Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
21 States Sue To End Federal Mask Rules For Public Transit
AP: Florida, Other States Challenge CDC Transit Mask Rule
Twenty-one states with Republican attorneys general sued Tuesday to halt the federal government’s requirement that people wear masks on planes, trains, ferries and other public transportation amid the coronavirus pandemic. The lawsuit, announced by Florida’s Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody and filed in federal court in Tampa, Florida, contends that the mask mandate exceeds the authority of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The mandate in its current form may be in effect only a few weeks more. The CDC recently extended it until April 18 while also indicating it is weighing scaling back the rules for a more targeted approach. (Anderson, 3/29)
NPR: 21 States Sue The Biden Administration To End The Federal Travel Mask Mandate
"President Biden's shortsighted, heavy-handed and unlawful travel policies are frustrating travelers and causing chaos on public transportation," Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, who is leading the states' effort, said in a statement. "It's long past time to alleviate some of the pressure on travelers and those working in the travel industry by immediately ending Biden's unlawful public transportation mandates." Joining the mostly Republican-led effort are three states with Democratic governors — Kansas, Kentucky and Louisiana. (Diaz, 3/29)
In other news about covid mandates —
AP: Navy Barred From Acting Against Religious Vaccine Refusers
A federal judge in Texas is barring the Navy from taking action for now against sailors who have objected to being vaccinated against COVID-19 on religious grounds. U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor had in January issued a preliminary injunction preventing the Navy from disciplining or discharging 35 sailors who sued over the Navy’s vaccine policy while their case played out. On Monday, O’Connor agreed the case could go forward as a class action lawsuit and issued a preliminary injunction covering the approximately 4,000 sailors who have objected on religious grounds to being vaccinated. ... While the case is still at an early stage, the U.S. Supreme Court in a brief order Friday narrowed the impact of O’Connor’s original injunction, saying that the Navy could still consider the vaccination status of the sailors who sued in making deployment, assignment and other operational decisions. (Gresko, 3/29)
San Francisco Chronicle: East Bay Legislator Pauses California Vaccine Mandate Bill For Businesses
Legislation that would have required all California businesses to vaccinate their employees and contractors against COVID-19 was put on hold Tuesday by the bill’s sponsor, Assembly Member Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland. In a statement, Wicks explained that she was holding AB1993, which she introduced in February, in order to allow for negotiations with public safety unions and others who came out in opposition to the bill. (Whiting, 3/29)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Kemp Signs Bill Letting Parents Opt Kids Out Of School Mask Mandates
Gov. Brian Kemp on Tuesday signed legislation that allows parents who don’t want their children wearing masks to opt out of any school district mandates. The new law comes more than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic. Most Georgia schools have dropped mask mandates due to declining infection rates and relaxed guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Tagami, 3/29)
WUSF Public Media: Cruise Bookings Come Roaring Back After The CDC Relaxes Pandemic Restrictions
After nearly two years of pandemic restrictions on cruises, the industry is coming back as more travelers book trips with cruise lines. According to AAA Travel, cruise bookings during the past four weeks have nearly doubled as compared to this time last year. Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Carnival Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Lines and Celebrity Cruises are all sailing out of Florida. The study points to several indicators for this increase in booking — including the Center for Disease Control’s recent decision to lower its cruise travel warning to a level 2. (Comber-Wilen, 3/29)
Also —
Fox News: Fauci: Americans Should Be Prepared For New COVID-19 Restrictions
White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci on Sunday warned about the potential for the reinstatement of COVID-19 restrictions in the U.S. In an interview on the BBC's "Sunday Morning," Fauci said U.S. residents "need to be prepared for the possibility" of restrictions being put back into place. Presenter Sophie Raworth asked if a new infectious COVID-19 variant could lead to future lockdowns and mask mandates. "I don't want to use the word ‘lockdowns.’ That has a charged element to it. But, I believe that we must keep our eye on the pattern of what we're seeing with infections," he said, noting that the U.S. is currently moving toward normalcy. (Musto, 3/29)
