Night’s candles are burnt out, and jocund day
Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops.
Spanish life is not always likeable but it is compellingly loveable.
- Christopher Howse: 'A Pilgrim in Spain'*
The virus
- For what it's worth, here's the table of the worst performers among major countries, with deaths per million first and tests per million in brackets:-
- Belgium 763(16.3)
- Spain 580(52.8)
- Italy 514(44.2)
- UK 489(29.6)
- France 415(21.2)
- Netherlands 325(15.8)
- Sweden 343(17.6)
- Ireland 303(52.4)
- USA 257(30.0)
- Switzerland 216(36.6)
Compare:
Germany 94(37.6)
Portugal 115(55.5) The highest testing per capita, just beating Spain and Ireland.
Switzerland is the country which has moved the most downwards, from 6th to 10th.
Contrary to Fart's regular claim, the USA is certainly not doing more testing than any other country, never mind all counries put together. But you knew that of course, as the claim comes from his mouth.
The USA's number is increasing more rapidly than any other and will probably exceed Ireland's within a week or two.
Sweden, of course, is the only country with a 'herd immunity' strategy. Its economy is suffering less than others and its eventual total of deaths per million might well be less than for all the other countries in the list. Especially if herd immunity is achieved and 2nd and 3rd waves are avoided.
- A contrary voice - An Ocean of Fears and Lies. With some good advice? Endorsed by this . .
- The benefit of Vitamin D. Oddly, Spanish and Italian patients have been found to be deficient in this.
- HMM. 'Expert' observations: Viruses spread most when - like Covid 19 - they are very contagious and not that deadly. We're in for the long haul. It could be 4 or 5 years before Covid-19 is under control, with many difficulties lying ahead.
- Not good to hear that the percentage of folk who've acquired immunity in Spain so far is as low as 5%. Quite some way from the 60-80% required for herd immunity.
- Summer beach possibilities. In the South at least.
- María's Day 3 of the Great Relaxation.
- I went to the Post Office(Correos) again yesterday and decided to join the short queue outside of only 4 people. Normal procedures inside have been suspended and now all the clerks deal with all the reasons why you might be there. So, no waiting for the special desk for picking up packets, for example. TBH, service seemed quicker than in normal times. So perhaps they should permanently scrap the usual system. On the other hand, things might have only been quicker because all 9 desks were manned - even at the coffee hour of 11 o'clock. Something I've never seen before, in 19 years. So, revolutionary. It's an ill wind . . .
- I'd say mask-wearing was around only 50% on the streets. But, walking to my car across the infamous O Burgo bridge, I was passed by 11 people, 10 of whom - 91% - weren't wearing one.
- Again, quite few people below the permitted age were walking around or taking a coffee outside Hotel Rúas in Plaza de Verdura. Perhaps the police have given up on enforcement.
Real Life in Spain
- Good news for folk who've been ripped off by a Spanish bank around their mortgage. But perhaps only - for now - for those living within the jurisdiction of the Malaga court.
- George Soros is among those who wonder/worry about the future of The Project, the pandemic having harshly exposed some of its key weaknesses/failings.
The USA
- Unless his bizarre face colour stems from sun-bathing, it's hard to believe Fart is getting much Vitamin D. If any. As I've said before, we can but hope.
- A bumper week for birds new to my garden . . . After the pied wagtails, I've now had a fleeting visit from a beautiful jay(arrendajo). Being very nervous, these are rarely seen outside woodlands, I believe. They're of the same (crow) family as the magpie(urraca) but are very much more welcome, as not being small bird murderers and egg stealers.
* A terrible book, by the way. Don't be tempted to buy it, unless you're a very religious Protestant
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