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Meanwhile, in 18 states lawmakers are planning "refuge" bills to help transgender youths and their families who have been displaced by anti-trans laws passed in conservative states. Also: a push to reduce toxic chemicals in Boston schools, avian flu outbreaks in Alaska, Oklahoma, and more.
Vice President Kamala Harris is resuming her regular routine today and will deliver remarks at a conference tonight of abortion-rights supporters. In other Washington news, concerns about Sen. Dianne Feinstein's ability to represent California are growing louder.
In other news, the White House has said it will nearly double the amount of Paxlovid available but is struggling to do so. And a Minnesota company found giving people $1,000 to get a covid shot works as an inducement.
The new BA.2.12.1 variant was responsible for 29% of new coronavirus infections and they are on the rise across the country.
Abortion access will immediately end or be curtailed in a handful of states with "trigger laws" already on the books, while as many as 26 are expected to ban the procedure when Roe v. Wade is no longer in effect. Other states take steps on the opposite track to increase abortion protections.
The explosive Supreme Court leak again exposed the deep partisan divide over the issue of abortion. Some Republicans are already looking ahead to passing a nationwide ban, if they regain a congressional majority this fall. Democrats vow to challenge those efforts at the state and national level and hope the court decision could spur passion from their base.
Politico obtained an internal draft of the majority opinion, authored by Justice Samuel Alito, which takes the position that precedent cases of Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey "must be overruled." In the preliminary version — which could still be modified and has not been verified by other news outlets — Alito also writes that “Roe was egregiously wrong from the start" and says abortion law should be determined by the states.
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers weigh in on covid as well as race in health care.
Editorial writers tackle these public health topics.
Chinese authorities aiming to control an ongoing covid outbreak and are trying a new range of restrictions that stop shy of a full lockdown. Meanwhile, in New Zealand the government is opening the borders to tourists — and Italy, Greece are relaxing their rules to boost tourism.
The Columbus Dispatch covers a case against Ohio's law that allows health providers to deny services that violate their beliefs — because of the way the law was snuck into a budget bill. Tennessee's "acquired immunity" covid law, the Lone Star tick in D.C., and other matters are also in the news.
Modern Healthcare reports on two strike-related developments: 5,000 nurses from Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children's Health may stop striking tomorrow; while a union representing 2,000 workers at Cedars-Sinai plans a strike on May 9. Racism in health care, the loss of pandemic aid for hospitals, and more industry news are also covered by media outlets.
Modern Healthcare and Stat cover an innovation from Mayo Clinic, where ECG data from an Apple Watch is run through a smart algorithm that can then identify left ventricular dysfunction. Separately, a study shows the amount of covid virus shed by asymptomatic people varies widely.
The Texas State Board of Education has updated the health curriculum, including sexual health, for elementary and middle school students, NPR reports. The curriculum includes detailed information about birth control and STIs for the first time, but still avoids subjects like consent, gender or LGBTQ+ topics.
With its investigation ongoing, the CDC provided early findings into the 9 Alabama pediatric hepatitis cases. Several of the kids tested positive for adenovirus, which has been the leading suspect.
While speaking in Texas, Assistant Health Secretary Rachel Levine poured scorn on anti-trans sports and health care laws being passed in Republican-led states. The bills, Levine said, are driving transgender youths to "depths of despair" as medicine and science is distorted for political gain. Levine is the highest ranking transgender official in U.S. history.
The bill, which has been approved by the state legislature and awaits the governor's signature, would protect health care providers who perform abortions that are legal in Connecticut by barring police there from cooperating with authorities from other states investigating abortions and help keep citizens from facing legal action in those other states.
President Joe Biden toasted the reporters at the packed White House Correspondents' Association Dinner and received his share of roasting, too. In other Washington news, emails released by a House select committee show Trump administration official did not take public health officials' advice on guidance for religious services, and limits on health savings contributions are rising.
Georgia had received approval from the Trump administration to have residents shop for insurance only through private brokers, instead of the federal healthcare.gov website. But the Biden administration said Friday that move could break federal rules and cause too many people to be dropped from coverage.
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