New variant data: https://www.rfi.fr/en/contagious-and-concerning-what-we-know-about-covid-19-variants . The details in this article are quite concerning. They indicate major increases in transmissibility and mortality from the UK, South African and Brazilian variants over the original COVID strain.
Variants moving through California: https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/four-highly-contagious-coronavirus-variants-discovered-in-mendocino-county/?sba=AAS .
Employers will ask workers to report vaccinations: https://money.yahoo.com/91-percent-of-employers-want-to-know-if-youre-vaccinated-kpmg-133002945.html . When you think about the liability and safety issues, employers have a need to know. The question not answered here is whether there is a HIPAA issue. Not only can an employer ask, they can also require proof of vaccination: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/frequently-asked-questions-on-workplace-81653/#:~:text=Yes%2C%20an%20employer%20can%20ask,employee%20has%20received%20a%20vaccine .
Did COVID escape from a lab?: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/former-cdc-chief-says-he-thinks-coronavirus-came-from-wuhan-lab/ar-BB1eZXDk?li=BBnb7Kz . My trust in Redfield’s ability is essentially zero. This does not help. The evidence so far has been that the nature of the genetic mutations in COVID does not reflect known laboratory modification techniques or results. Dr. Fauci also disputes Redfield’s theory: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/dr-fauci-disputes-trump-cdc-directors-covid-lab-escape-theory-210220298.html .
WHO COVID origin report nears release: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-03-26/who-coronavirus-origin-report-roughly-now-finalized .
The common cold can defeat COVID: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-56483445 . This is rather startling research.
WSJ: Localized outreach to combat vaccine hesitancy: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-administration-plans-localized-approach-to-promote-covid-19-vaccine-11616773642 .
J&J to deliver 11 million doses next week: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/johnson-johnson-deliver-11-million-vaccine-doses-next-week-biden-n1262166 .
WSJ: More vaccine vials on the way: https://www.wsj.com/articles/cornings-covid-19-vaccine-vial-output-seen-rising-50-from-prior-target-11616756400 . More evidence that Biden is “managing the hell” of the fed’s pandemic response.
Rutgers requires vaccination to attend in person in the fall: https://sports.yahoo.com/school-report-card-rutgers-student-covid-vaccine-high-school-remote-learning-163833539.html . Comments on this article indicate that people believe they have the right to decide whether or not to get vaccinated. I agree with that, but Rutgers has the right to decline their attendance (in my view) if they are unvaccinated. If Rutgers allows remote learning (which they do, although apparently not for all programs), what is the student being denied?
Surrogate mother cares for child for one year after birth due to pandemic: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/family/story/surrogate-cares-familys-baby-year-due-coronavirus-pandemic-76700690 . Is this international surrogacy so that the child is a US citizen? I was aware of Chinese birth tourism for that purpose, but this approach is new to me.
WSJ: Texas open but cases are not surging: https://www.wsj.com/articles/weeks-after-texas-reopened-health-experts-look-for-impact-11616760007 .
Judge upholds Austin mask mandate: https://thetexan.news/travis-county-judge-upholds-austin-mask-mandate-conflicting-governor-abbotts-order/ .
Third world countries scramble after India suspends vaccine exports: https://www.wsj.com/articles/developing-nations-seek-alternates-after-india-restricts-vaccine-exports-11616784504 .
Canada’s rising cases indicate stricter health measures should be adopted: https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-canada/canada-needs-stricter-health-measures-to-counter-rapid-spread-of-covid-19-variants-officials-idUSO8N2JT00F .
The course of the UK variant through Great Britain: https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/health-coronavirus-uk-variant/ .
WSJ: EU’s bureaucracy slows vaccinations: https://www.wsj.com/articles/even-when-covid-19-vaccines-arrive-eu-struggles-to-get-shots-in-arms-11616751213 .
WSJ: Egypt’s widening of the Suez Canal has not worked out: https://www.wsj.com/articles/egypt-expanded-the-suez-canal-it-wasnt-enough-11616765965 . I was not previously aware of this project. More on fallout from the blockage: https://www.wsj.com/articles/suez-canal-blockage-sends-asian-exporters-scrambling-11616771912 . More on the global supply chain: https://www.wsj.com/articles/whats-wrong-with-global-supply-chains-and-how-it-affects-you-11616763749 . The mechanics of getting the ship floated: https://www.wsj.com/articles/digging-out-stuck-ship-in-the-suez-canal-what-is-needed-to-refloat-the-ever-given-11616792192 . Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/suez-canal-ship-stuck-evergreen-cargo-what-we-know-11616795873 . And: https://www.wsj.com/articles/suez-canal-blockage-forces-operators-to-reroute-ships-11616756859 . And more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/stuck-big-time-in-suez-canal-how-ship-caused-global-supply-traffic-jam-11616801077 . The Journal is obsessed with this story.
Georgia election law challenged: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/545076-georgias-restrictive-new-voting-law-hit-with-legal-challenge . The circumstances here strike me as a slam-dunk civil rights violation. We will see what the federal court has to say. This law also puts more pressure on Democrats to pass HR 1 (now S 1) in the Senate. The most likely path seems to be a voting rights exception to the filibuster. Other reaction: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/georgia-gops-voting-bill-enrages-democrats-all-youre-missing-are-your-white-hoods/ar-BB1eZXOp?li=BBnb7Kz . This country has had 400 years to institutionalize racism. You would think the GOP could come up with greater subtlety than this. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/georgia-voting-law-draws-legal-challenge-11616778503 .
Biden administration sweeps clean at DHS: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/26/biden-guts-homeland-security-advisory-council-478156 .
The Idiot Olympics continues with the “fake outrage” floor routine: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/26/joe-biden-scandal-notes-press-conference . After 4 years of “Inject bleach”, they now do not understand a content-based press conference? By the way, January 20 to March 26 is 65 days, not 49, but who’s counting? Not Fox News.
Ken Paxton makes legal headlines again: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/03/25/texas-ken-paxton-trump-insurrection/ . Sunshine is the best disinfectant, although it does not work on a COVID infection. Will it cure the body politic of Paxtonis Imacrookus? Maybe not in Texas. Maybe so under federal law.
Fox News studying the role of truth in news: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/laura-ingraham-cut-trump-off-when-he-tried-to-repeat-false-claims-the-election-was-stolen-as-fox-news-faces-defamation-lawsuits/ar-BB1eZPcQ?li=BBorjTa . Billion-dollar lawsuits have a way of focusing your attention. These voting machine companies appear to have a winning case and will be very reluctant to settle. The question is what level of damages may be awarded. The range seems to be $1 to millions, but not billions. Courts may well look for technicalities to avoid ruling on the merits. The trial court may also press hard on the settlement option.
The role of disclaimers: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-media-idUSKBN2BI1II . This is a distraction from the main event. The question is what happens to a news outlet repeatedly airing material it knows or should know to be false. That really is the central issue in the 4 years of the Orange Julius insanity. We have not yet dealt effectively with this deception. Conservative outlets are clearly competing to find a legally acceptable way to publicize crap.
Capitol insurrectionists win reconsideration of pretrial release: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/26/capitol-riot-defendants-win-appeals-court-478157 . There are the additional questions of the severity of the charges and the flight risk. My expectation continues to be that the focus will remain on those who engaged in violence and pre-planning. The court specifically ruled on those factors in its decision.
Judge keeps an Oath Keeper leader in jail: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/03/26/oath-keeper-suspect-capitol-conspiracy-case-released-pending-trial/7013105002/ .
Oath Keeper lied to FBI about paramilitary training: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/kenbensinger/prosecutors-accuse-oath-keeper-of-lying-about-paramilitary . So this loser didn’t follow the Michael Flynn case? Even so, lying to the FBI is obviously not a smart move.
WSJ: Larry McMurtry passes: https://www.wsj.com/articles/lonesome-dove-author-larry-mcmurtry-dies-at-84-11616782781 .
Beverly Cleary passes: https://variety.com/2021/film/news/beverly-cleary-dead-ramona-beezus-1234939142/ . A Portland resident and favorite, there is a sculpture garden dedicated to her characters in NE Portland. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/beverly-cleary-creator-of-ramona-quimby-dies-at-104-11616796684 .