Random Thoughts - 10-17-2021

Courtesy of CDC

Covid

It's been nearly 2 years, depending on the actual start. Here is some stats, courtesy of Our World in Data...

• 47.5% of the world population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
• 6.65 billion doses have been administered globally, and 20.44 million are now administered each day.
• Only 2.7% of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose.

In the USA, we have achieved 68.4% fully vaccinated of persons 18 and over, per the CDC. 

Burrowing down, indicates my state (Kentucky) has 69.86% of that age groups full vaccinated. 

• The seven day average infection rate (KY) of 1, 932 compared to average daily rate from beginning of 1,265. 
• The seven day average death rate is 34, compared to average daily rate since the beginning of 16.

I eagerly anticipated the point where the 7 day death rate falls below the "since beginning" rate. 

The average age of infection and deaths has fallen since pre-vaccination, when the death rate was primarily over 60, with 92% of deaths above that range, with above 80 counting over half of deaths, 70~80 was about 1/4 and 60~70 was about 1/7. The average age was approximately 78, with infection's average age at 44. 

Since the start, the average age of death is now 74 and infections at 40, with the 7-day age of death at 66 and infection at 37.

The good news if such a thing is possible... both infections and deaths are dropping rather fast. However, this is a global pandemic and until that low income vaccination rate above improves... another wave of some new variant is not out of the realm of possibilities. 

The WHO has decried wealthier countries with plentiful vaccine access are...

Hoarding

Tis true, but food hoarding is starting to crop up... and I don't mean just in my pantry. There are countries that are net exporters of food and countries that are net importers. Whether you believe in climate change is irrelevant at this specific point in time. Weather has wreaked havoc on food importing AND exporting countries. Importing regions such as large swaths of heavily populated countries in Asia and most of Africa

The extent is some countries are beginning to limit exports, due to their own needs, just as countries that import are facing reduced crops. 

While it is likely food shortages will occur in some areas, much higher prices will be likely for all. It is no different than natural gas, petroleum, coal, etc. 

While I have received my booster shot and have a full to overflowing pantry, does not mean I am immune to the potential of societal breakdown on a global scale. If it comes, it will be due to a dearth of leadership. It is what fills that void, that is the worry. 

Of course, I am probably over reacting and everything is hunky dory!