Author: BlackMask Financial

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Delta goes to Europe, First detected, October in India

United Nations/Geneva: The Delta variant of COVID-19, identified in at least 85 countries, is the ‘most transmissible’ of the variants identified so far and is spreading rapidly among unvaccinated populations, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned. “I know that globally there is currently a lot of concern about the Delta variant, and the WHO is concerned about it too,’ Director-General Ghebreyesus said at a WHO press briefing on Friday. The Delta variant was first identified in India. ‘Delta is the most transmissible of the variants identified so far, has been identified in at least 85 countries, and is spreading rapidly among unvaccinated populations,’ he said in Geneva.

He noted with concern that as some countries ease public health and social measures, ‘we are starting to see increases in transmission around the world.

‘More cases means more hospitalisations, further stretching health workers and health systems, which increases the risk of death,’ he said. While pointing out that new COVID-19 variants are expected and will continue to be reported, ‘that’s what viruses do, they evolve – but we can prevent the emergence of variants by preventing transmission.’ In a strong warning, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, COVID-19 Technical Lead at the WHO said the Delta variant is a ‘dangerous” virus and is more transmissible than the Alpha variant, which was itself extremely transmissible across Europe and any country that it entered. ‘The Delta variant is even more transmissible,’ she said, adding that the WHO is seeing trajectories of incidents that are almost ‘vertical” in a number of countries around the world. Many European countries are witnessing a decline in cases but there are a lot of events happening across the region, including large sporting or religious events ‘or even backyard barbecues.’ ‘All of these actions have consequences and the Delta variant is spreading readily among people who are unvaccinated,’ Kerkhove said. While some countries have high percentages of people who are vaccinated, yet the entire population of those nations is not yet vaccinated and many people have not received their second dose or the full course of dose of the COVID-19 vaccines, she said. Kerkhove underlined that COVID-19 vaccines are “incredibly effective’ at preventing severe disease and death, including against the Delta variant. ‘The virus will continue to evolve. And right now our public health and social measures work, our vaccines work,’ the diagnostics work and the therapeutics work. ‘But there may be a time where this virus evolves and these countermeasures don’t. So we need some kind of movement to pull ourselves together to drive transmission down and keep it down,’ she said.

Kerkhove warned that events that are large scale and see huge crowds ‘will have consequences. We are already starting to see some consequences of these events with increasing transmission again. The Delta variant will make that epidemic curve exponential,’ she warned.

She urged people to keep themselves safe and make decisions individually about what they need to do every day. “There’s a lot that all of us want to be doing, but there’s not a lot that we need to be doing right now,’ she said. ‘It’s not for the next couple of months. that we need to be thinking about this. We need to be thinking about it right now, because every single decision that we make, leaders make has consequences, good and bad.” The WHO chief said it’s ‘quite simple’ that more transmission means more variants and less transmission means fewer variants. ‘That makes it even more urgent that we use all the tools at our disposal to prevent transmission: the tailored and consistent use of public health and social measures, in combination with equitable vaccination,’ Ghebreyesus said. He said this is the reason why WHO has been saying for at least a year that vaccines must be distributed equitably, to protect health workers and the most vulnerable. This week, WHO had said that the Delta variant, the significantly more transmissible variant of COVID-19, continues to be detected in new countries around the world. The COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update released on June 22 by WHO said that globally, the variant Alpha has been reported in 170 countries, territories or areas, Beta in 119 countries, Gamma in 71 countries and Delta in 85 countries. ‘Delta, now reported in 85 countries globally, continues to be reported in new countries across all WHO Regions, 11 of which were newly reported in the past two weeks,’ the update said. WHO said the four current Variants of Concern being monitored closely ‘ Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta – are widespread and have been detected in all WHO regions. ‘The Delta variant is significantly more transmissible than Alpha variant, and is expected to become a dominant lineage if current trends continue.’ Nick Note: It is so sad. the killer plague which is far from over is spread by two things. The flying aluminum/Kevlar infection spreading tube. And crows events,,, especially mass events. So why is this allowed to happen…. Well like most things its all about the money

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Europe opens lower amid pandemic woes Europe Gets Fresh Virus Warning as Delta Variant Spreads

The growing threat of the delta coronavirus variant in the European Union has prompted a fresh warning from the bloc’s disease prevention agency about the pace of vaccinations and not rushing reopenings. The mutation, first seen in India, is considered even more infectious than the alpha strain, and could hamper efforts to get past the pandemic. It accounts for at least 20% of new cases in Ireland and parts of Germany, while in localized hotspots such as Lisbon, the figure is above 60%. In a threat assessment published Wednesday, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said it’s likely the variant will “circulate extensively during the summer, particularly among younger individuals that are not targeted for vaccination.” Delta has already taken hold in the U.K., and governments across the European Union have said it’s likely to become the dominant strain in their countries. But officials are somewhat in the dark about its current prevalence, given the low rates of genetic analysis in many countries. While the delta variant is increasingly dominant in Europe, that’s happening as overall Covid-19 cases are plunging across most of the continent to the lowest levels since last summer. The risk for Europe is a repeat of the dynamic that played out at the start of the year when lockdown measures had brought down Covid levels until another strain, the alpha variant, spread rapidly. That triggered a fresh wave of infections and another round of restrictions on movement and businesses.

“Modelling scenarios indicate that any relaxation over the summer months of the stringency of non-pharmaceutical measures that were in place in the EU/EEA in early June could lead to a fast and significant increase in daily cases in all age groups, with the highest incidence in those <50 years, with an associated increase in hospitalisations, and deaths, potentially reaching the same levels of the autumn of 2020 if no additional measure are taken.”

–ECDC Threat Assessment, June 23

One big difference now is that vaccination campaigns have kicked up a gear, meaning far more people are at least partially protected. Across the EU, almost 48% have got one shot. But the ECDC said that those who have only received one dose are more vulnerable to delta compared with other variants, and second doses should be administered “within the minimum authorized interval.” Despite being at the center of the delta outbreak, some U.K. figures offer reason for hope. New Covid cases are back at levels last seen in February, but there hasn’t been a corresponding increase in hospitalizations or deaths.  While there’s a lag between increases in positive tests and deaths, the figures suggest the U.K. could break the link between the two, and that the situation won’t get as out of control as before. “There are still too many individuals at risk,” said ECDC Director Andrea Ammon. “Until most of the vulnerable individuals are protected, we need to keep the circulation of the delta virus low by strictly adhering to public health measures, which worked for controlling the impact of other variants.” Major stock markets in Europe opened lower on Monday, as the surge in the COVID-19 Delta variant cases in the United Kingdom prompted fears of a more widespread problem. Over the weekend, the UK registered a five-month high in the number of daily cases, as Germany is reportedly trying to push for an outright ban on Britons traveling to the European Union over the summer. Meanwhile, Germany’s import prices increased in May. The DAX traded 0.23% in the red, with Continental AG losing 0.98%. The FTSE 100 opened 0.11% lower, as Standard Life Aberdeen plc was 1.72% down. The CAC 40 dropped 0.16% at the start, led by BNP Paribas falling 0.61%. The euro stood flat against the dollar trading for $1.19394 at 9:03 am CET, while the pound increased 0.34% against the greenback selling for $1.39260 at the same time. Nick Note: This is a big AWH SHIT and could be a show stopper……. Yes the party could come to a screeching halt. Fed may not be slamming on the breaks… GOD might!!

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FDA adds Moderna, Pfizer shot heart risk warning

The FDA on Wednesday said it will add a warning about rare cases of heart inflammation in teens and young adults to fact sheets for the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines – but that the benefits greatly outweigh the risks – and are still recommending the vaccine for all Americans over 12 years old. CDC advisory groups found the risk of the heart condition in adolescents and young adults is likely linked to the mRNA vaccines… And that the risk is notably higher after the second dose and in males. Doctors and hospitals have been warned by the CDC to watch for symptoms of myocarditis or pericarditis, and the FDA warning will further raise awareness. But in a Wednesday meeting, advisors said the benefits of the mRNA vaccines appeared to clearly outweigh the risk. In a separate report, the CDC said that the patients with heart inflammation following vaccination generally recover from the symptoms and do well.

The cases are extremely rare. Data from the CDC suggests heart inflammation is seen at a rate of about 13 cases per million in the three weeks after the second shot in 12- to 39-year-olds.

HHS – along with leading U.S. doctors groups and public health officials – issued a statement urging all eligible Americans to still get vaccinated.

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U.S. consumer spending takes breather amid shortages; inflation rises

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. consumer spending paused in May as shortages weighed on motor vehicle purchases, but the supply constraints and increased demand for services helped to boost inflation, with the Federal Reserve’s main inflation measure posting its biggest annual increase since 1992. The Commerce Department said on Friday that the unchanged reading in consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, followed an upwardly revised 0.9% jump in April. Consumer spending was previously reported to have increased 0.5% in April. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast consumer spending would rise 0.4% in May. Motor vehicles and some house appliances are scarce because of supply bottlenecks stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. A global shortage of semiconductors is hampering production of motor vehicles. Spending is also starting to shift back to services, which accounts for two-thirds of consumer spending, weighing on goods. The pace is not yet sufficient to offset the drag on consumer spending from goods. At least 150 million Americans are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, allowing the economy to begin reopening and people to travel, dine out and engage in other activities that were restricted during the pandemic. “Discretionary services demand is recovering rapidly as pandemic restrictions ease, but this is being offset by a slowdown in real retail sales,” said James Sweeney, chief economist at Credit Suisse in New York. “Going forward, we expect overall consumer spending growth to remain strong as the services sector continues to normalize.” U.S. stocks opened higher. The dollar slipped against a basket of currencies. Prices of longer-dated U.S. Treasuries were lower. Last month, spending on services increased $74.3 billion, led by recreation, restaurants and hotels as well as housing and utilities. Spending on goods decreased $71.5 billion. The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, excluding the volatile food and energy components, increased 0.5% after advancing 0.7% in April. In the 12 months through May, the so-called core PCE price index shot up 3.4%, the largest gain since April 1992. The core PCE price index rose 3.1% on a year-on-year basis in April. The core PCE price index is the Fed’s preferred inflation measure for its flexible 2% target. Year-on-year inflation is also accelerating as last spring’s weak readings drop from the calculation. Though the so-called base effects likely peaked in May, inflation will probably remain high in the near term because of the supply constraints and worker shortages, which are boosting wage growth.”Even though the positive base effects will lessen in the second half of the year, sequential inflation is expected to remain strong given demand is unlikely to ease as the economy continues to reopen and as supply chains remain under pressure,” said Sam Bullard, a senior economist at Wells Fargo in Charlotte, North Carolina. Fed Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged this week that “inflation has increased notably in recent months,” but told lawmakers that the U.S. central bank “will not raise interest rates preemptively because we fear the possible onset of inflation.” Powell has repeatedly maintained that higher inflation is transitory, a view shared by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Some of the cooling in consumer spending reflected the ebbing boost from government stimulus checks. Personal income fell 2.0% last month after declining 13.1% in April. But wages increased 0.8% after rising 1.0% in April. From July through December some households will receive income under the expanded Child Tax Credit program, which will soften the blow of an early termination of government-funded unemployment benefits in 26 states. When adjusted for inflation, consumer spending fell 0.4% last month after rising 0.3% in April. Despite May’s drop in the so-called real consumer spending, consumption is running higher than its pace in the first quarter. Most economists expect double-digit gross domestic product growth this quarter, which would position the economy to achieve growth of at least 7%. That would be the fastest growth since 1984. The economy contracted 3.5% in 2020, its worst performance in 74 year.

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Ivermectin for Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19 Infection

Moderate-certainty evidence finds that large reductions in COVID-19 deaths are possible using ivermectin. Using ivermectin early in the clinical course may reduce numbers progressing to severe disease. The apparent safety and low cost suggest that ivermectin is likely to have a significant impact on the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic globally. Meta-analysis of 15 trials found that ivermectin reduced risk of death compared with no ivermectin (average risk ratio 0.38, 95% confidence interval 0.19–0.73; n = 2438; I2 = 49%; moderate-certainty evidence). This result was confirmed in a trial sequential analysis using the same DerSimonian–Laird method that underpinned the unadjusted analysis. This was also robust against a trial sequential analysis using the Biggerstaff–Tweedie method. Low-certainty evidence found that ivermectin prophylaxis reduced COVID-19 infection by an average 86% (95% confidence interval 79%–91%). Secondary outcomes provided less certain evidence. Low-certainty evidence suggested that there may be no benefit with ivermectin for “need for mechanical ventilation,” whereas effect estimates for “improvement” and “deterioration” clearly favored ivermectin use. Severe adverse events were rare among treatment trials and evidence of no difference was assessed as low certainty. Evidence on other secondary outcomes was very low certainty. Nick Note: we are getting amazing results in thrid world shit holes. I urge you to get your own stash. If you need a prescription because your big pharma drug dealer wont help….contact us and we will see what we can do about getting you a superscription…

See study for yourself link below

Ivermectin_for_Prevention_and_Treatment_of.98040

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Japan could declare new state of emergency – minister

Tamura Norihisa said at a news conference on Friday that the number of people who are out and about at night in Tokyo was on the rise even before the state of emergency expired on June 20. He said it’s highly likely that the number of people going out at night in the capital is rising further, and cases could increase. The minister also said that vaccinations have not reached the entire population, and strict measures may be necessary to curb infections. Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials confirmed 570 new cases on Thursday. It was the second day in a row that the daily tally had increased by more than 100 from a week earlier.

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Vaccines are NOT working against the Covid19 Delta Strain

Israel says the Delta variant is infecting vaccinated people, representing as many as 50% of new cases
  • As many as half of new COVID-19 cases in Israel are vaccinated people, a health official suggested.
  • The Delta variant, not as easily beaten by vaccines as other variants, is driving Israel’s surge.
  • Although Infections among vaccinated people have alarmed Israelis, the infections appear to be milder than they are in unvaccinated people.

As Israel faces a surge in cases driven by the Delta variant, its health officials suggested that as many as half of new cases were among people who’d been vaccinated. Fully vaccinated people who’ve come into contact with the Delta variant will have to quarantine, Chezy Levy, the director-general of Israel’s health ministry, said on Wednesday, Haaretz reported. “Even though the numbers are low, the fact that this is reaching vaccinated people means … that we are still checking how many vaccinated people have also been infected,” Levy said, according to Haaretz. Levy told the state broadcaster Kan Bet that about 40% to 50% of new cases appeared to be people who had been vaccinated, Haaretz reported. He did not appear to specify a time frame for the new cases. The figure is likely an estimate, as the ministry is still analyzing the cases. On Monday, Levy said that a third of the new daily cases were people who had been vaccinated. It wasn’t clear whether those people had been fully or partially vaccinated. Although the infections among vaccinated people have alarmed Israelis, the infections do not appear to be as severe as they are in unvaccinated people. Though they are preliminary, the figures underline the worry that the Delta variant could mean the virus continues to spread even in places like Israel where large portions of the population have been vaccinated. New daily cases reported in Israel have jumped to over 100, the highest level there since May. About 70% of the cases have been caused by the Delta variant, Levy said on Monday. Israel had been ending its virus restrictions – it ended indoor masking last week as daily cases hovered in the single digits. As of Thursday, about 57% of Israel’s population had been fully vaccinated, according to Johns Hopkins University data. As of Monday, no severe cases of COVID-19 had been reported from the latest surge, Ran Balicer, an executive at the Israeli healthcare organization Clalit, said in a tweet. Of all the coronavirus variants, the Delta variant could pose the greatest risk to vaccinated people. Research suggests it’s better able to break through in people who’ve had only one dose of two-dose vaccines, such as those from Pfizer and AstraZeneca. On Monday, Mike Ryan, the executive director of the World Health Organization’s health-emergencies program, said the Delta variant could “be more lethal because it’s more efficient in the way it transmits between humans.” Two doses of the vaccines appear to be protective against Delta. An analysis by UK health officials found that two doses of Pfizer’s vaccine were 88% effective against Delta while a single shot was 33% effective. That’s compared with 95% efficacy against the original strain, or 52% after one shot. But no vaccine is 100% effective, and so-called breakthrough cases are still possible. With other variants, breakthrough infections were mostly mild. In the UK, where the Delta variant makes up more than 90% of cases, 26 of 73 total deaths associated with the Delta variant were among people who had been fully vaccinated, Nick Note: You better pay attention here the truth is its not over when it over because  its never over……. Jennifer asked me what i wanted to do with inventory of masks and custom designed  P3 filters i had manufactured. I told her we will soon enough be sending them out again.

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Fed’s Bullard: US reopening may boost inflation further

The Federal Reserve should be prepared for inflation to surprise on the high end through next year, said St. Louis Fed President James Bullard. Inflation is likely to remain above the Fed’s 2 per cent goal and may surprise further to the upside, bolstered by a faster-than-expected economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, Bullard said Monday in a virtual event hosted by the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum. “We’re in a much stronger position with respect to reopening than we would have anticipated and inflation has come along with it,” Bullard said. “We have to be ready for the idea that there is upside risk to inflation and for it to go higher.” Bullard is forecasting 2.5 per cent core PCE inflation next year. The median projection of the 18 participants in the Federal Open Market Committee is for 3 per cent core inflation this year and 2.1 per cent in each of the next two years, according to estimates released last week following the central bank’s June meeting. Chair Jerome Powell sounded a hawkish note in his press conference following the meeting, saying there was a risk to inflation rising more than the FOMC’s estimates. Officials also moved up their estimates for the first rate increase, with the median now seeing two hikes in 2023. Nick Note: The Fed needs to be very very careful here. Their is a great danger that the masses will see reinflation caused by the supply chain filling back up as embedded inflation. If they kick off mass inflation expectations the tooth past will be impossible to put back in the tube….

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Biden announces $1T bipartisan deal on infrastructure

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden declared on Thursday that “we have a deal,” announcing a bipartisan agreement on a $953 billion infrastructure plan that would achieve his top legislative priority and validate his efforts to reach across the political aisle. Biden made a surprise appearance in front of the cameras with members of a group of senators, Republicans and Democrats, after an agreement was reached at the White House. Details of the deal were scarce to start, but the pared-down plan, with $559 billion in new spending, has rare bipartisan backing and could open the door to the president’s more sweeping $4 trillion proposals later on. “This reminds me of the days when we used to get an awful lot done up in the United States Congress,” said Biden, a former Delaware senator, putting his hand on the shoulder of a stoic-looking Republican Sen. Rob Portman. The president said not everyone got what they wanted and that other White House priorities would be tackled separately in a congressional budget process known as reconciliation “We’ve struck a deal,” Biden then tweeted. “A group of senators – five Democrats and five Republicans – has come together and forged an infrastructure agreement that will create millions of American jobs.” The deal was struck amid months of partisan rancor that has consumed Washington, yet Biden has insisted that something could be done despite skepticism from many in his own party. Led by Republican Portman of Ohio and Democrat Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, the group includes some of the more independent lawmakers in the Senate, some known for bucking their parties. “You know there are many who say bipartisanship is dead in Washington,” said Sinema, “We can use bipartisanship to solve these challenges.” And Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said, “It sends an important message to the world as well that America can function, can get things done.” The senators have struggled over how to pay for the new spending but left for the White House with a sense of confidence that funding issues had been addressed. The senators from both parties stressed that the deal will create jobs for the economy, a belief that clearly transcended the partisan interests and created a framework for the deal. “We’re going to keep working together–we’re not finished,” Sen. Mitt Romney said. “But America works, the Senate works.”Though for far less than the approximately $2 trillion he originally sought, which may raise some ire on the left, Biden had bet his political capital that he could work with Republicans and showcase that democracy could still work as a counter-example to rising autocracies across the globe. Moreover, Biden and his aides believed that they needed a bipartisan deal on infrastructure to create a permission structure for more moderate Democrats — including Sinema and Joe Manchin of West Virginia — to then be willing to go for a party-line vote for the rest of the president’s agenda. Biden’s top aides had met with senators for back-to-back meetings on Capitol Hill and later huddled with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. The agreement comes with a complex legislative push. Pelosi on Thursday warned that it must be paired with the president’s bigger goals now being prepared by Congress under a process that could push them through the Senate with only Democratic votes. “This is important,” Pelosi said. “There ain’t going to be a bipartisan bill without a reconciliation bill,” The Democratic leader vowed the House would not vote until the Senate had dealt with both packages. The major hurdle for a bipartisan agreement has been financing. Biden demanded no new taxes on anyone making less than $400,000, while Republican lawmakers were unwilling to raise taxes beyond such steps as indexing the gasoline tax to inflation. But senators departed for the White House Thursday with a sense of confidence that funding issues had been addressed. One member of the bipartisan group, Republican Rob Portman of Ohio, had met privately ahead of the White House meeting with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell at the Capitol and said afterward that the Kentucky senator “remains open-minded and he’s listening still.” The announcement leaves unclear the fate of Biden’s promises of massive investment to slow climate change, which Biden this spring called “the existential crisis of our times.” Biden’s presidential campaign had helped win progressive backing with pledges of massive spending on electric vehicles, charging stations, and research and funding for overhauling the U.S. economy to run on less oil and gas. The administration is expected to push for some of that in future legislation. But Sen. Cassidy, R-La, stressed that there are billions of dollars for resiliency against extreme weather and the impacts of climate change and deemed Thursday’s deal a “beginning investment.” Biden has sought $1.7 trillion in his American Jobs Plan, part of nearly $4 trillion in broad infrastructure spending on roads, bridges and broadband internet but also including the so-called care economy of child care centers, hospitals and elder care. With Republicans opposed to Biden’s proposed corporate tax rate increase, from 21% to 28%, the group has looked at other ways to raise revenue. Biden rejected their idea to allow gas taxes paid at the pump to rise with inflation, viewing it as a financial burden on American drivers. The broad reconciliation bill would likely include tax increases on the wealthy and corporations, so a tension still exists over funding for some Republicans and business groups. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce came out Thursday applauding the bipartisan infrastructure agreement, but Neil Bradley, its executive vice president, warned that “some in Congress are trying to torpedo the deal” unless they get trillions in additional spending. “These are the kind of tactics that have created the mess we are in today, and they must be rejected,” Bradley said. According to a White House readout of the Wednesday meeting with Schumer and Pelosi, the leaders talked with acting Budget Director Shalanda Young, National Economic Council Director Brian Deese and Domestic Policy Council Director Susan Rice, and they discussed the two-track approach — the smaller bipartisan deal now emerging and the more sweeping plan of Democratic priorities. Schumer said the leaders “support the concepts” they have heard from the bipartisan negotiations. The Democratic leaders also insisted on the two-part process ahead, starting with initial votes in July to consider the bipartisan deal and to launch the lengthy procedure for the Democrats’ proposal, now drafted at nearly $6 trillion. The Democrats’ bigger proposal would run through the budget reconciliation process, which would allow passage of Biden’s priorities by majority vote, without the need for support from Republicans to overcome the Senate’s 60-vote threshold. It would require multiple rounds of voting that are likely to extend into fall. Like Pelosi, Schumer said, “One can’t be done without the other.” That’s a signal to both parties of the road ahead. Liberal Democrats have been wary of the bipartisan effort because they see it as insufficient and worry it will take the place of Biden’s bigger plan. Republicans are also skeptical of passing a bipartisan bill only to be faced with an even bigger Democratic plan.

 

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Fed’s Harker: US GDP ‘roaring’, economy in good shape

 

Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker said in a speech that US economy is “by and large” in good shape overall. GDP has come “roaring back”, consumption, housing, and manufacturing are “extremely healthy”, while workers’ incomes are rising. However, “even as GDP has almost entirely recouped its losses from last year, employment remains down significantly,” he added. “We still have nearly 7.6 million fewer people working than we did before the pandemic. And if you assume we would have maintained our prepandemic job growth of around 200,000 jobs a month had COVID-19 never arrived, we’re really down around 10.6 million jobs.”