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News for September 19 — Anti-inflammatory Succeeds; Twindemic

Anti-inflammatory succeeds against COVID-19 in largely minority trial: https://apnews.com/1f17825984f734b19904ed2cbb7035d8 . WSJ: COVID-19 increasing deaths from other causes: https://www.wsj.com/articles/death-toll-from-covid-19-pandemic-extends-far-beyond-virus-victims-11600507800 . This is another look at whether “excess deaths” should be attributed to COVID-19. WSJ: More on contact tracing apps’ privacy and logistical concerns: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-crop-of-covid-tracking-apps-addresses-old-concerns-11600518600 . AstraZeneca US COVID-19 vaccine trial remains on hold: https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-astrazeneca/astrazeneca-says-covid-19-vaccine-trial-in-u-s-still-on-hold-idUKKCN26B01S . A …

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News for September 18 — CDC Reverses Prior Advice

WSJ: CDC reverses prior advice: https://www.wsj.com/articles/cdc-reverses-controversial-guidance-on-covid-19-testing-11600452908 . There is a message here about political interference with the CDC, but it’s doubtful the administration hears it. CDC issues new school re-opening guidelines: https://www.usnews.com/news/education-news/articles/2020-09-17/new-cdc-guidance-for-reopening-schools-creates-color-coded-risk-scale?src=usn_nl_coronavirus  . So, 88% of the US population lives in the two highest risk categories. What are we doing here? WSJ: Global round-up: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-latest-news-09-18-2020-11600416747 …

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News for September 17 — Minority Children Majority of Child Deaths

Minority children majority of child deaths: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/09/16/covid-deaths-cdc-finds-majority-kids-who-die-black-hispanic/5814985002/ . They are 41% of the population but 78% of the deaths. 75% of children who die have an underlying medical condition. WSJ: Why private healthcare failed public health: https://www.wsj.com/articles/hospitals-for-years-banked-on-lean-staffing-the-pandemic-overwhelmed-them-11600351907 . This article deserves a longer response, which I’ve placed here. COVID-19 linked to preterm deliveries: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-19-preterm-birth-miscarriage-stillbirth/ . …

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News for September 16 — Science Fights Back; Martin Gardner

Science fights back: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/scientific-american-endorses-joe-biden/ . Oh hell YES. If you see something, say something. Scientific American was my favorite magazine to read in high school. It was nice to welcome back memories of Martin Gardner and his wonderful puzzles column. This is certainly my favorite piece of news in recent weeks. Here is a thorough …

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News for September 15 — Gates Foundation 2020 Report

“The catastrophes continue to pile up”: The Gates Foundation 2020 Report: https://www.gatesfoundation.org/goalkeepers/report/2020-report/#CollaborativeResponse . As dark as the first half of this report is, the second half provides an action plan and extensive data to explore. It does demonstrate the integrated web of problems the world faces and big-picture collaboration that can address them. Media coverage …

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News for September 14 — World Record COVID-19 Cases Sunday

World record COVID-19 cases Sunday: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-54142502 . If we’ve turned a corner, it’s not a good one. Rehab helps COVID-19 long-haulers: https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2020/persistent-covid-symptoms.html . COVID-19 complicates wildfire evacuations: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2020-09-13/coronavirus-complicates-wildfire-evacuations-on-west-coast?src=usn_nl_coronavirus . Hey, but hotel occupancy is up … Portland continues to have the worst air quality in the world; earliest rain possibility is Thursday … WSJ: COVID-19 …

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News for September 13 — Alaska COVID-19 Testing Success

WSJ: Alaska COVID-19 testing success: https://www.wsj.com/articles/alaska-built-one-of-the-most-comprehensive-covid-19-testing-operations-in-u-s-11599930000 . One of the state’s largest hospitals installed a high-throughput testing machine. So, accurate, rapid results followed. What if we had done that in every US city with a population of 5 million or more (there are 10)? And for every metropolitan area with a population over 1 million …

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News for September 12 — Blarney Stone; Monkey Shortage

Blarney Stone kissing re-opens: https://www.irishpost.com/news/kissing-of-the-blarney-stone-reopens-with-new-rules-in-place-to-prevent-covid-19-spread-188083 . The Blarney Stone was closed in March due to COVID-19: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/kissing-blarney-stone-shelved-amid-covid-19-fears-1.4202631 . And, if you find the history in this article to be blarney, here is geological analysis of the Blarney Stone from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blarney_Stone . China injects hundreds of thousands with experimental vaccine: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-injects-hundreds-of-thousands-with-experimental-covid-19-vaccines-11599834029 . Decades-old safety procedures …

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News for September 11 — The Future of Health Data

WSJ: US round-up: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-latest-news-09-11-2020-11599811667 . News on India and Guam is in last paragraphs. WSJ: FDA civil servants fight back: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fda-officials-say-vaccine-decisions-will-be-guided-by-science-not-politics-11599762805 . Here is the FDA op-ed: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/09/10/sound-science-to-meet-covid-challenges-fda-career-officials-column/5756948002/ . If there is any bottom line to all of this, it is that the current FDA commissioner is a joke – he’s bent to Trump, then …

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News for September 10 — Wildfire Smoke Exposure

Wildfire smoke exposure can increase risk of contracting COVID-19 : https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/exposure-wildfire-smoke-can-increase-risk-covid19-194019729.html . And the reverse is also true: persons who have had COVID-19 are at increased risk from wildfire smoke: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/covid-19/wildfire_smoke_covid-19.html#:~:text=People%20with%20COVID%2D19%20are,function%20related%20to%20COVID%2D19. Times like this make you wonder why people still smoke cigarettes or vape. WSJ: Vaping declines: https://www.wsj.com/articles/vaping-falls-among-young-people-in-u-s-11599672664 . A little bit of good news. …

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