covid 19-we are so close but so far away

 COVID 19-WE ARE SO CLOSE BUT SO FAR AWAY

i was telling my wife she this this weekend
we are so close now to getting the vaccine we have to be real careful
yet
i said
we are real far away though

the pfizer vaccine is being given now
the moderna is on its way

i found this interactive link on the ny times where you can type in some info and it will tell you approximately where you are in the line for the vaccine

it seems i am 118.5 million in line in the us
i am 12.3 milion in line in california
i am 127 thousand in line here in santa barbara county

click the link to see where you stand in line for the vaccine

now there is a new strain thats popping up in the united kigdom that is 70% more virulent than the standard covid 19
surrounding countries it seems are isolating great britain not allowing travel to that country
the prime minister johnson the wanna be trump has locked down part of the country
he saw the light on covid 19 but trump never did

the scientists are hoping the vaccines will work against this new strain
they think they may have to tweak the vaccine every year like the flu vaccine is tweaked 

i saw a news report this weekend as i was surfing the news
there on the news report was a story on the hospital where we use to work when we were in college
its where we met there and the local college
this 200 bed hospital is consumed with covid patients
the hospital is 250% full
the hallways are full of patients in chairs or beds all its seemed hooked up to oxygen and ivs and other devices
the hospital lobby is also full of these patients
if there is an empty space its used

in los angeles home to 17 million people there are 0 thats zero icu beds available
in california there are only 2% of the icu beds available for a population of 40 million 
in our county santa barbara there are 31% icu beds available but that number is gradually dropping each day

healthcare here for the acutely ill will be rationed soon
folks will die who a year ago would be saved

there are 17,400 cases of covid patients in california hospitals 
its estimated by mid january that number will be around 75,000

just use your imagination as to what that will be like

there is no end in sight

think about this christmas when you decide to get together with friends and families
dont be the ones that add to the carnage

my wife she had an idea for us to get together this year with our group
usually during the holidays we get together in a big group of about 15 or so to celebrate or sometimes in smaller groups

to be safe this year we decide that wouldnt happen

so 
we had each family get in their cars and formed a caravan driving through santa barbara looking at all the beautiful christmas lights and decorations
we all were on a big group phone call
it was like we were all together again at someones house
but
we were all safely in our cars
safely distanced

it was amazing how good it felt to see us all together in a group and all safely protected from each other
we want all of us to be around next year all vaccinate and all together so we can interact and give each other a big hug

remember it takes one time for you to make a mistake to make it a fatal mistake

be safe
wear a mask
keep your distance
wash your hands
avoid get togethers this christmas
get your vaccine when its your time
so
you will be there next year for you loved ones

the organicgreen doctor