Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Thanks To Delta, WHO Says Masks Still Needed Even For Vaccinated People
Fox News: WHO Recommends Masks -- Even For Vaccinated People -- Because Of Delta Variant
As the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus gained traction around the world, the World Health Organization urged vaccinated people to continue to wear masks and social distance, according to reports. "Vaccine alone won’t stop community transmission," Dr. Mariangela Simao, WHO’s assistant director-general for access to medicines and health products, said during a briefing in Geneva, according to CNBC. "People need to continue to use masks consistently, be in ventilated spaces, hand hygiene ... the physical distance, avoid crowding. This still continues to be extremely important, even if you’re vaccinated when you have a community transmission ongoing." (Stimson, 6/27)
CNBC: WHO Urges Fully Vaccinated People To Continue To Wear Masks As Delta Covid Variant Spreads
The World Health Organization on Friday urged fully vaccinated people to continue to wear masks, social distance and practice other Covid-19 pandemic safety measures as the highly contagious delta variant spreads rapidly across the globe. “People cannot feel safe just because they had the two doses. They still need to protect themselves,” Dr. Mariangela Simao, WHO assistant director-general for access to medicines and health products, said during a news briefing from the agency’s Geneva headquarters. (Lovelace Jr., 6/25)
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The Hill: Bipartisan Senators Ask CDC, TSA When They Will Update Mask Guidance For Travelers
A bipartisan group of senators has asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) when they will update their mask guidance for travelers. In a letter, Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) requested information about the agency’s process for updating the mask guidelines for vaccinated people, adding that they want answers by July 12. (Oshin, 6/27)
Roll Call: 3 House Republicans Fined For Not Wearing Mask On Floor
Three House Republicans each must pay $500 fines imposed by the sergeant-at-arms for being warned and then failing to wear a mask on the House floor. Reps. Brian Mast of Florida, Beth Van Duyne of Texas and Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa were all fined, according to an announcement released on Friday by the House Ethics Committee. (Marquette, 6/25)
North Carolina Health News: Masks For Some: Gyms Navigate Murky Vaccine Terrain
For more than a year now, Katie Burke’s work life has been a month-to-month series of twists and shimmies. A co-owner of the Zumba studio Triangle Dance 4 Life, Burke has had to make more than a few pivots in how she taught her dance classes since coronavirus took over. The initial change came all at once. Gov. Roy Cooper’s stay-at-home orders shuttered gyms almost right away in spring 2020. Later, in the summer, as North Carolinians came to terms with capacity restrictions at stores, takeout-only restaurants and the mask mandate, hundreds of gym owners across the state had to find a way to stay afloat and comply with a seemingly endless stream of statewide orders. (Engel-Smith, 6/28)
