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Staff with exemptions will be allowed to return to work from unpaid leave or back-office reassignments at the end of March. Vaccine mandates and vax passport rules are also reported to be lifting across the country. Masking and mask mandate issues are also in the news.
Paxlovid can already be prescribed as a prevention for severe illness in children 12 and up. Trial locations include Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas, according to clinicaltrials.gov.
A sore throat is a common symptom of the omicron variant, so a surge in sales of throat lozenges in any particular country or city could become a useful indicator of covid infections, some experts say.
The pandemic-era measure providing universal free meal waivers to school kids is set to expire on June 30 after an extension failed to make the cut for the massive spending bill. Democrats blame the exclusion on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has not commented.
In a surprise move, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Wednesday that the $15 billion earmarked for covid relief would be removed from the budget package. Pandemic measures in the legislation were contentious with both Democrats and Republicans, though for different reasons. Pelosi says a standalone coronavirus relief bill would be put to the floor this week.
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers examine these public health issues.
Opinion writers weigh in on these covid topics.
Previously the World Health Organization had opposed covid booster shots for healthy people on the grounds that doses were needed by unvaccinated people in poorer nations. Meanwhile, the CDC has advised against travel to New Zealand, Hong Kong and Thailand because of outbreaks.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN's Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
KCUR reports on the slow speed of the approval process in Missouri and explains that even local officials cannot explain why. Meningitis shots for kids in Nevada, the resignation of Mississippi's state health officer, mental health programs in New Hampshire, and more are also in the news.
The bill bans classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity for students in kindergarten through third grade, and it prohibits lessons for older grades unless they are “developmentally appropriate.” One Florida Republican, state Sen. Ileana Garcia, says the bill allows "children to be children." But Democrats, including President Joe Biden, say the bill could do serious harm to marginalized students' mental health.
An investigation in Minnesota found evidence that money was siphoned away by charging taxpayers for nonexistent meals delivered to needy children. Separately, toxic methanol contamination of hand sanitizer drives a product recall in Tennessee.
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and four other insurers are now partnered with Amazon Pharmacy, giving access to discount drugs. A medical data breach in Michigan, foreign debt recovery in Boston hospitals, slipping biotech investments, and more are also reported.
The Boston Globe reports the state's public health officials are seeing "concerning trends" in the opioid epidemic. KATU reports on two students' suspected fentanyl deaths in Portland within 24 hours. The Philadelphia Inquirer covers animal tranquilizer found in the fentanyl supply. Plus more worrying stories.
The measure would allow private lawsuits against anyone helping a Missouri resident who seeks an abortion out of state. The prohibitions could only be enforced through lawsuits filed by citizens. State government would have no enforcement authority. Also, AP looks at an evolution in the attitude about abortion among obstetricians and gynecologists.
President Joe Biden's plan for easy access to treatments after a positive covid test is swinging into action, but the requirement for pharmacies to have on-site prescribers limits the number of available locations. Media outlets cover other pandemic news, including long covid, and the approaching million-death milestone for the U.S.
A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention points to mask mandates resulting in 23% lower covid cases in staff and students then in schools without requirements. Difficulties in unmasking, and among schools still supporting masks are also reported across the country.
Hawaii announced Tuesday that its mandate will expire at midnight on March 25. Meanwhile, some people who wear masks for their own safety say bullies continue to hound them in public.
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