Today is Earth Day and this is a friendly reminder that we only have one earth, so let’s take care of it!

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

This week’s topics include COVID-19 vaccinations, unemployment, deaths from coronavirus, fully immunized Montanans, Chauvin poll, TWW Poll results about Vaccine Passports, Mayor John Engen, two-star court-martial, plus much more!

200,000,000

President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that Americans have received 200 million COVID-19 vaccinations since he took office, double his initial goal of 100 million vaccinations in his first 100 days, and what he called “an incredible achievement for the nation.” Biden, who will officially cross the 100-day mark next week, also announced the availability of tax credits to employers who give their workers paid leave to get a shot. (NPR)

Good work Mr. President!

547,000

In the week ending April 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 547,000, a decrease of 39,000 from the previous week’s revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since March 14, 2020 when it was 256,000. The previous week’s level was revised up by 10,000 from 576,000 to 586,000. The 4-week moving average was 651,000, a decrease of 27,750 from the previous week’s revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since March 14, 2020 when it was 225,500. The previous week’s average was revised down by 4,250 from 683,000 to 678,750. (DOL)

*Note: On Thursdays, this column is published right after 6:30 a.m. (Montana time), so I can post the latest unemployment numbers.

569,404

That is how many people have died in the United States from coronavirus, according to the latest data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. There are at least 569,404 deaths and 31,862,987 cases across the country so far. The first death in the USA was reported on February 29, 2020. (Johns Hopkins)

Last week the death total was 564,405.

284,985

That is how many Montanans have been fully immunized for COVID-19. (Source)

Last week the number of fully immunized Montanans was 258,190.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Montana’s estimated population in July 2019 was 1,068,778.

We should all be wearing masks and practicing social distancing until we have a higher percentage of fully immunized Montanans.

71

In the hours after a guilty verdict was announced in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, an exclusive USA TODAY/Ipsos snap poll found Americans overwhelmingly approved of the jury’s finding.
The survey found 71% of Americans agreed Chauvin was guilty, and most Americans surveyed followed at least some coverage of the three-week trial. When participants were identified by political affiliation, Democrats strongly concurred, at 85%, with Republicans at 55% and independents at 71%. The results were based on an online survey of 1,000 American adults from all states. (USA Today)

Those silly Republicans…

68

Here are the results from the latest poll from The Western Word that asked, “Are you for or against Vaccine Passports?”

FOR: 68%
AGAINST: 24%
UNDECIDED: 8%

Thank you for participating!

5

Touting experience and speaking on the challenges facing Missoula, incumbent mayor John Engen announced his bid for a fifth term in office on Wednesday at Silver Park. (Missoulian)

I think Engen does a great job.

1

The former head of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is headed to court-martial on a sexual assault charge. It may be the first time in modern history an Air Force general has faced such a trial.
A sexual assault charge has been referred to court-martial in the case of Maj. Gen. William Cooley of Air Force Materiel Command, or AFMC, spokesman Derek Kaufman said Wednesday. (Military.com)

Interesting…

## WEAR A MASK TODAY ##