In the event there is no post tomorrow, blame my left eye. While I don't think it will be swollen shut in response to Thursday's face plant, I'm not sure how open it will be based on what it looks like today versus yesterday.
A leading immunologist in Italy is under police protection after receiving a bullet and death threats toward her family. Why? She went on national television and press advocating vaccinating children against covid. Why get children vaccinated? Well, the CDC reports a spike in covid hospitalizations in children. For example, pediatric hospitals in New York State saw an average of 71 children per week hospitalized at the beginning of December; by the end, that was an average of 571 per week. New York City went from 22 per week to 385 per week. Investigation is ongoing into the possibility that Omicron may not be as mild for children too young to be vaccinated as it is for older children. The best way to protect children too young to be vaccinated is to make sure that all the people around them are vaccinated. And perhaps an even better reason not to let children catch covid: Children who recover from covid appear to be at significantly increased risk of developing Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. There is some evidence it may also happen in adults, but not to the extent it might in children.
The Supreme Court is holding hearings on POTUS's order to OSHA that companies with more than 100 employees institute vaccine mandates. The Court does not seem to think this is appropriate. Whatever the Court rules, Citigroup has given staff based in the US a deadline of January 14 to show proof of vaccination (principal vaccination, not booster) or apply for an exemption. People who do not comply will be placed on unpaid leave January 15 and fired on January 31 if they still have not complied.
I know a couple of people who are fanatical about cruising, especially cruising that involves sun, surf, and alcohol. They perhaps should not get too rushed about returning to cruising, Royal Caribbean has canceled more cruises. They've delayed sailings of three ships and delayed the return of another until March. Norwegian Cruise Lines has also suspended voyages.
Yesterday, I asked The Professor to consider working from home whenever he can after learning that the day before 95 faculty and staff members at the local university had tested positive. The daily average for this week was over 40, and the percent positivity approached 30. The 95 is most likely an under-count since it reflects only people who tested through the local university and does not include any who tested through the local health district or at home. After I made my request, The Professor let me know that he'd been in a meeting in his office with several graduate students, one of whom turned out to be positive. They were as separated as people can be in a faculty office, masked, vaccinated and boosted, but one was still positive. CDC recommends being tested five days after possible exposure or when symptoms appear.
So 2022 has started with a multi-day power outage, a face plant on the steps, and possible covid exposures. I would ask if it could get any worse, but that would likely amount to jinxing myself. January had better not be the high point of the year.
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