Six months on

Submitted by AWL on 3 June, 2020 - 3:28
Wuhan

We’re now six months on from when Covid-19 emerged in Wuhan, China.

Eleven weeks from the start of deaths rising exponentially in Europe, then the USA, and lockdowns spreading.

About eleven weeks, also, from when the first lockdown-easing started, in China; about 8 weeks from the start of lockdown-easing in Europe.

Six weeks from the death peaks worldwide and in the USA, maybe eight from the peak in Europe.

Death rates have continued to fall in countries easing lockdowns, with occasional and local blips. We don’t know why, or whether it will last, but that’s been true in the USA and (at least until an uptick in the last three days) Iran as well as where the lockdowns have been eased with care and caution. Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Russia, India are now the main countries with death curves rising (more linearly than exponentially, as in Europe in late March). We don’t know whether a “second wave” will come later in the year.

Requisitioning of industry to produce PPE and other medical supplies, workers’ control, work or full pay, reconversion plans, and shorter work weeks without loss of pay, remain critical demands.

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