ABC: Global round-up: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/coronavirus-updates-us-reports-1300-deaths-2nd-straight/story?id=72489747 . Cases are spiking in Europe. Every day we are reminded how contagious this disease is. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-appeared-to-be-under-control-in-europe-now-its-surging-again-11597848444 .
France, Germany advocate strengthening WHO: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-reform-exclusi/exclusive-germany-france-want-more-funding-power-for-who-as-part-of-sweeping-reforms-idUSKCN25F1TT .
Local officials deceived Beijing about COVID-19: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/asia-pacific/coronavirus-local-officials-in-china-hid-dangers-from-beijing-us-report-finds-1.4334827 .
Brazil may be flattening the curve: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-08-19/brazil-reports-nearly-50-000-new-coronavirus-cases-deaths-top-111-000 .
WSJ: India’s economy falters: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-hits-indias-already-faltering-consumers-hardest-11597921200 .
WSJ: US round-up: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-latest-news-08-20-2020-11597912850 . India, Russia, Australia and South Korea news is in the last few paragraphs.
WSJ: Cuomo warns New Yorkers about possible second wave: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-city-links-some-new-coronavirus-cases-in-borough-park-to-large-wedding-11597854327 .
WSJ: NYC teachers threaten safety strike: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-teachers-union-threatens-strike-if-schoolsreopenwithout-safety-measures-11597854956 .
National Governors Association plan for mass vaccine distribution: https://www.nga.org/memos/covid-19-vaccine-considerations-mass-distribution/ .
Update on vaccine progress: https://www.businessinsider.com/leading-coronavirus-treatments-antibodies-remdesivir-clinical-results-2020-8 .
WSJ: J&J plans large vaccine trial: https://www.wsj.com/articles/for-covid-19-vaccine-j-j-plans-60-000-subject-pivotal-trial-11597936496 .
Roche, Regeneron partnership: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2020-08-19/regeneron-roche-collaborate-to-increase-coronavirus-antibody-therapy-supply .
Children as super-spreaders: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/08/looking-at-children-as-the-silent-spreaders-of-sars-cov-2/ .
Sturgis cases identified: https://news.yahoo.com/sturgis-motorcycle-rally-tied-coronavirus-002612074.html .
WSJ: Plasma collection plunges: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-pandemic-slashes-donations-of-lifesaving-plasma-11597828589 .
Scientists explore electrostatic weakness in COVID-19 virus: https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/scientists-may-have-discovered-the-achilles-heel-of-the-coronavirus . There is the potential for a new approach to defeating the virus’ spike protein. The full study is in the link at the end of the article.
“Tiny bubbles” may reflect dilated lung capillaries in seriously ill patients: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2020-08-19/trail-of-bubbles-leads-scientists-to-new-coronavirus-clue . This may offer new treatment paths for COVID-19.
CDC report focuses on COVID-19 in Native American populations: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2020-08-19/cdc-coronavirus-hitting-american-indians-alaska-natives-harder-than-white-populations .
Ongoing US PPE shortages: https://www.npr.org/2020/08/19/903612006/yep-masks-and-protective-gear-are-still-hard-get-especially-for-small-buyers .
WSJ: State COVID-19 rules summary updated to 19 states: https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-guide-to-state-coronavirus-restrictions-11597838401 .
Mask brawl: https://www.businessinsider.com/fistfight-american-airlines-vegas-flight-refusal-mask-2020-8 . The entertainment portion of the flight is supposed to involve headphones.
Another mask fight: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sesame-place-employee-assaulted-face-mask-punch/ .
Health workers need mental health help: https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2020-08-19/health-care-workers-are-heroes-and-they-need-help .
Weekly jobless claims back above 1 million: https://abcnews.go.com/Business/11-million-workers-filed-jobless-claims-week/story?id=72492256 .
Universities escalate social distancing enforcement: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/512897-university-of-connecticut-evicts-several-students-from-dorms-after-party . One is reminded that the prefrontal cortex, the site of executive decision-making skills, does not fully develop until after age 25: https://bigthink.com/mind-brain/adult-brain?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1 . The voting age in the US was lowered to 18 by constitutional amendment due to Vietnam and the draft.
More on colleges reversing course: https://www.usnews.com/news/education-news/articles/2020-08-19/universities-wave-the-white-flag-in-the-face-of-campus-coronavirus-outbreaks .
LA Times: Treating the mentally ill: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-08-20/op-ed-mentally-ill-people-often-dont-get-treatment-because-of-antiquated-law . A constructive and detailed call to action to help the mentally ill. More: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-08-14/respecting-the-rights-of-mentally-ill-people-on-the-streets-can-kill-them . Maybe this is part of a game plan in response to “defund the police”; it does highlight the ongoing need to understand mental illness as illness.
Some states reject the federal supplemental $300 weekly benefit: https://www.npr.org/2020/08/19/903620089/expired-jobless-benefits-cost-economy-billions-but-some-states-reject-trumps-aid .
WSJ: Relief package remains stalled: https://www.wsj.com/articles/next-steps-on-coronavirus-stimulus-package-divide-both-parties-11597839370 .
WSJ: States consider police reforms: https://www.wsj.com/articles/some-states-are-pushing-laws-to-restrict-police-behavior-11597829401 .
WSJ: Fed vague on next steps: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fed-resumed-deliberations-over-policy-setting-revamp-11597860000
WSJ: US-China trade talks delayed: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-china-trade-talks-delayed-not-derailed-11597850829 .
WSJ: Target posts record quarter, online sales jump: https://www.wsj.com/articles/target-sales-jump-as-pandemic-speeds-e-commerce-shift-11597833311 .
WSJ: Lowe’s surges: https://www.wsj.com/articles/lowes-online-quarterly-sales-more-than-doubled-11597835418 .
WSJ: J&J to buy Momenta: https://www.wsj.com/articles/johnson-johnson-to-buy-momenta-pharmaceuticals-for-6-5-billion-11597835648 .
Large mall owner to file for bankruptcy: https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2020/aug/20/cbl-still-faces-woes/530294/ (link replaced 10/8/20).
Steve Bannon and others indicted for defrauding wall donors: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/steve-bannon-arrested-fraud-charges-border-wall-scheme/ . This federal indictment was likely approved by Bill Barr – that is, the Attorney General of the Trump DOJ. More: https://www.businessinsider.com/steve-bannon-arrested-charged-with-fraud-2020-8 . Either Trump or Kobach (recently defeated in the Kansas US Senate Republican primary) is not telling the truth.
More trouble for Bannon: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fundraising-at-company-tied-to-steve-bannon-and-guo-wengui-faces-probe-11597857467 . I’m guessing Guo is the owner of the yacht on which Bannon was arrested.
Would Postmaster Louis DeJoy profit if USPS’s competitors are strengthened by a weaker Post Office?: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/08/13/fact-check-postmaster-general-louis-dejoy-invested-competitors/5550480002/ . More: https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/aug/18/really-american/ad-watch-postmaster-general-republican-donor-inves/ . More problems for DeJoy: https://www.npr.org/2020/08/20/904307959/democrats-question-whether-postmaster-generals-hiring-skirted-background-checks .
Global reductions in family planning during pandemic: https://apnews.com/4f3f067fa843de8d3d6cec5a74581fe5 .
WSJ: New finds at Pompeii: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-pandemic-slashes-donations-of-lifesaving-plasma-11597828589 .
From the Daily Pnut: The nations may be divided in everything else, but they all share a single body of science – Isaac Asimov