More on declining COVID-19 mortality rates: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/10/20/925441975/studies-point-to-big-drop-in-covid-19-death-rates .
Why is COVID-19 so deadly?: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-54648684 .
WSJ: NYC’s declining COVID-19 mortality rates: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-citys-covid-19-death-rate-has-dropped-in-recent-months-11603388389 .
One thing the 3 articles above suggest is that COVID-19 was initially so deadly because its manifestations confused not just the body’s immune system, but also doctors. As doctors have learned more about treating the inflammatory behavior of the disease, mortality rates have declined.
Highest number of current COVID-19 hospitalizations in the South: https://www.bloombergquint.com/coronavirus-outbreak/southern-states-are-the-seething-center-of-america-s-pandemic .
WSJ: BioNTech’s role in vaccine development: https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-pfizer-partner-biontech-became-a-leader-in-coronavirus-vaccine-race-11603359015 .
WSJ: Tracking software under development for vaccine distribution: https://www.wsj.com/articles/palantir-to-help-u-s-track-covid-19-vaccines-11603367276 .
The virus tracks Trump: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2020/10/22/trumps-campaign-made-stops-nationwide-then-coronavirus-cases-surged/3679534001/ .
WSJ: Politics enters Brazil’s vaccine purchase: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccine-race-sparks-political-fight-in-brazil-11603364415 .
WSJ: Another vaccine side-effect: accounting headaches: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccine-makers-to-face-challenges-when-recognizing-revenue-11603359000 .
WSJ: Updated vaccine tracker: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccines-whats-coming-and-when-11598882964 .
WSJ: Remdesivir approved by FDA: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-drug-remdesivir-fully-approved-by-fda-11603404546 . Remember that WHO-backed studies have shown no benefit to patients from remdesivir.
WSJ: More on FDA outside advisory panel: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fda-promises-strong-safety-standards-for-covid-19-vaccines-as-it-convenes-advisory-panel-11603391080 .
Transmission patterns tracked by virus mutations: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-10-coronavirus-mutations-early-safety-restrictions.html .
Texas hits new highs in cases and hospitalizations: https://www.ft.com/content/48ea64f3-c308-3f61-b84e-980b15c862d4 . So suppose (as reported) that Democrats are voting heavily early and Republicans plan to vote heavily on Election Day. The burgeoning COVID-19 surge may end up favoring Democrats. Election Day could cause even larger surges.
WSJ: Wisconsin unintentionally tests herd immunity, with disastrous results: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/10/21/la-crosse-wisconsin-covid-outbreak-nursing-home-deaths/
Fall return to college has led to COVID-19 surge: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/20/us-colleges-students-coronavirus-cases . This newsletter has previously reported that the surrounding communities also saw surges when colleges reopened.
WSJ: Telemedicine grows in China: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-gives-boost-to-chinas-telemedicine-industry-11603379296 .
WSJ: Israel’s ultraorthodox community defies public health guidelines: https://www.wsj.com/articles/israel-confronts-revolt-as-ultraorthodox-defy-covid-public-health-rules-11603369369 .
WSJ: Global round-up: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-latest-updates-102220-11603356143 .
Europe in growing second wave: https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-europe-cases/europe-daily-coronavirus-cases-double-in-10-days-reports-200000-daily-cases-for-the-first-time-idUSL4N2HD4WI . This is not a good sign for the world.
Here is the JP Morgan take on the European surge: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/22/coronavirus-second-wave-europe-is-affected-differently-heres-why.html .
My longstanding position has been that there is no evidence that the virus is seasonal. The European situation may change that view. It may well be that changes in behavior – namely, more time indoors, in-person college classes, and pandemic fatigue – are driving the current surges. It is not just a matter of waiting until next fall to know. If broad vaccination is completed by the third quarter of next year, results from year to year will not be comparable. So the jury may be out on seasonality for some time to come.
Here is The Atlantic’s take on the US surge: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/10/coronavirus-election-day-surge/616822/ .
WSJ: Coronavirus front and center at Presidential debate: https://www.wsj.com/articles/final-trump-biden-debate-marks-start-of-sprint-to-election-11603386976 . AP fact check: https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-ap-fact-check-joe-biden-donald-trump-virus-outbreak-4d304cf7ce7dee9c228f48bd9b76e8f7 . So (a) you know how this is going to turn out; (b) the fact checks are not that well written; but (c) I lack the motivation to correct the checkers. Let’s just say that many of the Trump lies are from his campaign speeches. They have been debunked over and over. He does not care.
The Brits weigh in: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/22/trump-biden-final-presidential-debate-election .
UN leader frustrated G20 countries did not coordinate on a global COVID-19 response: https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-summits-antonio-guterres-g-20-summit-united-nations-460e24cf3dfbee8fad764d2a5aa8b243 . This of course is tough when Trump won’t coordinate a response within the US.
WSJ: Walmart sues US, attempting to avoid opioid charges: https://www.wsj.com/articles/walmart-files-pre-emptive-lawsuit-against-federal-government-in-opioid-case-11603401216 .
WSJ: Weekly jobless claims fall to 787,000: https://www.wsj.com/articles/weekly-jobless-claims-coronavirus-10-22-2020-11603317268 . Note that a part of the decline is the increasing numbers of long-term unemployed, who have exhausted benefit eligibility.
WSJ: Why is housing booming?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/housing-boom-may-not-outlast-covid-crisis-11603379141 .
WSJ: US Mail service deteriorates: https://www.wsj.com/articles/mail-service-deteriorated-after-postmaster-general-louis-dejoys-arrival-watchdog-found-11603384937 .
WSJ: US pandemic buying patterns: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pandemic-buying-patterns-drive-unilever-sales-in-north-america-11603364415 .
WSJ: Municipal bond insurance: https://www.wsj.com/articles/bond-insurance-returns-to-the-muni-market-in-a-big-way-11603359014 .
WSJ: Supply chain finance programs under accounting scrutiny: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fasb-to-explore-greater-disclosure-of-supply-chain-financing-11603361147 .
WSJ: Blue collar remote work: telepresence: https://www.wsj.com/articles/remote-work-isnt-just-for-white-collar-jobs-anymore-11603371826 .
WSJ: Competitors have additional issues with Google: https://www.wsj.com/articles/googles-foes-want-additional-enforcement-actions-11603368002 .
WSJ: Will Google suit help Bing?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/googles-antitrust-woes-seen-helping-microsofts-bing-11603378502 . But Bing sucks …
WSJ: TikTok deal awaits ban ruling: https://www.wsj.com/articles/tiktok-deal-makers-await-court-ruling-on-u-s-ban-11603359016 .
WSJ: Green energy advances in China: https://www.wsj.com/articles/carbon-pledge-lifts-wind-and-solar-stocks-in-china-11603359015 .
WSJ: Biden prepares for bumpy transition: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-team-prepares-for-potentially-bumpy-transition-11603359002 . One can hope that many of Trump’s underlings will no longer listen to him once the power shift comes to their doorstep. It’s really helpful that Biden and many of his advisers have been here before.
WSJ: Hopes again fade for a stimulus package before November 3: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-stimulus-vote-could-come-after-election-day-negotiators-say-11603307413 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/negotiators-defend-continuing-talks-on-coronavirus-aid-deal-11603403198 .
Early voting statistics: As of 9 pm EDT on 10/22, 49.3 million votes had been cast, 34.9 million by mail and 14.4 million in person: https://electproject.github.io/Early-Vote-2020G/index.html . Where party affiliations are disclosed, Democrats have outvoted Republicans almost 2 to 1 (11.4 million to 5.9 million). WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/mail-balloting-is-fueling-historic-early-voting-in-the-2020-election-11602591220 .
WSJ: The battle for Saints fans: https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-the-new-orleans-mayor-went-to-battle-over-fans-at-nfl-games-11603368015 .