Good Morning NUNAverse,
As the world worries that the Omicron COVID-19 variant may cause a surge of cases and weaken vaccines, drug developers have some encouraging news: Two new COVID-19 pills are coming soon, and are expected to work against all versions of the virus. The Food and Drug Administration is expected to soon authorize a pill made by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, called molnupiravir, which reduces the risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19 by 30 percent if taken within five days of the onset of symptoms. Another antiviral pill, developed by Pfizer, may perform even better. An interim analysis showed that the drug was 85 percent effective when taken within five days of the start of symptoms. The F.D.A. could authorize it by year’s end.
The Seminole Tribe of Florida shut down its online sports betting app on Saturday after being dealt its latest legal defeat in a case that has halted a massive expansion of gambling throughout Florida. The tribe said it will temporarily stop taking bets on its Hard Rock Sportsbook app in response to a federal appeals court decision rejecting its request to allow wagering to continue as it pursues an appeal. The Friday ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit follows a lower court’s decision to block an agreement between Florida and the Seminoles to allow online sports betting because it violates a federal rule requiring a person to be physically on tribal land when wagering. The lawsuit, which was filed by non-Native casino owners in Florida, challenged the approval of the deal by the U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees tribal gambling operations.
A group of elders from the San Carlos Apache Nation gathered Thursday to urge Arizona Senator Mark Kelly to back legislation that will keep sacred land from being torn up for a massive copper mine. Some high school students from the Brophy College Preparatory showed up to support the half-dozen elders for the demonstration outside the Democratic Senator’s Phoenix office to protect the land known as Oak Flat. In a statement from Washington, where the Senate is in session, Kelly did not spell out a clear stance. Companion bills in the House and Senate aim to overturn a land exchange that would allow the mine’s development. The Senate bill tribal citizens want Kelly to support has been referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources but has not faced a vote.
Keep reading for a full news update.
Health:
New Covid Pills Offer Hope As Omicron Looms
New York Times, Carl Zimmer, December 7
As the world worries that the Omicron coronavirus variant may cause a surge of cases and weaken vaccines, drug developers have some encouraging news: Two new Covid-19 pills are coming soon, and are expected to work against all versions of the virus. The Food and Drug Administration is expected to soon authorize a pill made by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, called molnupiravir, which reduces the risk of hospitalization and death from Covid-19 by 30 percent if taken within five days of the onset of symptoms.
U.S. CDC Urges Americans To Avoid Travel To France, Jordan Over COVID-19 Concerns
Reuters, David Shepardson, December 6
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday advised Americans against travel to France, Jordan, Portugal, and Tanzania, citing COVID-19 concerns.
The CDC now lists 83 destinations at “Level 4: Very High” classification and also on Monday added Andorra, Cyprus and Liechtenstein to the highest travel advisory level.
Omicron V. Delta: Battle Of Coronavirus Mutants Is Critical
AP News, Laura Ungar, December 6
As the omicron coronavirus variant spreads in southern Africa and pops up in countries all around the world, scientists are anxiously watching a battle play out that could determine the future of the pandemic. Can the latest competitor to the world-dominating delta overthrow it?
Some scientists, poring over data from South Africa and the United Kingdom, suggest omicron could emerge the victor. But others said Monday it’s too soon to know how likely it is that omicron will spread more efficiently than delta, or, if it does, how fast it might take over. Many critical questions about omicron remain unanswered, including whether the virus causes milder or more severe illness and how much it might evade immunity from past COVID-19 illness or vaccines. On the issue of spread, scientists point to what’s happening in South Africa, where omicron was first detected. Omicron’s speed in infecting people and achieving near dominance in South Africa has health experts worried that the country is at the start of a new wave that may come to overwhelm hospitals.
Law:
Seminole Tribe Suspends Online Sports Betting App
AP News, December 5
The Seminole Tribe of Florida shut down its online sports betting app Saturday after being dealt its latest legal defeat in a case that has halted a massive expansion of gambling throughout Florida. The tribe said it will temporarily stop taking bets on its Hard Rock Sportsbook app in response to a federal appeals court decision rejecting its request to allow wagering to continue as it pursues an appeal. The Friday ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit follows a lower court’s decision to block an agreement between Florida and the Seminoles to allow online sports betting because it violates a federal rule requiring a person to be physically on tribal land when wagering. The lawsuit, which was filed by non-Indian casino owners in Florida, challenged the approval of the deal by the U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees tribal gambling operations.
Other:
Apache Elders Urge Senator To Protect Oak Flat
AP News, Anita Snow, December 6
A group of elders from the San Carlos Apache Nation gathered Thursday to urge Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly to back legislation that will keep land they call sacred from being torn up for a massive copper mine. Some high school students from the Brophy College Preparatory showed up to support the half-dozen elders for the demonstration outside the Democratic senator’s Phoenix office to protect the land known as Oak Flat. In a statement from Washington, where the Senate is in session, Kelly did not spell out a clear stance. Companion bills in the House and Senate aim to overturn a land exchange that would allow the mine’s development. The Senate bill tribal citizens want Kelly to support has been referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, but has not faced a vote.
Native Biodata Is A Natural Resource. U.S. Tribes Must Act Quickly To Protect It.
Native News Online, Joseph Yracheta, December 6
A few years ago, data surpassed oil as the most-traded commodity in the world. That shift signaled a new global economy fueled by computer science and big data, the automated ability to collect vast amounts of information. Our tribal leaders who traditionally consider natural resources to be the big three — oil, precious metals and water — need to understand the landscape has changed. Native communities have a valuable and sought-after natural resource of genomic biological data from our human, animal, plant and microbial relatives due to our unique habitation of our continent since time immemorial. Now, invisible data-capture methods are extracting all kinds of Native bioinformation to produce new goods and services, from expensive pharmaceuticals beyond the reach of many tribal communities to innovative insights into Native ancestry often at odds with tribal enrollment that is rooted in culture and laws. Native biodata is generating a multiplicity of issues that many tribal governments have yet to consider.