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Meanwhile, in Opposite Land

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May’s jobs report should be encouraging to American workers, as it shows that the U.S. actually gained 2.5 million nonfarm payroll jobs. This demonstrates that the process of beginning to reopen states has gone smoothly, and businesses are rehiring employees that they temporarily laid off while their buildings remained closed. There are still 21 million Americans unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, though, which hopefully will be reduced as states proceed to open more in the coming months. Last week, there were 1.5 million new unemployment claims nationwide, compared to 6.9 million during the peak of the pandemic (a 78% reduction).

To identify which states’ workforces are experiencing the quickest recovery from COVID-19, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across three metrics based on changes in unemployment claims.

Illinois was the 9th most-recovered state since the start of the crisis. Georgia, which reopened before just about every other state, finished dead last.

I’ll have more on this topic tomorrow.

* KTAR TV…

The Arizona health department reported a new single-day high of 2,519 coronavirus cases and 32 additional deaths Thursday morning. […]

Of the PCR samples collected this week that have been processed, 15% have come back positive, matching last week’s mark, which was a pandemic high.

The weekly PCR positive rate has risen every week since the week starting May 10, when it was 5%. […]

Overall hospital bed usage remained at a pandemic high of 85% on Wednesday for the second consecutive day, and the percentage of ICU beds in use reached a high point of 84%.

On May 15, inpatient bed usage was at 74% and ICU bed usage was at 72%.

By comparison, Illinois’ total (COVID and non-COVID) hospital bed usage is 59 percent and total ICU bed usage is at 55 percent. Occupancy has been falling for weeks. The protests started almost three weeks ago, so you’d think we’d be seeing an overall uptick in hospitalization numbers by now. So far, that’s not the case.

Also, Illinois’ positivity rate for June 10–16 is 3 percent.

* Omaha World-Herald…

At his regular coronavirus press conferences, Gov. Pete Ricketts makes a point of urging Nebraskans to wear a mask when they go to a store.

But when it comes to the state’s 93 courthouses and other local government offices, he doesn’t want local officials to require masks. In fact, he’s told local governments that they won’t receive any of the $100 million in federal COVID-19 money if their “customers” are required to wear masks.

In Illinois, the governor caught heat when he threatened to withhold CARES Act funding from local governments if they defied his stay at home/reopening orders.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 18, 20 @ 12:33 pm

Comments

Pick one or the other. Require the mask in all venues and all times or not. The selective requirement is causing confusion and problems.

Comment by Huh? Thursday, Jun 18, 20 @ 12:37 pm
You either have a governing or political response to Covid-19. The problem is that once you ignore the health professionals and deny science it’s hard to go back. But the virus doesn’t care what you’re politics are and can’t be spun. Sooner or later (usually sooner) the truth becomes apparent.

https://news.yahoo.com/leaked-cdc-document-contradicts-pence-claim-that-us-coronavirus-cases-have-stabilized-195520821.html

Comment by Pundent Thursday, Jun 18, 20 @ 12:44 pm
We need to stay the course and fight for people to stay alive. https://images.app.goo.gl/TWgqU8dwWtVQaYwVA

Comment by Abby Normal Thursday, Jun 18, 20 @ 12:56 pm
How much money does Omaha Ricketts/Covid-19 enabler get from the Cubs?

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Jun 18, 20 @ 1:12 pm
“Let them drink bleach” — Pete Ricketts, probably.

Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Jun 18, 20 @ 1:27 pm
One thing the Cubs and Cardinals owners agree upon is baseball is not profitable. Ignore the skyrocketing valuations and trust the billionaires crying poor!

Comment by Rich Hill Thursday, Jun 18, 20 @ 1:27 pm
A restaurant I know that has reopened is having trouble getting reliable kitchen staff back. They are paying pretty much standard wages for the area. Seems in some cases it currently pays better to stay home if you are getting unemployment and the extra $600.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jun 18, 20 @ 1:32 pm
== Seems in some cases it currently pays better to stay home if you are getting unemployment and the extra $600.==
For the next ten days at least.

Comment by Muddy trail Thursday, Jun 18, 20 @ 1:53 pm
===Seems in some cases it currently pays better to stay home if you are getting unemployment and the extra $600.===

Yep–by design. You don’t want low wage workers trying to choose between contracting/transmitting a potentially fatal disease at work and keeping a roof over their heads. Normally, you wouldn’t want the safety net to be more generous than a standard job, but these aren’t normal times.

Comment by Benjamin Thursday, Jun 18, 20 @ 2:02 pm
Related: https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/18/us/gop-sheriff-arizona-covid-19-trnd/index.html

What is frustrating about that story is the Sheriff was refusing to enforce COVID protections and was invited to the White House because of it, where he was then tested and found to be positive.

Comment by Just Me 2 Thursday, Jun 18, 20 @ 2:48 pm
Muddy trail - why the next 10 days? The bonus is good for the month of July.

Comment by Seats Thursday, Jun 18, 20 @ 2:51 pm
I have a very good friend in Phoenix who isn’t answering her phone/returning calls. He’s like that in normal times so I know if I should be worried or not.

Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Jun 18, 20 @ 3:21 pm
Cheryl44,

Phoenix also has two wildfires occurring nearby. I just texted my best friend there to ask if he’s seeing any horsemen yet. But, Phoenicians are pretty sturdy, he’ll be o.k., mine will too.

Comment by Proud Sucker Thursday, Jun 18, 20 @ 4:05 pm
- RNUG - Thursday, Jun 18, 20 @ 1:32 pm:- That is not happening in all restaurants.

Comment by mama Thursday, Jun 18, 20 @ 5:40 pm