WSJ: Why we need PPP oversight: https://www.wsj.com/articles/some-companies-got-both-government-contracts-and-ppp-loans-11595163601 . And: https://www.wsj.com/articles/firms-with-troubled-pasts-got-millions-of-dollars-in-ppp-small-business-aid-11595064602 . Draining the swamp … to build high rises?
ABC: US round-up: https://www.newsweek.com/surgeon-general-pleads-fox-news-viewers-wear-masks-im-begging-you-1519052 (link updated 7/24/21).
WSJ: US, global round-up: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-latest-news-07-20-2020-11595237858 .
WSJ: But we’re looking hard at the $600 per week: https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-600-a-week-jobless-aid-nears-end-congress-faces-a-quandary-11595151000 . A lot of landlords are little guys, too.
WSJ: No V-shaped recovery: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-companies-lose-hope-for-quick-rebound-from-covid-19-11595151000 . When a furlough becomes a layoff, health benefits end.
WSJ: Masks matter: https://www.wsj.com/articles/face-masks-really-do-matter-the-scientific-evidence-is-growing-11595083298 .
Status of relief package negotiations: https://www.aol.com/article/news/2020/07/20/we-cant-afford-to-wait-many-coronavirus-relief-measures-are-set-to-soon-expire-but-the-crisis-is-still-raging/24567249/ . More: https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/scheduling/508052-this-week-debate-over-confederate-statues-fifth-coronavirus (link updated 7/24/21).
WSJ: status of EU relief package negotiations: https://www.wsj.com/articles/eu-leaders-remain-deadlocked-on-coronavirus-recovery-plan-11595196445 .
Oxford vaccine: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/covid-19-vaccine-candidates-show-promising-early-results/story?id=71878984 . Other reports describe Oxford as months ahead, with the possibility the vaccine will be available in September – we’ll see.
AP: Fact check: https://apnews.com/article/0aa783aa734b2ac3d984c5116b3e8039 (link replaced 10/8/20). It is difficult to report on coronavirus without referring to politically sensitive materials. There are a couple of things in here worth ongoing discussion in our community. First, the virus is embedded in the global population and is not going away. Consider what was involved in eradicating smallpox; we know the coronavirus is active in animal populations and it mutates, so eradication is very unlikely.
Second, the AP gives a relatively accurate description of what we know about mortality rates. More accurately, (1) the numerator, deaths, is typically understated; however, some data is being adjusted for “excess deaths” in ways that are difficult to investigate; (2) the denominator should be infections; what we have is cases, with very poor information on general or specific infection rates in most populations, and both case and infection data are moving targets currently. We also have no clear understanding of re-infection risk; the CDC has not controlled data discrepancies between the states; and now hospital data is being reported to HHS and the database is not public.
US deaths/cases is currently 143,289/(3,898,550-1,952,923) [cases with outcomes] = 7.36%. So what is the mortality rate? Rough guess: if infections are 5 to 20 times reported cases, deaths/infections in the US is perhaps 0.33% to 1.5% and declining due to improved medical treatment techniques and increased relative infection of younger populations, where it is less lethal. This is in good agreement with estimates by public health experts of 0.5% to 1.0%.
Mortality rates increase substantially with age and are significantly affected by co-morbidities. Men have higher mortality than women, for which there may be a genetic basis; mortality differences by race are unclear due to co-morbidities and disparate socio-economic situations. If you have a better guess, please share it.
Contagiousness by age: https://www.eatthis.com/covid-children-spread/ (link replaced 7/24/21). So maybe opening an elementary school (K through 5) is doable, although social distancing is a problem. However, other schools (K-8, middle or high schools) look like a problem equal to the problem adults face.
Every death has a face: https://outline.com/Zz4sZy (link replaced 10/14/20). So, in some ways, this is parallel to the nursing home situation. That is, multigenerational housing is a health threat to the older generations.
WSJ: Transparency in hospital pricing – not: https://www.wsj.com/articles/hospitals-appeal-decision-upholding-disclosure-of-rates-negotiated-with-insurers-11595036754 .
New concerns around the Republican Convention: timing, finances, security and the virus: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/20/florida-sheriff-gop-convention-security-373089 . When the first analogy that comes to a sheriff’s mind is “gun fight”, that’s not good.
Increasing realization that we are a multi-cultural society: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trader-joe-s-change-racist-packaging-international-foods-n1234345 (link replaced 7/24/21).
WSJ: Status of global economic recovery: https://www.wsj.com/articles/economic-recovery-is-under-way-but-fighting-flare-ups-is-key-11595167200 . We must test, contact trace and isolate – there is no other effective approach. So wear a mask and socially distance. (Repeat ad nauseum)
WSJ: Childcare in an uncertain future: https://www.wsj.com/articles/amid-surge-in-covid-19-companies-and-parents-brace-for-more-child-care-conflicts-11595206800 .
WSJ: The future of cities: https://www.wsj.com/articles/american-cities-covid-coronavirus-reopen-lockdown-housing-new-york-boston-los-angeles-11595182903 .
A new aspect of protest: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jul/20/strike-for-black-lives-thousands-racial-inequality .
Is Portland a test case for other cities? https://www.aol.com/article/news/2020/07/20/trump-prepping-to-dispatch-federal-squads-to-more-democratic-cities-warns-mark-meadows/24567182/ . So, if this is the federal response to graffiti, we are in major trouble. I hope it has been helpful to hear what has been occurring here without such charged commentary. As you know, political leaders here oppose the federal response, which was unrequested and has escalated a tense situation. Here is a summary from NPR: https://www.npr.org/2020/07/17/892277592/federal-officers-use-unmarked-vehicles-to-grab-protesters-in-portland . As reported previously, the feds are arresting people without probable cause. In my hometown …
Portland “wall of moms”: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/07/20/portland-protests-wall-moms-formed-protect-demonstrators/5470348002/. Can peaceful demonstrators outmaneuver the federal agents? If you’re wondering why tear gas is banned in warfare, but used on the moms, here’s an explanation: https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/08/us/military-tear-gas-protesters-trnd/index.html . The police here declare a situation a “riot” over loudspeakers, in part to inform protesters that the police are changing tactics and in part to create authorization for those tactics.
The Moms organizer has come forward – she was even on the NBC national news tonight: https://www.newsweek.com/who-are-portland-moms-against-police-brutality-1518985 . You may have seen the video of the man being beaten by a federal agent. His name is Chris Davis, he is an older Navy veteran and dressed in Navy gear to go down and speak to the agents, hoping some of them were vets. He was on our local news tonight. He made no aggressive moves when approaching the agents. The agents’ assault broke his hand in two places, requiring surgery. If you have any question about who is inciting the violence, these are the facts on the ground. The president is planning to deploy federal agents in Chicago: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-chicago-police-dhs-deployment-20200720-dftu5ychwbcxtg4ltarh5qnwma-story.html . Trump says the cities targeted are all run by liberal Democrats. However, the Chicago news reminded me of the 1968 convention …
Trump to resume coronavirus briefings: https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/07/20/893018734/as-talks-open-on-new-coronavirus-aid-bill-trump-to-return-to-daily-briefings . And the reason is … TV ratings? …
Finally: https://fox6now.com/2020/07/20/many-people-say-that-it-is-patriotic-to-wear-a-face-mask-pres-trump-tweets-photo-of-himself-in-face-covering/ . The China virus? Never without controversy …
A coronavirus website I found today: https://www.coronavirustoday.com/ . More about Precision Vax LLC: https://www.precisionvaccinations.com/about-us (link replaced 12/8/20; Precision Vax is apparently rebranding as Precision Vaccinations).
College football: https://www.wsj.com/articles/schools-ask-athletes-to-accept-health-risks-amid-the-pandemic-11595167457 . So, assume the risk even though there may be no season.
Here are Sheriff Bill Martin’s words from the convention article above: “It’s like a gun fight. I don’t think we should have gun fights. But if you have one, I’m coming,” Snyder said. “It will be a noxious brew of vitriol and emotion.” Contrast those with the words of John Lewis quoted in the following article: “We are tired of seeing our people locked up in jail over and over again. And then you holler, “Be patient.” How long can we be patient? We want our freedom and we want it now. We do not want to go to jail. But we will go to jail if this is the price we must pay for love, brotherhood, and true peace.” https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/07/how-john-lewis-founded-third-american-republic/614371/ . I believe the protesters have learned from John Lewis; I hope the police do too.
Did you see the largest virtual choir ever on CBS Sunday Morning? Sara Teppema said it was okay to share with you that she participated: https://www.cbs.com/shows/cbs-sunday-morning/video/N4yNs6qWCb2BdDZegnul55LgMugCJ3CL/the-largest-virtual-choir-ever-assembled/