Hopeful trial of an anti-inflammatory steroid, dexamethasone, in severe COVID-19 cases: https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-steroid/steroid-dexamethasone-reduces-deaths-among-patients-with-severe-covid-19-trial-shows-idUSL8N2DT3HE (link replaced 12/13/20). And the NHS has immediately authorized dexamethasone as standard treatment. https://www.businessinsider.com/dexamethasone-may-cut-risk-death-coronavirus-ventilator-patient-2020-6?nr_email_referer=1&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Insider_Today&utm_campaign=Post%2520Blast%2520%2520:%2520The%2520US%2520coronavirus%2520response%2520is%2520a%2520national%2520disgrace&utm_term=Business%2520Insider%2520Today .
Here’s another free data source from the UK. Note that the graphic has linear and log scales: https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus . The newsletter Insider Today cited this chart and then declared the US remains an outlier and “The US coronavirus response is a national disgrace.”
Of the 3 states I follow, two are reporting record new cases: Oregon and Texas: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa/record-spike-in-new-coronavirus-cases-reported-in-six-us-states-as-reopening-accelerates-idUSKBN23N32O (link replaced 12/14/20). As background, Union County is in eastern Oregon, with a total population of about 27,000, half of whom live in La Grande. An outbreak of 200 cases is quite substantial relative to both Oregon’s total cases and Union County’s population. We have still not reopened in Multnomah County (Portland). That is planned for Friday after being delayed last Friday.
The view from an alternate universe, part 2: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/extraordinarily-dangerous-trump-rally-draws-grave-concerns-top-health-officials-n1231041 (link replaced 6/19/21).
New CDC guidelines issued – but not without controversy: https://www.vox.com/2020/6/13/21290106/new-cdc-covid-19-guidelines-restaurants-events-nail-salon-barbeque .
Hospital billing for COVID-19: https://time.com/5853392/million-dollars-covid-19-treatment-seattle/ .
WSJ: Rep. Tom Rice of SC catches “Wuhan flu”: https://www.wsj.com/articles/gop-rep-tom-rice-fell-ill-from-coronavirus-11592263448 . The virus still targets people in the alternate universe … another argument for absentee balloting …
WSJ: US nursing home deaths top 50,000: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-deaths-in-u-s-nursing-long-term-care-facilities-top-50-000-11592306919 . That’s almost half the US total and over 10% of the world total. When long-term care facilities around the world are added in, the total may well exceed 25% of world deaths to date.
WSJ: Economists solve COVID-19: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-data-are-in-its-time-for-major-reopening-11592264199 . At least the Journal had the sense to put this on the opinions page; strong evidence for the proposition that economists should stay away from public health. Don’t overlook the adjustment that it’s okay to kill older people because they have less time to live – apparently education and experience are not part of the economic utility equation.
The second year of Doug Jones’ “tradition”, featuring Ted Cruz and others: https://www.rollcall.com/2020/06/16/kings-sharp-rebuke-of-moderates-will-echo-on-the-senate-floor/ (link replaced 12/13/20).
WSJ: Another view of the Constitution and civil rights: https://www.wsj.com/articles/gay-rights-ruling-complicates-trump-effort-to-hold-evangelical-voters-11592313428 (link replaced 6/19/21).
Shoot first, think in jail: https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/amid-floyd-protests-spanish-conquistadors-under-fire-in-new-mexico-20200616-p5530g.html (link replaced 6/19/21).
Bi-partisan swamp dwellers and drainers: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/16/congress-small-business-loan-320625 (link replaced 6/19/21).
WSJ: The other US pandemic: opioid addiction: https://www.wsj.com/articles/opioid-addiction-treatment-is-limited-by-shortage-of-authorized-doctors-11591538400?mod=ig_healthreport . One has to wonder, with 46,000 deaths annually, if the solution would be to severely restrict physicians’ ability to prescribe these drugs and to limit prescriptions to small supplies (say, 7 or 14 days). And these drugs also lead to heroin deaths, when people find heroin to be cheaper than prescribed opioids.