By Marcelle Dibrell
At press time, 216 days have passed since the United States recorded its first case of a confirmed Covid-19 patient. The world has 23,979,121 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 821,351 total deaths. The U.S. has reached 5,777,710 confirmed cases, and a total death toll of 178,486 is attributed to the disease.
On Aug 25, the U.S. was finding 37,986 new cases a day and losing 1,234 people daily. The number of daily new cases has dropped from its record high when the country found 77,255 new cases on July 16.
The total number of cases remains highest in California, where 682,320 residents have contracted the disease. Texas and Florida trail slightly behind: 613,326 and 605,494 respectively.
While total cases in California are the highest in the nation, the state’s infection rate and case numbers seem to be declining. Multiple counties have recently come off the state’s monitoring list. To come off the list, the state benchmark is 100 cases per 100,000 residents over a 14-day period.
In Los Angeles County, the 14-day average infection rate is 197.5 per 100,000 people, according to the California Department of Public Health. This sets the stage for the possibility of reopening some schools sooner than predicted.
In July, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that any county on the monitoring list could not open K-12 schools for in-person classes. However, in recent weeks many of the state’s counties are coming off that list. Currently, 35 of the state’s 58 counties remain on the monitoring list.
This is welcome news to parents who work outside of home and have children who need adult supervision. Those who can’t afford child care have been forced to cut their hours or even quit altogether. In a state where the unemployment numbers are already high, 13.3 percent, many are desperate to fully re-open California.
The country is starting to improve economically. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, total non-farm payroll employment rose by 1.8 million in July, and the unemployment rate fell to 10.2 percent. In July, notable job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, government, retail trade, professional and business services, other services, and health care.”
Unemployment rates remain the highest for the country’s youth (those aged 16 to 24), who have an 18.5 percent unemployment rate across the country. Although less than the April high of 26.9 percent, it is still more than double last year’s national youth unemployment rate.
Unemployed youth may want to consider a job in the pool and spa industry, which has been booming since the pandemic began.
According to Wendy Parker, Executive Director of the Florida Swimming Pool Association, FSPA, “This is the best summer our guys have had in years.”
“I feel good and we are all fortunate to be in the pool industry where other industries are not doing nearly as well and we have to be cognizant of that fact.”
Covid cases continue to rise, America’s economy continues to suffer, but the pool industry is experiencing an unanticipated boost in business.
Service Industry News will continue coronavirus coverage, with additional items of interest to pool and spa professionals.
Once again, a huge thanks to all you service guys and gals ensuring the country doesn’t also succumb to deadly waterborne diseases and drownings.
