Biden Marks The Deaths of 500,000 Americans to COVID-19: "We Have to Resist Becoming Numb to the Sorrow."

COVID-19 has now claimed the lives of more than 500,000 Americans. According to Johns Hopkins University, 500,172 have died of COVID-19 among 28,184,218 cases representing a mortality rate of 1.8%. 

President Biden marked the grim occasion with a short address in which he implored Americans "to resist becoming numb to the sorrow." He also noted that COVID-19 has killed more Americans over the past year than those who died for this country in WWI, WWII & Vietnam combined. Following the address, President Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Vice-President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff stood for a moment of silence outside the White House as "Amazing Grace" played.

The President is certainly correct in his sentiments. The sad truth is that the last thing most Americans want to think about is COVID and the deaths which have resulted. Mind you, this doesn't take into account the significant portion of the population which does not believe COVID much less the misery which has resulted from it. A good many of that total also do not recognize Biden as our President.

But for those of us who do face reality the numbers are too much to bear for some. Let us remember that it was Biden who led the nation in mourning the day before he took office to commemorate the passing of 400,000 Americans. 

That was 34 days ago.

In less than five weeks, COVID-19 has killed 100,000 Americans. 

The COVID-19 death toll has also doubled from 250,000 to 500,000 in 96 days. 

This isn't to say there aren't good signs. Hospitalizations fell below 100,000 at the end of January and the daily case totals have not exceeded 100,000 since February 7th - more than two weeks ago. More than 63 million vaccine doses have been administered with 13.1% of the U.S. population having received at least one shot. But it won't take much for progress to be hindered and reversed.

Then there is the grim reality that more people are going to die. By the end of March, COVID-19 will have cost yet another 100,000 American lives and it will be once again left to President Biden to lead us in sorrow.