Abionic COVID-19 severity test: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201125005354/en/Abionic-Launches-First-Covid-19-Severity-Test-to-Triage-Patients-Quickly-and-Accurately . This blood test allows doctors to assess the risk a patient faces of severe COVID-19 within minutes, and triage them appropriately.
WSJ: Vaccine trials may suffer as volunteers drop out: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccine-studies-may-suffer-as-volunteers-consider-dropping-out-11606485601 . This has a quite valid logic. Since the pandemic continues to rage, additional volunteers could be sought to perfect the data already collected.
WSJ: US exceeds 90,000 hospitalizations, sets record for 17th consecutive day: https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/covid-2020-11-27 . Each day we have a new, more startling statistic about how widespread and deadly the pandemic has become in the US. Lack of staffed beds will lead to increasing COVID-19 mortality if the advances in care cannot be delivered.
WSJ: Rural hospitals losing their lifelines to larger hospitals: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-pushes-rural-hospitals-to-their-limits-11606478401 .
WSJ: United begins shipping Pfizer vaccine: https://www.wsj.com/articles/united-begins-flying-pfizers-covid-19-vaccine-11606512293 .
WSJ: COVID-19 strikes PPE makers: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-infections-surge-at-worlds-largest-medical-glove-maker-11606479574 . This is strong evidence that the virus is more strategic than the US government. Up next: Scott Atlas vs. dirt.
WSJ: States consider Medicaid cuts as enrollment surge pressures budgets: https://www.wsj.com/articles/medicaid-enrollment-surge-during-pandemic-leaves-states-looking-for-cost-cuts-11606489203 . This seems ripe for inclusion in an appropriate stimulus package.
WSJ: The Class of 2020 looks for work: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-class-of-2020-looks-for-work-11606473000 . Ouch. Coding in the basement is now a good gig. “Failure to Launch” was a comedy, right? It pains me to see these young people go forth into the new abnormal …
WSJ: Lack of doctors makes Eastern Europe vulnerable to COVID-19: https://www.wsj.com/articles/its-like-the-second-world-war-covid-19-is-tearing-into-the-parts-of-europe-that-lack-doctors-11606473001 .
WSJ: UK asks emergency review of Oxford vaccine: https://www.wsj.com/articles/vaccine-approval-race-gears-up-as-u-k-asks-for-emergency-review-of-astrazeneca-shot-11606494257 . The half-dose/dose strategy is causing problems because of the limited data associated with the “error” vaccination group.
European Central Bank sets guidance for return to bank dividends: https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/ecb-european-banks-restart-dividend-payments-next-year-resiliency-2020-11-1029837653 . Resilience means that the bank can show its balance sheet will remain solid under stress.
Indonesia faces major logistical challenges for COVID-19 vaccination: https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3111587/indonesias-covid-19-vaccination-roll-out-challenge-could . Indonesia has also faced significant vaccine skepticism in the recent past: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(18)30287-0/fulltext .
WSJ: India’s economy shrinks: https://www.wsj.com/articles/indias-economy-contracted-7-5-last-quarter-11606480136 .
WSJ: Fixing Trump’s payroll tax deferral: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trumps-payroll-tax-deferral-creates-predicament-for-congress-11606492800 . Idiotic policy is hard to fix.
How do we solve a security problem like Trump?: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/when-he-leaves-office-can-ex-president-trump-be-trusted-n1248994 . This really is a set of problems we’ve never faced. The Deutsche Bank connection is particularly troublesome, as made clear by this story in today’s WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/outside-monitors-urge-deutsche-bank-to-quit-russia-11606386601 .
Here’s more background on these issues: https://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2020/10/16/donald-trump-has-at-least-1-billion-in-debt-more-than-twice-the-amount-he-suggested/?sh=5d6bef6d4330 . And: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-deutsche-bank-exclusive/exclusive-tired-of-trump-deutsche-bank-games-ways-to-sever-ties-with-the-president-sources-idUSKBN27J0G0 .
The WSJ take on Diego Maradona: https://www.wsj.com/articles/maradona-and-the-match-england-never-got-over-11606474800 . Is this article some sort of WSJ parody? Substitute “Trump” for “Maradona” and “liberal elite” for “England” and you may see what I mean. As Maradona died Wednesday, this focus on the English tabloid reaction strikes me as quite distasteful. Maradona had his faults. WSJ’s are greater.