Latest US COVID surge status: https://news.yahoo.com/a-new-covid-wave-or-nothing-to-worry-about-the-best-and-worst-case-scenarios-for-what-comes-next-191458520.html . It’s not surprising that the media is throwing up its collective hands on what is happening in the pandemic. As we have noted, massive underreporting of cases right now occurs because of (a) asymptomatic or mild cases; and (b) non-reporting of at-home test results. Cases are indeed a wave, with the range of daily cases between 250,000 and 500,000.
Hospitalizations, however, remain relatively low. In part, this is because hospitalizations lag cases. Other possible contributing factors are (a) the latest Omicron are milder in terms of severe disease than prior variants; and/or (b) between vaccinations and prior infections, American immune systems have been sufficiently primed that catching COVID typically results in less severe disease.
US COVID deaths for 2021: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2022-04-22/cdc-report-covid-19-was-third-leading-cause-of-death-in-2021 . Most of this information has been reported here earlier, but not in one place.
More on children’s hepatitis outbreak: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2022-04-22/explainer-scientists-investigate-hepatitis-outbreak-in-children-in-europe-us .
Paxlovid availability grows in US: https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-business-health-medication-fa6cd0dcc9dec4d1076b14a521e9a6e5 . Note that the drug remains restricted to those at high risk for severe disease.
Some US airlines will consider refunds after dropping mask mandates: https://apnews.com/article/covid-business-health-florida-airlines-f69eab867f0468d15158d83d500c995b .
Shanghai COVID outbreak continues: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/shanghai-reports-12-new-covid-deaths-as-frustrations-boil-over/ar-AAWuK4V?li=BBnb7Kz . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/shanghai-to-continue-strict-covid-19-measures-despite-drop-in-cases-11650630510 . Wait, they’re going to treat COVID with traditional Chinese medicines? Have the Chinese lost their minds?
COVID rates rising in Taiwan: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-04-22/taiwan-wont-go-into-shanghai-like-lockdown-despite-rising-covid-cases-premier-says .
Stocks drop on interest rate worries: https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/22/investing/dow-stock-market-today/index.html . This does seem overblown. The market has already priced in 7 quarter-point increases – that’s 1.75%. The Fed has fallen behind in managing the economy, and wants to achieve neutral rates more quickly. That strikes me as reasonable and not a cause for panic.
Why is Russia failing in Ukraine?: https://www.thedailybeast.com/putin-learned-nothing-for-ukraine-from-his-war-in-syria . Not only does this article make a convincing case, it identifies problems Russia will be unable to solve quickly.
The new US Phoenix “ghost drone” to start shipping to Ukraine: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/how-phoenix-ghost-drones-will-help-ukraine-deliver-punch-to-russian-army/ar-AAWtM6H?li=BBnb7Kz . The Ukrainians use their existing drones very effectively. This new weapon could be bad news for Russian tanks. More: https://fortune.com/2022/04/22/phoenix-ghost-drone-us-russia-ukraine-war/ . This article tells us that we have the drones “on the shelf”, so deployment should occur very soon.
There has been considerable discussion that the “plains” nature of eastern Ukraine will make it easier for tank warfare. True, but being out in the open is not a desirable position against kamikaze drones. Yes, in eastern Ukraine resupply becomes easier for the Russians and harder for Ukraine, but Russia cannot match the volume of US and NATO materiel coming into Ukraine in either quantity or quality. And supposedly other Western countries are giving Ukraine fighter jets, which is an essential piece of the new open area warfare.
Ukrainians flag problems with Chinese drones: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-sounds-alarm-on-chinese-drones-opening-skies-to-u-s-startups-11650619800 . US drone makers now have the chance to make their names in Ukraine.
The truth about the sinking of the Moskva is seeping out in Russia: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-black-sea-b094f31b0bc9f3286447ec27db7cd952 . Gee, why would morale be low in Russia’s armed forces? Is it because, after sending their young men into a meat grinder, even to their families receive dishonest reporting of their sacrifices? This strikes me as the most basic of war crimes a country can commit against its own citizens.
Hypocrisy pandemic in the GOP scorches Kevin McCarthy as tapes prove he’s lying to everyone: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/new-audio-mccarthy-said-trump-acknowledged-some-responsibility-for-jan-6/ar-AAWupaM?li=BBnb7Kz .
Mark Meadows, citizen of the South, simultaneously registered to vote in 3 states: https://apnews.com/article/elections-donald-trump-presidential-north-carolina-virginia-f1948a02309e59756a6c7c0bee18c1fe . This fool, as OJ’s chief of staff, was a leader of the voter fraud conspiracy theory, and a central player in the January 6 insurrection. Seriously, what is wrong with GOP leaders as people? It is a complete barrel of rotten apples.
UPDATE: Even more trouble for Meadows: https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-steve-bannon-donald-trump-mark-meadows-congress-1c77eda3332af497c866bab774d26fad . Meadows received advance warning of the potential for violence on January 6.
Marjorie Taylor Greene tries to lie her way out of trouble: https://news.yahoo.com/marjorie-taylor-greene-confronted-with-past-statements-regarding-violence-in-court-hearing-210711117.html . The problem for this loser is that the quotes she was asked about are documented by video clips or her tweets. Generally speaking, trying to evade the evidence is irritating to every judge. However, for all we know, this judge is a supporter of the Big Lie, so these smaller ones may not offend him. WSJ: Even we admit “I don’t remember” is piss-poor testimony: https://www.wsj.com/articles/rep-marjorie-taylor-greene-to-testify-in-lawsuit-seeking-to-bar-her-from-re-election-11650629281 .
Her lawyer’s argument seems ridiculous on its face, because Section 3 of the 14th Amendment says “aid or comfort”. The question is what “aid” means in this context. Powerful encouragement strikes me as “aid”.
Holocaust art litigation continues: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/21/supreme-court-rules-in-case-of-french-painting-nazi-spanish-museum.html . The art collection involved here is a famous one, originally housed in Lugano, Switzerland at Villa Favorita. When the Baron was denied permission to expand the villa to display his entire collection, he held an international competition to relocate, ultimately settling on the Prado in Madrid: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyssen-Bornemisza_Museum .
Many years ago, I saw the collection at Villa Favorita, and it was overwhelming – 370 paintings from old masters crammed into one house, each a greater masterpiece than the next. It was certainly among the top 5 collections in Europe at that time (and the top private collection): https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/15/travel/correspondent-s-choice-favorita-a-wealth-of-art-in-lungano.html . Obviously, many more could not be displayed due to space limitations. As you can see from the preceding link, the collection has been considerably expanded from the Baron’s holdings.