States report vaccine shortages: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-vaccine-update-f1b8967b6a077d89d21134f4eac069f6 . Hawaii is one example: https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/01/20/hawaii-news/isle-vaccine-shortage-stymies-mass-rollout/ .
South African variant unaffected by monoclonal antibody treatments: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica-variant/new-covid-19-variant-defeats-plasma-treatment-may-reduce-vaccine-efficacy-idUSKBN29P2HJ . This is not good, obviously.
COVID-19 registries: https://www.heart.org/en/news/2021/01/20/covid-19-registries-offer-lessons-beyond-the-coronavirus . COVID has stimulated medical research in a variety of ways.
Virus mutations may dampen vaccine effectiveness: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-coronavirus-vaccine-845ef3fed4125ab271f6b5de641aae1a .
Virus mutations worry experts: https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/new-versions-of-the-coronavirus-worry-experts/5743738.html . We have previously assumed that appearance of a variant in persons with no travel history proves community spread. This article points up the alternate theory that the same variant can appear independently in different places. The idea is that it is a “natural” mutation which has an evolutionary advantage.
Another voice for virus naming conventions: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00105-z . It turns out my concerns about the current virus names are shared by this Nature editorial.
Pfizer vaccine effective against UK variant: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/pfizer-biontech-vaccine-found-effective-154620853.html . Studies for other vaccines are in process.
Mike Pence delivers COVID task force report: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/535007-pence-delivers-coronavirus-task-force-report-to-biden .
Biden inherits coronavirus disaster: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-21/president-biden-inauguration-inherits-coronavirus-recession/13072552 .
Biden’s COVID plan: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/joe-biden-executive-order-covid-mask-mandate_n_600829a0c5b62c0057c1e5e4 .
WSJ: UnitedHealth sees reduced profit as patients return for delayed care: https://www.wsj.com/articles/unitedhealths-profit-slips-as-health-care-visits-return-11611144802 .
Can Biden’s COVID relief package be passed by the reconciliation process?: https://www.rollcall.com/2021/01/20/byrd-rule-shadow-could-fall-on-biden-coronavirus-relief-plan/ . This is excellent technical legal reporting on the gruesome details of reconciliation.
WSJ: China’s strategy in containing latest COVID outbreaks: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-escalates-efforts-to-beat-back-its-worst-covid-19-resurgence-11611142577 .
WSJ: UK reaches nursing homes with Oxford vaccine: https://www.wsj.com/articles/oxford-astrazenecas-covid-19-vaccine-helps-u-k-lead-race-to-reach-nursing-homes-11611138601 .
England’s funding for self-isolation falters: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-55727196 . A 76% failure rate is certainly not going to encourage people to self-isolate.
WSJ: Europeans complain to manufacturers about vaccine shortages: https://www.wsj.com/articles/europeans-clash-with-pfizer-biontech-over-covid-19-vaccine-deliveries-11611182655 . Yeah, take a number.
Israel faces ultra-orthodox pandemic compliance problems: https://www.jpost.com/opinion/the-police-have-not-created-a-deterrence-for-coronavirus-violators-656126
WSJ: Vaccine distribution delays hamper Tokyo Olympics: https://www.wsj.com/articles/slow-covid-vaccine-distribution-adds-to-tokyo-olympics-woes-11611110221 .
WSJ: Effect of vaccine roll-outs on markets: https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-covid-19-vaccine-rollouts-will-pump-through-global-markets-11611140145 .
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
WSJ: More on pardon-palooza: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-pardons-former-chief-strategist-steve-bannon-11611120199 . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trumps-pardon-list-includes-business-figures-and-financiers-11611173070 . Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-full-list-of-trumps-144-grants-of-clemency-11611184496 . And more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/florida-ophthalmologist-with-ties-to-sen-menendez-among-those-granted-clemency-by-trump-11611185304 . Um, why does WSJ have so much reporting on this topic?
Biden signs executive orders to undo the prior “administration”: https://news.yahoo.com/biden-introduces-sweeping-immigration-reform-bill-rolling-back-trump-orders-231447525.html . Unfortunately, once Biden’s done shoveling out the barn, there’s no pony. It’s just one MAGA-pile of manure. More: https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-inauguration-day-one-d6637de1ce993d272108337c1030b79d . WSJ: Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/bidens-first-day-orders-will-include-mask-mandate-blocking-keystone-pipeline-11611136804 . And: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-moves-to-reverse-trump-environmental-policies-11611182893 .
World hopes for the United States: https://apnews.com/article/world-leaders-joe-biden-5caadb2a4ad26d777c697e336d4f3bc7 . The view from China: https://www.usnews.com/news/world-report/articles/2021-01-20/chinas-official-farewell-to-trump-good-riddance . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-bids-good-riddance-to-trump-11611152039 .
Biden: Disrespect for colleagues a firing offense: https://www.yahoo.com/now/biden-tells-appointees-i-will-fire-you-on-the-spot-for-showing-disrespect-to-colleagues-235922489.html . A change of tone from the prior “administration” could not be more welcome.
NLRB counsel refuses to resign, so is fired: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/20/trump-labor-board-460978 . A new broom sweeps clean.
Senate confirms first Cabinet pick, McConnell fights to maintain power: https://apnews.com/article/democrats-gain-senate-control-20f6a2c9d0d8884c2a6826a20c91a7b3 .
QAnon self-destructs: https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/20/tech/qanon-believers-inauguration-reaction/index.html . With these fruitcakes, it’s best the rest of us prepare ourselves for RAnon. After all, QAnon sold a lot of t-shirts and flags.
Signing the pledge of allegiance: https://www.yahoo.com/amphtml/lifestyle/inclusion-of-sign-language-at-the-inauguration-221000623.html . In case you somehow missed this, a real highlight of the inauguration.
Pence’s farewell: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mike-pence-farewell-message_n_6007cf10c5b6efae62fced3b . Perhaps it was the crowd chanting “Hang Mike Pence”. Pence’s former boss took himself out of reality. Reality is not planning on letting him back in.
Greta Thunberg is still using her Twitter account: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/greta-thunberg-trump-twitter-163855641.html . Revenge is best served cold: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7643673/The-proof-revenge-dish-best-served-cold.html .
My favorite inaugural performer: https://apnews.com/article/poet-laureate-amanda-gorman-inauguration-5c4e371fd0d7566bb742740c2ffb0238 .
WSJ: Inauguration speech: https://www.wsj.com/articles/joe-bidens-inauguration-speech-full-transcript-and-video-11611174149 . And pics: https://www.wsj.com/articles/inauguration-day-joe-biden-takes-office-as-46th-u-s-president-11611158873 . Just for the record.
GOP senators try to hold the line on conviction: https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/20/politics/gop-senators-warn-mcconnell-backlash/index.html . Based on what just happened in Georgia (let alone the Capitol), this is political malpractice. Actually, I’m fine with that. Make Ted Cruz your leader, and start arranging the deck chairs. More: https://www.kget.com/news/politics/just-move-on-republicans-grapple-with-post-trump-future/ .
You may have noticed that a certain 5-letter name does not appear in today’s text. It felt really good to reach this point, as a certain calmness reenters American life. If the mall is ever open again, I might just go have an Orange Julius to celebrate.