Half a million infected with coronavirus worldwide as economic toll rises

Today's the day that the USA took over from China as having the most infections - a country that a month ago had fewer than a hundred, despite bringing in a flight ban fairly quickly.

It shows just how infectious this disease is. And while not fatal for most, unchecked it will tear through the world's population and kill millions.

Then only way to halt it temporarily is to savage the economy.

But on a brighter note, it's Friday!

And through this all, the people who are staying home, and waiting this out, are the one's who, for the most part, can. Those who live in poverty, or have jobs that pay little, have no choice but to go out and work.

In a country like the US, if grocery workers, gas station employees, bank tellers, and others in these industries are now considered "necessary" it's about damn time that they, and others like them throughout the world, get paid a living wage!

The rescue plan, which is expected to be voted on in the House on Friday, would dispense checks of $1,200 per adult and $500 per child.

I had a closer look at the text of the US stimulus bill that passed the senate yesterday and barring any amendments still to come (or details that I might have missed), it looks like Americans living in Japan will be eligible to receive the $1200 payment. Crucially, the senate bill did not adopt the residency requirement that Democrats proposed in their draft, which would have limited payments only to individuals residing within the US (see my last post on the Mar 25 for the details).

“Our first concern is food, not the virus,” said Suresh Kumar, 60, a bicycle rickshaw rider in New Delhi whose family of six relies on his daily earnings of 300 rupees, or $4.

Can't even begin to imagine the depth of despair in that country.