Former Councilmember John Duran has been doing daily COVID updates on his Facebook page since March 2020. Many members of the community have found them helpful. They are republished here with his permission.
LA County Cases 1,246,821 (up from 1,246,619) LA County Deaths 24,421 (up from 24,416) LA Positivity Rate .4% (unchanged at .4%) LA Hospitalizations 216 (up from 218)
217 new COVID Cases announced in LA County yesterday along with 9 additional deaths. Positivity rate remains low at less than half of one percent. Hospitalizations remain low at 325. I know the death numbers don’t add up correctly – but that is what’s on the county’s website……
LOTTERY TIME IN CA. GET A VACCINE AND WIN BIG BUCKS!
To his credit, Republican Governor Mike De Wine in Ohio created “cash and prizes” as incentives for people to get vaccinated in Ohio. Five $1 million prizes and scholarships for students! The way he described his experience in the New York Times was illuminating. He knew vaccines saved lives. Many Ohioans couldn’t wait to get the shot. Others were so opposed there was no changing their mind. And the third group – weren’t opposed to shots but were in no hurry to get them. This was the group where Governor DeWine saw opportunity.
Shots went up 49% in his State. In minority communities, the shots went up 36%. In rural areas, the shots went up 65%.. Criticize it as a gimmick if you wish – I think it’s brilliant because it works. I mean – for God’s sakes – the shots are free and people won’t willingly rush to get something that will save their lives. So dangle a little chance at some cash. I am all for it.
Not to be outdone by Ohio – so California is jumping into the game now! 10 California residents will each win a prize of $1.5 million. (Well maybe only 9 because I am lighting candles to get to be one of them!). In addition, thirty individuals will each win $50,000. A little mad money to spend over the summer time maybe? Pay off debt? Go live on Maui for a few months?
So who wants to be a millionaire??????
Well, here’s the deal – if you already got your shots – you are already entered in the game. Everyone already vaccinated is entered into the contest and already eligible to win. Hooray for those of us who got shots!
But if you haven’t been vaccinated yet (and want it) – this would be the time to get it done. I know some of you can’t wait to play Powerball and Mega Millions every week during Lotto time. Well, here is another game to enter. And instead of getting the feedback on your purchased ticket – “Sorry. Not a winner”. Everyone who loses DOES WIN because you no longer have to worry about getting deathly ill, placed on a ventilator or dying. (Why that isn’t incentive enough I will never know….)
The grand price recipients will be chosen on June 15th! So run and get your vaccines over this holiday weekend to get into the game. The $50,000 winners will be chosen on June 4th and June 11th. So if you want a chance at those prizes also – get down there over the weekend and early next week! Some BODY is going to win. And for you adrenaline and endorphin addicts out there – the anticipation is half the fun! Am I right?
COVID AROUND THE WORLD
The LA Times had interesting graphs in this morning’s paper about COVID deaths around the world. Of the continents – South America is really taking the brunt of the deaths at the moment. Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) are doing the best! Here is the order from best to worst on the continents: Oceania, Africa, Asia, North America, Europe South America. We are right in the middle at the moment.
The hardest hit countries? Uruguay and Hungary. Eastern Europe is also suffering greatly at the moment.
Who leads the world in vaccinations? Number one is Israel. Number 2 is Chile. The USA is #3. The United Kingdom is #4. Lots more work to do here. For everyone.
It’s the first day of the holiday weekend. It’s going to be Sunny and 76 degrees in LA today. The east coast is going to be cold and rainy. Chicago is in the 40’s. Brrrrrrr. Miami is hot and sticky at 94 degrees. But LA – sigh – practically perfect in every way…….
Enjoy your holidays!
