Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
White House Looks For Workarounds To States' School Mask Mandate Bans
Reuters: Biden Seeks To Support Florida Schools Threatened By Governor Over Masks
The Biden administration is reviewing how it can get money to Florida school districts if the state's governor, Ron DeSantis, makes good on threats to withhold pay from school leaders who require masks for students. ... White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters the administration is looking at whether it can use unspent COVID-19 relief funds to combat any pay cuts imposed by DeSantis. "We're continuing to look into what our options are to help protect and help support these teachers and administrators who are taking steps to protect the people in their communities," Psaki said. (Renshaw and Shalal, 8/10)
Bloomberg: Biden Says He Doesn’t Think He Can Overrule Governors On Masks
President Joe Biden said he doesn’t think he has the power to overrule governors who nullify requirements imposed by school systems calling on kids and staff to wear masks to protect against Covid-19. “I don’t believe that I do thus far. We’re checking that,” Biden told reporters Tuesday in response to a question at the White House. “On federal workforce, I can.” Biden’s comments came as school leaders across the country face a dilemma as millions of students prepare to return in person to classes as the delta variant of Covid-19 spreads rapidly. (Wingrove and Parker, 8/10)
Politico: Biden: Republican Governors’ Actions To Oppose Masks In School Are ‘A Little Disingenuous’
President Joe Biden on Tuesday called out Republican governors on their positions against mask mandates in schools, calling some recent actions “a little disingenuous” and out of line with a small government message. The remarks came during a White House news conference when a reporter asked about children in schools who have tested positive for Covid-19. (Sheehey, 8/10)
In other news from the Biden administration —
The Washington Post: Health Experts Demand Global Vaccination Campaign To End Pandemic
More than 175 public health experts, scientists and activists on Tuesday demanded that President Biden take urgent steps to confront the global spread of the coronavirus, warning that without immediate action to inoculate the rest of the world, newer variants are likely to emerge — including ones that may evade vaccines’ protection. “We urge you to act now,” the experts wrote in a joint letter to senior White House officials Tuesday and shared with The Washington Post. “Announcing within the next 30 days an ambitious global vaccine manufacturing program is the only way to control this pandemic, protect the precious gains made to date, and build vaccine infrastructure for the future.” (Diamond and Abutaleb, 8/10)
