The Sturgis Rally Covid-19 Update -- September 25, 2020

I'll update this later today, but I am really, really impressed with the low number of new deaths in New York and New Jersey. Link here. Yesterday, both states (NY, NY) had fewer new deaths due to Covid-19, combined, than either ND or SD. Considering the difference in population, this is simply astounding. 

Assuming the numbers are accurate, these are the contributing factors:

• herd immunity;
• lock downs still in place; relaxation proceeding slowly;
• reversal of early policy decisions that decimated the nursing home populations;
• better understanding of how to treat individuals with the disease;
• one can't rule out a mutated virus with less virulence;
  

The big question: pandemics tend to burn themselves out regardless (think of the Black Plague, back in 1666 or thereabouts. It, too, ended, without explanation. Is the pandemic in NY/NJ just "burning out" or are efforts to stop the spread working? Apparently schools in New York have "re-opened" and have managed to stay "open" despite a surge in students testing positive.

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The Sturgis Rally Update

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.

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

• Iowa: 8 -- ouch! In comparison, New York only had two.
• Minnesota: 3
• Nebraska: 0
  
• North Dakota: 9 -- oh, oh
• Montana: 0
  
• South Dakota: 8 -- oh, oh
  
• Wyoming: 0 -- four days in a row with zero new deaths;

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

• Iowa: 413 (23) -- ranking unchanged
  
• Minnesota: 362 (28)  -- drops one (good)
  
• North Dakota: 278 (34) -- up one (bad)
  
• Nebraska: 239 (39) -- ranking unchanged
  
• South Dakota: 237(40) -- ranking unchanged and no new deaths in time period
  
• Montana: 153 (44) -- ranking unchanged
  
• Wyoming: 86 (50) -- ranking unchanged -- only Alaska is lower with 63 deaths / one million