Current COVID best treatment practices: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/03/how-do-you-treat-coronavirus-here-are-physicians-best-strategies . This is a well-written synopsis of the evolution of best treatment strategies.
New research on COVID long-haulers: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-03-16/covid-long-haulers-plagued-by-symptoms-as-experts-seek-answers .
WSJ: UK strain gaining ground in US: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-k-covid-19-strain-might-account-for-25-to-30-of-u-s-cases-11615944351 .
The problems in delivering antibody treatments: https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-treatments-antibodies-vulnerable-patients-0e657310-bf12-4bf8-bfc8-b53fd18cf441.html . Because we have inadequate testing, infections are often not identified early enough for the antibody drugs to be effectively administered. Also, they are rather expensive: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/10/28/928841997/government-signs-deal-for-covid-19-treatments-from-eli-lilly . It is unclear what charges for these drugs are being made, as the article describes. We have gone all in on the mass vaccination strategy. Other lines of defense lag.
US in vaccine talks with several countries: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronaviurs-usa-vaccines/us-talking-to-several-countries-about-extra-covid-19-vaccine-biden-idUSKBN2B82O8 . This is a welcome development. Mexico’s position seems quite reasonable. Hopefully it will not contribute to additional vaccine skepticism if the US ships out the AstraZeneca vaccine.
WSJ: J&J vaccine production in Italy: https://www.wsj.com/articles/catalent-to-expand-production-of-j-j-covid-19-vaccine-in-italy-11615941463 .
Moderna begins dosing young children in vaccine study: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-moderna-idUSKBN2B81EJ . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/moderna-is-testing-its-covid-19-vaccine-on-young-children-11615892416 .
WSJ: The latest from Dr. Fauci: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fauci-hails-u-s-progress-fighting-covid-warns-against-easing-health-precautions-11615915681 . And Orange Julius takes Fauci’s advice, recommends his followers get vaccinated: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-recommends-covid-19-vaccines-to-his-backers-11615945504 .
More on the AstraZeneca vaccine suspensions: https://news.yahoo.com/how-is-the-astra-zeneca-vaccine-different-and-is-it-safe-yahoo-news-explains-193256797.html . While the suspensions are precautionary, the EU structure has led to multiple individual announcements (now 16) as each country acted. This style is likely to increase vaccine skepticism even if the suspension is lifted soon. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/astrazeneca-covid-vaccine-europe-11615833357 . Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccines-benefits-outweigh-risks-says-eu-11615902459 . And: https://www.wsj.com/articles/europe-weighs-caution-on-astrazeneca-vaccine-against-covid-19-threat-11615921067 .
WSJ: Vaccine passports: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coming-vaccine-passports-aim-for-simplicity-11615922205 .
France investigates new coronavirus variant: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-france-variant-idUSKBN2B825M . This variant appears to escape standard testing: https://www.politico.eu/article/new-french-coronavirus-variant-might-bypass-pcr-tests/ .
Philippines closes borders as COVID surges: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/17/philippines-to-bar-entry-to-foreigners-some-citizens-over-covid . The Philippines also has a new variant, P.3. Concerns about the global virus load spawning variants are now playing out.
WSJ: Israel’s vaccination campaign: https://www.wsj.com/articles/israels-covid-19-vaccinations-hold-lessons-for-u-s-11610307240 . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/israels-first-covid-19-vaccinations-were-easy-now-comes-the-hard-part-11615893625 .
WSJ: China’s vaccine diplomacy: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-to-allow-more-foreigners-inif-theyve-had-a-chinese-covid-vaccine-11615900150 .
Ultrasound has potential to damage coronavirus: https://news.mit.edu/2021/ultrasound-coronaviruses-damage-0316 . This is very creative research. Hopefully it will soon have practical application.
WSJ: COVID testing as a business: https://www.wsj.com/articles/entrepreneurs-are-betting-big-on-nyc-covid-19-testing-businesses-11615903201 .
WSJ: Payments to opioid victims: https://www.wsj.com/articles/opioid-victims-could-get-up-to-48-000-under-purdues-bankruptcy-11615936372 .
Filibuster reform: McConnell warns of “scorched earth” Senate: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-senate-filibuster-idUSKBN2B8252 . After 4 years of no action under McConnell except an income-tax giveaway to the rich and conservative court packing, the Republicans now threaten to halt all progress? How is that different from the prior 4 years? Why did Democrats win the White House and both houses of Congress? McConnell’s attitude seems to leave the Senate Democrats few options except filibuster reform. And by reform, I mean neutering.
WSJ: More, although the article was rewritten after I added it. It is now, “Biden recommends filibuster change”: https://www.wsj.com/articles/mcconnell-threatens-pileup-if-democrats-change-filibuster-rules-11615908931 . With Manchin having proposed this idea, Democrats near a deal to modify the filibuster. Maybe the headline is, “McConnell fires his mouth off, scorches own butt”. This modification could set the stage for dumping the filibuster entirely. I hope so.
More on potential Biden tax hikes: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/5-tax-hikes-that-may-be-coming-under-b-iden-strategist-181722826.html . Thorough tax reform would be preferable to isolated tax increases. The tax code is way too complicated. This creates inequities, cheating, and enforcement difficulties.
Infrastructure: Republicans won’t support tax hikes: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/mcconnell-just-ruled-out-any-republican-support-for-tax-hikes-to-pay-for-a-biden-infrastructure-package/ar-BB1eEtMC?li=BBnb7Kz . Uh-huh. What happened to Republican calls for the bill to be paid for (which I agree with)? What does the Republican Party stand for? Their latest tack is to focus on the border to distract from the popularity of the American Rescue Plan.
WSJ: Texas energy infrastructure has a clean sweep: https://www.wsj.com/articles/last-remaining-texas-utility-commissioner-resigns-following-freeze-11615952612 .
The plot thickens on Dominion Voting: https://www.thedailybeast.com/did-the-trump-white-house-create-a-batshit-report-on-dominion-voting . One thing seems clear here, which is that the report exists. This is sure to be pursued as part of the Dominion Voting litigation. It is amazing to see Bernard Kerik’s name surface again. Kerik, disgraced former NYC police commissioner under Rudy Giuliani and convicted felon, was pardoned by Orange Julius in 2020: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Kerik . Here’s the report summary mentioned in the article: https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/12/exclusive-read-explosive-report-dominion-voting-systems-given-legislators/ .
Judge orders another insurrectionist held until trial: https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/543525-capitol-rioter-who-allegedly-buried-cops-badge-in-backyard-ordered . He allegedly stole the officer’s badge and radio. Basically, the judge is already convinced the defendant is a “true believer” (aka a nut).
Another nut irritates another judge: https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2021/03/16/qanon-shaman-video-judge-60-minutes-interview-national-guard-todd-dnt-tsr-vpx.cnn . Rule number one, again: Do not piss off the judge. There are going to be a lot of self-righteous dimwits with plenty of “quiet time” to reflect on their actions. And no pardons are coming.
Weirdest fact checks by PolitiFacts about the pandemic: https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2021/15-of-politifacts-weirdest-covid-19-fact-checks/ . As to vaccinations being needed to get to heaven, isn’t the primary qualification to get in that you’re dead? In which case, vaccination is irrelevant. If the idea is that it’s a moral test, the test can’t apply until the vaccine is widely available. My point is, critical analysis and/or logic eliminate the need for many of these fact checks.