Prior pneumonia as severe COVID predictor: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41746-021-00383-x . After age, pneumonia is the most important severe COVID predictor, according to this study of electronic medical records.
Climate change encourages pandemics: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/climate-change-coronavirus-bats-study/ . Good grief …
AstraZeneca vaccine effective against UK variant: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/astra-vaccine-shown-to-maintain-effect-against-uk-variant/ar-BB1dqmYY?li=BBnb7Kz . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/astrazeneca-vaccine-effective-against-u-k-covid-19-variant-in-study-11612530912 .
WSJ: More on South African variant: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-new-covid-19-strain-in-south-africa-what-we-know-11609971229 .
Summary of what we know about COVID, variants and vaccines, updated: https://www.statnews.com/2021/02/05/what-scientists-know-variants-covid-19-vaccines/ .
WSJ: Vaccination priority fight: https://www.wsj.com/articles/vaccine-shortage-sparks-fights-over-who-should-get-first-shots-11612521001 . Since COVID mortality is heavily age-related, the oldest should be vaccinated first, moving to progressively younger groups. This approach has the advantage of being straightforward to administer, reducing the vaccination priority fight.
WSJ: Use of convalescent plasma for COVID reduced by FDA: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fda-limits-use-of-convalescent-plasma-as-covid-19-treatment-11612537239 .
Scientific American weekly COVID summary: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coronavirus-news-roundup-january-30-february-5/ .
US cases continue to drop: https://consumer.healthday.com/2-5-u-s-sees-steady-drop-in-new-covid-cases-2650327488.html . Super Bowl parties are a potential issue, but the real concerns are the emerging variants.
US nursing home cases continue to drop: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-cases-drop-us-elderly-homes-c889d733d127465f0ff858156daafe40 .
WSJ: Vaccine distribution tracker, updated: https://www.wsj.com/articles/tracking-covid-19-vaccine-distribution-11611355360 .
WSJ: Dr. Offit and the antivaxxers: https://www.wsj.com/articles/vaccine-expert-paul-offit-believes-science-will-win-in-the-end-11612543849 .
Another case of COVID reinfection: https://consumer.healthday.com/2-5-british-mans-illness-suggests-recurrent-case-of-covid-19-is-possible-2650274733.html . This case is from Connecticut.
WSJ: South Korean antibody treatment: https://www.wsj.com/articles/enthusiasm-fades-for-covid-19-antibody-treatments-in-south-korea-11612526555 .
UW model predicts 630,000 American deaths by June 1: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-02-05/coronavirus-model-predicts-us-death-toll-to-top-630-000-by-june . This number exceeds the estimated 620,000 Civil War deaths. It nears the US total of 644,000 deaths in all foreign wars combined. There were 675,000 deaths in the 1918 pandemic. The final US death toll for the pandemic may exceed 675,000 and become the deadliest single event in US history.
COVID vaccine relative scarcity: https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-the-covid-19-vaccine-is-more-scarce-than-the-flu-shot-11612521000 .
COVID vaccines may cement Africa’s relationships with China: https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-vaccines-could-cement-africas-relationship-with-china/a-56467728 . Yet another reason we need to return to the world stage.
WSJ: NY Times staffers depart: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-times-audio-producer-andy-mills-resigns-11612561339 . And whatever happened to the staff complaints within WSJ about opinion that diverged from reporting? We have seen no updates.
First phase of reconciliation almost complete, bill then returns to committee: https://apnews.com/article/senate-ok-fast-track-coronavirus-aid-c497b8cda93486d9f0a09abb88235291 . If the $1,400 checks are more targeted (which I agree with), is the bill’s price tag reduced or will other stimulus items be added? There is a good argument for more stimulus. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/gop-puts-minimum-wage-school-reopenings-in-covid-aid-spotlight-11612467876 .
WSJ: Details of $15 minimum wage phase-in: https://www.wsj.com/articles/bidens-minimum-wage-proposal-when-would-it-reach-15-an-hour-11612550898 .
California places retail marijuana employees in vaccination category 1a, as essential workers: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/california-clears-up-confusion-over-marijuana-industry-coronavirus-vaccine-eligibility/ .
DeSantis shakes up 3 Florida agencies leading COVID fight: https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/02/05/in-surprise-announcement-desantis-replaces-the-heads-of-two-major-state-agencies/ . Does this remind you of anyone who just retired to Florida?
WSJ: Chip shortage and SMIC: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chip-shortage-buoys-smic-but-sanctions-could-still-bite-11612524988 . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-smic-says-its-missing-out-on-the-chip-boom-due-to-u-s-restrictions-11612526175 .
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Last November 2020 House race “decided”: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/537624-claudia-tenney-to-be-declared-winner-in-new-york-congressional-race (link replaced 2/19/21). What a mess. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-republican-claudia-tenney-should-be-certified-winner-of-house-race-judge-rules-11612570318 .
Judge Sullivan elects senior status: https://lawandcrime.com/judiciary/now-that-joe-biden-is-president-judge-emmet-sullivan-has-decided-to-open-up-a-judicial-vacancy/ .
WSJ: House Republicans supporting impeachment gain primary challengers: https://www.wsj.com/articles/primary-challenges-proliferate-against-republicans-who-voted-to-impeach-11612521001 . Many of these folks are in purple districts, so the end result could be Democratic gains. If Orange Julius sticks his mouth in, it may well end his influence. A larger issue is the withdrawal of corporate money from House Republicans who voted against certifying the vote. Last, there is the question of Biden’s popularity in 2 years. It may remain high, certainly higher than Trump’s. Will turnout shrink?
WSJ: Impeachment trial preview: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-impeachment-trial-when-will-the-senate-vote-11612528107 .
Lou Dobbs outFoxed: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/fox-abruptly-cancels-lou-dobbs-034148880.html . Actions have consequences. So does slander. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fox-business-cancels-lou-dobbss-show-after-anchor-was-named-in-voting-machine-lawsuit-11612576447 .
ABA quasi-veto in judicial nominations dropped by Biden: https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142689719 (link replaced 2/19/21; original was to NY Times article cited). Republican (and QAnon) administrations for the past 20 years did not use the process. There is no sense in keeping it only to limit Democratic administrations. However, the ABA will continue their input, which is a good thing.
The problem of white privilege: Capitol rioter asks judge to let her go to Mexico on vacation: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2021/02/02/capitol-rioter-wants-go-mexican-vacation-and-court-lets-her/4358889001/. At the time, she was charged with two misdemeanors. However, she is now charged with five felonies: https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/crime/jenny-cudd-facing-new-felony-charges-next-court-appearance-pushed-back/513-7208c73a-7937-4ad8-8d44-ca762ca411d0 . Giving a post-arrest interview that you’d do it again in a heartbeat is prima facie evidence that you lack the brains of a turnip. Perhaps she will enjoy her taxpayer-paid vacation, with meals and an orange jumpsuit included. And why is she out on bail?
Speaking of which: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55940542 (link replaced 2/19/21). If you want to prove you’re unbalanced and can’t be trusted, this is the path to follow. Both parties need to work to make her one and done in the House. More: https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-congress-rep-marjorie-taylor-greene-refuses-apology-20210205-hc5wv245rngtzclv7jz5nszti4-story.html . In summary, she is a clueless loser who does not understand the difference between disagreeing and being disagreeable.
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From the Scientific American weekly summary above, the Cookie Monster agate (sound on): https://www.instagram.com/p/CKHMQXyh66w/ .