On the COVID front a few things stand out.
We still don't have the data we really need to understand the full situation. And too many states (in my estimation) are not increasing testing even though the tests are now available in much larger quantities.
There is a lot of revision going on in deaths at the state level. Several states did not report their deaths yesterday. It's not that they didn't have any deaths but they didn't report how many they had. That includes PS and WA. Pa has actually pulled out 200 previously reported deaths that didn't even meet the "suspected" standard.
New cases might actually finally be creeping up even though new deaths are declining. That was expected as more new low -symptom or asymptomatic individuals are tested and their cases are discovered.
It is still the case that too many states are not reporting hospital and ICU admissions in a way that is easy to access.
There are enough reasonably large (in the thousands) of roughly random testing to strongly suggest that at least 10X (and maybe even more than that) people have had COVID and recovered than we have confirmed cases. That is good because it implies that the death rate for confirmed cases (SFR) is 10X lower than believed only a week or so ago. We need a lot more random testing.
Even if the infection rate is at 6-10% as the random tests imply that is nowhere near the probably 80% we need for herd immunity (without a vaccine). That means we either ease up the economy and some social distancing now and have more deaths but a better functioning economy and fewer people out of work, or we continue to keep the economy shut down and just postpone the deaths until Fall and maybe Fall 2021.
The movement in the states seems generally to be loosening the lockdowns, although some of the easing seems pretty weird. (Gov Whitmer seems determined to keep the clamps on as long as she possibly can. I think she's really misreading her situation, but . . .)
There may be some discussion of balancing the needs of the economy (and of course the people and their jobs) and the needs of the health situation. That is good.
It is, unfortunately, very clear now that one way or another we're going to have to acquire herd immunity, and the only way to do that without a working vaccine is to let people get infected. The most promising vaccine out there just failed its first big test, so . . .
Our hospitals, even in the NYC area were never truly overwhelmed. Close, maybe there and in Detroit Metro. Also, the "curve" has been flattened enough that we should not have the system threatened with being overwhelmed for at least the next 6 months.
So . . . that implies to me that we should move towards a strategy of protecting the most vulnerable (and we have a really good idea who they are) while trying to get everyone else back to as 'normal' as possible. For a lot of reasons. I think all but the most dense politicians (and they can be really dense) are beginning to sense that now. Too many people will not put up with the restraints much longer.
We do still all need to do our share (which will vary by our own capacities and the needs of others). Certainly some of us still working may have to lose some salary/wages for a bit. We must be cautious to not needlessly endanger any of the vulnerable. We need to actively help others where we can. And so on. "Love thy neighbor as thyself" was maybe never better advice than now.
So. Data. New cases up almost 7000 (mostly in big states with ramped up testing) but new deaths down by 200 not even counting 'adjustments' made to take out previously reported deaths that did not fit even the lowered criteria, and including states that went from no report yesterday to more than 100 today. That seems to mean new deaths declined by well over 300, or more than 10% from yesterday. That is good.
We're finding new, mild cases. In addition Except for NJ, the data I could find shows an overall downward trend in both types of admissions except perhaps in MI where they seem to be flat.
No matter what I think we can expect a second wave to hit next Fall during the normal flu season. It will be interesting to see if the strategy is to open the schools and try to increase herd immunity while protecting the most vulnerable, or keeping them closed and postponing herd immunity and seeing a third wave in the Fall of 2021. I truly believe the former is the better choice, but I'm not a Governor. There is pretty decent data from the NYC area that keeping kids locked up in inter-generational homes with 4+ residents is spreading the infections. Data from the US and Europe shows that far less infection is spread in the open public spaces than in homes and enclosed mass transit.
So. Go outside and get some sunshine when possible. Do not fear. Be serious about living right, as in practicing good health habits, being considerate of others, helping your neighbors, and protecting the vulnerable. Don't be hysterical. It's time to live again.