Coronavirus

The Associated Press reports: Average daily COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are continuing to fall in the U.S., an indicator that the omicron variant’s hold is weakening across the country. Total confirmed cases reported Saturday barely exceeded 100,000, a sharp downturn from around 800,850 five weeks ago on Jan. 16, according to Johns Hopkins University data. In New York, the number …

Reuters reports: Australia on Monday fully reopened its international borders to travellers vaccinated against the coronavirus after nearly two years of pandemic-related closings as tourists returned and hundreds of people were reunited with family and friends. More than 50 international flights will reach the country through the day, including 27 touching down in Sydney, its largest city, as the tourism …

Yahoo News reports: U.S. health regulators are looking at authorizing a potential fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in the fall, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday citing sources familiar with the matter. The Food and Drug Administration has been reviewing data to authorize a second booster dose of the messenger RNA vaccines from Pfizer Inc and partner BioNTech …

The Associated Press reports: People with COVID-19 won’t be legally required to self-isolate in England starting in the coming week, the U.K. government has announced, as part of a plan for “living with COVID” that is also likely to see testing for the coronavirus scaled back. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said ending all of the legal restrictions brought in to …

The BBC reports: The Queen has tested positive for Covid, Buckingham Palace has said. The monarch is experiencing “mild cold-like symptoms” but expects to continue “light duties” at Windsor over the coming week, the palace said. “She will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all the appropriate guidelines,” it added in a statement. The Queen, 95, had been …

Gothamist reports: When New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced in January that health care workers would have to get a COVID vaccine booster to remain on the job, she billed it as a necessary requirement to protect workers and patients alike. Six weeks later, the state has dropped the booster mandate – at least for now. Hochul’s administration announced Friday …

From a January 23rd report by the Arkansas Democrat: A month before the filing period for state offices begins, more Arkansans are jumping into races for state House and Senate seats. Perennial candidate and consultant Drew Pritt said he will seek the Democratic nomination in House District 94, which covers parts of Bradley, Drew and Desha counties. The incumbent in …

Roll Call reports: Capitol Police are briefing congressional staff on Friday afternoon on planning efforts regarding a potential trucker convoy protest in Washington that could be similar to the demonstration in Ottawa, Canada. Hugh Carew, an MPD spokesperson said the department “is aware of potential First Amendment activities that may take place in the National Capital Region, including Washington, D.C.,” …

Here’s the most unshocking thing you’ll read today: Hydroxychloroquine and, later, ivermectin, an anti-parasite drug that was similarly promised to quickly alleviate covid-19 symptoms, became partisan markers of how to deal with the pandemic. It wasn’t just that they were seen as more effective. It was that they were seen as acts of rebellion, siding with the people against the …

Law & Crime reports: A Marine Reservist currently facing charges for storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 has been named in an indictment accusing him and a nurse of making and selling fake Covid vaccination cards. Federal prosecutors say that Steven Rodriguez, 27, a nurse at a healthcare clinic on Long Island, and Jia Liu, 26, a member of …

Yahoo News reports: A bill allowing workers to submit proof of a previous COVID-19 infection in place of getting vaccinated passed the Wisconsin State Senate on Tuesday. If the bill is signed into law, employers who require proof of vaccination or regular COVID-19 tests would have to accept “natural immunity” through an employee’s previous infection. The bill passed the Assembly …

The New York Daily News reports: In a sign that Kyrie Irving could be fully available for the Nets later this year, two major figures, including the one with ultimate power, questioned New York City’s vaccine requirement for hometown pro athletes on Wednesday. Irving is the only player on either the Knicks or Nets who has refused to take a …

The Hill reports: The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear a request from New York City teachers to block a vaccine mandate over religious objections, despite Justice Sonia Sotomayor initially denying the request just last week. An application for the teachers’ request was submitted to Sotomayor last week, which she rejected. Sotomayor oversees cases in the Second Circuit and …

Seattle’s ABC News affiliate reports: King County Prosecutors say a man tried to attack a Bellevue restaurant worker with a meat cleaver after being asked to show proof of a Covid-19 vaccine. Investigators say Michael Dousa, 58, lunged at an Applebee’s bartender with a meat cleaver after he was asked to leave the Bellevue restaurant when he couldn’t provide proof …

Via press release from the organizers of Coachella: In accordance with local guidelines, there will be no vaccination, testing or masking requirements at Coachella 2022. However, the event shall be presented in accordance with applicable public health conditions as of the date of the event and which may change at any time as determined by federal, state or local government …

The Washington Post reports: The CDC says taking a cruise now presents a lower risk than it did at the end of 2021 — at least in some cases. On Tuesday, the public health agency lowered its travel health notice for cruises from Level 4 to Level 3, which indicates covid-19 levels on ships are “high” rather than “very high.” …

The Washington Post reports: It’s a big moment for President Biden’s vaccine requirement: health-care workers now must be vaccinated in all but one state. The White House originally sought to increase the country’s lagging vaccination rate through measures like a vaccinate-or-test rule for large employers and a mandate for federal workers. Both have been halted by the courts. The rule …

The BBC reports: Novak Djokovic has said he would rather miss out on future tennis trophies than be forced to get a Covid vaccine. Speaking exclusively to the BBC, he said he should not be associated with the anti-vax movement, but supported an individual’s right to choose. Djokovic was asked if he would sacrifice taking part in competitions such as …

Posted to Facebook this weekend: FINAL LAST CALL FOR MARC. Kathy Saulnier lost her husband Truck Driver, Marc Saulnier on Monday due to Covid Pneumonia. He sadly passed away in Kansas hospital while she was in Georgia. So she was unable to be by his side. We will NOT tolerate any hate towards her because her husband passed away from …

The Associated Press reports: New York City fired more than a thousand workers who failed to comply with the city’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, the mayor’s office said Monday. The 1,430 workers who lost their jobs represent less than 1% of the 370,000-person city workforce and are far fewer terminations than expected before a Friday deadline to get the shots. The …