Former FDA chief thinks new mutation of COVID-19 found in the U.K. is already in the U.S.
Former Food and Drug Administration head Dr. Scott Gottlieb believes the new variant of the coronavirus found in the United Kingdom is already in the U.S. and a travel ban won t do anything to keep it from spreading in the country.
The mutation is thought to be up to 70 percent more transmissible, and because of it, more than 40 countries have banned travel to and from the U.K. for at least 48 hours. Gottlieb told CNBC s Shepard Smith on Monday that at this point, he does not believe a travel ban is going to prevent this mutated strain from coming into the United States. We re going to have an epidemic that continues to build over the course of the next three or four weeks, we ll reach a peak, and then we ll start to see infection rates decline as we see vaccinations get rolled out.
Virginia neighbors find a way to show UPS driver how much he is appreciated
December 22, 2020
For one neighborhood in Virginia, UPS driver Anthony Gaskin has been delivering more than packages this year â he s also been bringing joy.
Patty Friedman moved to the Hallsey neighborhood in Midlothian during the pandemic, and felt sad about being unable to connect with the other residents. One person who made her feel welcome was Gaskin, who always smiled and waved as he dropped off packages. It was terribly lonely and he was always the highlight of my day, Friedman told WTVR.
Gaskin has delivered hundreds of packages to the neighborhood during the pandemic, including food and essentials for high-risk families and Christmas gifts from grandparents who haven t seen their grandchildren in months. To show their appreciation for his hard work, Friedman and a neighbor planned a surprise, socially distanced celebration for Gaskin.
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Congress agreed on a $900 billion coronavirus relief package Sunday, overcoming several last-minute stalemates over the Federal Reserve’s lending powers and direct cash payments, Senate leaders announced.
“At long last, we have the bipartisan breakthrough the country has needed,” Senate Majority Leader McConnell said Sunday on the Senate floor. “I hope we can do this as promptly as possible.”
A compromise was reached late Saturday between Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey, who had sought to end the Fed’s emergency lending programs that were created via the CARES Act’s passage in March. Though congressional leaders touted the agreement, it came to be after months of partisan gridlock stemming from disagreements over the bill’s size and scope.
Help the homeless. Bigstock
Whether you celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ or, as my Jewish friend Michael Josephson puts it, as a time that should bring forth good cheer and everyone’s better angels, chances are you associate the Christmas season with the spirit of love and giving.
This year, when so many people are still suffering physically, psychologically, and economically from the pandemic not to mention all the civil strife it’s never been more important to foster the spirit of Christmas.
A few years ago, a national study of 18 to 23-year-olds in the US found that when asked to describe their vision of “the good life,” 54 percent said they would be happier if they “could buy more things.” Only a quarter spoke of wanting to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
So we almost have a new COVID relief bill. Now what?
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Jazz ShawPosted at 8:01 am on December 21, 2020
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The rumors we heard yesterday appear to be panning out. Congress has put in some long hours over the weekend and the House appears ready to vote on the second COVID stimulus package. The Senate is expected to follow in short order after an announcement to that effect from Midnight Mitch last night. The nearly one trillion dollars they are preparing to set on fire will be distributed in a scattershot fashion across all manner of targets. The Democrats were forced to compromise on some of the key figures, particularly in terms of the second round of direct cash payments to taxpayers and a new round of federal enhancements to unemployment benefits. The Republicans had to agree to allow the Federal Reserve to move forward with loans for larger businesses and municipalities. So is this the “Great Coming Together” that everyone