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Coronavirus Trib Live News Articles Commentaries

June 2020

By Gary F. Zeolla

These Commentaries are continued from Coronavirus News Articles Commentaries: May 2020.

Pennsylvania health officials ask protesters to adhere to coronavirus safety guidelines

     “we would want people to stay six feet or more apart”

    I have not seen this done in any of the protests I have seen.

    “Levine said it will be difficult to track whether someone contracted the virus from attending a protest or demonstration”

     Setting it up so that when in two weeks we see a surge in CV cases, the protests won’t be blamed. Instead, the reopenings will be blamed, so that they can institute more draconian restrictions.
6/2/20

Unemployment rate falls to 13.3%, with 2.5 million jobs added

      The “experts” had predicted up to 8 million jobs would be lost and the unemployment rate would rise to 20%, so they were off by 10 million jobs and 7.3 percentage points! But I cannot criticize them too severely, as I also thought the jobs number would be still be terrible this month. Only the President was optimistic. But I am pleased to admit I, and all of the experts, were wrong, and the President was right.

      But still, the 13.3% unemployment rate is still almost ten percentage points higher than the 3.5% rate that we enjoyed back in February before this whole Coronavirus crisis. It will probably be a few more weeks or even months until we see how close we will get back down to that mark. But still, this is a great start. It helps that the President has been so optimistic, despite the criticism of the Dems and the MSM.
6/6/20

Wall Street’s rally zooms higher after surprise gain in jobs

      More great economic news. I am so pleased I was wrong, but Trump was right about how fast the economic would come back. We still have a long way to go to get back to where we were before the Coronavirus crisis, but the Dow back over 27,000 already is a great start.
6/6/20

Epidemic of wipes and masks plagues sewers, storm drains

      More “collateral damage” from the Coronavirus restrictions and recommendations. Though, I cannot blame the authorities for this one. This is just irresponsibility on the part of the populace.
6/6/20

Signs of normalcy: Scenes from Western Pennsylvania in the green phase

      I finally got my teeth cleaned! Thank God, my budding periodontal disease had not progressed. I’m thankful for that. But it was strange that I had to wear a mask to go into the dentist’s office. Big sign on the door, “MASKS REQUIRED.” But then of course, I had to take it off for the hygienist to clean my teeth and for the dentist to check them. But then I had to put it right back on again. Silly.
6/6/20

Gov. Wolf: Masks, social distance could remain this fall as part of Pennsylvania’s ‘new world’

    Unless you are a protestor, then ignore all of that, as our glorious leader demonstrated for us with his hypocrisy in his not so socially distanced walk with the protestors.
6/6/20

Churches vs. Protests

Western Pa. churches split along denominational lines on reopening

      “We’re not allowing singing. … “There is really only room for about 60 people in order to maintain that 6-foot distance.”

Protesters flood U.S. streets in huge, peaceful push for change

      “Tens of thousands of protesters streamed into the nation’s capital and other major cities Saturday… chanting “’No justice, no peace!’”

      The contrast between these two articles is striking. Christians are being very cautious in reopening churches, not singing (as that would cause the virus to project farther) and practicing social distancing, while restricting attendance to a few dozen people.

      Meanwhile, the protestors are crowding together by the thousands, not at all practicing social distancing, and chanting (which also causes the virus to project farther). No one in the media is criticizing the protestors, while Christians would be vilified if they held a full church service.

      Granted, the protesters are outside, while the church services are inside, and it is harder for the virus to transmit outside than inside. But then, Christians were ticketed for holding drive-in services. And don’t forget about all of the hoopla over the crowds of beachgoers, who were also outside.

      At the very least, those who vilified those beachgoers and the governors who opened the beaches need to apologize. But most of all, in a couple of weeks, if we see a spike in Coronavirus cases, don’t let the media lie to you and let them blame the reopenings. And if we don’t see a spike, then given these massive protest crowds, that means we were lied to all along.

      In addition, if the latter is the case, then outdoor sporting events, concerts, and the like should all begin again, as there is obviously nothing to worry about in mass gatherings. And churches should just hold services outside. That will solve any possible problems.

      I forgot about Independence Day. Parades. Fireworks. Bring it all on. If thousands can march in a protest, then thousand can march and watch a parade. And if thousands can congregate on the National Mall for a protest, then thousands can congregate on the National Mall to watch fireworks.

      Independence Day celebrations are a unifying force in America, and we really need that right now.
6/7/20

Jobs Lost Permanently

Left out: More workers now losing hope of getting back jobs

       “Even as the U.S. economy begins to flicker back to life, even as job cuts slow and some laid-off people are called back to work, the scope of the devastation left by the viral pandemic has grown distressingly clear to millions who’d hoped for a quick return to their jobs: They may not be going back anytime soon.”

      “And despite gradual re-openings, public fear of the virus is still keeping many people away from bars, restaurants, hotels, hair salons and other retail establishments. Few have resumed traveling. Sports and entertainment venues remain closed.”

      “I don’t see the U.S. labor market recovering back to full employment for another five to 10 years.”

      After my enthusiasm over the great May jobs numbers, I had to read this article. It is very depressing. All of this is exactly as I feared and warned about. But sadly, no one was listening to me. But I still hope and pray things are not as bad as this article makes it out to be.
6/8/20

Blame the tear gas, not the protesters

Can tear gas and pepper spray increase coronavirus spread?

       Unless we have been lied to for the past three months, thousands of protesters being packed together not at all practicing social distance is going to be a disaster in spreading the virus. But the media is already taking steps to try to divert blame away from the protestors for the forthcoming spike in Coronavirus cases and deaths. But there is this beauty of a line:

       “There’s no research on tear gas and COVID-19 specifically”

       Then why this article? Again, to divert blame. Pure and simple.
6/9/20

Pittsburgh playgrounds, courts and ballfields to reopen

      Good to hear, but they should never have been closed in the first place.
6/9/20

Poll: Americans are the unhappiest they’ve been in 50 years

    The first major comments I wrote about the Coronavirus back in March had the word “Sadness” in the title. Sadly, it looks like my initial observation was correct.
6/16/20

Contact tracing IDs more than 4,000 exposed to covid-19 in Pennsylvania

     Are these contact tracers asking if Coronavirus (CV) positive persons have attended one of the many protests? I’m asking, as I heard NY’s contact tracers are not. That of course, is to hide the fact that the rise in CV cases in 22 states is due to the protests. Instead, the media is blaming the reopenings, and next I am sure they will blame Trump’s rally in Tulsa tonight. But by no means blame those “peaceful” protestors. Yet, when things get shutdown again due to those protests spreading the virus, we will all suffer.
6/20/20

Protests and rise in Coronavirus cases

Allegheny County concerned with jump in coronavirus cases

      “We have not seen a large number of new cases or clusters from recent events and mass gatherings”

      Even if this is true, which I doubt, I still blame the protests. Here’s why: We were put under these draconian restrictions, so that more than ten people couldn’t even attend a loved one’s funeral. But we accepted them as vital, so obeyed. But then we saw thousands of people gathering in downtown Pittsburgh and elsewhere, not at all practicing social distancing. 500 people even crammed inside for George Floyd’s funeral. Yet not only did the health officials and politicians not condemn and break up those gatherings, but they supported them and even attended them themselves.

      That led average people to feel like we had been hoodwinked. “If thousands of people can cram together for a protest, then I can get a haircut.” Add to that the fact that those restrictions were overly severe in the first place, and many just had enough.

      If the authorities had been more reasonable in the first place and had followed a more moderate approach like I have advocated all along, then maybe people would not gotten fed up and would still follow those moderate restrictions. But as it all, many have just thrown all caution to the wind.

      Moreover, we knew all along there would be a rise in cases when things reopened. That is yet one more reason the lockdowns never made any sense. All they did was delay the inevitable, and we will eventually end up with the same number of cases overall as if there never had been lockdowns. But in the process, we will have unnecessarily destroyed out economy and the lives of millions of Americans.

      Plus, I have detailed elsewhere and will do so more later, that even the protests and riots at least partly have occurred due to the lockdowns.

      Again, if my moderate approach had been followed throughout, the ultimate number of cases would still have been the same, but we would not have brought down the economy near as much, nor would we have ended up with so much social unrest.
6/23/20

Experts: Covid-19 surges hit cities that reopened early, not those with big protests

       The title of this article is very misleading. It makes it sound like the “experts” have determined the protests are not the cause of the rise in CV cases. But then there is this admission, “There are no data on infections among protesters.” How can they then say the protests did not lead to the spikes?

       Note also two other article headlines here on the Trib today, “Allegheny County reports 90 new coronavirus cases, the highest daily total for county” and “Westmoreland County reports 20 new coronavirus cases.” People protesting in downtown Pittsburgh come from throughout the outlying Allegheny County and neighboring Westmoreland County. Did they get infected in the protests in Pittsburgh then take it back home? These articles don’t say.

       “The leading theory to explain this paradox is that being outdoors is safer than indoors. Numerous studies support this.”

       If this is true, and these protests did not lead to a rise in CV cases, then I reiterate what I said before—it is time for all other outdoor events to begin again. Reinstate parades and fireworks in Pittsburgh and across the country for Independence Day. Let’s hear “Play Ball!” in PNC Park this summer with fans. And let’s hear “Here we go Steelers!” by tens of thousands of fans at Heinz Field come fall.
6/28/20

Summer may decide fate of lead shots in virus vaccine race

       “If the best covid-19 vaccine is only 50% effective, ‘that’s still to me a great vaccine,’ said Dr. Drew Weissman of the University of Pennsylvania.”

      I predicted weeks ago that a COVID-19 vaccine would only be about 50% effective and that only about 50% of people would get it. Therefore, it would only reduce CV cases by 25%. Looks like I was correct on the first half of that equation. Time will tell if I am correct on the second half. But if I am, a vaccine will not be the be all and end all people seem to think it would be.
6/29/20

Pa. Health Department taking online complaints of covid-19 violations

Leviticus 19:16 `You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; (Lev. 19:16a, NKJ)

Proverbs 11:13 A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter. (Prov. 11:13 NKJ)

Proverbs 20:19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips. (Prov. 20:19 NKJ)

Proverbs 26:20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases. (Prov. 26:20 NKJ)

      For we hear [that] some walk about [fig., conduct themselves] among you* in idleness, not working at all, but being busybodies (2Thes 3:11; ALT3).

      And also at the same time, they learn [to be] idle, going about the houses, but not only idle, but also idle accusers [or, babblers] and busybodies, speaking the [things] they ought not (1tim 5:13; ALT3).

      Be making sure none of you* suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evildoer, or as a meddler into other’s affairs (1Peter 4:15; ALT3).
6/29/20

Allegheny County bar and restaurant owners say new alcohol restrictions will hurt

     I knew Mark back in the day. I haven’t seen him in ages, but I feel for him. His business is being hurt for no logical reason, as he clearly articulates.
6/29/20

The LORD Has It Under Control
What the Bible Teaches About the Sovereignty of God

    This book is for the person struggling in life and for the person struggling with how God sovereignly works in people’s lives. It goes through the Bible more or less in order. Along the way, I relate examples of how I believe the sovereignty of God has been operating in my life, in hopes that my experiences will help the reader to apply the principles to your life. It also addresses the question of the relationship of God’s sovereignty to the human will or volition.

These commentaries are continued at: Coronavirus Trib Live News Articles Commentaries: July 2020.

Coronavirus Trib Live News Article Commentaries: June 2020 . Copyright © 2020 By Gary F. Zeolla.

The above commentaries were posted in June 2020.