The New York Times: V.A. Issues Vaccine Mandate For Health Care Workers, A First For A Federal Agency
The Department of Veterans Affairs will require 115,000 of its frontline health care workers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus in the next two months, making it the first federal agency to mandate that employees be inoculated, government officials said on Monday. The move comes as concern is growing that the substantial portion of the population that has not been vaccinated is contributing to the rapid spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. While it was a sharp departure from the Biden administration’s reluctance to embrace mandates, it was part of a broader shift in which New York City, many hospital chains and some private employers are deciding that the time has come to make being vaccinated a requirement. (Steinhauer, 7/26)

USA Today: COVID Infections Double At VA Facilities As Agency Mandates Vaccines
The Department of Veterans Affairs announced Monday that it will require its health care professionals to be vaccinated within the next two months as coronavirus infections have more than doubled in the past month at its medical facilities. The VA reported nearly 3,900 infections among veterans and staff Monday, up from about 1,500 in mid-June, a USA TODAY review found. Hospitalizations last week totaled 345, up from 225 at the end of May. The numbers are nowhere near the peak of nearly 18,000 cases reported at the VA in January, but they're growing. In the past week alone, the VA reported 911 more active infections and 73 more deaths. (Slack, 7/26)

CNBC: VA Will Require Health-Care Workers To Get Covid Vaccine
Veteran Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough described the new measure as “the best way to keep Veterans safe.” “Whenever a Veteran or VA employee sets foot in a VA facility, they deserve to know that we have done everything in our power to protect them from COVID-19. With this mandate, we can once again make and keep that fundamental promise,” McDonough wrote in a statement. (Macias, 7/26)

The Washington Post: ‘A Tipping Point’: Governments, Agencies, Health Workers Move To Require Coronavirus Vaccines
Health-care leaders say the moves represent an escalation of the nation’s fight against the coronavirus — the first concerted effort to mandate that tens of millions of Americans get vaccinated, more than seven months after regulators authorized the shots and as new cases rip through the nation. VA’s mandate applies to more than 100,000 front-line workers, New York City’s applies to about 45,000 city employees and contractors, and California’s applies to more than 2.2 million state employees and health workers. “You can call it a tipping point,” said Mark Ghaly, California’s health secretary, noting that millions of people have declined the shots despite public health experts’ appeals and a range of incentives. “For so many Californians and Americans, this might be the time to get vaccinated.” (Diamond, 7/26)

California and New York City join the mandates —

Los Angeles Times: California State, Health Workers Must Show Vaccination Proof
California state and healthcare employees will soon be required to show proof they’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19, with those who remain uninoculated subject to a regular testing regimen, as part of growing national effort to use such screenings in hopes of slowing a new coronavirus surge. The action comes as institutions ranging from cities to some private businesses and the federal Veterans Administration move to check employee vaccination status in hopes of blunting the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant without returning to the restrictions seen earlier in the pandemic. (Money, Alpert Reyes and Luna, 7/26)

Modern Healthcare: California To Mandate COVID Tests For Unvaccinated Public Workers
California state government will require their employees to show proof of full vaccination or submit to weekly COVID tests starting Aug. 2, per an announcement on Monday. The state is the first in the nation to set a standard requiring workers to get fully vaccinated or undergo COVID tests at least once a week. The requirement begins for state workers on Aug. 2. Healthcare workers and workers in jails, homeless shelters, and residential living facilities must comply with the standard by Aug. 9. Healthcare facilities have until Aug. 23 to start testing workers and verify their vaccination status. The policy requires unvaccinated workers to wear personal protective equipment while on the job. (Gellman, 7/26)

AP: California, NYC To Workers: Get Vaccine Or Face Weekly Tests
California and New York City announced Monday that they would require all government employees to get the coronavirus vaccine or face weekly COVID-19 testing, and the Department of Veterans Affairs became the first major federal agency to require health care workers to receive the shot. Meanwhile, in a possible sign that increasingly dire health warnings are getting through to more Americans, vaccination rates began to creep up again, offering hope that the nation could yet break free of the coronavirus if people who have been reluctant to receive the shot are finally inoculated. (Marcelo, 7/26)

Axios: NYC To Require COVID Vaccination Or Weekly Testing For City Workers 
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday that all city workers will be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or else participate in weekly testing by Sept. 13. The announcement comes as COVID-19 cases have risen to more than 800 per day in the city, more than triple the daily average in June, the New York Times reports. (Frazier, 7/26)

But Portland, Oregon, says no to mandates —

The Oregonian: Portland Will Not Mandate Vaccinations Or Weekly COVID-19 Tests For City Workers
Portland officials said Monday the city will not require municipal workers to get vaccinated or submit to weekly coronavirus tests, hours after the largest state and city in the U.S. each imposed similar mandates. Instead, the city will continue to promote “evidence-based information campaigns” about the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine and encourage high-risk or unvaccinated workers to wear face coverings and take other safety precautions, said Heather Hafer, a spokeswoman for the Office of Management and Finance. (Kavanaugh, 7/26)

Modern Healthcare: AMA, Others Urge Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccinations For Health Workers
The American Medical Association, American Nurses Association and dozens of other groups representing medical professionals on Monday called for COVID-19 vaccines to be mandatory for healthcare workers, citing the rise of the Delta variant. In a joint statement, groups including the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Nursing, American College of Surgeons and dozens of others urged healthcare employers to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for workers. "This is the logical fulfillment of the ethical commitment of all healthcare workers to put patients as well as residents of long-term care facilities first and take all steps necessary to ensure their health and well-being," reads the letter, which was first reported by The Washington Post. (Hellmann, 7/26)

Axios: Over 50 Medical Groups Call For Mandatory Vaccinations For Health Care Workers 
More than 50 medical groups, including the American Medical Association and the American Nurses Association, called for U.S. health workers to be required to take the COVID-19 vaccine in a joint statement Monday. Mainstream groups representing millions of medical workers are taking a harder line on the issue of mandatory vaccines, as the pace of shots stalls and the Delta variant drives a national surge in coronavirus infections. (Allassan, 7/26)

Florida Times-Union: Mayo Clinic Calls For Staff To Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID
The Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic is requiring all of its employees, including those at its Jacksonville campus, to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by Sept. 17. Staff who decline must complete "education modules," which are training videos, and will be required to wear masks and socially distance when on campus," according to Mayo. (Reese Cravey, 7/26)

Dallas Morning News: Parkland Discusses Possible Vaccine Policy Change As Medical Groups Push For Mandatory Shots
More than 50 prominent medical organizations Monday called for all health-care employers and long-term care facilities to require COVID-19 vaccinations for their entire staffs. In response to inquiries from The Dallas Morning News, the region’s largest public hospital system — Parkland — said it is having internal discussions about a mandate, with a decision expected soon. Parkland doesn’t currently require employees to be vaccinated. “Parkland leadership believes a vaccine mandate for employees would be beneficial in terms of keeping our staff and patients protected from COVID infection,” said Mike Malaise, Parkland’s senior vice president of communications and external relations. (Gonzales, 7/26)

The Boston Globe: Most R.I. Hospitals Are About To Revisit Their COVID-19 Vaccine Policies For Employees
Some of Rhode Island’s largest hospitals are revisiting their COVID-19 vaccine policies for employees. Each of Rhode Island’s hospitals have largely told staff members — including frontline health care workers — that they were not required, but “encouraged” to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19. However, that might change in light of recent recommendations by national groups for health care workers to be required to get fully vaccinated in order to continue working. (Gagosz, 7/26)

In other news about the vaccine rollout —

Fox News: Relatives Of Unvaccinated COVID-19 Victims Urge Others To Seek Shot
Grieving families of COVID-19 victims are making a personal pitch to others who have not yet received a vaccine to do so before it’s too late. "I know that if Curt had survived, he would have made sure everyone knew how serious this disease is, and how important the vaccine is," Christy Carpenter, mother of Curt Carpenter who died in May, told the Montgomery Advertiser. "My daughter and I are now carrying out that mission in his memory." Christy Carpenter said she and her son were concerned about side effects from the vaccine before they both fell ill, and that he initially believed it was "a hoax." She is scheduled to receive her vaccine next week after receiving clearance from her doctor. (Hein, 7/26)

The Washington Post: Family Of Tennessee Talk-Radio Host Urges Vaccine After Covid-19 Battle
After sharing the story of his brother’s ordeal in the hospital, Mark Valentine told The Post that dozens of WTN-FM listeners began writing to the family to say they have decided to get vaccinated. “It’s overwhelming and heartwarming,” Valentine said. “And for these people who are getting vaccinated, we’re just elated about that.” (Shepherd, 7/26)

KHN: Want Fries With That Vaccine? Even At A Fast-Food Restaurant, Pop-Up Clinics See Slow Traffic
A few months ago, the boxy, teal truck parked outside a McDonald’s in this Inland Empire city might have drawn hundreds of people willing to stand in line for hours under the scorching sun. The truck is San Bernardino County’s mobile vaccine unit, which brings covid-19 vaccines directly to people. But on July 15, only 22 people got a covid shot during the four hours it sat there. Roughly 12 feet away, more people were often seen waiting by a red canopy for free, government-subsidized smartphones, intended for low-income people, than were stepping up for the potentially lifesaving shots. (Almendrala, 7/27)

CIDRAP: No Anaphylaxis After Second Dose Of MRNA COVID Vaccine, Study Finds 
People who had a severe allergic reaction to their first dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine had no issues after their second dose, according to a retrospective multicenter US study today in JAMA Internal Medicine. Allergic reactions are estimated to occur in up to 2% of people after their first mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose, with anaphylaxis reported in as many as 2.5 per 10,000 vaccinees. Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially deadly systemic allergic reaction. (Van Beusekom, 7/26)

The Atlantic: Your Vaccinated Immune System Is Ready for Breakthroughs
A new dichotomy has begun dogging the pandemic discourse. With the rise of the über-transmissible Delta variant, experts are saying you’re either going to get vaccinated, or going to get the coronavirus. For some people—a decent number of us, actually—it’s going to be both. Coronavirus infections are happening among vaccinated people. They’re going to keep happening as long as the virus is with us, and we’re nowhere close to beating it. When a virus has so thoroughly infiltrated the human population, post-vaccination infections become an arithmetic inevitability. As much as we’d like to think otherwise, being vaccinated does not mean being done with SARS-CoV-2. (Wu, 7/26)

Bay Area News Group: 300 San Francisco Bars Will Require Vaccine Proof Or Negative COVID Test From Patrons
To protect employees and customers, the San Francisco Bar Owner Alliance — a group that represents 300 businesses in this tourism-dependent city — announced Monday that its members have decided to limit indoor service to those who have been vaccinated or can prove they are COVID-free. “Effective Thursday, July 29, it will be the official position of the SF Bar Owner Alliance that any customer who wishes to remain inside our establishments show proof of vaccination or a 72-hour negative COVID-19 test,” the group’s statement reads. “Guests without these verifications are welcome to sit outside in parklets or other spaces we offer.” The notice added: “It will be up to each individual bar to decide how best to enforce this.” (Zavoral, 7/26)

San Francisco Chronicle: California Surge Is Driven By Vaccination Holdouts, But It's A 'Collective Problem'
The spiking infection rates and alarming climb in hospitalizations may feel familiar, but the delta-fueled fourth wave of the coronavirus is unlike anything the United States has seen before as health officials scramble to contain the so-called “pandemic of the unvaccinated.” In every part of the country, including California, infections are increasing rapidly among both the vaccinated and those not yet inoculated as the delta variant cements its foothold as the dominant strain. Yet the big picture obscures an important distinction: People who are not vaccinated are driving this surge — in some places being infected at rates five or six times higher than the vaccinated. (Allday, 7/26)

In related news about California Gov. Gavin Newsom —

Los Angeles Times: Newsom Blasts The Unvaccinated, Tucker Carlson Over COVID-19
Gov. Gavin Newsom compared choosing to remain unvaccinated to drunk driving and denounced high-profile conservatives including Fox News host Tucker Carlson in a rare public rebuke as COVID-19 spreads in California and adds political pressure on the governor ahead of the recall election. “We’re exhausted by the right-wing echo chamber that has been perpetuating misinformation around the vaccine and its efficacy and safety,” Newsom said Monday. “We’re exhausted by the politicalization of this pandemic and that includes mask wearing that has been equated to the Holocaust. It’s disgraceful. it’s unconscionable and it needs to be called out.” (Luna, 7/26)

AP: Newsom Casts Political Blame In New California Vaccine Push
Making a fresh push for vaccinations as coronavirus cases climb in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom turned political as he announced new requirements for state workers and health care employees to show proof of vaccination, blaming “right wing” politicians and media for perpetuating misinformation about the shots. “They’re misinforming people, they’re literally putting people’s lives at risk,” Newsom said on MSNBC, echoing similar comments in a news conference and on CNN Monday, where he specifically criticized Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Fox News host Tucker Carlson. (Ronayne and Har, 7/27)

The Washington Post: There Is Real Political Peril For Politicians Who Politicize The Coronavirus 
The lawmakers attacking coronavirus measures and flirting with anti-vaccination messages could find themselves in political trouble in the 2022 midterms, say some political analysts and rivals. And even though more Republicans have pivoted to touting vaccine benefits in recent weeks, advocates warn they may have already done themselves damage. (Diamond, 7/26)

The Washington Post: FDA Asks Pfizer, Moderna To Test Their Vaccines In More Children To Help Rule Out Safety Issues 
Federal regulators have requested that vaccine companies expand their trials to test coronavirus shots in several thousand school-aged children before seeking authorization — a move intended to assess whether a rare inflammation of the heart muscle that has been seen in young adults shortly after vaccination is more common in younger age groups. The changes to ongoing pediatric trials run by Moderna and Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech, could delay the availability of the vaccines to children between 5 and 11 beyond the hoped-for timeline of early fall, although it is unclear by how much. As the country faces a surge fueled largely by cases in unvaccinated people and the school year approaches, pediatricians and families have impatiently awaited shots of protection. (McGinley, Johnson and Abutaleb, 7/26)

Bloomberg: Moderna Expands Child Vaccine Trial to Get More Safety Data
Moderna Inc. said it would expand an ongoing trial of its coronavirus vaccine in children under 12 years old to gather more safety data amid worries that messenger RNA shots may trigger rare heart side effects. “The objective is to enroll a larger safety database which increases the likelihood of detecting rarer events,” a Moderna spokeswoman said in a statement. Clinical trial timelines are regularly re-evaluated based on regulatory agency discussions and requests, she said, and Moderna expects to have data that would support authorization in late 2021 or early 2022. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company is discussing a proposal for a bigger trial with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, she said. (Langreth and Griffin, 7/26)

Fox News: Moderna Seeks To Expand COVID-19 Vaccine Trial For Kids
Moderna intends to expand a COVID-19 vaccine trial among kids under 12 to better monitor for potential rare side effects, a spokesperson confirmed to Fox News. "It is our intent to expand the trial and we are actively discussing a proposal with the FDA," a Moderna spokesperson wrote to Fox News in an email. "The objective is to enroll a larger safety database which increases the likelihood of detecting rarer events." "At this point we expect to have a package that supports authorization in winter 2021/early 2022, should the FDA choose to use the authorization avenue," the statement continues in part. (Rivas, 7/26)

The New York Times: Vaccine Makers Are Asked To Expand Safety Studies On Children 
At the urging of federal regulators, two coronavirus vaccine makers are expanding the size of their studies in children ages 5 to 11 — a precautionary measure intended to detect rare side effects including heart inflammation problems that turned up in vaccinated people younger than 30. Appearing at a televised town-hall-style meeting in Ohio last week, President Biden said that emergency clearance for pediatric vaccines would come “soon.” The White House has declined to be more specific on the timeline, and it was unclear how much of an impact, if any, expanding the studies would have on when vaccines could be authorized for young children. (Stolberg, LaFraniere and Weiland, 7/26)

NBC News: Biden Says 'Long Covid' Could Qualify As A Disability Under Federal Law
President Joe Biden announced Monday that serious long-term Covid-19 cases could qualify as a disability, making federal protections and resources available to those suffering from the disease. Speaking at an event at the White House celebrating the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, he said that lingering Covid symptoms, such as fatigue or brain fog, "can sometimes rise to the level of a disability." (Egan, 7/26)

CNBC: Some Americans With ‘Long Covid’ May Qualify For Federal Disability Resources, Biden Says
“We are bringing agencies together to make sure Americans with long Covid, who have a disability, have access to the rights and resources that are due under disability law,” Biden said during his remarks. Under guidance issued by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice, long Covid can qualify as a disability under federal civil rights laws if it “substantially limits one or more major life activities.”  (Constantino, 7/26)

Reuters: Biden Pushes For Long COVID Sufferers To Be Protected By Law 
The new effort will be aimed at making sure people with those long-term COVID-19 symptoms "have access to the rights and resources that are due under the disability law," Biden said. That could include mandating new accommodations for those disabilities at restaurants, in workplaces, at school and in the healthcare system. The White House did not immediately provide additional details on the program. (Hunnicutt, 7/26)

CNN: Biden Administration Announces Resources To Support People With Long Covid 
The announcement comes as President Joe Biden marked the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act in remarks in the Rose Garden at the White House with Vice President Kamala Harris. ... Biden on Monday touted the ADA as an essential piece of legislation for the more than 60 million Americans living with a disability. "Many of us can still recall in America where a person with disabilities was denied service in restaurants and grocery stores -- and could be. Where a person using a wheelchair couldn't ride on a train or take a bus to work or to school, or an employer could refuse to hire you because of a disability. An America that wasn't built for all Americans," Biden said. (Sullivan, 7/26)

And more from the ADA anniversary ceremony —

Roll Call: Bipartisan ADA Celebration Clouded By Current Climate
The White House’s Monday celebration of the landmark Americans With Disabilities Act did not escape some signs of modern partisanship. But when President Joe Biden called his former Senate colleague, Appropriations Chairman Patrick J. Leahy, onstage for the signing of a proclamation honoring the 31st anniversary of the ADA, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy began taking pictures with the Vermont Democrat’s omnipresent camera. It was a bipartisan moment at a Rose Garden ceremony that looked back on the groundbreaking law’s bipartisan history. (Lesniewski, 7/26)

The New York Times: White House Will Keep Travel Bans In Place 
The Biden administration will continue to restrict the entry of Europeans and others into the United States, citing concerns that infected travelers may contribute to further spread of the contagious Delta variant across the country, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said Monday afternoon. Concern about the variant had convinced officials not to lift the current travel restrictions on foreigners, Ms. Psaki said, some of which had been in place since the beginning of the pandemic. Vaccines remain effective against the worst outcomes of Covid-19, including from the Delta variant. (Shear, 7/27)

USA Today: US Intends To Keep Travel Restrictions In Place Against UK, European Countries, Others
The decision means the country’s current travel restrictions – which deny entry for people from the European Schengen area, United Kingdom and other countries – will remain in place. “Given where we are today … with the delta variant, we will maintain existing travel restrictions at this point for a few reasons," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at a press briefing Monday. "The more transmissible delta variant is spreading both here and around the world. Driven by the delta variant, cases are rising here at home, particularly among those who are unvaccinated and appear likely to continue in the weeks ahead.” (Schulz, 7/26)

The Washington Post: U.S. Warns Against Travel To Israel, Portugal And Spain As Delta Variant Fuels Outbreaks
The United States is now warning against travel to Israel and several European countries as the more contagious delta variant fuels coronavirus outbreaks mostly among the unvaccinated. The State Department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new travel advisories Monday for Israel, Cyprus, Portugal and Spain, as well as Kyrgyzstan, citing surging case numbers in all five countries. (Cunningham, 7/27)

In related news from the U.K. —

Bloomberg: Falling Covid Cases Are Welcome Surprise For U.K. Scientists
A sustained fall in new coronavirus cases in the U.K. is being cautiously welcomed by scientists, though there’s no consensus on what’s behind it -- or whether the current wave of infections has peaked. The U.K. recorded 24,950 new cases on Monday, down for a sixth day and well below the 39,950 from a week earlier. Scientists pointed to the end of the soccer European Championship, a period of sunny weather and the start of the school holidays as potential factors, alongside the vaccine rollout. (Ashton, 7/26)

CNN: In These 2 US States, Every County Is Listed As 'High Transmission' 
Florida and Arkansas currently share a grim distinction when it comes to the spread of the coronavirus. Every one of the two states' counties is now listed as having "high" levels of community transmission, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC lists high transmission in nearly every county in several other states, including Missouri, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. (Ellis, 7/27)

In more updates from Florida —

CNN: Mayor Of Florida County Home To Disney World Sounds Alarm On Surging Covid Cases 
The mayor of the Florida county that's home to Disney World and Universal Studios is sounding the alarm on a spike of Covid-19 cases in the area, saying the county is now in "crisis mode" as it grapples with its worsening infection rate. "These numbers are extraordinary. We are seeing nearly 1,000 new cases in Orange County daily. Those are the numbers we saw at the highest peak last year," Mayor Jerry Demings, a Democrat, said Monday during a news conference. "So a thousand a day is extraordinary. We are now in crisis mode." (Cole, 7/27)

CNN: Staff At A Jacksonville Baptist Hospital Say They Are Hearing Panic, Fear And Regret From Unvaccinated Patients 
Health care workers at Jacksonville's Baptist Medical Center in Florida are hearing panic, fear and regret from many of their patients as an increasing number are admitted for Covid-19 complications -- and as many need to be put on ventilators. "We're getting ready to intubate the patient, which means putting them on a ventilator, and they said, 'If I get the vaccine now, could I not go on the ventilator?' So, they're begging for it," Chief Nursing Officer Tammy Daniel told CNN. "They're desperate because they are gasping for air, they can't breathe, they are scared, they feel like they're going to pass away." (Holcombe and Kaye, 7/27)

Health News Florida: As Coronavirus Cases Rise, USF Public Health Experts Urge Masks At Schools
Two professors from the University of South Florida’s College of Public Health went live on Facebook last week to talk about how recent increases in coronavirus cases might affect students as they return to school. Jill Roberts, an expert in molecular epidemiology, and Katherine Drabiak, an attorney who focuses on health law and medical ethics, answered community questions about masks, school safety, and the spread of the virus. “I do believe that kids should go back to school, the brick and mortar is really important for them for their learning,” Roberts said. “However, they should not be going back unprotected.” (Wentz, 7/26)

Politico: 'Sellout’: Anti-Vax Conservatives Come For DeSantis
Florida’s Covid crisis has wedged Gov. Ron DeSantis between two competing forces: public health experts who urge him to do more and anti-vaxxers who want him to do less. The Republican governor has come under attack from the medical community and Democrats as the Delta strain of Covid-19 sweeps through Florida, turning it into a national coronavirus hotspot. The state recorded more than 73,000 infections last week — four times as many as the start of July — leading to overcrowded hospitals and more than 300 deaths in the most recent seven-day period. Florida is now home to one in five new cases of Covid-19 in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Dixson, 7/26)

And in more news from Arkansas —

AP: Arkansas Governor, Top Lawmakers To Meet On Mask Mandate Ban
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Monday he planned to meet with House and Senate leaders about growing calls to allow schools to require face masks as the state reported 23 more deaths from COVID-19. The Republican governor said he planned to discuss the issue Tuesday with the GOP leaders of the state House and Senate, following calls from Democratic lawmakers and others to lift a state law banning mask mandates by state and local governments. (DeMillo, 7/27)

Thv11.Com: Arkansas Churches Return To COVID Policies As Cases Rise 
With the latest uptick in COVID-19 cases, some Arkansas churches are changing their COVID regulations and implementing mandates to limit the spread of the virus. While regulations like mandatory masks on campus feel like a step backwards for members at St. James United Methodist Church, senior pastor Rev. Ben Crismon encourages the congregation to see themselves as a temple to protect. (7/25)

Business Insider/Yahoo News: A Healthcare Worker Who Was Hospitalized For A Month With COVID-19 Says She Now Has Nearly $1 Million In Medical Bills
A healthcare worker from Arkansas has said that she has racked up medical bills of close to $1 million after she was hospitalized from COVID-19, she told THV11. Shenita Russie, 42, caught the virus while working as a mobile respiratory therapist for COVID-19 patients in Boston at the start of the pandemic, Newsweek reported. She was hospitalized for a month and was placed in a medically-induced coma, according to the media outlet. During this time, she racked up an eye-watering amount in bills. (Zitser, 7/25)

Bloomberg: Up To 60% Of U.S. Covid-19 Cases Unreported, Disease Model Says
As many as 60% of Covid-19 cases in the U.S. have gone unreported, and the coronavirus has infected nearly 1 in 5 Americans, according to a new model out of the University of Washington. The model, which aims to mitigate biases in data capture, estimates that 65 million people, or 19.7% of U.S. residents, had been infected as of March 7. The findings, which appear in Monday’s issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, indicate the U.S. is unlikely to reach community level protection without continuing an ambitious vaccination campaign. (Baumann, 7/26)

Fox News: Wildfire Smoke Exposure Linked To COVID-19 Case Increase: Study
Wildfire smoke exposure likely contributed to an increase in Reno, Nevada’s COVID-19 cases last year, researchers suggested, noting that the findings could inform policies to tamp down harmful effects from air pollution amid the pandemic. Exposure to tiny particles in smoke (specifically measuring 2.5 µm in diameter or smaller, PM2.5) "increases susceptibility to respiratory viruses" causes airway inflammation, and boosts "the spread and survival of bacterial, fungal, and viral bioaerosols," including those containing the virus causing COVID-19, study authors wrote in findings recently published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology. (Rivas, 7/26)

Hospitals feel the unrelenting strain —

Fox News: Texas COVID-19 Hospitalizations See 150% Increase In Last Month
Texas reported 4,320 COVID-19-related hospitalizations on Saturday, a high not seen since mid-March, when the state’s numbers began trending downward. The total marks an increase of over 1,000 hospitalizations from the prior week, when the state reported just shy of 3,000. Last week, the state’s health commissioner noted a 150% increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations between June 27 and July 20. Dr. John Hellerstedt, the commissioner of the department of state health services, noted that the delta variant makes up most new cases in Texas. He urged residents who haven’t yet received a COVID-19 vaccine to seek out the shot. (Hein, 7/26)

New Orleans Times-Picayune: As COVID Surge Escalates In Louisiana, Hospitals Shut Down Elective Surgeries: 'No Room At Our Inn'
Louisiana’s ongoing surge of COVID continued to escalate over the weekend, with an additional 6,225 cases reported since Friday, marking one of the largest increases in case counts since the pandemic began. Though vaccinations are also increasing, it’s not enough to stem the flood of patients into hospitals, according to weary health care workers now well into their fourth surge in the past 18 months. “It’s so fast we can’t really grasp it,” said Dr. Catherine O’Neal, chief medical officer at Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge and associate professor at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine. “I don’t know where we’ll be in three days, but I’m afraid we’ll reach crisis standards of care if we don’t make some changes quickly.” (Woodruff, 7/26)

The Oregonian: Coronavirus In Oregon: Hospitalizations Climb 40% In Last Week, Cases Climb 53%
State health data shows 3,098 new cases of the coronavirus in Oregon since Monday, July 19, and 12 COVID-19 deaths. The number of Oregonians hospitalized with COVID-19 now stands at 207, up from 148 one week ago. New cases went up 53%, the second week in a row at that rate or higher. Even as models project hospitalizations in excess of 300 by the end of September, state officials have no plans for reinstating statewide measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus. (Zarkhin, 7/26)

Salt Lake Tribune: Utah Hospitals Feeling Strain Of July's COVID-19 Surge, A Logan Doctor Says
The number of Utahns hospitalized with COVID-19 continued its summer surge over the Pioneer Day weekend, and the head of a Logan hospital says her staff is feeling the strain. “We have high volumes of patients in the hospital, and we’re really nervous about our COVID numbers rising, because we remember what it was like when it was really bad — and I fear that we’re heading there again,” Dr. Taki May, medical director of Intermountain Logan Regional Hospital, said Monday. The Utah Department of Health reported Monday that 343 Utahns were hospitalized for COVID-19 — 52 more than on Thursday, before the holiday weekend. Of that number, 152 are in intensive care, up 24 from Thursday. (Means, 7/26)

Anchorage Daily News: Alaska Hospital Group Warns The Potential For A Surge In COVID-19 Admissions ‘Increasing By The Day’
A continued spike in virus-related hospitalizations is causing particular worry among Alaska’s hospital administrators. They say the state could be headed for a surge in hospital admissions that threatens Alaska’s fragile health care network. “Right now, based on the trends we’re seeing, the likelihood of a significant COVID surge is increasing by the day,” Jared Kosin, president of the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association, said Monday. “And our health care system is in a far more fragile state than it was a year ago. We’re extremely concerned.” (Berman, 7/26)

Houston Chronicle: 'Now They Want The Vaccine': Houston ER Docs Speak From Front Line Of Latest COVID Surge
The fourth COVID-19 wave is like a sequel to a movie that no one ever wanted to watch in the first place, said Dr. Gina Blocker, attending emergency physician at Baylor St. Luke’s Hospital. “This feels like a part two with additional scenes,” said Blocker, who feels this recent surge could have been avoided had more Houstonians been vaccinated. In Harris County, the number of active coronavirus cases has nearly tripled — from 3,076 to 8,431 — since the beginning of July, as the hypercontagious delta variant spreads rapidly among young, and primarily unvaccinated, Texans. (Garcia, 7/26)

Also —

The News & Observer: NC Evangelical Minister, The Grandson Of Rev. Billy Graham, Hospitalized With COVID
Jonathan Lotz, the grandson of Rev. Billy Graham, is hospitalized and in critical condition due to COVID-19, according to social media posts by his mother. Anne Graham Lotz, the founder of AnGeL Ministries in Raleigh, said Sunday that her son is in the intensive care unit at an unidentified hospital. She asked for people to pray for her son’s recovery. (Shen-Berro, 7/25)

The Wall Street Journal: Covid Treatment Options Remain Elusive, Despite Months Of Effort And Rising Delta Cases
Nearly a year and a half into the pandemic, researchers are still struggling to find effective, easy-to-use drugs to treat Covid-19.Ten drugs have been cleared or recommended in the U.S. for use. Two of those later had their authorizations rescinded after they failed to work. The government recently paused shipments of a third because it wasn’t effective against new variants. The best medicines for early treatment are cumbersome to administer, and drugs for those in the hospital can only do so much for patients who are already severely ill. (Walker, 7/26)

AP: Missouri AG Sues Over St. Louis Area Mask Mandate
The attorney general in Missouri has sued in an effort to halt a mask mandate that took effect Monday in the St. Louis area amid a rise in COVID-19 cases that are burdening a growing number of hospitals around the state. The mandate, one of the first to be reinstated in the country, requires everyone age 5 or older to wear masks in indoor public places and on public transportation in St. Louis city and St. Louis County even if they are vaccinated. Wearing masks outdoors is strongly encouraged, especially in group settings. (Hollingsworth and Salter, 7/26)

Axios: Savannah Reimposes Indoor Mask Mandate
Savannah, Georgia, will again require people to wear face masks while inside public places because of a “steep and alarming rise” in COVID-19 cases, Mayor Van Johnson announced Monday, per AP. Savannah is the most recent major U.S. city to reimpose some coronavirus restrictions in response to an increase in cases and hospitalizations. (7/26)

AP: 9 Western WA Counties Now Recommend Mask Use Indoors
Health officials in more than a half-dozen western Washington counties are now recommending mask-wearing in indoor public spaces regardless of vaccine status because of a rise in COVID-19 cases and the highly infectious delta variant. Public Health Seattle & King County officials said on Monday in a joint statement with the counties that local health officers from around the Puget Sound region were joining together in the recommendation after King County health officer, Dr. Jeff Duchin, issued the guidance on Friday. (7/27)

The Oregonian: Multnomah County Recommends Vaccinated, Unvaccinated People Wear Masks Inside To Slow COVID-19 
Multnomah County officials Monday “strongly recommended” that everyone wear masks when indoors, stopping short of a mask mandate to curb the rapidly accelerating spread of COVID-19. The recommendation applies to anyone five years and older, whether or not they’ve been vaccinated against the disease. The recommendation comes as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations climb statewide, including a 51% increase in new cases in Multnomah County during the week ending July 24 compared to the week prior. (Zarkhin, 7/26)

From the Biden administration —

CNN: Decision On Mask Guidance Is Imminent, Source Says
op federal health officials have debated whether to issue new guidance on masks and are close to announcing their decision as the highly contagious Delta variant fuels new outbreaks in the United States. Top officials huddled on Sunday night to go over the new data and evidence regarding the transmissibility of the variant and breakthrough cases, according to a person familiar with the talks. An announcement could come as soon as Tuesday, although one person cautioned it could happen later this week. (Collins and Sullivan, 7/27)

AP: New Mexico Releases Plans For Masking, Vaccines In Schools
New Mexico education officials released updated guidance on COVID-19 case reporting, masking requirements and vaccine considerations for K-12 schools this fall. The new rules rolled out Monday give vaccinated students more chances to take off masks. It also allows them to avoid quarantines if there’s an outbreak on campus. Schools serving only middle or high school students can choose to allow vaccinated children to go without masks in most situations. (Attanasio, 7/27)

AP: Updated Hawaii Health Guidance A Week Before New School Year
Hawaii’s Department of Health has updated it guidance to schools a week before the start of another school year during the pandemic. The department’s guidance announced Monday includes recommendations for wearing masks in all indoor settings and maintaining at least 3 feet (1 meter) of physical distance between students in classrooms, when possible. (7/26)

AP: Beshear Urges Masks In Schools To Try To Avoid Disruptions
Kentucky’s governor on Monday urged school districts to require mask-wearing in schools to minimize the risk of disruptions from an escalating coronavirus surge fueled by the highly contagious delta variant. With schools reopening in coming weeks, Gov. Andy Beshear called on local school district leaders to take the recommended steps needed to protect students and school workers while trying to avoid the pandemic-caused disruptions that hampered the previous academic year. (Schreiner and Blackburn, 7/26)

AP: New COVID-19 Testing Program Offered To Kentucky Schools
The Kentucky Department for Public Health is offering a COVID-19 Testing Program for schools to assist with safe in-person learning for the upcoming academic year, Commissioner Steven Stack announced Monday. It is limited to staff and students of Kentucky K-12 public, private and charter schools. (7/27)

The Advocate: Louisiana Schools Will Determine Their Own COVID Restrictions, State Says
Unlike last year, Louisiana public school leaders are deferring to local school officials on face masks and other safety measures amid the rising number of cases of the coronavirus. Sandy Holloway, president of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, said the board is standing by guidelines by the state Department of Education released on July 8, well before the latest surge. BESE sets policy for the state's public school systems. "BESE has issued no mandates and approved no policies related to masking or distancing in schools for the coming year," Holloway said in a statement. (Sentell, 7/26)

NBC News: With Ban On Mask Mandates, Texas Teachers Fear Covid Surge As School Year Nears
As second grade teacher Aaron Phillips prepares to return to his classroom in Amarillo, Texas, in a few weeks, he is increasingly concerned that he and his students will be at risk in an alarming surge in coronavirus cases driven by the highly contagious delta variant. Phillips is vaccinated and will be wearing a mask when school starts Aug. 17, but it is unclear how many of his students or the other adults in the building will also be wearing them after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott banned public school districts from requiring face coverings. (Silva, 7/26)

In related news about covid transmission at college —

CIDRAP: COVID In Dorms Led To Roommate Transmission 20% Of The Time, Study Says
Out of 574 multiple-occupancy dorm rooms, roommate transmissions occurred only 20% of the time, according to a study during the fall 2020 semester at the University of Colorado Boulder. The study, published late last week in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, looked at 6,408 dormitory students at the University of Colorado Boulder who were subject to a mandatory weekly COVID-19 test. From Aug 24 to Nov 25, 2020, 16.5% tested positive, with most asymptomatic at the time of testing. Case investigations and contact tracing showed that many cases originated off campus. (7/26)

Politico: High-Stakes Infrastructure Talks Stall Out As Deadline Passes
Senators capped off a day of trading blame and stalled efforts on their bipartisan infrastructure proposal with a Monday meeting that quickly broke up, signaling a tough path forward as negotiators missed yet another self-imposed deadline. The core 10 senators huddled in the office of Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), the lead Republican negotiator, hoping to get past a rough weekend of fruitless talks. Discussions are expected to resume later in the evening, though not in person, and negotiators claimed they were still making progress. (Levine and Everett, 7/26)

The Washington Post: Senate Infrastructure Talks In Political Jeopardy As Infighting Spills Out Into The Open
A bipartisan group of senators negotiating a massive infrastructure bill were on the verge of blowing another self-imposed deadline Monday as the Senate’s top Democrat threatened to keep the chamber in session over the weekend to advance legislation that stands at the top of President Biden’s agenda. For weeks, the 10 Republicans and Democrats hashing out a roughly $1 trillion package to revitalize the nation’s roads, bridges, pipes, ports and Internet connections have insisted that the group was close to finalizing a deal with the White House. In voting to block floor consideration of the package in the Senate last week, GOP senators crafting the deal argued that negotiators were close and that a broad infrastructure agreement was within reach. (Romm, Kim and Duncan, 7/26)

The Hill: Senators Scramble To Save Infrastructure Deal
The White House and senators from both parties are scrambling to pull their infrastructure talks back from the point of collapse, a sudden turnabout after key negotiators expressed confidence they were nearing a final deal. If the talks on the $1.2 billion framework fall apart, it would deal a serious blow to White House hopes of securing a bipartisan deal, an important political win for President Biden and moderate Democrats in the House and Senate. Several Republicans have also put their reputations on the line to get a deal. (Carney, 7/26)

The Wall Street Journal: Infrastructure-Bill Negotiators Try To Overcome Late Hurdles
A push to complete a roughly $1 trillion infrastructure agreement hit a series of hurdles Monday, as aides squabbled over funding for water infrastructure and how to apply a requirement that federal contractors pay their employees a locally prevailing wage, among other issues. Lawmakers had previously set Monday as a target for closing out their talks and beginning floor consideration of the emerging agreement, though that timeline seemed to slip as the two sides sniped at each other. (Duehren, 7/26)

In related news about expanding Medicare —

Axios: Study: Expanding Medicare Eligibility May Shrink Racial Disparities 
Medicare helps to reduce racial and ethnic disparities and close gaps in insurance coverage, a new study in JAMA Network shows. This raises the possibility that expanding the program could further reduce health disparities — a timely idea, as Senate Democrats debate lowering the Medicare eligibility age and broadening its benefits. Medicare access at age 65 sharply reduced the share of Black and Hispanic people reporting poor health and poor access to care, but not mortality, the study notes. (Fernandez, 7/27)

In other news from Capitol Hill —

Axios: Pelosi Expected To Extend Proxy Voting As Delta Variant Surges 
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is expected to extend proxy voting through the fall — and potentially until the end of the year — Democratic lawmakers and aides tell Axios. The spread of the Delta variant has alarmed both members and staffers anxious about interacting with the unvaccinated. Pelosi’s anticipated move — continuing an emergency COVID-19 measure enacted last year so lawmakers could vote remotely — is aimed at allaying those concerns. (Nichols, 7/26)

The Hill: Four Senators Call On Becerra To Back Importation Of Prescription Drugs From Canada
A bipartisan group of four senators requested Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra’s support to allow less costly prescription drugs to be imported from Canada. Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), Angus King (I-Maine) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) sent a letter to the secretary on Monday asking him to back policies permitting states and tribes to import certain prescription drugs from Canada. (Coleman, 7/27)

Stat: Biden Wants To Bolster The Pharma Supply Chain, But Plant Closure Looms
If you think bolstering the pharmaceutical supply chain in the U.S. is a national priority, you could be wrong. Just take a look at the sorry situation in Morgantown, W. Va. A decades-old generic-drug manufacturing plant run by Viatris — which was created last fall through a merger of Mylan and Pfizer’s Upjohn unit — will close this week, eliminating more than 1,200 jobs. Another 200 or so will go next year. The production work is being sent overseas, mostly to India, where Mylan already operates several facilities. (Silverman, 7/27)

In other pharmaceutical industry news —

Stat: At FDA, Biogen Found A Key Believer In Its Controversial Alzheimer's Drug
When the drug maker Biogen pitched its Alzheimer’s treatment to a panel of independent experts last November, most saw muddled, confusing data that raised doubts about whether it would benefit patients. Billy Dunn saw a “home run.” Dunn, the Food and Drug Administration’s chief of neuroscience, told the experts that the data supporting Aduhelm were “extremely persuasive,” and, in a departure from the neutral tone that regulators typically strike, he called on the agency to “exercise the broadest flexibility” to approve the treatment. Seven months later, it did. (Florko, Garde and Feuerstein, 7/27)

Modern Healthcare: PathAI Acquires Part Of Poplar Pathology Lab 
Artificial-intelligence startup PathAI on Monday said it acquired Poplar, the management service arm of pathology laboratory Poplar Healthcare. PathAI, a Boston-based startup that develops AI software for pathologists, is one of the most well-funded clinical AI startups. The acquisition marks PathAI's step into traditional clinical diagnostics; Poplar Healthcare, which is based in Memphis, Tenn., provides testing services for gastroenterologists, dermatologists, oncologists, urologists and gynecologists. Poplar, which will become PathAI's diagnostics division, will be able to use PathAI's machine learning—a type of AI—tools to analyze pathology images. (Kim Cohen, 7/26)

CNBC: BioNTech Says It Plans To Develop An MRNA Vaccine To Prevent Malaria
German drugmaker BioNTech announced Monday it plans to develop an mRNA-based vaccine to prevent malaria, a life-threatening disease that impacts millions of people worldwide each year. The company, which developed the United States’ first authorized Covid-19 vaccine with U.S. drugmaker Pfizer, said it is aiming to begin clinical trials testing the shot by the end of 2022. (Lovelace Jr., 7/26)

San Francisco Chronicle: Overdose Reversal Drug Narcan Has Already Been Used More Than 4,200 Times In S.F. This Year
The opioid-driven drug overdose crisis in San Francisco, which accelerated in 2020, continues to kill an average of more than 50 people nearly every month in the city. From January to June, 344 people have died of accidental overdoses in San Francisco, 256 of which involved fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine, according to the latest report from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Without the widespread distribution of the opioid reversal drug naloxone, more commonly known by its commercial name, Narcan, the crisis could be worse. (Jung, 7/26)

CBC News: Potent Opioids Showing Up In Toronto's Drug Supply For 1st Time As Overdose Deaths Mount
Several forms of extremely potent synthetic opioids are being found in random samples of Toronto's street drug supply, which experts say is indicative of increased risk for people in a city grappling with an overdose crisis. "What's very dangerous for people who use drugs is just that the supply is getting stronger, and it's also just completely unpredictable — and what people are buying isn't necessarily what they're getting," said Karen McDonald, the lead for Toronto's drug checking service, which operates out of St. Michael's hospital. (Carter, 7/26)

The Wall Street Journal: As Overdoses Surge, A Canadian Province Is Giving Out Drugs 
The Canadian province of British Columbia is responding to a surge in overdose deaths with a novel strategy: It is giving out opioids. The province’s controversial policy goes further than the methadone treatment programs that are common in the U.S. and Canada. Doctors in the province will now be able to prescribe stronger drugs like hydromorphone, an opioid that is five times more powerful than morphine; Dexedrine, a stimulant for cocaine and methamphetamine users; and tablets of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid. (Monga, 7/25)

In related news about the opioid crisis —

Reuters: OxyContin Maker Purdue's Creditors Vote In Favor Of Bankruptcy Plan 
OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma LP said on Tuesday that creditors voted in favor of its reorganization plan that would provide billions of dollars to the governments that sued the company for its role in the U.S. opioid crisis. More than 95% of the 120,000-plus votes submitted were in favor of the plan, Purdue said, citing preliminary voting results. (7/27)

Axios: Opioids Settlement Represents Relatively Small Chunk Of Health Care Companies' Cash
Since 2016, the four companies involved in the latest opioid settlement — Johnson & Johnson, McKesson, AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health — have funneled a combined $100 billion to shareholders through stock buybacks and dividends. Why it matters: If that's any indication, those companies won't have much trouble paying off a combined $26 billion settlement agreement. (Herman, 7/27)

Modern Healthcare: Providers Push Congress To Repeal In-Person Telemental Health Requirement
Congress has made steps to improve Medicare's telehealth coverage, but there are still restrictions that provider groups, advocates and lawmakers across the aisle argue will impede access to mental healthcare. The $2.3 trillion government spending bill passed in December permanently allowed Medicare to cover mental health services delivered virtually but with a catch: beneficiaries must see the practitioner in person within six months before virtual treatment begins. Lawmakers added the requirement amid concern over potential Medicare fraud and waste. But some congressional aides say the restriction was added to bring down the cost of the bill, the biggest spending package passed in congressional history. (Hellmann, 7/26)

In other health care industry news —

Modern Healthcare: Anthem, Humana Drop Nearly $140 Million To Launch New PBM
Anthem and Humana have invested nearly $140 million to form a new pharmacy benefit manager, as criticism over traditional PBMs' operations kickstarts business at startups that promise transparency. The insurers will hold a minority stake in the new joint venture, named DomaniRx, which is being championed by SS&C Technologies. The Windsor, Conn.-based fintech company owns approximately 80% of the new business, according to a filing submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on July 15. SS&C's existing claims processing platform—RxNova—will serve as the new PBM's technological backbone. By combining claims administration with data analytics, DomaniRx aims to offer payers more transparency into their drug costs and help them better comply with changing government regulations. Payers use PBMs to manage their benefits and negotiate drug pricing with pharmaceutical companies and drugstores. (Tepper, 7/26)

North Carolina Health News: Atrium Closes Deal For Georgia Hospital System 
A Charlotte-based health care system has finalized a deal to acquire a nonprofit hospital organization based in Rome. Floyd Medical Center, a hospital in Cedartown and one in Alabama will now become part of Atrium Health under the long-delayed agreement, announced Wednesday. It’s the second big foray into Georgia for Atrium Health, which in 2018 acquired the Navicent system in Macon. Atrium may now look to expand further in the state, experts say. (Miller, 7/27)

AP: Never Too Late: Cancer Centers Push Patients To Quit Smoking
When cancer patients stop smoking, they heal faster, experience fewer side effects from treatment and lower their chances of tumors returning. Now, top cancer hospitals are helping patients quit as evidence mounts that it’s never too late. The newest research, reported Monday, shows lung cancer patients who stopped smoking gained nearly two years of life compared to those who continued to smoke. (Johnson, 7/26)

Modern Healthcare: AI Can Tell Insurers When Commercial Customers Need Social Supports
Insurers are increasingly investing in predictive analytics to identify social determinants of health needs among commercial enrollees, as a growing number of payers recognize that social support must not begin and end with government customers. Eighty-three percent of large employers named addressing the social determinants of health as essential to their strategy over the next three years, according to a Willis Towers Watson survey released in April. In response to employers' demands, insurers are leaning on tech to inform these new benefits structures, although some question the validity of the data these companies rely on. (Tepper, 7/26)

KHN: How A Doctor Breaks Norms To Treat Refugees And Recent Immigrants 
Fatumo Osman, a 65-year-old Somali refugee who speaks limited English, was in a bind. She made too much money at a meal prep service job so she no longer qualified for Medicaid. But knee pain kept her from working, so her income had dropped. She could reapply for Medicaid, get her knee fixed and return to work, at which point she’d lose that safety-net health coverage. Her first step was getting a note from a doctor so she wouldn’t lose her job. So, Osman came to Mango House, a clinic in this eastern suburb of Denver that caters primarily to refugees and turns no one away, regardless of their ability to pay. Dr. P.J. Parmar designed the clinic to survive on the Medicaid payments that many doctors across the U.S. reject as too low. (Hawryluk, 7/27)

Axios: Study: More Wealth Leads To A Longer Life 
Americans who are wealthier at midlife tend to live longer than their less-wealthy peers — including peers who also happen to be their siblings, according to a new study published Friday in JAMA Health Forum. The study suggests that the association between wealth and longevity isn't an artifact of early life experiences or genetics. Even among twins, greater wealth correlated with a greater chance of survival later in life. (Owens, 7/26)

Modern Healthcare: SNAP Benefits Fall Short In 4 Out Of 10 U.S. Counties
Federal nutrition subsidies don't cover the average meal cost in more than four in 10 U.S. counties, even after Congress increased benefits, a new study found. Before the temporary 15% increase to the maximum Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program benefit, the maximum subsidy did not cover the cost of a low-income meal in 96% of U.S. counties, according to research from the Urban Institute, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. While the temporary boost—set to expire on Sept. 30—has reduced rates of food insecurity, it still doesn't cover the average meal of $2.41 in 40.5% of U.S. counties. (Kacik, 7/26)

In covid news —

The Wall Street Journal: The Science Behind Jon Rahm’s Covid-19 DéJà Vu
If his positive case is confirmed, Rahm’s experience may be a preview of what’s in store for the rest of the world—and particularly the sports world—as Covid remains a fact of life. “You’re going to have this over and over again,” said Stanley Perlman, a University of Iowa coronavirus researcher and a member on the panel advising the FDA about authorizing Covid-19 vaccines. “This is a story more about being cautious and being sad for the golfer than it being any risk for the world.” (Hernandez and Beaton, 7/26)

Axios: The Delta Variant Doesn't Want You Back In The Office 
Resurgent outbreaks — including breakthrough infections among vaccinated people — could throw a wrench in plans to bring workers fully back to offices in September. A number of companies and the federal government have targeted the end of summer as the time to bring in-person offices fully online. But rising numbers of COVID-19 cases from the Delta variant could render that goal unrealistic. (Walsh, 7/26)

Also —

Houston Chronicle: Some Texas Families Flee 'Toxic Environment' They Say Targets Their Transgender Children
The Taylor family of San Antonio left their friends, family and beloved Spurs for Austin and ultimately Hawaii in 2020 to shield their 9-year-old son from a spate of anti-transgender policies in Texas. The Rey family, who have been raising their kids in the Austin area, are relocating to Maryland in August to avoid a “toxic environment” that plunged their youngest son, bright 8-year-old Leon into a depression. The Stantons, who are deeply connected to the Jewish community in Houston, are monitoring the real estate market in Arizona, but as long as gender affirming health care is legally accessible, they hope to stick around and advocate for their 10-year-old Maya and children like her. (Banks, 7/27)

The Baltimore Sun: Dr. Leana Wen Tells Baltimore Stories In Her New Book: ‘LIFELINES: A Doctor’s Journey In The Fight For Public Health’ 
Former Baltimore Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen has become a household name during the coronavirus pandemic, providing regular public commentary that nudges — and sometimes more bluntly pushes — public officials and the public to “follow the science” on masking, testing and vaccinating. Wen is now out with a new book available Tuesday: “LIFELINES: A Doctor’s Journey in the Fight for Public Health.” It takes readers on a path, directly through her adopted hometown of Baltimore, that shows her transition from a poor young immigrant with a stutter to medical school student at age 13 to positions in emergency medicine, public health, academia and punditry. (Cohn, 7/27)

Georgia Health News: Georgia Now Monitoring 43 For Monkeypox; Still No Reports Of Symptoms 
The number of people in Georgia being monitored for potential exposure to monkeypox has increased to 43, Public Health officials said Monday. The new 17 were added to the 26 reported by GHN last week because the CDC “originally assigned them to the wrong jurisdiction,’’ said Nancy Nydam, a spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Public Health. None of the 43 has reported having a fever or any other symptoms, she said. They are all considered to be at low risk for getting the rare disease, and are under the same exposure timeline. (Miller, 7/26)

Also —

AP: Air Force Takes Next Step In Fuel Cleanup At New Mexico Base
The U.S. Air Force has spent years trying to keep a jet fuel leak from reaching Albuquerque’s drinking water supply and now says it has enough information to outline its work, paving the way to wrapping up the cleanup efforts. Officials from Kirtland Air Force Base say they will spend the next several months to a year writing a report that they will submit to the New Mexico Environment Department. Once the state reviews and approves it, the base can make recommendations for a final cleanup. (Fonseca, 7/27)

Albany Herald: Dougherty Commission Hears Report On Care Home That Drew Complaints
Operators of a personal care home located on Poinciana Avenue that has drawn complaints have taken steps to come into compliance with county regulations, with specific steps taken including applying for a business license and filing a parking plan. The Dougherty County Commission had asked for answers about the facility after next-door neighbor Paul Murray made two appearances to report issues he has with the operation of the home. Murray told commissioners during those meetings that he had issues with parking at the facility and residents of what he described as a residence for adults with behavioral health issues roaming the neighborhood. (Mauldin, 7/26)

The Washington Post: Texas Is Cutting Red Tape For Doctors And Patients 
Doctors and health insurers are butting heads in the Lone Star State over a new kind of effort to roll back red tape for American patients. Starting Sept. 1, many Texas doctors will no longer have to obtain advance permission known as “prior authorization” from a health insurer before administering a procedure or prescription. The new law will grant automatic approval for medical orders from doctors who have a strong track record of getting the greenlight from insurance companies. Providers have long complained about the hassle of submitting paperwork to insurance companies to get approval before a procedure or prescription. The process can leave patients waiting for days to learn whether their insurance will cover their medical care. (Ellerbeck and Cunningham, 7/26)

Des Moines Register: Gov. Kim Reynolds Criticized Over Iowa State Board Of Health Vacancies
Democrats criticized Gov. Kim Reynolds Monday for leaving a majority of seats on a state public health board vacant, causing it to cancel a meeting earlier this month. There are only four members currently serving on the Iowa State Board of Health, out of 11 total spots, leaving seven vacancies which must be filled by the governor. The openings meant the board had to cancel a scheduled July 14 meeting because it lacked a quorum. The board, which advises the Iowa Department of Public Health, is supposed to be made up of a mix of medical and public health professionals, substance-abuse treatment experts and members of the general public. (Gruber-Miller and Leys, 7/26)

The New York Times: Homeless People Are Moved From Midtown Hotels Back To Shelters 
New York City resumed the process of transferring thousands of homeless people from pandemic hotel rooms back to barracks-style group shelters on Monday, two weeks after a judge halted the moves on the grounds that the city was not giving adequate consideration to people’s health. Monday’s transfers, which caused confusion outside at least two hotels in Midtown Manhattan, came amid growing concerns over the recent quadrupling in coronavirus cases citywide and over the objections of advocates for homeless people, who said that the city was flouting the judge’s orders. (Newman, 7/26)

KQED: 'A Critical Part Of Our Infrastructure': How California Plans To Bolster Child Care
California has almost 3 million children 5 years old and younger. As many parents of young children know, finding affordable, high-quality child care is hard to find — especially in the Bay Area. Hundreds of thousands of families who qualify for child care programs can't access them because there simply aren't enough slots. The pandemic, which led to the closure of 8,500 care facilities, only worsened the bottleneck. Lack of child care means that in many households, at least one parent, usually the mother, according to labor statistics, isn't able to work. The pandemic caused a “she-cession” rather than a recession, by disproportionately pulling women out of the workforce for lack of child care, said Democratic state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, who chairs the California Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee. (Madrigal and Sarah, 7/26)

AP: Tennessee Man Sentenced In Scheme That Duped Cancer Patients
A Tennessee man who ran a Ponzi scheme disguised as a holistic wellness business was sentenced to eight years in prison on Friday. Howard L. Young falsely claimed to have a grant from Vanderbilt University to study cancer patients and other patients with chronic medical conditions, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney’s office in Nashville. Young also claimed he he had cured himself of cancer using naturopathic methods. He required patients to pay $10,000 to participate in his nonexistent study but told them they would get their money back at the end of the year. (7/26)

And in teledentistry in North Carolina —

North Carolina Health News: Your Dentist Can See You Remotely 
Shaun Matthews, an evangelist for telehealth in the United States and abroad, was giving a presentation to the International Association of Dental Research on a Zoom call last week when he learned that North Carolina lawmakers had just approved a bill formalizing the use of teledentistry. As part of his presentation on “The Rise of Teledentistry in Clinical Practice: An Inevitable Response to a Global Pandemic or a False Dawn,” Matthews mentioned work he had done in North Carolina while at the UNC-Chapel Hill dental school. (Blythe, 7/27)

Reuters: Olympic Host Tokyo Hits Record 2,848 COVID-19 Cases, Seeks More Hospital Beds
Tokyo's 2,848 daily coronavirus infections on Tuesday were the Olympic host city's highest since the pandemic began, officials said, as media reported that authorities had asked hospitals to prepare more beds for patients. Japan has avoided the devastating outbreaks suffered by other nations such as India, Indonesia and the United States, but the fifth wave of the pandemic fueled by the Delta variant is piling pressure on Tokyo's hospitals. (Nussey and Slodkowski, 7/27)

NBC News: 'Severe' Covid-19 Cases Surge In Tokyo During Olympics
Serious Covid-19 cases are surging in Tokyo while the Olympics are going on, the city's governor said Tuesday as the Japanese capital recorded a record number of new infections. The rising number of "severe" cases is forcing local hospitals to add new beds to treat new patients, governor Yukio Koike said. Meanwhile, new daily Covid-19 cases hit 2,848 in Tokyo, exceeding 2,500 for the first time since the start of the pandemic, according to Tokyo's officials. (Siemaszko and Yamamoto, 7/27)

The Wall Street Journal: Team USA Trails In The Other Tokyo Olympics Medal Table: Vaccinated Athletes 
Team USA athletes’ vaccination rate of 85.5% seems wildly successful by public-health standards, and far better than the overall U.S. rate of 57% of people who have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. In the context of the world’s other prominent national Olympic committees, however, the U.S. doesn’t sniff the vaccination-rate medal stand. Ten national Olympic committees said that 94% or more of their Olympic athletes have been vaccinated, and two of those said they had reached 100%, according to a Wall Street Journal survey of 25 of the largest delegations at the Tokyo Games.  (Bachman and Kantchev, 7/27)

AP: Alternate Olympic Surfer: Rival 'Selfish' For COVID Report
An aggrieved Olympic surfing alternate forced into a futile race against time to catch a wave in Japan is slamming a competitor’s officials as “selfish” for not being transparent about his rival’s positive COVID-19 test that cost him a shot at the sport’s historic Summer Games debut. Angelo Bonomelli, 30, is the frustrated Italian surfer who, by a hair, missed out on the sport’s Olympic debut because Portugal’s Frederico Morais, 29, waited until the last minute to disclose his reported infection — despite the long list of coronavirus rules, restrictions and realities set for the Tokyo Olympics. That meant it became impossible for Bonomelli or the next eligible alternate, Carlos Munoz of Costa Rica, to make it to Tokyo on time, which ultimately left a startling hole in the surf zone Sunday, the first day of the men’s inaugural Olympic surfing competition. (Ho, 7/27)

In other global developments —

Reuters: Antibodies From Sinovac's COVID-19 Shot Fade After About 6 Months, Booster Helps - Study 
Antibodies triggered by Sinovac Biotech's (SVA.O) COVID-19 vaccine declined below a key threshold from around six months after a second dose for most recipients, although a third shot had a strong booster effect, according to a lab study. Chinese researchers reported the findings from a study of blood samples from healthy adults aged between 18-59 in a paper published on Sunday, which has not been peer reviewed. (7/27)

Politico: Africa Wants To Produce A Coronavirus Vaccine — And Big Pharma’s Not Happy 
Africa is poised to make a bold move that could turn around its fortunes in coronavirus vaccine manufacturing — taking the continent from import dependence to self-sufficient production of life-saving jabs for coronavirus, TB and maybe even one day for HIV. Two manufacturers are establishing an mRNA vaccine technology-transfer hub at the tip of the continent that could let it produce its own vaccines, on its own terms. It's a way to address just how exposed countries are if they don’t have their own vaccine manufacturing capacity. Africa imports about 99 percent of routine immunizations — and is the least vaccinated against coronavirus in the world.  (Furlong, 7/26)

Bloomberg: Covid Vaccine Maker BioNTech Attempts Shot for Malaria Next
BioNTech SE will seek to follow its successful Covid-19 vaccine with a shot to prevent malaria, marking its first solo project and first new infectious-disease effort since the pandemic began. The German biotech aims to start patient trials of a malaria shot by the end of next year. Backed by the World Health Organization, European Commission and the kENUP Foundation, the project will simultaneously seek to build out the infrastructure needed to produce any successful malaria shot, and other messenger RNA vaccines, in Africa, BioNTech Chief Executive Officer Ugur Sahin said. (Kresge, 7/26)

CNN: Vaccinate All Health Care Workers Now 
Covid-19 has killed over 600,000 Americans and sickened many more. It's hard for me to understand why people would refuse a vaccine that could save their lives and those of their family. But as a nurse, what I find even harder to understand is why some health care workers choose not to get vaccinated and put patients at risk as a result. In my view, personal choice must surrender to professional responsibility if someone's choice endangers patients. That is why I support a national mandate requiring the Covid vaccine for all health care workers who work with patients, including nurses, doctors, dietary workers, home health aides and others. (Theresa Brown, 7/26)

The Atlantic: Why Isn't The Military Mandating COVID-19 Vaccines? 
COVID-19 vaccination has become yet another front in the war by elected officials and media figures to draw the military into politics. Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, has introduced legislation to prohibit vaccinations being made mandatory in the armed forces and has been scaremongering on Twitter about potential dangers that vaccine mandates pose to military readiness. A group of seven Democratic lawmakers led by Representative Jimmy Panetta of California recently wrote to President Joe Biden, urging that his administration make vaccinations mandatory for everyone in the military. (Kori Schake, 7/27)

The Baltimore Sun: Vaccine Mandates And Personal Liberty Can Coexist
Although the sentiment may seem paradoxical, libertarians should cheer last week’s decision by a federal judge upholding Indiana University’s vaccine mandate for students. The court reached the right result, and the judge’s reasoning provides a forceful reminder that the government’s regulatory power, even in an emergency, is far from unlimited. Like other colleges and universities, Indiana plans to reopen fully this fall, and is requiring that all students provide evidence of vaccination unless they’ve received religious or medical exemptions. Only in this way — so university authorities contend — can the campuses return to their proper functioning. (Stephen L. Carter, 7/26)

The Boston Globe: Time For Boston To Require City Workers To Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19 
Many health and immigrant advocates are worried about the low rate of COVID-19 vaccination among Boston’s school bus drivers. If those drivers are going to be fully inoculated by the time they start transporting schoolchildren in September — and they darn well better be — the city needs a strategy to change that number fast. The strategy should be a mandate. And not just for bus drivers: For workers in some kinds of public-facing city jobs, choosing to create health risks for other people by foregoing vaccines should simply no longer be an option. The shots are safe, effective, and our best hope for stopping a disease that has already killed more than 600,000 Americans. As employers, and as governments, cities have the power to require vaccinations — and now’s the time to use that power. (7/26)

USA Today: COVID Vaccine Mandates For Private Sector Workers Could End Pandemic
The United States has made COVID-19 vaccines accessible and free. Go to almost any local pharmacy or pop-up site, and you can easily get the shot – and pay nothing. And yet, only about 50% of Americans are fully vaccinated against this deadly virus. The unfortunate consequence is that the highly transmissible delta variant is causing surges in cases, hospitalizations and even deaths throughout the country, particularly in spots with low vaccination rates. (Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, Matthew Guido and Amaya Diana, 7/26)

The Washington Post: The Unvaccinated Are Testing Our Pandemic Luck 
It is hard to know how deadly and disruptive the covid-19 surge brought on by the delta variant will ultimately prove to be. But one thing is clear: It is completely unnecessary. The vast majority of those who now get sick have only themselves to blame. If you don’t believe me, listen to Republican Gov. Kay Ivey of Alabama, where only 39.9 percent of residents 12 and older have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, the lowest vaccination rate of any state in the country. “It’s time to start blaming the unvaccinated folks, not the regular folks,” Ivey said. “It’s the unvaccinated folks who are letting us down.” (Eugene Robinson, 7/26)

Los Angeles Times: The Right's New Tone On COVID Vaccines 
Take a look at a map of the U.S. overlaid with COVID-19 vaccine rates and a clear pattern emerges: The states with the smallest percentage of their eligible population inoculated also skew politically toward the Republican Party. And the lowest of them all? Alabama, where just 34% are fully vaccinated — and not coincidentally, where hospitals are now reporting COVID-19 patients in numbers not seen since vaccines became available. The situation drove Alabama’s Republican governor, Kay Ivey, to a moment of public exasperation last week. (7/27)

The Washington Post: What History Tells Us About The Delta Variant — And The Variants That Will Follow 
As is obvious to everyone, the delta variant is surging. Given its infectiousness, this is hardly surprising; as covid-19 adapted to humans, variants became successively better at infecting people, and delta is more than three times as contagious as it was spreading last year. And delta is not the last variant we will see. This raises many questions, and the three most important are: Will it become more virulent — causing more serious disease and death? Will the virus escape the protection natural immunity and vaccines now afford? And, if the answer to either of the first two questions is yes, how can we respond? (John M. Barry, 7/26)

CNN: A Brain Injury Turned My Life Upside Down, And I'm Still Finding My Way Forward
In the middle of winter, in January 2021, I got into a car accident in Oregon. I'm a producer for CNN, so my life is divided into the stories I cover -- and this happened right after President Joe Biden's inauguration, when New York City was reaching out to vaccinate seniors who didn't know how to sign up online. It was snowing that day. Local news in Oregon said it was the first significant snowfall in months, and reported a handful of other car slippages and accidents. (Anne Lagamayo, 7/26)

USA Today: Lylah Baker Of Texas May Never Know Source Of Foreign Bacteria: CDC
A medical mystery emerging in three states took a concerning turn over the weekend as seven family members in Texas tested positive for potential exposure to a deadly type of bacteria that isn’t supposed to be found in the continental United States. Disease detectives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have told the family of Lylah Baker, a 4-year-old girl hospitalized in Dallas, that blood tests show several of them have antibodies to the bacteria, called Burkholderia pseudomallei, that has sickened Lylah with devastating consequences. (Alison Young, 7/26)

Stat: On Compounding, The FDA Marches To The Beat Of Its Own Biases 
The FDA’s approval of the drug Aduhelm as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease — despite the recommendation of its own advisory committee against approval — came as a surprise to many. But to me, that decision is the latest in an ongoing pattern of FDA keeping its own counsel and doing things its own way. I’ve seen this firsthand in its oversight of pharmacy compounding, where the agency has a track record of cutting corners, manipulating processes, and even defying Congress to implement its own agenda. (Scott Brunner, 7/27)

The Star Tribune: A New Mpls. Response On Mental Health Calls 
When the Minneapolis Police Department is called to respond to a mental health problem, dispatchers will soon have an alternative to sending sworn officers. City leaders recently announced a pilot program that will deploy civilian crisis teams to take care of certain types of emergencies. It's a welcome move that holds promise to reduce the number of arrests, injuries and fatal shootings of people in crisis, while also freeing up time for officers to do other work. Instead of police, whose presence in uniform can make some situations worse, mobile response teams will take some behavioral health calls. Mental health advocates have long supported alternatives for situations that don't necessarily require armed responders. (7/26)

Newsweek: The Limits Of Government Disease Control
It seems an unquestionable orthodoxy in discussions of what can be done to limit the spread of COVID-19 that government policies have a central role to play. Economic research indicates, however, that this view has its limits; it does not take into account the private-sector incentives that can spread disease and mute government prevention efforts. Evidence suggests that after a disease is introduced into a population, some level of damage through the disease itself and the costs of prevention is unavoidable, and less influenced by policy than commonly believed. Few would claim that non-communicable diseases, such as obesity, are spread or stymied primarily by government policy. Rather, private economic incentives drive many such diseases. In the case of obesity, such incentives include the falling price of calories caused by agricultural innovation and the widespread presence of sedentary work rather than manual labor. (Casey B. Mulligan and Tomas J. Philipson, 7/27)

USA Today: San Francisco Drug Laws Keep People Addicted To Fentanyl In Bondage
Fentanyl is killing my son, Corey. There was a time when I wouldn’t admit that. Shame kept me silent. But things have changed. I am desperate now. For years he suffered addiction to opiates, including heroin. More recently, my adult son has started to use fentanyl. He has deteriorated more in a few months on fentanyl than he ever did in 10 years on heroin. I’m scared I will lose him. He tells me that so many of his street friends have died of overdoses. My son has overdosed numerous times. Narcan saved his life. He says he doesn’t want to die. He said his friends didn’t want to die either. (Jacqui Berlinn, 7/27)

Stat: ARPA-H's First Challenge: Electronic Health Record Migration 
Most new, high-profile initiatives start with something splashy. President Biden’s proposed transformative biomedical agency, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), should start with something mundane: revamping the now-ubiquitous electronic health record (EHR). Once hailed for their potential to transform U.S. health care into a modern, data-driven enterprise, electronic health records have instead increased the burden of data entry, contributed to physician burnout, and had a nebulous impact on the quality of care. (Gopal Sarma, 7/27)