Omicron survives longer on surfaces: https://www.aol.com/news/omicron-survives-longer-plastic-skin-184539113-212834558.html . Sometimes following the science leads to depressing information.
Possible cause of long COVID discovered: https://fox4kc.com/tracking-coronavirus/missouri-doctors-make-discovery-about-possible-cause-of-long-covid/ .
More on COVID’s effect on male fertility: https://abc7news.com/coronavirus-and-fertility-rate-after-covid-mens-health-men/11506177/ .
Federal employee vaccine mandate may not survive: https://news.yahoo.com/bidens-vaccine-mandate-for-federal-workers-faces-an-uncertain-future-223525130.html . Obviously, for the mandate to survive, the Texas ruling must be overturned. I would agree that the Fifth Circuit is a hostile environment for the Biden administration. However, as one attorney notes in the article, the legal questions presented here are different than the prior mandate cases decided by the Supreme Court. But, as a practical matter, with 98% of federal employees vaccinated, this ruling is not that important in the general scheme of things.
WSJ: New York mask mandate struck down by state court judge: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-mask-mandate-struck-down-by-judge-11643076985 .
FDA restricts use of two COVID antibody drugs as they are ineffective against Omicron: https://www.aol.com/news/u-fda-restrict-regeneron-lilly-185933919-193751576.html . These drugs are manufactured by Eli Lilly and Regeneron. The original Washington Post article: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/fda-ends-for-now-use-of-two-monoclonal-antibodies-spurring-a-halt-in-federal-shipments-of-the-covid-19-treatments/ar-AAT5OyM?li=BBnb7Kz . So the Post says FDA has already restricted the drugs, and the federal government will cease shipping them. Confirmation of Post reporting: https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/22/01/25200240/fda-rescinds-authorization-for-regeneron-eli-lilly-covid-19-antibody-treatments-heres-why . More: https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/coronavirus/article-694237 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-administration-limits-use-of-regeneron-and-lilly-covid-19-antibody-drugs-11643067844 .
Omicron incubation period averages about a day shorter than Delta: https://www.kget.com/health/coronavirus/how-long-is-omicrons-incubation-period/ .
WSJ: Earliest Omicron wave locations appear to have peaked: https://www.wsj.com/articles/places-hit-early-by-omicron-see-hospitalizations-slowing-11643027144 .
FDA ban on gay blood donations questioned: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/amid-nationwide-blood-shortage-experts-say-its-time-for-the-fda-to-lift-restrictions-for-gay-and-bisexual-men-one-blood-donation-can-save-up-to-three-lives-224030664.html .
Pfizer booster durably effective against Omicron: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/591078-study-finds-high-levels-of-omicron-fighting-antibodies-four-months-after .
Strong immunity for Sinovac inoculations when boosted with another vaccine: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/591160-immunity-against-delta-and-omicron-observed-in-sinovac-vaccine-recipients . This immunity extends to Omicron.
Pandemic reduced global lightning during 2020: https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/22/us/coronavirus-lightning-studies-pandemic-scn/index.html . However, as wild as this sounds on first impression, the article gives a very powerful connection between pandemic lockdowns, reduced air pollution and less favorable conditions for lightning.
WSJ: Economic data shows slowing caused by Omicron: https://www.wsj.com/articles/omicron-slows-europes-economy-but-supply-chain-strains-ease-11643023131 .
COVID screws up Australia relief mission to Tonga: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-01-24/covid-cases-reported-on-australian-aid-vessel-sailing-to-virus-free-tonga .
WSJ: New Zealand on COVID red alert: https://www.wsj.com/articles/omicron-cases-put-new-zealand-on-red-alert-leader-ardern-delays-wedding-11642934342 .
WSJ: Evergrande hems and haws with international investors: https://www.wsj.com/articles/evergrande-asks-overseas-creditors-for-more-time-11643032952 . However, the bottom line is that China and Evergrande have shown preference to onshore investor claims. So the international investors cannot afford to be patient.
Festus fire chief dies of COVID: https://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/coronavirus/festus-fire-chief-dies-after-battling-covid-19-complications/article_fa2b456d-232d-5e17-ae12-788257b3d7e3.html . As it turns out, Festus (on Gunsmoke) wasn’t a made-up name; the Festus post office has been around since 1883: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festus,_Missouri . Gunsmoke is set in 1870’s Kansas.
Sarah Palin has COVID, NY Times trial postponed: https://www.aol.com/news/sarah-palin-tests-positive-coronavirus-143704966-170856094-171020610.html . The allegations in this lawsuit are absolutely shocking. Sarah Palin has a reputation that can be damaged? WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/start-of-palin-case-against-new-york-times-delayed-after-she-tests-positive-for-covid-19-11643042644 .
Webb Telescope now in position: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/fda-ends-for-now-use-of-two-monoclonal-antibodies-spurring-a-halt-in-federal-shipments-of-the-covid-19-treatments/ar-AAT5OyM?li=BBnb7Kz . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/nasas-james-webb-space-telescope-reaches-final-destination-11643058459 .