Is BA2 going to be another wave or just a bump?: https://news.yahoo.com/experts-say-ba-2-could-be-more-of-a-bump-than-a-surge-is-this-the-future-of-covid-154653786.html . Ahem. While the data in this article appears correct, data is of course subject to interpretation. The interpretation presented is in my view weak at best.
What is the most important fact driving analysis here? It is that Europe and the UK are experiencing BA2 waves, not bumps. Their experience has been an excellent predictor of ours, with a 2 to 3 week delay. So what is different here that justifies a different prediction?
The answer to that question is, we don’t know, because the US has shifted away from PCR testing to at-home testing which goes mostly unreported. So using the available data to predict rate of spread and the change in rate of spread is unlikely to be reliable. Put differently, change in rate of spread needs highly accurate data to be calculated properly, and we don’t have that.
My conclusion is that the best predictor remains European and UK experience. And also, because we have had low take-up of boosters (and of vaccines by conservatives), many Americans remain at risk of serious consequences from the coming BA2 wave or spread. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-the-ba-2-subvariant-could-cause-covid-19-cases-to-rise-11649422117 .
WSJ: Status of COVID funding bill: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-package-remains-on-congresss-to-do-list-11649439581 .
Manchester airport warns COVID-related travel delays could last for months: https://apnews.com/article/covid-business-health-travel-europe-b8a76bd2f4b1a1ae9e20cdcc682e4765 .
Omicron is outrunning Zero COVID in China: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-04-08/shanghai-hospital-pays-the-price-for-chinas-covid-response . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/shanghai-to-open-50-000-bed-makeshift-hospital-as-covid-infections-climb-11649416195 . Quarantining is leading to staff shortages at Shanghai hospital. The US is monitoring the potential effects on air cargo delays: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-04-08/u-s-closely-monitoring-covid-lockdown-in-shanghai-white-house-says . The Shanghai region accounts for more than 22% of China’s industrial output. Three Shanghai officials sacked over COVID response: https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-china-beijing-shanghai-742307460a9a97375723b2cc3b065cfe . WSJ: Shanghai to open 50,000 bed temporary hospital: https://www.wsj.com/articles/shanghai-to-open-50-000-bed-makeshift-hospital-as-covid-infections-climb-11649416195 . More: Lockdowns hit global supply chains: https://www.wsj.com/articles/manufacturers-grind-to-a-halt-in-china-as-lockdowns-expand-11649343420 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/shanghais-omicron-outbreak-corners-chinese-leader-11649423941 . As previously noted here and verified by this article, China’s attempted “fine-tuning” of Zero COVID was a huge mistake.
WSJ: China tech growth stalls: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinese-tech-giants-lose-shine-as-growth-stalls-11649410200 . And China’s property bust won’t reverse soon: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinese-property-sectors-go-go-days-arent-coming-back-11649423834 .
Saudi Arabia eliminates COVID curbs for Haj: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-04-08/saudi-arabia-raises-number-of-haj-pilgrims-allowed-to-one-million-this-year-spa . In other words, prepare for the mother of all superspreaders.
Russians strike eastern Ukraine train station, killing at least 50: https://news.yahoo.com/kramatorsk-ukraine-train-station-russia-missile-attack-161420958.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/rocket-attack-kills-more-than-30-at-railway-station-in-eastern-ukraine-11649409672 . Conceivably, the train station could be a military target if it was being using to transship military equipment. But this looks like another targeting of the civilian population, which of course is a war crime. The Russian characterization of their invasion as a peacekeeping effort becomes more obscene with each passing day.
Russian businessman calls for probe of Bucha civilian deaths: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-roman-abramovich-kyiv-business-europe-075f8438e60ee18b53a561a344bc7ea4 . Apparently, many of the towns around Bucha show similar mass atrocities.
Another Proud Boy pleads guilty and turns government witness: https://www.aol.com/news/proud-boys-senior-member-plead-143400421-154635199.html .
Marjorie Taylor Greene earns lawsuit seeking to bar her from the ballot: https://news.yahoo.com/marjorie-taylor-greene-seeks-to-quash-effort-to-block-her-from-running-for-reelection-212355609.html . The lawsuit will be tough to prove, but the question here is whether plaintiffs are entitled to a day in court. That is a closer question, and CNN reports that the judge appears likely to allow the suit to proceed: https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/08/politics/marjorie-taylor-greene-candidacy-challenge-lawsuit/index.html .
On Day 2 of The Masters, Tiger Woods bogies 4 of the first 5 holes but fights back into a tie for 19th: https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2022/04/08/tiger-woods-makes-cut-friday-masters-augusta-national/ . The start looked like he would blow himself out of the tournament, but he still made the cut and will play this weekend. No matter the result (and he is definitely showing wear), this is another remarkable chapter in an extraordinary career.