A Look at COVID-19

www.GlobeMiamiTimes.com A Look at Covid-19 in MAY

We will take a look at the pandemic as it unfolds each month and have divided our coverage into four categories: Pandemic Numbers,

Economic Impacts, Healthcare Impacts and Personal Impacts. Each category is then broken down into world, USA, Arizona, and Globe-Miami news. WORLD VIEW

Pandemic by the Numbers

WORLD VIEW

✦ During the month of May, 3,039,713 people became infected and 153,272 people died worldwide as a result of COVID-19.

As of May 31, the world had a total of 6,130,158 confirmed cases and 371,041 reported deaths.

✦ May 10, global confirmed cases passed 4 million. May 21, the world passed 5 million

ARIZONA VIEW confirmed cases. ✦ May 14, global deaths attributed to COVID-19 passed 300,000.

✦ May 19, Brazil became the country with the third-largest number of confirmed infections, after the United States and Russia.

✦ USA VIEW Britain is seeing high rates of infection and death. In terms of excess deaths per million of population, “Britain’s rate is not just three times America’s but possibly the worst in the

WORLD VIEW world, at 890 against American’s roughly 250.” (Britain had locked down late, after initially embracing a “herd immunity” policy.) #1 ✦ ✦ GLOBE-MIAMI VIEW May 27, Spain began 10 days of nationwide mourning for victims of the coronavirus. During May, the pandemic’s main action shifted to Latin America and the Middle East. #2

ARIZONA VIEW

WORLD VIEW

ARIZONA VIEW ✦ May 4, the number of confirmed cases in Arizona passed 10,000. May 21, the number of confirmed cases in Arizona passed 15,000. ARIZONA VIEW ✦ In May, Arizona had a total of 14,130 confirmed cases, ending the month with a total 19,936 confirmed cases since the pandemic began. During May, 484 people died in

USA VIEW Arizona as a result of COVID-19, bringing the total to 906 as of May 31. For Arizona, fatalities per 100,000 population was 12.6 and cases per 100,000 was 277.3.

USA VIEW GLOBE-MIAMI VIEW

GLOBE-MIAMI VIEW

✦ Gila County began the month with 13 cases (7 in Globe, 5 in

Payson, and 1 in Hayden). The county ended the month with 31 confirmed cases and two deaths. Most cases are divided between Globe and Payson.

✦ The first death from coronavirus in Gila County occurred on May 8, a Payson man in his 80s, and the second occurred on May 14, a Tonto Basin man in his 90s. #4

✦ Hospital visits peaked in the first week of April and then declined during the rest of April and May, probably thanks to the lockdown reducing infection rates. #5

Healing people, not saving (money) to help the economy (is important), healing people, who are more important than the economy.” – Pope Francis

USA VIEW

✦ During the month of May, 742,147 people became infected and 42,815 people died in the United States as a result of COVID-19. As of May 31, the United States had a total of 1,837,170 confirmed cases and 106,195 reported deaths.

✦ May 11, the US death toll passed 80,000. May 18, the USA passed 90,000 deaths and 1.5 million confirmed cases. May 26, the United

States passed 100,000 confirmed deaths. GLOBE-MIAMI VIEW ✦ During this month, surges occurred in rural areas, particularly in areas with meat-packing plants or prisons, “where the virus took hold and spread with abandon, then leaped into the community when workers took it home.” Surges occurred in Nashville, Tennessee;

Des Moines, Iowa; Amarillo, Texas; Racine, Wisconsin; Garden City, Kansas; and Central City, Kentucky, among other places.#3

ECONOMIC IMPACTS

WORLD VIEW

✦ According to the Guardian, “Surveys of business activity show the world economy continued to shrink at a record pace this month, albeit at a slower pace than in April when most major countries’ lockdown measures were toughest. After imposing tight controls on business and social life later than other European countries, Britain’s economy appears to be underperforming many other wealthy nations. China, as the first country struck by Covid-19, is gradually recovering as lockdown controls are lifted.” #6

✦ ARIZONA VIEW Preliminary numbers suggested that the pandemic crisis has reduced global trade by 3%, and by March, global industrial production had fallen by about 4.6% compared to 2019. However, globally, workers were getting back to work in May. The share of workers affected by temporary workplace closures decreased from 81% to 68% over the second half of May. At the end of May, experts were predicting that global

USA VIEW economic growth could contract by as much as 8.8% because of the pandemic. The most optimistic predictions only went as high as 1% growth.

✦ However, on May 27 the Guardian reported: “Global financial markets have risen in the past month amid hopes for a vaccine and that the economic fallout from Covid-19 can be contained. Some analysts warn that

GLOBE-MIAMI VIEW markets are failing to reflect the scale of the international recession and risk that no vaccine is found. The FTSE 100 has risen 3% in the past month.” (By the end of the month, the stock markets had turned lower again because of tensions over Hong Kong.)

✦ Oil output by OPEC members fell to its lowest level since 2002 in May. #8 ✦ In England, the Bank of England cut interest rates to a record low 0.1% and injected an additional £200 WORLD VIEW billion into the financial system, taking its stimulus programme to £645 billion. About a third of the British workforce are receiving wage subsidies from the Treasury. #9

✦ In Spain, economic instability worsened by the pandemic led the government to approve a nationwide minimum income plan designed to reach 850,000 households. #10 ARIZONA VIEW

WORLD VIEW

✦ During May, Gov. Ducey’s office announced allocations of funds from the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund to various programs and ARIZONA VIEW organizations, including: $500,000 for

Arizona food banks to help fight hunger; $100,000 to programs across the state supporting Arizona kids with special needs who have been

USA VIEW impacted by COVID-19; $300,000 to organizations across the state that support senior citizens, the homebound and those who are medically fragile; $100,000 to organizations that support foster families; $300,000 to organizations providing Arizonans in need with rental assistance, telehealth ✦ GLOBE-MIAMI VIEW and transportation to health services; and $500,000 to organizations that provide out-of-school child care in the state. #12 Gov. Ducey’s office also announced that it will provide nearly $600 million in coronavirus relief and recovery dollars for local Arizona governments and nonprofits. The plan includes $441 million in direct, flexible funding to local cities, towns and counties that did not receive direct funding earlier this year from the federal government. In addition, local governments, tribal communities, schools and more will be eligible for expedited reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) for coronavirus-related expenses, including purchases of testing supplies, PPE and more. #13

✦ Ducey’s office also announced that the Arizona Enrichment Centers

Program will expand to offer prioritized child care for the children of grocery store employees and food bank workers. Enrichment Centers have already been providing child care for first responders, critical health care workers and essential public sector workers serving others as Arizona works to slow the spread of COVID-19. The program will also continue to offer prioritized care and scholarships to eligible families through the end of July. #14

USA VIEW

✦ In May, US job losses exceeded 40 million. By the middle of the month, 100,000 small businesses had gone under. (Washington Post)

✦ Mid-May, essential workers were striking across the country for better pay and GLOBE-MIAMI VIEW safer working conditions in food service, meat processing, retail, manufacturing, transportation, and healthcare. Workers said employers were prioritizing profits over workers’ health. #11

✦ May 27, the New York Stock Exchange reopened after two months of closure.

✦ May 28, AP reported that the US economy shrank at a 5% rate in the first quarter of 2020, even worse than first thought, with much bigger fall expected in Q2. A U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report released in May shows that grocery prices jumped by 4.3% in

April, their highest monthly increase in nearly 50 years. The world has seen many crises over the past 30 years, including the Global Financial Crisis of 2007-09. Each has hit human development hard but, overall, development gains accrued globally year-on-year. COVID-19 – with its triple hit to health, education, and income – may change this trend.”

WORLD VIEW WORLD VIEW

PERSONAL IMPACTS ARIZONA VIEW ✦ May 8, retail shops, hair salons and barbershops that followed new health guidelines were allowed to reopen under a revised stay-at-home order. May 11, restaurants adhering to guidelines

WORLD VIEW ✦ In Geneva, Switzerland, one of the richest cities in the world, people waited in mile-long lines for food - mostly lower-class people who had lost their jobs. #16 were given the green light to resume dine-in service. ✦ 12 May, Gov. Ducey announces “reopening” of Arizona, to take effect May 15. Ducey said the state had met criteria for reopening, but critics argued that data didn’t show this. #23 ARIZONA VIEW ARIZONA VIEW ✦ Some countries closed again after relaxing restrictions, due to new spikes in infections. #15 ✦ Among many celebrities offering music and other performances online, Sir Patrick ✦ USA VIEW May 15: The statewide stay-at-home order expires. Tonto National Forest opens many recreational sites, per Governor Ducey’s phased reopening of Arizona. USA VIEW

USA VIEW Stewart continued his pandemic practice of reading a sonnet a day - available on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. https://www.instagram.com/sirpatstew/ ✦ Across Latin America, indigenous peoples are cutting off their communities from the outside world, worried that the coronavirus could pose a grave threat to their culture by putting at risk tribal elders, the keepers of their heritage. #17 WORLD VIEW GLOBE-MIAMI VIEW GLOBE-MIAMI VIEW ✦ ✦ May 20: A Lights and Siren Parade of police and fire vehicles takes place at CVRMC. May 21: San Carlos High School posts a video of their virtual graduation. Globe High School holds pre-graduation ceremony ✦ An 11-year-old Brazilian skateboarder took advantage of lockdown to perfect a 1080- degree turn. #18 ARIZONA VIEW at Harbison Field with staggered times and social distancing, calling it a Graduate Sign Walk. GLOBE-MIAMI VIEW ✦ May 8, two White House staffers tested positive. ✦ ✦ May 23: Golf course at CVRC re-opens to members only. May 28: Miami High School holds a Diploma Celebration USA VIEW ✦ May 27: For the first time in history, the U.S. House of Representatives is voting remotely. Republicans are challenging the constitutionality of the move. #20 where seniors lined up in their cars and diplomas were handed out through the vehicle window as they drove through the front parking lot. ✦ Bartering is becoming popular. In some cities, people are taking up bartering with neighbors for grocery store

GLOBE-MIAMI VIEW items that are in short supply. A person who has excess will trade for something they’re in need of. #21 ✦ The Boston Marathon, originally postponed to September, was cancelled. It will be held as a virtual event. #22

HEALTHCARE IMPACTS COVID-19 hasn’t stopped being infectious just because we’ve socially isolated. Nothing magic happened while we were home.”

WORLD VIEW

✦ The International Council of Nurses estimates at least 90,000 healthcare workers have been infected, and more than 260 nurses have died. #24

WORLD VIEW

– Andy Slavitt

✦ Violence against healthcare workers occurred around the world. According to a comment in The Lancet, “Nurses and doctors have been pelted with eggs and physically assaulted in

ARIZONA VIEW Mexico. In the Philippines, a nurse was reportedly attacked by men who poured bleach on his face, damaging his vision. Across India, reports describe health-care workers being beaten, and allow intelligent decisions to be made regarding the stay at home and

stoned, spat on, threatened, and evicted from their homes. These are just a few examples WORLD VIEW among many across numerous countries, including the USA and Australia.” #25

✦ USA VIEW According to UN health experts, a mental illness crisis is looming as millions of people worldwide are surrounded by death and disease and forced into isolation, poverty and anxiety by the pandemic. #26 ARIZONA VIEW

GLOBE-MIAMI VIEW USA VIEW

✦ By May 13, roughly 27 million Americans had lost their job-based healthcare because they’d become unemployed. About 80% had other options (such as Medicaid, the ACA or CHIP), but 20% were out of luck. #27

✦ A mystery illness emerged in children that appeared to be related to the coronavirus.

GLOBE-MIAMI VIEW According to the New York Times (May 6): “There are now at least 50 reported cases in New York State, and several more across the United States and in Europe. The symptoms include fever, rash, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. … Some have needed a mechanical ventilator to help them breathe. The condition suggests that, contrary to early hopes, children will not be spared all of the virus’s most serious effects.” On May 7, a 5-year-old died in New York City from this illness. #28

✦ May 18, the first human trial of a U.S.-developed vaccine appears promising. However, a quarter of Americans have little or no interest in taking a coronavirus vaccine, a Reuters/

Ipsos poll published on May 21 found, with some voicing concern that the record pace at which vaccine candidates are being developed could compromise safety.#29

✦ Also on May 18, Donald Trump revealed he’s taking hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malarial drug that the FDA says hasn’t been proven to work for COVID-19 and could cause fatal side-effects. #30

✦ There has been controversy over granting of legal immunity for negligence to nursing home operators. One study found that people are 7.5 times more likely to die from

COVID-19 in states with corporate legal immunity for nursing homes. Nineteen states have enacted some form of immunity for hospitals and nursing homes during the pandemic. Arizona is one of them. #31

✦ May 29: “The Department of Veterans Affairs has drastically scaled back the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat veterans with COVID-19 after a major study raised questions

ARIZONA VIEW

WORLD VIEW ✦ During May, Arizona’s ICU bed usage began around 75% and was in the low 80s at the end of the month. Ventilator usage increased from around 29% to about 34%.

ARIZONA VIEW USA VIEW ✦ Gov. Ducey ordered a “testing blitz” to determine infection rates and ensure first responders haven’t been exposed to the virus. The priorities for this testing are: to determine the extent of the population affected by COVID-19 about its efficacy and linked it to serious side effects, including higher risks of death.” #32

closure orders; and to assure that our first responders have not been exposed

USA VIEW GLOBE-MIAMI VIEW so they are able to respond. Testing events were held across the state beginning in the middle of May.

GLOBE-MIAMI VIEW

✦ May 1: Elective surgeries are back on the schedule at CVRMC after Gov. Ducey lifts restrictions. A backlog of hundreds of surgeries postponed during the shutdown are prioritized and scheduled in coordination with local physicians.

✦ May 16: Through May 21, CVRMC conducts blitz testing at hospitals and clinics in Superior,

Kearny, Tonto Basin and Pleasant Valley.

✦ May 23: Canyonlands Healthcare of Globe hosts free drive-through COVID-19 testing.

If we skip over the checkpoints in the guidelines to ‘Open America Again,’ then we risk the danger of multiple outbreaks throughout the country. This will not only result in needless suffering and death, but would actually set us back on our quest to return to normal.” – Anthony Fauci

1] https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/29/britain-shame-coronavirus-deaths-economic-collapse 2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/05/29/coronavirus-live-updates-us 3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/ nation/2020/05/24/coronavirus-rural-america-outbreaks, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/unreleased-white-house-report-shows-coronavirus-rates-spiking-heartland-communities-n1204751 4] https://www.gilacountyaz.gov/ news_detail_T5_R475.php 5] http://www.readygila.com/ 6] https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/may/27/how-the-coronavirus-crisis-has-hit-the-uk-economic-outlook 7] https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/may/27/howthe-coronavirus-crisis-has-hit-the-uk-economic-outlook 8] https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2020/may/29/hong-kong-tensions-end-winning-streak-for-global-stock-markets-coronavirus-covid19-markets-sterling-eurozone-inflationbusiness-live 9] https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/may/28/bank-of-england-rate-maker-sets-out-gloomy-economic-forecast 10] https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/05/29/coronavirus-live-updates-us 11] https:// www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/19/strikes-erupt-us-essential-workers-demand-better-protection-amid-pandemic 12] hhttps://azgovernor.gov 13] https://azgovernor.gov/governor/news/2020/05/nearly-600-million-going-localgovernments-nonprofits 14] https://azgovernor.gov/governor/news/2020/05/arizona-enrichment-centers-offer-child-care-grocery-store-food-bank-employees 15] www.washingtonpost.com/world/as-some-countries-ease-up-others-arereimposing-lockdowns-amid-a-resurgence-of-coronavirus-infections/2020/05/12/6373cf6a-9455-11ea-87a3-22d324235636_story.html 16] https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/30/world/europe/geneva-coronavirus-reopening.html 17] https:// www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/05/latin-americas-indigenous-protect-coronavirus 18] https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/may/11/lockdown-spurs-11-year-old-skateboarder-to-make-history-with-first-1080-degree-turn 19] https:// www.nytimes.com/2020/05/08/us/politics/white-house-coronavirus-safety.html 20] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/house-to-cast-first-ever-remote-vote-as-republicans-wage-constitutional-challenge/2020/05/27/eb49e478- a02c-11ea-81bb-c2f70f01034b_story.html 21] https://www.eater.com/2020/5/8/21249529/the-barter-system-during-coronavirus-covid-19-trade-food 22] https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-marathon-2/2020/05/28/2020-bostonmarathon-canceled 23] https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/05/12/coronavirus-update-us24] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/90-000-healthcare-workers-infected-with-covid-19-icn/1831765 25] https://www.icn.ch/system/files/ documents/2020-05/Lancet%20nurses%20attack%20article%2021May2020.pdf 26] https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/05/united-nations-global-mental-health-crisis-covid19-pandemic 27] https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-27- million-lost-employer-health-insurance-c77fe46a-691d-49b3-9cd2-3ad6d19df159.html 28] https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/08/nyregion/coronavirus-new-york-update.html#link-3a6c1cdb 29] https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/ may/18/first-human-trial-results-raise-hopes-for-coronavirus-vaccine 30] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/19/first-thing-trump-reveals-he-is-taking-hydroxychloroquine 31] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/ may/26/andrew-cuomo-nursing-home-execs-immunity 32] https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/05/29/coronavirus-live-updates-us