The unique perspective and provocative opinions of Joe O’Neill
COVID Bits
“We are deeply disappointed. Their position is irresponsible and, frankly, dangerous.”—White House statement in response to China saying it could not accept the W.H.O.’s plan for the second phase of a study into the origins of COVID-19. The study was looking into the possibility that the virus might have leaked from a Chinese lab.
Pfizer is projecting that it will earn $26 billion in COVID-19 revenue this year.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended “universal masking” during the 2021-2022 school year.
“If we’re going to talk about traveling to the U.K., then we should also caution Americans about traveling to Florida. Right now, one in every five new COVID cases are coming out of Florida.”—Dr. Ebony Jade Hilton, medical director of GoodStock Consulting.
In the wake of hundreds of thousands of pandemic deaths last year, the average life expectancy in the U.S. fell by 1.5 years—from 78.8 to 77.3 years.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the rate of households homeschooling their children rose to 11 percent in September 2020. Six months earlier it had been 5.4 percent.
About 54 percent of eligible Floridians are fully vaccinated.
Florida’s positivity rate has nearly doubled in the past two weeks—from 7.8 percent to 15.1 percent.
Earlier this month Florida changed the frequency of its COVID reporting from daily to weekly. With cases rising, critics—who believe that more information is best during a pandemic—have urged state officials and Gov. Ron DeSantis to resume daily outbreak updates.
The Florida Department of Health has announced that DeliveRxd Pharmacy, a prescription delivery service, will vaccinate residents of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties at their homes.
“Every additional person vaccinated is a potential life saved.”—Dr. Douglas Holt, director of the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County.
Bottom line: Still no vaccine for gullibility, stupidity, ignorance or idiotology.