Bits ‘n’ Pieces: Aug. 5, 2021

By Lorraine H. Marie
Reader Columnist

East, west or beyond, sooner or later events elsewhere may have a local impact. A recent sampling:

According to a Morning Consult survey, 26% of Americans fit the “highly right-wing authoritarian” mold, which is defined as “the desire to submit to some authority” as well as having aggression toward whomever that authority says “should be targeted.” In that 26% group, 85% are white, 76% are 45 or older, 76% lack a college degree and 55% believe voter fraud put President Joe Biden in office.

The CDC’s recommendation that masking should be resumed stems from data collected after a COVID-19 Delta variant outbreak in Massachusetts. That outbreak caused hundreds of COVID-19 infections, including among those who have been fully vaccinated, CBSnews.com reported. The CDC director said it now appears that those vaccinated against the original strain of COVID-19, who become infected with the Delta strain (which developed due to lack of vaccination), can carry similar loads of the virus as those not vaccinated. The Washington Post noted that 75% of those who were infected in Massachusetts were vaccinated, but a minimal number required hospitalization. So far data is not clear as to what extent vaccinated individuals can spread the virus. According to Yale School of Public Health Professor Gregg Gonsalves, “The good news here: If you’re vaccinated, refrain from large group gatherings and mask up, chances are good you’ll be OK.”

The Delta variant is responsible for 90% of new COVID-19 cases in Washington state, the Seattle Times reported. The Delta variant was first detected in India in late 2020, where vaccination rates have been exceedingly low. That allowed the original COVID-19 strain to mutate into more readily-spread variants. The Delta variant is now circulating in at least 124 countries. In the U.K. it accounts for 91% of new COVID-19 cases. Health organizations indicate the Delta variant is up to 225% more transmissible than the original COVID-19 strain, and is therefore as easy to catch as the common cold, influenza or chickenpox. University of Toronto epidemiologists say the Delta variant poses a 120% higher risk of hospitalization, 287% greater risk of ICU admission and 137% greater risk of death. In the U.S., hospitalizations have accelerated to levels exceeding the peak of last summer, according to a U.S. House subcommittee report. The CDC has acknowledged that “the war has changed” regarding controlling COVID-19.

An analysis from Yale University and the Commonwealth Fund reported that 279,000 deaths and 1.25 million hospitalizations have been prevented by COVID-19 vaccinations. An uninsured hospital stay for COVID-19 treatment costs an average $73,300, according to fairhealth.org.  

Notable under-oath public testimony from the Jan. 6 insurrection hearings: rioters said on-site that former-President Donald Trump had sent them; rioters claimed “nobody” had voted for Biden; racial epithets were in abundance and law enforcement officers were called traitors; officers were bullied, one experienced attempts to gouge out his eyes, another said he was nearly crushed, one was beaten unconscious and stunned with a Taser repeatedly; rioters sprayed chemicals; they used white supremacist gang signs and white power hand signals and told officers they were going to die. The testimony was backed by footage from body cameras. 

More than 500 people have been arrested so far for their role in the riot, which was an attempt to stop the election of Biden as president. One officer testifying said when a hit man is hired and kills someone, he goes to jail, as does the person who hired him. He said Trump was the person who inspired the mayhem at the Capitol that resulted in five deaths. Police officers testified that beyond the horrors of that day, what has also been numbing is the attempt by congressional Republicans to trivialize the event after officers had put their lives on the line to defend them. Top House and Senate Republicans said they were too busy to watch the first day’s proceedings. Some Republicans tried to blame House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the day’s carnage, but various media outlets pointed out she has no control over Capitol Police.

Temperatures are rising up to three times faster at the Arctic, and that creates a new complication for global emissions agreements, according to Reuters. Both thawing permafrost and wildfires in the region release even more greenhouse gases. The deeper the permafrost thaw, the more gases released and the more warming that occurs. Fires and abrupt thawing could increase carbon emissions up to 40% by century’s end, researchers estimate.

Blast from the past: “The nation can lurch backward as quickly as it can lurch forward.” — Dr. Robert P. Moses, 1935-2021. In the 1960s Moses led efforts in Mississippi to register people to vote. In that state 40% of the population was Black, but few voted due to poll taxes, violence and subjective literacy tests. Many regard him today as the father of grassroots organizing.