US COVID hospitalizations rising in 37 states: https://news.yahoo.com/ahead-of-omicron-covid-hospitalizations-are-rising-in-37-states-100019632.html . Remember, all of these hospitalizations come from Delta. It is very unlikely that Omicron will slow Delta’s advance. We do not know if an Omicron infection offers any protection against a Delta infection. And again, there is increasing possibility that persons will be infected by both viruses, which could lead to new and powerful variants. Swell.
US facing another Delta wave: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/a-year-after-first-us-shots-pandemic-hallmarks-re-emerge/ar-AARHhoR?li=BBnb7Kz . The evidence to me is clear that the US has experienced multiple waves of COVID infections. These are often at 2-month intervals in various US locations, which appear to be the result of re-opening too quickly. So far COVID does not behave in a “seasonal” manner.
New York reimposes indoor mask mandate: https://apnews.com/article/new-york-mask-mandate-coronavirus-cfe8fb80401bb0fe66f3260bf5f51dda . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-gov-kathy-hochul-imposes-mask-mandate-for-indoor-places-11639164796 .
WSJ: COVID medical treatment improving: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-patients-benefit-from-improved-screening-and-treatment-of-blood-clots-11639141203 . Experience is of course the best teacher. More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-you-should-know-about-treating-covid-19-11638468809 . Perhaps these two Journal writers should have compared notes before sending these articles to print.
Omicron now found in 25 US states: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cdc-report-omicron-finds-first-handful-cases-us-mostly-mild-rcna8352 . First Omicron case reported in North Carolina: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-charlotte-north-carolina-university-of-north-carolina-5c33354c91a834bbaf135ca32b25c347 . First Idaho Omicron case reported: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-public-health-idaho-boise-ffd098a158af09410a19be2b36919295 .
Most US Omicron cases have hit the fully vaccinated: https://www.aol.com/news/most-reported-u-omicron-cases-182642515-202805440.html . Of the 43 US cases, 34 persons were fully vaccinated and 14 had received a booster. These numbers are way too small to draw firm conclusions, but the underlying percentages look a lot like the percent of Americans who are fully vaccinated and who have received a booster. That is, if these ratios hold up, the vaccines offer very little protection against infection. The question is then how much severe COVID and death Omicron generates, and whether the vaccinations offer protection against severe illness. Experts believe there is protection, but again it is too early to tell. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/omicron-covid-19-cases-in-u-s-mostly-mild-so-far-cdc-data-show-11639163980 .
Summary of Omicron testing data: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/heres-the-data-we-have-so-far-on-the-omicron-variant-versus-our-vaccines-%e2%80%94-what-scientists-have-found-and-what-remains-unanswered/ar-AARHl3I?li=BBnb7Kz . The article indicates that Omicron’s transmissibility is unknown. However, several studies estimate Omicron’s transmissibility at 2 to 2.3 times that of Delta.
Omicron will become dominant variant in the UK within days: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-europe-16003bc6d2a0f386196d7dbbb43ff82e . This continues to look like the most contagious virus we have seen. Hope grows that Omicron will be less deadly than Delta, but it remains too early to say. WSJ: The UK as a predictor of Omicron in the US: https://www.wsj.com/articles/for-clues-to-how-omicron-plays-out-in-the-u-s-look-to-the-u-k-11639135145 .
US inflation hits 6.8% in November, highest in 39 years: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/consumer-price-index-posts-biggest-year-over-year-jump-since-1982-in-november-134529314.html . Wall Street apparently believes inflation offers corporations the opportunity to increase profits. That recipe will drive ongoing inflation. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-is-inflation-cause-stock-market-11637623703 . Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/us-inflation-consumer-price-index-november-2021-11639088867 . And: https://www.wsj.com/articles/global-stock-markets-dow-update-12-10-2021-11639125288 .
Chief Justice warns conservative wing over authority of Supreme Court: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/chief-justice-john-roberts-warns-supreme-court-over-texas-abortion-n1285747 . Roberts’ point is valid. However, loading the Court with political hacks is about to reap a bitter harvest for the Court’s integrity. So far, the conservative justices show no ability to listen to reason.
Flying nuts multiply: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/flight-diverted-oklahoma-passenger-assaults-flight-attendant-air-marsh-rcna8321 . What has happened to social responsibility? There is a bigger problem here than alcohol, although we may need to get to breathalyzer tests for boarding passengers. These offenders also need prosecution, not just fines.
Georgia governor’s race to relitigate conspiracy theories: https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-donald-trump-georgia-presidential-elections-elections-5b520fef3ba06833fe8b216952f74a87 . Frankly, all of this feels like a replay of the Lost Cause 150 years later. The Confederacy lost the Civil War, with Atlanta burned mostly to the ground. Trump lost Georgia, Perdue was forced into a runoff with Ossoff and lost.
The election officials involved were predominantly elected GOP party members. How does Perdue win the general election as voters tire of this lie? Indeed, how does he beat Governor Kemp in the primary? Kemp did manipulate the voter rules to squeak past Stacey Abrams last time. How exactly does that fact play out in this race?
Meanwhile, the GOP openly uses racist tactics to gain control of county election boards: https://www.aol.com/news/georgia-republicans-purge-black-democrats-111131036-150145433.html . Jim Crow 3.0 comes to Georgia. Democrats’ hopes in Georgia may come down to convincing educated white voters to save democracy. Really, how bizarre is this?
Storm collapses part of Amazon warehouse in southern Illinois: https://apnews.com/article/health-arkansas-asa-hutchinson-weather-tornadoes-67b9acfb9d83e2e7139ae9de01618a21 . With 100 people working in the building at the time of the collapse, it is too early to know when everyone will be accounted for.
WSJ: China’s real estate woes deepen: https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-chinas-economy-falters-the-rest-of-world-looks-resilient-11639132202 . Note the comment that foreign investors are heavily involved in China’s real estate debt. At some level, there will be global fallout. The soft landing discussed in the article does not match the modest steps China has taken so far to prevent contagion in its real estate sector.
WSJ: Paul Simon explains how he writes songs: https://www.wsj.com/articles/paul-simon-tells-the-stories-behind-his-songs-11639157149 . His process demonstrates a depth of musical knowledge you may not have been aware of before.
Michael Nesmith of the Monkees passes: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/monkees-michael-nesmith-dead-1270079/ . The only surviving member is Micky Dolenz. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/michael-nesmith-the-monkee-for-all-seasons-dies-at-78-11639167364 .