Update: COVID-19 new cases and mortality

COVID-19 new cases are increasing across the globe. This post looks at three countries that have experienced the maximum damage. 

Here is comparison for two dates, 11/14/2020  and 11/22/2020.

The below graphics are all on 11/16/2020. The US trend is alarming for the new cases. Even Brazil is on the brink of going higher in the coming weeks.

It is imperative that the travel during the coming months should be avoided. The holiday celebrations are great, but you do not want to spend it in a hospital wearing breathing machines and experience other ensuing complications. It would have been so nice if the vaccines were available a month earlier.

India's Corona Virus situation is slightly improving

 Both Indian news media and John's Hopkins' data seem to indicate that the Corona Virus situation is getting better.

 

Fortunately, the number of deaths though appearing big compared to the population has been low so far.

With the coming holiday and festival season coming this situation is likely to go the other way. Another environmental factor that my get the situation southwards is the increasing pollution and dust. I hope Bengaluru and various other municipalities made use of the restrictions to better plan their traffic situation in controlling air pollution.

 Happy Navratri for all our friends, family and Indian citizens.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/navaratri-2020-kalash-sthapna-date-puja-vidhi-muhurat-timings-6724917/

Convalescent Plasma Therapy is getting new traction

"Plasma therapy is not new. German physiologist Emil von Behring won the Nobel Prize in 1901 for using it to treat diphtheria. It was also used during the Spanish Flu in 1918." -  Quoted from an Indian news link.

 It was tried early on in Wuhan. As it was not a clear test for the use of plasma therapy, it did not draw attention. But many countries are experimenting as the process of getting the plasma appears easy. Unfortunately, there is no definitive proof it will work. However, desperation has lead people to go for it and demand.

It was today announced that it has emergency authorization in the USA.

Read more here:

June 3, 2020
https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200603/plasma-therapy-helps-critically-ill-covid-patients#1

July 13, 2020
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-53387607

August 21, 2020
https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2020/fda-halts-plasma-use-for-covid.html

August 23, 2020
https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/08/23/905277083/fda-authorizes-convalescent-plasma-as-emergency-treatment-for-covid-19

Where is Microsoft going with TikTok?

I am not sure of where this TikTok dealing is going. It looks like 50/50.

Mostly, American teens like TikTok. Americans have an inexhaustible desire for short time results, and 15 sec-videos are a perfect fit. Are 15 seconds long enough to make an impression about an Ad? Unless Microsoft has other ideas to integrate TikTok with its enterprise and cloud empires, it may be a flop for ad revenue. Twitter is trying for a long time to monetize, but the path has not been easy.

Microsoft trying to buy a media company is a no brainer. However, does it have to be TikTok?  Microsoft will be in the next congressional hearings list for sure. If Microsoft is buying TikTok for creating jobs, you need to take a deep breath. How many jobs can it create, realistically?

Can Microsoft succeed in monetizing TikTok? Or is Microsoft trying to buy TikTok to remain in the good books of China? I wonder.
Is Microsoft buying trouble in its TikTok purchase? Probably it is. Satya earned great respect after the demise of Windows Phone and the ascendency of Azure. Probably, Satya will be putting his career on the block, by purchasing TikTok.

There has been some talk of Microsoft buying a portion of TikTok, and another of Microsoft allowing others with some minor interest in Tiktok. This is not going to convince people about security. A clean cord-cutting is necessary. I think President Trump will be happy if the whole thing comes to the USA.

I saw this on the BBC site(https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53628108).

I quote, "Microsoft emphasized that it would ensure that 'all private data of TikTok's American users' was transferred to and remained in the US.
Further, it would ensure that any data currently stored or backed up outside the country would be deleted from servers after it was transferred to US datacenters. It also said that Microsoft 'appreciates the US Government's and President Trump's involvement as it continues to develop strong security protections for the country.
"
Well,
A. These assurances may not have any intrinsic value. What prevents TikTok from retaining copies of the files?

B. All Chinese companies need to provide the communist party any data it requests. How can you ensure 'that any data stored or backed up will be deleted from servers after it was transferred? The lack of transparency is what lead the US to distrust China in the first place. Does Microsoft expect TikTok to delete the information they already have? Not by a long shot.

C. I am sure President Trump knows China better than Satya.

I watch and watch as the story unfolds in the coming days and weeks.

Read more about trending info on TikTok:

Ireland data center:
https://bbc.in/31rsxEv

Instagram fights back:
https://bit.ly/3fugo6N

Aug 13 News after Indian ban of TikTok

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/13/tech/tiktok-ban-trump-india/index.html

September 1, 2020 (added)

Now China hates Zuckerberg

Source:
https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1198862.shtml