World 24.5 million USA 6 million Mexico 570K+
Hurricane Laura, a massive category four system, crossed the US coast yesterday. Half a million people in Louisiana and Texas were ordered to evacuate. 20 million people are in the path of the hurricane. No doubt this storm and the movement of people will see the virus spread even further. Texas has recorded over 620,000 cases of coronavirus, the second highest number of any US state after California. Louisiana has the 11th highest number of cases; over 140,000. A six metre high storm surge is still predicted. It will take a few days before we know the full extent of the damage. Thousands are without power.
The US is in the grip of intense fires in California and there are more riots after another police shooting, this time in Wisconsin where a black man was shot seven times in the back, leaving him a paraplegic.
With over six million cases of coronavirus, more than 180,000 deaths, widespread unrest, guns and violence everywhere, Vice President, Mike Pence (Nee Pick Me) said at their Republican convention yesterday, ‘The hard truth is you won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America’. Laughable, if it wasn’t so tragic.
Here in Melbourne, we had a short intense storm late yesterday. Three people were killed by falling trees. About 50,000 people are without power. No doubt the situation is far worse in the US in the wake of the hurricane. Victoria recorded another 113 cases of coronavirus overnight, the same number as yesterday with 12 more fatalities.