- Gambling hub Macau drops COVID mask mandate for most locations – Reuters: Macau has dropped its COVID-19 related mask requirements for most locations, except for public transportation, hospitals and a few other areas. The rule change takes effect from Monday. Hong Kong has extended its mask mandate.
- Woody Harrelson’s ‘SNL’ Monologue Made COVID Conspiracy Jokes – Variety: Woody Harrelson is facing criticism for referencing his controversial stance on vaccination and the COVID-19 pandemic in his opening monologue of the Feb. 25 episode of “Saturday Night Live”. He was telling a story about a movie script where the biggest drug cartels in the world buy up all the media and politicians to force people to stay locked in their homes.
- Is Remdesivir Effective Against New COVID-19 Variants? – Contagion Live: In an interview with Mark Thrun, MD, an infectious disease specialist and lead investigator of several remdesivir studies, he acknowledged that the SARS-CoV-2 virus mutates quickly, especially at sites where it attaches to cells in the body. He believes that remdesivir can remain effective against new and emerging variants, as it has been shown to be effective against other coronaviruses.
- THE OTHER SIDE: COVID in the closet – The Berkshire Edge: Many Americans are acting as if the COVID-19 pandemic is over, despite the fact that it is still a public health emergency. People are not wearing masks indoors, not practicing social distancing, and not improving indoor ventilation. This lack of caution is leading to more cases of COVID-19 and Long COVID, with victims largely without public support.
- State Center site for COVID-19 testing, vaccines closes: The State Center COVID-19 testing and vaccination site in Baltimore City shut down on Saturday. This closure comes as Maryland sees COVID-19 metrics trend in a more positive direction. The site had been open for 16 months and was a joint venture of the Maryland Department of Health.
- FDA authorizes first at-home test that can detect both flu and Covid-19 | Health Watch: The US FDA has authorized the first at-home test that can tell users if they have the flu or Covid-19. The test uses a single self-collected nasal swab and can provide results in about half an hour. It is authorized for anyone 14 and older, or an adult can give it to a child 2 or older.
- Researchers, providers seek answers on long COVID | WV News | wvnews.com: In the three years since COVID-19 became a household name, the US has seen over 103 million cases and 1.1 million deaths. For some, long COVID symptoms linger after the initial illness, making it difficult for facilities to track local prevalence. Dr. Mark Povroznik of WVU Medicine United Hospital notes that this is due to the wide range of symptoms and multitude of physicians treating these patients.
- Atlanta doctor honored as a ‘Health Care Hero’ for work during COVID-19 – 11Alive: Yes, notifications can be turned off in the browser settings.
- Long Covid disabled them. Then they met a ‘broken’ Social Security disability process: Michaelene Carlton, 49, has been trying to contact her Social Security Disability Insurance case manager since late December. She has had long-term Covid-19 symptoms since March 2020 and is one of up to 23 million Americans estimated to be living with post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 infection. She still hasn’t heard back from her case manager.
- Hoeven wants HHS Sec. Becerra to end Covid-19 vaccine, mask mandates – KFGO: North Dakota Senator John Hoeven has called on Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to end Covid-19 mandates, which he believes are hurting rural hospitals and care facilities. He is also pushing for the federal government to end vaccine and mask mandates for Head Start teachers and volunteers.
- FDA authorizes the first at-home test for COVID-19 and the flu – WUSF News: The FDA has approved the first at-home test that can detect both COVID-19 and the flu. It requires a shallow nasal swab and can provide results within 30 minutes. People 14 and older can generally perform the test on themselves, while those between 2 and 13 need help from an adult. The approval is seen as a major milestone in increasing access to at-home testing.
- Public Health Update: COVID-19 Still Stable; New Information on Long COVID: LA County’s move into what is now being referred to as “long COVID” has been solidified this week, with stable cases, hospitalizations, and death rates.
- Long Covid more than doubles risk of heart complications: Study | Health – Hindustan Times: Clinicians should be aware of the potential for cardiac complications in patients who have had COVID-19, even long after they have contracted it. Patients should seek medical attention if they experience difficulty breathing or any kind of new heart problems. The long-term cardiovascular impact of COVID-19 is associated with increased risks of cerebrovascular diseases and arrhythmia related disorders.
- Plaintiffs outline constitutional challenge to law used during COVID-19 emergency in the Yukon: A legal challenge has been filed against the Yukon’s Civil Emergency Measures Act (CEMA), claiming that it is incompatible with Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The matter is set to proceed to a summary trial on March 16 and 17, and the plaintiffs claim that CEMA allows for unconstrained power by the government.
- Google Cook Allegedly Fired in COVID Vax Spat Seeks at Least $5 Million – MyNewsLA.com: Maurice Hall, a former cook for Google North America Inc., is suing the company for religious discrimination after they allegedly changed course and fired him in 2022 for not getting the COVID-19 vaccine. He is seeking at least $5 million in compensatory damages, plus punitive damages.
- ‘South Park’ at center of Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount lawsuit – FOX 7 Austin: Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. is suing Paramount Global for airing new episodes of the popular animated comedy series “South Park” after Warner paid for exclusive rights. Warner claims they signed a contract in 2019 paying more than $500 million for the rights to existing and new episodes of the show, but production was halted due to the pandemic.
Daily News Pulse for March 13, 2023
Summary: Princeton students have seen an overall improvement in course satisfaction since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Japan, many people are still wearing masks despite the government’s easing of guidelines.
