Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
High Court Weighs In On Covid Vaccination Policies
The New York Times: Supreme Court Rules Against Air Force Officer Who Refused Vaccine
The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that the Pentagon may take disciplinary action against a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve who refused to be vaccinated against the coronavirus on religious grounds. The court’s brief, unsigned order gave no reasons, which is common when the justices act on emergency applications. The court’s three most conservative members — Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Neil M. Gorsuch — noted dissents but did not explain their thinking. (Liptak, 4/18)
AP: High Court Won't Hear New York City Teacher Vaccine Dispute
The Supreme Court is declining to wade into a lawsuit filed by four New York City public school employees over a policy that they be vaccinated against COVID-19. Lower courts had previously allowed the policy to go into effect while litigation continued, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor had also rejected an emergency request that the policy be put on hold. The justices said Monday they wouldn’t get involved in the dispute. As is typical the justices did not say anything in rejecting the case, and it was one of more than 100 the court turned away. (4/18)
In related news about vaccine mandates —
AP: NMSU Ending Option Of COVID-19 Testing; Vaccination Required
New Mexico State University will require all students on campus to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by July 1, ending the option of submitting weekly tests as an alternative, the university announced Monday. Chancellor Dan Arvizu also said in a memo to students, faculty and staff that NMSU no longer will require weekly testing for students and employees who decided against getting a booster or received an exemption from vaccination. (4/18)
And some hospitals are easing mask rules —
Houston Chronicle: Houston Hospitals Relax Mask Rules As Daily COVID Admissions Hit New Low
Some Houston hospitals are relaxing mask rules as new COVID-19 admissions sink to the lowest point since the pandemic began, according to Texas Medical Center data released Monday. The data shows that medical center institutions last week admitted an average of 42 patients per day — a dramatic drop from the high of 497 daily new admissions in mid-January. The previous low was in late June 2021, just before the delta variant hit Houston, when hospitals reported 48 new patients per day. (Gill, 4/19)
KWWL: UnityPoint Health Hospitals In Eastern Iowa Revising Mask Requirements
UnityPoint Health hospitals in Eastern Iowa are revising mask requirements, now making them optional for Waterloo, Dubuque, and Cedar Rapids locations. The revisions were made due to the hospitals experiencing low rates of transmission of COVID-19. Therefore, masks are now optional for most patients, visitors and fully vaccinated UnityPoint Health team members. These changes are effective immediately at Allen (Waterloo) and Finley (Dubuque) and will begin Tues., April 19 at St. Luke’s (Cedar Rapids.) (Ellis, 4/18)
Post and Courier: Conway Hospital Removes Mask Requirement For Those Vaccinated, First In Area
Conway Medical Center has taken another step in easing previously instituted COVID-19 measures and restrictions, citing lower infection rates in Horry County since the pandemic first began. Wearing medical masks at the healthcare facility off Singleton Ridge Road is now optional for employees and visitors who are fully vaccinated — the first hospital across Horry and Georgetown counties to take such a step. (Caines, 4/12)
