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As an average of 2,200 Americans die from covid each day, focus is falling on 15 states reporting at least a 10% rise in daily death rates. Experts are also cautioning that reported infection numbers may be wrong as people fail to report positive cases from at-home tests.
The judge temporarily blocked the U.S. military from enforcing its vaccination mandate against the officer, who is Christian and against "receiving a vaccine that was derived from or tested on aborted fetal tissue." As reported previously, the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines have been accused of being "morally compromised" because fetal cells were used in their development. However, none of the three shots have fetal cells in the actual vaccine.
In related news, a 4-year-old boy on the autism spectrum will be allowed to fly from Florida to Boston without wearing a mask. Meanwhile, many cities, states and colleges are dumping mask rules.
CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Wednesday that the agency was looking at new metrics for relaxing pandemic guidance, including masks, ABC News and other media outlets reported. Walensky didn't give specifics on what the benchmarks might be but has said hospitalization levels are key.
Meanwhile, the president has reportedly chosen two people to temporarily stand in for former top White House science adviser Eric Lander, who recently resigned as head of the Office of Science and Technology Policy after an investigation into hostile workplace conduct.
Congress recently held five hearings on the potential dangers for children and teens under age 17. The bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act of 2022 aims to force companies like TikTok and Meta to better protect younger users, boost privacy, and subject themselves to independent checks.
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As reports say some donated shots from the U.S. have been turned away due to international logistics matters, the short shelf life of the AstraZeneca shots is also impacting its rollout to poorer nations. Meanwhile, Canada eases some travel restrictions, and there are warnings of covid in Eastern Europe.
Overall drug copay coupons can benefit patients, but they often increase how much employers and insurers end up paying, a new study says. Altria's investment in Juul, the FDA review of Mirati's lung cancer drug, and the finances of current public biotech firms are also in the news.
As the San Francisco Chronicle reports, the first bill would require social platforms to publicly disclose how their algorithms work, in an effort to show how sites such as Facebook use technology that amplifies salacious content like conspiracy theories about the virus. The second bill would make it easier for the state to discipline physicians who spread incorrect claims about covid-19.
Foot problems like plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis are reportedly on the rise due to changes in footwear habits and even increased exercise regimes. The pandemic is also said to be sending more Americans to explore natural outdoor venues, but with racial inequalities in terms of access.
The funds from the Department of Health and Human Services are meant to increase access to telehealth, remote patient monitoring and other digital tools among underserved populations, Modern Healthcare reported.
The ultimate decision on expanded Medicaid health coverage will now go to South Dakota voters in the November election. A vote in North Carolina is reportedly still possible before November. Other Medicaid news is from Florida and Georgia. And Medicare's decision on coverage of Aduhelm is again in the news.
The ban was orchestrated by Republicans who control the Arizona Senate, but must still go before the House. The West Virginia House also advanced a 15-week abortion ban that now goes to the Senate. A similar measure also is being considered in Florida. But in Arkansas, the Senate rejected a push for a Texas-style abortion restrictions.
The debates over covid vaccine rules continue to play out in courtroom and statehouses in Massachusetts, Idaho, California, D.C. and Montana.
Meanwhile the Coachella and Stagecoach festivals will not require attendees to be vaccinated, nor will there be any covid-related requirements for entry. But at the Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, partygoers will be subject to both masking and vaccine mandates.
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