Covidiots

The Springfield News-Leader reports: If you live in southwest Missouri, hospital executives say acquiring a severe case of COVID-19 could now mean a stay in St. Louis or Kansas City, as the global pandemic that has killed 3.9 million people continues to stretch Missouri hospital staffing. A handful of Springfield-area patients are already being treated hundreds of miles away in …

The Seattle Times reports: A Washington state lawmaker critical of COVID-19 vaccine mandates wore a yellow Star of David at a speech over the weekend — a symbol the Nazis forced Jews to wear during the Holocaust. State Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, had the star affixed to his pink shirt during a speech to conservative activists at a Lacey church …

The Hill reports: Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease doctor, on Tuesday said he is concerned that the widening gap between the vaccinated and unvaccinated in America will get worse, leading to possible spikes in coronavirus cases. “When you have such a low level of vaccination superimposed upon a variant that has a high degree of efficiency of spread, …

The Hill reports: Royal Caribbean cruises departing from Florida are requiring unvaccinated passengers above the age of 12 to buy travel insurance for medical and travel costs that could occur if they get COVID-19. The company announced on Tuesday unvaccinated passengers must get $25,000 in medical expense insurance and $50,000 insurance for quarantine and medical evacuation costs. The insurance is …

The Lincoln Journal-Star reports: A COVID-19 outbreak at a central Illinois summer camp has led to at least 85 cases of the virus among teens and adult staff, and to other cases at a nearby conference, the Illinois Department of Public Health said Monday. The two outbreaks occurred in Schuyler and Adams counties. At the summer camp, held in mid-June, …

The Guardian reports: Thousands of anti-lockdown and anti-vax demonstrators marched through central London on Saturday. It was billed the “Freedom March” by protesters who assembled at Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park from midday, some holding banners backing Donald Trump’s run for president in 2024, or supporting the far right conspiracy movement QAnon. Many of those present estimated it was the …

USA Today reports: As the U.S. emerges from the COVID-19 crisis, Missouri is becoming a cautionary tale for the rest of the country: It is seeing an alarming rise in cases because of a combination of the fast-spreading delta variant and stubborn resistance among many people to getting vaccinated. Intensive care beds are filling up with surprisingly young, unvaccinated patients, …

USA Today reports: Indiana University students are pushing back against the school’s fall COVID-19 vaccine requirement. In a lawsuit filed Monday, the students argue the requirement violates the Fourteenth Amendment, which reads that no state shall “deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” The eight student plantiffs are suing the school’s board of trustees. …

Houston’s ABC News affiliate reports: A total of 153 workers at Houston Methodist Hospital have either resigned or have been fired after refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Earlier this month, the hospital reported 178 employees had been suspended for not complying with the hospital’s vaccine requirement for workers. It appears most of those employees chose to leave the hospital …

Politico reports: State efforts to juice Covid-19 vaccination rates through million-dollar lotteries haven’t reversed the steep decline in adults seeking out shots when many pockets of the country remain vulnerable to the coronavirus. While Ohio did see a two-week bump in adult vaccination rates last month after becoming the first state to offer sizable cash prizes, the pace of vaccinations …

“Hi, I’m Cole Beasley and I’m not vaccinated. I will be outside doing what I do. I’ll be out in public. If you’re scared of me then steer clear, or get vaccinated. “I may die of COVID, but I’d rather die actually living. I have family members whose days are numbered. “If they want to come see me and stay …

Miami’s NBC News affiliate reports: As the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday labeled the Delta variant of the novel coronavirus a “variant of concern,” Gov. Ron DeSantis downplayed the potential impact it could have on the state. DeSantis avoided directly answering a reporter’s question about whether the state needs to do more to prepare for the …

Variety reports: Anti-vaccine protesters congregated outside of Foo Fighters’ show at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, Calif. on Tuesday night (June 15). What looked like several dozen protesters carried signs reading “Foo Fighters fight to bring segregation back” and “event for vaccinated only, unvaccinated not allowed,” according to several Twitter posts. One Instagram post appeared to picture former child …

Atlanta’s ABC News affiliate reports: Authorities are on the scene of a shooting that left a sheriff’s deputy injured and a cashier dead Monday afternoon. A spokesperson said a DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office reserve unit deputy and two others – a man and woman – were injured during the shooting at the Big Bear Supermarket near South DeKalb Mall off …

CBS News reports: A CBS News/YouGov poll found that 52 percent of Republicans are either fully or partially vaccinated, while 6 percent planning to be vaccinated and 6 percent are undecided. Twenty-nine percent do not plan to be vaccinated, the poll found. Among those in the poll who said they would not get vaccinated or are still undecided, the most …

USA Today reports: In the first federal ruling on vaccine mandates, a Houston judge late Saturday dismissed a lawsuit by hospital employees who declined the COVID-19 shot – a decision that could have a ripple effect across the nation. The case involved Houston Methodist, which was the first hospital system in the country to require that all its employees get …

The Columbus Dispatch reports: Gov. Mike DeWine came out against a controversial bill that would weaken Ohio’s vaccination laws. On Thursday, DeWine said he opposes House Bill 248 and asked Ohioans to think of the impact vaccines have had on society. Hearings on House Bill 248 have drawn national attention as advocates have spread misinformation and conspiracies. Testimony from Dr. …

Media Matters has the transcript: TUCKER CARLSON (HOST): So, what is the harm rate from the COVID vaccines? What’s the harm rate? You’re not allowed to ask, have you noticed that? They’ll shout at you if you ask. Several weeks ago, we quoted numbers from the administration’s own reporting system, VAERS, that show a massive increase in deaths from this …

Oregon Public Radio reports: State Rep. Mike Nearman became the first person ever expelled from the Oregon Legislature on Thursday, following revelations he helped plan an armed incursion in the state Capitol late last year. In a widely anticipated vote, the Oregon House approved a resolution that formally found Nearman’s act of opening a Capitol door for a far-right crowd …

From the Los Angeles County DA’s office: Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced that a Los Angeles County contract worker was charged today for allegedly stealing hundreds of blank vaccine cards from a COVID-19 vaccination center at the Pomona Fairplex. “Selling fraudulent and stolen vaccine cards is illegal, immoral and puts the public at risk of exposure to …