US COVID hospitalizations surge: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2022-01-02/fauci-warns-of-danger-of-hospitalization-surge-due-to-large-number-of-covid-cases .
Defense Secretary Austin has COVID: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-lloyd-austin-alejandro-mayorkas-d06d9606206265e8fae110cf7a549fd4 . His preparations were sound, but obviously his defenses were inadequate. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/defense-secretary-lloud-austin-tests-positive-for-covid-19-pentagon-says-11641175855 .
Omicron may produce night sweats: https://www.deseret.com/coronavirus/2021/12/30/22859078/new-strange-omicron-variant-symptom-covid-19-symptoms-night-sweats . Night sweats join the panorama of COVID symptoms. As Omicron is the only current variant producing this symptom, those who experience night sweats should assume they have Omicron.
Vaccine mandate refusals result in more military discharges: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/12/30/marines-kick-out-troops-covid-vaccine-526266 .
US wastewater reveals record levels of COVID: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/wastewater-samples-reveal-record-levels-covid-19-us-rcna10451 . This is an efficient way to do “pooled testing”. However, infected individuals can only be identified by further individual testing.
Projecting the latest COVID surge: https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/02/health/us-coronavirus-sunday/index.html . To repeat, measurement should rely on hospitalization numbers rather than case numbers. Also, the relative mix of Omicron and Delta needs to be known in detail to adequately compute Omicron’s severity. But because of inadequate testing and genetic analysis of cases, we just don’t know at the present time.
Schools adopt “test-to-stay” COVID plans: https://www.yahoo.com/now/school-districts-push-person-return-103509228.html . But with the major testing shortage continuing in this country, how are the schools going to receive adequate testing supplies on a timely basis? One guesses that yet another mess awaits us. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/k-12-schools-press-to-reopen-as-omicron-variant-surges-11641119404 .
CDC considers adding negative test requirement to shortened isolation period: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/cdc-considering-testing-guidelines-asymptomatic-fauci-says-rcna10622 . Again, where are these testing supplies coming from? This feels like the CDC once again attempts to play chess with a checkers capability.
WSJ: Omicron stress on daily life: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-europe-weigh-isolation-requirements-as-omicron-disrupts-daily-life-11641137748 .
Puerto Rico staggered by massive COVID surge: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/puerto-rico-faces-staggering-covid-case-explosion/ar-AASlQ8S?li=BBnb7Kz . Puerto Rico has the highest US vaccination rate.
COVID pandemic in US deer: https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/covid-rampant-deer-research-shows-rcna10181 .
COVID reaches Antarctica: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59848160 .
WSJ: Omicron stress on the US economy: https://www.wsj.com/articles/omicron-takes-a-toll-on-businesses-from-airports-to-bars-and-supermarkets-11641144710 .
Twitter permanently suspends Marjorie Taylor Greene’s personal account: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/twitter-permanently-suspends-marjorie-taylor-greenes-personal-account-rcna10615 . But her professional account remains open for now. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/twitter-permanently-suspends-one-of-marjorie-taylor-greenes-accounts-11641140416 .
Former jock joins Idiot Olympics: https://sports.yahoo.com/esp-ns-kirk-herbstreit-on-players-opting-out-of-bowl-games-i-think-this-era-of-player-just-doesnt-love-football-173929216.html . NFL Draft Day is their entire future. Why would these players risk their careers for one meaningless game at the end of 4 years of servitude to their college? Here’s Exhibit A as to why Herbstreit is dead wrong: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32975990/ole-miss-rebels-quarterback-matt-corral-leaves-sugar-bowl-vs-baylor-bears-injury . My guess is that bowl games will survive, but seniors who have NFL aspirations will bow out. So the hard truths of capitalism have now been revealed to Mr. Herbstreit. UPDATE: The Ole Miss QB appears to have escaped long-term injury: https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2022/01/02/matt-corral-injury-update-ole-miss-sugar-bowl-lane-kiffin/ . But the risk was quite obviously not worth it.
WSJ: Another problem arises in expanding the college football playoffs: this year’s all-SEC final: https://www.wsj.com/articles/alabama-georgia-college-football-playoff-expansion-11641094195 . Maybe. But the larger problem is in the article directly above.