Unvaccinated clusters drive US pandemic: https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/08/health/undervaccinated-clusters-covid-risk/index.html . The unvaccinated continue extending the pandemic in the US. As mentioned yesterday, there is increasing risk of new mutations from the mix of variants currently circulating here. More: https://news.yahoo.com/those-deaths-were-preventable-unvaccinated-parts-of-country-are-driving-the-pandemic-now-175041085.html .
Delta variant government data lag: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/08/delta-coronavirus-variant-widespread-498787 . Once again, our abject failure to do comprehensive genomic sequencing of infections means we have an incomplete picture of the current nature and spread of COVID. The wave currently developing has been predicted for some time. And once again, we are unable to do effective contact tracing and testing. Eighteen months in, we do not follow basic public health principles.
Twenty-four states see COVID cases increase by at least 10%: https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/08/health/us-coronavirus-thursday/index.html . While this is not good, it is not necessarily horrible. The question for each state is, what is the age distribution of the unvaccinated? If these people are primarily under 50, the state may see a greater uptick in cases than in hospitalizations and mortality. We typically use case numbers as shorthand for COVID risk, because it’s closest to real-time data. However, as large percentages of those over 50 get vaccinated, the accuracy of this shorthand begins to break down.
The most common COVID symptoms have changed: https://inews.co.uk/opinion/covid-19-symptoms-most-common-changed-nhs-needs-update-1092677 . As the article details, the failure to update the NHS symptoms list affects the testing and care you receive in the UK.
Biden’s “door-to-door” plan: https://www.deseret.com/coronavirus/2021/7/8/22566905/president-biden-door-to-door-plan-covid-19-vaccines . We haven’t heard much on the specifics of implementation.
Pfizer to seek EUA for third vaccine dose: https://apnews.com/article/europe-coronavirus-pandemic-science-health-34c3f2536747a7c08980d7359a8de70c . The idea is to boost antibody levels in response to the Delta variant. However, the CDC and the FDA are skeptical about the need for boosters: https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/07/08/1014438902/despite-new-covid-variants-cdc-says-you-dont-need-any-booster-doses-right-now .
Genetic risks for severe COVID: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/coronavirus-covid-how-dna-genetic-risk-infection-severe-illness . I can see the day in the not-so-distant future where we have universal medical records which include the individual’s genetic sequence.
Soccer tournament in Europe leading to COVID spread: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/paul-elliott-london-imperial-college-london-wembley-ipsos-mori-b944764.html .
Delta variant is hammering Southeast Asia: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/caseloads-climb-southeast-asia-feels-force-delta-variant-2021-07-09/ . Again, these increases in viral load increase the risk of further mutation of the Delta variant.
COVID surges in Tunisia: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/8/catastrophic-tunisia-covid .
Australia to tight COVID restrictions in Sydney: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/latest-virus-outbreak-straining-fijis-medical-system-78726832 . As readers know, I am critical of the US and other countries that have put all their COVID defense eggs in the vaccination basket. But we should also recognize that the lockdown approach without significant vaccination progress just invites cycles of lockdowns. Japan is finding this out as the Olympics near.
The mix of the Delta variant and politics: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/the-delta-variant-threatens-to-upend-the-politics-of-the-coronavirus/ar-AALVQXR?li=BBnb7Kz . This depends on the mortality rates associated with the wave now building. If deaths remain (relatively) low, governments may forego further lockdowns.
Orange Julius’ failed tariff policy worsened the US semiconductor shortage: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/how-trump-worsened-the-semiconductor-shortage-192026179.html . The larger picture is that the US suffered for 4 years under the failed policies of the OJ charade, and we will continue to suffer for some time.
Orange Julius circus covered up Saudi involvement in the Khashoggi murder: https://news.yahoo.com/was-there-a-bone-saw-how-trump-helped-the-saudis-whitewash-the-murder-of-jamal-khashoggi-090028789.html . Even though OJ demonstrated his complete moral bankruptcy daily, this is shockingly bizarre decision-making. That is, if you can call it decision-making. And Bolton demonstrates his own bankruptcy. This is a Washington Post journalist taken apart with a bone saw.
John Dean suggests Facebook depose Orange Julius: https://lawandcrime.com/trump/former-white-house-counsel-during-watergate-has-an-interesting-idea-for-facebooks-litigation-strategy-against-donald-trump/ . This is a clever idea. This creates the ability to question OJ on the veracity of the alleged First Amendment protected content. So far OJ has not suffered consequences for these frivolous lawsuits. Here is an opportunity. However, the judge on his own motion could toss the case, which is what I think the judge should do (even though I’m dying to have Facebook’s lawyers pummel OJ).
Michael Avenatti sentenced to 2½ years in prison for extortion: https://apnews.com/article/michael-avenatti-nba-sentencing-sports-health-30982af5b85ce95fc8baf9704191f5ed . If Mark Geragos sounds familiar, he has been involved in quite a number of controversial cases: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Geragos . It appears both sides violated Rule #1. They both pissed off the judge.
Situation in Haiti remains unclear: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2021/07/08/haitis-future-uncertain-after-brazen-slaying-jovenel-moise/7898998002/ . Among those arrested are (apparently) two Haitians with American citizenship. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/haiti-president-assassination-11625665343 .
Militia-style group surveilled the US Capitol weeks after the January 6 insurrection: https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-government-and-politics-2f8f75b065b3ee6c8b0de3f8885c09b0 . At one level, this is completely clueless. At another, it demonstrates the danger the far right continues to represent.
Miami condo collapse death toll now at 64: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/60-dead-80-unaccounted-two-weeks-after-partial-collapse-miami-n1273345 . Injury patterns indicate that none of the 64 recovered so far survived the collapse. Another 76 remain unaccounted for.
Money figures in these deaths. The South building had 136 units: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfside_condominium_building_collapse . If the repairs were to cost $16.1 million, the average assessment per unit to complete the repair would be over $118,000. That is a big part of the repair delay. Florida passed a law in 2008 (proposed by a Republican) that required an independent reserve study for condo associations, but the state repealed the law 2 years later. The repeal was also sponsored by a Republican, a homebuilder and developer: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/collapsed-florida-tower-could-have-been-repaired-faster-under-repealed-n1273310 .
Climate change alters the size of animal species, including humans: https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/08/world/climate-change-body-size-intl-scli-scn/index.html .