The Western Word is coming to you, STILL coronavirus free, from deep inside an underground bunker in Montana. The bunker also serves as the worldwide headquarters for The Western Word blog!

Quote of the day…

It’s the end of the world as we know it
It’s the end of the world as we know it
It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine
-R.E.M.

Welcome to “Thursday Numbers!” In case you’re a first-time visitor, this is the weekly column where I take a look at the numbers that are in the news (in descending order) and provide commentary sometimes sprinkled with sarcasm and humor.

This week’s topics include the 2020 Census, Malmstrom Air Force Base, unemployment claims, confirmed coronavirus cases, President Donald Trump’s address to the nation, concrete bunkers, Trump’s approval rating, deaths from the coronavirus in the United States, coronavirus & seasonal flu, plus much more!

15,000,000,000

The 2020 Census is expected to cost taxpayers some $15 billion and is meant to be the first taken largely online. Most residents receiving forms will be asked to submit responses at my2020census.gov, instead of by mail. But as in the past, census door-knockers will be dispatched to households that do not answer the letters. (Reuters)

Make sure you participate in the 2020 Census!

15,000,000

Malmstrom Air Force Base near Great Falls, MT, will receive $15 million to be used for the renovation of a three-bay hangar to help with the storage of the new MH-139 helicopter. (GF Tribune)

This is a good thing.

211,000

In the week ending March 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 211,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised down by 1,000 from 216,000 to 215,000. The 4-week moving average was 214,000, an increase of 1,250 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised down by 250 from 213,000 to 212,750. (DOL.gov)

1,310

That is the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States. (USA Today)

As more testing becomes available, look for the confirmed cases to go up…

Please don’t believe the nonsense that the coronavirus is fake and a way to beat Trump in November…

1,277

Last night President Donald Trump addressed the nation on television in primetime. His poorly read speech was 1,277 words and did little to calm the nation’s fears about the coronavirus. (WhiteHouse.gov)

This was one of the most poorly-delivered speeches in presidential history.

575

Vivos Group, a California-based company constructing underground shelters designed to withstand a range of natural disasters and catastrophes, has converted a cold war bunker in Indiana into accommodation for 80 people and is offering space in 575 concrete bunkers in an abandoned Second World War ordnance depot in South Dakota. (The Guardian)

As my readers know, The Western Word comes to you from an underground bunker deep within the wilds of Montana…

55

In the face of the spread of the coronavirus and the stock market tumbling over the last few weeks, the latest Core Political survey from Reuters/Ipsos shows that President Trump’s approval rating remains unchanged from previous weeks, holding at 40%. Over half (55%) of Americans say they disapprove of the job that President Trump is doing as president. (Reuters/Ipsos)

It will be tough to win with only a 40% approval rating in an election year.

38

That is the number of deaths from the coronavirus in the United States. (USA Today)

Stay safe, my friends, and thirsty…

10

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told lawmakers during a House Oversight Committee hearing Wednesday that COVID-19 — the disease caused by the novel coronavirus — is probably about 10 times more lethal than the seasonal flu. (The Week)

“Do I feel lucky? Well, do you, punk?”

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