Welcome to Wednesday’s Overnight Healthcare, We are following up on the latest developments in policies and news that affect your health. Subscribe here: thehill.com/newsletter-signup.
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In addition to the test move, there is also a push for a new White House to distribute masks, and the Biden administration plans to make millions of masks available for free.
The Hill is Peter Sullivan (psullivan@thehill.com) and Nathaniel Weixel (nweixel@thehill.com). Write us with tips and feedback and follow us on Twitter: @ PeterSullivan4 And @NateWeixel.
let’s start.
400 million N95 masks will be available
The White House announced on Wednesday that it will make 400 million N95 masks available for free. This is part of a series of actions aimed at combating the proliferation of Omicron variants.
According to the White House, masks will be available at “tens of thousands of local pharmacies” and thousands of community health centers. Masks will begin shipping later this week and will begin to be available later next week before being “fully operational” in early February.
Making high quality masks more accessible is President Biden
Joe Biddenbiden said the Finnish Prime Minister “has not over-promised” sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine. Russia: It is nothing but a ban on NATO expansion. There is pressure to strengthen our response to the virus.
Sen. Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders Hill Morning Report-Present by Facebook-Schumer Tea-Ups Fateful Election Reform Voting Schumer Gets 400 Million N95 Masks Free to Prepare for a Floor Showdown with Manchin, Cinema White House and Senate To (I-Vt.) And more than 50 Democrats last week submitted a bill to send three N95 masks to everyone in the United States.
caveat: Similar to what they did in the test, experts say the Biden administration should have acted a few months ago to make high-quality masks more available, but new steps are still underway.
According to the White House, masks are being deployed from strategic national stockpiles that currently hold more than 750 million N95 masks, three times the number in January 2021.
Why you need them: Experts urge people to use high quality masks like the N95, which offers much better protection than simple cloth masks, especially in the face of highly contagious variants of Omicron. I’m strengthening.
Please check this out for details.
CDC: Previous infections are more protective against Delta
According to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published Wednesday, Americans previously vaccinated with COVID-19 have the highest protection against hospitalization and reinfection due to the delta mutation. Shown.
In this study, both unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals who had previously recovered from COVID-19, from before the emergence of the delta variant to after becoming the predominant strain in the United States, were protected against reinfection and hospitalization. It turns out that it has improved significantly.
Studies have found that pre-infection provided better protection than vaccination alone.
This study may further inspire those who claim that innate immunity is just as protective and that they are not vaccinated because they are infected with COVID-19 at some point.
Main notes: The study period ranged from before Delta took over to when it was the predominant variant, but the data ends in November, before Omicron takes over. The CDC also noted that the analysis did not include information on the severity of the initial infection and did not reflect the risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19 infection.
CDC Conclusion: “We know that vaccination remains the safest strategy to protect against Covid-19,” said Benjamin Silk, one of the CDC epidemiologists and authors.
Please check this out for details.
Starbucks ends vaccine requirements
Starbucks has abolished the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for US workers after the Supreme Court blocked the Vaccine or testing obligations of the Byden administration’s large-scale employers last week.
“We will respect and comply with the court’s ruling,” Starbucks Chief Operating Officer John Culver said in a memo sent to employees on Tuesday, the Associated Press said.
According to AP, Mr. Culver said in a note that the Seattle company will continue to strongly encourage employees to get vaccines and booster shots.
This reversal occurs after Starbucks announced earlier this month that it would enforce vaccine or testing obligations on its 220,000 American employees. The original order required workers to be vaccinated or tested weekly by February 9.
“Vaccines are the best option when it comes to keeping safe and delaying the spread of COVID-19,” Culver said at the time.
Last week, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on the Biden administration’s obligation to vaccinate or test large-scale employees, which took effect while other legal oppositions were being filed. Stopped.
Please check this out for details.
Senate Dems demands price cut investigation
Two Democratic senators are asking the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate reports of price cuts for COVID-19 testing at home.
“Media reports continue to reveal price cuts and scams related to home test kits, so FTC will act as needed, use its full power to investigate the situation, and to malicious individuals. I urge you to take responsibility without delay, “Sens wrote. Ed Marquee
Ed Markey Senate Democrats requests investigation of the reported price cuts for the COVID-19 test. Biden’s FDA candidates move forward through key Senate committees. Letter to FTC Chair (Mass) and Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut) Lina Khan
Democrats Lina Khan Senate Request Investigation of Reported Price Cuts for COVID-19 Tests Hilcon Valley — 5G Delayed Again Near Airport On The Money — U.S. Regulators Chasing Illegal Mergers.. “No one should be allowed to reap the wind and rain and misuse fear and human suffering.”
This letter arrives with widespread concerns about the price and availability of quick home inspections, an important tool for fighting pandemics.
Experts have long lamented that a pack of two tests can cost more than $ 20 in the United States, but in Europe quick tests are often free or a few dollars.
Marquee also wrote to the major manufacturers and retailers of the COVID-19 test, calling for lower prices. According to him, the test costs only $ 2, but often sells for $ 12 or more.
He also raised concerns that retailers were marking up the costs of testing and called for them to be sold at a cost.
Please check this out for details.
National Guard New Mexico Call
Governor of New Mexico. Michelle Lujan Grisham
Michelle Lin Luhan Grisham New Mexico calls on National Guard to staff school, child care center Peroshi Exit White House asks Governor to appoint infrastructure coordinator, Democrats eager to fill the power vacuum Are (D) On Wednesday, the National Guard and its members announced a “Supporting Teachers and Family” initiative to encourage schools affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
In a press release Wednesday, the governor said “extreme staff shortages due to the surge in COVID-19 cases” prompted the initiative.
Specifically, the program encourages National Guard and National Guard members to volunteer to be licensed as pre-K-12 alternative teachers or child care workers to support face-to-face learning and child care. doing.
“Our school is an important source of stability for our children. We know they learn better in the classroom and thrive among their peers,” Luhan Grisham said in a statement. I did.
Many schools in the state have been forced to move to distance learning because staff are positive for the virus or need to be quarantined for exposure, according to the governor’s announcement.
Please check this out for details.
What we are reading
- After Omicron, we were able to use a break. We may get it (statistics)
- How many health care workers are vaccinated? That’s everyone’s guess (Politico)
- PCR vs. Antigen: Which Test Should You Take After Using Covid-19 (CNN)?
State by state
- The Massachusetts Child Care Program will receive a free, rapid COVID test later this month. Governor Charlie Baker announced (mass live)
- Iowa sets nearly 1,000 new weekly records in hospitals for COVID cases (Des Moines Register)
- The 15-week abortion ban passes the first test at the Florida State Parliament (Orlando Sentinel)
- Omicron’s surge seems to have peaked in Illinois, but authorities continue to warn due to hospital stress (Chicago Tribune).
Editorial in the hill
Stop calling it a “breakthrough case” — it’s useless
That’s it for today. Thank you for reading. Check out Hill’s Healthcare page for the latest news and coverage. See you tomorrow.
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