Even with Donald Trump’s vindication of getting big Pharma to produce a viable vaccine to immunize people against the COVID, the media misinformation and hysteria continues. The media meme wants you to believe that this is a real pandemic and that people are dying in the thousands every week. They are not. It is a lie.
There is a calculated propaganda campaign going on, with most of the media and politicians playing along. The messaging is designed to sow fear and convince you that you must surrender your Constitutional rights. You are told repeatedly that you cannot (or should not) attend the church, synagogue or mosque of your choosing. You are told that you cannot go to your favorite restaurant or bar. And these edicts have the horrific effect of destroying the jobs and livelihoods of many small business owners.
Yet, if you are keen on looting and attacking conservative institutions, you can go out. No sanctions for Antifa or BLM. And you are commanded to wear masks by the likes of the Governors of New York and New Jersey, while they ignore their own edicts anddo the opposite. The stench of hypocrisy covers America like a blanket of rotting garbage. Most of you have noticed that a vast majority of Americans, like willing sheep, obeyed the mask mandate across much of this country. Yet, the number of people testing positive for Covid keeps going up. Guess what? Masks really do not make a difference. If the wearing of the mask kept infections from happening, the number of cases should have dropped.
I will reiterate what I have written before–Covid is a real disease and, in some cases, kills the infected soul. But the number dying, at least here in my neck of the woods in Florida, the vast majority of people are not sick and not infected. But that is not the message that the media is putting out.
Here’s what the Sarasota Herald Tribune reported today (Wednesday, November 18):
Sarasota County reported 92 new cases of COVID-19, while the average daily new cases for the past seven days is at 115 – a daily average that is reminiscent of the height of the pandemic in July. There were six new deaths reported in Sarasota, bringing the total deaths in the county due to COVID-19 to 364.
Manatee County reported 107 new cases, with a daily average of 107 over the past seven days, and three new deaths. 362 people have died from COVID-19 in Manatee County.
Florida added 7,925 news cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, for a total of 905,248 since the pandemic began. There were 87 new deaths reported statewide, bringing the total to 17,731 since the pandemic began. The positivity of new tests in Florida was over 8% for the second day in a row.
I do not ask you to trust my opinion. I believe in facts. I have monitored the Sarasota Memorial Hospital (aka SMH) The SMH daily Covid report (the hospital does not do reports on Saturday and Sunday) is an example of what all hospitals should be doing in order to ensure people in surrounding communities know what is happening. However, the SMH data still has some glaring omissions. The biggest one is the failure to report on the age and the physical health of the patient (prior to contracting Covid). We do not know if they are old or young. If they are obese or skinny. Or if they had co-mordibities.
This is only one data point, but the Sarasota/Bradenton area is a bell weather. We have more than the average number of senior citizens tottering around. We are getting a major influx of “snowbirds” (a snowbird is someone from the northern United States or Canada who comes to Florida in November and heads back north in April). And we have tourists. The beaches along the west coast of Florida are a major draw for folks seeking to escape snowdrifts
So, here are the key facts courtesy of SMH:
- Only 9.7% of the patients in SMH over an eleven day period were hospitalized because of Covid.
- On average only 25% of the patients in ICU were there because of Covid.
- Out of the total patient population tested for Covid, only 5.3% tested positive.
- Eighty four people were hospitalized because of Covid in this 11 day period.
- One hundred two (102) patients were treated and discharged in this same period.
- Nine people died from Covid at SMH between 17 November and 27 November.
This hospital is not being overwhelmed by Covid patients. They are not stacking bodies outside the morgue. The treatment for Covid, such as hydroxychloroquine and remdesivir, is proving effective. Other therapeutics such as taking vitamin D3, vitamin C and Zinc also appear to be playing a key role in helping people maintain good health. Doctors have a much better understanding of how to fight this awful disease.
The data and daily reports from SMH are produced below for your own personal inspection. Question everything the media reports. Demand evidence and facts. Push back against the fear mongers who hope you will meekly cave and not raise your voice.
| Sarasota Memorial Hospital | 17-Nov | 18-Nov | 19-Nov | 20-Nov | 22-Nov | 23-Nov | 24-Nov | 25-Nov | 26-Nov | 27-Nov | 9 Day su |
| Today’s patient census: | 678 | 702 | 733 | 726 | 662 | 662 | 693 | 683 | 619 | 619 | |
| COVID-positive patients total | 57 | 53 | 52 | 55 | 60 | 55 | 51 | 58 | 51 | 61 | 61.44 |
| ICU census: | 51 | 52 | 52 | 58 | 48 | 44 | 44 | 48 | 48 | 51 | 55.11 |
| CoVID-positive patients in ICU | 12 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13.78 |
| % of Covid Patients in ICU | 23.53% | 21.15% | 25.00% | 24.14% | 31.25% | 31.82% | 27.27% | 22.92% | 22.92% | 21.57% | 25.00% |
| Total Hospital Beds | 839 | 839 | 839 | 839 | 839 | 839 | 839 | 839 | 839 | 839 | |
| Total ICU Beds | 62 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 62 | |
| 7-Day SMH positivity rate | 5.40% | 5.00% | 4.50% | 5.00% | 4.30% | 4.00% | 4.40% | 5.10% | 4.30% | 5.10% | 5.23% |
| Patients who tested positive | 1348 | 1355 | 1363 | 1381 | 1395 | 1402 | 1419 | 1436 | 1449 | 1445 | 97.00 |
| Patients who tested negative | 32011 | 32301 | 32517 | 32768 | 33100 | 33351 | 33585 | 33787 | 33845 | 33968 | 1957.00 |
| % of Patient who tested positive | 4.21% | 4.19% | 4.19% | 4.21% | 4.21% | 4.20% | 4.23% | 4.25% | 4.28% | 4.25% | 4.96% |
| Patients hospitalized since outbreak began (Mar 2, 2020) | 1134 | 1134 | 1140 | 1150 | 1170 | 1171 | 1181 | 1194 | 1204 | 1218 | 84 |
| Patients treated/discharged | 1233 | 1243 | 1250 | 1266 | 1284 | 1290 | 1308 | 1315 | 1332 | 1335 | 102 |
| Patient Deaths | 112 | 112 | 113 | 113 | 114 | 114 | 117 | 119 | 120 | 121 | 9 |
Coronavirus Daily News Update
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Sarasota Memorial continues to monitor COVID-19 indicators and issues in our community and region. We are working closely with public health officials to identify and report important data trends in our health system. Please note that the information on this page is updated daily, Monday – Friday (except holidays). Here is today’s summary:
Hospital / ICU Capacity
Today’s patient census: 678
Today’s COVID-positive patients total: 57 (58 yesterday)
Today’s ICU census: 51 (48 yesterday)
COVID-positive patients in ICU today: 12 (14 yesterday)
Total hospital beds: 839 / Total ICU beds: 62
COVID-19 Test Results
7-Day SMH positivity rate: 5.4% (4.6% for week ending Nov. 13)
Patients who have tested positive (excludes repeat positives): 1,348 *
Patients who have tested negative: 32,011 *
* Reflects patients tested through SMH systems since March 2.
Cumulative COVID-19 Patient Update **
Patients hospitalized since outbreak began: 1,134 (1,124 yesterday)
Patients treated/discharged: 1,233 (1,220 yesterday) {outpatients treated in the ER but not hospitalized and inpatients who have been treated and discharged or cleared by infection control but not yet discharged}
Patient deaths: 112 (111 yesterday)
** Reflects total number of patients treated at SMH since outbreak began in March 2020.
For more information, please click here to visit our dedicated COVID-19 webpage.
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
Hospital / ICU Capacity
Today’s patient census: 702
Today’s COVID-positive patients total: 53 (57 yesterday)
Today’s ICU census: 52 (51 yesterday)
COVID-positive patients in ICU today: 11 (12 yesterday)
Total hospital beds: 839 / Total ICU beds: 62
COVID-19 Test Results
7-Day SMH positivity rate: 5% (4.6% for week ending Nov. 13)
Patients who have tested positive (excludes repeat positives): 1,355 *
Patients who have tested negative: 32,301 *
* Reflects patients tested through SMH systems since March 2.
Cumulative COVID-19 Patient Update **
Patients hospitalized since outbreak began: 1,134 (no change from yesterday)
Patients treated/discharged: 1,243 (1,233 yesterday) {outpatients treated in the ER but not hospitalized and inpatients who have been treated and discharged or cleared by infection control but not yet discharged}
Patient deaths: 112 (no change from yesterday)
Thursday, November 19, 2020
Hospital / ICU Capacity
Today’s patient census: 733
Today’s COVID-positive patients total: 52 (53 yesterday)
Today’s ICU census: 52 (no change from yesterday)
COVID-positive patients in ICU today: 13 (11 yesterday)
Total hospital beds: 839 / Total ICU beds: 62
COVID-19 Test Results
7-Day SMH positivity rate: 4.5% (4.6% for week ending Nov. 13)
Patients who have tested positive (excludes repeat positives): 1,363 *
Patients who have tested negative: 32,517 *
* Reflects patients tested through SMH systems since March 2.
Cumulative COVID-19 Patient Update **
Patients hospitalized since outbreak began: 1,140 (1,134 yesterday)
Patients treated/discharged: 1,250 (1,243 yesterday) {outpatients treated in the ER but not hospitalized and inpatients who have been treated and discharged or cleared by infection control but not yet discharged}
Patient deaths: 113 (112 yesterday)
Friday, 20 November 2020
Hospital / ICU Capacity
Today’s patient census: 726
Today’s COVID-positive patients total: 55 (52 yesterday)
Today’s ICU census: 58 (52 yesterday)
COVID-positive patients in ICU today: 14 (13 yesterday)
Total hospital beds: 839 / Total ICU beds: 62
COVID-19 Test Results
7-Day SMH positivity rate: 5% (4.6% for week ending Nov. 13)
Patients who have tested positive (excludes repeat positives): 1,381 *
Patients who have tested negative: 32,768 *
* Reflects patients tested through SMH systems since March 2.
Cumulative COVID-19 Patient Update **
Patients hospitalized since outbreak began: 1,150 (1,140 yesterday)
Patients treated/discharged: 1,266 (1,250 yesterday) {outpatients treated in the ER but not hospitalized and inpatients who have been treated and discharged or cleared by infection control but not yet discharged}
Patient deaths: 113 (no change from yesterday)
MONDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2020
Hospital / ICU Capacity
Today’s patient census: 662
Today’s COVID-positive patients total: 55 (60 yesterday)
Today’s ICU census: 44 (48 yesterday)
COVID-positive patients in ICU today: 14 (15 yesterday)
Total hospital beds: 839 / Total ICU beds: 62
COVID-19 Test Results
7-Day SMH positivity rate: 4% (4.3% for week ending Nov. 20)
Patients who have tested positive (excludes repeat positives): 1,402 *
Patients who have tested negative: 33,351 *
* Reflects patients tested through SMH systems since March 2.
Cumulative COVID-19 Patient Update **
Patients hospitalized since outbreak began: 1,171 (1,170 yesterday)
Patients treated/discharged: 1,290 (1,284 yesterday) {outpatients treated in the ER but not hospitalized and inpatients who have been treated and discharged or cleared by infection control but not yet discharged}
Patient deaths: 114 (no change from yesterday)
** Reflects total number of patients treated at SMH since outbreak began in March 2020.
TUESDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2020
Hospital / ICU Capacity
Today’s patient census: 693
Today’s COVID-positive patients total: 51 (55 yesterday)
Today’s ICU census: 44 (no change from yesterday)
COVID-positive patients in ICU today: 12 (14 yesterday)
Total hospital beds: 839 / Total ICU beds: 62
COVID-19 Test Results
7-Day SMH positivity rate: 4.4% (4.3% for week ending Nov. 20)
Patients who have tested positive (excludes repeat positives): 1,419 *
Patients who have tested negative: 33,585 *
* Reflects patients tested through SMH systems since March 2.
Cumulative COVID-19 Patient Update **
Patients hospitalized since outbreak began: 1,181 (1,171 yesterday)
Patients treated/discharged: 1,308 (1,290 yesterday) {outpatients treated in the ER but not hospitalized and inpatients who have been treated and discharged or cleared by infection control but not yet discharged}
Patient deaths: 117 (114 yesterday)
** Reflects total number of patients treated at SMH since outbreak began in March 2020.
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
Hospital / ICU Capacity
Today’s patient census: 683
Today’s COVID-positive patients total: 58 (51 yesterday)
Today’s ICU census: 48 (44 yesterday)
COVID-positive patients in ICU today: 11 (12 yesterday)
Total hospital beds: 839 / Total ICU beds: 62
COVID-19 Test Results
7-Day SMH positivity rate: 5.1% (4.3% for week ending Nov. 20)
Patients who have tested positive (excludes repeat positives): 1,436 *
Patients who have tested negative: 33,787 *
* Reflects patients tested through SMH systems since March 2.
Cumulative COVID-19 Patient Update **
Patients hospitalized since outbreak began: 1,194 (1,181 yesterday)
Patients treated/discharged: 1,315 (1,308 yesterday) {outpatients treated in the ER but not hospitalized and inpatients who have been treated and discharged or cleared by infection control but not yet discharged}
Patient deaths: 119 (117 yesterday)
Friday, November 27, 2020
Hospital / ICU Capacity
Today’s patient census: 619
Today’s COVID-positive patients total: 61 (51 yesterday)
Today’s ICU census: 51 (48 yesterday)
COVID-positive patients in ICU today: 11 (same as yesterday)
Total hospital beds: 839 / Total ICU beds: 62
COVID-19 Test Results
7-Day SMH positivity rate: 5.1% (4.3% for week ending Nov. 20)
Patients who have tested positive (excludes repeat positives): 1,445 *
Patients who have tested negative: 33,968 *
* Reflects patients tested through SMH systems since March 2.
Cumulative COVID-19 Patient Update **
Patients hospitalized since outbreak began: 1,218 (1,204 yesterday)
Patients treated/discharged: 1,335 (1,332 yesterday) {outpatients treated in the ER but not hospitalized and inpatients who have been treated and discharged or cleared by infection control but not yet discharged}
Patient deaths: 121 (120 yesterday)
** Reflects total number of patients treated at SMH since outbreak began in March 2020
I notice that mask mandates have not reduced the number of cases. It is documented that they impair breathing, and the Danish study which had a control and a masked group showed only very slight advantage, and these were surgical masks and those in the study following instructions on how to use them and cleanliness.
Since many people are only wearing them because they are forced to,and only in instances where they go into places forcing them to wear them, people are touching them and moving them around and not following the protocols on changing them, since that is an additional hassle and expense.
My guess is that if any study would base the outcome on how they are used by real people,then it will indicate that the masks are perhaps even a contributory factor to the spread of the illness. At any rate, up to the present time, no prior regime has ever sought to restrict the right to breathe unless it was executing part of the population. This right is so basic it isn't mentioned in the constitution because even under feudalism, the lords and squires knew that the peasants needed to breathe to work.
The opponents of masks should emphasize the right to breathe as a central issue. My guess is that when this blows over, damages caused by the masks, particularly if you have to wear them hour after hour to stay employed, will lead to a surfeit of litigation and, hopefully, some consequences for those who forced this abomination on the public.
Posted by: exiled off mainstreet | 30 November 2020 at 07:04 AM
FWLIW: I copied the Johns Hopkins University article while it was still available, and posted it on my Facebook page; adding the caveat to read it quickly, because some officious Facebook "friend" was likely to takeout down as soon as they saw it. Well they did: I received a Facebook notice it was censure for containing false information, and is no longer available in my Facebook page. (I'm fairly certain who did it: an about-to-retire FDA lawyer, with no scientific trading of her own, well known in the DC area because of a family tragedy, who once showed me how to remove items she found objectionable. A real Karen, who censures anything she disagrees with.)
I've found, however, if a CDC publication with the same information is cited at the beginning of an article; e.g., "The CDC reports ..." it survives; likely because of the official imprimatur.
Posted by: Seward | 30 November 2020 at 08:54 AM
What's troubled me most about the country and this site in the last year is the knee jerk lurch to polarization and false dilemmas. ...
Posted by: wtofd | 29 November 2020 at 03:16 PM
Yes, from my perspective it started earlier slowly gaining speed to the extent trenches were dug deep enough ...
Americans vs Cultural Warriors
Black vs white - no more gray
We vs them
Deplorables vs TDS propagandists
Posted by: vig | 30 November 2020 at 11:26 AM
Johns Hopkins refuses to publish cold hard data and scientific analysis because they worry what fake news will do with it? Yes, I think I heard that right.
All-cause mortality during the "covid pandemic" period was begging to be published, and reasonably had to wait until there was sufficient data accumulated over time.
Now this critical data analysis is censored? We are in for world of hurt. More likely because this would undermine Biden's claim he alone finally "cured" covid.
Posted by: Deap | 30 November 2020 at 11:44 AM
Bill H,
Unlike smallpox and I think polio,COVID reinfections within months of recovery are a confirmed fact. Happens often enough that some US counties started keeping tracking of secondary reinfection rates since August. If you look at the areas of Italy or NY which were ravaged with astronomically high infection rates in February/March, their "second/third wave" infection rates aren't that much lower than the areas spared a first. This and the total lack of vaccine compliance makes me very pessimistic for the euphoric easy fix attitude that the big pharma non-news released over the past two weeks has engendered. I believe as I did in March that COVID will remain an endemic human disease, and the sooner we recognize this the sooner we can stop the more dangerous effects of it-the lockdowns and elimination of civil liberties.
Posted by: Serge | 30 November 2020 at 01:51 PM