WSJ: Experts agree new strain raises needed vaccination rates: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-variant-could-make-herd-immunity-more-difficult-says-biontech-11608646717 . You heard it here first. But the basic research is not complete, leading to disagreements: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-coronavirus-strain-splits-scientists-as-u-k-and-others-act-to-curb-spread-11608665330 . David Dowdy’s comments, as described by WSJ, don’t really make logical sense. They are vague in nature, though, so I’ll give him a pass.
As I have pointed out before, it is improper to assume consistent levels of vaccination rates in all subgroups. Anti-vax communities (and others) will remain at risk. And the virus is embedded in the global population and is unlikely to be eradicated.
Let’s all share: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55404087 (link replaced 12/30/20). Sigh. Everything is not a balancing act. This mutation is up to 70% more contagious than the current dominant strain. What you’re trying to do right now is slow this thing down until vaccination rates cover more and more of the population.
WSJ: New US-Pfizer vaccine deal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizer-nears-covid-19-vaccine-deal-with-u-s-to-supply-more-doses-11608681220 . Note that an important element of the deal is giving Pfizer priority access to needed supplies. We have no idea how this might affect the competing vaccines that are later to receive approval.
Current vaccines are being measured against new strain: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2020-12-22/pfizer-moderna-test-vaccines-against-new-coronavirus-strain . “Testing” is a bit strong. The logical place to generate data is the UK, where the new strain is already rampant. As there were test groups for the existing vaccines, and those groups are typically followed for a year or more, it should be possible to get data from those UK test groups.
WSJ: New York hunts for UK strain: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-hunts-for-signs-of-u-k-s-new-coronavirus-strain-11608669647 . Uh-huh. The Brits do a lot of genomic sequencing; we do very little. It’s likely the new strain is already here. It’s unclear how long it might take for us to find it. New York, DC and Boston are the logical places to look at first. (That’s where we first got European transmission in the spring.)
Fauci warns new strain is here: https://www.eatthis.com/news-fauci-covid-mutation-warning/ . Yes. See prior item.
Analysis of new strain (sort of): https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/22192061/mutant-coronavirus-covid-19-uk-mutation-vaccine . This article has limited new information relative to its length.
WSJ: Vaccination priority conflicts: https://www.wsj.com/articles/hospitals-confront-tensions-over-who-gets-first-covid-19-vaccines-11608645610 .
COVID reaches Antarctica: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2020-12-22/coronavirus-cases-on-chilean-research-base-are-first-reported-in-antarctica . The virus is now on every continent. More from WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-reaches-antarctica-the-last-continent-hit-by-the-pandemic-11608681353 .
WSJ: Vaccine administration leads to pharmacist hiring frenzy: https://www.wsj.com/articles/hiring-frenzy-for-pharmacists-as-covid-19-vaccines-roll-out-11608633000 .
WSJ: US House investigates political interference at CDC: https://www.wsj.com/articles/house-panel-subpoenas-hhs-cdc-heads-in-coronavirus-probe-11608562819 . You can establish the baseline by searching on Caputo in the website’s News Archive (search button is on the upper right). You’ll find multiple references, starting here. Just sayin’ …
More on decreased US life expectancy: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/22/covid-coronavirus-us-life-expectancy-experts . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-deaths-to-reverse-u-s-life-expectancy-gains-11608613261 .
WSJ: Shipping strains Post Office: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-postal-service-struggles-to-keep-up-with-christmas-deliveries-11608647815 .
More on stimulus details: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/coronavirus-stimulus-relief-bill_n_5fe0c8b4c5b6a7df6666a7ff . WSJ: Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/stimulus-checks-round-2-when-will-they-arrive-how-much-will-they-be-11608561726 . And: https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-is-in-the-900-billion-covid-19-aid-bill-11608557531 .
WSJ: PPP update: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ppp-is-reopening-whats-different-this-time-11608645691 .
Illegal streaming to carry heavy penalties: https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/coronavirus-relief-bill-make-illegal-streaming-felony . As should be obvious by now, there is plenty in this very long piece of legislation that almost no one knows about.
WSJ: Background on stimulus negotiations: https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-the-covid-19-aid-deal-came-together-11608662985 . It’s hard to know what to make of the “White House aides” comments about Trump’s “displeasure”. They seem to say, He’s just spouting off, ignore him. I am so tired of this alternate reality – it’s a really crappy program.
WSJ: Stimulus to boost US growth: https://www.wsj.com/articles/stimulus-deal-likely-to-spur-faster-economic-growth-later-next-year-11608647279 . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-finance-chiefs-expect-growing-revenue-wages-and-employment-levels-in-2021-11608645609 . It’s final, right?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-aid-package-set-for-final-votes-in-house-senate-11608566895 .
Dimwit crawls out of his hole, declares 4 more weeks of stupid: https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-legislation-coronavirus-pandemic-latin-america-91cceebf9d788d4525ffb85fadb2b151 . Where has Donnie been during the negotiations on this bill? Filing bogus election challenges to steal from his followers. And we’re facing a government shutdown if he doesn’t sign the bill. Anyone who reads knows more about this legislation than the soon-to-be ex-president does. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-asks-congress-to-amend-covid-19-package-boost-direct-payments-11608684702 .
Alex Padilla is new US Senator from California: https://apnews.com/article/senate-elections-elections-california-alex-padilla-gavin-newsom-862028e7aef12cb995db549b7707cf7b . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/california-governor-picks-alex-padilla-to-fill-harriss-senate-seat-11608660041 .
Bye-bye Birx: https://www.npr.org/2020/12/22/949385834/deborah-birx-white-house-coronavirus-coordinator-to-retire-after-biden-transitio . It’s pretty clear what happened here. She’s welcome to call it a retirement.
WSJ: Fears of unemployment fraud: https://www.wsj.com/articles/wave-of-attempted-fraud-hits-state-unemployment-claims-programs-11608633000 . The pathetic state of both state computer systems and federal government oversight has been laid bare by the stress of the pandemic.
Border policies will take time to fix: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-12-22/the-latest-biden-promises-more-coronavirus-relief-efforts .
Treasury hackers stole encryption keys: https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2020/12/hack-roundup-treasury-briefing-reignites-encryption-debate/170970/ . Why is the administration silent on this incredible mess? Are they just trying to babysit Donnie the Menace until the clock strikes 12? (And yes, it won’t take much to turn him into a pumpkin, he’s already orange.) WSJ: Biden vows response: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-vows-forceful-response-to-suspected-russian-hack-of-government-agencies-11608671725 . Boy, don’t we look strong right now …
When the low road fails, dig a tunnel: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/ultimate-betrayal-trump-questions-loyalty-of-pence-as-gop-hardliners-push-to-overturn-election-results/ar-BB1c8T4f?li=BBnb7Kz . Loyalty is a one-way street with Trump. I lack any sympathy for the power-hungry sycophants who have led the Republican Party off a cliff: https://www.bustle.com/p/what-is-a-sycophant-dictionarycom-trolls-mike-pence-so-hard-for-sucking-up-to-trump-7674775 .
The Trump ship sails: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/trump-directed-email-criticizes-mcconnell-includes-polling-graphic-n1252063 . And the folks onshore are ready to wave bye-bye: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/congress/trump-faces-first-veto-override-in-rare-post-christmas-session . 29 days to go … Pardons coming soon …
Actually, late today: https://www.npr.org/2020/12/22/947972044/trump-grants-slew-of-pardons-including-george-papadopoulos-and-duncan-hunter . This lovely group includes convicted former Republican Congressmen, persons convicted during the Mueller probe, and persons who killed civilians in Iraq. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-issues-fifteen-pardons-and-five-commutations-11608682607 .
But apparently not for Michael Cohen: https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-campaign-finance-prisons-campaigns-tax-evasion-94ba831049fac2ea0e0a8f8f7bcac300 . Still, the checks will be coming in: https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-politics-trump-investigations-us-news-fbd241da120af910ca7e2e35dd181428 .
Florida data scientist fights back but leaves state: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/florida-data-scientist-who-says-she-was-ousted-over-covid-n1251982 . Were I betting, I’d bet on a settlement here.
Lawsuit watch: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/531277-naacp-files-suit-accusing-trump-gop-of-violating-kkk-act . Sometimes things get said (or filed) just to gain attention. This succeeded.
Lawsuits are us: https://beyogi.com/beyogi-yoga-insurance/ . And there’s insurance for that.
WSJ: And the Sacklers still suck: https://www.wsj.com/articles/sackler-family-debated-lawsuit-risk-while-taking-billions-from-purdue-11608680865 . Someone should compare the Sacklers’ ill-gotten gains to the Mexican drug lords. The scale of suffering these people have caused is appalling, as is their cold-blooded behavior.
The day of reckoning approaches for Twitter: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-will-face-different-twitter-rules-when-he-leaves-office-11608642198 . Uh-huh. Here is the central question for Twitter: When a dog does his business on your lawn, how many times do you sniff it? This is why the conservatives advocate moving to Parler. It’s also part of why I think Internet companies should be regulated like utilities.
The stupidity contagion rages: https://thehill.com/homenews/531261-gingrich-wont-accept-biden-as-president-says-democrats-and-republicans-live-in . When you name your child Newt, problems are bound to follow. Tomorrow: do you really want to be the mother of Tucker?
Another frontrunner in the Senility Sweepstakes: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/12/22/700-clubs-pat-robertson-donald-trump-its-time-move-on/4005915001/ . Too harsh?: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2020/10/20/televangelist-pat-robertson-predicts-trump-win-end-world/5996435002/ . Not so much. Pat Robertson is the original model of how to create and rip off followers through a media empire.
WSJ: An updated list of Biden’s picks: https://www.wsj.com/articles/joe-bidens-white-house-and-cabinet-picks-11606160202 . Miguel Cardona picked as Secretary of Education: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-to-nominate-miguel-cardona-as-education-secretary-11608646951 . The huge remaining question mark is Attorney General.
WSJ: Looking ahead to the redistricting fight: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-population-data-suggest-which-states-will-win-and-lose-seats-in-congress-11608677211 . Just in case you were thinking everything will be calm under President Biden. There is a helluva fight coming for the Latinx vote in Texas and Florida.
And now, an opposing view on Dr. Fauci and Santa: https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/531228-dr-fauci-made-the-right-house-calls . I remain a non-fan of misleading children.
WSJ: New York’s holiday spirit: Update on the Naked Cowboy: https://www.wsj.com/articles/neither-rain-nor-snow-nor-a-pandemic-discourages-nycs-naked-cowboy-11608649201 . The WSJ content has certainly changed over the years …
Keyontae Johnson to be released from hospital: https://news.yahoo.com/keyontae-johnson-to-be-released-from-the-hospital-10-days-after-collapsing-on-court-175537284.html . Whatever path this young man’s road to recovery takes, at least he is on it.