<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The USA has a mixture of government policies, ranging from no restrictions all the way up thru strict lockdowns and mask mandates, etc.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Here is how the USA is doing now:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><img width=729 height=451 style='width:7.5937in;height:4.6979in' id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D72ACD.A4464590"><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Similar patterns and rates in Florida with no shutdowns since September, no restrictions, lotsa travel both interstate and international, lotsa parties (Florida is good at parties):<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><img width=736 height=457 style='width:7.6666in;height:4.7604in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image004.jpg@01D72ACD.A4464590"><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Michigan with strict lockdowns continuing no school and lotsa mandates, has a new case rate per prole more than triple the USA average:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><img width=724 height=446 style='width:7.5416in;height:4.6458in' id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image009.jpg@01D72ACD.A4464590"><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The new case rate per prole for the planet is similar to the US (and Florida) rates, about a third of the Michigan rate and about triple the California rate. California has a mixture of policies administered at the county level. It is also good at parties, second only to Florida in that sport. It isn’t clear at all that lockdowns are effective at reducing new cases, but I can’t imagine any reason why they would make it worse either.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This is all very puzzling.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>spike<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>