US round-up: Cases decline nationally but trend upward in the Midwest: https://www.nationthailand.com/lifestyle/30393391 (article from the Washington Post). WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-latest-news-08-24-2020-11598258429 . Note that the brain transplants suggested for University of Alabama students (this newsletter for July 14) have not occurred. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-is-covid-19-convalescent-plasma-11598217668 .
While cases are dropping nationwide, schools and nursing homes are a problem: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/08/us-covid-19-cases-drop-schools-nursing-homes-still-problem .
Maine wedding reception for 65 linked to 53 cases, half of which occurred in non-attendees: https://www.businessinsider.com/a-wedding-reception-spread-coronavirus-to-53-people-killing-one-2020-8 .
Race is not a factor in hospital deaths when adjusted for co-morbidities and socio-economic conditions: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/08/study-finds-no-race-difference-covid-19-hospital-deaths . Here is the link to the study: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2769387 . The study is large (11,210 patients) but involves hospitals in only 12 states. There are 92 hospitals in the study; however, Wisconsin (18), Indiana (14), Michigan (13) and Texas (11) account for 56 of those hospitals (61%). There is thus a significant bias to the upper Midwest.
First case of COVID-19 re-infection is documented: https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/88234 .
Loneliness has leveled out: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/in-the-midst-of-the-pandemic-loneliness-has-leveled-out/ . Maybe – there is conflicting research, especially for kids and young adults. Interesting that it’s the UCLA Loneliness Scale …
Trump administration bypass of FDA for certain COVID-19 tests appears narrower than initial reports, although Congressional concern remains: https://washingtonsources.org/lifestyle/health/trump-administration-says-some-coronavirus-tests-can-bypass-f-d-a-scrutiny/34006/ (NY Times; link replaced 11/12/20). The narrowing looks quite similar to the approach suggested in the 8/21/20 newsletter.
WSJ: More on FDA approval of convalescent plasma: https://www.wsj.com/articles/is-an-employee-who-quits-because-of-health-concerns-eligible-for-unemployment-benefits-11598101200 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-is-covid-19-convalescent-plasma-11598217668 .
Business Insider reports Trump attempting to fast-track Oxford vaccine by bypassing US safety standards: https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-experimental-oxford-coronavirus-vaccine-before-us-election-2020-8 . An attempted October surprise reminiscent of Sputnik V.
WSJ: Lockdowns an overly blunt tool: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-lockdowns-economy-pandemic-recession-business-shutdown-sweden-coronavirus-11598281419 . This is a long article short on new information. Lockdowns have appropriate place; the central American failure has been the lack of any national co-ordination. The last paragraph is the most important: “In March, people didn’t realize the benefits of mask use,” said Dr. Ghaly, the state’s [California] secretary of health and human services. “The evidence on being outdoors rather than indoors is quite compelling.” Compared to April, “We know so much more.”
IRS projects major job decline from 2020 to 2021: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p6961.pdf . Table 1, on page 8, projects a decline in the number of W-2’s issued from 266.5 million in 2020 to 229.4 million in 2021, meaning 2019 work generated 37.185 million more W-2’s than will be generated by 2020 work, a decline of just under 14%. While many people work more than one job in a year, and students may have summer employment, any way you slice it this is a significant contraction of the American economy.
WSJ: US workers reluctant to take vacation days, employers worry: https://www.wsj.com/articles/companies-fret-as-vacation-days-go-unused-11598209200 .
WSJ: Unemployment benefits available to persons leaving a job because they are immune-compromised: https://www.wsj.com/articles/is-an-employee-who-quits-because-of-health-concerns-eligible-for-unemployment-benefits-11598101200 .
WSJ: No progress on postal funding: https://www.wsj.com/articles/few-signs-of-compromise-on-post-office-legislation-11598202315 .
The USPS was created as the successor to the Post Office in 1971. USPS employment peaked at 798,000 in 1999; in 2019, it was 497,000, a decrease of 38%. https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/employees-since-1926.pdf .
WSJ: GOP trying to boost mail vote: https://www.wsj.com/articles/gop-seeks-to-match-democrats-in-mail-in-vote-applications-amid-trump-criticism-11598101200 . Logic is pretty much out the window at this point.
CBS News: Majority of Republicans say level of COVID-19 deaths is “acceptable”: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/08/23/business/republican-voters-say-economy-is-good-approve-covid-19-response-according-cbs-poll/ . A majority of Republicans believe the reported deaths from COVID-19 are overstated. Here is the CBS story, showing the poll results in charts: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/republicans-economy-coronavirus-opinion-poll-cbs-news-battleground-tracker/ .
Federal judge blocks DeVos rule favoring private schools on pandemic relief: https://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2020/08/judge-devos-coronavirus-rule-injunction.html .
Florida judge blocks order to re-open schools, state appeals: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/judge-temporarily-blocks-florida-order-to-reopen-classrooms . The appeal puts the judge’s temporary injunction on hold.
Survey of older workers: They like working from home: https://www.aarp.org/work/working-at-50-plus/info-2020/teleworking-survey-results.html . Most of the 252 respondents work part-time for an insurance company.
Delta will furlough nearly 2,000 additional pilots October 1: https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-air-lines-furlough-pilots-layoff-coronavirus-2020-8 .
Viral politics: https://www.wsj.com/articles/gop-to-call-for-keeping-economy-open-at-convention-11598205273 .
The politics of state-federal litigation: https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article244692807.html . The article notes that Texas litigated against the Obama administration, although that was about half the California total against Trump in more than twice the time.
WSJ: California’s failure to contract for power leads to rolling blackouts: https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-california-keeps-having-blackouts-11598198401 .
WSJ: TikTok alarm in DC stoked by Zuckerberg: https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-stoked-washingtons-fears-about-tiktok-11598223133 . Hey, regulate them, not us.
China: Vaccinations began in late July: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30393450 .
Germany: After 2 weeks, schools appear to have re-opened safely: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-19-school-cornavirus-data-2-weeks-into-germany-school-year-reassures-expert/ .
Belgium: Children raised in greener residential spaces have higher IQ and lower behavioral problems: https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1003213 . Here is a less technical review of the results: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/24/children-raised-greener-areas-higher-iq-study . Both articles cite a variety of studies with similar or supporting results.
WSJ: European banks restructure: https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-is-covid-19-convalescent-plasma-11598217668 .
KFC slogan “Finger Lickin’ Good” will be temporarily shelved outside the US: https://www.businessinsider.com/kfc-pausing-finger-lickin-good-motto-due-to-hygienic-implications-2020-8 .
Otters, otters everywhere: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200818-the-canadian-sea-otter-rescue-plan-that-worked-too-well . The English language is so weird. On land, a group of otters is called a “romp”; in the water, a “raft”.