Sturgis Rally Update -- September 20, 2020

Link here.

Sturgis Rally: August 7 - August 16, 2020.

At link above, set "search" for "yesterday."

Number of cases means absolutely nothing.

Number of deaths associated with Covid-19 "means more" but numbers are incredibly questionable. Criteria for diagnosis varies across jurisdiction.

This is Sunday. I don't know how accurate these numbers are. It would mean that the state health officials would have had to come into work on a Sunday to post the results for "yesterday." The next set of numbers that might be more reliable will be Tuesday, September 22, 2020. 

But be that as it may, new deaths in last 24 hours:

• Montana: 10 -- wow -- completely unexpected!
  
• Wyoming: 0 -- two days in a row with zero new deaths;
  
• North Dakota: 8
  
• South Dakota: 2 -- compared to Minnesota, ND, Montana -- looking pretty good
  
• Nebraska: 0 -- two days in a row with zero new deaths;
  
• Iowa: 3
  
• Minnesota: 13 -- ouch!!
  

Deaths per million population, and (ranking among 50 states and DC):

• Iowa: 401 (23) -- ranking unchanged
  
• Minnesota: 357 (27)  -- ranking unchanged
  
• North Dakota: 252 (35) -- moved up from 37 to 35 (bad)
  
• Nebraska: 228 (39) -- ranking unchanged
  
• South Dakota: 226 (40) -- ranking unchanged
  
• Montana: 146 (44) -- moved up to 44 from 45 yesterday (bad)
  
• Wyoming: 85 (50) -- ranking unchanged

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Commentary

Most surprising: has anyone noticed the "relative surge" in number of new deaths in Iowa over the past few days (also Minnesota for that region)?

This from The AP: Iowa governor won't budge on masks even as virus deaths rise. You go, girl! Link here. 

Plenty of Republican governors initially rejected mask mandates, but few have held to their skepticism amid soaring coronavirus cases with the tenacity of Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Reynolds scoffs at calls for a statewide mask order, calling them “feel-good” actions, and refuses to let city officials enforce local mandates, even as the small, largely rural state maintains one of the highest COVID-19 positivity rates and has topped 1,200 dead. While she implores residents to wear masks while indoors when social distancing isn’t possible, she has said not everyone believes they’re effective and frequently is photographed mingling at crowded events without a mask.

“I think the goal is to do what we can to reduce the spread of the virus,” Reynolds said last week. “I believe that is the end goal and that we can get there without a mask mandate. I believe that and that’s what I’m going to consistently do.”

It’s a stand that has frustrated public health experts and exasperated some mayors, but unlike governors in other states, Reynolds has made clear she’s not budging.

Reynolds’ argument against a mandate boils down to three points: a mask requirement can’t be enforced, other factors are to blame for rising virus cases and people should have the freedom to make their own choices.

ZeroHedge wrap:

• As COVID cases rise, mortality falls
• California suffers 100 new COVID deaths
• Arizona surge eases
• ULK cases top 4K for 2nd day
• NY reports most new cases since early June: won't be reported on CNBC:
  
• US on track for second day of 49K cases
• US reports nearly 50K cases
• France sees sudden jump in deaths: folks can probably guess where and why in France;
  
• Russia tops 6K new cases for first time since mid-July
• UK PM considers whether to "go further" with new restrictions: oh-oh; don't give Biden any ideas;
  
• Indonesia reports record jump in new cases