WSJ: Oxford vaccine infighting: https://www.wsj.com/articles/oxford-developed-covid-vaccine-then-scholars-clashed-over-money-11603300412 .
Vaccine trials in children just beginning: https://apnews.com/article/vaccine-kids-testing-school-covid-19-37fdcb046044483d256c612d4432d7c9 .
WSJ: Brazilian volunteer in Oxford vaccine trial dies of COVID-19: https://www.wsj.com/articles/volunteer-in-astrazeneca-oxford-coronavirus-vaccine-trial-dies-in-brazil-11603306508 . Apparently the volunteer received a placebo.
FDA seeks outside help on vaccine approval standards: https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-e49203f5c55ba593ca587a56d0116b97 .
WSJ: Pfizer preps for vaccine distribution: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizer-sets-up-its-biggest-ever-vaccination-distribution-campaign-11603272614 .
Vaccine storage issues could leave 40% of world population without vaccine access: https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-pandemics-immunizations-epidemics-united-nations-fc4c536d62c5ef25152884adb1c14168 . This is a huge problem for global herd immunity. With so many vaccines under development, hopefully an effective vaccine which can be easily transported will become available soon.
WSJ: COVID-19 vaccines receive enhanced security for distribution: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccines-to-be-stored-secretly-under-tight-security-11603278002 .
The complexities of vaccine delivery: https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/health/2020/10/21/covid-vaccine-may-come-record-time-but-delivering-doses-complex/3707399001/ . The “math” here is sketchy. Even if you accept the clock model, 8 am is 2/3 of the way thru, not “nearing ¾”, which is 9 am.
American concerns about taking the vaccine: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/10/20/covid-us-willingness-take-vaccine-depends-efficacy-politics/5993550002/ . There is some hope here. Some of the skepticism comes from a wait-and-see attitude about vaccine effectiveness. That is more easily overcome than an anti-vaccination attitude.
California will review FDA-approved vaccines before allowing distribution: https://www.axios.com/california-review-fda-approved-covid-vaccines-d1fa1c7c-e5ce-4bff-b80c-b3e5e9282b86.html .
Arthritis drug advances as COVID-19 treatment, while 4 others retreat: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/10/20/arthritis-drug-tocilizumab-shown-effective-sickest-covid-patients/3650814001/ .
WSJ: CDC alters close contact guidelines: https://www.wsj.com/articles/federal-health-authorities-update-covid-19-close-contact-definition-11603306122 .
Experts are concerned about holiday events: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/10/21/covid-19-thanksgiving-christmas-gatherings-could-fuel-surge-cases/5994607002/ .
WSJ: Shorter quarantines for kids?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/cdc-considers-shorter-covid-19-quarantines-for-children-11603296796 .
WSJ: Lack of app coordination undermines contact tracing: https://www.wsj.com/articles/disjointed-covid-19-apps-across-u-s-raise-questions-about-techs-role-11603272613 .
US life loss from COVID-19: 2.5 million years: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/10/20/covid-america-2-5-million-life-years-harvard-stephen-elledge/5994363002/ .
Major decline in COVID-19 mortality rates: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/10/20/925441975/studies-point-to-big-drop-in-covid-19-death-rates .
WSJ: Europe’s hospitals stressed by COVID-19 surge: https://www.wsj.com/articles/hospitals-brace-for-europes-second-covid-19-wave-11603284024 .
German health minister tests positive after symptoms: https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-germany-minister/update-5-german-health-minister-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-idUSL8N2HC639 .
Dogs sniff out COVID-19: https://www.dw.com/en/dogs-detect-coronavirus-fast-and-reliably-why-not-use-them-everywhere/a-55340369 .
Why don’t we have an at-home test kit?: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/21/at-home-coronavirus-tests-slow-development-430816 .
WSJ: New York loosens lockdown: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-eases-lockdowns-for-covid-19-hot-spots-after-drop-in-positive-test-rates-11603296996 .
WSJ: COVID-19 hits 2 prisons in upstate New York: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-surge-strikes-two-new-york-prisons-11603315628 .
US round-up: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/10/21/covid-news-and-updates-cdc-reports-high-us-deaths-stimulus-pelosi/5995382002/ . Puerto Rico closes its 911 centers amid outbreak. Ohio daily cases set record. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-latest-updates-102120-11603268125 .
WSJ: Purdue Pharma settles opioid probe: https://www.wsj.com/articles/purdue-pharma-reaches-8-34-billion-settlement-over-opioid-probes-11603292613 . However, about half of the states dissent. The fine is largely symbolic as the company is in bankruptcy.
WSJ: US recovery slows: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-economy-seesslight-to-modest-growth-this-fall-feds-beige-book-says-11603306189 .
WSJ: Pelosi-Mnuchin stimulus talks inch forward: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pelosi-mnuchin-make-final-push-on-coronavirus-talks-11603219232 . Stimulus vote may come after election: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-stimulus-vote-could-come-after-election-day-negotiators-say-11603307413 . What part of “people need the money” is not getting through?
Now Trump is downplaying stimulus deal and blaming Democrats: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/522157-trump-casts-doubt-on-hopes-for-quick-stimulus-deal-after-aides (link replaced 10/31/20).
While the Senate Republican stimulus proposal is apparently not going anywhere, here is a summary, for the record: https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/senates-skinny-stimulus-package-versus-1-8-trillion-white-house-offer-whats-in-both-bills/ . More: https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/08/politics/whats-in-the-gop-skinny-stimulus-bill/index.html . Still more: https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/stimulus-negotiations-get-new-48-hour-deadline-confrontation-mounts-over-pre-election-bill/ .
WSJ: PPP loan forgiveness process: https://www.wsj.com/articles/applying-for-ppp-forgiveness-here-are-some-things-to-know-11603272613 .
Japan: Researchers show masks work, but not perfectly: https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-japan-masks/japan-researchers-show-masks-do-block-coronavirus-but-not-perfectly-idUSL4N2HD16O .
WSJ: Airlines face mask resistance on flights: https://www.wsj.com/articles/airlines-have-rules-about-face-masksthats-not-always-enough-11603285339 .
WSJ: A new Boeing jet?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/boeing-discussing-new-plane-as-it-starts-to-emerge-from-737-max-crisis-11603297986 .
WSJ: Pandemic alters entertainment: https://www.wsj.com/articles/four-ways-the-coronavirus-pandemic-will-change-entertainment-11603306993 .
WSJ: Quibi folds: https://www.wsj.com/articles/quibi-weighs-shutting-down-as-problems-mount-11603301946 .
WSJ: Google’s EU legal saga: https://www.wsj.com/articles/europes-antitrust-push-against-google-hasnt-dented-its-heft-can-the-u-s-11603293443 . Google’s US judge: https://www.wsj.com/articles/judge-in-google-lawsuit-presided-over-major-antitrust-case-11603293204 . Google’s footprint: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-businesses-where-google-is-biggest-and-the-ones-where-it-isnt-11603293145 . Challenges for each side’s case: https://www.wsj.com/articles/google-u-s-government-each-face-challenges-in-court-fight-11603324647 .
WSJ: Fed promotes more government spending to dampen income inequality increases: https://www.wsj.com/articles/feds-brainard-says-more-spending-needed-to-avoid-recovery-imbalance-11603284618 .
WSJ: China’s income inequality increases: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-beat-back-covid-19-but-its-come-at-a-costgrowing-inequality-11603281656 .
In first-ever presidential endorsement, USA Today urges voters to elect Joe Biden and reject Donald Trump: https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/opinion/todaysdebate/2020/10/20/elect-joe-biden-reject-donald-trump-editorials-debates/5919435002/ .
Early voting totals: As of 11:59 pm Eastern on 10/21, 43.2 million votes had been cast, 31.3 million by mail and 11.9 million in person: https://electproject.github.io/Early-Vote-2020G/index.html . Where party affiliations are disclosed, Democrats have outvoted Republicans 2 to 1 (10 million to 5 million).
WSJ: Family splits over T. Rex: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-family-feud-behind-a-32-million-t-rex-named-stan-11603309221 .
8th grader wins prestigious science competition: https://youngscientistlab.com/index.php/entry/2397?spredfast-trk-id=sf238827209 . How smart is this kid? Watch her video. She has now adapted her research to propose a cure for COVID-19.