Dr. Fauci Says We're Still in 1st Phase of Pandemic as U.S. Cases Top 68 Million

COVID cases in the United States have topped 68 million. According to Johns Hopkins University of School of Medicine, there have been 68,508,181 COVID-19 cases resulting in 857,672 deaths representing a mortality rate of 1.3%. Meanwhile, COVID hospitalizations remain in excess of 150,000.

In a virtual speaking appearance before the World Economic Forum's Davos Agenda on Monday, Dr. Fauci indicated we are still in the first stage of the pandemic and that it is too soon to determine if Omicron will accelerate the end of the pandemic. The four other phases which follow a pandemic are Deceleration, Control, Elimination and Eradication. As long as the United States is recording a million new cases every day or every other day we will not get to the deceleration phase anytime soon. There was some hope when it took nearly two months to add a million new COVID cases between May and July 2021. It seems unimaginable that it took 58 days for the U.S. to go from 33 to 34 million cases and now the total number of cases has doubled in 6 months thanks to Delta and now especially Omicron. Other more communicable variants (even if mild) could soon follow.

But a deceleration will have to happen if we ever want to get COVID under Control. By Control, Fauci means that COVID no longer disrupts society be it through having to wear a mask or showing proof of a negative COVID test or vaccination card. At that point, the pandemic would become an endemic. There might be some regions of the world where COVID could be potentially be eliminated, but with the exception of smallpox no other viral infection has been entirely eradicated. 

Naturally, there is a critical mass of the population for whom not only is COVID over but don't really give a damn about it. Yet it is precisely these attitudes which have kept not only the United States but pretty much the rest of the world in the first phase of a pandemic which has entered its third year.

COVID Cases Top 67M as Federal Website for Free Tests Launches a Day Early

COVID-19 cases in the United States today topped 67 million. According to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, there have been 67,581,992 cases resulting in 853,951 deaths representing a mortality rate of 1.3% with more than 150,000 hospitalized.

One bit of good news. The federal government launched a website a day ahead of schedule enabling Americans to order free rapid COVID tests to be sent to our home addresses. USPS has indicated the tests could take 7-12 days to deliver. By that time, the number of COVID cases will likely have topped 75 million. 

Honestly, these tests would have come in handy months ago when Delta was spreading through the country never mind Omicron. Then again if not for a flippant remark by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki this might not have come to pass at all. Last month, NPR White House correspondent Mara Liasson asked Psaki if rapid COVID tests could be made widely available to which Psaki sarcastically remarked, "Should we just send one to every American?" Psaki evidently gave Liasson the Emerald Robinson treatment. But Liasson is no Emerald Robinson. 

It was not Psaki's finest hour. But launching the website a day early could prove a form of recompense. If the tests are sent in a timely manner and prove to be convenient and reliable then her gaffe could be forgiven and forgotten. Then again it feels like they are using teacups to clean up a storm.

The COVID Cruelty of Laura Ingraham & Neil Gorsuch

Adam Serwer of The Atlantic famously wrote an article and a book about the Trump era called The Cruelty is the Point. When the book came out in June 2021, Serwer told NPR, "What I mean by cruelty is specifically the demonization of particular groups in order to deny them rights or exclude them from the polity."

Yet this cruelty can also be directed at individuals who are perceived as enemies. Not surprisingly some this cruelty has revolved around COVID as exemplified by FOX News host Laura Ingraham and U.S. Supreme Court justice Neil Gorsuch.

That cruelty would excrete from the mouth of Ingraham should come as no surprise. This is her stock and trade. Still, it does take a certain lack of character to cheer and clap when someone has been diagnosed with COVID which is what Ingraham did with the news that U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley has received a positive diagnosis. And why? Because Milley had the temerity to condemn the January 6th attack on the Capitol and ensure a peaceful transfer of power. For these unpardonable sins, Ingraham delights that Milley got COVID. Ingraham did say that she hopes Milley and others who have tested positive for COVID "are healthy and fine" but did so with all the sincerity of Mike Pence's endorsement of Ted Cruz. 

Then there's the case of Supreme Court justice Neil Gorsuch. He does not have a nightly TV show. But there must be an audience out there somewhere. Because why else would Gorsuch refuse to wear a mask in the presence of Justice Sonia Sotomayor even at the request of Chief Justice John Roberts? It could be that he's just a real prick and not well liked by any of the justices. Sotomayor has diabetes and is thus autoimmune compromised. Conservative justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett have masked up. But Gorsuch's refusal has forced Sotomayor (who sits next to Gorsuch on the bench) to partake in oral arguments and other court activity by phone and teleconferencing. 

The fact that Gorsuch cares so little about the life of his fellow justice that he cannot bring himself to wear a mask out of common courtesy tells you he is not a good person and that it also reflects his particular interpretation of conservative values. Of course, there are Gorsuchs in all walks of life. I guess there is an expectation that someone who is bestowed with a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land would comport himself as a gentleman. 

Sadly, COVID has laid bare the people who think of the well being of others and the people who think only of themselves. Worse still, the people who think only of themselves believe themselves and their acts of cruelty to be virtuous. To hold such cruel sentiments and to take pride in them does not bode well for our nation's health nor for its very survival.

COVID Claims Canadian Motown Legend R. Dean Taylor

A week ago, amid reports of his death but without confirmation, I asked aloud if Canadian born recording artist and songwriter R. Dean Taylor still walked among us or was a ghost in the house. 

Sadly, R. Dean Taylor is no longer among the living as he succumbed to COVID on January 7th having been hospitalized for it in 2021. He was 82.

Best known for his 1970 hit, "Indiana Wants Me", Taylor also worked as a songwriter, arranger and producer at Motown and was among a very few white employees at the label co-writing songs such "All I Need" for The Temptations, "I'll Turn to Stone" by The Four Tops and "Love Child" and "I'm Living in Shame" for Diana Ross & The Supremes.

I leave you with Taylor performing "Indiana Wants Me" on American Bandstand with Dick Clark which featured a rare interview, perhaps the only surviving interview he ever did, in which he briefly talks about how he joined Motown in Detroit while on his way from Toronto to New York. He lived a fascinating life. I wish I knew more. I'll have to let his music do the rest. R.I.P.

Three Cheers for Carhartt!!!

After the Supreme Court struck down the Biden Administration's vaccine mandate, I wrote, "One can only hope that most businesses will have the good sense to maintain such provisions even without a federal mandate."

One such business with good sense is Carhartt, a Michigan based outdoor apparel company. In a leaked email to employees, Carhartt CEO Mark Valade wrote:

We, and the medical community, continue to believe vaccines are necessary to ensure a safe working environment for every associate and even perhaps their households. While we appreciate that there may be differing views, workplace safety is an area where we and the union that represents our associates cannot compromise. An unvaccinated workforce is both a people and business risk that our company is unwilling to take.

The leaked letter trended on Twitter this morning. I say three cheers for Carhartt!!! Needless to say, this was not the mood of right-wing anti-vaxxers now want Carhartt driven out of business. One tweet which stood out to me was one composed by Tim Pool, some "citizen journalist" who likes to use the word dude a lot. But then again he does have almost a million followers:

How about this. If you don't want to get vaccinated and you work at Carhartt. Fucking quit. Fuck 'em.

My response:

If that's the case I guess that means Carhartt will be hiring & responsible people will be more than happy to reply. 

OK, I ought to have wrote apply rather than reply, but I think I made my meaning loud and clear. Well, of course, there was one right-wing anti-vaxxer in particular who doesn't like my last name. Alas this comes with the territory.  

That would one encourage people to quit their job because he opposes life saving vaccines says a great deal more about the Tim Pools of the world than it does of Mark Valades of the world. Anyone working at Carhartt who would see fit to risk both their life and livelihood and take the word of a journalist who cannot write in complete sentences at face value could only be called a fool. 

I can only hope that no one working at Carhartt will give Tim Pool a moment's thought. But if that were to happen I have no doubt there are responsible people out there who would be more than happy to take their place.

Djokovic May Also Be Barred From French Open

After being unceremoniously deported from Australia, Novak Djokovic might soon find himself unwelcome in France.

Yesterday, a new law in France was passed requiring individuals to present vaccine certificates to gain entry into public facilities. This would include Roland Garros which hosts the French Open in May.

Of course, it is possible conditions could change for the better and this provision might be suspended. There is also one other thing to consider. The French presidential election is in April. Should Emmanuel Macron be defeated by a conservative rival, the new law could be rescinded and Djokovic could be allowed to play without incident. 

Djokovic is vying for a men's record 21st Grand Slam breaking the tie he shares with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Of course, Djokovic could make life simple for himself and everyone else around him by getting vaccinated. But given what happened in Australia, it does not appear Djokovic wants to do things simply much less reasonably.

COVID Cases Top 66M as Surgeon General Murthy Warns "Next Few Weeks Will Be Tough"

COVID cases in the United States have surpassed 66 million. According to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine there have been 66,326,161 COVID-19 cases in the United States resulting in 851,661 deaths representing a mortality rate of 1.3%. 

Yesterday, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned the "next few weeks will be tough". Although Omicron appears to have peaked in the Northeast this is not the case for much of the country and this shall further strain hospitals which have already seen in excess of 150,000 Americans currently hospitalized for COVID. In all, the U.S. currently averaging 782,000 new COVID cases a day.

If Dr. Murthy is right (and there is no reason to doubt him) how long will it be before America reaches 100 million COVID cases? With today being Martin Luther King, Jr. Day could we get to that figure by President's Day?