COVID cases increase worldwide: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/delta-variant-drove-covid-19-cases-higher-across-the-globe-last-week-including-in-the-u-s-11626273617 . The delta variant is believed to be the primary driver of these increases. WSJ: And COVID cases increase in the US: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-covid-19-case-counts-have-doubled-in-recent-weeks-11626198501 .
Superspreaders return to fuel pandemic: https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/coronavirus-strains-spread-boosted-superspreader-events-rcna1389 . Once again, the politics of re-opening too soon prolong and deepen the pandemic. We have so little cultural discipline that over 600,000 US deaths and over 4 million globally have done little to get the world to follow basic public health principles.
American children next target of pandemic: https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/14/health/us-coronavirus-wednesday/index.html .
US experiencing COVID outbreaks among the vaccinated: Las Vegas hospital workers: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/13/coronavirus-delta-variant-nevada-outbreak-health-workers . And 333 people in Travis County, Texas: https://www.kxan.com/news/coronavirus/nearly-in-tears-of-disbelief-central-texans-share-experiences-of-getting-covid-19-even-after-vaccination/ .
US overdose deaths hit record 93,000 during pandemic: https://apnews.com/article/overdose-deaths-record-covid-pandemic-fd43b5d91a81179def5ac596253b0304 . The increased contamination of illegal drugs with fentanyl shoulders much of the blame. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-drug-overdose-deaths-soared-nearly-30-in-2020-11626271200 . Treatment disruption caused by lockdowns and other pandemic closures also contributed significantly to isolation from resources. And economic disruption, such as job or home loss, is an important third factor.
WSJ: J&J recalls spray sunscreens: https://www.wsj.com/articles/j-j-recalls-aveeno-neutrogena-spray-sunscreens-11626303616 .
WSJ: COVID stress leads to unrest in Cuba: https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-cuba-covid-19-stress-pushes-unrest-to-the-edge-11626268720 . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/cuba-protests-whats-happening-11626112390 .
Tokyo reports most daily COVID cases in 6 months; Olympics start in 9 days: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/tokyo-reports-most-daily-covid-19-cases-in-six-months-as-olympics-loom .
WSJ: China making COVID vaccines mandatory in some areas: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccines-are-becoming-mandatory-in-parts-of-china-11626259091 .
Argentina passes 100,000 COVID deaths: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/15/argentina-surpasses-grim-milestone-of-100000-covid-deaths .
WSJ: Another twist in Brazil’s pandemic saga: https://www.wsj.com/articles/brazilian-president-jair-bolsonaro-flying-to-sao-paulo-for-possible-emergency-surgery-11626295841 .
Indonesia is new epicenter of pandemic: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/indonesia-reports-over-54k-covid-cases-nearly-1k-deaths-surpasses-india-as-new-epicenter/ar-AAM9qvn?li=BBnb7Kz .
COVID surging in the Middle East: https://thehill.com/policy/international/middle-east-north-africa/563009-who-warns-of-catastrophic-coronavirus-surge-in .
WSJ: Airline CEO’s see changes ahead for industry as US emerges from the pandemic: https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-ceos-think-the-covid-crisis-will-shape-flying-11626267600 . More: Delta returns to profitability: https://www.wsj.com/articles/j-j-recalls-aveeno-neutrogena-spray-sunscreens-11626303616 .
Child tax credit payments start this week: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/american-families-plan-for-child-tax-credit-payments-to-begin-204010759.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/child-tax-credit-expansion-when-does-it-start-who-is-eligible-and-how-much-is-it-11621369448 . This is potentially transformational in lower-income households with children.
Texas Democrats admit they have delayed but not defeated GOP voter suppression laws: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/gov-greg-abbott-and-texas-dems-agree-there-is-no-endgame-for-dc-trip/ar-AAMawyd?li=BBnb7Kz . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/republicans-democrats-in-texas-continue-standoff-over-voting-bill-11626288306 .
Haiti assassination probe deepens: https://apnews.com/article/health-caribbean-coronavirus-pandemic-haiti-fugitives-24ed959aaf1018a7246c31f53680feac .
Judge expects Miami condo collapse property to be sold to create funds to compensate victims: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/collapsed-florida-condo-property-should-be-sold-judge-orders/ar-AAManF2?li=BBnb7Kz . It is remarkable that a building with such a high level of disrepair was sitting on property worth $100 million or more. WSJ: This may be the tip of a huge problem for Florida: https://www.wsj.com/articles/miami-condo-buildings-old-age-collapse-champlain-towers-11626271508 . In this situation, the condo ownership structure creates huge assessment risks for owners.
The West faces overwhelming wildfire danger: https://www.wsj.com/articles/bootleg-fire-in-oregon-grows-to-more-than-210-000-acres-11626298666 . Oregon has never had an emergency wildfire call-up before July 15. However, we have had 5 already this year.