Day 130 - Thursday 12 November 2020

One of my regular readers and contributors to the blog took umbrage to my comment yesterday about Gough Whitlam being the worst prime minister that Australia has ever had.  After a careful review of his argument and consideration of my position I stand by my statement.  After all who has ever changed their mind by losing an argument.

Victoria has recorded 13 zero - zero days with no new infections or deaths.  Apparently a traveller flying from Melbourne to Adelaide has tested positive however subject to further testing is considered to be a 'virus shedder'.  Which I think is somebody that has already had the virus and has been counted but apparently is still carrying some evidence of the infection.  I am not sure if at that stage if they are still infectious or not. 

Our zero - zero outcome was as a result of nearly 21,000 test results in the last 24 hours, so the testing number are being maintained.

There were 8 new infections recorded Australia wide in the last 24 hours, none in Victoria, 5 in NSW and 3 in Qld, all overseas travellers in hotel quarantine.  There are 78 active cases Australia wide with 3 of those in Victoria.

The Victorian 14 day average is as below;

11/11: Metro .3, Regional .0, Total .3

12/11: Metro .1, Regional .0, Total .1

That folks, was the good news, now for the bad news.

Worldwide the position has continued to deteriorate.  Worldwide the total number of infections increased by over 4,000,000 to 52,400,000.  Last week the increase was 3,700,000 and 3,300,000 the week before.

Worldwide there were 59,000 further deaths taking the total number of worldwide deaths to 1,300,000.  Last week the increase in deaths worldwide was 52,000 and the week before 43,000.

The USA, Brazil and Mexico all reported increases in the number of infections for the week with India reporting a small decrease.  The USA reported 908,000 new infections up from 678,000 the previous week; Brazil recorded 158,000 new infections and increase from 121,000 the previous week and Mexico reported 40,000 new infections an increase from 37,000 the previous week.  India reported 320,000 new infections down from 325,000 the previous week.  Between them these four countries reported 36% (31%) of all new infections for the week.

The USA reported an increase in the number of deaths for the week (last week's figures in brackets) 7,500 deaths (6,700); Brazil a decline to 2,236 deaths (2,700); Mexico an increase to 3,200 (2,800) and India an increase to 3,800 (3,791).  These 4 countries reported 29% (31%) of the worldwide deaths for the week.

Things are still looking grim in Europe although the rate of increase in new infections appears to have settled down a bit, probably due to the reintroduction of isolation and lockdown, but the death rates are still increasing. 

The UK reported 595 new deaths in the last 24 hours bringing their total number of deaths to 50,000.  In the last week the UK reported 158,000 new infections for the week up from 157,000 the previous week and 153,000 the week before; Spain recorded 106,000 new infections down from 162,000 the previous week and 148,000 the week before, a significant decrease; Italy recorded 238,000 new infections for the week an increase from 201,000 the previous week and 140,000 the week before, still got problems in Italy; France reported 322,000 new infections for the week an increase from 308,000 the previous week and 278,000 the previous week.  These four countries reported 21% of the worldwide new infections down from 23% the week before.

The UK reported 2,600 new deaths for the week up from 2,100 the previous week; Spain reported 2,000 deaths a decrease from 2,700 the previous week; Italy reported 3,200 deaths a large increase from 1,900 reported the previous week; France reported 3,900 deaths also a significant increase from 2,900 the week before.  These four countries reported 20% of the new deaths for the week an increase from 18% the week before.

All up these 8 countries account for 54% of the new worldwide infections for the week and 49% of the new deaths.

I expect that even if the infection rate starts to flatten the death rate will continue to increase given the time lag between infections and deaths.

Food for thought, if Australia had the same death rate per million of population as the UK we would have experienced 18,000 deaths instead of the 900 that we have.

Corona Virus Daily Stats – Towards Covid Normal – 14 day stage – Day 4

Date	Aus Infected	Aus Increase	Vic Infected	Vic Increase	Aus Death	Vic Death	Aus Hospl	Vic Hospital	Aus ICU	Vic ICU
08/11	27,655	3	20,345	0	907	819	19	2	1	0
9/11	27,665	7	20,345	0	907	819	19	2	1	0
10/11	27,678	10	20,345	0	907	819	21	2	0	0
11/11	27,686	8	20,345	0	907	819	21	2	0	0
12/11	27,694	8	20,345	0	907	819	23	2	0	0
13/11

Country	Population	Infected No	Infected Increase	Deaths No	Deaths Increase No	Deaths per Million Population
Belgium	11,500,000	504,475	51,165	13,561	1,435	1179
UK	68,000,000	1,256,725	157,666	50,365	2,623	741
Spain	47,000,000	1,463,093	106,295	40,105	1,987	853
Italy	60,000,000	1,028,424	238,047	42,953	3,189	716
Sweden	10,000,000	166,707	28,977	6,082	85	608
France	65,000,000	1,865,538	322,217	42,535	3,861	654
USA	331,000,000	10,704,942	908,128	247,281	7,476	747
Brazil	213,000,000	5,749,007	158,066	163,406	2,236	767
Mexico	129,000,000	978,531	40,126	95,842	3,249	743
South Africa	59,000,000	742,394	11,846	20,011	426	339
Russia	146,000,000	1,836,960	143,506	31,593	2,376	216
World	7,800,000,000	52,418,061	4,009,098	1,288,778	58,695	165
India	1,300,000,000	8,684,039	320,627	128,164	3,810	99
Australia	25,000,000	27,686	66	907	0	36
New Zealand	5,000,000	1,988	17	25	0	5

Corona Virus International Stats as at 12/11/2020

And now the Towards Covid Normal remembers;

Remember: Keep wearing your mask!; remember to remember Remembrance Day; the price of corona virus liberty is eternal vigilance.