School boards get death threats amid rage over race, gender, mask policies
This story contains text, images and audio clips with offensive language. The letter came to the home of Brenda Sheridan, a Loudoun County, Virginia school board member, addressed to one of her adult children. It threatened to kill them both unless she left the board. “It is too bad that your mother is an ugly communist […]
NO JAB, NO JOB: 1,428 NYC workers terminated for failing to follow mandate
New York City employees who failed to comply with the city’s vaccine mandate were sent termination notices on Friday, the mayor’s office said. A total of 1,428 employees were terminated, with the majority of terminations coming from the Department of Education at 914. New York City Housing Authority racked the second highest number of terminations […]
Covid deaths highest in a year as omicron targets the unvaccinated and elderly
Though considered milder than other coronavirus variants, omicron has infected so many people that it has driven the number of daily deaths beyond where it was last spring, before vaccines were widely available, according to Washington Post data. Omicron has been particularly lethal to people over 75, the unvaccinated and the medically vulnerable, according to […]
Epidemiologists warn impacts of omicron could linger ‘if you declare victory too quickly’
Official case counts are dropping. COVID levels in Boston-area wastewater are down dramatically. The omicron wave — in terms of new cases — appears to have peaked in Massachusetts. And experts say hospitalizations are likely nearing or at their peak, too. But some epidemiologists are urging caution and pointing out that cases remain far above […]
Michigan hospital officials cite first signs of early progress since COVID omicron surge
DETROIT – For the first time since the start of the COVID omicron surge in Michigan, hospital officials with the Henry Ford Health System said they’re starting to see some signs of early progress. “These trends are aligning and pointing in the right direction,” said Bob Riney, president of health care operations and COO at Henry Ford Health. Tide turning […]
White House announces website to order free COVID-19 tests starting Jan.19
Americans will be able to order free at-home rapid COVID-19 tests online starting Jan. 19, the White House said Friday. The move makes available the 500 million rapid tests President Biden said his administration purchased last month. There are some important limitations, though. Each residential address will be limited to four tests. The tests are […]
Supreme Court halts COVID-19 vaccine rule for US businesses
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has stopped the Biden administration from enforcing a requirement that employees at large businesses be vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing and wear a mask on the job. At the same time, the court is allowing the administration to proceed with a vaccine mandate for most health care […]
Erie County mask mandate for all indoor, public locations takes effect
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — On Monday afternoon, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz announced that a mask mandate will take effect Tuesday. Effective at 6 a.m., masks must be worn in all public, indoor facilities. This does not apply to facilities with a 100 percent COVID-19 vaccination requirement for entry. This new policy is in response […]
Nearly 40% of California state workers are unvaccinated against COVID despite Newsom order
Oct. 15—The COVID-19 vaccination rate is lower among California state workers than among the state’s general population, according to data from the state Human Resources Department. Fewer than two-thirds of state workers — about 62% — were vaccinated as of Oct. 7, according to preliminary figures provided by department spokeswoman Camille Travis. That compares to […]
N.J. reports 37 COVID deaths, 1,255 cases. Transmission rate drops again
By Brent Johnson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com New Jersey on Tuesday reported another 1,255 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 37 more confirmed deaths, though both the state’s daily case average and rate of transmission continue to dip. The state’s seven-day average for newly confirmed positive tests dropped to 1,520, down 15% from a week ago and 11% […]
