Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver : Monterey Outlook Is Terrible

A blue color poster on COVID -19 Corona Virus Disease

The Monterey County Health Department put out a bulletin that there were a massive 3,304 new cases reported yesterday, bringing the total to 22,255 cases, a jump of 17% over yesterday’s count.  There was a report on twitter than the jump in the cases in Monterey and the rest of California was due to processing backlogs, with about half of the new cases from California State Prisons.  Nationwide, the number of new cases rose by 238,189 to 17.734 million while deaths rose by 2,384 to 312,573.  In California, the number of new cases rose by 42,775 to 1.783 million while deaths rose by 227 to 22,221.  These numbers are not good, please stay at home as much as possible.

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver : California Outlook Is Bleak

Many businesses are irritated that Monterey County health officer Dr. Ed. Moreno issued a stay-at-home order effective on Monday even though the ICU bed capacity had not fallen below 15% in the Bay Area, which would have required a shutdown.  It turns out he was only a few days early—ICU beds in the Bay Area fell to just 12.9% today meaning the entire Bay Area is now locked down.  There were 286 new cases of coronavirus reported in Monterey County today, bringing the total to 18,507.  There were 15 new hospitalizations, and two more deaths.  Nationwide, there were 202K new cases, bringing the total to 16.891 million, while deaths rose by 3,620 to 305,934.  The number of new cases was up by 60% over yesterday.  In California, the numbers were bleak.  There were 37,474 new cases (up 47% from yesterday) bringing the grand total to 1.663 million so far.  Deaths more than doubled from yesterday’s 161 to today’s 354. These numbers are disturbing, please stay at home as much as possible.

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver California Cases Alarming

There were 289 new coronavirus cases detected in Monterey County today, bringing the total to 18,209.  There were six new hospitalizations and seven new deaths reported.  Nationwide, there were over 200K cases, bringing the total to 16.689 million, while deaths rose by 2,263 (versus 1,402 the day prior) for a cume total of 302K.  In California, there were 25,433 new cases, bringing the total to 1.626 million while deaths rose by 161 (versus 78 the day prior) for a total of 21,215.  These numbers are alarming, please stay at home as much as possible.

Monterey, CA COVID vaccine not ready for the general population but testing is

A man covering his mouth and nose with N95 Mask

Although the initial doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are targeted towards health care workers, anyone can get a coronavirus test and it is free.  See the below sites, which have COVID-19 testing from Tuesday through Saturday all day (from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.).

Soledad High School Drive Through at 425 Gabilan Drive in Soledad

Castroville Library at 11160 Speegle Street

Cesar Chavez Library at 615 Williams Road in Salinas

Seaside High School at 2200 Noche Buena Street

Make an appointment at https://lhi.care/covidtestin or call 1-888-634-1123.

Walk ins are welcome from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

 

Monterey, CA Aging At Home Is Now In Vogue : Assisted Living On The Outs

A caregiver smiling and holding the woman

COVID-19 has made aging at home in vogue.  The Wall Street Journal recently wrote an article on how coronavirus is changing the way Americans face retirement by “accelerating developments already under way,” physician Bill Thomas said to the reporter.  “It’s going to make people rethink retirement altogether,” Laura Carstensen, director of Stanford University’s Center on Longevity said.  Most people will age at home, and remain independent, she said.  I believe that her view is true.  With roughly 40% of COVID-19 being staff and residents of nursing homes, nobody wants to go into a facility these days.  We have been getting a number of calls from fearful children who want to get their parents out of assisted living and back home, where they can reduce the risk of coronavirus exposure.  Although COVID-19 will eventually be wiped out, there will clearly be more devastating diseases in the future which makes these facilities dangerous.   

https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-covid-19-will-change-aging-and-retirement-11605452401

 

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver : 30K+ New Cases In California Three Days Running

There were 167 new coronavirus cases detected in Monterey County today, bringing the total to 17,546.  There was one new death reported.  I am hearing the nursing home outbreaks locally are accelerating.  About a quarter of the U.S. deaths from COVID-19 have been nursing home residents and caregivers.  One in five residents who contract coronavirus in a facility die from it.  Frankly, I thought this statistic would be higher.  Nationwide, there were a whopping 281K new cases, bringing the total to more than 16 million, while deaths jumped by 2,462 leaving the total at 296,824 to date.  In California, the numbers were equally depressing with 37,467 new cases bringing the total up to 1.534 million while deaths rose by 206 to 20,861.  These numbers just keep getting bigger, please obey the stay-at-home order unless you are an essential worker and don’t travel unless it is absolutely urgent.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/12/09/covid-19-us-nursing-homes-vaccines-coronavirus/6413672002/

New Study Finds Older People Happier Than Younger People, Even During COVID-19 Pandemic

Four old people giving a thumbs up

A new study out of Stanford University found that older people are happier than younger people, even during the pandemic.  The researchers surveyed roughly 1,00 people from 18-74 years old and ask them how often and how intensely they had felt 29 different emotions during the past week.  Older people admitted they were more at risk of getting COVID-19 than younger people, but surprisingly they also reported feeling more positive emotions than negative emotions than young people did.  One of the researchers suggests that when there is less time ahead of us, we focus on the good things.  As the phrase goes, life is short.

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver 33K New Cases In California Two Days Running

A blue color poster on COVID -19 Corona Virus Disease

There were 222 new cases of coronavirus reported in Monterey County, bringing the total up to 17,379.  There were five new hospitalizations and five more deaths.  Nationwide, there were a hefty 241K new cases, bringing the total to 15.816 million, while deaths soared to 3,338 leaving the total at 294,362 to date.  In California, the numbers were equally bleak with 33,269 new cases bringing the total up to 1.496 million while deaths rose by 178 to 20,655.  These numbers are huge, please obey the stay-at-home order unless you are an essential worker and don’t travel unless it is absolutely urgent.

Monterey, CA Coronavirus Update From A Carmel Caregiver : 33K New Cases In California

There were 191 new cases of coronavirus reported in Monterey County, bringing the total up to 17,151.  There were two new hospitalizations and two new deaths.  Nationwide, new cases were up by 220K to 15.575 million, with deaths (like yesterday) are roughly 3K, putting the toll of fatalities at 291K. In California, the number of new cases were massive at 33K, with deaths rising by 215 for a cume total of more than 20K.  Please take the stay-at-home order in Monterey seriously and don’t travel unless it is absolutely urgent.

Carmel, CA New IRA Retirement Tool With No Early Withdrawal Penalties

With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing a number of Americans to be laid off, many people are taking a close look at 72(t) plans, which allows you to withdraw money without the usual 10% penalty, even if you are below the age of 59.5 years old.  Dubbed 72(t) plans, they give you a series of equal payments taken at least annually.  The duration of the plan must be at least five years or until the person reaches 59.5 years, whichever is longer.  Talk to your tax planner, Monterey County Bank or one of our other local banks about this option.  Another possibility which was made as part of the Cares Act is an exemption to coronavirus-related distributions as another exception.  If you are interested in this option, act quickly as it’s only available until year end.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/early-ira-withdrawals-can-be-penalty-free-11607004008