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President Joe Biden on Thursday signed an executive order requiring the immunizations of most federal workers and contractors, a tightening of the previous policy announced in July that encouraged – but did not require – vaccinations for many federal workers.
The decree affects employees working for the executive branch, or about 90% of the federal workforce. The change will be one of the new steps in gaining control of the pandemic that Biden is expected to announce on Thursday afternoon, a source close to the plans told USA TODAY.
Some federal health workers, including those who work for the Veterans Affairs Department, already need to be vaccinated. Members of the US military are also required to have a dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
But other federal civilian employees and contractors have only had to reveal their immunization status and, if not vaccinated, get tested regularly, get away socially, wear masks and be subject to restrictions on most business trips.
– Maureen Groppe
Also in the news:
►The number of Americans claiming unemployment benefits fell to 310,000 last week, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The total is a pandemic low and a sign that the surge in coronavirus cases has yet to result in widespread layoffs.
►Serious coronavirus infections are rare and mostly occur in older people with other underlying health conditions, a new study from Yale University has found.
► Popular UFC podcaster and commentator Joe Rogan criticizes media coverage, especially from CNN, about how he was handling his diagnosis of COVID-19.
► At least 10 people have died in North Macedonia in a fire that broke out at a makeshift hospital for COVID patients on Wednesday, public health officials said. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
?? The numbers of the day: The United States has recorded more than 40.4 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 652,600 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Global totals: Over 222.6 million cases and 4.5 million deaths. More than 177.1 million Americans – 53.3% of the population – have been fully immunized, according to the CDC.
?? What we read: After keeping a low profile for months since the Capitol uprising on January 6, members of the far-right street gang the Proud Boys have shown up in protests against mask warrants and vaccine requirements for coronaviruses. How the Proud Boys Offer Muscle at Anti-Mask Gatherings.
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Airlines’ recovery struggles as delta variant decreases bookings
Rising COVID-19 cases from the delta variant are hurting airline bookings and hampering the travel industry’s recovery, several airlines reported Thursday. American Airlines said a slowdown that started in August continued into September and the airline lowered its revenue outlook in the third quarter. United Airlines said its flights and revenues were both lower than expected and were cutting their schedule for the end of the year to meet weaker demand. United are forecasting a pre-tax loss in the third quarter that could extend into the fourth quarter if the virus outbreak continues.
Delta Air Lines said it still expects to post adjusted pre-tax profit for the third quarter, but revenue will be at the lower end of its previous forecast.
Fauci says infection rate is 10 times higher than needed to end outbreak
The U.S. coronavirus infection rate driven by the delta variant is more than 10 times the rate needed to end the pandemic, Dr.Anthony Fauci said. Fauci, in an interview with Axios, said the country is grappling with around 160,000 new cases a day – “not even modestly good control” – and would not improve significantly until more Americans are vaccinated, he said.
“The end of the game is to remove the virus,” Fauci said. “In a country our size, you can’t hang around and have 100,000 infections a day. You have to go well below 10,000 before you start to feel comfortable.”
More vaccinations won’t completely end infections, but “you’re not going to see it as a threat to public health,” he said. He said the current variants, while troublesome, remain controllable with current vaccines. And, the longer it takes to end the pandemic, the more likely it is that a “monster variant” will emerge that eludes vaccines, he said.
Pfizer Scientific Director defends vaccine
Pfizer’s vaccine contains only a fraction of a key active ingredient found in Moderna’s vaccine and also produces a weaker antibody response, according to a study.
The study of 1,600 Belgian health workers published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine produced twice as many antibodies as Pfizer’s six to ten weeks after vaccination.
Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine contains 30 micrograms of mRNA, while Moderna’s contains 100 micrograms. Philip Dormitzer, chief scientific officer of Pfizer, told the Financial Times this week that Pfizer and its code developer BioNTech are using the minimum dose level to elicit an immune response. A higher dose risked more side effects, he said.
“If you look at what’s going on with all the COVID-19 vaccines, the derailment has often been an adverse event that has happened,” Dormitzer said. The vaccines, however, produce similar side effects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Vaccines do not increase risk of miscarriage, study finds
A new study by researchers in Minnesota says COVID vaccinations do not increase the risk of miscarriage. The study, published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association, looked at data from more than 100,000 pregnancies. Data was drawn from eight major health systems – Kaiser Permanente: Washington, Northwest, Northern California, Southern California, and Colorado; Denver health; Healthpartners; and Marshfield Clinic, Wisconsin – December 2020 to June 2021.
The results were similar for all vaccines approved or licensed by the Food and Drug Administration.
States short of intensive care beds consider rationing care
Some states are on the verge of having to ration hospital care as COVID hospitalizations increase. At Kootenai Health Hospital in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, a conference center has been transformed into a field hospital with patients treated with ventilators in the classrooms. At the nearby hospital, COVID patients in emergency rooms are spilling into the hallways. As of Tuesday, there were only nine intensive care beds available statewide, officials said. The state has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country: only 40% are fully vaccinated.
Kentucky is also rapidly approaching a crisis care standard, its governor said on Wednesday. More than two-thirds of hospitals are experiencing a severe staff shortage, he said. Gov. Andy Beshear told CNN the state was “right at” or “quickly approaching that point” at which hospitals will have to start rationing care.
“So we are in a very precarious situation,” he said.
White House: US can share vaccines around the world and give home reminders
The Biden administration has said the United States has the ability to offer boosters to its residents and share the vaccine with other countries, after the head of the World Health Organization called for a moratorium on recalls until the end of the year.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said low-income countries cannot be “second or third priority” for COVID-19 vaccines, saying their health workers, the elderly and other at-risk groups have the same right to be protected as those of the richest. countries.
But White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Wednesday that it was a “false choice.” Psaki said the United States has shared 140 million doses with more than 90 countries to date. Boosters are expected to be available in the United States from September 20 for those who received two doses of an mRNA vaccine at least eight months previously.
“The president and this administration have a responsibility to do everything possible to protect the people in the United States, in this country,” she said. .. Our point of view is that we can do both. “
Federal judge blocks Florida ban on mask warrants in schools
A Florida judge on Wednesday blocked Gov. Ron DeSantis’ ban on mandatory masks in schools to remain in effect as he appeals an earlier ruling that overturned his order.
Circuit Judge John Cooper has approved a request from lawyers to have parents sue DeSantis over masks, endorsing their position that continuing the ban would create a potential health risk in schools.
Dismissing the automatic stay of his previous order is unusual, Cooper conceded. But he added: “We are not in normal times. We are in a pandemic. “
DeSantis had ordered counties to allow parents to have their children simply opt out of mask requirements. But Cooper ruled that school boards have the power to require all students to wear face coverings unless they get a medical exception.
-John Kennedy, Capital Bureau, USA TODAY Network-Florida
Contribution: The Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vaccines mandated for Federal Executive Branch workers: COVID news
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