One million COVID cases reported Monday: https://www.npr.org/2022/01/04/1070218466/1-million-us-covid-cases-omicron-surge . The US reported a shocking 1,082,549 new COVID cases Monday. This is a global record for any country during the pandemic. Even allowing for delayed reporting over the New Year’s holiday weekend, the Omicron surge is outstripping earlier predictions of the severity of this wave. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-infections-accelerate-across-asia-11641283016 .
Omicron now exceeds 95% of new COVID cases: https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/omicron-estimated-95-4-coronavirus-161300853-203152625.html .
But case numbers are not as important as hospitalization numbers: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-health-anthony-fauci-9444d63b650b98e235ed2595b0ebe844 . The newsletter has been pointing this out for some time. However, the overwhelming number of new cases means there will be a significant number of Omicron hospitalizations and severe illnesses.
COVID infections may lead to autoimmune malfunction months later: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2022-01-04/months-after-covid-19-infection-body-may-attack-itself-study-says . This looks to be another piece of the long COVID puzzle. As we have repeatedly warned, we do not know whether apparently mild or asymptomatic infections may increase the risk for long COVID. Therefore, the suggestion that COVID infections in young people are not dangerous misstates the risk until we know more.
US hospitals admit record numbers of young COVID patients: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2022-01-04/u-s-hospitals-seeing-record-numbers-of-young-covid-patients .
Kansas struggles with mask policies as schools reopen and hospitals are already strained: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-manhattan-kansas-5dd5e4c124a2c7846862c9c289e42ab9 .
COVID test prices go up: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/walmart-kroger-raise-home-covid-test-price-white-house-agreement-expir-rcna10967 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/walmart-kroger-raise-prices-of-covid-19-test-kits-11641320476 .
CDC shortens recommended gap between Pfizer COVID vaccine doses from 6 months to 5: https://www.aol.com/news/u-cdc-endorses-five-month-145815605-153520639.html . Remember, the original trials were done based on a guess and to the number and timing of shots. Researchers will undoubtedly continue to refine the protocols.
Fourth Pfizer dose appears effective in Israeli study: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fourth-pfizer-dose-spurs-sharp-jump-in-antibodies-early-results-from-israel-show-11641322072 .
Ongoing struggles with Biogen Alzheimer’s drug: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biogen-fda-aduhelm-alzheimers-drug-approval-11641327408 . Our assessment continues to be false hope at an expensive price.
Rewriting vaccine objectives and performance: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-health-travel-coronavirus-vaccine-69b19dcb2cf9527e22083e9547d70228 . No, the vaccine was not designed or focused solely on the prevention of severe illness. Frankly, it would be stupid to ignore transmissibility with a virus that is highly contagious, because the virus would retain the ability to seek out the most vulnerable. But the virus has evolved, and the latest variant is the most transmissible yet. We are fortunate that Omicron appears to cause less severe disease and death.
Vaccines are designed to protect recipients from illness. Meanwhile, viruses operate on the principles of natural selection. Fitness is defined as the ability to reproduce and spread. In this definition, survival of the host is not part of the equation. Delta was both more transmissible and more deadly than its predecessors. Omicron is more transmissible still, but apparently less deadly. Science develops vaccines to boost our body’s defense systems. COVID vaccines are in the process of being improved to more directly target Omicron’s RNA.
DeMentis looks to lock out COVID reality: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-florida-ron-desantis-jacksonville-bd2b88be5933162576d175f5ca822e22 . He will have to stand on his record of mass murder of elderly Floridians in this year’s race for governor.
Texas National Guard members refusing vaccine mandate: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-texas-lawsuits-ken-paxton-ee94ed995a97857f43dd879dbf619636 . Meanwhile, the current COVID positivity rate in Texas is running above 30% in some counties. Expect a hospitalization crisis in Texas in the near future. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/texas-sues-u-s-to-block-vaccine-requirement-for-national-guard-11641340383 .
Chicago cancels school under threats from union: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/chicago-plan-cancel-class-union-votes-remote-82072326 .
Walmart temporarily closed 60 stores last month for sanitization: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/walmart-temporarily-closed-almost-60-stores-covid-cleaning-last-month-n1286921 .
Senator Rob Portman contracts COVID: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-ohio-rob-portman-congress-2116f2dc1b820fd11d4497ba23746e3e .
Late night hosts contract COVID: https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2022/01/04/1070349245/jimmy-fallon-seth-meyers-covid .
Rio’s Carnival street parades become another victim of COVID: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-01-04/rio-de-janeiro-cancels-carnival-parade-due-to-rising-covid-19-cases-omicron-threat .
Once again, don’t go on a cruise: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-01-04/covid-19-infects-214-on-five-cruise-ships-in-brazilian-waters . Meanwhile: https://wtop.com/asia/2022/01/thousands-held-on-hong-kong-cruise-ship-for-covid-testing/ .
France identifies a new variant: https://www.voanews.com/a/french-scientists-discover-new-coronavirus-variant-researchers-say-omicron-easily-avoids-immune-system/6381096.html . Again we see a high number of mutations in this variant. We do not know the transmissibility of this variant. However, the pervasive thinking that Omicron will quickly pass and the pandemic will end appears at odds with experience. More: https://www.wionews.com/world/new-coronavirus-variant-called-ihu-discovered-in-france-442158 .
US bases in Japan experience COVID surge: https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2022-01-04/coronavirus-covid-19-us-military-japan-tokyo-okinawa-4176278.html .
Omicron may close China for all of 2022 under their “zero COVID” policy: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/1/5/bb-china-could-stay-shut-for-all-of-2022-goldman-sachs . Again, the pace of global economic growth will likely slow in 2022.
Evergrande’s problems continue to multiply: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/04/china-evergrande-says-contracted-sales-dropped-38point7percent-in-2021.html . And: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/evergrande-unit-seeks-to-delay-cny-bond-payments-271641362154 . Also: https://apnews.com/article/business-china-beijing-urban-planning-6d92b14bdf77b667caa28bda8c6c8baa . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/evergrande-gets-a-new-reason-to-worry-11641297442 . And: https://www.wsj.com/articles/evergrande-is-told-to-tear-down-39-buildings-on-man-made-island-11641302183 .
Record 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs in November: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/record-4-5-million-americans-quit-their-job-november-n1286930 . The Great Resignation continues. Lower-paid employees are rotating into jobs (1) with higher pay (2) that involve less interaction with consumers. Employees don’t want the grief of COVID exposure and impolite customers.
WSJ: Automobile company selling the most cars in US in 2021: Toyota: https://www.wsj.com/articles/detroit-seen-losing-ground-in-auto-sales-race-11641297653 . GM had held the top spot since 1931, when it outsold Ford.
Blackberry goes dark: https://www.wsj.com/articles/blackberry-die-hards-struggle-with-final-blow-11641323258 .
California’s Dixie Fire started by PG&E equipment: https://www.wsj.com/articles/california-finds-pg-e-responsible-for-dixie-fire-11641357672 .
Canada seeks to end 16-year legal fight with $15 billion settlement with its indigenous peoples: https://www.wsj.com/articles/canada-reaches-15-billion-settlement-with-indigenous-peoples-11641326167 .
Washington Football Team to announce new name next month: https://www.wsj.com/articles/washington-football-team-to-announce-new-name-next-month-11641332596 . So how about the Washington Insurrectionists? No?