More ICUs near capacity: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-01-24/virus-today-more-hospital-icus-edge-nearer-a-breaking-point . And 40% of Americans live near these ICUs: https://apnews.com/article/us-news-coronavirus-pandemic-faf144ff9442077a9f2bb292614e1342 .
WSJ: California probes death hours after vaccination: https://www.wsj.com/articles/california-authorities-probe-death-of-person-who-received-covid-19-vaccine-hours-earlier-11611518487 . This sort of thing revs up the anti-vaxxers, regardless of what actually happened here.
CDC reviews data indicating UK variant is deadlier: https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/23/health/uk-variant-cdc-review/index.html . The news media has been quoting “experts” that the virus will “weaken” over time because killing the host is a bad result. That is not logically consistent. The virus’ survival is based on transmission, infection, replication and retransmission. If the host dies after retransmission, that is relevant only if virus shed has ceased, and the death is not determinative of the virus’ future. The UK variant is more transmissible and deadlier than its predecessors, and it is becoming the dominant strain.
WSJ: More on the South African variant: https://www.wsj.com/articles/south-african-coronavirus-strain-puts-undertakers-on-front-lines-11611488608 .
WSJ: COVID vaccine sign-up remains chaotic: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccine-sign-ups-irk-many-tri-state-area-seniors-11611504000 .
Pandemic relief talks: https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-brian-deese-coronavirus-pandemic-a153831e6e4a46393fffb1bb376ab70e . WSJ: More: https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-politics-race-and-ethnicity-health-care-reform-7c0584e2e7a795e24aa3c829b98dde08 .
Biden national testing strategy: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/01/24/bidens-covid-testing-push-calls-more-supplies-and-rapid-tests/4215619001/ . I have been extremely critical of our testing efforts over the past year. I rejoice at this plan. In particular, genomic testing is prioritized. Reagent supply is prioritized. Distribution is prioritized. If results are delivered, the fight against the pandemic is redefined.
This is particularly important after the vaccination program completes. The virus will not disappear from the global population, at least for many, many years. We also have the ongoing issue of spread of variants. After initial control in the US, there will be outbreaks and the need for contact tracing and testing. This is what we should have been doing a year ago but didn’t.
Most common long-hauler symptoms: https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2021/long-lasting-covid-symptoms.html .
COVID among controllers forces FAA to close St. Petersburg flight tower until the end of January: https://www.tampabay.com/news/st-petersburg/2021/01/24/st-petersburg-flight-tower-closed-due-to-coronavirus-infections/ .
WSJ: The mutation wild card: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-coronavirus-variants-complicate-the-battle-against-the-pandemic-11611518097 . With several variants spreading, the odds of additional mutations/variants increase. The goal must be to reduce viral load in the global population.
Birx defends her work on COVID-19: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/24/birx-says-someone-was-giving-trump-parallel-data-about-covid-pandemic.html . I watched the interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation”; it is available online. Bottom line, I see professional responsibilities differently than Dr. Birx. Her balancing act seems to have been, How much can I say and still keep my job? In response, consider all of the DOJ officials who said they would resign if Rosen was replaced in the election fraud scheme. That stopped the scheme. Birx’s arrogance is that she convinced herself that the most positive outcome occurred if she stayed. And a lot of people died.
The inequity virus: https://reliefweb.int/report/world/inequality-virus-bringing-together-world-torn-apart-coronavirus-through-fair-just-and . COVID has widened the gap between rich and poor globally.
Biden to reimpose travel ban on UK, EU, Brazil and South Africa: https://nypost.com/2021/01/24/biden-to-reimpose-covid-travel-ban-targeting-uk-europe-and-brazil/ . This reflects increasing concern about the new COVID variants. However, with our lack of genomic sequencing, there is every possibility that the Brazilian and South American variants are already here. The UK variant is in at least 22 states. There is a small possibility that this ban will slow the spread of the variants as we work to complete vaccinations.
Israel to ban all passenger flights until the end of January: https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-israel-flights/israel-decides-to-ban-passenger-flights-to-curb-covid-19-spread-idUSKBN29T0I1 . One week does what, exactly? Again, there is a small possibility that this ban will slow the spread as their vaccination program proceeds. However, one week seems like minimal slowing with maximum disruption. More: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/coronavirus-govt-to-shut-the-skies-as-number-of-serious-patients-increase-656518 .
WSJ: India’s vaccination program starts slowly: https://www.wsj.com/articles/indias-covid-19-vaccinations-get-off-to-bumpy-start-11611485891 .
WSJ: Dubai health chief replaced: https://www.wsj.com/articles/dubai-fires-health-chief-as-covid-19-infections-surge-11611499936 .
Immigration policy: https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-politics-race-and-ethnicity-health-care-reform-7c0584e2e7a795e24aa3c829b98dde08 . Here’s another missive from Nonsense World, this one on the left. Latinos have endured 4 years of increased racism, the border wall, and economic catastrophe under COVID. Biden proposes everything the Latino community wants in an immigration bill on Day One, and this is a risk for Democrats? Do editors care about content, or are they just filling the page?
WSJ: Prioritizing workers: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-team-promises-new-look-in-trade-policy-11611484201 . If the disaffected in this country are those who feel left behind, this policy emphasis makes perfect sense. Here is a related action: https://www.wsj.com/articles/bidens-buy-american-plan-eyed-warily-by-other-countries-11611493200 .
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Confederate flag waver arrested after entering Capitol wearing his ankle bracelet: https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/national/capitol-riots/self-professed-white-supremacist-lone-wolf-killer-bryan-betancur-silver-springs-maryland-capitol-riot-gps/65-7de23ee4-8b44-417a-b578-8cd339b7c6a9 . So, this guy is neither stable nor a genius. We will be paying for his mental health counseling, meals, housing, and of course the orange jumpsuit.
WSJ: Robot reality: https://www.wsj.com/articles/on-the-100th-anniversary-of-robot-theyre-finally-taking-over-11611378002 . None of these are waving Confederate flags (so far).
Congresspeople threatened over impeachment trial: https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-capitol-siege-ap-top-news-trials-impeachments-c6456b8c7a1d48e8b011fa82f8526f9d . After the insurrection, you would think the dimmest bulb out there would know not to post threats against Congress on the Internet. Apparently there are a large number of people fundamentally incapable of learning. Has chatting on the Internet crowded out reality for them?
Romney open to impeachment: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mitt-romney-trump-impeachment_n_600d80a1c5b6a46978d21c52 . This case is simple enough from a legal standpoint. There was an armed insurrection at the Capitol. The insurrectionists flew to Washington from all over the country to an event scheduled by Orange Julius, who told them to march to the Capitol and be wild. One can hardly imagine a more impeachable event than organizing and inciting an armed insurrection against the legislative branch.
The president was impeached one week after the event, while he was still in office. McConnell ran out the clock. There is legal precedent for impeachment after an official leaves office. Beyond that, if no man is above the law, accountability applies. The only thing standing in the way are Republicans betting their personal political future is imperiled by convicting Orange Julius. In that case, the rule of law fails (as it did, by the way, in the first impeachment trial).
Gun sales hit historic high last summer, according to FBI: https://apnews.com/article/us-news-utah-coronavirus-pandemic-tennessee-gun-politics-1b7a7bde0c1dfe87f4a24b2d10b0203a . We can be certain of one thing here. No, it is not armed right-wing revolution. More family members, particularly children, will die at home of accidental shootings and cases of mistaken identity.
Criticism of punching-bag Cruz misses the mark: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/ted-cruzs-pittsburgh-over-paris-campaign-shows-us-just-how-dumb-the-biden-years-are-going-to-be/ar-BB1d2WwF?li=BBnbfcL . Is it too much to expect that opinion writers read? The writer missed the central point about “Pittsburgh over Paris”. It’s a phrase Cruz pirated from Trump. Ted totally screwed it up – that’s what he does, and one of many reasons he’ll never be president. All the writer had to do was follow Greta Thunberg’s press, and he could have had an educated opinion.
Rubio vs. Ivanka?: https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/us-elections-government/ny-ivanka-trump-senate-marco-rubio-20210124-rkn2wbzo3fcplp2p42nfvu622i-story.html . HaHaHaHaHaHaHa. Can you imagine this debate? This could turn Florida blue.