Everyone Should Read This Article: 9 Takeaways From the Latest COVID Projections

There is an excellent article just now out at NPR's website on the pandemic I believe virtually everyone should read. It's also pretty brief, concise and full of good to great information, some cautions and some reasons for optimism and hope.

300,000 Deaths By December? 9 Takeaways From The Newest COVID-19 Projections

At that link, you can also simply listen to the same article. It's only 3 minutes long.

I'll post just the headlines here of those 9 projections, with one exception you'll see below.

1. The coronavirus is on track to be the third leading cause of death in the U.S.

2. The hardest-hit states probably won't bend their curves much

3. There could be a roller coaster effect

4. Starting in November, cold weather could turbocharge this cycle

5. Things could be worse than projected if hard-hit states don't return to lockdowns

6. Things might be better than projected if mask use takes off

With the next point, this is the one that has information in it specifically for us in Missouri.

7. Even with universal masking, many states may need to lock down

In the case of four states — California, Kentucky, Louisiana and Missouri — if 95% of the population started wearing masks, the state would no longer reach the IHME threshold for imposing stay-at-home orders by December. But for the remaining 18 states that are currently at or projected to reach the threshold by December, near universal mask use would only delay the point at which they reach it by an average of six to eight weeks.

And then the last 2 points.

8. New solutions could change the model

9. Not all forecasts are as pessimistic as IHME's

So there you have it, folks. We need to wear those masks. Virtually everywhere, all the time.

Stay safe, y'all. Stay home, stay safe and be well

We can do this.

We must.