CDC clarifies COVID booster guidance: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cdc-director-explains-needs-2nd-covid-vaccine-booster-rcna22920 . The target audiences for these boosters are adults over 65 and adults 50 to 64 with chronic health conditions.
Halting a new COVID booster myth: https://www.audacy.com/news/2nd-covid-19-booster-could-be-life-saving-for-those-over-60 . Good grief. Trying to apply a cancer concept to a viral disease is just ignorant. Cancers are deviant cells present in the body. They bear no relationship to a virus, and besides, the mRNA vaccines contain mRNA snippets, not whole viruses.
Biden orders government coordination on long COVID research: https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-science-health-lifestyle-885dccb9734f507abab3dd0ffb8ce5ba . As noted in the article, up to 30% of COVID patients suffer some form of long COVID.
Two US Cabinet members test positive for COVID: https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-merrick-garland-8dbbc1e9d8d86abe272e03782068a97d . More: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2022-04-06/washingtons-unwelcome-party-guest-covid-crashes-capitals-reopening . The pandemic is NOT over.
New Omicron subvariant XE emerges: https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/a-new-covid-strain-has-been-detected-heres-what-boston-doctors-are-saying-about-it/2687048/ . XE is a recombination of BA1 and BA2.
Biden signs postal reform bill: https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-business-health-congress-87359aea19ecb15cf33a02249c641be4 .
Bipartisan COVID funding bill held up by Republicans who want an immigration provision: https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-business-congress-74b1a0a6e15e015645935909d8c55b5e . Public health is now at the whim of Republican Senators.
Global COVID cases continue to fall: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-pandemics-united-nations-269660a4236ad73527d057fd6b74d816 .
UK sees record number of COVID cases: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/04/uk-covid-symptoms-list-expanded-with-nine-more-signs-of-illness . So remember, the UK has been the most accurate predictor of where the US will be in two to three weeks.
Shanghai plans to improve food deliveries during lockdown: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-04-06/shanghai-vows-to-improve-food-deliveries-as-discontent-grows-over-covid-curbs . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/shanghai-residents-seek-help-online-as-daily-covid-count-nears-20-000-11649296811 . Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/shanghai-workers-sleep-at-the-office-as-china-extends-covid-19-lockdown-11649244601 . Say it with me: Zero COVID is not a viable long-term strategy. China needs to vaccinate its population with a highly effective vaccine, period.
WSJ: Cooking oil becomes latest supply chain headache: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-war-sparks-global-scramble-for-cooking-oils-11649239342 .
WSJ: Economists’ changing view of inflation: https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-the-2008-financial-crisis-tells-us-about-todays-inflation-surge-11649263077 . While this commentary is quite interesting, in my view it misses the point. The central factor behind current inflation is the deglobalization of supply chains. However, the chains will reorganize into two axes: the Western countries and China/Russia. This is a mostly temporary disruption, although “temporary” may mean 18 months. Meanwhile, US allies will release 60 million barrels of oil from their strategic reserves: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-allies-to-release-close-to-60-million-barrels-of-oil-from-reserves-11649256230 .
Mariupol’s mayor says over 5,000 civilians killed in the city: https://www.yahoo.com/news/mariupol-5000-civilians-dead-ukraine-russia-war-201601906.html . We’ve all seen the pictures of the apartment buildings targeted by the Russians. Targeting civilians is a war crime. So in the face of this daily reporting of horrors, we must not become desensitized to Russia’s genocidal conduct against the Ukrainian people.
Ukraine surprise attack on Russian navy: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraines-surprise-strike-on-russian-fleet-hobbles-putins-donbas-strategy-11649250001 . Again, the odds continue to grow that Ukraine can win this war.
Latest round of US sanctions target families of Putin and others: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/us-sanction-putins-adult-children-new-economic-measures-rcna23225 . These wealthy Russians often hide their assets with their family members. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-the-2008-financial-crisis-tells-us-about-todays-inflation-surge-11649263077 . Also, DOJ pursues Russian oligarch over violation of prior sanctions: https://www.wsj.com/articles/justice-department-charges-russian-oligarch-with-sanctions-violations-11649261132 .
WSJ: Israeli government crisis: https://www.wsj.com/articles/israels-government-faces-crisis-after-right-wing-lawmaker-quits-11649245710 . I believe this makes Israel officially the new Italy. Well, except for poorer food … no Renaissance … no real scenery … and very few Italians. This really is a crisis.
Matt Gaetz keeps proving he is a complete idiot: https://www.aol.com/news/gaetz-justifies-no-vote-insulin-161802554.html . So the outrageous rise in insulin prices is caused by obese people. Gaetz is so disgusting that even other pedophiles avoid him. But now he’s come out with “blame the patient”, his take on blaming the victim.
WSJ: And speaking of GOP idiots, this crowd wants to restrict ESG investments: https://www.wsj.com/articles/conservative-group-wants-to-stop-state-pensions-from-pursuing-esg-initiatives-11649274933 . Dear idiots: Please stop trying to kill us all. Thank you.
Footage of Prince as an 11-year-old supporting the Minneapolis teacher strike: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/minneapolis-tv-station-unearths-footage-of-11-year-old-prince-supporting-a-teachers-strike-in-1970-because-they-be-working-extra-hours-for-us/ar-AAVWykF?li=BBnb7Kz . The Prince footage is about 1:30 into this clip.