News for September 4

Coronasomnia: Insomnia becomes an epidemic within the pandemic: https://www.healthdigest.com/243717/why-experts-are-calling-coronasomnia-an-epidemic-of-its-own/ . Here is the survey underlying the article: https://sleepstandards.com/coronavirus-and-sleep-survey/ .

AARP: Coronavirus symptoms: https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2020/unusual-coronavirus-symptoms.html . This recently updated article is interesting to read in conjunction with the bradykinin articles in the News for September 2. Reconceiving COVID-19 as a vascular disease explains not only the “COVID toes” but the brain symptoms as well, with bradykinin storms as the central explanation for these “leaky” symptoms.

WSJ: Vaccine cold storage supply chain: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccine-race-turns-deep-freezers-into-a-hot-commodity-11599217201 .

On masks, Atlas shrugged: https://fortune.com/2020/09/03/trump-republican-masks-coronavirus-covid-19/ .

WSJ: Testing data reporting inconsistencies in US make positivity rates hard to interpret: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-positivity-rate-might-not-mean-what-you-think-it-does-11599211800 .

WSJ: Latest news on obtaining a COVID-19 test: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-tests-answers-on-cost-accuracy-and-turnaround-time-11599134378 .

Labor Day warnings on COVID-19: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/01/top-us-health-officials-warn-labor-day-will-be-essential-for-containing-coronavirus-this-fall.html . Many governors are warning their state’s residents. WSJ: More, and US round-up: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-latest-news-09-04-2020-11599208059 .

Former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-berlusconi/italys-berlusconi-breathing-on-his-own-despite-covid-pneumonia-idUSKBN25V0WA .

“The Batman” has COVID-19: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/03/robert-pattinson-positive-for-covid-19-the-batman-production-halts.html .

WSJ: Russia publishes “Sputnik V” vaccine data: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-coronavirus-vaccine-trials-post-positive-early-data-11599226690 . The trial is way too small to confidently identify adverse effects.

IHME model: 410,450 deaths by year-end: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/04/key-coronavirus-forecast-predicts-over-410000-total-us-deaths-by-jan-1.html . As of September 3, there were 192,111 US deaths, so the remaining 218,339 deaths over 119 days is a daily death rate of 1,835, in comparison to our latest 7 day average of 894. This prediction of a more-than-doubling from the current could reflect: (1) the ongoing loosening of restrictions around the country; (2) an anticipated surge from the Labor Day weekend followed by school re-openings; (3) increasing disease in rural areas where there is less access to emergency care; and (4) more indoor time in cooler weather. Still, my gut reaction is that the prediction is too high because we are advancing on the learning curve so that (1) mask wearing is now much more prevalent than over the first part of 2020; (2) medical care is advancing rapidly; and (3) governors will likely clamp down sooner now if case rates begin to spike. My gut tells me a range of 320,000 to 360,000, with a prediction of 350,000. We’ll see.

Vaping and COVID-19: https://www.livescience.com/vaping-covid-19-risk-teens.html .

Colleges: Battle of Gettysburg LOST: https://www.wgal.com/article/gettysburg-college-sends-majority-of-its-students-home/33930160 . Previously, all students were confined to their dorm rooms for one week. https://www.wgal.com/article/gettysburg-college-orders-all-students-to-quarantine-due-to-covid-19-cases/33900891 .

WSJ: Major stock market pullback Thursday: https://www.wsj.com/articles/global-stock-markets-dow-update-9-03-2020-11599125940 . Please note the surprising comment in this article demonstrating the concentration of the US market: “Apple lost $179.92 billion in market capitalization Thursday, the largest one-day loss for a U.S.-listed company on record. The drop was larger than the individual market capitalizations of 470 of the 500 companies in the S&P 500, according to Dow Jones Market Data.” The market dropped again Friday (though not as severely), which tells me many traders did not want to be invested over the weekend.

WSJ: Bankruptcy filings slow in August: https://www.wsj.com/articles/business-and-personal-bankruptcy-filings-in-the-u-s-slowed-in-august-11599089229 . While the number of filings slowed, there were several large retailers filing.

WSJ: Furniture factory struggles through COVID-19: https://www.wsj.com/articles/furniture-maker-coronavirus-11597875260 .

Under-30 travelers still flying: https://www.dallasnews.com/business/airlines/2020/09/04/american-airlines-basic-economy-fares-attract-travelers-under-30-with-deals-that-are-about-to-get-better/ .

Virgin Atlantic plans 1,150 job cuts: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-virgin-atlantic/virgin-atlantic-plans-1150-more-job-cuts-idUSKBN25V1MG .

WSJ: Developing economies suffer major contractions: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-pandemic-ravages-worlds-largest-developing-economies-11599171833 . News on Brazil, Mexico, India and other countries.

WSJ: Police kill suspect in Portland shooting during arrest attempt: https://www.wsj.com/articles/michael-reinoehl-suspect-in-portland-shooting-is-killed-by-law-enforcement-11599193942 . Please note that the suspect had significant personal issues, as documented in this article. Patriot Prayer has a long history of confronting peaceful protesters in Portland with the intent to incite violence, and has ongoing legal troubles associated with that behavior. https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2020/08/31/what-we-know-about-patriot-prayer . For the whippersnappers out there, Portland has unfortunately seen this type of violence in the past; the strong anti-racism protests occurring now play against this backdrop: https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2014/11/1998_story_legacy_of_a_hate_cr.html .