Senators on each side of the aisle on Thursday grilled Well being and Human Providers Secretary Xavier Becerra and Training Secretary Miguel Cardona in regards to the lack of inexpensive speedy COVID-19 testing choices, pointing to testing as key to conserving college students and workers secure.
“It’s not true that there’s an enough provide of inexpensive exams,” Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., mentioned at a Well being, Security, Labor and Pensions Committee assembly. The most affordable over-the-counter speedy COVID-19 exams within the U.S. go for $12 for a two-pack, Kaine mentioned.
“In Germany, you may get a speedy COVID take a look at on the grocery retailer for lower than $1,” he mentioned
The Biden administration has mentioned it plans to spend almost $2 billion on house exams. However specialists say the administration’s buy of 280 million non-laboratory exams gained’t be sufficient to fulfill testing wants as non-public employers, Ok-12 faculties and a delta-variant-driven testing surge make it more durable to search out well timed exams.
Becerra mentioned his division was planning to work extra intently with trade, state and native companions “to ensure there’s all the time adequate provide for each state.
About 96% of college districts are absolutely re-opened for in-person studying, however a handful are utilizing hybrid or distant fashions for transient intervals to comprise outbreaks, Cardona mentioned. Nonetheless, almost 2,200 faculties throughout 539 districts in 43 states have quickly closed in-person studying due to COVID-19 outbreaks up to now this college yr, in keeping with Burbio, a New York-based knowledge service that’s monitoring Ok-12 college reopening tendencies.
“Fifty years in the past, some individuals protested utilizing seat belts. Right now, we don’t. We all know how secure and efficient they’re. Identical factor with vaccines. Identical factor with masks,” Becerra mentioned, including, “I might simply inform each guardian, please use frequent sense. Don’t let anybody cease you from defending your youngsters.”
Additionally within the information:
►The variety of Individuals making use of for unemployment advantages rose for the third straight week, an indication that the extremely contagious delta variant could also be slowing a restoration within the job market.
►The World Well being Group says simply 15 of Africa’s 54 nations have reached the worldwide goal of absolutely vaccinating 10% of their inhabitants by the top of this month.
►Primetta Giacopini, 105, who was 2 when her mom died of the Spanish flu, has died in California of COVID-19, her daughter Dorene Giacopini mentioned.
►Organizers for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics detailed new COVID-19 protocols for the video games, together with a 21-day quarantine for non-fully vaccinated athletes, each day testing for vaccinated individuals and that no tickets can be offered to anybody dwelling outdoors China.
►Zac Brown Band has canceled a deliberate Thursday present at DTE Power Music Theatre close to Detroit following a constructive COVID-19 take a look at for frontman Brown.
📈Right now’s numbers: The U.S. has recorded greater than 43.3 million confirmed COVID-19 instances and greater than 695,000 deaths, in accordance to Johns Hopkins College knowledge. International totals: Greater than 233.3 million instances and 4.7 million deaths. Greater than 184 million Individuals – 55% of the inhabitants – are absolutely vaccinated, in keeping with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
📘What we’re studying: Pregnant individuals face a “extreme threat of extreme illness” from COVID-19. However, that is nonetheless not motivating them to get vaccinated. Solely about 20% of those that are pregnant have gotten a dose of the vaccine, the CDC says. Learn extra on this subject.
Hold refreshing this web page for the most recent information. Need extra? Join USA TODAY’s Coronavirus Watch publication to obtain updates on to your inbox and be part of our Fb group.
As soon as heroes, some well being care staff now reside in worry
Greater than a yr after U.S. well being care staff battling within the entrance traces have been saluted as heroes in the course of the begin of the COVID-19 pandemic, many at the moment are being issued panic buttons in case of assault and ditching their scrubs earlier than going out in public for worry of harassment. Throughout the nation, medical doctors and nurses are coping with hostility, threats and violence from sufferers offended over security guidelines designed to maintain the scourge from spreading.
“A yr in the past, we’re well being care heroes and all people’s clapping for us,” mentioned Dr. Stu Coffman, a Dallas-based emergency room doctor. “And now we’re being, in some areas, harassed and disbelieved and ridiculed for what we’re attempting to do, which is simply miserable and irritating.”
Cox Medical Heart Branson in Missouri began giving panic buttons to as much as 400 nurses and different staff after assaults per yr tripled from 2019 to 2020 to 123, a spokeswoman mentioned. One nurse needed to get her shoulder X-rayed after an assault. Hospital spokeswoman Brandei Clifton mentioned the pandemic has pushed at the very least among the improve.
“So many nurses say, ‘It’s simply a part of the job,’” Clifton mentioned. “It’s not a part of the job.”
$54,000 invoice for COVID take a look at ‘corrected’
A Texas man was charged $54,000 for his COVID-19 exams at an emergency room says he negotiated it all the way down to about $16,000 and his insurance coverage firm paid the total invoice. Travis Warner advised NPR his and his spouse’s June 2020 go to to the free-standing ER at Lewisville’s SignatureCare Emergency Heart was, at first, a reduction as a result of he may return to work as soon as he examined unfavorable. Warner obtained PCR diagnostic exams for COVID-19, plus the less-accurate speedy antigen exams due to time sensitivity in desirous to return to work. Warner is self-employed and has his personal well being care plan with Molina Healthcare. Molina Healthcare advised NPR in an announcement: “This matter was a supplier billing error which Molina recognized and corrected.”
– Scott Gleeson
Intercourse and the pandemic: Issues have modified
This is a stunner: The pandemic has modified our intercourse lives, research present. Whereas some individuals have reported extra sexual exercise, many noticed a decline. Different research present a spike in individuals attempting a brand new expertise. Consultants say lockdowns and stay-at-home orders have been a time for a lot of to bond with their partner or associate. However for others, intercourse was the very last thing on their thoughts as they navigated new well being precautions, getting vaccinated and extra.
“This pandemic wasn’t skilled the identical manner by everybody,” mentioned Justin Lehmiller, a analysis fellow on the Kinsey Institute at Indiana College and the host of the “Intercourse and Psychology” podcast. Lockdown restrictions diverse, he mentioned, as did the “diploma of non-public concern individuals had about COVID.” Learn extra right here.
– Marina Pitofsky
Nationwide college board group asks Biden to assist cease threats
A gaggle representing college board members across the nation requested President Joe Biden on Thursday for federal help to analyze and cease threats remodeled insurance policies together with masks mandates, likening the vitriol to a type of home terrorism. Dad and mom and neighborhood members have been disrupting conferences and threatening board members in particular person, on-line and thru the mail in a development that deserves consideration from federal legislation enforcement companies, the Nationwide College Boards Affiliation mentioned in a letter to Biden.
“No matter you are feeling about masks, it mustn’t attain this stage of rhetoric,” NSBA Interim Govt Director Chip Slaven
‘Her identify is Teresa Makenzie Sperry’: Mother pays homage to daughter, 10
The mom of a 10-year-old Virginia lady who died this week of COVID-19 criticized Suffolk Public Colleges for releasing a “sorry excuse of a letter” asserting the loss of life with out speaking to her or naming her youngster.
“Her identify is Teresa Makenzie Sperry,” Nicole Sperry wrote on Fb. “My stunning lady was taken from me as a result of individuals are too rattling egocentric to care about what may occur to others.”
Terry died Monday, simply days after her signs appeared. Sperry wrote that these wishing to honor Teresa ought to get vaccinated, put on masks and socially distance.
“And most significantly cease complaining and hold your sick youngsters at house,” Nicole Sperry wrote. “As a result of ultimately you’ll nonetheless get to hug yours.”
Beijing Olympics to permit Chinese language spectators
The Worldwide Olympic Committee has launched a primary glimpse of the COVID-19 protocols that will probably be in place on the upcoming 2022 Winter Video games in Beijing – together with prolonged quarantines for unvaccinated members, each day COVID-19 testing and the absence of worldwide spectators. Not like in Tokyo, the place athletes principally competed behind closed doorways, Beijing 2022 organizers mentioned some Chinese language followers will probably be permitted to attend their Video games, so long as they observe to-be-determined protocols.
Overseas spectators, together with athletes’ relations and buddies, will as soon as once more be barred from attending. The IOC and Worldwide Paralympic Committee mentioned within the information launch that they assist native organizers’ choice to promote tickets to Chinese language residents.
– Tom Schad
Reopening of ‘Aladdin’ on Broadway halted by COVID-19 instances
The hit Broadway present “Aladdin” was canceled Wednesday evening when breakthrough COVID-19 instances have been reported throughout the musical’s firm, a day after the present reopened, a worrying signal for Broadway.
“Via our rigorous testing protocols, breakthrough COVID-19 instances have been detected throughout the firm of ‘Aladdin’ on the New Amsterdam Theatre,” the present introduced on social media. “As a result of the wellness and security of our visitors, solid and crew are our prime precedence, tonight’s efficiency, Wednesday, Sept. 2, is canceled.”
It was the primary Broadway COVID-19 cancellation since exhibits resumed with Bruce Springsteen’s live performance in July and “Move Over” as the primary play to debut in August.
The pandemic pressured Broadway theaters to abruptly shut on March 12, 2020, knocking out all exhibits and scrambling the spring season. A number of have restarted, together with the so-called huge three of “Depraved,” “Hamilton” and “The Lion King.”
Alabama Home approves $400M in COVID cash for jail development
The Alabama Home of Representatives Wednesday accredited a measure to take $400 million in cash aimed toward COVID reduction and put it towards jail development, a transfer drawing nationwide consideration. The laws now goes to the Senate. Supporters of the jail development invoice, together with Home Methods and Means Normal Fund committee chair Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, say using the cash from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) will decrease the amount of cash the state must borrow for the $1.3 billion mission and permit development to start instantly.
“It’ll assist defray curiosity prices,” Clouse mentioned after the vote on Wednesday. “It goes a great distance (to) getting us began, and so much earlier.”
Using the cash has drawn criticism from nationwide and state Democrats. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, the chairman of the U.S. Home Judiciary Committee, despatched a letter to the Division of the Treasury urging the division to disallow using the cash for prisons, saying the ARP cash “shouldn’t be used to worsen our nationwide downside of over-incarceration.”
– Brian Lyman, Montgomery Advertiser
Contributing: Related Press