As Wave Of GOP Leadership Rolls Into Virginia, Colleges Cut Vax Mandates
The Washington Post stories that covid vaccine mandates appear “on the best way out” at Virginia’s public universities in step with an opinion from the brand new Republican lawyer basic. Across the U.S., well being employee mandates, National Guard vax guidelines and extra proceed to stir controversy.
The Washington Post:
Coronavirus Vaccine Mandates Appear On Way Out At Virginia’s Public Universities After Attorney General’s Opinion
One by one, Virginia’s public universities seem like falling into line with an opinion from the state’s new Republican lawyer basic, Jason Miyares, that they aren’t legally approved to require college students to get vaccinated in opposition to the coronavirus. On Monday, Virginia Tech introduced it could now not make coronavirus vaccination a situation of pupil enrollment. The University of Virginia, in the meantime, stated it could now not threaten to disenroll college students this semester who don’t get a vaccine booster shot. (Anderson and Lumpkin, 1/31)
In associated information about vaccine mandates —
AP:
Youngkin, Justice Seek Relief From Health Worker Vax Rule
Warning of hospitals and different well being suppliers dealing with “an pressing staffing disaster,” the Republican governors of Virginia and West Virginia on Monday requested the Biden administration for a restricted waiver to the federal vaccine mandate for well being care staff. (Raby and Rankin, 1/31)
Charleston Gazette-Mail:
Bill To Slash Unemployment Benefits Sidelined After Vaccine Amendment Adopted
A Senate invoice aiming to scale back the variety of weeks an individual can obtain state unemployment advantages was sidelined Monday after West Virginia lawmakers adopted a vaccine exemption modification to the invoice. Legislators left final Thursday’s Senate Judiciary Committee assembly with Sen. Mark Maynard, R-Wayne, proposing an modification to Senate Bill 2 that may lengthen unemployment advantages to staff who’re fired after refusing a COVID-19 vaccine requirement. Maynard spoke once more Monday afternoon earlier than dialogue of the invoice, saying he was going to withdraw his modification as a result of it may derail the invoice’s intentions solely. (Severino, 1/31)
AP:
Austin To Governors: Guard Troops Must Get COVID-19 Vaccine
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in letters to seven governors, is reaffirming the necessity for members of their states’ Army and Air National Guards to get the obligatory COVID-19 vaccine or lose their Guard standing. In practically similar letters signed late final week, Austin tells the governors that the virus “takes our service members out of the combat, quickly or completely, and jeopardizes our capacity to satisfy mission necessities,” in keeping with copies obtained Monday by The Associated Press. (Baldor, 1/31)
AP:
Mandate To Vaccinate New Orleans Schoolchildren Kicking In
As faculty techniques throughout the U.S. wrestle to maintain lecture rooms open amid the pandemic, New Orleans is about to turn out to be the nation’s first main district to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for youngsters 5 and up, although state laws will enable mother and father to choose out simply. Ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, many colleges within the metropolis have been holding vaccination occasions, together with one at KIPP Believe faculty. (Santana, 1/31)
The Boston Globe:
After Much Fanfare, Other Cities Balk At Following Boston’s Proof-Of-Vaccination Mandate
When Mayor Michelle Wu introduced in December that she would put in place a proof-of-vaccination mandate for Boston eating places, gyms, and leisure venues, officers from a number of different Massachusetts cities stood together with her in a present of assist. “I’m so grateful to have regional mayors and municipal well being officers right here, metropolis councilors, state representatives,” Wu stated throughout a City Hall occasion, “as a result of preventing this pandemic would require shared motion and partnership.” But her name for unity has produced combined outcomes. (Gardizy, 1/31)
Also —
Hearst Television:
Man With Kidney Failure Removed From Organ Transplant List For Not Getting COVID-19 Vaccine
A South Carolina man has been declared inactive on a kidney transplant record after he stated he has no plans to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine. Jason Wilson has had kidney failure since he was 10 years outdated. For some time, his situation improved, he stated. But about two years in the past, he started dialysis and was positioned on Medical University of South Carolina Health’s record for a kidney transplant. It was on Nov. 1 that he acquired a letter from the well being system that stated he could be moved to inactive standing if he did not get the COVID-19 vaccine by Jan. 1, 2022. “If you don’t want to be vaccinated, we’ll transfer you to inactive standing till we’re in a position to confirm proof of accomplished vaccination,” it learn, partly. (1/31)
In information about protests —
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Anti-Vaccination Forces Push For Ouster Of Missouri’s Public Health Chief
Anti-vaccination activists are trying to dam the affirmation of Gov. Mike Parson’s well being chief, falsely alleging he needs to pressure all Missourians to get vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19. In a rally Monday, the group urged the Senate to vote down the appointment of Donald Kauerauf as director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Despite proof on the contrary, the opponents argued that Kauerauf would try to require all Missourians to get vaccinated in opposition to a respiratory illness that has killed greater than 17,000 Missourians. (Erickson, 1/31)
Politico:
Medical Boards Get Pushback As They Try To Punish Doctors For Covid Misinformation
Medical boards and different regulators throughout the nation are scrambling to penalize medical doctors who unfold misinformation about vaccines or promote unproven cures for Covid-19. But they’re uncertain whether or not they’ll prevail over actions by state lawmakers who imagine the boards are overreaching. In Maui, the state medical board filed complaints in opposition to the state’s chief well being officer and one other doctor after they supported Covid-19 remedies federal well being officers warned in opposition to. In Florida, the nominee for state surgeon basic refused to immediately reply on the effectiveness and security of the coronavirus vaccine — and that’s after an area physician filed a criticism to the state’s medical boards. In Idaho, native GOP officers appointed a pathologist who promoted unproven virus remedies to an area public well being board, regardless of complaints from his friends to state regulators. (Tahir, 2/1)
The Washington Post:
Joe Rogan Says He’ll Do Better Research On Covid, Give Listeners Opposing Views: ‘I Don’t Always Get It Right’
As a rising variety of musicians yanked their work from the streaming service Spotify over misinformation about coronavirus vaccines, podcaster Joe Rogan posted a video this weekend admitting he may do extra to raised inform his tens of millions of listeners, notably with regards to covid-19. Rogan, in an almost 10-minute video Sunday night time on Instagram, stated he’ll make two modifications to his present, “The Joe Rogan Experience,” to perform that. The first: have mainstream consultants give their viewpoints after friends espousing extra fringe opinions. (Edwards, 1/31)
Los Angeles Times:
Science Podcasters Call Spotify’s Support Of Joe Rogan A ‘Slap In The Face’
Key individuals behind a well-liked science podcast on Spotify stated Monday they have been upset by the best way Spotify has dealt with misinformation on Joe Rogan’s podcast and plan to restrict their manufacturing on new episodes. “Spotify’s assist of Joe Rogan’s podcast has felt like a slap within the face,” Wendy Zukerman, host and govt producer of “Science Vs” and Blythe Terrell, Science Vs’ editor, wrote in a letter to Spotify’s CEO Daniel Ek. Zukerman and Terrell stated they imagine Spotify’s guidelines relating to misinformation don’t go far sufficient. (Lee, 1/31)
Near Biden, Nobody Removes Masks … And Other Efforts To Keep Him Healthy
If you are assembly with the president and also you get thirsty, you are out of luck — as a covid precaution, President Joe Biden is the one one who will get a glass of water. Other information about masks is from Colorado, California, the not-so-friendly skies and elsewhere.
AP:
All-Out Effort To Keep Biden COVID-Free; No ‘Normal’ Yet
When President Joe Biden met with U.S. governors on the White House on Monday, he was the one one given a glass of water — lest anybody else take away their masks to take a drink. The president was seated greater than 10 ft from everybody, together with Vice President Kamala Harris and members of his Cabinet. A White House staffer who was carrying a surgical masks when Biden entered the room was shortly handed an N95 model. (Miller, 1/31)
In different information about mask-wearing —
Bloomberg:
Denver To End Mask Mandate For Businesses This Week, Mayor Says
Denver will finish its masks mandate for companies Feb. 4 as Covid-19 circumstances decline, Mayor Michael B. Hancock stated Monday, whereas cautioning “that is nonetheless a public well being emergency.” Masks are nonetheless required at metropolis faculties, on public transit and at Denver International Airport, Hancock stated throughout a web-based briefing. He additionally appealed for “rather less anger and petulance” over the continued restrictions.
Scientific modeling suggests “omicron has run out of gas in our group,” stated Bob McDonald, director of town’s division of public well being and surroundings. (Del Giudice, 1/31)
WKRN:
Free N95 Masks Now Available At Kroger
Need an N95 masks? Major regional grocery retailer Kroger now has them in inventory. Under the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, Kroger now has N95 masks in inventory and each individual can rise up to 3 freed from cost as a part of measures taken by the federal authorities to scale back additional unfold of the COVID-19. Most shops throughout Kroger’s Nashville division now have the masks and people who don’t ought to have them by Tuesday, Feb. 1. (Stilwell, 1/310
EdSource:
What Are The Best Masks For Children To Wear At School During The Omicron Surge?
The state Office of Emergency Services is at the moment distributing a complete of 6 million child-size KN95 masks to county workplaces of schooling, which is able to distribute them to varsities. For college students who don’t have entry to these masks, California public well being officers advise carrying a surgical masks or a surgical masks with a material masks on high. Students who put on cloth masks are suggested to go for ones with three or extra material layers. Any masks worn comfortably by a pupil is healthier than no masks in any respect, public well being officers stated. (Tadayon, 1/31)
Politico:
Newsom Defends Maskless Photo At NFL Playoff Game
California Gov. Gavin Newsom defended himself on Monday amid outrage over a maskless photograph he took Sunday with basketball legend Magic Johnson at an NFL playoff sport in Los Angeles the place all spectators have been required to put on masks. “I used to be attempting to be gracious, and I made a mist — you understand, I imply, I used to be attempting to be gracious,” the governor instructed reporters at a information convention on state psychological well being initiatives. “I took the masks off for a quick second. But I encourage individuals to proceed to put on them.” (Luthi, 1/31)
New York Post:
Trump Supporter Asked To Remove ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ Mask On Flight
A passenger aboard a Spirit Airlines flight claimed he was compelled to take away his digital face masks that includes the glowing slogan, “Let’s go Brandon,” together with the letters FJB — the code for “F— Joe Biden.” Adam Radogna, a supporter of former President Donald Trump flying from Cleveland, Ohio, to Tampa, Florida, on Friday, posted a viral video displaying him being handed a surgical masks to switch the one he was carrying. (Steinbuch, 1/31)
Wash. Lawsuit Says An Ill. Covid Tester Lied To Patients, Stored Samples Poorly
Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s swimsuit alleges the Center for COVID Control, which had about 300 U.S. areas, generally even faked, delayed or failed to offer outcomes to sufferers in any respect. Other information shops cowl developments in covid testing throughout the nation.
Seattle Times:
COVID Testing Company Faked Test Results, Lied To Patients, WA AG Lawsuit Says
An Illinois-based coronavirus testing firm with not less than 13 websites in Washington, faked or delayed take a look at outcomes (or offered none in any respect), lied to sufferers and did not correctly retailer take a look at samples, in keeping with a lawsuit filed Monday by Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson. The lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court, describes how the corporate, Center for COVID Control, expanded to about 300 U.S. areas and allegedly took benefit of residents at a time when frequent testing was in excessive demand as a “essential device within the combat in opposition to COVID-19.” (Takahama, 1/31)
In different testing information —
Lansing State Journal:
Meijer To Offer Free At-Home PCR Testing At Pharmacy Locations
Meijer introduced plans Monday to supply at-home COVID-19 PCR checks free to clients all through the Midwest at its areas with pharmacies. The Grand Rapids-based grocery retailer chain is partnering with eTrueNorth, a Texas-based well being care know-how firm, to offer at-home variations of the polymerase chain response (PCR) take a look at, which consultants imagine to be probably the most correct COVID-19 examination. According to a press launch, Meijer is the primary retail pharmacy to supply PCR checks at no cost. (Weber, 1/31)
ABC News:
New York City Will Offer Free, At-Home Delivery Of COVID-19 Antiviral Pills
New York City has begun providing free, identical day at-home supply of COVID-19 antiviral tablets to eligible residents though provides stay restricted. The program was introduced by Mayor Eric Adams at a press convention Sunday at Jacobi Medical Center within the Bronx. (Kekatos, 1/31)
The Mercury News:
Santa Clara County Officials Announce Stricter Testing Rules For Healthcare Providers
Santa Clara County on Monday started requiring healthcare suppliers to supply sufferers a COVID-19 take a look at inside 24 hours in an try to shift extra testing accountability to hospitals and clinics who the county says haven’t been doing their half. “The county has been carrying a disproportionate burden of testing all through the pandemic,” stated Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody at a press convention Monday. “By a really broad margin.” The new stricter guideline narrows the county’s earlier guidelines in September 2020 that required suppliers to get again to members by the top of the next day after a request for a take a look at. (Greschler, 1/31)
NPR:
When A Positive COVID Tests Means Losing Work, There’s Little Incentive To Test
A significant public well being tenet is that testing is essential for controlling viral unfold, however Cristina San Martin may have discovered loads of causes to not take a look at for COVID-19. At-home fast checks have been offered out, and contours at lab testing websites have wrapped across the block and booked per week upfront. As a canine washer at a grooming salon, San Martin cannot afford $150 to check at an urgent-care website. (Noguchi, 2/1)
Also, how incomplete knowledge has damage pandemic response efforts —
The Boston Globe:
How Patchy COVID Data Hampered The Pandemic Response
On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control reported greater than half 1,000,000 new optimistic circumstances of COVID, a every day determine that serves as a vital barometer for a nation muddling its approach by the Omicron wave. But the precise variety of new infections, which might be larger, is a thriller — identical to the general quantity of people that have been contaminated to this point. Two years after COVID started spreading on this nation, the United States is working with patchy and incomplete knowledge in regards to the virus, an issue consultants say has hampered the response to 1 variant after one other and leaves the nation simply as susceptible to the following one. (Bidgood, 2/1)
https://khn.org/morning-briefing/tuesday-february-1-2022/
