COVID infects mouth cells: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/scientists-find-evidence-novel-coronavirus-infects-mouths-cells .
Cases rising in 19 states: https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-cases-infections-vaccines-variants-e8502e83-34b6-4c42-a6a5-c528a1aca3c3.html .
Latest AstraZeneca US data satisfies critics: https://apnews.com/article/astrazeneca-vaccine-strong-protection-us-rift-466726258e5e546550907f123f67763d . Still, these missteps have in my view done serious long-term damage to this vaccine and to the company. More: https://www.medicaldaily.com/controversy-concerns-astrazeneca-vaccine-results-458713 . Still more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/astra-pares-covid-vaccine-efficacy-data-after-us-criticism/ar-BB1eW2x7?li=BBnb7Kz . WSJ: And: https://www.wsj.com/articles/astrazeneca-vaccine-slow-rollout-mess-data-11616695692 .
Latest on WHO report on COVID origin: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/public-global-health/544859-team-of-scientists-set-to-highlight-four-theories-on . The leading theory remains bat to intermediate animal to humans. More: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-origin-1-report-4-theories-who-478237854902672ac53ab6d9dbfe59ec .
WSJ: Searching for animal coronavirus reservoirs: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-search-for-animals-that-could-carry-the-next-deadly-virus-11616673600 . To reiterate, coronavirus in general and COVID in particular are embedded in the human population.
Human trials begin for Pfizer’s COVID pill: https://www.wionews.com/world/now-a-pill-to-treat-coronavirus-pfizer-begins-human-trials-373008 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-starts-testing-in-young-children-11616689800 .
US government halts distribution of Eli Lilly monoclonal antibody drug: https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/25/health/variants-eli-lilly-antibody-therapy-distribution-stops/index.html . It wasn’t that long ago that the drug was considered highly effective. The variants have bypassed Lilly’s approach.
Losing your sense of smell – 30 years ago: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/covid-pandemic-a-chef-who-lost-her-sense-of-smell-30-years-ago/article34152228.ece .
Returning from parental leave – and contracting COVID: https://www.statnews.com/2021/03/24/motherhood-medicine-returning-parental-leave-covid/ .
WSJ: COVID is an opportunity for Kroger to expand its health presence: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccinations-tests-give-boost-to-krogers-health-ambitions-11616664610 .
California to open vaccination to everyone over 16 on April 15: https://www.kcra.com/article/gov-newsom-news-conference-march-25/35928240# . We are definitely seeing the impact of increased vaccine production and delivery.
WSJ: US vaccination campaign benefits the elderly: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-covid-19-vaccine-effort-is-protecting-older-people-growing-evidence-suggests-11616682522 . Again, we continue to race against the variants. I believe there will be setbacks and the need for booster shots.
UK COVID checks at pubs could reduce vaccine hesitancy in the young: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/25/covid-checks-at-pubs-could-nudge-young-people-to-get-vaccine . This is an interesting twist in a culture where public social interaction is built around alcohol. So, this could work in the US, especially if spring break is any indication.
WSJ: EU will accept vaccine export limits: https://www.wsj.com/articles/europes-leaders-look-at-export-limits-on-covid-19-vaccine-as-inoculations-creep-along-11616694468 .
WSJ: Germany struggles with slow vaccine rollout: https://www.wsj.com/articles/angela-merkel-has-lost-her-pandemic-touch-11616690989 .
Brazil hits 100,000 COVID cases in a day: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-brazil/brazil-hits-record-100000-coronavirus-cases-in-a-day-piling-pressure-on-bolsonaro-idUSKBN2BH3G0 .
COVID has ended China’s live animal markets: https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-a-death-sentence-for-chinas-live-animal-markets/a-56986431 .
India locks down some towns as cases hit 5-month high: https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-india-cases/indias-daily-covid-19-infections-rise-to-five-month-high-idUSKBN2BH0EQ .
WSJ: India suspends vaccine exports: https://www.wsj.com/articles/india-suspends-covid-19-vaccine-exports-to-focus-on-domestic-immunization-11616690859 .
“Double mutant” COVID variant found in India as cases rise: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-56507988 . The mutations are well-known mutations of the spike protein and are thought to increase transmissibility. More: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-india-cases/india-detects-double-mutant-coronavirus-variant-in-western-state-idUSKBN2BG1QB .
Weekly jobless claims drop to 684,000, lowest in a year: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/25/weekly-jobless-claims.html . This number is still an historic high for any weekly number pre-pandemic. There is a different question about these numbers, at least for me. A person has to have a certain level of covered wages in the prior 4 quarters in order to claim unemployment. Since we have many who have had little or no employment since last March, could part of the drop be that people are now no longer eligible due to long-term limited work?
White House listening to progressive Democrats: https://www.axios.com/scoop-aocs-private-audience-with-ron-klain-03209a18-3f23-4e0a-9995-710940a0a705.html . The White House cannot move too abruptly because of its stated desire for bipartisanship, but the filibuster and a 50-50 Senate block most of Biden’s agenda. The Republican decision to offer zero support for the stimulus package was a mistake.
WSJ: Higher corporate taxes may be coming: https://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-democrats-lay-plans-for-higher-corporate-taxes-11616697497 . Personally, I would favor a 25% corporate rate. The Republicans went too far with 21%, but 28% may incent companies to leave the US.
Suez Canal may be blocked for weeks: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-suezcanal-ship/low-tide-slows-work-to-clear-suez-ship-blockage-traffic-jam-builds-idUSKBN2BH0BA . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/suez-canal-backlog-grows-as-efforts-resume-to-free-trapped-tanker-11616668644 . It is surprising that this engineering problem could take so long to fix.
WSJ: Berkshire Hathaway offers to build emergency power plants in Texas: https://www.wsj.com/articles/berkshire-hathaway-offers-to-spend-8-3-billionon-emergencypowerplants-in-texas-11616699446 . Death toll from February outage now at 111: https://www.wsj.com/articles/texas-death-toll-from-february-storm-outages-rises-to-at-least-111-11616710772 .
President Biden’s first press conference: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/03/25/bidens-first-news-conference-immigration-issues-take-center-stage/6984116002/ . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/president-bidens-first-press-conference-the-moments-that-mattered-11616697268 . It is so encouraging to return to press conferences where facts and policies are discussed.
WSJ: Section 230 and regulating the Internet: https://www.wsj.com/articles/section-230-what-it-is-and-why-politicians-want-to-change-it-11616664601 .
WSJ: Senate extends PPP on bipartisan vote: https://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-passes-ppp-bill-extending-loan-applications-through-may-11616698447 .
The GOP is not only pushing voter suppression, it is now denying the will of the voters: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/missouri-gop-blocks-medicaid-expansion-approved-by-voters-because-rural-citizens-voted-against-it/ar-BB1eYtsy?li=BBnb7Kz . I’m not aware that anything like the GOP behavior has ever been taught in civics class. They are rejecting the fundamental principles of “representative” “democracy”, which unfortunately for them is what the Constitution requires.
WSJ: Voting rights keeps filibuster reform in play: https://www.wsj.com/articles/manchin-signals-concerns-with-fellow-democrats-voting-rights-bill-11616696023 . Polls show that Republican voters don’t like the voter suppression bills. Right now, the Republicans do not stand for anything substantive. That would also appear to be a mistake.
Former prosecutor creates pressure campaign to stop corporate contributions to GOP election deniers: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/former-federal-prosecutor-starts-campaign-demanding-all-companies-halt-donations-to-nearly-150-republicans/ar-BB1eYdlD?li=BBnb7Kz .
Feds’ court filings show the case building against the Oath Keepers: https://abcnews.go.com/US/oath-keepers-leader-attack-capitol-allegedly-told-followers/story?id=76682191 .