Hope vs. Despair
 
Along with the left/right divide in America and around the world, another split is becoming evident.  It's between those who choose hope and optimism and those, particularly in the media and on the left, who seem to have a vested interest in despair, panic and pessimism. 
 
That split has been evident in the last 24 hours as some emerging good news was generally ignored by the major media.
 
For example, researchers at the Imperial College in Great Britain initially predicted that the coronavirus would kill 500,000 people in the UK and more than 2 million in the United States.  It was big news at the time. 
 
But as more information comes out, it became obvious that the model was wrong.  An update released yesterday had dramatically different results.  The predicted death toll is now exponentially lower. 
 
Referring to these new results yesterday, Dr. Deborah Birx, a key member of the president's Coronavirus Task Force, said this:
 
"The predictions of the model don't match the reality on the ground in China, South Korea or Italy. . . Models are models. There is enough data of the real experience with the coronavirus on the ground to really make these predictions much more sound."
 
Dr. Birx noted that in the major nations dealing the outbreak, the infection rate has never hit 1 in 1,000 people.  It could, but that hasn't happened yet, and in some nations, it has peaked and infections are going down. 
 
She also rejected something else that has been hyped by the media lately -- the notion that universal do-not-resuscitate orders are becoming necessary.  "There is no situation in the United States right now that warrants that kind of discussion," Dr. Birx said.
 
This is still a fluid situation.  Many early assumptions were based on a large number of infections.  But Dr. Birx reiterated that there is no scenario in which "60% to 70% of Americans are going to get infected in the next six to eight weeks."
 
You can watch her remarks here.
 
In related news: 

• The Army Corps of Engineers is creating thousands of potential hospital beds by converting empty facilities such as hotels, stadiums and convention centers. 
• Dozens of drugs are being tested to combat the coronavirus, including those that the media mocked President Trump for suggesting might hold some promise.  He may well be proven right, but I'm not holding my breath that the media will report it. 
• Executives of major corporations like Delta, Marriott and Texas Roadhouse have announced that they are giving up their salaries to ensure their workers are paid.  I know many small business owners are making similar sacrifices. 
• Dr. Anthony Fauci said it was likely that Covid-19 would behave like a regular virus, meaning it will wane over the summer and likely return in the fall.  But he added that we will be ready for it with drugs that we know work and many more testing kits; we will also be well on our way to a vaccine. 

 
Speaking Of Positive. . .
 
Over recent weeks, we've heard many announcements of Hollywood celebrities, sports figures and political leaders who have tested positive for the coronavirus.  The announcements are always breathless. Earlier this week it was Prince Charles.  Today it's British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.    
 
But what you don't hear are the announcements of their recoveries.  That should be big news.  And that brings me back to the most relevant statistic that the media should be telling us every day.  How many people have recovered after testing positive for Covid-19? 
 
Here are the latest global statistics from John Hopkins University:  553,244 confirmed cases, 25,035 confirmed deaths and 127,567 confirmed recoveries. 
 
The ratio of recoveries to deaths is 5:1.  And the outcome in America will be much better compared to the rest of the world due to our advanced healthcare system.
 
 
 
Return To Normal
 
President Trump continues to express his desire to get America back to work as soon and as safely as possible.  As you recall, he had expressed the hope that we might be able to do that by Easter weekend. 
 
It seems clear that New York City won't be ready to return to normal by then, and other large cities might not be ready either.  But there are many areas of the country that don't have a serious problem now and won't by Easter either.
 
So the president suggested yesterday that the administration was looking at a county-by-county approach.  Dr. Birx noted that 40% of states have just 200 confirmed coronavirus cases or fewer. 
 
President Trump reiterated that this country was not built to be shut down, but we can do this responsibly. He told reporters yesterday:
 
"This is the United States of America.  [Our people] don't want to sit around and wait. . . And, by the way, a lot of people misinterpret when I say 'go back.'  They're going to be practicing, as much as you can, social distancing and washing your hands and not shaking hands."
 
 
 
The Big New Show
 
As millions of Americans are stuck at home, they are watching a lot more TV.  One new show in particular has record ratings. It's the Trump Coronavirus Briefing.  Monday's briefing drew more than 12 million viewers, comparable to Monday Night Football.   

Well, now progressives want to shut down his daily press briefings.  Some networks have even started cutting them short.
 
Until Monday Night Football comes back, Trump's press briefings are a good substitute.  They are certainly a contact sport! 
 
 
 
More Viral Threats
 
Sadly, Covid-19 isn't the only virulent virus spreading throughout the world right now.  Some are so infected with hate that they are blinded by anti-Semitism.  They are spreading conspiracy theories about the virus and even attempting to spread the virus to Jewish communities.
 
For example, President Trump offered medical assistance to Iran, which is among the worst hit nations in the world.  The regime admits that nearly 2,000 people have died, and international experts believe the real figure may be five times the official death toll. 
 
But Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, rejected our help, claiming America genetically engineered the virus to kill Iranians. 
 
And as crazy as that may be, one New York imam is blaming the virus on infidel women who expose their ankles.
 
I am confident that our medical experts will eventually be able to find a vaccine for the coronavirus.  And while there's no vaccine for the virulent virus of anti-Semitism, the best medicine to combat it remains the truth.