- Wray publicly comments on the FBI’s position on COVID’s origins, adding political fire – NPR: FBI Director Christopher Wray has said that the FBI’s investigation suggests that COVID-19 originated from a potential lab incident in Wuhan, China. However, this assessment is not the consensus among intelligence and scientific communities. Wray also noted that the Chinese government has been trying to thwart and obfuscate the work on this matter.
- FBI director accuses China of trying to ‘thwart and obfuscate’ Covid origin probe – NBC News: FBI Director Chris Wray said that the Chinese government has been interfering with the US and other countries’ investigations into the origins of the coronavirus, which is believed to have originated from a potential lab incident in Wuhan.
- FBI director says China laboratory leak was likely COVID source – Al Jazeera: FBI Director Christopher Wray has stated that the FBI has assessed that the likely cause of the COVID-19 pandemic was a leak from a laboratory in Wuhan, China. This assessment is not shared by all US agencies, with some believing the pandemic was likely the result of natural transmission.
- What we know about the origin of covid-19, and what remains a mystery: In May 2021, President Biden asked intelligence agencies to investigate the origins of the virus, but they were unable to reach a consensus. Most favored the natural spillover theory, but some critics point out that investigators did not find any virus-infected animals that could have been the source of the outbreak. The report also raised questions about safety protocols at a Wuhan laboratory.
- Study shows COVID, flu dual vaccinations could impact case numbers – Denver7: A new study finds that getting both a COVID-19 and flu vaccine can reduce the risk of getting the flu. This is especially important in areas where flu cases remain high, such as New Mexico, Washington D.C., and New York City. Dr. Shay Xie, an assistant professor of public health at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida, co-authored the study.
- Covid-19 vaccination can curb the effect of long COVID on patients’ social, professional, and …: A study published in BMJ Medicine suggests that vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 may lessen the severity and duration of long COVID in those with persistent symptoms after infection, and may also help reduce its impact on social, professional, and family lives. UK figures suggest that around 1 in 10 of those infected with SARS-CoV-2 will develop long COVID, which is characterized by persistent fatigue, ‘brain fog’, headache, muscle and joint pains, and breathlessness.
- Covid Lab Leak Theory: Some Government Agencies Believe It—Here’s Why Most Scientists Don’t: Scientists and public health officials say the evidence points to Covid-19 naturally emerging from animals at a food market in China, while some politicians and government agencies continue to contend it was a leak from the Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory.
- Study shows benefits of getting vaccinated against both COVID and flu – Scripps News: A new study has found that getting both a COVID-19 and flu vaccination at the same time can reduce infections. This is evidenced by the low flu activity nationally, with the exceptions of New Mexico, Washington D.C., and New York City. Dr. Shay Xie of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville believes this is a way to protect the public in the future.
- UK Couple Jailed After Shocking Death Of Disabled Teen | Barron’s: Kaylea Titford, a disabled girl, died in 2020 due to the negligence of her parents. Her father, Alun Titford, was convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence and sentenced to seven years and six months in prison. Her mother, Sarah Lloyd-Jones, pleaded guilty to the same charge and was sentenced to six years in prison. The trial highlighted that social services had failed to check on Kaylea after she dropped out of school during the first coronavirus lockdown in March 2020.
- PEIA Legislation And COVID-19 Emergency Food Support Ending, This West Virginia Morning: The West Virginia Senate recently passed a bill making changes to the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) in order to address increasing health costs. At the same time, COVID-19 pandemic-era emergency allotments for food support are ending, leaving some struggling families without government assistance.
- California coronavirus updates: California is ending its COVID-19 state of emergency order today: Nearly 60 health facilities in California have been cited for violations of the federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate. This is the third highest number of deficiencies in the group, with Michigan having the most with 66 and Pennsylvania having 64. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued the mandate.
- 5 Takeaways From House GOP’s First Hearing on COVID-19 – The Daily Signal: Congressional investigations into COVID-19 have revealed that the vaccines were largely ineffective in preventing viral transmission from person to person, that the US was slow to respond to the pandemic, and that there was a lack of coordination between federal agencies. Additionally, it was revealed that there was a lack of funding for public health infrastructure and a lack of access to testing.
- House Dems signal opposition to declassifying info on COVID-19 origins | Fox News: House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar has indicated that Democrats will not support a bill to declassify information related to the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that such conversations are best left to the executive branch.
- What We Know About the U.S. Intelligence Community’s Split on COVID-19 Origins – TIME: The US Department of Energy has determined with a low level of confidence that COVID-19 most likely originated from a laboratory leak in China. This new determination has sparked questions about the US intelligence community’s investigation of the pandemic, which has killed an estimated 6.85 million people.
- Newsom rescinds California’s COVID-19 state of emergency – Los Angeles Times: California’s state of emergency due to COVID-19 will officially end on Tuesday, bringing a symbolic close to a difficult chapter in the state’s history. Governor Gavin Newsom declared the emergency three years ago, giving himself broad executive powers to protect Californians from the virus. With conditions improving, Newsom now believes California is ready to move forward.
- White House briefing on Covid-19, Murdaugh trial closing arguments & more| LiveNOW from FOX: The White House is holding a briefing on Covid-19, the Murdaugh trial closing arguments, and more. It is being streamed live on FOX, and has been running for 12 hours.
- Both Vail and Alterra were sued over COVID-19. Who won and who lost? – Burlington Free Press: Two lawsuits were brought against ski resort owners Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Company by season pass holders seeking refunds after the 2019-2020 ski season was cut short due to COVID-19. The lawsuit against Vail Resorts was dismissed, while the lawsuit against Alterra resulted in a $17.5 million settlement in favor of the skiers.
- EMS Workers Punished for Media Interviews in NYC Settle Suit – USNews.com: Four New York City ambulance workers who were disciplined for speaking to the media during the COVID-19 pandemic have reached a settlement in their free speech lawsuit against the fire department and the city. Each worker will receive $29,999 and the city will expunge any claim that they violated department rules by communicating with the media.
- NY COVID vaccine mandate for health workers in effect amid court battle – Lohud: A state appeals court issued a stay Monday that will keep New York’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health workers in place while the court battle continues. The mandate bans religious exemptions but allows rare exceptions for medical or other reasons. Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration appealed a ruling that declared the mandate null and void.
- Employee Sues 3M for Alleged Discrimination Over COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate – Law.com: A former client success executive is suing 3M for alleged employment discrimination after they terminated her for requesting a religious accommodation from their COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The case is 1:23-cv-00856, Holland v. 3M Company.
- EEOC Reminds Employers How to Handle Applicants and Employees With Hearing Disabilities: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a lasting impact on our society, particularly in the prevalence of remote or hybrid workplaces. This has created a new path to success for millions of disabled workers, as evidenced by a recent study which concluded that remote work and a tight labor market have resulted in the highest employment rate for people with disabilities in over a decade.
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.
