Strain catalog – UK variant – B.1.1.7; South African strain – 501.V2; South American/Brazilian strain – P.1 . Here is reporting on P.1: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/new-coronavirus-variants-could-cause-more-reinfections-require-updated-vaccines .
Fourth new strain identified in California – L452R – originally detected in Denmark: https://deadline.com/2021/01/another-new-covid-19-variant-in-l-a-vaccine-resistant-denmark-1234675834/ . This Denmark strain also shows mutations in the virus spike. This raises concerns that this strain may be more infectious and also resistant to the current vaccines. Also note that these cases indicate wide community spread. More: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-01-17/covid-19-coronavirus-vaccine-update-pandemic .
Mayo Clinic data page: https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-covid-19/ . The page and subpages provide current and historical US data by state and county.
Origin of COVID-19: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-china-factbox/factbox-the-origins-of-covid-19-idUSKBN29O08P . The theory that the virus was moving widely by community spread before its discovery in Wuhan does not make sense. Remember that China quarantined Wuhan and was able to control the outbreak. By definition, the virus in China was only in the quarantined area at that time. Even if there was some weak version of the virus circulating in humans that then mutated in Wuhan, where is the evidence of this less lethal virus in the human population?
US expects 500,000 COVID deaths by mid-February: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-coronavirus-death-toll-expected-half-million-by-february-cdc-says/ . As previously discussed, the death toll will pass the American World War II death toll in the next few days.
Fauci predicts AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson near submission for vaccine approval: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/fauci-says-a-new-covid-19-vaccine-could-be-ready-for-us-approval-within-weeks/ar-BB1cRbN5?li=BBnb7Kz .
Cuomo wants to buy vaccine directly from Pfizer: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/cuomo-wants-new-york-buy-covid-vaccine-directly-pfizer-n1254605 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-seeks-to-buy-vaccines-directly-from-pfizer-11611001427 .
Trump decrees loosening of travel restrictions January 26, Biden quickly overrules it: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-lift-some-covid-travel-restrictions-move-biden-quickly-rejects-n1254619 . Trump is four years in, and still has no clue. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/white-house-to-lift-bans-on-travel-from-eu-u-k-and-brazil-11611014812 .
Head of Census Bureau resigns: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-census/us-census-bureau-director-resigns-idUSKBN29N1WG .
Roberts will be 0 for 4 in swearing in a politically friendly President: https://apnews.com/article/biden-inauguration-joe-biden-donald-trump-barack-obama-health-3e80a8e8224e973fd71295939c9e67d9 .
WSJ: New Jersey County lauded for vaccination program: https://www.wsj.com/articles/process-for-covid-19-vaccination-is-streamlined-in-populous-essex-county-n-j-11610977781 .
Ex-Florida data scientist now in jail: https://apnews.com/article/health-fort-lauderdale-florida-coronavirus-pandemic-crime-a75ee61a27f858387958880fd95f9fd5 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/former-florida-covid-19-data-scientist-faces-arrest-11610907554 . She also says she tested positive for COVID-19: https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/18/us/rebekah-jones-data-scientist-surrender/index.html .
More than 40,000 in Florida are overdue for second shot: https://www.wfla.com/community/health/coronavirus/more-than-40000-in-florida-overdue-for-2nd-dose-of-coronavirus-vaccine/ .
Invasive Florida pythons are source of squalene: https://www.wvlt.tv/2021/01/18/florida-invasive-pythons-could-help-with-coronavirus-vaccine/ .
WSJ: The challenges Biden faces: https://www.wsj.com/articles/for-joe-biden-dauntingand-unprecedentedchallenges-11610965801 . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/whats-on-bidens-business-and-economic-to-do-list-11610991640 .
WSJ: London’s “COVID triangle”: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-triangle-emerges-in-londons-poorer-neighborhoods-as-u-k-variant-rampages-11610968605 .
Australian Open COVID problems mount: https://apnews.com/article/australia-australian-open-health-coronavirus-pandemic-melbourne-1ae5cd1bdb364fe673a603d4b0aa1b1e .
WSJ: France faces high level of vaccine skepticism: https://www.wsj.com/articles/france-once-a-vaccine-pioneer-is-top-skeptic-in-covid-19-pandemic-11610971051 .
WSJ: Norway concerned about vaccinating seriously ill elderly citizens: https://www.wsj.com/articles/norway-warns-against-vaccinating-the-terminally-ill-11610991941 .
Israel vaccinates 2.2 million: https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/coronavirus-vaccines-israel-inoculates-186000-people-in-one-day-655921 . That is over 25% of the population of 8.65 million.
WSJ: Argentina starts Sputnik vaccinations: https://www.wsj.com/articles/argentina-is-a-testing-ground-for-moscows-global-vaccine-drive-11610965529 . This seems like a recipe for vaccine skepticism.
WSJ: Biden climate strategy: https://www.wsj.com/articles/bidens-climate-plan-to-get-a-boost-from-democrat-led-senate-11610981436 .
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Insurrectionist who stole Pelosi laptop planned to sell it to Russian intelligence: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/capitol-rioter-plotted-sell-stolen-pelosi-laptop-russian-intelligence-n1254583 . What a lovely person. She will be rewarded with federal room and board at taxpayer expense.
Army reservist charged in insurrection: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/new-jersey-reservist-navy-base-clearance-charged-connection-deadly-capitol-n1254581 .
QAnon adherents discussed posing as National Guard members to infiltrate inauguration: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/qanon-adherents-discussed-posing-as-national-guard-to-try-to-infiltrate-inauguration-according-to-fbi-intelligence-briefing/ar-BB1cRXhh?li=BBnb7Kz .
Trump cronies paid by wealthy felons to lobby for pardons: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lucrative-pardon-market-cronies-lobby-trump_n_6004d410c5b6ffcab96566df .
Trump pardon speculation: https://bdnews24.com/world/americas/2021/01/19/trump-prepares-pardon-wave-for-final-hours (link replaced 1/26/21). WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-weighs-many-pardons-as-presidency-winds-down-11611002181 .
The Rude Dude is not coming to Orange Julius’ defense: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/534692-giuliani-not-expected-to-be-part-of-trump-defense-at-impeachment (link replaced 1/26/21). Seems like a plus for everyone. Are we tired of winning yet?
Diaper Don to live on: https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-trump-britain-blimp/trump-baby-blimp-lands-at-london-museum-idUSL8N2JT274 . The perfect legacy, really.
Police seize guns from armed blacks, not whites, at Virginia Capitol rally: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-protests-virginia/police-seize-firearms-from-black-men-at-virginia-rally-for-gun-rights-idUSKBN29N0XP .
WSJ: High school civics confronts the Capitol insurrection: https://www.wsj.com/articles/capitol-riot-becomes-civics-lessons-in-schools-11610971201 .
Nuts still load the GOP tree: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/wyoming-gop-chairman-secession-cheney-votes-impeach-trump . When Steve Bannon is telling a state GOP party chairman he’s a screwball, the guy should pay attention.
A retweet from Need2Know by “mathematicsprof”: Quote by a forest ranger at Yosemite National Park on why it is hard to design the perfect garbage bin to keep bears from breaking into it: “There is considerable overlap between the intelligence of the smartest bears and the dumbest tourists.”