Daily COVID cases exceed 100,000: https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/05/health/us-coronavirus-sunday/index.html . Here we go again. And none of this involves Omicron yet.
Blood pressure rises during pandemic: https://www.today.com/health/health/blood-pressure-rose-pandemic-especially-women-rcna7547 . Like we need more health problems, right? But with all the disruptions over the past two years, of course people feel more stress and anxiety. Not something we want to here, but we do need to listen.
WSJ: Another summary of Omicron information: https://www.wsj.com/articles/omicron-coronavirus-variant-what-to-know-11637935500 . The US apparently now has 20 states reporting Omicron infections.
Omicron likely to out-compete Delta: Harvard researcher: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-health-southern-africa-pandemics-2a445501cff8d0354fabcf493418365e . In my view (previously reported), Delta and Omicron can coexist and we can have pandemics of both at the same time. The “out-compete” viewpoint is therefore inappropriate. However, wouldn’t it be great if Omicron was much milder than Delta and wiped Delta out? It’s a comforting dream.
WSJ: Antiviral pills near US market: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizer-and-merck-covid-19-pills-are-coming-soon-in-the-u-s-but-other-countries-will-have-to-wait-11638786780 . However, to be effective, the pills have to be administered early in COVID’s course. To do that, we need an rapid, accurate, affordable testing system. Uh-oh …
WSJ: Boosters prevent breakthrough infections: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-breakthrough-can-happen-after-booster-in-rare-cases-11638795600 .
Counties voting for Orange Julius have a COVID death rate 2.7 times those that voted for Biden: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/12/05/1059828993/data-vaccine-misinformation-trump-counties-covid-death-rate . The article gives a variety of correlations leading to this result. The most important one is the higher the vote for OJ, the lower the vaccination rate. And the reason behind this is misinformation. The image that came up for me is the lemmings jumping over the cliff. Oh, and also: anger raises your blood pressure.
COVID cruise cases now 17: https://www.npr.org/2021/12/06/1061799633/norwegian-cruise-lines-covid-outbreak-new-orleans-omicron . The 17 cases include an Omicron case in a South African crew member who was quarantined for the entire sail. The ship is named “Breakaway”. You just can’t buy this kind of publicity, but the cruise industry keeps producing it.
More babbling about COVID: https://news.yahoo.com/doctor-omicron-variant-and-winter-161840106.html . So here is another example of a doctor seeking publicity who has no real information to share. Obviously, the media is not seeking out an emergency room doctor in Largo, Maryland, for comment on COVID. It is interesting that people come in to the ER for other problems and then test positive for COVID, but (a) that has nothing to do with Omicron; (b) it means their cases are relatively mild and did not merit an ER visit on their own; and (c) this tells us something about Largo, but not much about the country or the pandemic.
Her comments on Omicron and South Africa are dead wrong. Clearly, South Africa had the first major outbreak of Omicron. Most of the cases around the globe are traced to travel from South Africa. Omicron is so contagious that the first major outbreak is almost certainly near the source. The politics are that we discourage associating viruses with places because of the stigma. But again, the huge number of mutations in Omicron point to its emergence in an immunocompromised person. South Africa has the world’s largest population of HIV/AIDS patients.
Why Omicron likely evolved in one person: https://www.aol.com/news/where-did-coronavirus-omicron-variant-164132542.html . Note that only 18% of HIV patients in South Africa are vaccinated against COVID. Additionally, many of the 18% have had a weak response to the vaccine because of their weakened immune system.
NYC mandates vaccines for private employers: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-new-york-new-york-city-476a856e401bb826d3e828f6e580408d . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-city-sets-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-for-private-sector-workers-11638800971 .
US announces diplomatic boycott of Olympics: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/white-house-announces-diplomatic-boycott-beijing-winter-olympics-over-human-n1285419 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-wont-send-officials-to-beijing-winter-olympics-11638801009 . The Chinese, meanwhile, say they are relieved: https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2021-12-06/china-fires-back-at-u-s-diplomatic-boycott-of-olympic-games-chinese-are-relieved . Gee, another COVID misinformation campaign gets big press. Apparently the Commies are taking pages out of the GOP playbook.
Wisconsin GOP: Facts don’t matter, let’s just disenfranchise Democrats: https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-elections-wisconsin-voting-election-2020-5f799879afe2b8cad2daa0d7b494affa . This is disgusting and undemocratic on its face. Presumably courts would strike down this crap if it gets that far.
WSJ: DOJ sues Texas over redistricting map: https://www.wsj.com/articles/justice-department-sues-texas-over-election-map-11638817696 . We all know the Texas GOP gerrymandered the map. But that’s not a guarantee of victory with federal courts looking to stay out of these types of disputes.
Republican primary battle in Georgia: https://news.yahoo.com/perdue-to-primary-kemp-in-georgia-governors-race-as-republicans-and-trump-wage-war-over-the-big-lie-202214631.html . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/david-perdue-to-challenge-georgia-gov-brian-kemp-in-republican-primary-11638805429 . So Kemp beat Abrams 4 years ago by throwing (black) people off the voter rolls – and he was Secretary of State at the time. This is going to pour a lot of Republican money into this primary, an obvious benefit for the Democrats. Kemp and Perdue will tear each other up, which will discourage some of the loser’s voters from the polls in November. All of this should help Stacey Abrams.
This distraction should also help Ralph Warnock, the just-elected Democratic senator, defend his seat against Herschel Walker. In my view, right now Walker is the most likely Republican to win in Georgia. If Abrams and Warnock can win, Georgia starts moving from purple to blue. And finally the GOP may figure out the need to ditch Orange Julius. Meanwhile, the Journal article repeats OJ’s lies without comment. The Journal is a NINO (newspaper in name only).
WSJ: Nunes to leave Congress to lead OJ media company: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-media-company-names-devin-nunes-as-ceo-11638831698 . Outstanding. We get this loser out of Congress, and OJ gets an incompetent to run his new company.
Chris Cuomo quits Sirius XM show: https://thehill.com/homenews/media/584549-cuomo-quits-radio-show-to-focus-on-what-comes-next . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chris-cuomo-ends-siriusxm-radio-show-11638823432 . Other sources say he was forced out: https://nypost.com/2021/12/06/chris-cuomo-quits-siriusxm-show-following-sexual-misconduct-claim/ . So apparently Howard Stern can carry the banner for Sirius, but Chris Cuomo was too much.
The Old South staggers along: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/tennessee-court-grants-new-trial-for-black-man-after-all-white-jury-deliberated-in-room-with-confederate-symbols/ar-AARxnbe?li=BBnb7Kz . In the “how far have we come” category is this story from rural Tennessee. You may recall the years-long controversy over Roy Moore, the now-former Alabama Supreme Court justice. He insisted on installing a Ten Commandments monument outside the court building. This rural Tennessee county (just north of Huntsville, Alabama) has a population of 25,000. The jury room included an antique Confederate flag and a framed picture of Jefferson Davis. This appalling behavior is intentional.
WSJ: Evergrande staggers along: https://www.wsj.com/articles/evergrande-china-crisis-11632330764 . Meanwhile, Evergrande’s stock value continues to drop: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-evergrandes-managed-restructuring-is-under-way-stocks-and-bonds-sink-11638794470 .
Concerns over Russian invasion of Ukraine keep growing: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/satellite-images-show-the-buildup-of-russian-forces-near-ukraine-that-have-the-us-and-nato-worried-about-an-invasion/ar-AARx6sD?li=BBnb7Kz .
2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit dies after workout: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/kentucky-derby-winner-medina-spirit-collapses-dies-at-santa-anita/ . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/medina-spirit-kentucky-derby-winner-dies-11638817186 . Remember, this was a workout, not a race. Derby horses are typically 3-year-olds: https://www.neogen.com/neocenter/blog/why-is-the-kentucky-derby-only-for-3-year-old-horses/ . Something went wrong here. Was medication involved? UPDATE: The horse apparently died instantaneously from a heart attack. Toxicology tests have been ordered as standard procedure: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/kentucky-derby-winner-medina-spirit-dies-workout-rcna7773 .