Moderna says RSV vaccine effective: https://www.wsj.com/articles/modernas-rsv-vaccine-reduces-risk-of-respiratory-diseases-study-finds-11673986424 . We are not just in an arms race between COVID vaccines and variants, but between vaccines and respiratory viruses in general.
China COVID data reporting: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/01/12/china-covid-cases-deaths/?utm_campaign=wp_to_your_health&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_tyh . China’s data reporting has progressed since this article 5 days ago. However, the article does provide some insight into the government structure behind the reporting. You will note that the overall government reporting figures are (ridiculously) lower than the sum of case reports from just a few provinces. Clearly, the process behind the national reporting is not to add up the provincial reports.
In other words, the national government is just making the data up. Also note that they say the existing surge is over and they are now preparing for a coming rural surge. This makes no sense unless the definition is, Once the peak is passed, the underlying wave is over. Again, this is ridiculous. A more reasonable explanation is, We’ve decided to move past the pandemic stage of COVID by unleashing the disease against whatever natural immunity there is.
As China has a rapidly aging population, and COVID mortality is heavily age-related, this has the additional economic “benefit” of “rebalancing” the population. However, it hastens the downward trend of the already declining population. This will place additional pressure on the already overbuilt real estate sector.
China plays games with COVID death reporting: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2023-01-17/in-china-doctors-say-they-are-discouraged-from-citing-covid-on-death-certificates .
China expects economic growth to return to “normal”: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-declares-its-reopening-after-covid-isolation-11673961652 . That may be true someday. But that day won’t come in 2023. WSJ: Economists don’t think so: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-economy-faces-deeper-problems-than-its-slowing-growth-11673963577 . The Journal article contains very little information. However, note that the economists are very short on specifics for their point of view. Here are a couple: (1) Chinese workers have lost hours because of lockdowns; they will replace the savings they have lost in this period by controlling consumption; (2) the property sector has driven a significant portion of China’s GDP, and as we have reported, China is now overbuilt and property prices are falling.
Europe’s excess death data: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2023-01-17/eus-nov-2022-excess-deaths-drop-sharply-from-2020-21-peaks-data . This suggests proper reporting of COVID deaths.
Airplane mask mandate returns to federal court: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2023-01-17/u-s-asks-court-to-reverse-order-banning-airplane-mask-mandate-to-combat-covid .
Russia’s mistaken war: In The Economist newsletter this week, the editor makes the interesting assertion that the war is also a failure of Russian intelligence, because they badly misled the Kremlin about the ease of taking Kyiv and Ukraine. That is possibly true, although Putin may have been intent on rebuilding the Russian empire, and the spies just fed this narrative. Also, neither the US nor the Russians expected the pathetic invasion supply line errors made by the Russians. This of course led to a stalled tank column on the road to Kyiv which the Ukrainians were able to pick apart.
More interesting to me is the release of very accurate US intelligence leading up to the war. We almost never do that. This had to reflect near-certainty of the coming invasion within US intelligence, and an attempt to stop it through the information release. At the least, the information release embarrassed Russia and prepared the European (and American) public for the coming invasion.
Possible rapid endings to the war in Ukraine: https://thehill.com/opinion/international/3816271-how-the-war-in-ukraine-could-end-sooner-than-expected/ . The most likely scenario involves Putin’s health failing. However, one way or another, I do think this war will end in 2023, and with a Ukrainian victory.
TSA sets record for firearms found in bags: https://www.wsj.com/articles/tsa-finds-record-number-of-firearms-in-carry-on-bags-11673984808 . Apparently, the US has also set a record for the number of imbeciles attempting air travel.
The Chrisleys report to prison: https://www.yahoo.com/news/todd-julie-chrisley-report-prison-154838007.html . I consider myself a sympathetic and empathetic person. These two disgust me. Yes, Todd, God has a plan for you. It’s the same one the jury has – you’re guilty and sentenced to 12 years in prison. So far you’ve failed to take responsibility for your crimes. Shut up and do your time.
Hi. We’re the Wyoming GOP. Is it too late to enter the Idiot Olympics?: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3815311-wyoming-lawmakers-propose-ban-on-electric-vehicle-sales/ . Not at all. And your entry impresses. Apparently, when every talented young person who can drive a car flees the state, this is what you’re left with.