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As I write this column it is January 2nd and already we have a good news/bad news update for the year so far. Let's start with the good news. Israel killed Deputy Hamas chief Saleh al-Arouri in the suburbs of Beirut in a drone attack on Tuesday evening, according to media reports that were not confirmed by the Israeli government. Arouri, is considered Hamas' number 2 leader and was deputy head of Hamas's politburo and a founder of its military wing, the Qassam Brigades, who carried out the deadly assault in Israeli territory on Oct. 7.
The Wall Street Journal reported back in October that Beirut was a key site for meetings between Iranian officials and Hamas officials, including meetings on the October 7 terror attack, though it has not been confirmed that Iran approved that attack. Confirmed or not, we all know they did. Arouri was only one of several monsters killed. We need more, but this was good news.
Another item of good news is that Harvard President Claudine Gay resigned on Tuesday, following antisemitism scandals at the Ivy League university, a disastrous congressional testimony, and scores of plagiarism allegations (more than 50!) being unearthed in recent months. Her six month tenure marks the shortest tenure in Harvard's history.
No doubt the school had no other option other than to get rid of her after losing billions in donations thanks to her disgusting antisemitic remarks and her serial plagiarism. Of course she doesn't admit any wrongdoing and blames her forced resignation on "racial animus." That's a hot one when the only reason she got the job in the first place was because of her race and her progressive agenda. Live by the woke, die by the woke.
Now, on to the bad news. Hold on because here we go again! The return of the masked men and women. That's right. Masks are back! One of the major healthcare systems in Massachusetts is ordering mask mandates for staff in their facilities.
As of January 2, 2024, healthcare staff that interacts directly with patients will now be required to mask up. According to an October 31 press release from Mass General Brigham, respiratory illness season officially starts when over 1.9 percent of patients "presenting to emergency departments or outpatient clinics have symptoms of respiratory illness."
Not to be outdone, Los Angeles County has reinstated a mask mandate which is even more severe, applying to both staff and patients at healthcare facilities. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cited "notable, yet not unexpected, increases in COVID-19 reported cases, hospitalizations and deaths."
"Based on the Los Angeles County Health Officer Order posted on December 27, 2023, when the COVID-19 hospital admission level in Los Angeles County meets or exceeds the CDC's Medium Level, all healthcare personnel, regardless of COVID-19 and influenza vaccination status, in licensed health care facilities that provide inpatient care are required to mask while in contact with patients or working in patient-care areas," the department said.
Remember, this is despite the fact that many studies have shown masks to be relatively ineffective in stopping the spread of the coronavirus. Last year Breitbart News reported a study from Cochrane Library which concluded, "Wearing masks in the community probably makes little or no difference to the outcome of influenza-like illness (ILI)/COVID-19 like illness compared to not wearing masks."
We're only in the first week of the new year, folks. With the presidential campaign ahead, two major wars going on, illegals continuing to storm our southern border, antisemites in our streets, and crimes raging in our cities, there's no telling what we can expect in the weeks and months of 2024. We can only hope that the good news outweighs the bad.
Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy year.
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