COVID kills 1 in 92 Americans over age 65: https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-deaths-american-older-population-cdc-data-2021-12 . About 54 million Americans (16% of the population) are over 65. Over the past 2 years, over 590,000 COVID deaths (74% of the 800,000 total) occurred in those over 65. Thus, 1 in 92 Americans over 65 have died of COVID in the past two years.
This group now has the highest vaccination rate of any age group in the US population. Over 85% of those over 65 are fully vaccinated. However, many of the deaths over age 65 occurred before vaccines were available. Also, those over 65 have weaker immune response to vaccination than younger individuals. So far, booster shots have reached only about 30% of vaccinated Americans. Because older Americans were among the first vaccinated, they are the group most in need of boosters. We are currently seeing over 1,000 total American COVID deaths each day: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/cdc-predicts-u-s-covid-deaths-will-rise-as-britain-reports-first-omicron-death/ar-AARLRgE .
Omicron is able to strike those who have not received boosters. However, preliminary evidence is the disease is milder than Delta. We just don’t know Omicron’s potential for death in the older population.
First Oregon Omicron cases are detected: https://patch.com/oregon/portland/first-oregon-omicron-cases-found-all-fully-vaccinated-people . All 3 individuals reside in the Portland area and are in their 20’s or 30’s. Two have recently traveled internationally in North America (Canada or Mexico). All 3 are fully vaccinated. So basically we’re screwed. Vaccinated people need to get a booster as soon as possible.
Vaccine mandate refusal results in discharge of 27 Air Force members: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-257b231698d17ab3c6aef71867520346 . This is the first of multiple rounds of discharges. 97% of active Air Force personnel have received at least one shot. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/air-force-discharges-27-active-duty-service-members-for-refusing-covid-19-vaccine-11639443256 .
Indoor mask mandate reimposed in California: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2021-12-13/california-to-re-institute-statewide-mask-mandate-amid-rise-in-covid-cases . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/california-to-reinstate-indoor-mask-mandate-11639438360 .
COVID hits NFL with 37 positive tests on Monday: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-257b231698d17ab3c6aef71867520346 .
Loss of smell and taste in COVID long-haulers: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/parosmia-after-covid-food-taste-smell-symptoms-160053310.html .
GOP medicine loses again as man treating COVID with ivermectin dies: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/man-whose-wife-won-a-lawsuit-to-treat-his-covid-19-with-ivermectin-has-died/ar-AARM7UE?li=BBnb7Kz .
WSJ: Some hospitals backpedal from vaccine mandates as they are pinched by staff shortages: https://www.wsj.com/articles/some-hospitals-drop-covid-19-vaccine-mandates-to-ease-labor-shortages-11639396806 . However, from the standpoint of protecting both patients and staff, hospitals should be among the first to mandate staff vaccination.
WSJ: Pfizer buys Arena Pharmaceuticals: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizer-to-acquire-arena-pharmaceuticals-in-6-7-billion-deal-11639414813 .
US recommends against travel to Italy, Greenland: https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2021-12-13/u-s-cdc-urges-americans-to-avoid-travel-to-italy-greenland-over-covid-19-concerns .
UK records first death from Omicron: https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/uk-records-first-omicron-variant-death-pm-johnson-121121301045_1.html . Note that most of this article was generated by computer combination of other feeds. So automation is coming to journalism. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-k-reports-first-omicron-death-as-government-warns-of-a-tidal-wave-of-cases-11639406945 .
WSJ: China reports first mainland Omicron case: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-reports-first-omicron-covid-19-case-in-the-mainland-11639418519 .
Sao Paulo says 100% of adults have received at least one vaccine dose: https://brazilian.report/liveblog/2021/10/26/sao-paulo-vaccine-adults/ .
WSJ: The problems with government economic data during the COVID pandemic: https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-u-s-job-gains-are-so-hard-to-count-during-covid-19-11639391408 . Reduced data collection is an obvious problem. But more subtly, economists have made poor predictions of consumer behavior during the pandemic. My view is that we are in a significant economic dislocation. Trending prior data fails to work in these periods. So you have the combination of less employer data and the need for additional behavioral data.
WSJ: Omicron roils global economic predictions: https://www.wsj.com/articles/global-central-banks-diverge-as-omicron-clouds-growth-inflation-outlook-11639404005 .
Tornado toll update: 88 dead, with 74 dead in Kentucky: https://www.axios.com/tornadoes-kentucky-states-death-toll-994ba853-3617-444e-ae90-ffdf49a6148b.html . Authorities have accounted for all of the missing persons in the candle factory collapse, leaving the death toll there at 8. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/rescuers-search-for-those-missing-after-destructive-tornadoes-in-kentucky-illinois-11639325118 . And: https://www.wsj.com/articles/kentucky-puts-current-death-toll-from-tornadoes-at-64-11639410110 .
Meanwhile, Rand Paul earns Idiot Olympics Lifetime Achievement Award: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/column-rand-paul-demands-federal-disaster-aid-for-kentucky-after-voting-against-it-for-everyone-else/ar-AARMd2T?li=BBnb7Kz . Even Scrooge questions how this fool can hold elective office.
USA Gymnastics settles Larry Nassar abuse cases for $380 million: https://sports.yahoo.com/nassar-survivors-reach-380-million-settlement-with-usa-gymnastics-194745758.html . This historically large settlement may affect all sexual abuse cases going forward. Nassar abused over 500 victims. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/nassar-victims-reach-380-million-settlement-with-usa-gymnastics-and-u-s-olympic-and-paralympic-committee-11639406377 .
January 6 select committee votes to hold Mark Meadows in contempt: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/585642-jan-6-panel-votes-to-hold-meadows-in-contempt . Expect another prosecution by DOJ. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/house-panel-set-to-recommend-holding-mark-meadows-in-contempt-of-congress-11639435020 .
Meanwhile, Mark Meadows cannot think his way out of a paper bag: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/585555-meadows-on-election-night-call-to-fox-news-editor-im-surprised-i . Has Meadows noticed that Arizona did go to Biden? Does he think Twitter traffic affects election results? One hopes that Congress does indeed give this clown the Golden Goose he so richly deserves.
Murdaugh attributes some of his problems to long-term opiate addiction: https://apnews.com/article/business-crime-south-carolina-columbia-414e9c2142252f486d3e8ab168e2c571 .