Brazilian variant P.1 reinfects COVID patients: https://www.firstpost.com/health/coronavirus-variant-in-brazil-infected-many-who-had-already-recovered-from-covid-19-9366061.html (link replaced 5/4/21). Here is why the new variants must be included in a booster shot which will require global administration. The pandemic is not over. More: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/public-global-health/541176-brazil-variant-shown-to-infect-coronavirus-survivors (quotes the NY Times article). More on yesterday’s CDC warning: https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/01/health/us-coronavirus-monday/index.html . If variants evade the vaccines, public health measures are the only defense until boosters become available.
WSJ: South African variant appears in New York City: https://www.wsj.com/articles/south-africa-coronavirus-variant-infects-two-new-york-city-residents-11614724338 .
Merck to help produce J&J vaccine: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/biden-to-announce-historic-partnership-merck-will-help-make-johnson-and-johnson-coronavirus-vaccine-officials-say/ar-BB1e9EwB?li=BBnb7Kz . This is why a competent federal government can change the world. The mass murder of the Orange Julius enterprise may be brought to a quicker end. Biden used the Defense Production Act to obtain this deal: https://www.msnbc.com/deadline-white-house/watch/dr-kavita-patel-biden-not-only-invoked-the-defense-production-act-but-used-it-101856325683 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-to-announce-merck-will-help-make-johnson-johnson-vaccine-11614693084 .
US vaccine deliveries exceed 100 million: https://247wallst.com/healthcare-economy/2021/03/02/u-s-vaccine-delivery-tops-100-million-as-concern-over-variants-surges/ . Biden will easily surpass his original “100 million doses in the first 100 days” goal, as well as the revised 150 million goal. Biden expects to have vaccines for all US adults by the end of May: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-to-announce-merck-will-help-make-johnson-johnson-vaccine-11614693084 .
Dr. Osterholm predicts US surge coming in two to two-and-a-half weeks: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/virus-expert-just-warned-coming-195840328.html . I agree with Dr. Osterholm that the variants’ ability to evade the current vaccines will lead them to become dominant in a short period of time.
New York variant continues to spread: https://www.self.com/story/coronavirus-variant-new-york-other-states . Of course, since we don’t have meaningful genomic sequencing in the US, we really don’t know the actual spread of the disease or the velocity at which it is spreading.
Texas, Mississippi to end mask mandates and fully reopen next week: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/texas-governor-end-mask-mandate-businesses-reopen-full/story?id=76200647 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/texas-governor-lifts-mask-mandate-business-restrictions-11614719502 . This is absolute lunacy. Politics are being placed above science, and the results are (in my view) quite predictable. But, unlike Abbott, I have not been entrusted with the lives of 30 million Texans. He is about to join Orange Julius as a mass murderer. Beto O’Rourke agrees: https://www.msnbc.com/11th-hour/watch/beto-o-rourke-gov-abbott-is-killing-the-people-of-texas-101868101957 .
WSJ: Catholic concerns over COVID vaccine development: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccines-draw-warnings-from-some-catholic-bishops-11614722452 .
Biden wants states to give every teacher first vaccination by end of March: https://cn.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-biden/biden-calls-on-states-to-prioritize-vaccinations-for-teachers-idUSKCN2AU2ND . Again, my preference is an age-based system, which is the most likely way to reduce mortality.
WSJ: US slow to vaccinate elderly minority populations: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccinations-proceed-slowly-among-older-latino-black-people-11614690003 .
British data supports one-shot vaccine decision: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/02/coronavirus-uk-charts-show-how-pfizers-vaccine-is-working.html .
UK variant racing through Italy, especially among schoolchildren: https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-mario-draghi-italy-coronavirus-pandemic-d763a3e484cc74be866067a6adf16ced . Here is more evidence that the US thinking on school reopenings is completely outdated. It was based on the original COVID viruses; the variants are more transmissible among women and schoolchildren.
Pfizer vaccine generates weaker immune response in obese individuals: https://bestlifeonline.com/pfizer-vaccine-obesity-news/ . This news comes at the same time as a study indicating obese people are greater spreaders of COVID: https://www.eatthis.com/news-covid-high-bmi-risk-study/ . These are two good arguments for obese people self-isolating for the foreseeable future. This is the first time I can remember that obesity is found to be a danger to other people’s health.
COVID can infect and damage heart cells directly: https://newatlas.com/medical/covid19-heart-damage-virus-infects-muscle-cells/ . Heart damage has previously been thought to come from inflammation caused by COVID.
Why bats are an “ideal” incubator for viruses that can be transmitted to humans: https://graphics.reuters.com/HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/BATS/qzjpqglbxpx/ .
Using nanoparticles as a quality control check for rapid COVID tests: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210302094047.htm .
WSJ: The COVID shot data mine: https://www.wsj.com/articles/cvs-walgreens-look-for-big-data-reward-from-covid-19-vaccinations-11614681180 . Good ol’ corporate America steps up …
One Medical investigated by Congress for vaccine favoritism: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/02/house-panel-investigates-one-medical-for-allegedly-letting-clients-cut-covid-vaccine-line.html .
EU countries look to Israel for vaccine help: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronaviurs-vaccine-europe/austria-and-denmark-break-ranks-with-eu-to-produce-vaccines-with-israel-idUSKBN2AU11D . In combination with the Merck story above, one is reminded of the role of US production capacity in winning World War II.
WSJ: AstraZeneca vaccine sits unused in EU: https://www.wsj.com/articles/doses-of-astrazenecas-covid-19-vaccine-pile-up-in-europe-amid-government-restrictions-11614715968 .
WSJ: Asian countries slower to vaccinate: https://www.wsj.com/articles/asias-champions-of-covid-19-control-fall-behind-on-road-to-recovery-11614693602 .
China denies hacking allegation of Indian vaccine producers: https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-india-china/beijing-dismisses-alleged-chinese-hacking-of-indian-vaccine-makers-idUSL3N2L036B .
WSJ: COVID business tools will shape post-COVID business: https://www.wsj.com/articles/cios-see-pandemic-tools-shaping-post-covid-enterprise-11614722377 . Two comments: (1) Once again, the medium is the message – remote work tools are shaping the nature of work; and (2) Cybersecurity needs and risks are growing exponentially.
WSJ: Senate Democrats hammer out details of stimulus package: https://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-democrats-iron-out-details-on-covid-19-aid-package-11614709186 .
FBI hunting down armed insurrectionists: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/02/fbi-director-capitol-attack-hearing-472477 . Lock them up, for a very long time. Family turns in insurrectionist: https://www.newsweek.com/capitol-riot-grayson-sherrill-family-1573100 .
WSJ: January 6 insurrection has inspired increased extremism: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fbi-director-to-testify-on-capitol-hill-about-jan-6-riots-11614681004 .
Vernon Jordan passes: https://apnews.com/article/vernon-jordan-dead-9ca12262adc98e0d6615c67432b6fdbf . Nonviolence has a lasting legacy in this country. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/vernon-jordan-civil-rights-leader-dies-at-85-11614698120 .