Surgeon general: New vaccine policies neither illegal nor unusual

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on Sunday defended the administration’s new Covid vaccine requirements, calling them “an appropriate legal measure“ that fit in with traditional safety requirements in schools and workplaces.

“We have to put this in context. There are requirements that we put in workplaces and in schools every day to make sure that workplaces and schools are safe,” Murthy said on ABC’s “This Week.”

President Joe Biden on Thursday issued broad new federal guidelines that, among other things, will use Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements to compel employers with more than 100 workers to mandate vaccination among their employees. Biden assailed the “25 percent” of Americans that have declined to be vaccinated. “That 25 percent can cause a lot of damage, and they are,” the president said.

Critics accused the president of exceeding his legal authority, a notion that Murthy rejected.

“These are focused on areas where the federal government has legal authority to act,” he said, adding: “We know these kind of requirements actually work to improve our vaccination rates.“

Murthy also said he believed the administration’s new policy would withstand legal challenges. “Certainly this wouldn’t have been put forward if the president and the administration didn’t believe that it was an appropriate legal measure to take,” he said.

When asked by host George Stephanopoulos about possible defiance of the administration‘s new requirements, Murthy said it was important not to lose sight of our shared goals as a country.

“What we cannot allow is for this pandemic to turn us on each other,” he said. “Our enemy is the virus; it is not one another.“

Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/09/12/surgeon-general-vaccine-policies-legal-511457
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CDC: Emerging evidence shows Delta variant may cause mild COVID among vaccinated people

About 74% of 469 COVID-19 cases associated with large gatherings held in Barnstable County, Mass., from July 3 to 17 were among fully vaccinated people, according to data released Friday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Why it matters: The data bolsters emerging evidence that vaccinated people have high viral loads and may transmit the Delta variant as easily as those who are unvaccinated.

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Be smart: Despite mild breakthrough cases appearing more common than previously thought, “vaccination is the most important strategy to prevent severe illness and death,” the report emphasizes.

The big picture: Presentation slides from the agency leaked Thursday night showed that unpublished research indicated that the Delta variant causes more severe illness in unvaccinated people and spreads as easily as chickenpox.

• On Tuesday, the CDC recommended people should wear masks in indoor public settings in areas where COVID-19 transmission is high or substantial regardless of vaccination status.

What they found: Among the vaccinated with a breakthrough infection in Barnstable County, nearly 80% reported mild signs or symptoms, with the most common being cough, headache, sore throat, myalgia and fever.

• The people reported being in densely packed indoor and outdoor events at venues that included bars, restaurants, guest houses and rental homes.
• Five people were hospitalized, including one patient, who was middle-aged, unvaccinated, and had multiple underlying medical conditions. The remaining four adults were fully vaccinated, varied in age and, two had underlying medical conditions.
• As of July 27, no deaths were reported.
• A majority of the cases occurred in men with a median age of 40, but is likely due to the health department’s sampling from the public events, which were marketed to adult male participants.

What they’re saying: “This finding is concerning and was a pivotal discovery leading to CDC’s updated mask recommendation,” CDC director Rochelle Walensky said in a statement Friday.

• “The masking recommendation was updated to ensure the vaccinated public would not unknowingly transmit virus to others, including their unvaccinated or immunocompromised loved ones,” she added.

Source: https://www.axios.com/cdc-delta-variant-vaccinated-people-covid-485a2f39-8fa0-4c20-91f1-208f63d695cd.html
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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.

The big picture: 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.

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Driving the news: The daily average of confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. has roughly quadrupled during July, rising from about 13,000 per day to over 43,000 now.

• New projections released Wednesday by the COVID-19 Scenario Modeling Hub, a consortium of researchers working in consultation with the CDC, predict that the current coronavirus surge will accelerate through the summer and fall.
• The surge is predicted to peak in mid-October, with daily deaths triple the level they are now.

Why it matters: Those projections directly clash with both school reopenings and corporate plans to staff up offices in September.

• A recent survey of 1,000 HR professionals by the Society for Human Resource Management and Lucid found that half of U.S. organizations are worried about the more contagious Delta variant and will encourage employees to get a booster shot when one is available.
• “There’s a renewed anxiety that maybe started to dissipate in the spring — but it’s back,” Joseph Allen, an associate professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told The New York Times.

What’s happening: The rising case counts and breakthrough infections are already beginning to set back private and public reopening plans.

• Apple is reportedly delaying its planned September return to the office by at least a month, according to Bloomberg News and the Wall Street Journal.
• The Los Angeles-based talent management agency WME closed down its office for at least a week, just after reopening for the first time in more than a year on July 12, even as LA officials reinstituted indoor mask rules as cases rose in the city.
• The Delta surge is interfering with the government’s plans to bring hundreds of thousands of federal workers back to the office after Labor Day, according to the Washington Post, while news of breakthrough infections among vaccinated staffers has seen some in Congress move to bring back masks and limit in-person meetings.

Yes, but: The percentage of Americans returning to the office kept ticking upward during July, hitting 34.5% as of July 14, according to the Kastle Back to Work Barometer, which measures office occupancy in 10 major cities.

• Despite breakthrough infections, the vaccines remain extremely effective, and the surge is worst in states with low vaccination rates — which also happen to be the states that have been most resistant to instituting restrictions.
• Scott Gottlieb, former head of the FDA, predicted on CNBC that the Delta surge would peak faster, by late August — though he also noted that October rather than September would be a more “prudent” time to bring employees back to the office.

What to watch: Whether the Delta variant complicates in-person school reopenings in the fall.

• Children under 12 still aren’t eligible to be vaccinated, and growing reports of outbreaks at summer camps point to the challenge of keeping young children in schools safe in the midst of a more contagious variant.
• If schools can’t reopen as planned in September, working parents may not be able to return to offices even if they are opened.

The bottom line: Flexibility has been the corporate watchword throughout the pandemic, and Delta means companies will need to remain flexible for the foreseeable future.

Source: https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-delta-office-reopening-788aa0ae-da89-4eac-a337-ef6b59d38267.html
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New York to lift mask mandate for vaccinated people

New York will lift its mask mandate for vaccinated people on Wednesday, aligning with CDC guidance announced last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a press conference.

Why it matters: The announcement marks a significant milestone for the state, which was one of the first to issue a broad mask mandate in April 2020 when it was facing one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the world.

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Yes, but: Masks will still be required on public transit and in nursing homes, homeless shelters, jails, schools and health care facilities. Private businesses and venues can add additional requirements if they choose to.

Driving the news: Cuomo also announced the New York City Marathon will return in November, with a field of runners reduced from 55,000 to about 33,000, according to the New York Times.

By the numbers: New York is seeing the lowest number of hospitalizations and lowest number of patients in the intensive care unit since November.

• The state on Monday also reported its lowest number for single-day deaths (11) since Oct. 11.
• Cuomo on Saturday announced that more than half of New York adults have been vaccinated for COVID-19.

Go deeper: CDC mask guidance sparks confusion, questions

Source: https://www.axios.com/covid-masks-new-york-cdc-guidance-55e6f321-156a-4334-95ca-96e132f31fa4.html
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Smithsonian museums, National Zoo announce reopening dates

The Smithsonian Institution announced Friday that about half of its museums, along with the National Zoo, will reopen in May after shuttering in November because of the coronavirus pandemic.Eight…

Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/news/550079-smithsonian-museums-national-zoo-announce-reopening-dates
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Connecticut lifting all COVID business restrictions by May 19

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) on Monday announced that he would be lifting all COVID-19 business restrictions on May 19.”Contingent upon sufficiently low rates of infections and increasing vacc…

Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/549160-connecticut-lifting-all-covid-business-restrictions-by-may-19
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Miami Beach declares state of emergency amid crowds of spring breakers

Miami Beach, Fla., declared a state of emergency Saturday over concern about large crowds of spring breakers gathering in the city. Miami Beach Mayor D…

Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/544181-miami-beach-declares-state-of-emergency-amid-crowds-of-spring-breakers
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U.S. strikes $230 million deal for over-the-counter Covid tests

“Making easier-to-use tests available to every American is a high priority with obvious benefits,” White House Covid-19 adviser Andy Slavitt told reporters

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/u-s-strikes-230-million-deal-over-counter-covid-tests-n1256371
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Newsom lifts stay-at-home orders across California

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom lifted stay-at-home orders statewide Monday, allowing restaurants to reopen for outdoor dining and salons to resume appointments indoors.

The change will enable those sectors to reopen in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Central Valley and Southern California for the first time since early December. Restaurateurs have been particularly vocal about their frustration with the regional dining ban after purchasing heat lamps and other equipment to get through the winter months.

The shift comes as California has seen a steady decrease in new infections over the past week, as well as a reduction in hospitalizations and intensive care unit use. Newsom earlier this month lifted the stay-at-home order in the greater Sacramento region after projecting that it would have at least 15 percent ICU capacity within four weeks.

While the California Department of Public Health gave the green light to restaurants and salons statewide, county health officials could still try to impose their own restrictions.

The governor has allowed local leaders to enact stricter rules than the state, and some counties may attempt to keep prohibitions in place. Some residents questioned on social media why the state would lift orders after POLITICO and other outlets reported the governor’s plans Sunday night.

CDPH said it released the rest of the state from stay-at-home orders based on a determination there will be at least 15 percent ICU capacity within four weeks. The state has not fully explained how it calculates that projection.

While hospitals in California remain stretched thin — particularly in hardest-hit Southern California — state health officials said residents were seeing the fruits of taking precautions.

“Californians heard the urgent message to stay home as much as possible and accepted that challenge to slow the surge and save lives,” said Tomás Aragón, CDPH director and state public health officer, in a statement. “Together, we changed our activities knowing our short-term sacrifices would lead to longer-term gains. COVID-19 is still here and still deadly, so our work is not over, but it’s important to recognize our collective actions saved lives and we are turning a critical corner.”

That makes California’s color-based Blueprint for a Safer Economy the operative rulebook for determining when and how sectors can reopen.

All but four of California’s 58 counties remain in the state’s most restrictive purple tier status and are expected to remain there for weeks, albeit without the same prohibitions that come with stay-at-home orders. Most non-retail indoor activities will remain banned, including religious services.

The governor has faced litigation over the stay-at-home restrictions on dining. Restaurateurs have argued that outdoor dining doesn’t lead to an increase in coronavirus cases. And state health chief Mark Ghaly indicated in December he ban was intended mostly to deter residents from venturing outside their homes.

“Late this evening, senior officials in the Newsom administration informed us that the governor will announce tomorrow that the stay-at-home order will be lifted in all regions of the state,” the California Restaurant Association told members in an email Sunday night.

The state hasn’t made public the exact formula to determine its ICU projections, and the Sacramento, San Joaquin Valley and Southern California regions remain below the 15 percent capacity threshold.

In early December, the California Department of Public Health divided the state into five regions, and only a rural swath at the northern end of the state never had stay-at-home orders in effect.

While the average daily case rate has fallen, it remains high. The 14-day-rolling average is still 31,299 cases a day, more than three times what it was during the summer surge. But the state is also testing more than at any point of the pandemic.

The state’s seven-day positivity rate has fallen to 8.1 percent, the lowest it has been in weeks.

Source: https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2021/01/25/newsom-lifts-stay-at-home-orders-across-california-1359910
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Pelosi warns lawmakers they’ll be barred from speaking on House floor without a mask

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Tuesday announced an expansion of the House floor mask requirement which will now preclude lawmakers from removing them while speaking before the cameras during the pandemic.Durin…

Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/530369-pelosi-warns-lawmakers-theyll-be-barred-from-speaking-on-house-floor-without-a
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San Francisco Bay Area to enforce stay-at-home order ahead of state mandate

San Francisco Bay Area counties announced …

Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/528884-san-francisco-bay-are-to-enforce-stay-at-home-order-ahead-of-state-mandate
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Did you travel for Thanksgiving? Nation’s top doctor says ‘you need to assume that you’re infected’ with Covid

Dr Deborah Birx issues urgent warning to holiday travelers: ‘You need to assume that you’re infected and not go near your grandparents and aunts and others without a mask’

Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/birx-travel-thanksigivng-infected-covid-19-b1764066.html
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More than 300 guests at Washington wedding forced to quarantine after guests test positive for Covid

Health officials say positive cases from ceremony continue to grow

Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/covid-virus-washington-wedding-guests-b1724611.html
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States reimpose extensive COVID-19 restrictions

Three states are set to reimpose some of the most extensive coronavirus-related restrictions amid a nationwide spike of infections and hospitalizations.Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) on Friday announced a…

Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/525922-states-reimpose-extensive-covid-19-restrictions
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CDC: Coronavirus spreads quickly among household members

The report noted that the age of the index patient didn’t matter — adults, children and teens all spread the virus to others in their households.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/coronavirus-spreads-quickly-among-household-members-cdc-report-finds-n1245493
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New York transport hubs will fine passengers for not wearing face masks

The new rules will kick in from 2 November

Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/new-york-face-mask-fine-airport-train-bus-station-b1449730.html
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France braces for monthlong lockdown as virus deaths mount

Some doctors expressed relief but business owners despaired as France prepared to shut down again for a month to try to put the brakes on the fast-moving virus

Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/france-braces-for-monthlong-lockdown-as-virus-deaths-mount-french-patients-relief-shoppers-ap-b1418305.html
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Two events in NY county turn into superspreaders that infect 56 people

Two events in a suburban New York county turned into superspreaders that infected 56 people and sent almost 300 others to quarantine, officials said Wednesday. A wedding and a birthday party in S…

Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/523324-two-events-in-ny-county-turn-into-super-spreaders-that-infect-56-people
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This very socially-distanced office is floating in the middle of the East River

There’s precautions and then there’s precautions. If you’re really trying to not get COVID-19, working on a makeshift floating office in the middle of New York’s East River isn’t the worst idea. It’s also probably not the best one. Either way, the good folks at Improv Everywhere have made it happen.  — Read the rest

Source: https://boingboing.net/2020/10/28/this-very-socially-distanced-office-is-floating-in-the-middle-of-the-east-river.html
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U.S. reports over 80,000 new COVID-19 cases for 2nd straight day

The U.S. reported 83,718 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, marking the second day in a row that the country topped 80,000 daily infections, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Why it matters: The coronavirus is surging across the U.S. and threatening to overwhelm hospitals, especially in rural areas. The government’s top infectious-disease expert Anthony Fauci told MSNBC earlier this month the U.S. is “facing a whole lot of trouble” as it heads into the winter, with cold weather likely to contribute to further spread of the virus.

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By the numbers: Saturday’s case count nearly topped the record of 83,757, set a day earlier. The daily high before that had been 77,362 on July 16.

• More than 40,000 Americans are currently hospitalized.
• The U.S. has recorded nearly 8.6 million cases since the pandemic began, and 225,000 people have died.

Yes, but: Nearly 130,000 fewer people will die of COVID-19 this winter if 95% of Americans wear face masks in public, according to research published Friday.

Go deeper: The pandemic is getting worse again

Source: https://www.axios.com/covid-infections-80k-53c96834-706b-4f0f-b87d-ae96b39cedeb.html
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