As John Kerry starts sounding the alarm on climate change, maybe it's worth paying attention to what he's saying. According to Kerry, global carbon emissions need to drop by 45% by 2030. Achieving that would require something akin to a global space race. Frankly, I don't think we're on track for that kind of transformation right now. Some supposedly environmentally-conscious countries are leaning on coal and backing away from nuclear power, which doesn't bode well for reaching such ambitious targets.
Meanwhile, the global Food Price Index is creeping into territory that has historically sparked unrest, reminiscent of the Arab Spring. It seems prudent to brace for potential food price volatility by keeping a well-stocked pantry.
On top of these challenges, crumbling infrastructure in the U.S. poses a significant national security concern. It's not just climate change exacerbating this issue—it's also decades of shortsighted policies prioritizing new construction over maintenance. This pattern continues to haunt us today.
Texas residents received an extended IRS filing deadline following the recent deep freeze.
The pharmaceutical supply chain remains strained due to the pandemic, trade restrictions, and ongoing climate disruptions. Strengthening domestic supply chains could mitigate future risks, especially given forecasts predicting continued disruptions in drug procurement over the next five years.
Efforts to establish a China-free tech supply chain are gaining urgency.
Student loan debt continues to weigh heavily on Americans, with millions excluded from pandemic relief measures.
Globally, there are now over 113.5 million confirmed COVID cases. In the past week alone, there were 2.9 million new cases. Total fatalities exceed 2.5 million. The U.S. accounts for over 29 million cases and has seen over 520,000 deaths, with 2,300 recorded in the last 24 hours. Daily deaths remain highest in the U.S., Brazil, and Mexico.
California has identified its own unique variant of the virus, sparking concerns about increased transmissibility. Hospitals there faced severe pressure in January, surpassing New York’s death toll from its initial outbreak. While the exact role of the new variant in recent surges remains unclear due to limited genomic surveillance, current case numbers, hospitalizations, and fatalities are trending downward. With sufficient vaccinations and perhaps seasonal effects or social distancing measures, we may avoid another wave.
A comprehensive review of numerous studies involving hundreds of thousands of participants reveals no heightened risk of severe outcomes for individuals with asthma who contract COVID-19. That’s encouraging news.
Fauci mentioned that guidelines for fully vaccinated individuals and their households are under consideration.
Dogs are being deployed to detect COVID in airports, which is fascinating but also raises concerns since they too are vulnerable to infection.
Vaccination clearly makes a massive difference:
The FDA is evaluating data related to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and Emergency Use Authorization appears imminent.
In other news, California has detected its own distinct variant of the virus. There's concern that if it proves more contagious, we could see another spike in cases. California hospitals endured a tough January, and the state has already exceeded New York's death toll from its initial outbreak. It's unclear how much of the latest surge can be attributed to this variant, given the lack of widespread genomic testing. However, current case counts, hospital admissions, and fatalities are falling. Hopefully, with enough vaccines administered and seasonal factors at play, we can stave off another wave.
Meanwhile, a recent meta-analysis of dozens of studies involving hundreds of thousands of participants suggests that people with asthma do not face a higher risk of severe complications from COVID-19. That's good to hear.
Fauci indicated that relaxed guidance for fully vaccinated individuals and their households is in development.
Dogs are being used to sniff out COVID at airports, which is both impressive and slightly unsettling since they can contract the virus themselves.
The impact of vaccines is striking:
The FDA is currently reviewing data regarding the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, with Emergency Use Authorization expected soon.
Lastly, student loan debt remains a significant burden on Americans, particularly as millions miss out on pandemic-related relief.
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