WSJ: A summary history of US virus spread: https://www.wsj.com/graphics/when-did-covid-hit-earliest-death/ . Another in the WSJ series, “The COVID Storm”, this is a sharp graphic presentation. Some aspects of the history seem flawed, however. Here are three examples:
(1) The virus has mutated, and the mutation with the more stable spike is now the dominant form. This variety likely came to the US via Europe (see article’s February 3 comment). Thus spread issues are complicated by which form of the virus we are focused on.
(2) The January 25 comment about new infections of 10 per day reflects an underlying tone in the article that spread growth is linear, when it is of course exponential.
(3) The article’s central question is, How did the virus spread for months in the US before we knew? The answer given is lack of testing (see comment following February 29 comment).
A more accurate picture is, the virus first entered the US from China. There was community spread in the West, particularly Washington and California. The original test CDC distributed was flawed, and we lost time while CDC obtained and distributed an effective test. Meanwhile, the mutated virus entered the Eastern US. This resulted in significant mortality on the Eastern seaboard from DC to Massachusetts. Doctors’ treatment improvements significantly reduced the mortality rate, in record time. Everything else about the US response has been an abject failure.
We are yet to master testing. Inaccurate tests were distributed (not just by CDC, but by inappropriate FDA approvals). We have yet to provide enough tests to adequately test the population. For months we could not turn tests around rapidly enough for the results to be useful. We have also failed with adequate antibody testing. We thus lost the ability to understand the disease’s initial spread pattern or current immunity levels. We have repeatedly suffered from lack of a national plan to combat the disease, political manipulation and suppression of data, and too-rapid reopening.
In 1999, I visited two local high schools to determine where to send my eldest child. A science teacher at our neighborhood school recounted a weekend project where they had students stay at the high school for the weekend. They ran a CDC project where a contagious disease had appeared in a city and the children were to decide how to control it.
The kids quickly decided to confine everyone to their houses, have food deliveries to all homes, and have the police patrol to enforce the quarantine. They arranged ambulance services and so on. The kids had better results than anyone in the US, including the professionals, at saving lives and extinguishing the outbreak. The children were invited to the CDC in Atlanta. At the end of their presentation they received a standing ovation.
Regeneron monoclonal antibody therapeutic developed from aborted fetal tissue: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/regeneron-trump-covid-cure-aborted-fetal-tissue/ .
WSJ: Convalescent plasma treatment studied: https://www.wsj.com/articles/takeda-other-firms-test-covid-19-convalescent-plasma-treatment-11602188172 .
Study says evidence clear: Hydroxychloroquine of no use in COVID-19 treatment: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/evidence-clear-hydroxychloroquine-doesn-t-help-covid-19-patients-n1242652 .
Dr. Fauci defends FDA on vaccine protocol: https://www.newsweek.com/dr-fauci-defends-fda-officials-amid-trumps-claim-political-hit-job-1537617 .
WSJ: Vaccine trial volunteers step up: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccine-trial-volunteers-look-to-make-a-difference-11602162001 .
WSJ: Moderna won’t enforce COVID-19 patents during pandemic: https://www.wsj.com/articles/moderna-vows-to-not-enforce-covid-19-vaccine-patents-during-pandemic-11602154805 .
Update on yesterday’s NEJM editorial blasting Trump: It’s the first time in 208 years the publication has taken a political position. It’s also the first editorial signed by all of the editors, who are all doctors: https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/new-england-journal-medicine-us-failed-covid-response-47863787 .
WSJ: Battelle warned by FDA: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fda-warns-mask-cleaner-battelle-over-inadequate-reporting-11602190294 .
COVID-19 rising in 39 states: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/10/07/united-states-coronavirus-cases-nine-states-records/5906943002/ .
Head of White House security gravely ill with COVID-19: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/10/07/white-house-security-official-crede-bailey-gravely-ill-covid-19/5918371002/ .
White House hot spot may have endangered thousands: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2020/10/07/officials-exposed-went-attend-rallies-debates-and-fundraisers/5907663002/ .
WSJ: Doctor says Trump likely allowed to hold public events Saturday: https://www.wsj.com/articles/white-house-doctor-says-trump-has-completed-therapy-for-covid-19-infection-11602199449 .
Nearly 1/3 of COVID-19 patients develop brain issues: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/10/06/covid-hospitalized-patients-prone-brain-malfunction-study-finds/5904177002/ .
Concerns raised about Trump’s health and judgment: https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/09/politics/donald-trump-health-coronavirus-election-2020/index.html . More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/president-trump-coughs-during-his-call-in-interview-on-hannity-but-says-hes-feeling-really-good/ar-BB19QbAH?li=BBnb7Kz .
Trump pulls out of next presidential debate: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/08/trump-debate-boycott-428039 . WSJ missed the point of the plexiglass panels, Politico did not. Facts matter to most of us, appearances matter to Trump.
Trump now wants broad relief package: https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/08/politics/stimulus-negotiations-latest-trump-reversal/index.html . It would have been helpful to figure this out in May. WSJ: stimulus status: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pelosi-and-mnuchin-to-discuss-coronavirus-aid-for-airlines-11602165440 .
WSJ: Weekly unemployment claims remain above 800,000: https://www.wsj.com/articles/weekly-jobless-claims-coronavirus-10-08-2020-11602098873 .
WSJ: US jobs may not return until 2023: https://www.wsj.com/articles/wsj-survey-43-of-economists-dont-see-u-s-gaining-back-lost-jobs-until-2023-11602165600 .
WSJ: WarnerMedia plans job cuts: https://www.wsj.com/articles/warnermedia-plans-thousands-of-job-cuts-in-restructuring-11602182057 . 20% of 30,000 would be 6,000 jobs lost.
WSJ: IBM proposes spinoff: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ibms-red-hat-deal-laid-foundation-for-split-of-company-into-two-pieces-11602197716 .
WSJ: HCA to return federal help: https://www.wsj.com/articles/hca-healthcare-plans-return-of-6-billion-in-pandemic-relief-loans-11602201008 .
Plot to kidnap Michigan governor: Trump foments treason: https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/this-is-a-system-blinking-red-moment-attorneys-blame-plot-to-kidnap-gov-whitmer-on-trumps-rhetoric/ . Can you believe the preceding words are in a news sentence? How nuts is the far right?
Law enforcement preps for election violence: https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-race-and-ethnicity-donald-trump-violence-voting-rights-fea17face39f812c06c813c20bf493a8 . I’m looking forward to reducing political items in the newsletter, hopefully soon after November 3. Unfortunately, treatment of the pandemic depends on politics right now. Also, voting in person will be a massive COVID-19 exposure.
WSJ: Cybersecurity risks rise during pandemic: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-elevates-compliance-risks-for-most-companies-11602149400 . WSJ: More compliance issues: https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-two-compliance-officers-tackled-risks-arising-from-the-coronavirus-pandemic-11602204610 .
WSJ: Delta heads for delta: https://www.wsj.com/articles/weakened-hurricane-delta-hits-mexicos-caribbean-coast-11602070783 . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/hurricane-delta-strengthens-to-category-2-as-it-eyes-louisiana-coast-11602168865 . Delta is now a Category 3 storm.
WSJ: More swamp news: https://www.wsj.com/articles/republican-fundraiser-expected-to-plead-guilty-to-violating-foreign-lobbying-law-sources-say-11602185672 .
WSJ film review: Totally Under Control: https://www.wsj.com/articles/totally-under-control-review-flunking-the-covid-test-11602188949 .