As the number of COVID-19 diagnoses tops one-million, the number of deaths from the coronavirus in the U.S. is now more than the total number of Americans killed in the Vietnam War. This, as we’ve crossed the threshold of more than 58-thousand dead from the virus.
Still, those raw numbers don’t tell the complete story. As in, one-million cases doesn’t mean one-million people dying or even in the hospital. According to the CDC, the hospitalization rate remains at 4.6 per 100-thousand. The highest rates being in persons 50-64 years (7.4 per 100,000) and 65 years and older (13.8 per 100,000).
Even so, optics are optics...and while Americans are being encouraged or mandated to cover their faces in public, Vice President Mike Pence isn't walking the walk. In fact, he’s being lambasted for not wearing a face mask or covering while visiting the Mayo Clinic yesterday. Touring the Rochester, Minnesota facility – and interfacing with COVID-positive patients – his decision to not wear a mask or covering goes against guidelines issued by the Mayo Clinic.
Interestingly, the Mayo Clinic tweeted - then deleted - a claim that they had advised Mr. Pence about the mask policy. As for Pence, when asked about not wearing a mask, he later said that he's not sick and "wanted to look people in the eye" while at the facility. Face masks don't cover eyes, just the nose and mouth.
Where does the United States stand with COVID-19? At last check, there are more than 1-million cases across the United States – with just over 58-thousand patients succumbing to the illness – though more than 115-thousand have recovered. Globally, the numbers remains at just over 3.1-million people infected by the virus – with more than 217-thousand dead. On the plus side, more than 932-thousand have recovered.
Source: CBS News