The Latest Data Poem by Michael Walkerjohn

God
Sells our
souls? Maybe!
After all we are created
in "their" image! Read that
book within that book! So, logic
insinuates thus as ‘they' ‘we' and
each of US do wii! Wee Wee Monsieur!
‘tu me comprends maintenant'?
voulez-vous continuer cette conversation?
êtes-vous prêt à entretenir la verité?
Question: Qu'est-ce que Covid 19?
Autre question: quel coût à cette
date Covid 19 a-t-il prouvé?
Êtes-vous prêt à continuer?
"This little piggy went to market
that little piggy stayed home…
a further little piggy had roast beast
the fourth little piggy had none…
And the last little piggy got the virus
and disappeared forever from the little
piggy's home…" Which little piggy are you
gonna be? Replace each little piggy based
upon the demographic data of those citizens
who have died from contracting covid 19…
Let US all take a look see at the latest data?

Key Updates for Week 16, ending April 18,2020

"Levels of influenza-like illness (ILI)declined again and are
below the national baseline but remain elevated in the
northeast and northwest of the country. Levels of
laboratory confirmed COVID-19 activity remained similar
to, or decreased slightly, compared to last week.Mortality
attributed to COVID-19 decreased compared to last week
but remains significantly elevated and may increase as
additional death certificates are counted."

Public Health, Commercial and Clinical Laboratories

The national percentage of respiratory specimens testing
positive for SARS-CoV-2 at public health, clinical and
commercial laboratories remained similar to, or
decreased slightly from, week 15 to week 16 and is
as follows:

Public health laboratories - increased from 17.8% during week 15
to 18.8% during week 16;
Clinical laboratories - decreased from 11.3% during week 15
to 9.6% during week 16;
Commercial laboratories - decreased from 22.8% during week 15
to 19.7% during week 16.


Outpatient Influenza-Like Illness Network (ILINet)and
National Syndromic Surveillance Program (NSSP)

Two indicators from existing surveillance systems are
being monitored to track outpatient or emergency
department (ED)visits for potential COVID-19 illness.

Nationally, the percentages of visits for ILI and
COVID-19-like illness (CLI)decreased compared
to last week and levels of ILI are now below baseline.
Recent changes in health care seeking behavior are
likely impacting data from both networks, making it
difficult to draw further conclusions at this time.
Tracking these systems moving forward will give
additional insight into illness related to COVID-19.

Hospitalizations

Cumulative COVID-19-associated hospitalization
rates since March 1,2020, are updated weekly.
The overall cumulative hospitalization rate is
29.2 per 100,000, with the highest rates in
people 65 years and older (95.5 per 100,000)
and 50-64 years (47.2 per 100,000) .

Mortality

Based on death certificate data, the percentage
of deaths attributed to pneumonia, influenza or
COVID-19 (PIC)decreased from 23.6% during
week 15 to 18.6% during week 16 but remained
significantly above baseline. This percentage may
change as additional death certificates are processed.

Key Points
Nationally, the percentage of laboratory specimens
testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 remained similar
to, or decreased, compared to last week. Nationally
visits to outpatient providers and emergency
departments (EDs)for illnesses with symptoms
consistent with COVID-19 continued to decline
and are below baseline in many areas of the country.
The decrease in the percentage of people presenting
for care with these symptoms may be due to decline
in COVID-19 but may be tempered by a number of
factors including less ILI overall because of widespread
adoption of social distancing efforts and changes in
healthcare seeking behavior. At this time, there is
little influenza activity. The overall cumulative
COVID-19 associated hospitalization rate is
29.2 per 100,000, with the highest rates
in persons 65 years and older (95.5 per 100,000)
and 50-64 years (47.2 per 100,000) . Hospitalization
rates for COVID-19 in older people are higher
than what is typically seen early in a flu season.
Based on death certificate data, the percentage of
deaths attributed to pneumonia, influenza or
SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19
decreased from 23.6% during week 15 to 18.6% during
week 16 but remained significantly above baseline. This is
very elevated in the context of any influenza season. The
percentage may change as additional death certificates are
processed. Declines in some key indicators used to track
COVID-19 from one week to the next could change
as additional data are received but also may be
a result of widespread social distancing measures.