing anything until we know this country is going to be healthy [after the restart].

Many of Mr. Trump’s enemies in the media and elsewhere have been openly critical of his performance during this period.  It is their right as Americans to express contrary opinions.  However, some of them seem to be openly routing for the country to fail because they feel it will mean that Mr. Trump has failed.  Some House Dems are even talking about an investigation of Mr. Trump’s handling of the CV crisis.  I maintain that it is Congress’ constitutional right, or even duty, to conduct oversight over the executive branch.  But, based on recent history, I fear such an investigation will devolve into another “witch hint.”  Now is not the time for that.

All this political partisanship is most bothersome to me.  During a crisis such as this we all have to pull together.  I don’t think the GOP was rooting for us to lose WWII to make FDR look bad.  In my view, this is no different.  This, too, is war, and it is incumbent upon us to rally behind our leaders.

As I write this, it appears that maybe, possibly, we have passed the worst.  President Trump and members of the task force have reported that there is a “light at the end of the tunnel.”  That is not to say that today’s news is all positive.  As you will see, there is plenty of negative news to go with the positive.  As always, I have compiled what follows from various news sources, including the Washington Post, NY Times, CNN, ABC news and Fox News, among others.

1.  According to Worldometer as I write this there have been approximately 1.5 million cases of CV worldwide with some 82,000 fatalities.  For the US the approximate numbers are 423,000 and 15,000, respectively.  The US recorded some 2,000 each for Tuesday and yesterday, which was the highest single day total for any country at any point in this pandemic.  Also, the US has recorded roughly 3X the cases of the next highest country, Spain, but it has suffered fewer deaths than Spain and Italy.
2. Within the US NY continues to record the highest number of cases and fatalities of any state.  Its 150,000 cases are 3X the next highest state, and its fatalities are 4X (NJ in both instances).  Moreover, it has about the same number of cases as Spain, which has the second-most of any country.
3.  Wednesday, NY reported its single highest daily number of fatalities, 779, which brought the overall total to 6,268.  To put that in perspective, that is more than twice the fatalities recorded on 9/11.  Despite those grim numbers there is cause for optimism as the number of hospitalizations, which is viewed as a precursor, is falling.
4. Other previous hotspots, such as CA and Louisiana, appear to be flattening their curves as well.  On the other hand, new hotspots appear to be emerging in the Philiadelphia and DC-Baltimore metro areas.
5. Despite all that grim news Drs. Fauci and Birx are optimistic.  They reported that we could be approaching a turning point.  Moreover, there is growing evidence that the “curve” is “flatttening” in the US.  The new model projects only 60,000 US fatalities.  You may recall that not long ago this model was projecting between 100,000 and 240,000 deaths. They attributed this primarily to our strict observation of the mitigation guidelines.  However, they urged against complacency lest we suffer a resurgence.
6.  Bi-lateral support is growing for an additional emergency package, although there are differences of opinion as to the amount and content.
7.  Many Americans have expressed concern as to how and when life will return to pre-CV days.  Dr. Fauci has disclosed that the task force is discussing a “framework” for such an event.
8. Currently, the largest concentration of CV can be found, not in any city but in the Cook County jail in Chicago (387).  This illustrates a major dilemma.  On the one hand, prisoner safety is such an issue that many governors have authorized the release of many convicts who, based on the crimes for which they were convicted, should be retained in prison.  One the other hand, these prisoners represent a clear and present danger to law-abiding citizens.  One might say that these governors are valuing the safety of the convicted over that of the law-abiding.
9.  College students at several universities are organizing a tuition strike.  They are asserting that the on-line education they are now getting is inferior to the real thing, and they don’t want to pay the same tuition for it.
10. Dr. Birx stated she was “in awe” of Americans’ ability to radically change their behavior in order to conform to the mitigation guidelines.  However, while being interviewed on ABC she expressed concern over the high number of cases (1,440) and fatalities (27) in the DC-Baltimore metro area.  She attributed it to the fact that many residents there were not complying fully with the guidelines on social distancing.
11.  Belatedly, the CV has invaded rural America.  Some 2/3 of the country’s rural counties have now reported cases and about 10% of them have reported at least one fatality.  The concern is that a substantial outbreak could overwhelm these areas, many of which have limited medical facilities and personnel.  This will bear watching prospectively.
12.  There are reports that the NYC theatre district could reopen for business as early as June.  That would be a real shot in the arm to the city’s economy and its psyche.
13. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo has reported that since January 29 the State Department has repatriated some 50,000 American citizens who were stranded in some 90 foreign countries.  Repatriation efforts are ongoing.
14. Immigration officials have begun to release detained illegal immigrants who are thought to be at risk to contract CV.
15. Due to an unexpected sudden surge in demand many food banks are running short of funds and supplies.
16. England’s PM Boris Johnson is reported to be “clinically stable” and “responding to treatment” for the CV.  That is very good news.
17. Airlines have been plagued with empty seats. Recently, I saw a story where one flight had just one passenger.  Most of them have sharply reduced the number of flights.  Delta has announced that for the time being it will not sell the middle seat on its flights in order to facilitate “social distancing.”
18. The state of Vermont has been designated as a “disaster area.”  It is the 47th state to do so, leaving only Alaska, Idaho and Wyoming.  This bears watching as the US has never had a 50-state disaster situation.
19.  Texas Governor Greg Abbott told journalists that the state is now at the “high water mark” for both new cases and fatalities.
20.  In yet another cruise ship disaster an Australian ship, “Greg Mortimer,” which was sailing to Antarctica reported that 60% of its passengers were infected with CV.
21.  FL Governor Ron DeSantis has announced that the state will convert the Miami Beach Convention Center into a 450-bed temporary facility (expandable to 1,000 beds) to treat CV patients.  He also plans to ramp up testing substantially.
22. As part of the federal government’s ongoing efforts to coordinate with the private sector General Motors has agreed to produce and sell 30,000 ventilators to the federal government for $490 million.
23.  A Kenyan factory that was making gardening clothes has retooled to make 30,000 surgical masks a day.

CONCLUSION

For the most part, Americans have put aside their differences and united to fight the common enemy, CV.  Many have voluntarily sacrificed economically for the greater good.  Most have diligently observed the mitigation guidelines.  All of these efforts appear to have borne fruit as the number of cases and fatalities have been lower than even the most optimistic estimates.

A recently-released  Monmouth University poll disclosed:

1. An overwhelming  majority (72%) approved of their respective state’s governor’s handling of the CV.
2.  Their rating of President Trump was evenly split (46% approve, 49% disapprove) and, not surprisingly, highly partisan.  87% of Republicans, 45% of independents and 16% of Dems approved of his performance.
3. Respondents were not particularly trusting of any officials.  Dr. Fauci was highest at only 35%, followed by Cuomo (23%), Trump (20%) and Dr. Birx (14%).  Those results are mystifying to me, especially with respect to Drs. Fauci and Birx, but there it is.

I am mystified and troubled by the controversy over the drug, hydroxychloroquine.  I understand that it has not gone through all the blind testing that the FDA normally requires for new drugs.  However, it has been safely prescribed for malaria and lupus for 65 years, with superb results, and currently, it is being used to treat some CV patients with very positive results.  The most recent success story involves Dr. Marc Siegel’s 96 year old father.  He was gravely ill with CV, near death.  After one day of CV he felt immeasurably better.

Yet, many in the media insist on denigrating it as unproven, experimental and unsafe.  Cuomo has gone so far as to ban pharmacies in NY from dispensing it even with a doctor’s prescription.   NYers are the only ones in the country who are required to get it at a hospital.  I believe those naysayers are only criticizing it because President Trump has been touting it. They are doing Americans a grave disservice.

Personally, I strongly believe it is critical for Americans to return to normalcy as soon as possible.  It will benefit us economically, socially, emotionally and psychologically.  Furthermore, I am not aware that we shut down the entire economy during any other previous pandemic or epidemic, not even for polio and smallpox, which had considerably higher death rates.   In my opinion, widespread use of the newly developed five-minute testing, antibodies of cured patients, and the much-maligned hydroxychloroquine could be key elements in returning us to normalcy,

I hope the task force and other advisors can develop a safe, prudent plan sooner rather than later.  Our way of life depends on it.

He was a world-famous entertainer.  He was best known as a mime artist, certainly the best of his time, and arguably the best ever, except for the legendary silent film star, Charlie Chaplin.  However, he was more than just a mime.  He was an accomplished actor, tv personality, author, and teacher, mostly in his native France but also all over the world.  He entertained us for more than 60 years.  But, I believe his most significant contribution to posterity was as a member of the French resistance during WWII.  Read on, and you see what I mean.

Marcel Mangel was born in Strasbourg, France on March 22, 1923 to working-class Jewish parents.  His father was a kosher butcher who had emigrated from Poland.  His mother was from present-day Ukraine.  He was a cousin of well-known Israeli folk and pop music singer Yardena Azazi on his mother’s side.

Marceau recalled that he became interested in mime at the age of five when his mother took him to see a Charlie Chaplin film.  He was “entranced,” and knew then and there what career he would pursue.

When Germany invaded France in 1940 Marceau’s family fled to Limoges, which is in the west-central part of the country.  Later, in Paris, Marceau studied under Yvonne Hagnauer an educator who saved many people from the Nazis during WWII.  (After the war the State of Israel, in recognition of her actions, honored her with the designation “Righteous among the Nations.”)

The Nazis captured Marceau’s parents in 1944 and deported them to Auschwitz.  His father was murdered in the camp, but his mother survived.

In Limoges Marcel hooked up with his younger brother, Alain, and they joined the French Jewish Resistance.  They changed their last name to Marceau in honor of Francois Severin Marceau-Desgraviers, who was a general during the French revolution.

Marcel was not an experienced fighter or marksman.  However, he did have a talent that was much more valuable to the resistance.  He was a superb artist, which meant he was very adept at producing forged documents.  As we know, forged documents that looked authentic enough to withstand detailed scrutiny were essential for Jews and others attempting to escape or even hide in place.

During the remainder of the war the brothers rescued hundreds, if not thousands, of Jews, mostly children, from the camps or from hiding places by guiding them over the Alps from France to neutral Switzerland and safety.   Marcel saved many more by providing them with the aforementioned forged documents.  Moreover, on several occasions he employed his mime skills to quiet and calm nervous children so as to avoid capture.

After the war Marcel commenced to pursue his chosen career.  He studied at the prestigious Charles Dullin School of Dramatic Art in the Sarah Bernhardt Theatre in Paris under renowned instructors such as Jean-Louis Barrault, Etienne Decroux and Joshua Smith.  In 1947 he created his signature character, “Bip the Clown.”  “Bip” would come out dressed in a “striped pullover and a battered be-flowered silk opera hat.”  During the act “Bip” would suffer through a series of humorous “misadventures.”  The character was a huge hit, and it became his “alter ego” reminiscent of Chaplin’s “Little Tramp.”

Marcel became very popular, and he soon became recognized as a mime “without peer.”  During an interview with CBS in 1987 he described mime as “the art of silence.”  One critic gushed, “he accomplishes in less than two minutes what most novelists cannot do in volumes.”   Marcel would modestly give credit to Chaplin for paving the way.

Before long, Marcel became an international star, performing what he termed “mimodramas” all over the world. His first tour in the US drew record-breaking crowds.  He made various appearances on tv shows with entertainers such as Dinah Shore, Mike Douglas, and Red Skelton (who was also a superb mime).  He and Skelton performed together in three concerts of pantomimes.  As a young boy I remember seeing Marcel on tv on “The Red Skelton Show.”

Marcel was much more than the best mime of his generation.  For example:

1. He wrote two children’s books.
2. He published a book of his paintings and sketches.  Much of his artwork is on display in museums.
3.  In 1969 he established his first school of mime in Paris, which also included fencing, acrobatics and ballet.  It only lasted two years, but in 1978 he established a second school.
4.  In 1996 he established the Marceau Foundation to promote the art of mime in the US.
5. He appeared in several movies, both in France and the US.  The one that American audiences may recall was “Barbarella,” in 1968, which starred a scantily-clad Jane Fonda.  The other notable movie was called, appropriately, “Silent Movie” (1976).   Ironically, Marcel, the world-renown mime, spoke the only word in the entire movie, “non.”
6.  He became a close friend of entertainer, Michael Jackson who told an interviewer he had always been “in awe” of Marceau’s “skill as a performer.”
7.  Marcel was the recipient of countless awards, testimonials, and honorary degrees, too many to list here.  One, however, stands out.  The University of Michigan awarded him the Wallenberg Medal in recognition of his humanitarianism and acts of courage in saving numerous refugees, both Jews and non-Jews during WWII.  His wartime exploits were portrayed in a recent tv movie, “Resistance,” starring Jesse Eisenberg as Marceau.  It is available on Netflix.  I strongly recommend it.

Conclusion

Marcel was married three times and fathered four children.  He also had a decades-long relationship with female mime Paulette Frankl who described their long relationship in a memoir released in 2014.

Marcel passed away in a retirement home in Cahors, France on September 22, 2007.  As I said, despite his outstanding 60 year entertainment career, I maintain his greatest contribution was in guiding numerous refugees to safety during WWII.  Think how many people are alive today because of the bravery and unique talent Marcel Marceau.

We are now entering the fourth month of the pandemic with no end in sight.  In fact, most areas have not even reached their projected peaks.  Doctors Fauci and Birx and most all other medical experts predict the worst is yet to come.  More on that later.

As always, the below information is a compendium of reports from various news sources, including the NY Times, CNN, Fox News, CBS and many others.

1. According to “Worldometer” worldwide cases now exceed 1.1 million with fatalities approaching 60,000.  In the US the numbers are 300,000 and 8,000, respectively, with 1,300 fatalities just in the last 24 hours. The virus has been moving very fast, so by the time you read this the numbers will likely be higher, perhaps considerably so.  The medical experts are predicting as many as 200,000 US deaths before the virus has run its course, which is truly frightening.
2. NYS is still far and away the hardest hit state with some 115,000 cases (40% of the entire US) and approximately 3,600 deaths (nearly half of the US total).  To put those numbers in perspective, that is more then 3X the number of cases and 4X the number of fatalities of the next highest state, which is neighboring NJ.  Other “hot spots” include CA, LA, MI, FL, WA and MA.
3. Clearly, there is a severe problem with NY and the NYC metro area.  There are many theories as to why.  I outlined my opinion in a previous blog, and there is no need to repeat it here.  Recently, NYS Governor Cuomo told the NY Times that he expects the state to reach “the worst point” of the crisis “within a week or so.”   We’ll see.  I have my doubts.  So far, Cuomo’s record regarding the virus has been mixed at best.
4.  Although some areas are likely approaching, are at, or have passed their peaks new “hot spots” will probably emerge, perhaps in PA, CO and Washington, DC.
5.  Forty-two states plus DC have issued stay-at-home orders, encompassing some 95% of the country’s population.  Dr. Fauci thinks the others should do so as well, but it is within the discretion of the states’ governors.
6.  Presently, some 114 cruise ships are stranded off-shore near FL unable to dock.  They are carrying an unknown number of infected patients, but also many healthy ones.
7. Great Britain reported 708 fatalities in the most recent 24 hour period, a record.
8.  As of now, the Wisconsin primaries, which are scheduled for next Tuesday, will be proceeding as scheduled despite the state’s “stay-at- home order” and a shortage of polling place workers.  How will that affect the validity of the results?
9. Tragically, a Detroit bus driver who had contracted the virus from a passenger who coughed on him repeatedly, has died.
10.  In a controversial action Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has allowed the state’s beaches to reopen.  Officials will be relying on “social distancing” to keep people safe, a dubious prospect.
11.  As most of you know, Italy was one of the first countries outside of China to develop into a “hot spot” for the virus.  Now, officials feel the number of infections has plateaued.  They are hoping to reopen the country’s economy.  They are considering a universal blood test.  Only those whose blood  contains the antibodies to the virus will be authorized to return to work.
12. FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn’s views on masks:  (a) Their chief benefit is that they prevent one from touching his or her face, which is a big “no-no.”  (b) They prevent people who are asymptomatic from infecting others. (c) They can give one a false sense of security, so it is crucial to maintain social distancing when wearing them.
13. Regarding treatments, Dr. Hahn added that the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, can be beneficial when prescribed by a doctor.  Also, he noted that using plasma from patients who had recovered from the virus, has had some success, and a generally-available vaccine is still a year or more away.
14.  A summary of Dr. Fauci’s comments today on “Face the Nation:” (a) We are close to the apex.  This coming week should be the peak.  The number of cases and deaths will be “shocking.”  Afterwards, the curve should “flatten.” (b)  Continue with the mitigation guidelines, especially regarding hand-washing, social distancing and staying at home.  The mitigation guidelines appear to be working.  (c) Before lifting lockdowns we need to be able to do three things: test, isolate and contact tracing.  (d) He only wears a mask in public situations in which he cannot control social distancing with others. (e) There is a risk that this could develop into a seasonal illness.  Developing reliable therapeutic treatments and a vaccine is crucial.  (f)  There is not yet any definitive proof of hydroxychloroquine’s effectiveness.

CONCLUSION

Well, that didn’t take long.  Heretofore, I have tried to refrain from politicizing the situation.  As I said, I believe now is not the time for partisan politics, but it has picked up so much steam I feel compelled to comment.  To wit:

1. While most Dem politicians have refrained from criticizing President Trump and the federal government stressing the positive rather than the negative, there have been some notable exceptions as discussed below.
2. Cuomo, De Blasio, and Schumer have been criticizing Mr. Trump, the CDC and other federal agencies for their delay in providing needed medical equipment.  This is disingenuous “BS.”  Each state shares responsibility for preparing for pandemics and other disasters.  As I have discussed in detail in previous blogs NYS’s and NYC’s preparation was woefully inadequate compared to most other states, and its officials were slow to recognize the magnitude of the threat of the virus. Remember, the feds have shipped copious amounts of medical supplies to NY, built five temporary hospitals and provided a massive hospital ship.
3. CNN, MSNBC, presumptive Dem presidential nominee Joe Biden, the NY Times, the Washington Post and other media outlets have already begun their campaign of distortion.  For example, when President Trump enacted the travel ban at the end of January they decried his action as “racist” and “xenophobic.”  Now, in a futile attempt at revisionist history, they are accusing him of not recognizing the threat and acting on it early enough.  Huh?  They can’t have it both ways.
4. Pelosi, Schiff and their cohorts in the House announced they will be conducting an investigation of the feds’ response to the virus.  Really?  I know the Congress has the right, or even the duty, to conduct investigations, but now, in the middle of an existential crisis, is not the time.
5. Based on the last three years, I predict this investigation will devolve into another political “witch hunt” leading up to the election.  I say, at least, wait until the crisis has passed, and we see how it has turned out.
6. As before, most of the mainstream media will support them regardless of the facts.
7. Their goal will not be to uncover the truth.  Rather, it will be to distort, muddle and obfuscate the facts with the goal of damaging Mr. Trump sufficiently to prevent him from winning the upcoming presidential election.  Hopefully, voters will not be deceived.

The coronavirus has been dominating the news for months now.   To most observers it seems like the preponderance of the news is bleak.  The virus has developed into a true pandemic.  It has penetrated virtually every country in the world.  A large chunk of the world’s population is on lock-down.  The world’s economy has been virtually shut-down.

According to “Worldometer” worldwide cases now exceed 1 million with some 57,000 deaths.  The US still has reported the most cases, almost 260,000 with approximately 6,600 fatalities.   One reason for the high number of cases in the US is the widespread testing, which is now in excess of 100,000 per day.   In just the last two weeks there have been about 1 million filings for unemployment benefits, and that only includes the people who could get through on the overloaded websites and telephone exchanges.

According to “The Hill” there have been in excess of 1,000 fatalities in the US just in the last 24 hours.  In the opinion of various medical experts the US has not yet passed the “apex of the curve,” so things will likely get worse before they get better.  How much worse, no one, not even these medical experts, knows for sure.  Drs. Fauci and Birx have estimated that the US death toll could reach as high as 200,000 before when all is said and done.  Most of us have been quarantined in our homes, except for emergencies like buying food or seeking medical care, with no end in sight.

Amid this plethora of bad news there has been some good news.  There have been many instances of kindness and generosity by businesses and individuals, most of which have been very sparsely reported.  These deeds have been shunted aside by all the bad news that has been dominating media reports.  These deeds highlight the indominable human spirit even in the bleakest of times.

I would like to give these generous businesses and individuals their due.  Below please find some examples, which I have chosen from various news reports:

1. Kudos to all the medical workers who have been working valiantly and tirelessly, often at great personal danger to themselves.
2. Kudos to those who are delivering much needed food and medical supplies.
3. In NY, which remains the primary hotspot, the military has built temporary hospitals in every borough in an amazingly short period of time.  Also, it has provided a huge hospital ship, the USNS Comfort, which presently is docked on the West Side of Manhattan.
4.  FEMA has been rushing medical supplies to NYC, including 1 million N95 masks, nearly 2 million surgical masks, 460,000 face shields, 1.4 million gloves and 4,400 ventilators.
5.  In a previous blog I reported on the instances of hoarding and price gouging and the Department of Justice’s investigation of same.  As a follow-up, the FBI has reported the seizure of thousands of various medical supplies from hoarders.  I would expect the perpetrators to be punished.
6.  Various celebrities have “stepped up.”  The list is too long to include all of them, but below please find a sampling as reported in “Elle Magazine” and other media outlets:

a. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft brought 1.2 million masks to the US on his team plane.

b.  Arnold Schwarzenegger donated $1 million of medical supplies to hospital workers.

c.  Dolly Parton donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University for coronavirus research.

d.  Various airlines have flown Americans stranded overseas home.

e.  The popular tv show, “The Masked Singer,” donated 10,000 masks.

f.  Many professional sports teams and individual players have covered the salaries of laid-off arena personnel.

g.  Leonardo Di Caprio, in partnership with Apple, Laurene Powell Jobs, and others, established “America’s Food Fund” to provide food to “vulnerable” people.

h. Kylie Jenner donated $1 million to various LA hospitals to pay for various medical supplies.

i.  Rihanna donated $5 million to various organizations, such as WHO, Feeding America and the International Rescue Committee.

j.  Steph Curry and his wife donated $1 million for school meals to kids in Oakland who are missing out on them due to school closures.

7.  The waters in Venice are reportedly clearer and cleaner that in recent memory due to the absence of boats.  Fish have been spotted.

8.  In Britain hoteliers are offering free rooms to medical workers.

9.  Entertainers such as Elton John and John Legend have provided free live concerts from their homes.

10.  Many food stores are opening one hour early to service seniors and the disabled.

11.  A shop in Scotland is providing “COVID-19 kits” containing hand gel and wipes to seniors.

12.  In Copenhagen quarantined people were serenading people from their balconies with the song, “You’ve Got A Friend.”

13.  In Spain quarantined people were playing bingo over a loudspeaker.

14.  Elle reported that, remarkably, three centenarians, 104 year-old WWII veteran William Lapschie, a 103 year-old Iranian woman and a 102 year-old Italian woman have recovered from the virus.

15. NYC’s Metropolitan Opera is streaming old operas.

16.  Germany is flying COVID patients from Italy, which has been overwhelmed, to Germany for treatment.

17.  China has been reopening certain tourist attractions, such as the “Great Wall,” (although I don’t think I would feel comfortable going to China right now).

18.  A British couple whose wedding had been cancelled donated their entire catering to some 400 hospital workers in the area.  Note: they went ahead with their wedding with just two witnesses in attendance instead of the planned 120 guests.

19.  In an event coordinated through social media, last Thursday at 8 pm activity in the UK halted and people gave a huge ovation to UK medical workers in appreciation of their efforts in fighting the virus.

20.  In Copenhagen quarantined residents participated in a group exercise workout from their balconies.

21.  In Massachusetts a “mystery man” bought all the flowers in one florist store that was being forced to close and donated them to residents in the town of Needham.

CONCLUSION

As I said, in the face of adversity many human beings rise to the occasion. Personally, I have noticed more instances of kindness than before.  At the present time, for the most part, people are not separated by politics, economics, race, gender, or “tribes” as they were just mere weeks ago.  Most people realize that defeating this insidious virus will require all of us pulling together.  That time-worn phrase “united we stand, divided we fall” seems very appropriate to this situation.

This is NOT an April Fools joke. It is a legitimate blog.

As you know, today is April 1, also known as “April Fools Day.”  I like a good joke as much as anyone, but I am not a big fan of pranking people on this date.  Maybe when I was 10, but not now.  But, I was curious about the origins of the holiday, and how it is celebrated around the world.

AFD is not a official holiday in the US, or in any other country, for that matter, but it is widely recognized and celebrated around the world unofficially.  Some people love to play jokes and perpetrate hoaxes.  So, if you hear that President Trump has resigned to focus on building hotels and golf courses, or that James Dolan has sold the NY Knicks, or that China has “forgiven” the US’s debt, don’t believe it.  Those would most certainly be AFD jokes.

Even the media can be a willing participant.  One of my favorite AFD pranks occurred on April 1, 1985.  The “Sports Illustrated” cover story that day was about a baseball pitching phenom named Sidd Finch.  At first, the story appeared to have credibility, as it was written by George Plimpton and published in SI.  Finch was presented as an unknown rookie pitching prospect in the NY Mets training camp.  (At that time Opening Day was later in April.)  So far, so good.  But, as one read the details of the story, particularly about his 160 MPH fastball, it became apparent that it was an AFD joke.

A few other famous, or infamous AFD pranks (courtesy of CNN, which many claim is the “fake news” network anyway):

1. Swiss spaghetti – On 4/1/57 a British tv show called “Panorama” claimed that the Swiss spaghetti harvest had enjoyed a “bumper year,” due to the unusually mild weather and the elimination of the “spaghetti weevil.”  This hoax was ranked the #1 AFD joke of all time by the Museum of Hoaxes.  (Yes, there is such a place.)

2. Toilet paper – On 4/1/73 Johnny Carson joked on the “Tonight Show” that there was a shortage of toilet paper. This hoax was credited with creating a real shortage as many listeners believed him and rushed out to “stock up.”

In 2015 Cottonelle announced it was developing “left-handed toilet paper.”  “It cleans just like right-handed toilet paper, only it’s made for (lefties),” touted one advertisement.

3. Google gulp – In 1998 Google announced a drink called the “Google Gulp,” which, it said, would help one to “achieve maximum optimization of your soon-to-be grateful cerebral cortex,” [and it was] “low in carbs” to boot.

All in good fun!

Surprisingly, there are records of continuous AFD celebrations back as far as 536 BC in present day Iran. They celebrate the Persian holiday of Sizdah Bedar, which falls on the 13th day of the Persian New Year, (April 1). In addition, the Romans celebrated festivals called “Hilaria” on March 25 and the “Medieval Feast of Fools” on December 28. In certain Spanish-speaking countries, the latter is still a date on which pranks are played on people. Finally, there is a reference to the holiday in Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales,” which was first published in 1387.

According to Alex Boese, curator of the Museum of Hoaxes, the Dutch popularized the day in the late 16th century.  By the 1700s it had spread over much of Northern Europe, and eventually to the US.

Nowadays, the holiday is celebrated differently around the world. Some examples are as follows:

1. UK – The April Fool joke is disclosed when the perpetrator shouts “April Fool” at the recipient.  Traditionally, April Fool jokes are to cease at midday.  After that time, anyone trying to prank someone becomes the “April Fool” himself.  These AFD customs are similar in other countries whose traditions were influenced by the UK, such as the US.

2. Scotland – AFD is called “Hunt the Gowk Day.”  “Gowk” is Scots for a foolish person.

3. Ireland – A common tradition is to give the “prankee” an important letter in an envelope to give to a certain person.  That person would ask the “prankee” to give it to another person, and so on and so on.  Eventually, someone would open the envelope.  The letter inside would say “send the fool further.”

4. Poland – Traditionally, April 1 is a day to play jokes and hoaxes.  The media participates as well.  Serious matters are to be avoided.  For example, supposedly, a treaty signed on April 1, 1683 was later backdated to March 31.

5. France/Italy/Belgium – The holiday is called “April Fish,” for some reason.  One common prank is to attach a paper fish to the victim’s back without being detected. (Along these lines, in high school we used to put a “kick me” sign on a victim’s back, although not just on AFD.  Movie buffs may recall that this joke was played on McFly Senior in the movie “Back to the Future.”)

6. Sweden/Denmark – They celebrate on May 1 in addition to April 1. Many Danish and Swedish news outlets will intentionally publish one false story on April 1.

CONCLUSION

AFD can be fun, especially for kids. Even in the current PC era, a little harmless fun never hurt anyone.  That is especially true today as we are all being threatened by the deadly coronavirus.

I recall a few years ago my son told my grandson, who was six at the time and a huge Mets fan, that David Wright had been traded to the hated Yankees. To his credit, my grandson, merely shrugged his shoulders and asked “who for?”

I can remember being both the perpetrator and butt of April fool jokes in grade school and middle school. All in good fun.  I predict that some of you will be victimized today. Maybe you have been already.

Please tell me some of your favorite April fools moments.  Were you the perpetrator or the victim?   I promise you I won’t put it on Facebook.

As we conclude the third month of the coronavirus pandemic several trends have emerged – some positive, some negative.  To illustrate my point, below please find what I consider to be a sampling of the significant recent events as reported by various news outlets:

1. As I write this, the estimated total number of cases worldwide as published by “Worldmeter” is approximately 750,000.  Worldwide fatalities are approaching 36,000.  In the US the numbers are 145,000 and 2,600, respectively.  One thousand of those are in NYS.  The totals have been changing by the minute, so by the time you read this they will likely be higher, perhaps, considerably so.
2. The US is reporting the highest number of cases, although Fox News has reported data  that suggests the rate of increase may be slowing down.  Italy is next at some 98,000 followed by Spain with 85,000.  China’s numbers have been suspect as discussed below.
3.  Today, the president stated that recently there has been a substantial increase in testing.  Presently, the US is running about 100,000 per day.  To date, it has run one million tests in total.  Furthermore, Abbott Labs has developed a test that gives the result in five minutes.  This is very positive news, since most medical experts agree that massive testing is the key to identifying sick people and ultimately controlling and defeating the virus.
4. Spain reported that 35 people died per hour over the weekend.  Spanish officials warned that a “period of ‘hibernation’ ” may be required to deal with the virus.   Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that the tighter restrictions were necessary to avoid “the collapse of saturated hospitals” in various regions of the country, particularly Madrid.  He added that these restrictions will last at least until April 9.
5. On the other hand, reports out of Italy provided a glimmer of hope.  The fatality rate declined for the third consecutive day, and the number of patients seeking critical care dropped substantially.   However, Minister of Health Roberto Speranza added a note of caution.  He announced that the protective measures “will certainly be prolonged.  …. Opening up too soon could burn everything we’ve obtained until now.”
6.  Curiously, the US death total is “only” 2,605 compared to Italy’s 10,779.  Why?  Perhaps, the quality of diagnosis and treatment is better in the US; or, perhaps, Italy, like some other countries, most notably China, is underreporting the number of cases (intentionally or not); or maybe, it is a combination of the two.  More on this later.
7.  The situation in NYC remains especially dire.  There have been reports of coronavirus patients being stranded in their homes because the healthcare system is too overwhelmed to accommodate them.  Moreover, the city’s 911 system has been flooded with calls for medical emergencies.  For example, last Thursday the system received some 7,000 calls, a number not seen since “9/11.”   The normal number is 4,000.  Also, one paramedic reported he was dispatched to two homes in the Washington Heights area where both entire families were sick.  He told reporters he was “terrified,” not only for himself but also for what he “already [had] possibly brought home [to his family].”  This was likely not an isolated case.
8.  Detroit, MI may be the next big city to become a “hot spot.”  It’s not just the number of reported cases; it’s also the characteristics of the population.  Like most big cities, people live in very close proximity; thirty percent live in poverty and have received subpar healthcare; many have pre-existing health issues; and the hospitals are already overburdened.  Furthermore, there have been 35 fatalities in the past two weeks, and over 500 police officers are in quarantine, including the chief.
9.  Critical medical supplies remain in short supply.  Various states and countries are competing with each other to obtain what they need now and may need prospectively.  FEMA is coordinating with various companies in the private sector to provide these items.  It’s an ongoing uphill battle to keep up with the virus.  This situation has led to accusations of price gouging, which US AG Barr is investigating, and hoarding.
10.  China has been trying to redeem itself in the eyes of the world after its delay in reporting the outbreak and severity of the virus.  It has been shipping massive quantities of medical supplies to various countries.  Sounds good, but several reports have emerged charging that most of its supplies, including test kits and protective gear, are defective.   The governments of Czechoslovakia, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the Philippines are some of the complainants.  This is unconscionable.  Faulty equipment is much worse than no equipment as it provides the illusion of safety that doesn’t exist.
11. In addition, as mentioned above, China has long been suspected of underreporting its case numbers.  “Caixin,” a respected and influential Chinese magazine, has reported the government has not been reporting asymptomatic cases, which has greatly reduced the number of cases.
12. Most disturbingly, several Chinese citizens, among them a doctor, a journalist, and an activist, who had criticized the Chinese government’s handling of the virus have been imprisoned or have simply disappeared.  Unfortunately, in a totalitarian regime that does not bode well for them.
13. Dubai was set to host Expo 2020 in October.  The purpose of this event was to promote tourism and business opportunities in the country.   This event has been seven years in the planning and so far has cost approximately $8 billion.  The organizing committee has postponed it until 2021.
14.  Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued two executive orders. One requires all restaurants and bars to suspend servicing customers on premises – take-out and delivery service only.  This action is similar to that taken in many other states.  The other prohibits all “non-essential” elective medical procedures.  “We’re going guns blazing and doing all that we can to slow the spread of Covid-19,” stated DeSantis.
15.  Louisiana Governor John Edwards disclosed that the state is becoming a “hot spot” with approximately 4,000 cases and nearly 200 deaths.  Moreover, the state could exhaust its supply of ventilators by April 4.
16.  Texas has imposed a 14-day quarantine on all people coming into the state.
17.  Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC have also issued stay-at-home guidelines.  It is likely that several other jurisdictions will follow suit.
18. Today, Monday, a US Navy ship, USNS Comfort, docked in NY harbor several weeks ahead of schedule.  It is a massive 900 foot vessel with a capacity of 1,000 beds including 80 in intensive care.  Its mission is to treat non-coronavirus patients, so that the city’s overburdened hospitals and healthcare workers can focus on coronavirus patients.  A sister ship , the USS Mercy, has been providing the same services in LA.
19. The UN warned that the virus could be particularly lethal in the various underdeveloped countries of Africa and Asia.  These countries lack the healthcare infrastructure to combat the virus.
20. From the outset Israel has been very proactive, imposing severe restrictions on its populace to combat  the virus.  Nevertheless, it has been reported that over 4,000 people have tested positive for the virus, including a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s staff.  As a result, Netanyahu has been placed in quarantine.
21. It has been widely reported that various private sector companies have been racing to develop a vaccine against the virus.  Johnson & Johnson has announced it has developed a vaccine that should be ready for human clinical trials by September.  If successful the vaccine could be available for emergency use early in 2021.
22.  I continue to be amazed at the substantial contributions of the private sector.  It is amazing what American ingenuity and free enterprise can accomplish.   The list of companies is extensive, such as 3M, Proctor and Gamble, Wall Mart, Ford, GM, the aforementioned J & J and Abbott Labs,  and many others.  Some have retooled their factories to produce much-needed medical supplies.  Others are working non-stop on a vaccine and/or therapeutic treatments, some of which have shown promise.  When the private sector is fully engaged like this, it is really something to see.  Kudos to them all and to President Trump for streamlining government regulations and procedures where necessary to assist them.
23.  Those of you who follow the trials and tribulations of the British Royals will be happy to know that Prince Charles has completed his quarantine period and is no longer under isolation in a Scottish castle.  Ho hum.

CONCLUSION

The public is constantly being bombarded with sharply varying, unsubstantiated, even contradictory, predictions from various sources.  These mixed signals are not only confusing; they are counterproductive to combatting the virus.  For example, many governors have been issuing gloomy reports on their respective states’ situation.   Perhaps, exaggerations?  Also, a few days ago, President Trump, in an effort to be optimistic, stated that the country might be able to return to normalcy, more or less, by Easter, which is April 12.  He added that some areas of the country had had light instances of the virus, and the people there might be able to return to work soon.  Good news, right?  Not exactly.  However, later, after consulting with his panel of experts he amended that prediction.  Instead, he extended the current guidelines for another month.  As of today, he said he expects the cases to peak in the next two weeks.

I don’t wish to unduly criticize the president’s handling of the situation.  On the whole, I heartily approve of his handling of it.  According to the latest Gallup Poll most Americans agree.  Furthermore, I understand that the situation is very fluid, and he is only trying to rally our spirits.  However, I believe he should realize that people are hanging on his every  word.  He should choose his words more carefully to avoid sending out mixed signals.

At the same time, Dr. Fauci was predicting that the death toll would rise.  He threw out the number 100,000 just in the US.  The NY Times published an estimate of 200,000.  Since we’re now at less than 3,000, that would be a very substantial increase.  Predictions like that are downright scary.  That was the reason Mr. Trump amended his original assessment of the situation.  But, undoubtedly, the conflicting predictions caused some confusion, which is my point.

What is worse, predictions that are unrealistically optimistic or unrealistically pessimistic?  You decide.

It has been reported that members of Congress are already discussing an additional aid package.  It’s wise to plan ahead, but, perhaps, in this case a bit premature.  The current package hasn’t even been distributed yet.  Let’s give it a few weeks and re-assess at that time.

The main point of all this is, we don’t really know what will happen.  It looks like no one, including the experts, really does.

What you can do to protect yourself is to remember, medical experts agree that the best way to prevent contracting the virus is to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly and don’t touch your face.

As most of you know, Congress has finally passed the long-anticipated and much needed coronavirus stimulus package, and President Trump has signed it into law.   At $2.2 trillion it is the largest and most comprehensive emergency aid package in US history.   It is intended to provide assistance to every person and entity affected by the virus through no fault of their own – individuals, small businesses and entire industries.

The major provisions include:

1.  Individuals will receive one-time cash payments.  Eligibility and amounts will depend on one’s income.  A typical family of four will receive $3,400 by direct deposit or by check.   Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said the payments should be distributed within three weeks.
2.  Additional assistance for those receiving unemployment assistance
3.  Payments for those receiving social security.
4.  Assistance for hospitals and other healthcare providers.
5.  Assistance for veterans.
6. Assistance for childcare if the facility was closed due to the virus.
7. Waivers for student loan payments for loans held by the federal government.
8. Financial assistance for small businesses
9. Aid for distressed companies/industries, such as restaurants, cruise lines and airlines.  This is not a “bail-out” as some have characterized it, but loans and incentives.

These last two are necessary for America to maintain its strong economy and to ensure that workers have jobs to return to once the crisis has been resolved.

Is it perfect?  No.  Will there be unintended negative consequences?  Probably.  But, it is necessary, and it is important to remember that, due to the exigent circumstances, the bill was put together quickly and, perhaps, a bit haphazardly.

Furthermore, in order to pass it had to satisfy a wide range of special interest groups who were in a position to and, in fact, did, delay its passage.  These groups were not interested in assisting those in need.  Rather, they thought they saw an opportunity to blackmail and intimidate the main body of the Congress to accept their pet projects.

For example, it looked as though the bill was going to pass last weekend, but at the last minute Speaker Pelosi, promoting the interests of far left elements of the Dem Party, tried to insert various amendments that had nothing to do with corona.  I discussed these in my last blog , and there is no need to repeat them here.  Some were rejected, and some were accepted, but the primary effect was to delay the bill’s passage for several days.

Then, right before the actual vote GOP Rep Thomas Massie tried to force a rollcall vote, which would have led to further delay and would have required numerous members who were sick with corona or just sheltering in place at home to return to DC.  He was widely criticized on both sides of the aisle for that tactic.  (When was the last time President Trump and Senator John Kerry  agreed on anything?)   As House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy pointed out, “We have members on both sides of the aisle who have the virus [and] are quarantined.”   Massie was thwarted, but, once again, it forced an unnecessary and dangerous delay.

So, the bill includes some provisions that have nothing to do with corona.   Many of us might not like them, but we have to accept them for the greater good.

As most of us know from following the news NYC has become the primary “hot spot” in the US for the virus.  As I write this it has identified in excess of 26,000 cases with nearly 400 fatalities.  NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo told the NY Times that the number of cases is “doubling every three days.”

Moreover, according to NYC’s own statistics the city is suffering a fatality every 17 minutes.  Think about that for a minute.  In the four hours it has taken me to write this blog some 14 people have died!

Furthermore, residents who can have been fleeing the city.  Dr. Deborah Birx  told the NY Times that this is part of the reason for the high incidences of the virus in neighboring Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties.  The Presidential Task Force has cautioned that those leaving the city should be “self-quarantining” for 14 days, but I suspect many have not.  Either they were not aware they had the virus, or they were careless.  NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio has told reporters that the city could “run out of critical resources as early as April 5.”  Sentiment is growing for a “full lockdown.”  Public advocate Jumaane Williams opined “we need a mandated lockdown, and we needed it yesterday.”  Reports are that authorities are considering it.  By the time you read this it may have been declared.

How did this happen?  What is different about NYC that has caused this situation, which seems to be getting worse by the day.  It has almost reached the tipping point.  Everyone has their theories.  Below please find mine.  Some are fairly obvious; others may appear controversial.

1. NYC is a very densely populated city, especially Manhattan.  People are living in very close proximity to each other.
2. The primary modes of travel within the city are bus and subway.  I cannot think of easier ways to spread contagion unwittingly.  If you have ever ridden the subway you know what I mean.
3. NYC has many large gathering places where people congregate, for example, movie theatres, Broadway shows, sporting arenas, hotels, parks, just everyday moving about.  People are always in crowds.
4. NYC is primarily an international city.  There are always thousands of transients visiting it from all over the country and the world.
5. All that said, based on various news reports as well as empirical evidence, it is becoming increasingly obvious that NYC was ill-prepared to deal with the outbreak.  I believe this responsibility falls primary on Governor Cuomo, Mayor Bill De Blasio. and other officials.  Even commentator, Geraldo Rivera, normally a liberal, characterized De Blasio as “AWOL.”  There have been many examples of poor leadership, but I will cite just a few.  I have provided more details in previous blogs on the virus.

a.  On February 2 NYC Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot was trying to hype the                    upcoming Chinese New Year parade and celebration in NYC’s Chinatown.  She                      downplayed the outbreak.  She put out a statement calling for people to “enjoy                    the parade…ride the subways.”

b.  Around the same time the NY Times, which many people consider the ultimate                   news source, labeled President Trump’s newly installed travel ban  as “racist                       attacks on Asians.”

c.  The NY Post has reported that Cuomo has wasted roughly $200 million that had                   been made available for stockpiling medical supplies on boondoggles such as a                   solar panel factory, a lightbulb factory and a computer chip factory all of which                   have either been taken over or closed.

CONCLUSION

With respect to the aid package as I said it may have its flaws, but the alternative would have been a deep recession or even a depression.  Hopefully, it will achieve the desired result.  Some commentators have been warning that another package may be necessary.  We’ll see.

With respect to NYC I believe the feds have been doing all they can to provide assistance.  Medical equipment has been provided, in some cases, exceeding current demand.  Funding has been provided for five temporary hospitals throughout the city, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester.  A huge hospital ship is en route.

It was reported that the US now has the highest number of coronavirus cases, even more than China.  Of course, that is not good news, but I maintain that it is due to China’s severe underreporting.  Be that as it may, many people have found it necessary to politicize that disclosure.   For example, I and many others found Hillary Clinton’s inane, gleeful, and despicable comments regarding this news deeply disturbing.  While Americans are getting sick and dying her comment was “well, he did promise America first.”  I guess, we should not be surprised in view of her comments regarding the four Americans who died at Benghazi.  (“What difference at this point does it matter?  They’re dead!”)  In my view, she is an irrelevant has-been fighting for relevancy.

Unfortunately, some facilities are overwhelmed.  Kudos to the healthcare workers who are putting their own health and that of their families in danger by working long hours in dangerous conditions.  During the 1918 pandemic many healthcare workers got sick, which exacerbated the situation significantly.  Let us hope and pray this doesn’t happen now.