Here is some pleasant, maybe unexpected news.

Coronavirus cases in the U.S. are either stabilizing or declining. You will remember that they exploded in June and July.

Isn't that amazing? And, of course, it is. However, it would be a serious mistake to become complacent.

Do you know where the experts attribute the success of the decrease in cases?

To a very simple reason. That now, together with our wallet, our phone, our keys, we always have a mask with us. That is where they attribute the reason for the decrease.

Of course, it also helps that we wash our hands often – and well. That we keep social distance.

Case numbers for the U.S. are generally still high. But it is extremely important that they are declining.

In fact, several states that rushed to open their economies in July closed them again, especially the bars, theaters and gyms.

You will remember, I am sure, that New York was the epicenter of the coronavirus in March and April, and that it had set an example for the world to avoid. It was a shame everyone laughed at us for being ‘too’ cautious.

And yet, the number of cases – and the deaths – in New York today is below the radar. It is so low that many do not consider them worth announcing any more.

Unfortunately, in order to reach this positive point, lives were lost unnecessarily. This is because the issue has been politicized. We got to the point of knowing the political position of each person by whether or not he/she wears a mask.

However, it is beyond any doubt that masks save lives.

On the contrary, I see that Dr. Tsiodras in Greece has resumed the television updates and I am worried. I think that in order for him to enlist to offer his services again, things are not going well.

In fact, yesterday, I noticed that they imposed measures in the usually informed and careful Chania.

It is natural that after the initial discipline and exemplary handling of the coronavirus in Greece, people got tired. It was forgotten. People started to defy danger, took off their masks, ignored social distances, went on vacation, etc.

I'm not saying it's easy. How long will we sit locked in our homes, without becoming sad and depressed – without getting bored?

And yet, there is no other solution until a drug and/or a vaccine are found.

Perhaps they won't be 100% effective – but then again, are there any with that type of success rate?

When Putin hurried to announce a few days ago that Russian scientists were preparing the coronavirus vaccine, two things happened: on the one hand, he was not believed. On the other hand, it turned it into a global competition of prestige – not necessarily something negative – thus increasing the pressure on other countries.

The biggest possible pressure is on President Trump, who because he is accused of failing to tackle the virus in a timely manner, but also because he is under the enormous weight of the election, is in serious danger of succumbing and announcing that they have discovered a drug or vaccine that will be neither effective nor safe.

And this will be a final mistake that will be worse than any others.