| Statue of famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass toppled in Rochester, NY A statue of the famed 19th century Black abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass was removed from its base in Rochester, New York over the weekend and found abandoned nearby. The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle reports the vandalism occurred on Sunday, the 168th anniversary of one of Douglass’ most famed speeches, titled “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July,” which was widely shared over the Independence Day weekend. The statue’s location, in Rochester’s Maplewood Park, is near Kelsey’s Landing, which the National Parks Service three years ago officially recognized as a site of historic significance as a part of the Underground Railroad, a secret network of locations that helped slaves escape the South to freedom in the North. Carter Eison, who was instrumental in erecting the statue, said they hope to replace it. No perpetrators have yet been identified. As protests against racial injustice continue around the country, many statues of controversial figures from America’s history, including Confederate figures and others said to represent or otherwise embody racism, have been either formally removed by officials or toppled by protestors. COVID-19 numbers Here’s the latest data on COVID-19 coronavirus infections and deaths. Latest reported numbers globally per Johns Hopkins University Global diagnosed cases: 11,471,225 Global deaths: 534,787. The United States has the most deaths of any single country, with 129,947. Number of countries/regions: at least 188 Total patients recovered globally: 6,193,875 Latest reported numbers in the United States per Johns Hopkins University There are at least 2,888,729 diagnosed cases in 50 states + the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. This is more than in any other country. U.S. deaths: at least 129,947. New York State has the greatest number of reported deaths in the U.S., with 32,206. U.S. total patients recovered: 906,763 U.S. total people tested: 35,512,916 The greatest number of reported COVID-19 cases in the U.S. is in New York, with 307,131 confirmed cases out of a total state population of 19.5 million. That is the most reported cases than in any other single region in the world. COVID-19 headlines CDC issues warning against methanol-based hand sanitizers Until recently, it was all but impossible to find hand sanitizers for sale anywhere. Now the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning to be careful that whatever hand sanitizer you’re lucky enough to find doesn’t contain methanol. Most alcohol-based hand sanitizers use either isopropyl alcohol, also called isopropanol, or ethanol as the active ingredient, which are safe when used as directed. However, the CDC says hand sanitizers manufactured by “Eskbiochem SA de CV” in Mexico, as well as other Mexican-based concerns, use methanol, which is highly toxic and can be absorbed through the skin, causing blindness and even death. The Food and Drug Administration warns that other symptoms of methanol exposure include nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, seizures, coma, and permanent damage to the nervous system. The FDA has published a list of hand sanitizers known to contain methanol, and their manufacturers. COVID-19 cases continue to climb as hospitals run out of beds More than 49,000 new cases of COVID-19 were identified in the United States on Sunday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. That count is just under the nation’s current record high of more than 54,000 new cases, set last Thursday. Nearly half of all 50 states have seen a rise in infections in recent weeks, with some — including Arizona, California and Florida — reporting daily records. California’s Los Angeles County Public Health reported the largest number of new cases in a single day on Friday, at 3,187, with KABC Los Angeles reporting hospitals there could run out of bed in two to three weeks, and run out of ICU beds even sooner. The Tampa Bay Times reports four hospitals in Pinellas County have already run out of ICU beds, as COVID-19 infections in Florida hit an all-time single-day high Saturday for reported new cases, with 11,458. Nationwide, the number of reported COVID-19 cases is expected to top three million sometime this week. |
In Crisis Morning Update Monday 07/06/20
