What is actually going on with coronavirus currently? This Vox article answers succintly.

This article which came out from vox yesterday does a good job in detailing the current situation with coronavirus. I agree with the article when it says that it's tough to grasp the bigger picture when trying to analyze the coronavirus situation.

Its key points can be summarized below: 

1. Despite the grim threshold of 100,000 total deaths recently passed, which should not be soon forgotten, overall new COVID-19 cases are decreasing across the country. 

2. Some states are seeing increases in cases, while some are seeing decreases. Notable states where cases are increasing include California and Florida. Notable states where cases are decreasing are Pennsylvania and Texas. 

3. Overall, the trends of the pandemic were to affect wealthier populations first, but later spread disproportionately to those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. This has largely been an urban phenomenon but there is a growing spread in impoverished rural areas as well which may deepen the socioeconomic divide. 

My overall takeaway is that things are improving but we are nowhere near out of the woods yet. I will likely write a separate post for this but I despise how the re-opening vs remaining locked down debate has become politicized and polarized. I think reasonable arguments can be made for both, and the true answer likely involves a middle ground that is ideally formed by public health and economic principles. While that is debated and we seek to establish a new normal, we still need to remember the incredible number of lives lost and affected by this virus, and the disproportionate impact of the virus on lower socioeconomic folks and Black and Hispanic communities.