Today I thought readers might enjoy encouraging information from the medical side of the Hannah Alexander duo. Mel has been collecting information from his medical sites about the pandemic–such as some of the earliest projections for April 4. There were projected to be at least 1.5 million confirmed cases of COVID19 by this time in the United States, and at least 150,000 of those were to be in the hospital. Every one of the apx. 55,000 ICU beds in the nation would be filled with COVID19 patients. That is not the case. Some states have been hit tragically hard, but nationwide, instead of 1.5 million, we have about 210,000 cases reported. Now, that could be because test kits have been quite rare, and because enough people have observed the social isolation request to successfully flatten the curve. But the bottom line is, if there really were 1.5 million cases, it was believed that between 10-20% of the cases were expected to be hospitalized. That has not happened.

All of the states that have been hit hardest, with the highest populations, are now reporting decreased numbers of new cases.

But it isn’t over yet. So to that end, Apple is making a million new face shields for medical personnel a week–the shields are used along with N95 face masks to protect both patient and medical personnel from the spread of the virus.

Another company has FDA approval for a portable unit that can sterilize used N95 masks by the tens of thousands in 2.5 hours.

Spain and Italy are reporting declining infections and death rates.

The hydroxychloroquinine-zpack combo has been FDA approved for experimental treatment.

Medical friends in fly-over states are still braced for COVID19 to reach them next, and so this means we need to continue to wear our masks, observe social distancing, and protect those around us who are more susceptible to a bad outcome.

Oh, and if you like to hike? Kristin Billerbeck told me yesterday that hiking trails around her have been shut down because hikers without masks crowded the trails without observation of social distancing. This virus is just as contagious outside as it is inside. It’s a worldwide pandemic, not an indoor pandemic.

Integrity is how you behave when no one is looking. I have asked myself many times over this past month with COVID19 whether my behavior could possibly be infecting someone else, even though it wouldn’t be obvious to anyone else. You might be young and healthy and strong–just as we have recovered and are no longer in danger–but what about a local nursing home where other young, strong, healthy people work? Will the virus be spread to that home as a result of your frustration with restrictions to your lifestyle now?

Many heroes have emerged during this difficult time to bless us in many ways. We can be heroes, too. All we have to do is be aware.