(2022-02-12). [Correspondence] The vaccinated propor-tion of people with COVID-19 needs context. thelancet.com We read the Correspondence by Gàºnter Kampf1 with surprise, as it appears to argue that the base-rate fallacy2 is, in fact, not a fallacy. In the context of COVID-19 vaccines, the base-rate fallacy is often described as the illusion that vaccines are ineffective because, in highly vaccinated populations, the majority of COVID-19 cases occur among vaccinated people. For example, if a population is 99% vaccinated against a hypothetical virus and 51% of infected individuals have been vaccinated, the base-rate fallacy (falsely) implies that the vaccine is ineffective at preventing infection.
(2022-02-12). [Correspondence] Stigma, vaccination, and moral accountability. thelancet.com Gàºnter Kampf1 argues that use of the term pandemic of the unvaccinated by officials in Germany is both overly simplistic and dangerous. The danger he says arises from "engender[ing] negative experiences by stigmatising parts of the population…I call on high-level officials and scientists to stop the inappropriate stigmatisation of unvaccinated people, who include our patients, colleagues, and other fellow citizens".1 I leave it to epidemiologists to comment on whether the description that Kampf condemns is simplistic.
(2022-02-12). UAW, Detroit Democrats facilitate brutal exploitation of temp workers as pandemic decimates Stellantis workforce. wsws.org Detroit, once the center of the automotive industry, has become a focal point of predatory hiring by automakers, abetted by the UAW and Democratic Mayor Mike Duggan.
(2022-02-12). The collapse of the "mitigation" strategy exposes the class issues in the fight against the pandemic. wsws.org The significance of the dismantling of mitigation measures throughout the world is that it expresses, in the form of pandemic policy, the lining up of class forces.
(2022-02-12). [Comment] Offline: Complacency threatens progress against COVID-19. thelancet.com Hans Kluge, WHO's Regional Director for Europe, has been reported as saying that European nations could soon be entering a "long period of tranquillity" as the pandemic abates. Pointing out that mortality from COVID-19 seemed to be plateauing, he suggested the continent was approaching a "plausible endgame" and an "enduring peace". As WHO's chief spokesperson for the 53 countries that make up his regional responsibility, Kluge was no doubt seeking to strike an optimistic and encouraging note. But it is disappointing that he took such a narrow geographical perspective about a global pandemic.
(2022-02-12). [Comment] Accelerating Indigenous health and wellbeing: the Lancet Commission on Arctic and Northern Health. thelancet.com Arctic Indigenous communities and adjacent Indigenous peoples considered Northern or Circumpolar in distribution recognised the threat posed by COVID-19 to their communities. Despite inhabiting many of the world's most resourced countries, the health of Arctic Indigenous peoples lags behind their non-Indigenous counterparts across many indicators,1,2 and many communities remember the devastating consequences of the 1918—19 influenza pandemic on their communities.3 Swift action by Arctic Indigenous leaders limited COVID-19 cases in many communities, protecting their vulnerable groups from the worst outcomes…
(2022-02-12). A Memorial for Dr. Luc Montagnier and the Coming Revolutions in Optical Biophysics. dissidentvoice.org 
On February 8, 2022, Nobel Prize winning virologist Dr Luc Montagnier passed away. Since the earliest moments of COVID-19's appearance, Montagnier was slandered and ridiculed for his challenges to the underlying assumptions of the disease's causes and remedies despite the constant slings and arrows of the deep state which sought to shut the door on …
(2022-02-12). [Articles] Casirivimab and imdevimab in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial. thelancet.com In patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19, the monoclonal antibody combination of casirivimab and imdevimab reduced 28-day mortality in patients who were seronegative (and therefore had not mounted their own humoral immune response) at baseline but not in those who were seropositive at baseline.
(2022-02-12). [Comment] Another piece in the COVID-19 treatment puzzle. thelancet.com A new study1 from the RECOVERY Collaborative Group adds another piece to the puzzle of severe COVID-19 therapy. The RECOVERY trials have been pivotal in providing evidence on the efficacy of compounds within current treatment guidelines for COVID-19, such as dexamethasone, tocilizumab, and the casirivimab and imdevimab combination.1—3 In previous randomised trials, these monoclonal antibodies4 were effective in preventing infection and clinical progression when given in the early phase of infection.
(2022-02-12). Under pressure from the White House and big business, Trudeau vows to do "whatever it takes" to end far-right Canada-US border blockades. wsws.org With the far-right Convoy having served as a bludgeon to ram through the ending of all anti-COVID-19 restrictions, powerful sections of Canadian and US big business now want quick action to shut it down.
(2022-02-12). Modi blames losses from COVID-19 lockdown on Indian opposition parties. wsws.org By attacking lockdowns, Modi is trying to justify the policy of mass infection that his government is pursuing.
(2022-02-12). °La solución a la desigualdad global es el socialismo! workers.org 
En todo el mundo, miles de millones de personas están sufriendo pérdidas increíbles como consecuencia de la incapacidad y la negativa del capitalismo a abordar seriamente la pandemia del COVID-19. Millones han perdido la vida o a sus seres queridos. Las familias se han quedado sin casa. Los trabajadores se . . . |
(2022-02-12). Department of Homeland Security leaks security bulletin warning of far-right "trucker" protest culminating in occupation of Washington D.C. wsws.org Promoted by Fox and far-right politicians, the goal of the nascent trucker convoy is to rally fascists and militia members to abolish the few remaining COVID mitigation measures and occupy Washington D.C. sometime in March.
(2022-02-11). White House leads charge by states to end masking. wsws.org In a campaign initiated by the Biden administration and coordinated by the White House, Democratic state governors are systematically dismantling all measures to save lives from the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed nearly 1 million Americans.
(2022-02-11). COVID-19: Calls grow to release people from prison. greenleft.org.au Prisons in New South Wales are rife with COVID-19. Michael Hatrick reports activists are demanding the government follow its own laws and release prisoners to keep them safe.
(2022-02-11). Germany: Omicron sweeping through workplaces. wsws.org A wave of the coronavirus Omicron variant is sweeping through workplaces and factories in Germany. Workers are paying a heavy price. The death toll from the virus in Germany is nearing 120,000.
(2022-02-11). Australia: COVID-19 swamps Northern Territory schools and Aboriginal communities. wsws.org Aboriginal medical organisations have condemned the Territory's Labor government for allowing the coronavirus to spread out of control.
(2022-02-11). NYC workers protest COVID vaccine mandate. america.cgtn.com 
An estimated up to 3,000 workers could lose their jobs in New York City on Friday due to the vaccine mandate. On Monday, hundreds of people crossed the Brooklyn Bridge calling on the city's mayor to scrap a requirement for city workers. See the latest.
(2022-02-11). Demonstrations threaten border crossings between Canada and U.S. america.cgtn.com 
Some auto plants along the U.S.-Canadian border are cutting back on production because of truck-driver protests against vaccine mandates. The truckers have been blocking key border crossings for several days. See the latest.
(2022-02-11). Hundreds of anti-vaccine mandate protesters rally at New Zealand parliament. wsws.org The small far-right rally, inspired by similar events in Canada and elsewhere, is being used by sections of the political and media establishment to shift official politics further to the right, and to justify policies that will lead to mass infection of the population with COVID-19.
(2022-02-11). Cuban Music Duo Buena Fe Postpones Concert in Canada in Defense of Cuban Vaccines. libya360.wordpress.com With the government of Canada üá®üᶠrefusing to recognize Cuba's vaccines, Cuban music duo Buena Fe was asked to be vaccinated with shots recognized by Canada in order to play their concerts. Here was their response. Revolutionary Medicine: Cuba's Vaccine Journey Why are Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela Managing So Well in the Fight Against Covid-19?…
(2022-02-11). Headlines for February 11, 2022. democracynow.org WaPo: Trump Took "Top Secret" Documents to Mar-a-Lago Resort, Anti-Vaccine Truckers Block Three Ports of Entry Along U.S.-Canada Border, Biden Urges U.S. Citizens to Leave Ukraine as Russia and NATO Continue Troop Buildup, Biden to Split $7B in Frozen Afghan Assets Between 9/11 Families and Humanitarian Relief, Pace of Civilian Killings in Yemen Has Doubled Since U.N. Disbanded Monitoring Group, Biden Admin Approves Billions in New Arms Deals to Middle East and Indonesia, At Least Six Killed in Mogadishu Blast, Heber López Becomes 5th Journalist to Be Killed in Mexico in 2022 , Historic Rights Trial B…
(2022-02-11). An Anarchist Rejection of the Covid Culture War. itsgoingdown.org 
| Submitted anonymously | At the beginning of the pandemic the state claimed masks were futile, but this was due to shortage and the government's refusal to regulate the free market to ease the pain of the pandemic. Once companies managed to catch up with demand, the narrative changed. Many people likely died unnecessarily as a result of this. | Wearing masks can help save lives, but it is not a political statement in and of itself as some seem to think. Wearing your mask is not meaningfully coun…
(2022-02-11). Lemmings Rush to the Proverbial Cliff. dissidentvoice.org 
Do talking heads know the science, just talk as if they know the science, or even worse know the science and lie about it? When every randomized control trial, the gold standard of science, finds no statistically significant protection from mask wearing compared to no masking, one ought to ask why the mask mandates and why the compliance of so many people. See Dennis Rancourt's "Masks Don't Work: A review of science relevant to COVID-19 social policy."
(2022-02-11). Donald Trump: America Is 'Going To Hell' Fast With Inflation And Covid. moguldom.com Former President Donald Trump, who is already preparing for a potential presidential run in 2024, claims the U.S. is going to "hell" due to inflation and the covid-19 pandemic. Trump held his first major campaign rally of 2022 in Florence, Arizona, where he promised to "Make America Great Again, Again." The Jan. 15 Save America rally was …
(2022-02-11). Australia's Macquarie University deepens job cuts, aided by the union. wsws.org Since the pandemic began, up to 90,000 jobs have been destroyed at Australian universities, while the unions have blocked calls for strikes and opposed any unified national action.
(2022-02-11). Scientists: Severe Illness With Covid Has A Lot To Do With Vitamin D Deficiency. moguldom.com Severe illness and death from covid-19 have been connected to vitamin D deficiency, according to a new study published in the journal PLOS ONE. Vitamin D is important for every system in the body including immune function and bone health. It may also protect against a range of diseases and conditions, such as type 1 …
(2022-02-11). Working class in the UK gears up to protest the cost of living crisis. peoplesdispatch.org The rise in energy prices, cuts in wages and pensions, along with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis has made the working class households across the UK reel under a devastating cost of living crisis.
(2022-02-11). United States: Using COVID-19 powers, Biden begins expelling Venezuelan migrants to Colombia. greenleft.org.au Despite promises by the Biden administration to respect the right to seek asylum, Washington has been denying migrants that right by invoking a provision that allows it to limit travel under the pretext of mitigating COVID-19, writes José Luis Granados Ceja.
(2022-02-11). 'That's a World War': Biden Tells Americans to Leave Ukraine, Shoots Down Reports of Evacuation. sputniknews.com On Thursday, the US Department of State released a 'Level 4: Do Not Travel' advisory warning Americans against venturing to Ukraine "due to the increased threats of Russian military action and COVID-19." The department also urged Americans in Ukraine to "depart now via commercial or private means."
(2022-02-11). Spotify Signed Joe Rogan for $100 Million But Won't Hold Him Accountable for Spreading Misinfo, Hate. democracynow.org 
Comedian Joe Rogan has come under fire for spreading COVID-19 misinformation, using racial slurs and other harmful rhetoric on his Spotify podcast. Musicians such as Neil Young and Joni Mitchell have pulled their music from the platform in protest of his $100 million contract reportedly paid by Spotify, raising questions how responsible audio platforms should be over hateful content. "He's made it clear that he doesn't have any intention of changing the lies and hate he spreads on his podcast, and it's far past time that Spotify came to the plate and actually moderated the content on its p…
(2022-02-11). Kremlin explains extra-long table at Putin-Macron meeting. rt.com 
The French side declined to exchange fresh Covid-19 test results, Russia says | The Kremlin confirmed on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron sat alone at opposite ends of an unusually long table during their talks this week because Macron refused to take a Covid-19 test in Moscow. | "Some leaders follow their own rules and don't interact with the host party in terms of exchanging the tests," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian media. "It's a normal practice around the world. However, in this case, an additional protocol of simultaneously protecting t…
(2022-02-11). Cuba Battles COVID, Defying 60-Year U.S. Blockade. libya360.wordpress.com Struggle — La Lucha Presentation by Sharon Black, writer for Struggle-La Lucha and national spokesperson of the Socialist Unity Party, at the Europe for Cuba online forum Feb. 9, 2022. End the U.S. blockade of Cuba It has been 60 years this month since U.S. President John Kennedy first proclaimed Executive Order 3447, prohibiting "the importation into…
(2022-02-11). Australia to treat COVID like the flu amid mass school infections, record deaths. wsws.org The World Socialist Web Site has learned that this week, at least 6,888 students and 600 staff in Victorian schools have tested positive for COVID-19. Last week, 4,514 students and 800 staff tested positive.
(2022-02-11). Anti-doping officials explain mystery Valieva test delay. rt.com 
Officials at RUSADA have issued a statement after figure skater Kamila Valieva tested positive for a banned substance | Information about the positive doping test result for Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva was delayed because of issues caused by Covid-19 at a Stockholm laboratory, according to an explanation provided to the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA). | It was announced on Friday that Valieva had tested positive for a banned heart medicine which was detected in a sample taken on December 25 at the Russian national championships in St. Petersburg. | The statement from the International Testing Age…
(2022-02-11). Spotify Signed Joe Rogan for $100 Million But Won't Hold Him Accountable. truthout.org 
Image Credit: Joe Rogan Experience/YouTube | Comedian Joe Rogan has come under fire for spreading COVID-19 misinformation, using racial slurs and other harmful rhetoric on his Spotify podcast. Musicians such as Neil Young and Joni Mitchell have pulled their music from the platform in protest of his $100 million contract reportedly paid by Spotify, raising questions how responsible audio platforms should be over hateful content. "He's made it clear that he doesn't have any intention of changing the lie…
(2022-02-11). AFT President Randi Weingarten calls for "off-ramp" to end mask mandates in schools. wsws.org Weingarten's support for ending mask mandates in schools is part and parcel of the coordinated ruling class effort to end one of the few public health measures still in place to slow the spread of COVID-19.
(2022-02-11). Organize our way out of this crisis! cpusa.org 
Never in my entire life have I seen and heard so many good solid people, unionists, progressives of various stripes, activists, and fighters verbalizing feelings of extreme frustration, inadequacy, and complete powerlessness. Between COVID, complete legislative gridlock, a Supreme Court packed with conservatives, and Trump's continuing influence over large sections of white people influenced …
(2022-02-11). US Deaths Among Those Without Housing Are Surging. popularresistance.org The number of Americans dying while homeless has surged dramatically in the past five years, an exclusive analysis by the Guardian in conjunction with an academic expert at the University of Washington has shown. | An examination of 20 US urban areas found the number of deaths among people living without housing shot up by 77% in the five years ending in 2020. | The rise from 2016 through 2020 was driven by many factors, including ever-rising numbers of people living on the street and the growing dangers they face, such as violence, untreated disease and increasingly deadly illicit drug supplies. | From 65-year-o…
(2022-02-11). E-mobility transition and DNA disease clues: News from the College. imperial.ac.uk Here's a batch of fresh news and announcements from across Imperial.
(2022-02-11). Melancholy Danes: A Scandinavian 'Sunset Boulevard' in Bille August's 'The Pact'. peoplesworld.org