Hospitalizations skyrocket for children under 5: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-health-pandemics-rochelle-walensky-0f9d46ab55b0f2f6951ffddd6ca8a511 . CDC reports other bad news for children, as described in the link. Children who develop MIS-C do not need ventilators if they were fully vaccinated at least 28 days before catching COVID. Sadly, 40% of the other children end up on ventilators. Also, children who contract COVID are twice as likely to develop diabetes as children who don’t contract COVID. The fear is that COVID attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Again, COVID in children should not be dismissed as a mild disease.
Status of federal distribution of COVID tests: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-lifestyle-health-fef3e8828717b613a61e795cfb315fb3 . As we are two years in, Omicron or not, it is understandable why people are frustrated with lack of access to testing. More: https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/08/health/us-coronavirus-saturday/index.html . Still more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-administration-issues-first-contract-home-covid-test-delivery-n1287189 .
Pop-up COVID testing sites risky: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/pop-covid-testing-sites-may-be-rife-identity-theft-experts-n1287144 . Because of our lack of adequate testing, people are desperate for results. Fraudsters have stepped in with everything from fake tests to identity theft. It is shocking that state regulators and police have not licensed sites and cracked down on the unlicensed fraudsters.
Omicron not mild for hospitals: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2022/01/omicron-mild-hospital-strain-health-care-workers/621193/ .
WSJ: Hey, we’re catching up on the latest Omicron research: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-omicron-studies-help-explain-why-the-variant-is-mild-but-spreads-fast-11641637803 .
WSJ: US hospitalizations near record levels: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-cases-reach-records-in-u-s-11641661595 . Part of this reflects persons admitted to the hospitals for other reasons who then test positive for COVID.
Hawaii reports more COVID cases in first week of January than in all of December: https://www.khon2.com/coronavirus/hawaii-reports-more-covid-cases-in-first-week-of-2022-than-in-december-2021/ . Uh-oh.
Cyprus identifies new variant combining Delta and Omicron characteristics: https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisakim/2022/01/08/scientists-identify-coronavirus-strain-in-cyprus-that-blends-delta-and-omicron/?sh=3eee32ec2a59 . Uh-oh.
UK passes 150,000 COVID deaths: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-59925446 . This link also covers how rapid testing has changed the course of the pandemic in the UK. I just cannot understand why the US did not implement this critical piece of the pandemic puzzle earlier.
WSJ: Omicron threatens India’s hospitals: https://www.wsj.com/articles/omicron-fuels-fresh-surge-threatening-indias-hospitals-anew-11641649808 .
Mexico receives 2.7 million vaccine doses in donation from Moderna: https://thehill.com/policy/international/americas/588891-moderna-donates-27-million-vaccine-doses-to-mexico-as-covid .
Can Viagra cure COVID?: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2022/01/08/nurse-says-viagra-saved-her-from-severe-covid-19-coronavirus-infection/?sh=663cb70ab164 . Before you get your hopes (or anything else) up, the source is Tucker Carlson. However, the punster who wrote this article has a lot of fun with the topic. I can assure you that this is the only link in our entire News Archive with the following mathematical insight: “Now, 20 isn’t a big number unless you are talking about the number of ferrets in your pants.”
The health risks of daily alcohol consumption: https://www.eatthis.com/alcohol-side-effects-mayo-clinic/ . This should sober you up.
The “climatarian” diet: https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/climatarian-diet-foods-eat-minimize-191509406.html . While new to me, this concept has a rather compelling basis. The idea is to consume and support foods that are produced with a minimal carbon footprint.
Rock wall collapse kills at least 7 tourists in Brazil: https://www.firstpost.com/world/brazil-at-least-seven-dead-three-missing-and-over-30-hurt-after-cliff-collapses-onto-boats-carrying-tourists-10269511.html . This horrific accident was apparently completely unanticipated.
WSJ: Is there a power struggle amid Kazakhstan unrest?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/mystery-surrounds-absence-of-kazakhstans-longtime-leader-as-protesters-challenge-state-he-built-11641639722 . Maybe so, but if the new guy is trying to take control with shoot-on-sight orders, he is not going to win any popularity contests.
WSJ: Webb telescope completes riskiest deployment phase: https://www.wsj.com/articles/webb-space-telescope-wraps-up-risky-deployment-but-faces-more-hurdles-11641666407 . If things continue to go well, NASA should release the first pictures from Webb in June.
New Pentagon UFO project worries some ufologists: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/pentagons-new-ufo-office-worries-some-ufologists/ar-AASzWVS?li=BBnb7Kz . Actually, I feel good about this article. I first thought it worried urologists, because the Pentagon is pissing away this money.
WSJ: Rare British car is probably one-of-a-kind in the US: https://www.wsj.com/articles/his-vintage-british-rocket-ship-is-a-rare-find-in-the-u-s-11641654002 . So this guy spends $26,000 on this car and ends up in the Journal, which publicizes his company, The Chocolatier. This is a brilliant result compared to the next story …
Sponsor sues to avoid Jacksonville Jaguars’ “Clown Game”: https://apnews.com/article/nfl-sports-business-florida-jacksonville-jaguars-1e71027ef973e16c4373e13e62147421 . The roof has fallen in on the Jaguars, and their stadium doesn’t have a roof.