A Relentless Opponent (Pandemic Part XII)

Sarah started school in mid-September, with a mix of in-person and online instruction, and the virus seems under control in our part of the state. The picture was not so rosy in other parts of the country, particularly the Upper Midwest, where we have lots of family and friends. And then, of course, Trump delivered perhaps the biggest October surprise in history by getting the virus. 2020 continued to amaze and torture us all.

Mon., Sept. 14

• Took Sarah to pick up her computer at school. It was so sad to see event tents set up around the building for outdoor learning.

Wed., Sept. 16

• Sarah started 7th grade remotely, 8-10 a.m.
• The Big 10 conference reversed its decision (under pressure from Trump) and will play football in October.

Thurs., Sept. 17

• The director of the CDC said masks are essential; we could control the virus in six weeks if everyone wore one. He said a vaccine will be available during the second quarter of 2021. Trump said the director was confused -- masks aren't important, and the vaccine will be ready in October.

Sun., Sept. 20

• The bell at the National Cathedral rang 200 times, once for every 1,000 Americans dead from the virus.

Mon., Sept. 21

• Sarah's first in-person day of seventh grade.

Tues., Sept. 22

• 200,000 dead in the U.S., nearly a million worldwide.
• Older black men make up a disproportionate share of deaths in the U.S.
• The virus hit big cities first; now half of all cases are in rural areas, where healthcare isn't as accessible and people don't follow guidelines.

Wed., Sept. 23

• The virus is mutating, so we may need to have new vaccinations every year like the flu shot.
• The virus was resurging in Europe; Prime Minister Boris Johnson increased restrictions in the United Kingdom.

Thurs., Sept. 24

• A CDC study showed 20 percent of of cases over the summer were in 20-somethings.
• Stephen Colbert talked about "doomscrolling": When you can't stop scrolling through your social media accounts to find the latest bad news.

Fri., Sept. 25

• There had been seven million cases worldwide.
• Johnson & Johnson had a promising one-shot vaccine.
• Florida Governor Ron DeSantis opened bars and restaurants completely; masks not required. 
• A study published in The Lancet said only one in ten Americans has been exposed to the virus (so there's a lot of room for spread). Researchers at Stanford University tested plasma from kidney dialysis centers in July.
• The national masking rate was 48 percent.
• A cluster of 13 off-campus students at UMass were diagnosed with the virus after attending a large party with no social distancing or masks.
• Don flew to Minnesota to attend his father's military burial on Monday.

Sat., Sept. 26

• After devastating New York City in the spring and causing a crisis in the Sunbelt in the summer, the virus was spreading through small cities in the Midwest. There were 2,000 new cases/day in Wisconsin.
• Trump held a ceremony to nominate Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court in the Rose Garden at the White House, with more than 200 guests, seated closely, most without masks. It became a super-spreader event.

Mon., Sept. 28

• The suicide rate in the military was up 20 percent over last year.
•  Of the one million deaths globally, half were in the U.S., Brazil, India, and Mexico. Cases were rising in Israel and resurging in the United Kingdom, Spain, and Italy.
• There was growing concern about Dr. Scott Atlas, a radiologist who joined Trump's coronavirus task force in August -- he questions masks and promotes herd immunity.
• Don's dad was buried with military honors at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Tues., Sept. 29

• The UMass cluster was up to 18.
• Don returned from Minnesota and started a state-mandated 14-day quarantine. He slept in the office and used the downstairs bathroom, while Sarah and I used the upstairs. We tried to maintain as much distance as possible and hoped for the best.

Thurs., Oct. 1

• Trump advisor Hope Hicks tested positive.
• Adm. Brett Giroir, Trump's coronavirus testing czar, announced 150 million rapid antigen tests will be available from the federal government in the coming months. Fifty million will go to virus hotspots; the remaining will be distributed to states by population.
• The virus was out of control in Wisconsin, 

Fri., Oct. 2

• In the middle of night, Trump announced that he and Melania had the virus; by mid-day, Trump was showing symptoms; and by late afternoon, he was  transferred to Walter Reed Hospital and given an experimental treatment (Regeneron monoclonal antibody cocktail). Melania had a headache and mild cough.
• Republican Senators Thom Tillis (NC) and Mike Lee (UT) tested positive.
• It appeared Saturday's Rose Garden ceremony for Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett, could be a super-spreader event.
• In September, women left the workforce at a rate four times that of men, as schools remained closed and childcare needs increased.

Sat., Oct. 3

• Former Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway, former Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie, Sen. Ron Johnson (WI), Trump's campaign manager, and the head of the Republican Party were diagnosed with the virus. Christie checked himself into a hospital because he has asthma.
• Trump was given Remdesivir and Dexamethasone, a steroid.
• UMass had 34 new cases in the last two days.

Sun., Oct. 4

• Trump's doctor was evasive at a press conference, obviously trying to downplay the severity of his condition.
• Trump left Walter Reed to ride past his supporters outside in a black SUV driven by two Secret Service agents in personal protective equipment, potentially endangering their lives.

Mon., Oct. 5

• White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany tested positive for the virus.
• Trump returned to the White House in the evening and told Americans not to be afraid of the virus. He stood on the South Portico, took off his mask, saluted Marine One, and posed like a dictator. He then entered the residence maskless with people around him.
• The CDC said the virus can be spread through small droplets that can travel more than six feet and hang in the air for minutes or hours.
• 210,000 Americans were dead from the virus.

Don is on Day 6 of his quarantine; so far so good. The median incubation time before symptoms is 4-5 days, so we're feeling more confident that he doesn't have it. It can show up anywhere between 2 and 12 days, though. I'll be greatly relieved to reach Columbus/Indigenous People's Day, Oct. 12.