Good news from Israel (no, not that kind) and from the U.K. as well – Improvement in India – Biden confounds his opponents yet again – The rioters firmly established as children of privilege – More snow to come – Evening statistics
Another warm, sunny, and cheerful day; and as if in harmony with the weather, news from abroad has been encouraging as well.
In particular, the results of the vaccines are quite promising to date. Reports from the U.K. and Israel this week suggest that they are both safe and effective at preventing illness from COVID-19. As of January 24th, about 7 million in the U.K. received their first dose and 500,000 received their second dose. Most of the reported symptoms from reaction to the vaccines were mild and temporary. There are only a few reports of serious side effects, not more than usual for established vaccines of other diseases. There is no evidence of an increased risk of Bell’s palsy, as was thought at first. In Israel, which has energetically rolled out the new vaccines, hospitalizations have decreased substantially, particularly of persons over 60, who were among the first to receive their vaccinations. About 37% of Israelis have received their first dose and 21% have received their second dose. Less than 9% of Americans have received their first dose; but, even so, hospitalizations are declining here also.
Both hospitalizations and COVID-related deaths are declining in India as well, although it is not known what the causes might be. It is almost certain that the number of people who have contracted COVID-19 is considerably greater than the official reported figures. Nonetheless, hospitals are no longer filled to capacity and the death rate is now about 10% of the death rate in September. Health care workers have acquired data that suggests that at least 20% of the population now carries COVID-19 antibodies, suggesting that in the case of India, “herd immunity” may be becoming a reality. India has imposed some of the strictest lockdowns worldwide and mask-wearing is compulsory in the majority of Indian states. These measures have probably played a factor in the decline of the virus, but data collection in that country is attended with so many difficulties that it’s impossible at this point to reach a firm conclusion as to why the virus is subsiding. But the news is good in any case, and it may be an indication that the pandemic is beginning to recede at last, as other pandemics have done.
One of the predictions that Biden’s opponents made was that if he became President he would immediately knuckle down to China. Today a U.S. guided-missile destroyer passed through the Taiwan Strait between China and Taiwan, the first time since the inauguration that a U.S. warship has used that waterway. It is a response to China’s dispatching two large warship formations close to the island. It is completely in accordance with international law but it is plainly a gesture of support for Taiwan’s claims to independence.
I am sorry to say that the rioters who besieged the Capitol continue to get special privileges from our judicial system. It has already been related how Jacob Chansley is receiving specially-made organic food in prison, as if he were a customer in a restaurant rather than a convicted felon. And now Jenny Louise Cudd, who was charged on Jan. 12 with entering and remaining on restricted grounds, violent entry or disorderly conduct, and obstructing a Congressional meeting during the riot, has been permitted to travel to Mexico for a vacation with her employees for February 18-21 – this, although the last-named charge is a felony. Not only the judges, but even the prosecuting attorneys seem anxious to handle the defendants with kid gloves: not one of the men or women apprehended in the riot to date have been charged with sedition.
There is more snow in the forecast for this coming Sunday. It was only a few weeks ago that a climate control expert was lamenting the fact that the DC metro area has had a “snow drought” of more than two years: Heaven, apparently, has heard his complaint and is now punishing him.
Today’s statistics as of 8:00 PM – # of cases worldwide: 105,884,425; # of deaths worldwide: 2,307,128; # of cases U.S.: 27,400,511; # of deaths; U.S.: 470,418. At this rate our death toll will reach 5 million in about 10 days.