Good morning and welcome!
It’s a New Year and we hope the beginning of the end to lock downs and the pandemic saga. Vaccines are being rolled out. Just hold on a bit longer. You’ve got this. BATTLE STATIONS!
Our newest Back Story with Dana Lewis podcast spells out that tests are now underway to determine if the new vaccines will be blunted by the new Covid-19 variant. The answer is a wobbly not now, but sooner than later.
We interviewed Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding an epidemiologist in Washington.
Dana “Isn’t there a danger that these vaccines we need so badly, at a certain point will get out paced by Covid-19 which is constantly adapting to it’s environment”?
Dr. Feigl-Ding “This Corona virus is not as fast mutating as the flu, but it does mutate over time. The longer we let it linger, especially for many years, there will be vaccine escape to some degree. Right now say Moderna and Pfizer are 95% effective, it won’t be that it drops to zero. But, it could drop significant percentages the more mutations it has.”
His message in the podcast, is that we need to aim for zero transmission of Covid-19 and quickly. And just because you have a vaccine that doesn’t mean you won’t spread the virus. So masks and social distancing will continue well into 2021.
LINK: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1016881/7078915
And please subscribe to the podcast! We begin season 3 in this new year.
BREXIT
It’s the first day of Britain no longer being in The EU. The New York Times has a good run through story on what it means to trade. But they quote estimates a reduction of 4% economic output of 15 years to the isolated Island. Banking and legal services, and insurance services now taking a punch in the gut from not being able to handle European clients out of London. What happens to Brit’s living in Europe? Uncertain.
The British P.M. Boris Johnson barely mentioned Brexit in his New Years message! Bizarre. Why is that? Because The Conservatives who supported BREXIT know it won’t bring economic prosperity. The referendum was largely about tapping into anger in the aging population who have lost jobs and dream of different days, and blame everything on immigration. So they have their wish. The Island is more isolated than ever. If the referendum was held today, the vote to leave would lose. But populist politics won the day. Now it’s time to sober up and Brexit is a serious hangover on New Years day 2021.
www.nytimes.com/2020/12/24/world/europe/brexit-uk-eu-explained.html
Another good link is a Guardian story on Boris Johnson’s New Years message.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/dec/31/brexit-uk-makes-low-key-eu-departure-more-than-four-years-after-referendum
CANADA
From the Canadian Embassy in London: Dear Canadian,
You are receiving this email because you are registered with the Government of Canada's Registration of Canadians Abroad (ROCA) service.
Mandatory 14-day quarantine or isolation
Everyone entering Canada must follow mandatory isolation or quarantine requirements.
Testing will soon be required for people flying into Canada
Air travellers will soon be required to test negative for COVID-19 before boarding international flights bound for Canada. Effective date and details will be announced in the coming days.
It only makes sense! Should be done by every Country. And already is by British Airways for example. Bottom line - Wouldn’t you feel better sitting next to someone you know has been tested before flying?
ISRAEL
Israel has now vaccinated 8% of it’s population with Covid-19 vaccines. The U.S. by comparison has vaccinated 1%. Israel is in the midst of more political turmoil. A strike editorial in the Jersualem Post by Former P.M. Ehud Olmert predicts current leader P.M. Netanyahu is finished soon and calls him the leader of a criminal gang.
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/how-netanyahus-criminal-gang-took-over-israel-opinion-653919
RUSSIA
It’s notable President Putin’s New Year’s message was all about unity. Because as Covid-19 ravages that Country, there will be important parliamentary elections soon. Putin’s popularity has plunged. Don’t believe The Kremlin polls of 80-85%, experts believe it’s at best in the 40% range. There is economic anger. The opposition is stronger. Putins social contract with the elderly was broken which was essentially paid pensions vs democracy. The elderly lost their love of Putin in the pandemic as many were sick and hospitalized. Bumpy days ahead for Putin’s inner circle and Russia.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2020/12/31/putin-urges-unity-in-2021-as-second-wave-batters-russia-a72532
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