One key solution to the world’s climate woes? Canada’s natural landscapes The Narwhale
Why Idaho Hasn’t Stopped Shaking Since March 31 Popular Mechanics (Re Silc).
Wirecard executive Jan Marsalek touted Russian nerve gas documents FT (Richard Smith). “Wirecard executive Jan Marsalek touted secret documents about the use of a Russian chemical weapon* in the UK, as he bragged of ties to intelligence services to ingratiate himself with London traders.” * Novichok. Of course. Smith adds: Financial fraud, a marijuana marketplace, plus porn, gambling and “dating.”
In north Michigan woods, feds raid an alleged upscale art forgery factory Detroit News. Manufacturing renaissance in the heartland!
The leveraging of America: how companies became addicted to debt FT
#COVID
Readers, I apologize for the heaviness of this section. With science popping, the aerosol transmission controversy, and school reopenings, there’s rather a lot going on. COVID-19 is sending its venomous tentacles into everything:
Four first hand reports from Real World, Covid19 edition. They do not fit any narrative very well. Daily Kos (AA). “The (Other) Great Orange Satan still has something worthwhile on very rare occasions.” The supply chain stuff is very interesting. Despite the source!
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Q&A: How is COVID-19 transmitted? WHO. Revised after the aerosol transmission letter to WHO from 230 signatories.
Airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2: The world should face the reality Environment International. Worth reading in full:
“It is difficult to explain why public health authorities marginalize the significance of airborne transmission of influenza or coronaviruses, but a possible reason is that it is difficult to directly detect the viruses traveling in the air…. The fact that there are no simple methods for detecting the virus in the air does not mean that the viruses do not travel in the air. … To summarize, based on the trend in the increase of infections, and understanding the basic science of viral infection spread, we strongly believe that the virus is likely to be spreading through the air. If this is the case, it will take at least several months for this to be confirmed by science. This is valuable time lost that could be used to properly control the epidemic by the measures outlined above and prevent more infections and loss of life.
Investigating SARS-CoV-2 surface and air contamination in an acute healthcare setting during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in London Clinical Infectious Diseases. From the abstract: “Our findings of extensive viral RNA contamination of surfaces and air across a range of acute healthcare settings in the absence of cultured virus underlines the potential risk from environmental contamination in managing COVID-19, and the need for effective use of PPE, physical distancing, and hand/surface hygiene.”
Exaggerated risk of transmission of COVID-19 by fomites The Lancet. A comment (i.e., not a study).
Covid-19 is 1,000 TIMES better at infecting humans than its closest relative found in bats because it evolved from several coronaviruses which merged together Daily Mail. Summarizing results from the Francis Crick Institute.
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Pre-existing immunity to SARS-CoV-2: the knowns and unknowns Nature. From the abstract: “T cell reactivity against SARS-CoV-2 was observed in unexposed people; however, the source and clinical relevance of the reactivity remains unknown.”
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Chronic treatment with hydroxychloroquine and SARS‐CoV‐2 infection Journal of Medical Virology. n= 26,815. From the Conclusion: “Our data suggest that chronic treatment with HCQ [for autoimmune diseases] confer protection against SARS‐CoV‐2 infection.”
Persistent Symptoms in Patients After Acute COVID-19 JAMA. Handy chart:
Just out: new study from @JAMA_current: of 143 patients discharged from hospital with #COVID19 (average age 56), only 13% were symptom-free an average of 2 months later. Fatigue, trouble breathing, joint pain, chest pain in >20%. https://t.co/KKwfpHnQHJ pic.twitter.com/QKRNBLeaGq
— Dr. Tom Frieden (@DrTomFrieden) July 9, 2020
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‘A hot mess’: Americans face testing delays as virus surges AP
It’s time to begin a national wastewater testing program for Covid-19 STAT
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Shelter-In-Place Orders Reduced COVID-19 Mortality And Reduced The Rate Of Growth In Hospitalizations Health Affairs
Bjorn’s Corner: Do I get COVID in airline cabins? Part 10. Trans-Atlantic trip. Leeham News and Analysis. Those iPads at Newark… I hope somebody’s wiping them down.
We Tested 28 (Actually Kind of Stylish) Fabric Face Masks New York Magazine
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America Is Refusing to Learn How to Fight the Coronavirus David Wallace-Wells, The Atlantic
How Epidemics End Boston Review (nvl).
Coronavirus-inspired dish at Alinea draws backlash. Chef Grant Achatz explains his intent. Chicago Tribune
China?
Banks in Hong Kong audit clients for exposure to US sanctions FT
Cold War with China and the Thucydides Trap: a Conversation with Richard Falk Counterpunch
‘Unknown pneumonia’ deadlier than coronavirus sweeping Kazakhstan, Chinese embassy warns South China Morning Post. Evidence seems pretty thin.
The Koreas
Late Seoul mayor was outspoken liberal who eyed presidency AP
India
Kolkata: Private hospitals run out of Covid beds even as cases surge Times of India
Syraqistan
Mystery fire at Iranian nuclear facility is the latest in a series of unexplained incidents CNN
Reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque may be a vote-winner for Erdogan Arab News
Bolivia´s Struggle to Restore Democracy after OAS Instigated Coup Council on Hemispheric Affairs
NYT Acknowledges Coup in Bolivia—While Shirking Blame for Its Supporting Role FAIR
RussiaGate
Top general has doubts Russian bounty program killed US troops in Afghanistan ABC
Trump Transition
Mnuchin: Next stimulus bill must cap jobless benefits at 100 percent of previous income. The Hill
The Backlash Against PPP Is Why the U.S. Can’t Have Nice Things The Atlantic
Opinion analysis: Justices toe hard line in affirming reservation status for eastern Oklahoma SCOTUSblog
US withdrawal from WHO is unlawful and threatens global and US health and security The Lancet
The Durham Investigation: What We Know and What It Means Lawfare. Note the source.
Health Care
Telehealth accounting for 20% of all Medicare-funded doctor consultations ZDNet. In Australia.
What to Do About Those Extra Pounds While Working From Home Bloomberg
Big Brother is Watching You
The marketing department says “hi.” Thread:
The reason I think so is I was walking with my mom the other day and asked her if there was a “shazam for flowers” (take a photo of a flower and see what it is) and now I get ads to download exactly that. And I have never done any online floral activity before.
— Joe Weisenthal (@TheStalwart) July 9, 2020
Police State Watch
ICE Offering ‘Citizens Academy’ Course with Training on Arresting Immigrants Newsweek. What could go wrong?
How police militarization became an over $5 billion business coveted by the defense industry CNBC
Chicago Police Department arrest API shutdown is its own kind of ‘cover up’ Chicago Reporter
L’Affaire Joffrey Epstein
Official: Feds feared Epstein confidant might kill herself AP. You don’t say.
Ghislaine Maxwell Taps Broad Range of Legal Talent for Defense Bloomberg
Judge Rules Virginia Giuffre’s Lawyers Must ‘Destroy’ Jeffrey Epstein Files Newsweek. From last week, still germane.
Sports Desk
As fewer kids played football, hospitals saw a big drop in ER visits CNN
Groves of Academe
How Schools Work: A Practical Guide for Policymakers During a Pandemic Jersey Jazzman
Summary of School Re-Opening Models and Implementation Approaches During the COVID 19 Pandemic (PDF) Washington State Department of Heatlh, et al.
Coronavirus exposed how broken American higher education really is Will Bunch, Philadelphia Inquirer
Black Injustice Tipping Point
Ford employees ask if company should stop building police vehicles Detroit Free-Press
Class Warfare
The Pandemic Reveals The Real Disease Of Our Societies Moon of Alabama
Hidden Neutrino Particles May Be a Link to the Dark Sector Scientific American
Behind the dead-water phenomenon Phys.org. Read all the way to the end.
Durian and beer turned into healthy probiotic booze by Philippine researcher South China Morning Post (J-LS).
Antidote du jour (via):
Bonus antidote:
CRITTER PICNIC: Groundhog, squirrel and chipmunk spotted sharing a meal together at a tiny picnic table in Rhode Island.
It’s an almost-daily ritual for the group, according to the man who shared the video. https://t.co/aoFO49Ucr8 pic.twitter.com/UnbxNp2R7n
— ABC News (@ABC) July 10, 2020
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
