Modeling analysis supports increased transmissibility of variant strain: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/12/24/950144667/how-worried-should-we-be-about-the-new-u-k-coronavirus-variant .
WSJ: US to require negative COVID test for travel from UK: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-to-require-negative-coronavirus-tests-for-airline-passengers-from-u-k-11608874724 .
Yet another variant strain emerges, this time in Nigeria: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-africa/another-new-coronavirus-variant-found-in-nigeria-says-africa-cdc-idUSKBN28Y1B7 . My worst fears are being realized about increasing mutations from the increasing global viral load. The Nigerians indicate that this variant strain has a different lineage than the UK or South African variants. The conservative dimwits who object to the US providing vaccines to other countries need to get a clue.
Research suspicion that long-haul cases, certain therapies may have led to variant strains: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/12/why-new-coronavirus-variants-suddenly-arose-in-uk-and-south-africa/ . More, with a suggested counterattack: https://www.wired.com/story/heres-a-plan-to-stop-the-coronavirus-from-mutating/ . Immunocompromised people are already near the top of the list. Also, some immunocompromised patients would not be candidates for the vaccine. However, given the current speed at which variant strains are appearing, this is worthy of some consideration.
WSJ: COVID vaccines benefitted from HIV research: https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-hiv-research-laid-the-foundation-for-covid-vaccines-11608821508 .
Black doctor dies after questionable hospital treatment for COVID-19: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/12/24/susan-moore-black-doctor-covid-victim-alleges-racism-carmel-hospital/4041257001/ . This is really tragic, and deserves investigation.
Antibody protection, US round-up: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/12/24/covid-news-cdc-projects-420-k-deaths-january-california-vaccine/4032069001/ .
“Clinical disaster” at nursing homes: https://money.yahoo.com/coronavirus-nursing-homes-deaths-business-nightmare-180741940.html . This truly is an ongoing nightmare. Right now, this industry can best be described as DeSantis’ Florida – God’s waiting room – which is hell on earth for the elderly. We are doing the exact opposite of “Honor thy father and mother”. This “industry” needs a complete overhaul, and I do not see how that can even be approached without federal financial help.
Some have advanced the argument during this pandemic that the loss of life among the elderly is not the worst thing that could happen because they have short future lifetimes. In other words, economically they have less average utility value than the young. As actuaries, we certain understand the mathematical and economic underpinnings of this argument. But morally this is an utterly reprehensible position. Our response to this situation is in my view a central test of who each of us is personally, professionally, and as members of society. It is a basic test of civilization.
Fauci slips off the track: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa/fauci-says-herd-immunity-could-require-nearly-90-to-get-coronavirus-vaccine-idUSKBN28Y1SE . The reasoning here seems to be political rather than scientific. My view that herd immunity now needs 85% vaccination is based on the increased transmissibility of the new strains. In any event, the American population seems to have exactly no grasp of how central vaccines have been to improving the human condition. In my view, vaccination is a social duty to be avoided only in those rare circumstances where there is a medical issue making vaccination highly risky.
WSJ: Are schools over-quarantined?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-surge-schools-reopen-rethink-quarantines-11608247643 . No. The pandemic is currently at record highs in the US. And preliminary research indicates the new strains are highly infectious in children.
COVID-triggered fungal infection has mortality rate near 50%: https://nypost.com/2020/12/24/deadly-coronavirus-triggered-fungal-infection-reported-in-india/ .
Truckers finally depart Dover: https://apnews.com/article/business-coronavirus-pandemic-france-073118f84a979804773f38382e9be3a0 . Um, if I were in France, I would not be eating English seafood for the next 10 days …
Coronavirus aid at risk: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump/lawmakers-block-trumps-requested-changes-on-coronavirus-bill-idUSKBN28Y12O?il=0 .
8 job categories hit hard by the pandemic: https://www.aarp.org/work/job-search/info-2020/job-losses-during-covid.html .
A primer on quantum computing: https://www.lawtechnologytoday.org/2020/12/what-is-quantum-computing-and-how-is-it-disrupting-law-firms/ . At some point AI will race ahead exponentially. At that point, the economic value of human intellectual contribution will be concentrated on one’s ability to “think outside the box”.
WSJ: The market is overpriced: https://www.wsj.com/articles/post-pandemic-future-may-not-match-investor-fantasies-11608825569 . I certainly concur that based on historical norms, current market pricing is in “fantasy” territory. The big question mark is whether the Fed will continue to act to support current valuations.
WSJ: Georgia runoff fundraising: https://www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-dominate-fundraising-in-georgia-senate-runoffs-11608868348 . Wow, what a ton of money on both sides.
“Confused” Trump met with Pence: https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/24/politics/trump-pence-electoral-college/index.html . Is anyone surprised? And: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9086733/Trump-rages-Republican-senators-refusing-overturn-election.html . I’m thinking the best moment in the campaign was when that fly set up shop on Pence’s head: https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g7388 . House flies are attracted by 4 things. Remarkably, Pence is all of them.
Dominion casts a wider net: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9086747/Dominion-sends-letters-threatening-defamation-lawsuits-pro-Trump-media-figures.html .
The post-Trump era begins to roll: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump/lawmakers-block-trumps-requested-changes-on-coronavirus-bill-idUSKBN28Y12O?il=0 . Congressional Republicans are taking their first baby steps away from Orange Crush. Someday soon they’ll be running.
Meanwhile, taxpayers shell out $151 million for Donnie to golf: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-151-million-golf_n_5fe3bc61c5b6e1ce83383074 . He’s spent 300 days – nearly a year of his presidency – on the course. This works out to 379 years of presidential salary. 1776 to 2020 is 244 years. This suggests that Donnie the Menace has cost us more than all former presidents combined in terms of personal activity. And a significant percentage of this money has been spent on his property and thus has gone into his pocket.
FINALLY, a Brexit deal: https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/uk_leaves_the_eu . The worst parts of this pure insanity have now been avoided. Exactly what is in the deal is not known yet. Between Brexit and the US relief/stimulus maybe-deal, government transparency is at an historically low ebb. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/brexit-uk-eu-deal-11605820920 . Still more: Clarity but not closure: https://www.wsj.com/articles/brexit-deal-brings-clarity-but-not-closure-11608826308 . And: https://www.wsj.com/articles/britain-eu-prepare-borders-for-life-after-brexit-11608828213 . And: https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-does-the-brexit-deal-mean-for-financial-services-11608834027 . UK professional recognition in EU countries ceases: https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-the-brexit-deal-alters-relations-between-the-u-k-and-european-union-11608836744 . And: https://www.wsj.com/articles/brexit-trade-deal-is-reached-between-u-k-european-union-11608821558 .
Oregon may be a blue state, but we still have COVID nuts: https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2020/12/oregon-senator-rips-off-mask-tears-into-democratic-leadership-over-coronavirus-protections.html . We’ve also had a stalled legislature twice when the Republican minority goes into hiding to prevent a quorum.
Science to the rescue: Rudolph is a girl: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/wildlife/6487154/Rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer-is-a-female.html . For heaven’s sake, not even reindeer name their daughter Rudolph. That would be like naming your son Newt, or Tucker. Which reminds me, Johnny Cash’s hit, A Boy Named Sue, was written by … Shel Silverstein: https://theboot.com/country-songs-written-by-shel-silverstein/ .
My best wishes to each of you for an enjoyable holiday. I’ll be sticking with the daily updates throughout the season. Onward to 2021!