Coronavirus mortality rate in the news: https://news.yahoo.com/on-coronavirus-trump-insists-the-us-has-the-worlds-number-one-low-mortality-rate-hes-wrong-001356960.html .
Research on asymptomatic spread: https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-health-china-science-only-on-ap-33ce920720ee71dbabcd8db757b8dfd3 (link replaced 10/8/20).
NY/NJ/CT quarantine list now at 31 states: https://apnews.com/d53aa0dfd13d869b25ee110a4a7eb032 .
Rapid spread in Texas, lack of ICU beds in some areas: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-coronavirus-hospitals-cases-covid-19-war-zones/ (link replaced 9/23/21). More: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-latest-news-07-21-2020-11595319537 .
Virus spread in New Delhi: https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/22/asia/delhi-coronavirus-antibody-intl-hnk/index.html . The 23% is similar to the recent rates of positive tests in Florida, Texas and Arizona (yes, the antibody tests are different than the virus tests, but the point is the infection rate).
WSJ: Pooling data on convalescent plasma: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-trials-seek-to-pool-data-on-convalescent-plasma-11595332801 .
WSJ: Vaccine pricing: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pharma-companies-split-on-coronavirus-vaccine-pricing-plans-11595367562 .
WSJ: Virus vs. office emissions: https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-covid-19-makes-it-harder-for-cities-to-fight-climate-change-11595332800 .
Decline in smoking in UK due to virus concerns: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-53403610 .
Cancer diagnosis breakthrough: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/jul/21/researchers-unveil-test-that-can-detect-cancer-years-before-symptoms .
Tough words on US failure on data: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/21/coronavirus-data-flying-blind-trump-us-failure . More: https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/07/inside-the-us-pandemic-incompetence-it-starts-at-the-top/ .
New Fauci strategy: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/fauci-says-contradicting-trump-not-helpful-avoiding-being-overtly-odds-n1234563 .
Senate Republicans divided on relief package: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/what-hell-are-we-doing-divided-senate-republicans-clash-over-n1234516 (link replaced 9/23/21). The cost of a payroll tax cut: https://www.crfb.org/blogs/how-much-would-suspending-payroll-tax-cost . More: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/debt-ceiling-and-spending-negotiations-split-republicans-11563749967 . House Republicans are mostly irrelevant in these negotiations given the size of the Democratic majority.
Sleepwalking toward economic catastrophe: https://www.vox.com/21327754/coronavirus-economy-second-stimulus-unemployment-extend-congress .
To repeat, reports that the $600 ends July 31 are incorrect; benefits end by July 26: https://slate.com/business/2020/07/600-dollar-benefits-going-away.html .
WSJ: Restaurant failures mount: https://www.wsj.com/articles/with-indoor-dining-upended-some-restaurants-call-it-quits-11595323800 .
WSJ: Hotel recovery derailed: https://www.wsj.com/articles/summer-rise-in-covid-19-hot-spots-derailing-hotel-recovery-11595332801 .
WSJ: Further Boeing MAX delays: https://www.wsj.com/articles/boeing-737-max-increasingly-unlikely-to-carry-passengers-before-2021-11595372485 .
WSJ: Vaccine bets caution: https://www.wsj.com/articles/prepare-to-lose-a-bundle-on-stocks-boosted-by-a-coronavirus-vaccine-11595338308 .
WSJ: The separation of news and opinion at WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/wsj-journalists-ask-publisher-for-clearer-distinction-between-news-and-opinion-content-11595349198 .
Lack of testing killing … football?: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/golf/why-lack-of-robust-covid-19-testing-could-lead-to-a-fall-without-football/vi-BB172ODQ . It appears all fall contact sports (including cheerleading) will be eliminated in Oregon schools.
As the use of federal agents in local law enforcement will now expand to Chicago, Albuquerque, Kansas City, and potentially other cities, here is a survey of the issues raised by the actions here:
Protection of journalists and legal observers in Portland: https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2020/07/feds-object-to-exempting-journalists-legal-observers-from-crowd-dispersal-orders.html (link replaced 9/23/21). The journalists here frequently wear vests with “PRESS” in large letters.
A well-written legal analysis of the constitutional issues raised by the use of federal agents in Portland: https://thehill.com/opinion/criminal-justice/508279-federal-presence-in-portland-raises-alarm-over-takeover-of-states (link replaced 9/23/21). It remains unclear exactly who these “federal agents” are. Previous reporting indicated ICE agents were involved, which is a flashpoint here because of the Hispanic community throughout Oregon. Last night’s reporting was that DHS personnel had been brought in from Seattle; that would be consistent with Chad Wolf’s involvement.
WSJ: Federal agents planned for Chicago: https://www.wsj.com/articles/federal-agents-headed-to-chicago-elsewhere-in-attempt-to-reduce-violent-crime-11595357926 .
Analysis indicates police escalate many situations: https://projects.propublica.org/protest-police-tactics/ . Reports that federal agents are not trained for these situations indicate increased risk.