A number of states have announced they are no longer operating in crisis mode to manage COVID-19 as cases nationwide continue to fall.
Category: Public Health
‘The Danger Is Still There’ ― As Omicron Lurks, Native Americans Are Wary of Boosters
Federal data shows that vaccination rates for American Indians and Alaska Natives were some of the highest in the nation, but tribes say resistance has slowed efforts to boost members.
Pandemic Funding Is Running Out for Community Health Workers
Illinois used federal pandemic money to hire community health workers who connect people with food banks and rental assistance programs, just like public health officials have long hoped to do. What will happen to the community trust that has been built up when the federal money runs out and the workers disappear?
Viewpoint: The US is more vulnerable to COVID-19 now than ever
As it stands, the nation’s healthcare infrastructure is not equipped to withstand routine bouts of COVID-19 surges, Megan Ranney, MD, wrote in a March 28 opinion piece published in The Washington Post.
Experts question vaccine site closures amid BA.2 threat
State and local officials are scaling back public health efforts and closing vaccination sites amid a national lull in COVID-19 activity and low demand for the services, a move some health experts say may be premature amid the omicron subvariant BA.2’s…
White House shifts focus to air quality amid COVID-19
The White House has adjusted its COVID-19 prevention messaging to emphasize the role of indoor air quality, a move many experts say was long overdue, The Washington Post reported March 29.
As Red States Push Strident Abortion Bans, Other Restrictions Suddenly Look Less Extreme
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority has yet to make clear its stand on Roe v. Wade. But state lawmakers aren’t waiting to consider a variety of extreme measures: bills that would ban abortions in cases of ectopic pregnancies, allow rapists’ families to object to terminating a victim’s pregnancy, or prohibit the procedure in the case of fetal disability. Do these proposals make the less extreme restrictions seem more mainstream?
Covid and Schizophrenia: Why This Deadly Mix Can Deepen Knowledge of the Brain Disease
Recent studies from around the world have found that people with schizophrenia are as much as five times as likely to die from covid-19 as the general population. Scientists think the findings suggest schizophrenia is not just a disease of the brain, but also a disease of the immune system.
Omicron subvariant now dominant in US: 3 COVID-19 updates
The BA.2 omicron subvariant accounts for about 55 percent of new cases in the U.S., according to the CDC’s latest estimates for the week ending March 26.
WHO probes rare reports of hearing issues after COVID-19 vaccination
The World Health Organization is examining rare reports of hearing loss and other auditory issues like tinnitus, or ringing of the ears, after COVID-19 vaccinations, NBC News reported March 28.
