Our Response to COVID-19: Information
Globally
Good evening,

August 13, 2020 -- Today’s global tally of 284,833 new COVID-19 infections is slightly up from yesterday's, and about 23,000 above the week’s daily average report of new cases. India is now leading the world with new daily reports above 60,000 -- eight out of the last nine day -- and ahead of all other countries for the sixth straight day. The United States reports are inching downward and, today ended third behind Brazil’s 59,147 new cases (see US section below). Unfortunately, new hot spots are rising in Eastern Europe, Africa, South America, and the Middle East. Highlighted below are a few of the troubling countries from around the globe, which peaked again today, with new or persistent flares: Iraq (rank: 21), Ukraine (31), Romania (40), and Ethiopia (65). If you have been reading these daily reports, you will recognize the unmistakably worrisome shape of the countries’ epidemiological curves. Other countries near Ukraine and Romania also show signs of aggressive spread, Poland and Moldova particularly, which I will study over the next few days.

  • COVID-19 Global cases: 21,077,546 (+284,833)
  • COVID-19 Global deaths: 753,390 (+6,984)
  • COVID-19 Global death rate: 3.57%
  • COVID-19 Global tests* (est.): 381,759,945 (+3,831,245) 
  • COVID-19 Global positivity rate: 5.52%
  • COVID-19 Global singe-day positivity rate: 7.43%

*:incomplete data set
Tip: click on any of the graphs for larger and clearer images and click on READ MORE to view the complete articles.

Note: Please forgive the occasional typos. I write these reports at the end of the work day and I have seen them creep in, undetected by my tired evening eyes. I hope they do not bother you as much as they annoy me.
Iraq COVID-19 Data

  • rank: 21
  • cases: 164,277 (+3,841) PEAK
  • deaths: 5,641 (+53)
  • death rate: 3.39%
  • positivity rate: 13.49%
Ukraine COVID-19 Data

  • rank: 31
  • cases: 86,140 (+1,592) PEAK
  • deaths: 1,992 (+22)
  • death rate: 2.31%
  • positivity rate: 6.98%
Romania COVID-19 Data

  • rank: 40
  • cases: 66,631 (+1,454) PEAK
  • deaths: 2,860 (+53)
  • death rate: 4.29%
  • positivity rate: 4.62%
Ethiopia COVID-19 Data

  • rank: 65
  • cases: 26,204 (+1,086) PEAK
  • deaths: 479 (+16)
  • death rate: 1.83%
  • positivity rate: 4.83%
Global coronavirus deaths top 750,000 | aljazeera.com

Germany optimistic about vaccine; UN warns virus could worsen conflicts; Brazil signs deal to make Russian vaccine.

Worldwide coronavirus cases have surpassed 20.7 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University. More than 12.8 million have recovered, and more than 751,000 have died. 

German Health Minister Jens Spahn says he expects that there will be a COVID-19 vaccine in the coming months.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warns that the coronavirus pandemic not only threatens gains in fighting poverty and building peace, but also risks exacerbating old conflicts and generating new ones. 

President Vladimir Putin says Russia has developed the first vaccine offering "sustainable immunity" against the coronavirus, but the World Health Organization says it does not have enough information to evaluate it...READ MORE
In the US
U.S. reports highest COVID-19 fatalities in two weeks, but real death toll could be higher | nbcnews.com

The U.S. logged the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in two weeks, a new NBC News tally showed Thursday, but widespread testing shortages raised concerns that the figures coming out of the hardest-hit states might not be presenting a true picture of this deadly pandemic.

The 1,424 fatalities reported Wednesday were the highest since July 28, when 2,218 deaths were reported, the figures showed. And it was the twelfth time in the last 16 days that the death toll exceeded 1,000.

.Most of these deaths were in the Southern and Sun Belt states like Florida, Texas and Arizona that began reopening in May and June at the urging of President Donald Trump despite warnings from public health experts that the coronavirus was starting to crest.... READ MORE

  • COVID-19 USA cases: 5,414,377 (+54,075)
  • COVID-19 USA deaths: 170,360 (+1,229)
  • COVID-19 USA death rate: 3.15%
  • COVID-19 USA testing: 68,485,707 individual tests (+934,546)
  • COVID-19 USA positivity rate: 7.91%
  • COVID-19 USA single-day positivity date: 5.79%
In California
Data shows California is on the cusp of reining in COVID-19 surge | KTLA.com
Six weeks after California began re-closing swaths of the economy, there is cautious optimism that coronavirus transmission is heading downward, officials say.

If it stays that way, the state may be on the cusp of curbing its second surge of the pandemic.

The potential crest comes after Gov. Gavin Newsom’s speedy economic reopening in May and early June led to a near doubling of the weekly death toll over the spring tally. The state’s cumulative pandemic death toll is now more than 10,800, one of the worst disasters in the state’s modern history.

But there are now several signs that Newsom’s second shutdown, which began in late June and broadened in early July, is finally having its intended effect. It can take three to five weeks to start seeing the health effects of stay-at-home orders, and it has been six weeks since much of the state was required to close bars and indoor dining rooms at restaurants, an order that was expanded to the rest of the state a month ago... READ MORE
NOTICE: Please note that CalREDIE, the statewide electronic disease reporting system, is experiencing serious unresolved processing delays. As such, new cases presented here are likely an underestimate of true incident cases being reported. This impacts many of our statistics, including case rates and probable active estimates. | Merced County Website
  • COVID-19 California cases: 602,585 (+7,777)
  • COVID-19 California deaths: 10,988 (+178)
  • COVID-19 California death rate: 1.82%
  • COVID-19 California testing: 9,445,496 individual tests (+142,026)
  • COVID-19 California positivity rate: 6.38%
  • COVID-19 California single-day positivity rate: 5.48%
In the Central Valley
The Madera County Department of Public Health COVID-19 Update:

8/13/2020 COVID-19 UPDATE: Reporting 94 new cases bringing the total number of reported cases to 2,853. We also regret to report 2 additional deaths.
Of the 2,853:
  • 763 active case (including 19 Madera County residents hospitalized in Madera County)
  • 2,044 recovered (75 released from isolation)
  • 46 deceased

2 additional deceased)
  • male, 70s, underlying conditions
  • male, 50s, underlying conditions

Today, the local counties confirmed 1,361 new infections and the 21 new coronavirus deaths. Merced County reported 15 deaths, a peak it had already reached July 31st. Merced County has reported 60.7% of its COVID-19 victims and 40.5% of its overall infections in the last 14 days. Tomorrow's weekly update will report on all 22 weeks since our first COVID-19 cases were confirmed and 21 weeks since the first coronavirus central valley victims succumbed to the emerging disease.
COVID-19 in Madera + 6 local counties (+% is the positivity rate)

  • Mariposa: 63 cases, 2 deaths, 4,234 tests, 1.45+%
  • Merced: 6,561 cases (+337), 84 deaths (+15) PEAK, 33,400 tests, 19.64+%
  • Madera: 2,853 cases (+94), 46 deaths (+2), 30118 tests, 9.47+%
  • Fresno: 18,690 cases (+346), 191 deaths, 151,188 tests, 12.36+%
  • Tulare: 11,847 cases (+204), 205 deaths, est. 84,861 tests, 14.00+%
  • Kings: 5,127 cases (+60), 62 deaths, 31,246 tests, 16.41+%
  • Kern: 25,499 cases (+320), 187 deaths (+4), 149,649 tests, 17.04+%

COVID-19 in the 7 counties together

  • 7 counties cases: 70,640 (+1,361)
  • 7 counties deaths: 782 (+21)
  • 7 counties death rate: 1.110%
  • 7 Counties tests: 484,579 (est.)
  • 7 Counties positivity rate: 14.58%
From our hearts to yours,

Fredo and Renee Martin
Workingarts Marketing, inc.
+1-559-662-1119

PS: We welcome comments and questions. If you wish to review previous reports, we now host past issues here.