CDC messaging has gone backwards: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/we-have-gone-backwards-covid-confusion-snarls-biden-white-house-n1287282 . The pressure increases on the White House to reset the fight and the messaging around the pandemic. But the article misinterprets Biden’s “shut down the virus” comments. Everyone understands (or should) that at some point COVID will turn from pandemic to endemic. Biden’s comments therefore meant “end the pandemic”, and we will still get there. However, that may not be in time for the November 2022 elections.
CDC may recommend wearing better masks against Omicron: https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2022-01-10/cdc-weighs-recommending-better-masks-against-omicron-washington-post .
US reports 1.13 million COVID infections on Monday: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2022-01-10/u-s-reports-at-least-1-1-million-covid-cases-in-a-day-shattering-global-record . As we reported yesterday, the US just hit 5 million infections in one week, which is 1.5% of the US population. This number is more than 50% higher than that weekly average. The volume of cases shocks the sensibilities. The US also broke its daily hospitalization record yesterday with over 132,000 COVID patients. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-cases-set-to-triple-pre-omicron-record-11641816922 . (y, 1/9/22)
WSJ: Hospital bed capacity shrinks as nurses call in sick: https://www.wsj.com/articles/hospitals-cut-beds-as-nurses-call-in-sick-with-covid-19-11641810781 . But that’s not just COVID. Stress and burnout are also involved: https://www.wsj.com/articles/when-youre-burned-out-at-your-job-but-its-also-your-calling-11641790863 .
Vaccine mandate mostly goes into effect: https://www.wsj.com/articles/bulk-of-biden-administrations-vaccine-mandate-takes-effect-11641847533 . Still, most observers are expecting the Court to rule quickly.
Facebook will mandate boosters and delay office reopening until March 28: https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-owner-to-mandate-covid-19-vaccine-boosters-for-office-workers-delay-reopening-11641852001 .
Insurers must cover 8 COVID tests per month for every American: https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2022-01-10/insurers-will-cover-8-at-home-covid-tests-per-person-each-month-white-house . Um, where are these tests coming from? Because, as everyone knows, there have been serious shortages of these tests for the past month. More: https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2022/01/10/1071899471/insurance-at-home-covid-tests-white-house . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/white-house-says-private-insurers-to-cover-rapid-covid-19-tests-starting-saturday-11641848589 .
Novartis to seek FDA approval for COVID antiviral: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/pharmaceutical-novartis-seek-approval-coronavirus-covid-19-drug-114153712.html .
Pig-to-man heart transplant: https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/10/health/genetically-modified-pig-heart-transplant/index.html . We previously reported on a pig-to-human kidney transplant. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/doctors-transplant-pig-heart-into-man-11641860067 .
WSJ: Flight cancellations start to slow, but only because carriers are cutting back schedules: https://www.wsj.com/articles/flight-cancellations-start-to-slow-as-airlines-reset-11641840579 .
ACA enrollment period sees almost 14 million subscribers: https://www.wsj.com/articles/affordable-care-act-open-enrollment-draws-nearly-14-million-sign-ups-11641844519 . The enrollment increased 21% from last year.
Pope Francis again calls healthcare “a moral obligation”: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pope-francis-denounces-cancel-culture-and-antivaccine-ideology-11641814583 . I find the church’s embrace of science fascinating, and about 500 years overdue.
Omicron causes Japan to continue to bar foreigners from entry: https://www.wsj.com/articles/japan-extends-entry-ban-for-foreigners-citing-omicron-11641874059 .
The economic implications of Omicron for China: https://www.wsj.com/articles/with-omicron-chinas-covid-19-dilemma-deepens-11641820915 .
Judge appears skeptical of Orange Julius’ executive privilege argument: https://www.aol.com/news/trump-ask-judge-throw-suits-111841317-005823861.html . The judge’s question about OJ’s actions appearing to endorse the insurrectionists strongly suggests he views the conduct of supporting an insurrection as outside of the bounds of executive privilege. Personally, I’m at a complete loss as to why this argument is not rejected out of hand. Insurrections cannot be part of official duties.
WSJ: Kazakhstan upheaval continues: https://www.wsj.com/articles/whats-happening-kazakhstan-protests-almaty-11641407060 . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/kazakhstan-crisis-shows-that-russia-still-trumps-chinas-power-in-central-asia-11641842588 .
The Leaning Tower of San Francisco: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/leaning-san-francisco-skyscraper-tilting-3-inches-year-engineers-rush-rcna11389 . Would you want to work in a nearby building in earthquake-prone San Francisco?