Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #60

[sallye818]

I have definitely noticed this here in VA. Have bought almost no beef. Some restaurants here are charging a surcharge if you order beef items on menu. And I've learned to be very creative with my meal planning I don't eat much meat, but have a husband and 3 boys who are big meat-eaters. Maybe this will make us all healthier! (I do have to say, a juicy cheeseburger is my favorite meat.)

BEEF PRICES SOAR, FOOD INFLATION IS HIGHEST IN MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS

By Chuck Abbott

https://www.agriculture.com/news/business/beef-prices-soar-food-inflation-is-highest-in-more-than-eight-years?

6/11/2020



Food prices rose sharply for the second month in a row, with beef recording its largest one-month increase ever, as the U.S. food inflation rate hit 4% in May, said the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday. It is the highest rate since January 2012. While food prices surged, the overall U.S. inflation rate for the past 12 months was a tiny 0.1%.



Analysts at Trading Economics, a financial information site, predicted food inflation would quickly return to its traditional modest rate of around 2% annually. In May, the USDA forecast a slightly higher-than-usual increase of 2.5% in food prices this year.



The BLS said food prices climbed by 0.7% in May, following a 1.5% spike in April. “However, unlike the broad increase in April, the May increase was driven mostly by a 3.7% rise in the index for meats, poultry, dairy, and eggs. The beef index increased 10.8% in May, its largest-ever monthly increase,” said the agency’s monthly Consumer Price Index Report.



Meat production slowed during April and into May due to coronavirus outbreaks at meatpacking plants. Some of the largest cattle and hog slaughter plants closed temporarily, reducing the flow of meat to grocery stores. Some chains limited customer purchases.



“The problems in meatpacking plants do not seem over, although most of the plants are back online,” said economist Joe Glauber of the IFPRI think tank. “If this means lower meat production over the next few months, then meat prices will continue to remain higher than year-ago levels but likely down a bit from the current spikes.”

(continued at link)
BBM

 

[jjenny]

I have definitely noticed this here in VA. Have bought almost no beef. Some restaurants here are charging a surcharge if you order beef items on menu. And I've learned to be very creative with my meal planning I don't eat much meat, but have a husband and 3 boys who are big meat-eaters. Maybe this will make us all healthier! (I do have to say, a juicy cheeseburger is my favorite meat.)

Thankfully I am not a big beef eater. I prefer fish and chicken.

 

[Lavender Moon]

Alternative will be a lot of people sick and dead. Seems that's where we are all going.

We really need to prepare for this.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Florida has been over 1200 a day for the last 8 days. And today we went up 1600.
All restaurants wide open, bars now too. Hardly any masks.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article243452186.html

highest number of cases since the beginning of the virus.... AND we are still covering ups 1000s of deaths.
Pneumonia deaths in Florida were 2x higher in the months of Mar-May, than the full 12 months of each year of 2019, 2018u, 2017, 2016, 2015........ Just think about the lies ... people have the right to know the truth.

 

[Lavender Moon]

Thankfully I am not a big beef eater. I prefer fish and chicken.

It will not hurt anyone to be deprived of beef. I think that may be the least of our worries.

 

[Sunset]

“Arizona has reported an average of more than 1,000 new cases every day this week — the highest per capita ratein the U.S. Underscoring the crisis, the health department said Tuesday that only a quarter of the state's beds in intensive care units are currently available.

Public health experts say these surges should not be dismissed as a result of more testing.

"It's very clear that it's a real increase in community spread," Will Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association, tells member station KJZZ in Phoenix. "It's not some artifact of additional testing."”

[...]

“I'm definitely worried," says Dr. Bill Miller the senior associate dean for research at Ohio State University's college of public health. "As places have been opening up, many people are taking it as a message that everything is OK and back to normal.”

U.S. Hits 2 Million Coronavirus Cases As Many States See A Surge Of Patients

I saw the press conference in Az and they don't seem to worry about it.
Also, when pointed out that many people are not wearing masks. The governor said he went to walgreens once and everyone was wearing masks.

 

[margarita25]

It will not hurt anyone to be deprived of beef. I think that may be the least of our worries.

At least we can clean our colons and intestines out

 

[MrX]

It will not hurt anyone to be deprived of beef. I think that may be the least of our worries.

Well, as a huge burger fan, it would be devastating. Just need to buy the larger packages on sale, make patties and freeze them. But it's good to know so I can stock up. I kind of miss the early days of this when we'd go out foraging for supplies. It was like going a date with my wife!

 

[mickey2942]

It will not hurt anyone to be deprived of beef. I think that may be the least of our worries.

The problem is that right now, there are so many calves, and yearlings, that cattle ranchers were planning to send to feed lots in the Fall. If they can't get the beef processed, there won't be feed for them over the winter.

Many cattle ranchers here in Montana are still family run operations. This could easily ruin generations of people who have lived on the ranch.

It is more than just not eating steak. Just the "rest of the story".

 

[Anance]

IMO, Americans have acted like spoiled brats in some ways. This is, at least, how I’ve come to view several people on my FB friends list recently.

I know. It's unbelievable.

 

[Tillicum]

She really seems very credible. The article started off "so benign".. but it looks similar to the national model with "business working groups" like Kushner.

Were people really that rude to her, though? That doesn't seem fair...looks as if she was working very hard for the State (heart inserted here, since my family's heritage there and my home once too)

Some were pretty rough on her IMO but she had many more fans. I think the long hours and stress took a toll on her.

 

[Anance]

The pandemic doesn't care if states reopen to save businesses from bankruptcy. Neither does it show mercy on protesters.
I see some articles pointing out that a higher percentage of African American population are dying due to Covid than other races.

I know. COVID is a virus, technically not even alive. All it does is find hosts and replicate. It does not care about the economy, the importance of protest, and, sadly, whether you need to work or not. You are just an available host.

Not being the top of the food chain, su$cks

 

[SoCalDavidS]

I know. It's unbelievable.

If Americans acting like "spoiled brats" comes as a surprise, you obviously haven't been paying attention.

Although at the heart, I'm beginning to think it might begin as a species thing.

 

[anneg]

When things on this thread get too depressing with all the bad news, don't forget to check out the Smiles Cafe thread
Smiles Cafe

 

[10ofRods]

Exactly!
I support the BLM movement. I heart bleeds for the injustice that has been going on.
At the same time, I am worried that cases are going to too much to handle.

The pandemic doesn't care if states reopen to save businesses from bankruptcy. Neither does it show mercy on protesters.
I see some articles pointing out that a higher percentage of African American population are dying due to Covid than other races.
But I feel everyone is a bit scared to point this out because it would seem like they are against the protests which is not true.

I finally got this off my chest.

The government needs to show quick response to their needs and pass legislation. It has been long overdue. But will they?
They would just blame the rising numbers on the BLM movement and slither away like a snake.

Yes, there are genetic reasons why the African-American population is more at risk, but also a host of other factors, such as poverty and multi-generational housing. There are also more African-Americans in prison, relative to White/Caucasian persons. If you look at stats in states like Georgia, it's really troubling (pretty much the same in Mississippi and Alabama).

Assuming you are not a member of the Black community, you can imagine how that feels to the Black community. I think movements by legislators to make some immediate changes are helping, where that's happening.

"Everyone" includes lots of African-American/Black doctors, nurses, sheriffs and so on. They have been less afraid to speak up and they need to do so.

 

[10ofRods]

I saw the press conference in Az and they don't seem to worry about it.
Also, when pointed out that many people are not wearing masks. The governor said he went to walgreens once and everyone was wearing masks.

I guess everyone reacts differently. I'm worried on their behalf.

Arizona CoVid Stats

 

[jjenny]

Some were pretty rough on her IMO but she had many more fans. I think the long hours and stress took a toll on her.

I wonder if she didn't want to go along with everything opening. She knows it will lead to more cases.

 

[Cool Cats]

Dr. Fauci voices concerns about coronavirus spreading amid nationwide protests

 

[10ofRods]

Orange County, CA basically forced out its Health Officer. She quit, the mask order was immediately lifted.

Orange County is one of those where a rapidly rising CV19 rate (and deaths) are a reason why California is rising in per capita deaths (tbf, also Monterey, Marin, San Joaquin, Imperial, Riverside and Butte Counties.)

Dr. Nichole Quick received threats at a public meeting and apparently resigned afterwards.

 

[Sundog]

I wonder if she didn't want to go along with everything opening. She knows it will lead to more cases.

She is still working on the reopening, now as the Governor's health advisor. She just stepped down from the Ohio Dept of Health in order to work full time for the Governor.