Cruising for a COVID bruising: https://www.businessinsider.com/third-florida-based-cruise-ship-has-covid-19-outbreak-2021-12 . The third such outbreak in Florida in a week! Meanwhile, the state has its highest level of cases since the start of the pandemic. The DeMentis mass murder continues. The evidence of natural selection keeps accumulating.
Navy ship sidelined by COVID outbreak: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-south-america-us-navy-ea34a9da9640589cd78ed2b610337ca0 . This is really just a cruise in uniform, right?
Daily US cases approach 250,000: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/covid-case-average-exceeds-deltas-peak-omicrons-spread-us-rcna9778 . The severity of Omicron in the US is likely to be answered within the next two to three weeks by hospital admissions.
Omicron dominates California: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-california-public-health-san-francisco-b40e2aa3dbb6b8993a439ee0cca250a0 .
WSJ: Omicron contagiousness: https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-contagious-is-omicron-what-does-that-mean-for-you-11640358001 .
Protecting small children from COVID: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-health-rochelle-walensky-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-95d4a7489c4b8a8cd1d8a0f0c6721201 . Another article that may be helpful to send to others.
CDC reduces health worker quarantine time: https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/24/politics/cdc-updates-isolation-guidance-health-care-workers/index.html . As noted yesterday, I hate this idea. We have another version of re-opening too soon, but now focused on health care facilities when the most virulent variant yet has emerged. New York also shortens quarantine times: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-airlines-cancel-flights-as-omicron-disruptions-grow-11640347969 .
US will lift travel ban on southern African countries December 31: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-health-travel-business-73aace43737ef3d48184772a7d978bfc . This is clearly not helpful now, but the initial imposition was reasonable to slow spread while we studied the new variant. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-to-lift-travel-ban-on-southern-african-countries-11640357127 .
Churches canceling in-person Christmas services: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-health-religion-new-york-87686e3d2039e9cde79fa85e5a1819d5 . Church attendance surges each Christmas and Easter. This cancellation strains religious budgets. Additionally, declining percentages of Americans identify as Christians: https://lifewayresearch.com/2021/12/16/fewer-americans-identify-as-christians/ . A 15% drop in 14 years is not only significant, it may well be irreversible.
NFL not seeing asymptomatic COVID spread: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-nfl-entertainment-sports-business-89014fcd749bedda3088415122da4940 . While what the doctor says may be true, this article lacks context. The information will likely be used by people who spread misinformation. We know that asymptomatic people often carry significant viral loads – therefore, they are infectious. The NFL also tests frequently, which increases the chance of false positives. The NFL world of frequent testing and considerable COVID precautions does not match real-world conditions.
Beyond that, the lack of details concerns about the quality of this conclusion. The doctor freely admits there are a ton of symptomatic cases. Unless the NFL has done meaningful contact tracing on each of these cases, these people may well have been infected by an asymptomatic person who may or may not be an NFL player or employee. At best, this article is anecdotal information. WSJ: We’re not buying this, either: https://www.wsj.com/articles/nfl-covid-list-omicron-chiefs-browns-jets-11640306456 .
COVID fertility issues for men: https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/covid-may-affect-fertility-reducing-171325614.html . Recovery time is estimated at three months after infection. Studies continue to determine if some men have longer-lasting or permanent damage to their sperm counts.
Another case of natural selection: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10340937/Unvaccinated-diner-owner-kept-doors-open-height-pandemic-dies-COVID-19.html . Keeping his restaurant open to pay for his wife’s cancer treatments was compassionate if wrong-headed. Doing so unvaccinated led to the former Marine’s death.
Austria recommends fourth COVID shot: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-12-24/austrias-vaccine-board-recommends-fourth-covid-jab-for-some . This follows Israel’s recent move. But Dr. Fauci says it is premature for the US to make this decision: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/587268-fauci-says-its-too-premature-for-us-to-be-discussing-fourth-covid-19 . Fauci believes we first need to study the durability of the protection from the third shot.
Germany expects major COVID surge over holidays: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-lifestyle-christmas-europe-4ebfe2f7b52238ed376af5f23e345e53 .
Airlines cancel more than 3,000 flights globally: https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/aviation/587239-more-than-3000-flights-delayed-worldwide-as-airlines-cite . We really do not know what percentage of the 3,000 involve staffing issues. Also, to what extent are these staffing issues COVID-related or holiday-related? Claiming COVID exposure is an easy way to take some time off. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/travel-woes-deepen-as-omicron-variant-hits-pilots-and-flight-attendants-11640377350 .
Tax experts believe Build Back Better lives: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us-tax-experts-say-biden-spending-bill-likely-to-be-resuscitated/ar-AAS4eJK?li=BBnb7Kz . I continue to believe that every Democrat, including Manchin, believes they must pass something. Meanwhile, KPMG channels Yogi Berra: It ain’t over till it’s over. Meanwhile, the BBC tries to explain Yogi to the Brits: https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34324865 .
WSJ: What scientists hope to learn from the Webb telescope: https://www.wsj.com/articles/webb-telescope-launch-could-shift-our-understanding-of-the-early-universe-11640341802 .
Merry Christmas to all!