US breakthrough infections at 5,800: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/cdc-breakthrough-cases-explained-173107351.html . So breakthrough infections are not rare. Remember that almost all vaccinations have occurred in 2021, so we have not seen anything like the total for the pandemic.
Who the hell is doing the math in this article? Apparently it’s people attempting to reassure the public. Let’s fix the analysis. We learn that 74 of the 5,800 died. That’s 1.3%, which is at least as high as the general COVID mortality rate. So there may be some connection between the failure of a person’s immune system to generate a response and their risk of death. Or it may just be the current skew of vaccinations to older individuals.
The asymptomatic infection rate is 29%, which is lower than the general estimates of up to 40% asymptomatic infections. Again, vaccinations are currently weighted to older individuals, who have a more severe risk of disease. And perhaps men underreported asymptomatic infections.
The skew toward women is interesting. It could be reporting bias. But it could also be the nature of the immune response. Women are more subject than men to a variety of autoimmune diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis is one example. Also, men have a higher mortality rate from COVID than women. So the 1.3% calculated above could understate mortality in this group if it is properly gender-weighted.
In short, there is very little here that differentiates this group from COVID experience in the general population before vaccinations began.
There is no reporting on the involvement of variants, or of any genomic sequencing of these cases. These are the OBVIOUS cases to sequence. The total focus on vaccinations continues to ignore basic public health knowledge. It is ridiculous to fail to examine this cohort in detail.
Funding the variants fight: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-administration-invest-17-billion-fight-covid-19-variants-2021-04-16/ . Finally, we may move the needle on genomic sequencing. We have plenty of lab capacity. Just beef up the ingredients supply chain and pay for the testing.
Another choice is to have dogs sniff your pee: https://www.livescience.com/dogs-sniff-out-coronavirus.html . Okay, I don’t know how they’d do on variants.
Global COVID cases double in the last two weeks: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who/who-chief-says-covid-19-infection-rate-approaching-highest-of-pandemic-so-far-idUSKBN2C30VP . Those who are pandemic weary (all of us) need to realize that COVID is raging right now.
The Brazilian variant kills younger Brazilians: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/16/spreading-faster-hitting-harder-why-young-brazilians-are-dying-of-covid . The world has been too slow to confront the implications of the variants. Best course is to develop a multivalent vaccine around the current variants and test it in Brazil.
P.1 variant feared to be more aggressive in pregnant women: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-04-16/brazil-scrambles-to-secure-sedatives-as-hospitals-overwhelmed-by-covid-19 (link replaced 5/31/21).
Older vaccinations, younger behavior also play a part in the youth surge: https://www.cleveland.com/cityhall/2021/04/residents-under-40-years-old-account-for-more-than-half-of-clevelands-covid-19-coronavirus-cases.html . There is a confusing “not” in this article; it should be “now”.
WSJ: J&J looked for industry cooperation on blood clot issue: https://www.wsj.com/articles/j-j-privately-asked-rival-covid-19-vaccine-makers-to-probe-clotting-risks-11618570802 . Let’s say the key point directly: Pfizer and Moderna are mRNA vaccines. They do not show any meaningful clotting risk. The risk is with the viral vector vaccines (everyone’s current understanding). Therefore, the mRNA vaccines would be foolish to lump in with someone else’s problem. J&J blood clot research continues: https://www.wsj.com/articles/no-causal-link-found-so-far-between-j-js-covid-19-vaccine-and-blood-clot-cases-company-researchers-say-11618594764 .
WSJ: Moderna cuts vaccine supply outside the US: https://www.wsj.com/articles/vaccine-manufacturing-issues-force-moderna-to-cut-supplies-to-canada-u-k-11618600046 . Together with AstraZeneca’s problems and the J&J freeze, this is a significant glitch in global vaccination.
Coronavirus has triangular spikes: https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-in-japan-discover-key-to-coronavirus-transmission-triangular-shaped-spikes/ . It’s so interesting that they’ve unraveled the theory behind COVID’s increased transmissibility.
New vaccine technology announced: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210416115957.htm .
White House reassures the J&J vaccine recipients: https://news.yahoo.com/you-will-be-just-fine-says-surgeon-general-of-johnson-johnson-vaccine-though-pause-continues-181320913.html . I agree with the reassurance, but not the blanket pause.
WSJ: Lilly shuts down its monoclonal antibody drug: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-covid-19-strains-prompt-lilly-to-seek-to-end-u-s-use-of-single-antibody-drug-alone-11618569000 . So now it will be used in a cocktail with another drug rather than on a stand-alone basis.
Alaska to offer vaccine to tourists at airports: https://lasvegassun.com/news/2021/apr/16/alaska-to-offer-tourists-covid-19-vaccines-startin/ . Does “anyone” include foreign tourists?
Biden administration yanks prior administration’s last-minute approval of Texas Medicaid deal: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/biden-officials-rescind-trumps-okay-for-texass-dollar100-billion-plus-medicaid-plan/ar-BB1fJtHb?li=BBnb7Kz . Elections have consequences, Greg. So shut up and play by the new sheriff’s rules. We all know Democrats want Medicaid expansion in Texas – it’s the crooked waiver deal that’s the problem.
Proud Boy gets COVID in jail: https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/548633-proud-boy-charged-in-capitol-riot-gets-coronavirus-while-jailed .
Turks develop virus-killing fabric: https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/turkish-engineers-develop-fiber-that-kills-coronavirus-in-minutes/news . The article indicates it will be used in protective masks. This might also make sense as a mask material for someone who is infected.
China considers foreign vaccines in quid pro quo move: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-plans-to-approve-first-foreign-covid-19-vaccine-by-july-11618574842 .
India exceeds 200,000 new cases each day: https://www.npr.org/2021/04/15/987617849/india-confirms-more-than-200-000-coronavirus-cases-in-a-day .
So how bad is the pandemic in India?: https://www.abc.net.au/news/backstory/2021-04-17/james-oaten-on-venturing-into-a-covid-ward-in-india/13303986 . We knew it was bad – this is gut-wrenching.
WSJ: India can’t track its new variants: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-variants-are-floating-around-india-but-nobody-knows-how-many-11618565403 . The country has very little genomic sequencing – much less than even the US.
WSJ: COVID’s hit on US small business: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19s-toll-on-u-s-business-200-000-extra-closures-in-pandemics-first-year-11618580619 .
Texas thinks about its power grid screw-up: https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-failure-of-texas-size-proportionsstate-struggles-to-overhaul-its-power-market-11618565415 . Hey, what’s to worry? That winter thing isn’t coming again, is it?
WSJ: US prepares to screw up its balance sheet: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-debt-is-at-a-record-high-but-the-risk-calculus-is-changing-11618565580 . I agree that the US can and should borrow now because its position as the world currency overvalues the dollar. However, the basic laws of economics remain in place. Leverage has ballooned no matter how you slice it. Leverage requires management. This is another reason why taxes must be raised.
WSJ: Does China’s economy have slow “mo”?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-growth-numbers-betray-waning-momentum-11618569900 .
Are the Tokyo Olympics on the chopping block again?: https://www.dw.com/en/could-japan-cancel-tokyo-olympics-over-coronavirus/a-57223286 .
WSJ: Japan looks for US to rejoin TPP: https://www.wsj.com/articles/japan-wants-u-s-back-in-the-tpp-it-will-likely-have-to-wait-11618570801 . We should rejoin sooner rather than later to exert more economic pressure on China.
Eight dead in Indianapolis FedEx shooting: https://apnews.com/article/fedex-indianapolis-mass-shooting-e92ad3117c56357b3b2c71a2903e68a8 . Update: Shooter is a 19-year-old former employee, and took his own life as police approached. The shooter had an automatic weapon, so the slaughter was fairly rapid (Update: weapon is now described as “believed to be a rifle”, shooting was complete in one to two minutes). This is the third mass shooting in Indianapolis this year. (This AP article has been updated several times during the day.) WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/multiple-people-shot-at-fedex-facility-in-indianapolis-11618551906 .
There is NO REASON for assault weapons to be in the hands of private citizens. To the extent hunting is a sport, that sportsmanship is eliminated by an automatic weapon. An automatic weapon is meant to kill multiple people. It is a weapon of offense, not defense.
(Further update) If the weapon was not an automatic weapon, the issues change. Police knew the shooter, who had a history of mental health issues: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/multiple-victims-reported-after-shooting-fedex-site-indianapolis-wrtv-citing-2021-04-16/ . Rational licensing, training and renewal requirements would prohibit many mentally ill people from accessing guns. We have such requirements for cars, but not for guns? This makes no sense.
What has happened in this country that we lack the political will to solve obvious problems? Here is the White House take on a next step: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-guns/white-house-says-congress-should-end-immunity-for-gun-manufacturers-idUSKBN2C320Y .
Republicans forget how to legislate: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/republicans-struggle-craft-counteroffer-biden-s-2-trillion-jobs-plan-n1264228 . Here’s the “How to Legislate for Dummies”: Get 14 Republican Senators in a room who want to support infrastructure. Get the biggest package any 12 will support. Take that deal to Biden. Now get to work, you dimwits.
WSJ: Corporations are speaking with their money, Mitch: https://www.wsj.com/articles/lawmakers-who-voted-against-certifying-bidens-victory-saw-drop-in-business-contributions-11618595920 .
Meanwhile, the Idiot’s Who’s Who promote minority racist rule: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-loyalists-start-america-first-caucus-to-promote-us-as-uniquely-anglo-saxon/ar-BB1fJXtd?li=BBnb7Kz . This is a money-raising scheme, okay?
First guilty plea in insurrection: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/federal-prosecutors-secure-first-guilty-plea-cases-stemming-jan-6-n1264300 . This is very, very important. As the article mentions, standard prosecution of group behavior is to turn knowledgeable underlings against the senior targets. Schaffer fits that description in The Oath Keepers, a primary target of the investigation. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/oath-keeper-becomes-first-to-plead-guilty-in-capitol-riot-11618596401 .
DOJ sues Roger Stone for unpaid taxes: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/justice-department-sues-trump-ally-roger-stone-alleging-millions-unpaid-n1264372 . Stone says the suit is “politically motivated”. Even if that “fake news” were true, how is that an excuse to not pay taxes? WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/roger-stone-is-sued-as-u-s-government-alleges-unpaid-taxes-11618619185 .
Liberty sues Falwell Jr.: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who/who-chief-says-covid-19-infection-rate-approaching-highest-of-pandemic-so-far-idUSKBN2C30VP . First, what religious figures can you think of who behave this corruptly? Jim Bakker came to mind first. And then pretty much every other televangelist. Second, is every major figure who supported Orange Julius corrupt? The answer is damn close to yes. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/liberty-university-sues-jerry-falwell-jr-11618596790 .
WSJ: “Arch Egos” cost Morgan Stanley almost $1 billion, and they still had a record quarter: https://www.wsj.com/articles/morgan-stanley-first-quarter-profit-soars-11618574016 . And remember, Credit Suisse ate $4.7 billion on these folks.
WSJ: Hooray! We have more to say on the Suez Canal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/evergreen-looks-at-moving-cargo-from-seized-suez-ship-11618591720 . This story will not die, if WSJ can help it.
WSJ: Boeing preparing to build Yugos: https://www.wsj.com/articles/boeing-737-max-electrical-problem-affects-more-locations-on-aircraft-11618599393 . Quality control is apparently shot at Boeing. It is unbelievable that a company could trash its decades-long stellar reputation with its absolute inability to produce its primary product.