UK sees first death from omicron variant - December 13, 2021

Several large U.S. hospital systems dropped coronavirus vaccine mandates for staff following a temporary halt on the Biden administration’s requirement that healthcare workers get the shot. As labor costs soar, the medical industry has seen worker shortages — compounded by burnout — rise alongside hospitalizations. Since the beginning of the year, over 450,000 people in the U.S. died from coronavirus complications, bringing the total number of deaths to over 800,000 last week. Most of the deaths were in unvaccinated patients. Germany approves COVID vaccine mandate for medical staff - Deutsche Welle Why U.S. Job Gains Are So Hard to Count During Covid-19 - The Wall Street Journal @kylegriffin1: Dr. Rob Davidson: I'm an E.R. doc in Michigan, where the unvaccinated are filling hospital beds "I'm mad at the Fox personalities and the Republican politicians who downplay vaccination." "A vaccine mandate is the only way to break the endless cycle." The UK reported its first death from the omicron variant as Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged Britons to increase protection with boosters. Surging demand for boosters crashed the National Health Service’s appointment website. European officials warned that omicron could become the dominant variant “within days, not weeks” on the continent due to its growth advantage over the delta variant. UK's Johnson warns of Omicron 'tidal wave', says two doses not enough - Reuters What omicron's fast spread could mean for the U.S. – and the world - NPR @CarlosdelRio7: First Omicron death as ‘variant to become dominant in London tomorrow’ What happens in the U.K. happens in the U.S. about 4 - 6 weeks later. Deadly tornadoes tore through six states Friday night, killing scores of people and hurling debris as high as 30,000 feet. Nearly 40 reported tornadoes arose from a single severe thunderstorm system over Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee. One tornado in Edwardsville, Ill., flattened an Amazon distribution center in the company