The latest on Delta Plus: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/23/explainer-what-is-the-delta-plus-variant-of-covid-19 . Note that almost half the cases have been reported in the US. With the limited genomic sequencing globally, we really have no idea of this variant’s spread or origin. Note that the UK believes its cases are connected to Turkey, but Turkey reports only one case.
Delta, Delta everywhere: https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-digest-delta-variant-could-make-up-90-of-europes-infections/a-58009693 . Don’t say unvaccinated Americans haven’t been warned. The same is true for Republican governors.
WSJ: The vaccine-variant race: Delta vs. UK: https://www.wsj.com/articles/race-between-covid-19-vaccines-and-delta-variant-plays-out-in-u-k-11624450110 .
The decrease in US life expectancy in 2020: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/u-s-life-expectancy-decreased-alarming-amount-during-pandemic-n1272206 .
US deaths from COVID now almost entirely preventable: https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/23/health/us-coronavirus-wednesday/index.html . This is a very intelligent message structure, and supported by the evidence.
Protecting children from the Delta variant: https://news.yahoo.com/expert-shares-how-we-can-protect-children-from-the-delta-coronavirus-variant-163907716.html . The advice in this article is all politically correct. However, if it were my (under 12) child, I would watch infection rates in my community. I would also consider holding the child out of school (remote learning). This would last for either the first three weeks of the school year, or until the child could be vaccinated.
A call for community-by-community analysis of new COVID infections: https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/21/us/us-coronavirus-monday/index.html . This makes sense. This data would likely show low vaccination rates on a more granular level. It would likely confirm the prevalence of the problem in rural and minority communities. This information in turn would help local leaders advocate for vaccination.
Since most states provide COVID data by county, the county data could serve as a national proxy until better community data is available.
WSJ: US authorities seize illicit remdesivir: https://www.wsj.com/articles/illicit-covid-19-drugs-bound-for-mexico-seized-by-u-s-authorities-11624440602 .
Could the pandemic match up with a housing crisis in the South?: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/40-cities-could-poised-housing-120000329.html . Note the concentration of cities in states that have low vaccination rates. If COVID surges follow in these areas, as we expect, there could be a regional economic downturn in the South later this year.
CDC advisers to discuss myocarditis after vaccination in 12 to 24 age group: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/cdc-advisers-are-expected-to-discuss-rare-heart-problems-in-vaccinated-younger-people/ar-AALlsnE?li=BBnb7Kz . There are less than 800 reported cases of myocarditis as of May 31. However, this age group accounts for over half of those cases. They received only 9% of the total vaccinations. The most obvious explanations are (1) younger people have more active immune systems and (2) younger people are more likely to receive close monitoring post vaccination. Update: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/cdc-advisory-group-says-likely-association-between-mrna-covid-19-vaccines-and-rare-myocarditis-cases-11624479115 .
Will a booster shot be needed?: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-06-23/cdc-official-no-data-to-currently-support-a-coronavirus-booster-shot . Good grief. Hell yes a booster will be needed. We know that people who have only one of the two-dose vaccines have little protection against the variants. If for no other reason, the booster shot is a way to finesse these people into adequate protection.
There’s a conspiracy theory here, but what it is is unclear: https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/seattle-scientist-digs-up-deleted-coronavirus-genetic-data-adding-fuel-to-covid-origin-debate/ . More: https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/23/health/coronavirus-sequences-database-scientist/index.html . More details are needed to form an opinion on the motives behind the data removal(s). WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-gene-data-that-could-have-aided-research-on-early-epidemic-removed-from-database-11624472105 .
Long COVID may have affected 2 million in England: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/06/24/coronavirus-covid-live-updates-us/ .
Second-generation Chinese vaccine tested in New Zealand: https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3138535/coronavirus-china-made-recov-vaccine-may-be-better-pfizer-biontechs-new . Remember that since SCMP’s purchase by Alibaba in 2016, it is considered to promote “soft” propaganda for the Chinese government: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_China_Morning_Post .
WSJ: Chinese companies are not independent from the government: https://www.wsj.com/articles/jack-mas-ant-in-talks-to-share-data-trove-with-state-firms-11624442902 .
New COVID lockdown restrictions in Sydney: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/24/sydney-covid-lockdown .
Delta virus surges in Portugal: https://apnews.com/article/lisbon-europe-portugal-coronavirus-pandemic-health-c3ac5cd87b9dba230d668c7d2dbcf5c7 . The mistakes we are failing to learn from include political pressure to manipulate basic public health principles, and opening too soon. We have doing this for almost 18 months.
Pandemic explodes in Brazil: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-06-23/brazil-sets-single-day-record-for-coronavirus-cases . Orange Julius Jr. (Bolsonaro) continues to kill his countrymen. This is presumably the Gamma rather than the Delta variant. Both of these variants are surging in the US: https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/06/delta-and-gamma-variants-reign-begins-as-alpha-drops-from-70-to-35-of-cases/ .
Black traffic deaths increased 23% last year: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/traffic-deaths-increased-black-people-race-pandemic-study/story?id=78423808 . This is a quite surprising statistic. The most obvious explanation is that minorities form a disproportionate percentage of essential workers. However, I suspect the real reason for the racial disparity is that white workers had a much greater opportunity to work remotely. Traffic deaths were likely up last year due to speeding, but the effect on whites was more offset by remote work than for it was for blacks.
WSJ: Kabul is the new Saigon: https://www.wsj.com/articles/afghan-government-could-collapse-six-months-after-u-s-withdrawal-new-intelligence-assessment-says-11624466743 .
WSJ: Yes, another Suez Canal story: https://www.wsj.com/articles/for-ever-given-the-ship-that-blocked-suez-it-could-soon-be-anchors-aweigh-11624444705 .
Is a bipartisan infrastructure deal coming?: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/bipartisan-group-of-senators-to-brief-biden-on-infrastructure-framework-after-potential-breakthrough-in-talks/ar-AALmVT8?li=BBnb7Kz . If these 5 Republican senators cannot deliver at least 5 more Republican votes, this entire process would have been a waste of time. I therefore expect a bipartisan deal to emerge.
The question then becomes whether the Democrats will use reconciliation to go beyond this bill: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9718523/Joe-Manchin-backs-bid-bypass-Republicans-Bidens-human-infrastructure-bill.html . This is a real possibility in order that progressives feel they are at least part of the equation.
Automation is the main culprit in the erosion of the US middle class: http://businesstechnologiesdaily.com/automation-helped-kill-as-much-as-70-of-the-uss-center-class-jobs-examine/ . The US has had continuing productivity gains in the period after World War II. The middle class has not only not shared in the created wealth, it has lost employment in the process.
Biden to step up human rights campaign against China’s treatment of Uyghurs: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-to-deter-forced-labor-with-ban-on-chinas-solar-panel-material-11624501427 .
Canada locates more unmarked indigenous children’s graves: https://apnews.com/article/canada-e094163e28b8a9c2e41c836b5c913312 . This disgrace parallels China’s treatment of the Uyghurs, although this ongoing ethnic cleansing involves over a million Uyghurs. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/john-mcafee-antivirus-software-creator-found-dead-in-spanish-jail-11624482910 .
John McAfee apparently dies by his own hand in jail: https://apnews.com/article/john-mcafee-dead-spain-prison-extradition-c39cc0f375a975946fb83b60cc2bf3d3 . Money is not happiness. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/john-mcafee-antivirus-software-creator-found-dead-in-spanish-jail-11624482910 .
Michigan Republicans walk away from the Big Lie: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/michigan-republicans-eviscerate-trump-voter-fraud-claims-scathing-report-n1272116 . It’s a bit late for spring flowers, but perhaps a commitment to truth is blooming in the GOP. Where’s Rudy’s federal indictment?
Oath Keeper involved in insurrection to plead guilty today: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/member-of-oath-keepers-to-plead-guilty-to-role-in-us-capitol-attack/ar-AALmfLl?li=BBnb7Kz . The plea deal agreed in this case will be of considerable interest as to what other defendants can expect from DOJ. Note the reported information about prior organized group training. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/oath-keeper-pleads-guilty-in-capitol-conspiracy-case-11624478357 . Also note that this guy has flipped – he’s helping prosecutors.