The UK has become the world’s most efficient Covid-19 testing ground with 63% of its adults having had two jabs, 85% at least one vaccine. Its ubiquitous National Health Service provides comprehensive information on the coronavirus’s impact. The latest data is heartening.
Around half the 117 Brits who have died from the Delta variant had been vaccinated twice. That shows vaccines do not provide 100% protection. However, without vaccinations the Delta variant would otherwise have killed 1,121 people. Put differently, vaccines dropped Covid mortalities by 95%. Click here for the full story.
* On Friday afternoon, we published Prof Colleen Aldous’s blistering attack on the “experts” whose blinkered approach, she says, are responsible for South Africa’s covid chaos. Aldous a PhD who runs the doctoral academy at UKZN’s College of Health Sciences, is a strong advocate for practical interventions – including ivermectin. Have a read of her contribution co-authored with public health care specialist Dr Warren Parker.
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* Concerning news for Naspers and Prosus shareholders. Beijing’s latest, very public swipe at domestic capitalists arrived yesterday when China ordered ride hailing app of Didi Global – China’s Uber – to be removed from all app stores. Beijing says Didi is illegally collecting data from users. This is excruciating for the company, coming just three trading sessions after Didi Global’s shares were listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The shares closed at just above the IPO level on Wednesday, but slumped on Friday when China’s regulators blocked Didi from adding new users. US markets are closed today but the latest attack is likely to hit the stock tomorrow. The company is putting a brave face on it, saying Beijing’s move doesn’t affect people who have already downloaded the app. Didi also issued a grovelling statement which included “We sincerely thank the responsible departments from guiding Didi to look into the risks…” In case you haven’t noticed, China’s war on capitalism is ratcheting up.
* At a time when mankind is seeking inspiration from the genuine geniuses who walk among us, over the weekend I had another read of the New Yorker’s superb profile on best-selling historian Yuval Noah Harari. Well worth the half hour investment.
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