Delta variant “greatest threat”, says Fauci: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/delta-variant-greatest-threat-eliminating-covid-u-s-fauci-says-n1271933 . Well, we’re not going to eliminate COVID from the US. Delta will soon become the dominant strain here: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-06-22/fauci-delta-variant-accounts-for-20-of-new-coronavirus-cases-in-us . Dr. Walensky’s comment on reducing the viral load to reduce mutations is the proper focus. However, that focus must be global. It didn’t take Delta very long to go global from India.
WSJ: The future of the Delta variant: https://www.wsj.com/articles/delta-variant-covid-19-11620722888 . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/delta-covid-19-variant-could-be-dominant-in-u-s-in-two-to-three-weeks-study-says-11624387427 .
Long COVID remains a serious risk: https://abc7news.com/coronavirus-california-covid-long-haulers-post-acute-syndrome/10821642/ .
WSJ: US vaccination pace continues to slow: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-to-miss-bidens-july-4-goal-for-covid-19-vaccinations-11624383633 .
Delta variant surges in Israel: https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-sees-highest-covid-daily-infections-in-two-months-as-delta-variant-spreads-1.9928700 . Israel is a highly vaccinated country.
WSJ: Delta variant may set back Europe: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-delta-variant-threatens-to-set-back-europes-recovery-11624363789 . And once again, there is an utter lack of genomic sequencing in multiple countries.
Almost 900 Secret Service agents were infected with COVID: https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-government-and-politics-22208672ed5c0bb126c00e0f6e91a7d1 . We knew this “hoax” fantasy caused superspreading at the White House. Now we know how much.
Nevada says, Pass the fruitcake: https://apnews.com/article/nv-state-wire-nevada-gun-politics-government-and-politics-b78e73424099dbb2edce2cb81a4b3ebb . So, Eureka County has 2,000 residents.
Travel bubbles remain problematic: New Zealand worries about a visiting, infected Aussie: https://apnews.com/article/new-zealand-australia-lifestyle-travel-coronavirus-pandemic-aeacc7186bb1e25dc90538460a7330ff .
Interview with Moderna’s president: https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2021-06-22/modernas-president-talks-covid-19-and-vaccine-technology .
Cuba says Abdala vaccine over 92% effective: https://news.trust.org/item/20210621220916-le8au/ .
Pakistan’s vaccination strategy: Don’t say no: https://www.wsj.com/articles/saying-no-to-covid-19-vaccine-in-pakistan-carries-consequences-11624359601 . Penalties include cutting off your cellphone and your salary.
Confusion over bat viruses: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210622/Coronaviruses-identified-in-two-species-of-Sri-Lankan-bats.aspx . So, there is a wide variety of coronaviruses, of which one causes COVID. COVID has 10 variants labeled with Greek letters. It appears the labeling in this article subdivides the general category of coronavirus into 4 subcategories.
This is a completely separate issue from the COVID variants. If this was related to COVID, the result described here would say all Sri Lankan bats had the Alpha variant (UK), which seems like an impossible result. I am not aware that the exact virus causing COVID has been found in bat populations, let alone any of the variants. If Greek letters are in fact the standard labeling for subcategories of coronavirus, it was a terrible idea to use the same labeling for the COVID variants.
Controversy over Alzheimer’s drug continues: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/the-fda-approved-a-controversial-dollar56000-a-year-alzheimers-drug-despite-opposition-inside-the-agency-internal-memos-show/ar-AALkfpM?li=BBnb7Kz . To repeat, this seems like an expensive dose of false hope.
Frontier Airlines adds “COVID Recovery Fee”: https://onemileatatime.com/news/frontier-airlines-coronavirus-ticket-surcharge/ . Great. Now airline fees are mutating.
Japan Inc vaccinating employees to speed rollout: https://apnews.com/article/japan-coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-def4b6c1ed31609b71049db88f39fcba . This is important in advance of the Olympics. By the way, the phrase “Japan Inc” refers to the largest companies in Japan, which often own a significant portion of shares in each other.
Delta variant appears in Ghana: https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/world-57563608 . I was wondering who was writing for the BBC news desk until I read the words in the link. BBC has a pidgin English version! You will enjoy reading this …
Latest COVID statistics from India: https://weather.com/en-IN/india/coronavirus/news/2021-06-23-indias-covid-19-case-tally-crosses-3-crore . If pidgin is the Alpha variant of English, then India has the Beta version. A “lakh” is 100,000. A “crore” is 10 million (100 lakhs). The comma system for numbers in this article reflects lakhs and crores. Just mentally move the commas to every third digit.
WSJ: FTC to examine Amazon’s acquisition of MGM: https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazons-planned-purchase-of-mgm-to-be-reviewed-by-ftc-11624379614 .
Manchin, Schumer strike deal on voting rights legislation: https://apnews.com/article/japan-coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-def4b6c1ed31609b71049db88f39fcba . Some deal had to happen to preserve Democratic unity. This returns the focus to GOP voter suppression. Because …
As expected, the Republicans unanimously opposed the bill: https://news.yahoo.com/voting-rights-bill-fails-in-senate-as-focus-shifts-again-to-filibuster-222406247.html . Now that Manchin proposed a compromise which Republicans rejected out of hand, the question is how to get a voting rights bill. Democrats understand the special nature of controlling the presidency and both houses of Congress, which is in jeopardy next year. The GOP voter suppression tactics could very definitely affect the outcome of close races.
My view will not change that every citizen should be encouraged to vote. The GOP position looks like white supremacy to me. It is certainly antidemocratic.
Horse-trading continues on infrastructure bill: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/joe-manchin-opens-the-door-to-backing-democrat-only-infrastructure-bill-that-rolls-back-unfair-trump-tax-cuts/ar-AALkrmL?li=BBnb7Kz . The GOP is now apparently hung up on reversing the Orange Julius rip-off tax cuts. Their alternative has been user fees, which Biden has said from the start is off the table because it raises taxes on the lower-paid.
The GOP has not made meaningful efforts to compromise. It sure looks like Democrats should just go it alone.
Fed chairman says current inflation “temporary”: https://apnews.com/article/inflation-health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-6e7c813472a3eb706e0cdafe305c1477 . Agreed. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/feds-powell-set-to-testify-before-lawmakers-on-pandemic-programs-11624370400 .
WSJ: Pelosi to announce this week whether House will form select committee on January 6: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pelosi-to-decide-on-committee-to-probe-jan-6–capitol-attack-11624403332 . I would expect that such a committee will be formed.
Fifth insurrectionist pleads guilty: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/tennessee-man-becomes-fifth-to-plead-guilty-in-capitol-riot/ar-AALk0Y4?li=BBnb7Kz . This is classic prosecution of a group: Get plea deals from the small fish first. Videotape makes proof of crime open-and-shut.
Adams leading NYC mayoral race: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/eric-adams-has-big-night-leads-nyc-democratic-primary-in-first-place-votes/ar-AALkKZQ?li=BBnb7Kz . Yang has conceded; all those folks under 10% should do the same.