Tuesday, February 1, 2022 | Kaiser Health News

The Washington Post:
Coronavirus Vaccine Mandates Appear On Way Out At Virginia’s Public Universities After Attorney General’s Opinion

One by one, Virginia’s public universities appear to be falling into line with an opinion from the state’s new Republican attorney general, Jason Miyares, that they are not legally authorized to require students to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. On Monday, Virginia Tech announced it would no longer make coronavirus vaccination a condition of student enrollment. The University of Virginia, meanwhile, said it would no longer threaten to disenroll students this semester who do not get a vaccine booster shot. (Anderson and Lumpkin, 1/31)

In related news about vaccine mandates —

AP:
Youngkin, Justice Seek Relief From Health Worker Vax Rule

Warning of hospitals and other health providers facing “an urgent staffing crisis,” the Republican governors of Virginia and West Virginia on Monday asked the Biden administration for a limited waiver to the federal vaccine mandate for health care workers. (Raby and Rankin, 1/31)

Charleston Gazette-Mail:
Bill To Slash Unemployment Benefits Sidelined After Vaccine Amendment Adopted

A Senate bill aiming to reduce the number of weeks a person can receive state unemployment benefits was sidelined Monday after West Virginia lawmakers adopted a vaccine exemption amendment to the bill. Legislators left last Thursday’s Senate Judiciary Committee meeting with Sen. Mark Maynard, R-Wayne, proposing an amendment to Senate Bill 2 that would extend unemployment benefits to employees who are fired after refusing a COVID-19 vaccine requirement. Maynard spoke again Monday afternoon before discussion of the bill, saying he was going to withdraw his amendment because it could derail the bill’s intentions entirely. (Severino, 1/31)

AP:
Austin To Governors: Guard Troops Must Get COVID-19 Vaccine 

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in letters to seven governors, is reaffirming the need for members of their states’ Army and Air National Guards to get the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine or lose their Guard status. In nearly identical letters signed late last week, Austin tells the governors that the virus “takes our service members out of the fight, temporarily or permanently, and jeopardizes our ability to meet mission requirements,” according to copies obtained Monday by The Associated Press. (Baldor, 1/31)

AP:
Mandate To Vaccinate New Orleans Schoolchildren Kicking In 

As school systems across the U.S. struggle to keep classrooms open amid the pandemic, New Orleans is set to become the nation’s first major district to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for children 5 and up, though state regulations will allow parents to opt out easily. Ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, many schools in the city have been holding vaccination events, including one at KIPP Believe school. (Santana, 1/31)

The Boston Globe:
After Much Fanfare, Other Cities Balk At Following Boston’s Proof-Of-Vaccination Mandate

When Mayor Michelle Wu announced in December that she would put in place a proof-of-vaccination mandate for Boston restaurants, gyms, and entertainment venues, officials from several other Massachusetts cities stood with her in a show of support. “I’m so grateful to have regional mayors and municipal health officials here, city councilors, state representatives,” Wu said during a City Hall event, “because fighting this pandemic will require shared action and partnership.” But her call for unity has produced mixed results. (Gardizy, 1/31)

Also —

Hearst Television:
Man With Kidney Failure Removed From Organ Transplant List For Not Getting COVID-19 Vaccine

A South Carolina man has been declared inactive on a kidney transplant list after he said he has no plans to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Jason Wilson has had kidney failure since he was 10 years old. For a while, his condition improved, he said. But about two years ago, he began dialysis and was placed on Medical University of South Carolina Health’s list for a kidney transplant. It was on Nov. 1 that he got a letter from the health system that said he would be moved to inactive status if he didn’t get the COVID-19 vaccine by Jan. 1, 2022. “If you do not wish to be vaccinated, we will move you to inactive status until we are able to verify proof of completed vaccination,” it read, in part. (1/31)

In news about protests —

St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Anti-Vaccination Forces Push For Ouster Of Missouri’s Public Health Chief 

Anti-vaccination activists are attempting to block the confirmation of Gov. Mike Parson’s health chief, falsely alleging he wants to force all Missourians to get vaccinated against COVID-19. In a rally Monday, the group urged the Senate to vote down the appointment of Donald Kauerauf as director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Despite evidence to the contrary, the opponents argued that Kauerauf would attempt to require all Missourians to get vaccinated against a respiratory disease that has killed more than 17,000 Missourians. (Erickson, 1/31)

Politico:
Medical Boards Get Pushback As They Try To Punish Doctors For Covid Misinformation 

Medical boards and other regulators across the country are scrambling to penalize doctors who spread misinformation about vaccines or promote unproven cures for Covid-19. But they are unsure whether they’ll prevail over actions by state lawmakers who believe the boards are overreaching. In Maui, the state medical board filed complaints against the state’s chief health officer and another physician after they supported Covid-19 treatments federal health officials warned against. In Florida, the nominee for state surgeon general refused to directly answer on the effectiveness and safety of the coronavirus vaccine — and that’s after a local doctor filed a complaint to the state’s medical boards. In Idaho, local GOP officials appointed a pathologist who promoted unproven virus treatments to a local public health board, despite complaints from his peers to state regulators. (Tahir, 2/1)

The Washington Post:
Joe Rogan Says He’ll Do Better Research On Covid, Give Listeners Opposing Views: ‘I Don’t Always Get It Right’

As a growing number of musicians yanked their work from the streaming service Spotify over misinformation about coronavirus vaccines, podcaster Joe Rogan posted a video this weekend admitting he could do more to better inform his millions of listeners, particularly when it comes to covid-19. Rogan, in a nearly 10-minute video Sunday night on Instagram, said he’ll make two changes to his show, “The Joe Rogan Experience,” to accomplish that. The first: have mainstream experts give their viewpoints after guests espousing more fringe opinions. (Edwards, 1/31)

Los Angeles Times:
Science Podcasters Call Spotify’s Support Of Joe Rogan A ‘Slap In The Face’

Key people behind a popular science podcast on Spotify said Monday they were upset by the way Spotify has handled misinformation on Joe Rogan’s podcast and plan to limit their production on new episodes. “Spotify’s support of Joe Rogan’s podcast has felt like a slap in the face,” Wendy Zukerman, host and executive producer of “Science Vs” and Blythe Terrell, Science Vs’ editor, wrote in a letter to Spotify’s CEO Daniel Ek. Zukerman and Terrell said they believe Spotify’s rules regarding misinformation do not go far enough. (Lee, 1/31)

AP:
All-Out Effort To Keep Biden COVID-Free; No ‘Normal’ Yet

When President Joe Biden met with U.S. governors at the White House on Monday, he was the only one given a glass of water — lest anyone else remove their mask to take a drink. The president was seated more than 10 feet from everyone, including Vice President Kamala Harris and members of his Cabinet. A White House staffer who was wearing a surgical mask when Biden entered the room was quickly handed an N95 version. (Miller, 1/31)

In other news about mask-wearing —

Bloomberg:
Denver To End Mask Mandate For Businesses This Week, Mayor Says

Denver will end its mask mandate for businesses Feb. 4 as Covid-19 cases decline, Mayor Michael B. Hancock said Monday, while cautioning “this is still a public health emergency.” Masks are still required at city schools, on public transit and at Denver International Airport, Hancock said during an online briefing. He also appealed for “a little less anger and petulance” over the ongoing restrictions.
Scientific modeling suggests “omicron has run out of fuel in our community,” said Bob McDonald, director of the city’s department of public health and environment. (Del Giudice, 1/31)

WKRN:
Free N95 Masks Now Available At Kroger

Need an N95 mask? Major regional grocery store Kroger now has them in stock. Under the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, Kroger now has N95 masks in stock and every person can get up to three free of charge as part of measures taken by the federal government to reduce further spread of the COVID-19. Most stores across Kroger’s Nashville division now have the masks and those that don’t should have them by Tuesday, Feb. 1. (Stilwell, 1/310

EdSource:
What Are The Best Masks For Children To Wear At School During The Omicron Surge? 

The state Office of Emergency Services is currently distributing a total of 6 million child-size KN95 masks to county offices of education, which will distribute them to schools. For students who don’t have access to those masks, California public health officials advise wearing a surgical mask or a surgical mask with a cloth mask on top. Students who wear fabric masks are advised to opt for ones with three or more cloth layers. Any mask worn comfortably by a student is better than no mask at all, public health officials said. (Tadayon, 1/31)

Politico:
Newsom Defends Maskless Photo At NFL Playoff Game 

California Gov. Gavin Newsom defended himself on Monday amid outrage over a maskless photo he took Sunday with basketball legend Magic Johnson at an NFL playoff game in Los Angeles where all spectators were required to wear masks. “I was trying to be gracious, and I made a mist — you know, I mean, I was trying to be gracious,” the governor told reporters at a news conference on state mental health initiatives. “I took the mask off for a brief second. But I encourage people to continue to wear them.” (Luthi, 1/31)

New York Post:
Trump Supporter Asked To Remove ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ Mask On Flight

A passenger aboard a Spirit Airlines flight claimed he was forced to remove his electronic face mask featuring the glowing slogan, “Let’s go Brandon,” along with the letters FJB — the code for “F— Joe Biden.” Adam Radogna, a supporter of former President Donald Trump flying from Cleveland, Ohio, to Tampa, Florida, on Friday, posted a viral video showing him being handed a surgical mask to replace the one he was wearing. (Steinbuch, 1/31)

Seattle Times:
COVID Testing Company Faked Test Results, Lied To Patients, WA AG Lawsuit Says

An Illinois-based coronavirus testing company with at least 13 sites in Washington, faked or delayed test results (or provided none at all), lied to patients and failed to properly store test samples, according to a lawsuit filed Monday by Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson. The lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court, describes how the company, Center for COVID Control, expanded to about 300 U.S. locations and allegedly took advantage of residents at a time when frequent testing was in high demand as a “critical tool in the fight against COVID-19.” (Takahama, 1/31)

In other testing news —

Lansing State Journal:
Meijer To Offer Free At-Home PCR Testing At Pharmacy Locations

Meijer announced plans Monday to offer at-home COVID-19 PCR tests free to customers throughout the Midwest at its locations with pharmacies. The Grand Rapids-based grocery store chain is partnering with eTrueNorth, a Texas-based health care technology company, to provide at-home versions of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which experts believe to be the most accurate COVID-19 exam. According to a press release, Meijer is the first retail pharmacy to offer PCR tests at no charge. (Weber, 1/31)

ABC News:
New York City Will Offer Free, At-Home Delivery Of COVID-19 Antiviral Pills

New York City has begun offering free, same day at-home delivery of COVID-19 antiviral pills to eligible residents although supplies remain limited. The program was announced by Mayor Eric Adams at a press conference Sunday at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx. (Kekatos, 1/31)

The Mercury News:
Santa Clara County Officials Announce Stricter Testing Rules For Healthcare Providers

Santa Clara County on Monday began requiring healthcare providers to offer patients a COVID-19 test within 24 hours in an attempt to shift more testing responsibility to hospitals and clinics who the county says haven’t been doing their part. “The county has been carrying a disproportionate burden of testing throughout the pandemic,” said Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody at a press conference Monday. “By a very wide margin.” The new stricter guideline narrows the county’s previous rules in September 2020 that required providers to get back to members by the end of the following day after a request for a test. (Greschler, 1/31)

NPR:
When A Positive COVID Tests Means Losing Work, There’s Little Incentive To Test 

A major public health tenet is that testing is critical for controlling viral spread, but Cristina San Martin could have found plenty of reasons not to test for COVID-19. At-home rapid tests have been sold out, and lines at lab testing sites have wrapped around the block and booked a week in advance. As a dog washer at a grooming salon, San Martin can’t afford $150 to test at an urgent-care site. (Noguchi, 2/1)

Also, how incomplete data has hurt pandemic response efforts —

The Boston Globe:
How Patchy COVID Data Hampered The Pandemic Response

On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control reported more than half a million new positive cases of COVID, a daily figure that serves as a crucial barometer for a nation muddling its way through the Omicron wave. But the actual number of new infections, which may well be higher, is a mystery — just like the overall number of people who have been infected so far. Two years after COVID began spreading in this country, the United States is operating with patchy and incomplete data about the virus, a problem experts say has hampered the response to one variant after another and leaves the country just as vulnerable to the next one. (Bidgood, 2/1)