World passes 500,000,000 COVID cases: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/world-surpasses-half-a-billion-known-coronavirus-cases/ar-AAWbsUM?li=BBnb7Kz . And this is just the reported cases. As a first estimate, I would guess there have been (conservatively) over 2 billion actual COVID cases. Also, as noted below, 800 million Africans (out of a population of 1.2 billion) have had COVID. Hopefully, the modelers will readdress this question. Also note that 2/3 of the world’s population – that is, 5.1 billion people – has received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine.
WSJ: Booster use confused by T cell mysteries: https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-it-is-hard-to-know-who-needs-a-covid-booster-mysterious-t-cells-11649854810 .
CDC extends travel mask mandate to May 3: https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-e603a9dfc361ad095733bc868ebeba74 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/transportation-mask-mandate-to-be-extended-15-days-11649863476 .
Why local COVID precautions are not returning: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/covid-cases-are-rise-yet-precautions-come-back-rcna24060 . Remember that the Chinese believe they will overcome the Americans because we lack patience. COVID fatigue in my view illustrates their point. The end result will be that some older unboosted folks are going to die unnecessarily. BA2 may be less dangerous than earlier waves, but that does not mean it is without danger, especially for the vulnerable.
States with the lowest COVID partial vaccination rates: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/these-states-have-the-lowest-covid-19-vaccination-rates . Only Wyoming (58.6%) and Mississippi (59.4%) remain below 60% partial vaccination. Over 50% of the US population in every state is fully vaccinated.
States with the highest COVID partial vaccination rates: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/these-states-have-the-best-covid-19-vaccination-rates . Note that the 3 states tied at the top at 95% are all Northeastern states – Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. And that is where the COVID increase is currently being seen. I still think we are looking at another COVID wave. Admittedly, though, a significant part of that wave will be invisible because of the lack of reporting of at-home test results.
The latest global vaccination statistics: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/covid-19-vaccination-rates-by-country . Quite obviously, the lowest vaccination rates are across Africa. However, we recently heard estimates that 65% of Africans (that’s 800 million people) have already had COVID. Also, as you know I question the efficacy of the vaccines used in China.
Biden proposes elimination of ACA “family glitch”: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/04/04/biden-obamacare-family-glitch-coverage-00022798 . Here is the Academy alert: https://www.actuary.org/sites/default/files/members/alerts/pdf/2022/2022-H-3.pdf (this link may only work for Academy members).
WSJ: Glaxo to buy Sierra Oncology: https://www.wsj.com/articles/glaxo-to-buy-cancer-drug-maker-for-1-9-billion-11649850251 . Halozyme Therapeutics to buy Antares Pharma: https://www.wsj.com/articles/glaxo-to-buy-cancer-drug-maker-for-1-9-billion-11649850251 .
UK children’s liver disease spikes: https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-united-kingdom-hepatitis-171aab83e72b1376d60e8a95d5ec6c9d .
Taiwan sees COVID outbreak: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-04-13/taiwan-says-its-at-only-early-stage-of-covid-outbreak-cases-will-rise .
Russia has major logistical problems in Ukraine: https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/14/europe/ukraine-war-russia-trucks-logistics-intl-hnk-ml/index.html . This insightful article focuses on the problems with the military’s trucks. The use of civilian vehicles is a clear sign that this problem won’t be solved anytime soon.
Russia’s Black Sea flagship seriously damaged in fire; Ukraine claims successful attack: https://www.axios.com/russia-flagship-black-sea-fleet-damaged-in-blast-fee9982e-b2f4-4b4f-bfb6-c9544ea66213.html . What an incredible embarrassment for the Russians.
Russia says US, NATO weapons transports are legitimate targets: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russia-says-us-nato-weapon-transports-in-ukraine-are-legitimate-targets/ar-AAWaTeJ?li=BBnb7Kz . Uh-huh. Again, the Ukraine-Polish border remains wide open for these transports. Russia has shown no capability to attack these transports, and presumably has even less with their redeployment to the east. As we’ve repeatedly noted, Russia’s failure to cut off these supply lines at the start of the war was a massive strategic error. And everyone knows it. This would be different if Russia controlled the skies over Ukraine, which it does not.
WSJ: The Russian redeployment: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-forces-renew-focus-on-southern-and-eastern-ukraine-11649842020 .
China expected to loosen credit to stimulate economy: https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2022-04-14/china-set-to-loosen-credit-as-economic-malaise-deepens . This does not strike me as wise. For one thing, we know the real estate sector is overbuilt and must correct. Any loans in this area could well go underwater. As far as business loans go, doesn’t their export market need to rebound before further investment is made? So China, which has pursued growth at all costs (successfully) for decades, appears to be in need of a different strategy. As chronicled here over the past months, China’s growth will slow.
WSJ: Shanghai lockdown could be China’s future: https://www.wsj.com/articles/is-shanghais-covid-disaster-chinas-future-11649867483 . The Journal finally catches up to the idea that Zero COVID is an unsustainable long-term strategy.
JPMorgan profits drop 42% as bank writes down $1.5 billion in Russian assets: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-covid-health-business-europe-8af2b9ad697924a780dfafa5ab4817bb .
More reporting on the “Blame OJ” defense at a January 6 trial: https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-steve-bannon-donald-trump-ohio-d43b2c470cac572ee06c500baa16d3ad . This article provides the details of the defense reported yesterday. Obviously, as prosecutors note, OJ did not have the power to “authorize” the defendant to commit criminal acts at the Capitol.
Abbott faces backlash in Texas over his political stunts: https://news.yahoo.com/as-texas-buses-migrants-to-dc-abbott-faces-backlash-for-chaos-at-the-border-224343181.html . It’s not about busing migrants to DC, although I love the fact that the bus dropped them off not at the White House but at Fox News. The problem is that Abbott decided to “defend the border” by “expanding” entry inspections for Mexican trucks. So the resulting border delays have cut commercial traffic by 60%. So how stupid can you be not to understand the consequences of this stunt? Obviously, blindingly stupid.
Democrats throw 2024 Iowa primary under the bus: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/so-long-iowa-democrats-just-threw-their-entire-2024-presidential-nominating-system-up-for-grabs/ar-AAWcLTM?li=BBnb7Kz . And good riddance. Democrats are a minority in Iowa, and that minority bears little resemblance to the party nationally. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-move-closer-to-dropping-iowas-early-slot-in-presidential-nomination-process-11649890561 .
Subway shooting suspect in custody: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/person-interest-now-suspect-brooklyn-subway-attack-police-say-rcna24201 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/who-is-frank-james-suspect-in-brooklyn-subway-shooting-11649784082 . As the world becomes increasingly wired together, police were able to track James down quickly. However, reporting now seems to agree that James called police to turn himself from a McDonald’s. Police then searched the neighborhood and located James: https://apnews.com/article/police-hunt-brooklyn-subway-gunman-8b4e1efee5d08c06050c7b09172829d3 .