Us And Them (Although It's Really All Us)

Interesting comparison between the US and Canada in the trend of new COVID-19 cases.

Back in the beginning of March [Wow, seems a lot longer ago than one month when things were still relatively normal] the US & Canadian # of cases (per million population) were the same.

In fact, the Canadian rate was slightly higher until March 9th.

After that the US rate really took off!

[As always, click the graphs to zoom in.]

Why the difference?  Why did the US rate take off like that?

Dunno.

In fact, the US had slapped travel bans on China, Iran, South Korea and Europe well before Canada.

And were quarantining returning travelers at military bases.

When I returned, all I got was, "You know you have to self quarantine for two weeks, right?"

The difference in death rates is even more dramatic.

Most of that is probably driven by New York.

But I don't think we should get too smug.  It may only be a matter of timing.

If I shift the Canadian "Cases" graph back just over a week, the trends look disturbingly similar.

Our actions over the next two weeks could decide the shape of our graph.


On to yesterday's Canadian stats......

New case increases attenuating a little.

Deaths, however, continue, seemingly unabated.  [Ed. Note: Attenuating? Unabated? Have you been listening to too much CNN?]

Large increases in Quebec (25) and Ontario (14).

A large portion of the Ontario increase, as previously discussed, has occurred at long term care homes.

That devastated rural Ontario nursing has now lost 20 of their 65 residents.

So stay home.

On the plus side, I am saving a lot on soap and shaving cream.