Voluntary vaccine passports?: https://apnews.com/article/michael-pence-donald-trump-government-and-politics-569cdd527b1525a490f8a4d43937b3a3 . This seems like a hot potato better handled by a travel industry consortium than by the federal government. DHS later walked back the Secretary’s remarks: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/homeland-security-head-says-agency-taking-close-look-vaccine-passports-n1268986 . Here is a state-by-state summary of vaccine passport bans: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/which-states-have-banned-vaccine-passports .
US COVID cases and deaths expected to fall over next 4 weeks: https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/28/health/us-coronavirus-friday/index.html .
Efficacy of the mRNA vaccines against the variants: https://www.fool.com/investing/2021/05/28/how-are-pfizers-and-modernas-vaccines-faring-again/ . There isn’t much new here, it’s just a current summary. And remember, the viral vector vaccines appear to be less effective against the variants.
Latino vaccine access issues: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/vaccine-access-hesitancy-problem-latinos-senators/story?id=77961547 .
Hospital sued over requiring vaccination for employees: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/texas-hospital-sued-by-117-employees-for-requiring-covid-vaccine-to-work/ar-AAKuRUK?li=BBnb7Kz . To clarify, the vaccines have completed Phase 3 trials and have received EUA’s from the FDA. While the vaccines are not yet approved, they are also not experimental. As previously reported, employers can make vaccination mandatory. The most logical place to have this requirement is a hospital, in order to protect patients and staff. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/employers-can-require-covid-19-vaccine-under-federal-law-new-guidancestates-11622230319 .
CDC issues new summer camp mask guidance: https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/28/health/cdc-updates-its-guidance-for-summer-camps/index.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/teenage-campers-who-are-fully-vaccinated-dont-need-to-wear-face-masks-physically-distance-cdc-says-11622227469 . Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/face-mask-doctor-recommendations-11622115405 (this article, in yesterday’s newsletter, was updated today).
Dr. Gottlieb’s latest predictions: https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/prevention-cures/555987-coronavirus-risk-should-be-low-this-summer-but . I disagree. First of all, there is still no evidence that COVID is seasonal and considerable evidence that it is not. Second, people in the Sun Belt are indoors during the summer – that means increased risk. Third, if Gottlieb is correct that 75% of the population will be vaccinated by the fall, that will significantly reduce risk. I do agree that variants remain the major unknown.
WSJ: South lags in COVID vaccinations: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccinations-in-the-south-are-among-lowest-in-u-s-11622203201 . Wake up, Dr. Gottlieb!
Public’s COVID worries continue to drop ahead of Memorial Day: https://news.yahoo.com/new-yahoo-news-you-gov-poll-us-covid-worries-fall-to-lowest-level-ever-ahead-of-memorial-day-weekend-200718141.html . We still don’t know enough about the variants to be free of concern.
Cruise lines ready to jab DeMentis over jab proof: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/political-buffoonery-cruise-lines-head-for-showdown-with-desantis-over-vaccine-requirement-ban/ar-AAKuQuz?li=BBnb7Kz .
WSJ: Can American business reform US healthcare?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-and-walmart-have-an-rx-for-healthcare-the-cure-wont-be-easy-11622194240 .
Protest with a deadly weapon: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-e73487ba6b6b83a7a10f16f0fbcc4cd7 . Woman drives through vaccination tent at high speeds, nearly striking workers, according to witnesses. What are the odds this is an Orange Julius voter?
WSJ: Medicaid expansion becoming a 2022 election issue: https://www.wsj.com/articles/resistance-to-medicaid-expansion-sets-up-2022-fight-in-holdout-states-11622194202 . I have always found red state resistance to this expansion illogical. It looks even worse in the middle of a pandemic, and the program is becoming increasingly with red state voters. Wow, what might happen if the 2022 campaign is based on real issues and facts?
UK cases rise with fears of a third wave: https://apnews.com/article/europe-science-business-coronavirus-pandemic-health-740fe935f33e43ad85271bc0f4c0a946 . Note that 75% of cases are estimated to be from the Indian variant. The US remains at risk.
UK authorizes J&J vaccine: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/555947-uk-authorizes-johnson-johnson-coronavirus-vaccine .
Italy’s case numbers continue to fall: https://www.thelocal.it/20210528/italys-coronavirus-infection-rate-falls-to-lowest-level-since-october/ . It appears their reference to “Rt” is what we call the reproduction rate, R0.
Vaccination demand surges in Australia: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-05-29/australias-victoria-logs-5-local-covid-19-cases-amid-lockdown-vaccination-demand-surges .
WSJ: China vaccinations surge: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-vaccination-surge-could-accelerate-asian-recovery-from-covid-11622183312 . One does wonder where the vaccination production capacity is coming from. However, remember that China showed remarkable ability in quickly erecting hospitals in Wuhan.
Delhi to gradually come out of lockdown: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-57280968 . India remains way behind in vaccinating its population. This makes reopening seem premature.
WSJ: Young Indian patients are more severely ill in this wave: https://www.wsj.com/articles/indias-covid-surge-hit-young-patients-hard-and-fast-11622217595 . Again, more evidence that the variants are more virulent than the original strain. Please stop the influenza comparisons.
Children’s COVID questions in India: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/05/28/1001198619/coronavirus-faq-kids-in-india-ask-heartbreaking-questions-how-do-you-answer-them .
COVID outbreak in northern Vietnam threatens tech supply chain: https://www.usnews.com/news/technology/articles/2021-05-28/vietnam-coronavirus-outbreak-threatens-to-disrupt-tech-supply-chain .
WSJ: Japanese opposition to Olympics continues to grow: https://www.wsj.com/articles/top-tokyo-lawmaker-calls-for-option-to-reconsider-olympics-11622203465 .
WSJ: Germany admits to colonial genocide in Namibia: https://www.wsj.com/articles/germany-recognizes-colonial-genocide-in-namibia-to-pay-1-3-billion-11622208538 . In my school days, this was South West Africa: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_West_Africa .
GOP Senators block bipartisan January 6 commission: https://apnews.com/article/michael-pence-donald-trump-capitol-siege-government-and-politics-4798a8617bacf27bbb576a4b805b85d9 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-republicans-block-jan-6-riot-commission-11622218867 . Another appalling day for the rule of law and American democracy is brought to us by the “unable to govern” GOP. This sets up another fight over the filibuster: https://apnews.com/article/politics-donald-trump-bills-elections-government-and-politics-c960a06486a91f260297187c21c05d29 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-will-take-up-voting-rights-in-june-sen-chuck-schumer-says-11622221567 . But a possible compromise is to require only a majority vote for voting rights legislation.
WSJ: Republican Senators delay vote on technology bill: https://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-puts-off-vote-on-bill-to-keep-u-s-lead-in-technology-11622220894 . The apparent deal to pass this bill fell apart after the extended January 6 commission fight. McConnell, true to his (recent) words, is all about opposing Biden on everything.
Breaking news! OJ is a crook!: https://www.yahoo.com/now/lead-witness-trump-inaugural-investigation-claims-trump-involved-065617402.html . Why am I not surprised that the inaugural was another crooked deal to line OJ’s pockets? Apparently Weisselberg also had his fingers in this. There is then a prosecutorial decision on how much relief to give Weisselberg to flip on OJ. The fools who keep funding this crook relied on him to “drain the swamp”.
WSJ: Background on the OJ prosecution team: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-case-new-york-prosecutor-known-for-aggressive-pursuit-of-evidence-11622206821 . Again, it is my view that A-team people do not go to the grand jury unless an indictment is a near certainty.
Breaking news! The Arizona audit is a farce with no exit ramp: https://news.yahoo.com/maricopa-county-2020-election-audit-explained-faq-202637642.html . It is surprising the Maricopa County is the fourth most populous county in the nation. What this tells me is that intelligent people have moved into Phoenix in the last 5 years and will continue to do so (it’s sort of the western Atlanta). So the Democrats need to get some decent candidates and flip the state government blue.
WSJ: The Rude Dude is still out there, losing lawsuits and motions: https://www.wsj.com/articles/rudy-giulianis-bid-to-review-prosecutors-evidence-rejected-11622219719 .
More praise for Lyin’ Ted and “You must be Joshing” Hawley: https://apnews.com/article/michael-pence-donald-trump-government-and-politics-569cdd527b1525a490f8a4d43937b3a3 . “Second-rate imitations” is a promotion for the OJ zombies, who are now the face of the party. OJ’s indictment may help this pathetic party, but only if they are hammered at the polls in 2022.
WSJ: British unable to keep up with the times: https://www.wsj.com/articles/bitcoin-mining-operation-is-uncovered-during-u-k-drug-bust-11622219458 . So, the crooks were stealing electricity, but not to grow marijuana. They were mining bitcoin.
WSJ: The Tale of the Purple Heart: https://www.wsj.com/articles/one-last-mission-return-a-fallen-marines-purple-heart-to-his-family-11622203330 . There are many good people out there, and it’s worth looking.