Breakthrough infections fuel mask guidance: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/cdc-mask-decision-stunning-findings-cape-cod-beach/story?id=79148102 . The new evidence on the Delta variant is not good news. At 74% of 882, there are over 650 breakthrough cases in this one event from Provincetown. It is clear that breakthrough infections are not a rare event. Further, these cases involve transmission. Hence, there needed to be new mask guidance.
WSJ: Primer on breakthrough infections: https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-are-breakthrough-covid-19-cases-11627596643 . However, the prior article suggests the Journal’s information is not the latest.
Delta variant is as transmissible as chickenpox and causes a more severe infection: https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/29/politics/cdc-masks-covid-19-infections/index.html . The data (and this newsletter) has indicated for quite some time that herd immunity was not achievable because of the high transmissibility of COVID and the variants.
Could COVID lead to dementia?: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/07/29/covid-19-alzheimers-brain-condition-infection-long-haulers-dementia/5405461001/ .
Back to school terror: https://news.yahoo.com/colleges-with-no-vaccine-or-mask-mandates-roil-parents-and-professors-im-terrified-220053001.html . The belief that COVID is not dangerous to students is of course not true. But the risk to others in the community is apparent and well-documented.
WSJ: Corporate vaccination mandates: https://www.wsj.com/articles/companies-covid-vaccine-mandate-11627582286 .
WSJ: Federal government requires vaccination or testing for its employees: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-calls-for-100-payments-for-newly-vaccinated-americans-11627586033 . Biden also calls for $100 state incentive payments to the newly vaccinated.
Two Democratic governors mandate vaccination of state employees: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2021-07-29/these-governors-are-mandating-the-covid-19-vaccine-for-government-employees .
Unemployed workers win lawsuits against Republican governors terminating federal unemployment assistance early: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/more-lawsuits-mount-against-states-canceling-unemployment-benefits-153306218.html . Sometimes political stunts have consequences.
Local Florida officials defy DeMentis over mask mandate ban: https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2021/07/29/covid-mandates-trigger-a-new-clash-between-florida-officials-and-desantis-1389178 . Meanwhile, COVID is pushing some hospitals to capacity: https://bnonews.com/index.php/2021/07/florida-hospital-system-declares-code-black-due-to-coronavirus-surge/ .
WSJ: Local mask mandate fights in Missouri: https://www.wsj.com/articles/delta-variant-rekindles-mask-fights-11627560135 .
COVID surges in Texas, straining hospitals: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/07/29/texas-covid-19-hospitals/ .
WSJ: EU pulls ahead of US in vaccinations: https://www.wsj.com/articles/eu-overtakes-u-s-in-covid-19-vaccines-as-delta-variant-spreads-11627574554 .
WSJ: Countries’ failure to push vaccinations becoming a vulnerability: https://www.wsj.com/articles/these-countries-stifled-covid-19-now-the-delta-variant-has-left-them-vulnerable-11627556400 .
COVID surges in Fiji, overwhelms hospitals: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/30/patients-turned-away-as-fiji-battles-covid-19-hell .
WSJ: Albertson’s reconsiders COVID restrictions: https://www.wsj.com/articles/astrazeneca-loses-money-on-covid-19-vaccine-for-second-straight-quarter-11627547543 .
Over 70% of Indians in large states have COVID antibodies: https://news.yahoo.com/india-reports-43-654-covid-035908983.html .
WSJ: Israel to offer COVID booster shots to elderly: https://www.wsj.com/articles/israel-to-offer-pfizer-booster-shots-to-elderly-as-delta-cases-rise-11627585878 .
WSJ: AstraZeneca posts another loss on COVID vaccine: https://www.wsj.com/articles/astrazeneca-loses-money-on-covid-19-vaccine-for-second-straight-quarter-11627547543 .
Deferral of eviction tsunami left to Congress: https://apnews.com/article/biden-eviction-moratorium-coronavirus-da0e4cc8014b6c8a658dd1572707364f .
Bipartisan infrastructure bill on track in Senate, but the overall package remains in real doubt: https://news.yahoo.com/slimmed-down-infrastructure-bill-advances-in-senate-faces-opposition-in-house-130850126.html . The thin Democratic majority in the House confronts the razor-thin majority in the Senate. It seems apparent that the Democrats must pass something, but the details remain in serious doubt. This could be a page out of the OJ playbook, since sizzle keeps this topic riding high in the media.
WSJ: We’re thrilled to continue our reporting on the Suez Canal saga: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ever-given-the-ship-that-blocked-the-suez-makes-it-to-port-11627533834 . So it’s not exactly The Lord of the Rings, is it?
WSJ: College football reorganization kicks off as Texas and Oklahoma join SEC: https://www.wsj.com/articles/texas-oklahoma-college-football-southeastern-conference-big-12-11627604320 .