States Stumble Over Vaccine Rollouts As Wisconsin Drops Mask Mandate
Wisconsin's high court has stuck down the governor's statewide mask mandate, and Georgia is poised to lower its remaining covid restrictions. Meanwhile, reports explain why vaccine rollouts in D.C., Maryland and elsewhere are bollixed.
Axios:
Wisconsin Supreme Court Strikes Down Statewide Mask Mandate
Wisconsin's Supreme Court struck down Gov. Tony Evers' (D) statewide mask mandate on Wednesday by ruling against multiple emergency declarations made during the pandemic, AP reports. The court ruled that the governor overstepped his powers by issuing multiple emergency declarations for the pandemic, lasting longer than 60 days, without approval from the state legislature. The ruling invalidates the current mask mandate in the state, which was set to expire next Monday. (Rummier, 3/31)
Reuters:
Wisconsin High Court Voids Governor's Mask Mandate, Settling Partisan Dispute
A divided Wisconsin Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down Governor Tony Evers’ mask mandate, saying he exceeded his authority and violated the separation of powers by reissuing emergency orders during the pandemic. In its 4-to-3 ruling, which voids a Feb. 4 face-covering order currently in effect, the court found that Evers effectively breached a statute that limits his emergency powers to 60 days without approval of the state legislature. (3/31)
Atlanta Journal Constitution:
Georgia To Remove COVID Restrictions Despite Worries About New Surge
Gov. Brian Kemp outlined a plan Wednesday to start rolling back many of Georgia’s remaining coronavirus restrictions next week, even as President Joe Biden and health experts warn of a potential fourth surge of the pandemic if people let down their guard. The governor signed an executive order that as of April 8 ends a ban on large gatherings, eliminates shelter-in-place requirements for vulnerable populations, and pares down a lengthy list of safety guidelines that businesses such as bars, retail stores and entertainment venues are supposed to follow. (Bluestein, Trubey and Oliviero, 3/31)
Axios:
Washington Nationals Player Tests Positive For COVID On Opening Day Eve
On the eve of the MLB regular season's start, Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo announced a player has tested positive for COVID-19, and four teammates and a staffer are in quarantine. Major League Baseball is still reeling from the impact of the coronavirus last season, when sponsor revenue plummeted by up to 60% and players' salary also fell, as the pandemic shortened the season. (Falconer, 3/31)
And in vaccination rollout news from the states —
Health News Florida:
State Redistributes COVID Vaccine Doses From Local Sites To FEMA Locations
Florida’s four federally supported COVID-19 vaccination sites will stay open an additional four weeks after receiving extra doses from the state’s supply originally slated for county and local sites. The sites were expected to close April 28, but will now close on May 26. To keep these sites open, the sites will utilize state vaccine allocations, the Florida Division of Emergency Management said. (Mayer, 3/31)
The Baltimore Sun:
Missteps Marked Maryland’s COVID Vaccine Rollout, Experts Say: ‘We Have To Be Willing To Try Different Things’
Vickie Shepherd showed up for a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, only to be turned away when she got there. She booked another, then canceled it because she didn’t want to drive in the dark. But finally, Shepherd found a time slot that stuck. Now the 68-year-old Waldorf woman said she is waiting for more information about her second dose appointment, which she said wasn’t scheduled at the vaccination clinic last month. (Miller and Mann, 4/1)
The Atlantic:
Why D.C. Is Failing At The Vaccination Game
Washington’s effort to quickly vaccinate the population against COVID-19 is a success just about everywhere except its own backyard. President Joe Biden pledged to administer 100 million vaccine doses within his first 100 days. After surpassing that goal with 41 days to spare, Biden doubled his pledge to 200 million doses. The CDC projects that 70 percent of the U.S. population will be vaccinated by summer, probably the minimum threshold to achieve herd immunity. The process is going so well that the Biden administration has started fretting about what to do with an anticipated vaccine glut. That’s the best possible problem to have. (Noah, 3/31)
AP:
Panel Advances Bills Ending Religious Exemption For Vaccines
A key Connecticut legislative committee on Wednesday advanced retooled legislation that scraps a long-standing state religious exemption that many parents have been using over the past decade to avoid having their children vaccinated, while still enabling them to attend public school. The latest version includes a new provision requiring health insurance companies to cover the cost of at least a 20-minute consultation between the health care provider and the parent or guardian. There’s also language that proponents said creates a clearer path for medical exemptions, which will remain available, including the creation of a new medical exemption certificate that physicians would fill out. (Haigh, 3/31)
KHN:
In California, Blue Shield’s Vaccination Takeover Fixes What Wasn’t Broken
In California’s Mendocino County, public health officials and community clinics say they have hit their vaccination stride. Despite the county’s remoteness and its largely rural population spread among wooded mountains, rugged coastline and idyllic vineyards, about 40% of eligible adults have received at least one dose of a covid-19 vaccine. But now they face renewed turbulence as health insurer Blue Shield of California takes over the state’s vaccine program with the mission of speeding up vaccinations. (Bluth, 4/1)
