News for January 21 — Federal Employee Vaccine Mandate Blocked

Federal employee vaccine mandate blocked: https://www.aol.com/news/1-u-judge-blocks-biden-175153235-203454367.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/judge-blocks-biden-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-for-federal-workers-11642790097 . DOJ plans to appeal. As the judge is a federal employee (but not in the executive branch), I wonder if that affected his decision.

WSJ: COVID rules become increasingly complex: https://www.wsj.com/articles/companies-face-patchwork-of-covid-19-rules-after-supreme-court-ruling-11642794722 .

Booster shots needed for Omicron: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-health-29f2895733312cb4b39393fcf3780cc0 . More: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/booster-shots-effective-severe-illness-omicron-rcna13038 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/omicron-wave-eases-in-parts-of-u-s-france-sets-plan-to-relax-curbs-11642770561 .

News reaches Saskatchewan that COVID-19 will become endemic: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/covid-19-elimination-isnt-going-to-be-possible-with-this-virus-virologist-says-192645770.html . Duh. However, the article does emphasize one point which may be useful. Because COVID will be endemic, it can be expected that future variants will emerge. Certainly, that possibility exists. It is most likely before the pandemic ends, because the world’s viral load remains very high. When COVID becomes endemic, the global viral load will be much lower. I would expect that variants will continue to emerge, but less rapidly than our current situation.

Hope “fades” for herd immunity: https://www.aol.com/news/analysis-omicron-highlights-fading-hope-110307623-164844731.html . Sigh. We have known for a long time that herd immunity was impossible because coronavirus is so transmissible. Remember, no vaccine is 100% effective.

WSJ: US hospital strain: https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-omicrons-milder-infections-are-straining-u-s-hospitals-11642761012 .

WSJ: GlaxoSmithKline ramps up COVID antibody drug manufacture: https://www.wsj.com/articles/glaxosmithkline-racing-to-provide-only-effective-covid-19-antibody-treatment-11642770001 .

Australia has deadliest COVID day yet: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/public-global-health/590752-australia-records-deadliest-covid-19-day .

Russia has almost 50,000 COVID cases in one day, triple the level of 11 days ago: https://thehill.com/policy/international/russia/590782-russia-hits-covid-19-daily-record-for-infections-points-at . More: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/01/21/coronavirus-in-russia-the-latest-news-jan-21-a69117 .

The airline 5G kerfuffle fades: https://apnews.com/article/technology-travel-lifestyle-business-air-travel-2e94c5d153ad6dd756196e9b1577dcd3 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-the-u-s-messed-up-its-new-5g-rollout-it-wasnt-our-finest-hour-11642796082 .

Intel to bring chip manufacturing to Ohio: https://abcnews.go.com/Business/intel-investing-20-billion-bring-chip-manufacturing-ohio/story?id=82395975 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/intel-to-invest-at-least-20-billion-in-ohio-chip-making-facility-11642750760 .This private investment will help correct a significant gap in our national security interests.

Details of the GOP fake Orange Julius electors scheme in Michigan: https://www.aol.com/news/michigan-gop-co-chair-says-004310618.html . GOP election fraud extends to 7 states: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/republicans-in-7-states-submitted-documents-falsely-certifying-the-election-for-trump-most-state-attorneys-general-are-investigating-if-it-constitutes-fraud/ar-AAT1R6E?li=BBnb7Kz .

Brian Laundrie wrote that he was responsible for Gabby Petito’s death, and he died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/brian-laundrie-wrote-was-responsible-gabby-petitos-death-fbi-says-rcna13123 . So we have reached the apparent end of this tragic case.

Meat Loaf passes at 74 from COVID: https://www.tmz.com/2022/01/21/meat-loaf-dead-dies-singer/ . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/meat-loaf-singer-of-bat-out-of-hell-dies-at-74-11642754347 .

Louie Anderson passes at 68 from lymphoma: https://people.com/tv/comedian-louie-anderson-dead-at-68/ . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/comedian-louie-anderson-dead-at-68-11642783096 .