NY governor issues school mask, vaccine mandates on her first day: https://news.yahoo.com/on-her-first-day-ny-gov-kathy-hochul-announces-plan-to-mandate-masks-and-vaccinations-in-schools-204321671.html .
First cruise passenger dies after sailings permitted: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/24/passenger-dies-of-covid-19-amid-outbreak-on-carnival-cruise-ship.html . There are some things worse than an empty cruise ship. Of the 27 COVID cases so far, 26 are crew members.
Florida’s COVID surge overtakes its winter COVID death rate: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/florida-becomes-first-state-to-overtake-winter-covid-death-figures/ar-AANHb7K?li=BBnb7Kz . No, this has nothing to do with seasonality. It’s further evidence that Florida’s governor is a mass murdering idiot.
Florida hospital doctors stage walk-out over unvaccinated patients: https://people.com/health/75-doctors-from-florida-hospitals-walkout-in-protest-of-unvaccinated-patients-we-are-exhausted/ . The unvaccinated are burning up our medical system, and that affects everyone.
Arkansas has no ICU beds available: https://www.yahoo.com/now/arkansas-governor-says-no-more-193632423.html .
Kentucky hospitals strain under COVID surge: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-08-23/the-latest-vietnam-imposes-strict-lockdown-in-southern-city . Kentucky faces a unique situation as the legislature has now put itself in control of managing COVID: https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2021-08-24/gop-lawmakers-in-kentucky-assume-lead-role-in-fighting-covid . Hint: This isn’t going to go well.
Indiana’s COVID hospitalizations surge: https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2021-08-24/gop-lawmakers-in-kentucky-assume-lead-role-in-fighting-covid .
LSU to require proof of vaccination or negative test results to enter Tiger Stadium: https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/coronavirus-lsu-require-proof-covid-19-vaccination-negative-test-enter-tiger-stadium/6R4TPVCIZZAPBCMIDVLBQT53EA/ . Louisiana is the one state with COVID cases per capita that rival Florida’s numbers. So of course their focus is to pack Tiger Stadium.
Hospital in Elko, Nevada, begs county residents to take the COVID vaccine: https://news.yahoo.com/nevada-hospital-begging-residents-vaccinated-015055898.html . The county has about 50,000 residents. Elko is 4 hours from Reno, Boise or Salt Lake City. Basically, if the hospital is overwhelmed, sick people are screwed.
Hawaii governor discourages tourist travel: https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-honolulu-6753de40faf5e667bb070ac4a8ed64c1 . After this string of articles, one can only conclude that the unvaccinated are the uninformed. But you knew that already.
Another dim bulb speaks up against vaccine mandates: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/kristi-noem-vows-vaccine-mandate-war-against-joe-biden-as-south-dakota-covid-cases-soar/ar-AANGFfc?li=BBnb7Kz . So employer mandates are generally legal. Kristi could try following Montana’s lead in banning these mandates.
Children’s rapid immune response leads to less severe COVID cases: https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3146129/german-researchers-uncover-secret-childrens-protection?module=perpetual_scroll&pgtype=article&campaign=3146129 .
WSJ: The ongoing politics of COVID’s origins: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-to-receive-report-on-coronavirus-origins-but-challenges-persist-in-how-to-deal-with-china-11629825758 .
Boosters may stem Israeli COVID surge: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/24/israels-covid-19-vaccine-boosters-show-signs-of-taming-delta . There are a variety of factors which may be causing Israel’s surge to peak. Also, the government is promoting the shots, which may affect these comments. Age-related analysis would determine this matter more clearly. However, the variety of issues currently affecting data could also cloud that analysis. And, other data indicates the surge has not peaked: https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-passes-1-million-total-covid-cases-approaches-one-day-record/ .
Meanwhile, the US donates 500,000 vaccine doses to the Palestinians through COVAX: https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinians-receive-500000-coronavirus-vaccines-from-us/ . Here’s something that would not have happened under Orange Julius …
Japan expands COVID emergency: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/25/japan-expands-state-of-emergency-as-delta-variant-cases-soar . Remember that Japan’s population is heavily concentrated around Tokyo. The hospital bed shortage there is cause for considerable concern.
Delta variant disrupts supply chain in Asia: https://www.wsj.com/articles/delta-variant-outbreaks-in-sparsely-vaccinated-asian-countries-disrupt-production-11629807725 . Sigh. One strategy does not work in public health. Lockdowns buy time to vaccinate the population. Most “lockdown” countries have wasted that time.
Democrats move forward on infrastructure package: https://news.yahoo.com/after-deal-with-moderates-house-democrats-move-forward-on-35-trillion-budget-212245072.html . Again, there will be a package deal. But extensive horse-trading means its final contents will remain unclear until just before passage.
Herschel Walker announces for Warnock’s Georgia Senate seat: https://sports.yahoo.com/herschel-walker-will-run-for-senate-in-georgia-195037731.html . This could work, although Warnock now has the power of incumbency.
Arizona’s election audit report delayed as COVID hits the Cyber Ninjas: https://news.yahoo.com/report-on-partisan-arizona-audit-delayed-after-pro-trump-cyber-ninjas-contract-covid-19-205741785.html . The phrase that comes to mind is “confederacy of dunces”.
WSJ: An initial post-mortem on the Miami condo collapse: https://www.wsj.com/articles/behind-the-florida-condo-collapse-rampant-corner-cutting-11629816205 . Cutting corners killed almost 100 people.
WSJ: College football realignments continue: https://www.wsj.com/articles/acc-big-ten-pac-12-alliance-college-football-11629837615 .
Rolling Stones’ drummer Charlie Watts passes: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-58316842 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/charlie-watts-obituary-rolling-stones-11629826362 . Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/charlie-watts-rolling-stones-ringo-starr-11629850410 .