Anyone else feel like it’s been 3 years since New Year’s Day?:
Fauci’s testimony: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/30/coronavirus-fauci-senate-states-reverse-reopening . 38 states reporting daily increases, with US daily cases now 40,000 and growing. WSJ: More on Fauci: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-latest-news-06-30-2020-11593505070 .
A national mandate to wear masks could save 5% of US GDP, according to Goldman Sachs report: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/30/goldman-sachs-says-a-national-mask-mandate-could-slash-infections-and-save-economy-from-a-5percent-hit.html . The report finds the mandate reduces an R0 of 1.0 to 0.6.
WSJ: FDA rules for vaccine approval: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fda-to-issue-guidance-on-covid-19-vaccine-approval-11593516090 .
Dire warning from US COVID-19 test providers: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/06/us-coronavirus-testing-could-fail-again/613675/ . We still haven’t created suitable, adequate testing as supply chain problems persist.
Oklahoma voters approve Medicaid expansion: https://www.sltrib.com/news/nation-world/2020/07/02/republican-leaders-want/ (link updated 7/17) . Interestingly, this was done by constitutional amendment and moves away from the block grant approach advanced by the state’s leadership.
The global economic news is bad: https://www.oecd.org/coronavirus/policy-responses/the-territorial-impact-of-covid-19-managing-the-crisis-across-levels-of-government-d3e314e1/ (link replaced 10/14/21). The lack of a V-shaped recovery means that the European approach of keeping workers on the payroll will require additional intervention and expenditure (as also appears true in the US as benefits expire later this month). China’s crackdown on Hong Kong will cause further economic disruption in Asia as citizens move their assets abroad and emigrate. https://www.dw.com/en/hong-kong-residents-emigrate/a-53607894 . The UK and Japan are also opening their doors to Hong Kong émigrés.
The economic picture is no better at the micro level: https://www.emarketer.com/content/half-of-worldwide-ceos-have-seen-diminished-demand-their-products-services?utm_source=Triggermail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BII20200701CEOsCOTD&utm_term=New%20COTD%202020 . So half of CEO’s worldwide say the biggest challenge facing their business is reduced demand; without government support, layoffs must follow.
Economic problems for ISIS: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/italy-captagon-amphetamines-seizure-1-billion-dollars-pills-from-isis-syria-today-2020-07-01/ . Who knew Syria was the world’s largest producer of amphetamines?
WSJ: Insurers and business interruption insurance: https://www.wsj.com/articles/companies-hit-by-covid-19-want-insurance-payouts-insurers-say-no-11593527047 .
US weather may keep people indoors with air conditioning; mixed effect on virus spread: https://abcnews.go.com/US/heat-wave-expands-country-flash-flooding-wildfire-danger/story?id=71551621 (link replaced 10/14/21). Reduced social interaction will help, but the increased infection rates being seen in younger Americans may cause spreading within families. Here we see an unexpected consequence of “failure to launch”.
UV light may be a useful weapon against air conditioning spread of COVID-19: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/06/air-conditioning-may-be-factor-in-covid-19-spread-in-the-south/ . I certainly hope someone is researching this. However, some percentage of COVID-19 spread occurs before the infected air returns to the air conditioner, and other experts believe air conditioning moves air within the space to directly raise spread (that is, defeat social distancing).
Something I hadn’t considered: the US population in nursing homes is 1.3 million. With 54,000 deaths to date attributed to nursing homes (yes, there are staff people in that total), that means roughly 4.15% of ALL US nursing home residents have died from coronavirus in the last few months. How terrifying for any family with a nursing home resident, or for any person thinking they may need to enter a nursing home. If you have specific interest in nursing homes, you may want to review this document: https://www.aging.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/COVID-19%20in%20Nursing%20Homes%20Final%20Report.pdf . The document also raises concerns about the availability and collection of needed data on COVID-19 in nursing homes