WSJ: US round-up: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-latest-news-08-14-2020-11597393551 . WSJ needs to reassess its data comments: the significant news in the US data is that 50,000 cases per day mean re-opening is not safe in many if not most areas. News on India, France, New Zealand and South Korea is in last few paragraphs.
Stem cell testing regarding COVID-19: https://www.startribune.com/university-of-minnesota-launches-stem-cell-trial-against-severe-covid-19/572105512/ . More: WSJ: OPINION: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-treatment-that-could-crush-covid-11597360709 . MSC’s hold promise. The Star Tribune’s reporting is objective; the WSJ piece is appropriately labeled opinion.
WSJ: McKesson tapped for vaccine distribution: https://www.wsj.com/articles/mckesson-tapped-to-distribute-coronavirus-vaccines-in-u-s-11597438018 .
WSJ: US COVID-19 vaccines to be delivered without co-pays: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccines-will-not-come-with-copays-u-s-health-official-says-11597360354 .
An important cataloguing of recent US public health missteps: https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/trumps-unprecedented-attacks-on-our-public-health-system .
Bill Gates on the US testing mess: https://www.bloombergquint.com/coronavirus-outbreak/bill-gates-says-u-s-virus-testing-has-mind-blowing-problems .
North Carolina testing overcount: https://apnews.com/effa8b0a1daa900d2ffc98ddff618880 .
Human vaccine challenge trials?: https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/14/health/coronavirus-vaccine-strain-us-scientists-bn/index.html . Human challenge trials are used only when there is a rescue therapy available, which there isn’t for COVID-19. There are powerful ethical considerations here (first, do no harm), well understood but mentioned only briefly at the article.
More on drug overdoses during the pandemic: https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2020/8/13/21352838/drug-overdoses-coronavirus-covid-pandemic-opioid-epidemic .
WSJ: School re-openings around the country: https://www.wsj.com/articles/reopening-school-during-coronavirus-means-sneeze-guards-on-desks-and-digital-thermometers-at-the-door-11597397400 .
WSJ: NYC aims to have a nurse in every school: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-city-aims-to-have-nurses-in-every-public-school-as-part-of-reopening-11597343470 .
WSJ: School opening uncertainties in Florida: https://www.wsj.com/articles/are-florida-schools-reopening-during-coronavirus-parents-cant-tell-as-state-and-districts-fight-11597321293 . The governor is not inspiring confidence: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/florida-gov-ron-desantis-likens-reopening-schools-to-killing-osama-bin-laden-2020-08-13 .
Congress goes on summer recess without passing relief package: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/511896-senate-leaves-until-september-without-coronavirus-relief-deal . Blame who you choose, but the government is failing its essential duties right now. More: https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackfriedman/2020/08/13/stimulus-update-no-deal-package/#2400adaa7146 .
Jobless claims decline but remain at historic levels: https://apnews.com/d0dc7c4719667d1a7f69cc9b8ab204c9#:~:text=Applications%20for%20jobless%20benefits%20declined,week%2C%20the%20government%20said%20Thursday. . Note the comment that claims may have declined because of the expiration of the $600 benefit. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/unemployment-benefits-weekly-jobless-claims-coronavirus-08-13-2020-11597280120 . A less optimistic view: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-economy-reopen-idUSKCN2592C1 .
Q & partial A’s on the $400 weekly unemployment benefit: https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/400-unemployment-insurance-benefit-who-qualifies-and-when-does-it-start?src=usn_nl_coronavirus . The uncertainty feels heartless toward those who are struggling.
Louisiana accepts federal offer at $300 per week: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/louisiana/articles/2020-08-12/new-orleans-virus-rate-improves-as-online-classes-starting?src=usn_nl_coronavirus .
Despondent Americans: https://www.wsj.com/articles/amid-pandemic-more-u-s-adults-say-they-considered-suicide-11597362131 . Heartless.
WSJ: More on payroll tax confusion: https://www.wsj.com/articles/unemployment-benefits-weekly-jobless-claims-coronavirus-08-13-2020-11597280120 . So, you’re a small business owner laying awake nights trying to keep your business open. Do you want to worry about this, too?
WSJ: The mechanics of quick bankruptcy: https://www.wsj.com/articles/companies-lease-offices-in-new-york-suburb-to-pick-bankruptcy-judge-11597311001 . And the judge is … Judge Drain …
WSJ: Governments re-imposing travel restrictions in Europe: https://www.wsj.com/articles/rising-coronavirus-infections-restrict-european-holidaymakers-11597326586 .
WSJ: South Korea’s doctors strike: https://www.wsj.com/articles/south-koreas-coronavirus-response-under-pressure-as-doctors-plan-strike-11597316492 .
WSJ: China to supply vaccine to Pakistan: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinato-supply-coronavirus-vaccine-to-pakistan-11597337780 .
Japan’s special economic troubles: deferral of the Olympics: https://thediplomat.com/2020/06/after-the-virus-japans-painful-economic-recovery/ .
More bad news on climate: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/aug/12/hottest-decade-climate-crisis-2019 .
WSJ: More bad health news: Fatburger buys Johnny Rockets: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fatburger-owner-to-acquire-johnny-rockets-11597312801 . Can the acquisition of the Heart Attack Grill be far behind?: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_Attack_Grill .
The Post Office and vote-by-mail: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/usps-warns-46-states-cannot-guarantee-mail-in-ballots-will-arrive-in-time-for-election . And: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/13/trump-requests-mail-in-ballot-395164 .
The cart before the horse: https://www.npr.org/2020/08/13/901679755/one-tough-question-for-doj-if-biden-is-elected-whether-to-prosecute-trump . There is an obvious way out of this “situation” if Biden is elected. New York is chomping at the bit to pursue Trump for criminal tax evasion. If a state prosecution succeeds (a very good chance given Michael Cohen’s testimony), a conviction not only involves jail time but is beyond the president’s pardon powers (which relate to federal crimes).
And now for COVID-19 sports and entertainment news:
WSJ: Baseball: What is a season?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/three-weeks-into-the-pandemic-season-baseball-is-still-trying-to-define-the-word-season-11597320001 .
NCAA cancels fall sports championships: https://apnews.com/8c950d0df8ee1d28706f86b3067cc4b7 . Comments by Alabama’s Greg Byrne are interesting: At a residential college, it’s no problem to create a bubble, and students’ going to class doesn’t violate the bubble. The only reason to go off campus is a trip to the liquor store, and eliminating that … would pretty much terminate the college experience …
WSJ: Stir-crazy, or just plain crazy?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/stir-crazy-travelers-are-ordering-airline-food-to-relive-the-flying-experience-11597326805 . If airline food is enhancing your at-home experience, something is wrong.