News for July 16 — US Delta Spread “Vastly Underestimated”

US Delta spread “vastly underestimated”: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/16/dr-scott-gottlieb-says-us-is-vastly-underestimating-level-of-covid-delta-spread.html . We are seeing surprising numbers of vaccinated people become infected with COVID. I agree that many people are unaware of their infection and that they are contagious.

COVID cases now rising in all 50 states: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/covid-19-cases-are-now-rising-in-all-50-states-as-global-tally-tops-189-million-11626448090 . Vaccinations lag as the more infectious Delta variant takes over.

WSJ: The vaccine-variant race continues: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-immune-response-could-be-long-lasting-but-variants-present-risks-11626439371 .

Universal masking returns: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/nurses-cdc-universal-masking-210157443.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/sun-bum-is-reviewing-gel-amid-neutrogena-sunscreen-recall-11626463259 .

Vaccines may be ineffective for immunocompromised patients: https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/16/health/cdc-warning-covid-19-vaccine-immunocompromised/index.html . However, there is a wide range of “immunocompromised”. So, this advice will worry a lot of people. Hopefully CDC will clarify the advice quickly.

Under-12 COVID vaccines expected mid-winter: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/vaccines-kids-under-age-12-expected-mid-winter-fda-official-n1274057 . You have to ask if in-person schooling should be delayed until mid-winter. We know the Delta variant is much more dangerous to children than the original strain.

Woman regrets refusing vaccine for daughter: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/kids-health/after-teen-daughter-hospitalized-covid-mom-regrets-saying-no-vaccine-n1274227 . This is tragic because it was so preventable. Again, apparently a significant portion of the population does not understand the incredible medical advance vaccination was and still is. The first vaccine was in 1798, for smallpox. It was not eradicated until 1980, almost 200 years later.

COVID surging in Nevada: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/563385-covid-19-cases-surge-in-nevada-as-federal-government-prepares-to-send-help . So, over half of Nevada’s population resides in Las Vegas and surrounding areas. That is the logical place to focus vaccination efforts.

Long COVID: The British experience: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-57833394 .

WSJ: Southeast Asia bringing in western COVID vaccines: https://www.wsj.com/articles/hit-hard-by-covid-19-southeast-asian-countries-turn-to-western-vaccines-11626451122 .

First COVID case confirmed in Olympic village: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/17/olympic-village-tests-first-covid-case-six-days-before-tokyo-game .

7 Olympics teams already battling COVID in Japan: https://news.yahoo.com/virus-outbreaks-olympic-hotels-sow-064716589-101738184.html . It must be quite stressful to wait to compete in the Olympics in normal times. So isolating in a foreign hotel seems excruciating difficult.

Another vaccinated sports analyst has COVID: https://news.yahoo.com/jay-williams-will-not-work-the-rest-of-nba-finals-due-to-positive-covid-19-test-203430939.html . The public nature of these breakthrough cases cannot be helping the push to vaccinate the unvaccinated.

WSJ: More on J&J spray sunscreen recall: https://www.wsj.com/articles/sunscreen-recall-j-j-neutrogena-benzene-11626361355 . More products may be affected: https://www.wsj.com/articles/sun-bum-is-reviewing-gel-amid-neutrogena-sunscreen-recall-11626463259 .

WSJ: Moderna will join S&P 500: https://www.wsj.com/articles/moderna-shares-jump-on-joining-the-s-p-500-what-to-watch-when-the-stock-market-opens-today-11626433015 .

WSJ: The results of early opt-out from federal supplemental unemployment benefits: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-jobless-benefits-ended-early-11626454395 . I don’t see any clear conclusions from this data. However, it was cruel to the unemployed for states to terminate these benefits.

DACA implementation ruled unconstitutional: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/daca-ruled-unconstitutional-rescuing-dreamers-moves-to-congress/ar-AAMf25j?li=BBnb7Kz . It is pathetic that this was not fixed a long time ago. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/federal-judge-rules-obama-era-daca-immigration-program-is-illegal-11626471046 .

Federal prosecutors charge 2 in plot to blow up California Democratic headquarters: https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-government-and-politics-72d4c356b92532da31c89f272eead11e . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/two-charged-in-plot-to-bomb-california-democratic-party-headquarters-11626458768 .

Miami condo collapse recovery operation wanes as data becomes confusing: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article252831788.html . The new data eliminates the count of bodies recovered; we now have bodies identified. As of 2 days ago, we had 94 bodies recovered, 22 people unaccounted for. We now have 94 bodies identified, and 97 missing persons reports filed.

Haitian assassination plot continues to unfold: https://www.wsj.com/articles/haitian-authorities-probe-any-police-involvement-in-presidents-killing-11626453746 . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/haiti-president-assassination-11625665343 .