US Army universal coronavirus vaccine update: https://www.cnet.com/health/the-armys-universal-vaccine-aims-to-end-all-covid-pandemics/ . As previously discussed, there are good reasons to be skeptical that this vaccine will indeed be universal. However, the Army has apparently successfully completed the Phase 1 trial.
COVID might affect male fertility: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/22/study-covid-vaccines-dont-affect-fertility-but-getting-covid-might.html .
New variant pushing Omicron aside in Scandinavia: https://www.cityam.com/new-covid-variant-is-spreading-like-wildfire-in-scandinavia-ba-2-stealth-mutation-now-half-of-all-coronavirus-cases-in-denmark-and-rapidly-pushing-omicron-aside/ . Apparently this variant is “mild”, but I await additional confirmation. As infectious as Omicron is, it is hard to imagine a yet more infectious variant. Update: Uh-oh: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/covid-new-subvariant-ba2-uk-b1998517.html .
US COVID hospitalizations by region: https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/22/health/us-coronavirus-saturday/index.html . Hospitalizations are dropping in the Northeast, raising hope that they will soon decline in other regions. More: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/omicron-wave-covid-cases-finally-peaked-us-rcna13103 .
New Mexico still seeing record COVID cases: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/coronavirus/nm-sets-another-one-day-infection-record/article_05695f72-7ae3-11ec-b12a-c73035969ddf.html . Officials believe the peak is still weeks away.
Boosters effective against hospitalization: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/1/22/boosters-90-effective-against-omicron-hospitalisations-study .
WSJ: Will COVID manage to evade the new antiviral drugs?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-covid-19-pills-roll-out-worry-mounts-that-resistance-could-develop-11642847405 .
OJ adviser Boris Epshteyn admits involvement in fake elector scheme: https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/22/politics/boris-epshteyn-trump-campaign-fake-electors/index.html . Filing false election documents would seem to carry significant legal liability.
WSJ: Head of German navy resigns over Crimea comments: https://www.wsj.com/articles/head-of-german-navy-resigns-after-saying-russia-would-never-return-crimea-11642893893 . If you’re looking for a silver lining here, it is somewhat comforting that the (former) head of the German navy is an idiot.
WSJ: Is Russia plotting to overthrow Ukrainian government?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-hatching-plot-to-replace-ukraine-government-u-k-says-11642890601 . Such a coup would undoubtedly meet stiff civilian resistance. This could get very ugly very fast.