Outside MA: Texas

Periodically, I look at states where I have friends and/or family to see how those states are doing with COVID-19 cases. I always take a look at the population size of the state as well so that the comparison I'm making to MA numbers is somewhat valid. 

Today: Texas, where I have both friends and family. With roughly four times the populace that MA has, Texas has actually been decreasing its cases from roughly 4.2 times the number of cases that MA had at its peak to now around 10 times what MA has seen in recent days. I hope the trend continues and they can get down to the cases per capita that MA currently has. Their deaths have been roughly 10 times worse than MA so the mortality rate among cases is roughly the same, but that does mean they have about 2.5 times as many people dying each day.... though that figure is in decline along with their daily cases. The cases have been slowly declining ever since the Governor put back in place some restrictions to prevent the spread. Congratulations on doing a good job, but there's a long way to go still.

Don't let up now, keep driving lowering your cases so you avoid seeing 150 people dying each day for an illness that we could, frankly, caused to be gone by now. Don't believe that's possible? In recent weeks, Japan has 0.4 cases per 100,000 people, Germany has 5.6, and New Zealand has 0.1.... the US as a sum total has 9.1 (and falling), Texas has 13.8 (and falling), MA has 4.9 (and rising).

Stay safe. Stay sane. Stay informed. Stay caring about those you don't see.

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