COVID nursing fallout: https://apnews.com/article/business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-b6d58e41b209dd67ed0954f28b542baf . The PTSD problem created by COVID is also exposing economic inequalities in the healthcare field. Also note that the nursing shortages are creating open beds where there are no nurses to staff them.
Alabama uses CARES Act funds to address nursing shortage: https://governor.alabama.gov/newsroom/2021/09/governor-ivey-announces-reallocation-of-12-3-million-in-cares-act-funds-for-covid-19-nursing-shortage/ .
Over 80% of US population over 16 have COVID antibodies: https://gizmodo.com/blood-donor-study-estimates-over-80-of-american-adults-1847613622 .This is not particularly informative as over 70% of US adults have been vaccinated and therefore have antibodies.
WSJ: The pandemic in Oregon: https://www.wsj.com/articles/oregons-covid-19-wave-is-at-its-worst-despite-high-vaccination-rate-11630674004 . “Worst” is relative, and we have had relatively low case rates over time. Portland and Eugene are overwhelmingly Democratic and well-vaccinated, while our rural areas are heavily Republican and poorly vaccinated. As reported here previously, our urban hospitals are being stressed by patients from the rural areas.
Pfizer oral COVID antiviral prophylactic: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/could-there-be-a-daily-covid-pill-what-we-know-about-pfizer-drug-trial/ar-AAO2g2q?li=BBnb7Kz . As time passes, there will be an array of therapeutics to support the current array of vaccines.
The booster debate continues: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/health-officials-warn-white-house-they-might-not-recommend-covid-vaccine-booster-shots-for-general-public-as-expected-this-month-report/ar-AAO4rtR?li=BBnb7Kz . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-third-shot-booster-11623421703 .
Moderna announces completion of FDA booster submission: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/moderna-wraps-up-covid-booster-filing-setting-up-fda-review/ar-AAO4wh9?li=BBnb7Kz .
An intelligent prediction on the near-term future of COVID in the US: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2021/09/01/osterholm-on-the-fourth-covid19-wave-schools-reopening-vaccine-safety . This is a vastly more informed view than the mishmash we saw yesterday.
WSJ: EU, AstraZeneca settle dispute over missed vaccine delivery dates: https://www.wsj.com/articles/astrazeneca-eu-end-legal-fight-over-covid-19-vaccine-11630667485 . This has been a significant black eye for AstraZeneca.
WSJ: The latest on travel to Europe for Americans: https://www.wsj.com/articles/eus-new-travel-recommendation-for-americans-what-you-need-to-know-11630355699 .
Fallout from Supreme Court abortion decision: New Mexico prepares for influx of patients from Texas: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/new-mexico-braces-influx-after-supreme-court-allows-texas-abortion-n1278362 . As previously indicated, the Texas law will primarily burden the poor. This article makes much clearer the details of the inconvenience. But this also reveals the disingenuousness of the Texas law. It creates a false reality for conservatives in Texas, a serious problem in this decades-long effort to pack the court against Roe v. Wade. More: https://apnews.com/article/abortion-lifestyle-health-travel-texas-fbc505c3db4a08af51ba409a91ea161c .
DeMentis doubles down on his mask mandate loss: https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-health-education-florida-coronavirus-pandemic-680a3dccc72e125a51c7f97cfd0f0735 . The judge’s ruling is clear. It properly interprets state law, and the judge nailed the specifics. DeMentis is trying to recast his behavior in a way that is obviously untrue. Look for example at the denial of pay to school employees who refuse to enforce his ban. The refusal is consistent with the judge’s ruling. The big problem with DeMentis is that this is not an appropriate leadership style in a democracy. It is authoritarianism trying to cover up its own mistakes. We do not need another Orange Julius.
WSJ: US creates less than 30% of jobs predicted by economists for last week: https://www.wsj.com/articles/global-stock-markets-dow-update-09-03-2021-11630654496 .
Orange Julius minions and anti-vaxxers team up in Lie-a-palooza to milk the base: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/sep/03/trump-loyalists-doctors-ministers-reawaken-america-tour . Isn’t there fraud and slander involved here? This intentional and dangerous misinformation needs to be prosecuted out of existence. Start with Flynn. Professional complaints against the doctors are also a good option.
Deal reached for QAnon Shaman: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/qanon-shaman-capitol-riot-expected-plead-guilty-deal-prosecutors-n1278406 . The question is, what’s the deal? Participation in a violent insurrection at the US Capitol deserves more of a response than “self-work”. More: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/09/03/qanon-shaman-pleads-guilty-509465 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/qanon-shaman-jacob-chansley-pleads-guilty-to-felony-in-capitol-riot-11630696080 . The sentencing guideline comment is the best information we have about the potential deal. Deals are often more lenient than the guidelines. However, the judge’s comments suggest he may be considering a harsher sentence, which in my view is justified.
Ex-Georgia prosecutor indicted for handling of Ahmaud Arbery case: https://apnews.com/article/savannah-us-news-ahmaud-arbery-ap-top-news-media-98619c2b1eb0d6bf17d3eacdd1bf9ffc . This case has always smelled like small-town racism. The public will get some answers with a trial.
Will there be civil war in Afghanistan?: https://news.yahoo.com/afghanistan-civil-war-is-very-likely-as-peace-talks-falter-says-anti-taliban-resistance-representative-151427096.html . The article nails but does not emphasize the key point: the Northern Alliance is far weaker than it was pre-9/11. The melt-away of the Afghan army does not bode well for resistance to the Taliban at this point.
Another problem with money in college sports: Pitt “endows” its football coaching “chair”: https://sports.yahoo.com/massive-20-million-donation-to-pitt-leads-to-bizarre-name-change-for-head-coaching-position-215904436.html . The article properly deems this “bizarre”. Chris Bicknell ’97 has written himself into Pitt football history in an embarrassing way.
Dead star collision and supernova: https://www.cnet.com/news/dead-star-collision-causes-stellar-explosion-like-nothing-seen-before/ . This article seems to say the collision is only 7 light-years away, which in galactic terms is right in Earth’s backyard. The distance to Alpha Centauri (and Proxima Centauri, the star nearest to the Sun) is 4.4 light years. If that is a correct reading, the article seems to have missed the true lead story here. Here is the original report, which seems to say the same thing more clearly: https://scitechdaily.com/stellar-collision-triggers-supernova-explosion-this-is-the-first-time-weve-actually-seen-such-an-event/ .