California coronavirus updates: US reaches deal with Moderna for omicron vaccine

12:20 p.m.: US reaches deal with Moderna for omicron vaccine

The Biden administration says it has reached an settlement with Moderna to purchase 66 million doses of the corporate’s subsequent technology of COVID-19 vaccine focusing on the extremely transmissible omicron variant.

The administration says that’s sufficient for winter for all who need the upgraded booster, as reported by the Associated Press.

Friday’s announcement follows phrase final month that the federal authorities has secured 105 million doses of an identical vaccine from rival drugmaker Pfizer.

Both orders are scheduled for supply within the fall and winter, assuming regulators log out.

The omicron pressure has been dominant within the U.S. since December, with the BA.5 subvariant inflicting a large wave of infections, even infecting President Joe Biden.

12:02 p.m.: San Francisco requires mask-wearing on BART system

The commuter prepare system servicing the San Francisco Bay Area is once more requiring masks for vacationers and staff.

As reported by the Associated Press, the Bay Area Rapid Transit’s board of administrators lately voted to instantly reinstate the masks mandate on all trains and in stations past ticket gates.

The new ruling runs via Oct. 1 except it’s prolonged once more. The earlier masks mandate began in April and ended on July 18. For 10 days, masking was elective however extremely inspired.

The BART board’s vote got here hours after Los Angeles County public well being officers dropped a plan to impose a common indoor masks mandate this week as COVID-19 infections and charges of hospitalizations have been stabilized.

11:29 a.m.: Los Angeles County won’t return to universal indoor mask mandate

Los Angeles County has dropped a plan to impose a common indoor masks mandate this week as COVID-19 infections and charges of hospitalizations have stabilized.

Health director Barbara Ferrer introduced two weeks in the past that the nation’s most populous county might once more require face coverings if tendencies in hospital admissions continued underneath standards set by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

However, in line with the Associated Press, she mentioned the county managed to dodge imposition of the broad masks rule.

Ferrer mentioned the county has skilled a “fairly steady decline in cases since July 23, potentially signaling the beginning of a downward trend in cases.”

5:13 p.m.: Yolo County launches COVID-19 test vending machine program

Need a speedy COVID-19 take a look at at midnight and might’t discover one in a pharmacy? If you’re in Yolo County, now you can verify a 24/7 neighborhood merchandising machine. 

The county is piloting a brand new merchandising machine program, establishing machines in entrance of frequented neighborhood places. They will probably be persistently restocked with assessments that may be accessed without charge. 

Two machines have been arrange final week at West Sacramento’s City Hall and the Esparto Regional Library. Yolo County Health Officer Dr. Aimee Sisson says two extra are coming subsequent week, to the Winters City Hall and the Mary L. Stephens Library in Davis. 

Another machine will probably be positioned in Woodland, although the precise location is to be decided. 

“The future really is home antigen tests,” Sisson mentioned. “You can do it in the comfort of your own home 24/7 without an appointment and you can get a result in 15 minutes.” 

Home antigen assessments and high-quality masks (KF94, N95 and KN95) are additionally out there by request and for free at Yolo County libraries, she added. 

Because the outcomes of at-home assessments aren’t at all times reported and the Healthy Yolo Together testing program, which offered free COVID-19 testing at various places within the county, sunsetted on June 30, Sisson says the county is shifting towards utilizing wastewater knowledge to guage COVID-19 ranges locally. 

“You can’t hide disease from the wastewater because everybody who’s connected to the sewer system is submitting a specimen every day,” she mentioned.

For these in Yolo, Merced or Stanislaus counties interested in wastewater numbers, she pointed to the Healthy Central Valley Together wastewater monitoring dashboard. Or, for a broader take a look at wastewater knowledge all through the state, Sisson urged trying on the location compare dashboard. It has knowledge from the sewer coronavirus alert community developed by researchers at Stanford and Emory universities in conjunction with Verily Life Sciences LLC.

That community accommodates knowledge from wastewater monitoring vegetation in Sacramento, Davis and the Bay Area.

12:09 a.m.: San Francisco state Senator wants to declare monkeypox a public health crisis

San Francisco state Senator Scott Wiener is asking to declare monkeypox a public well being disaster to enact a state of emergency.

Wiener says the state of emergency declaration will give California flexibility round testing, contracting for companies and administering vaccines. He blamed the federal authorities for the gradual response in buying vaccines to forestall an outbreak.

Wiener additionally mentioned that provided that homosexual and bisexual males and trans persons are probably the most impacted, it is “clear we are being left behind once again.”

There are greater than 600 confirmed monkeypox instances in California, with San Francisco and Los Angeles County accounting for greater than two-thirds. At the time of this reporting, Sacramento has reported 29 instances.

Last week, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon introduced he has despatched a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra asking the previous California Congressman and state Attorney General to declare a nationwide state of emergency.

11:42 a.m.: COVID-19 pandemic has set back global efforts to end HIV/AIDS

Hard-won progress in opposition to HIV has stalled, placing hundreds of thousands of lives in danger — that’s in line with an alarming report Wednesday on how the collision with the COVID-19 pandemic and different world crises set again efforts to finish AIDS.

According to the Associated Press, declines in new infections are leveling off, however instances are rising in some spots.

COVID-19 disrupted HIV care and widened inequalities, leaving weak folks at extra danger.

Experts are calling for quick efforts to start out getting again on monitor. The report from UNAIDS was launched on the International AIDS Conference in Montreal.

12:39 a.m.: Studies bolster theory that COVID-19 originated in live animal market in Wuhan, China

Two new research present extra proof that the coronavirus pandemic originated in a Wuhan, China market the place stay animals have been bought.

According to the Associated Press, this additional bolsters the idea that the virus emerged from the wild moderately than escaping a Chinese lab.

The analysis was revealed on-line Tuesday by the journal Science.

It reveals that the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market was doubtless the early epicenter of the scourge that has now killed almost 6.4 million folks around the globe.

Scientists additionally concluded that the virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, doubtless spilled from animals into folks two separate occasions.

11:26 a.m.: U.S. signs off on buying 800,000 more monkeypox vaccines

Health regulators say almost 800,000 doses of monkeypox vaccine will quickly be out there for U.S. distribution.

The Wednesday announcement follows weeks of delays and rising criticism that authorities have been too gradual in deploying these photographs, in line with the Associated Press.

The Food and Drug Administration wanted to examine and certify the requirements of a Danish manufacturing plant the place the doses are manufactured. The company mentioned two weeks in the past that the inspection had been accomplished, however the last go-ahead got here Wednesday.

U.S. well being officers say they may announce allocation plans on Thursday.

Health departments in San Francisco and different main cities say they nonetheless don’t have sufficient photographs to fulfill demand.

10:44 a.m.: President Biden comes out of isolation and tells everyone to get vaccinated

President Joe Biden has emerged from 5 days of isolation after contracting the coronavirus, telling Americans that “COVID isn’t gone” however saying critical sickness might be prevented with vaccines, booster photographs and coverings.

As reported by the Associated Press, Biden spoke after testing destructive for the virus Tuesday night time and once more Wednesday morning.

Biden’s doctor, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, says the president has accomplished his course of therapy with the drug Paxlovid and stays freed from fever.

O’Conner says that given these elements and the pair of destructive assessments, Biden will discontinue his “strict isolation” measures. The 79-year-old president examined optimistic final week and had gentle signs.

11:40 a.m.: New COVID-19 boosters may be available in the fall

The Biden administration might scrap plans to let extra youthful adults get second COVID-19 boosters this summer season.

Instead, officers try to hurry up the supply of the subsequent technology of boosters within the fall, NPR has discovered.

The new technique is aimed toward making an attempt to steadiness defending folks this summer season with retaining folks protected subsequent winter when the nation will in all probability get hit by one more surge.

But the potential shift is being met with blended reactions. The Food and Drug Administration might make a last resolution by the top of the week.

11:11 a.m.: Families and caregivers brace themselves for another school year amid COVID-19

COVID-19 infections are once more on the rise and filling households with dread as a brand new college 12 months approaches.

The Associated Press says mother and father and caregivers worry the return of the pandemic scourge of outbreaks that sideline massive numbers of academics, shut college buildings, and pressure college students again into distant studying.

Some college methods across the nation have moved to bolster staffing to attenuate disruptions. However, many districts are hoping for the perfect with out doing a lot else in another way in contrast with final 12 months.

Even a few of the districts that had probably the most disruptions to in-person education amid the unfold of the extremely contagious omicron variant level to some particular modifications of their prevention efforts.

10:49 a.m.: Micronesia becomes last nation with population over 100,000 to undergo a COVID-19 outbreak

Micronesia’s first outbreak of COVID-19 has grown in a single week to greater than 1,000 instances and is inflicting alarm within the Pacific island nation.

According to the Associated Press, Micronesia doubtless turned the ultimate nation on the earth with a inhabitants of greater than 100,000 to expertise an outbreak of the illness.

Micronesia had largely prevented the virus for two-and-a-half years due to its geographic isolation and border controls.

Health officers mentioned instances have been quickly growing. It’s reported that there’s been 140 new instances on Monday, bringing the full to 1,261, a determine which incorporates some border instances from earlier than the outbreak.

11:05 a.m.: WHO declares monkeypox a global emergency

The chief of the World Health Organization says the increasing monkeypox outbreak in additional than 70 international locations is an “extraordinary” scenario that qualifies as a worldwide emergency.

The head of the U.N. well being company determined to challenge the declaration Saturday after WHO’s skilled committee didn’t attain a consensus.

Monkeypox has been established in components of central and west Africa for many years. It wasn’t identified to spark massive outbreaks or unfold broadly amongst folks till May.

As reported by the Associated Press, that’s when authorities detected epidemics in Europe, North America and extra. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, greater than 16,000 instances of monkeypox have been reported in 74 international locations.

10:56 a.m.: Biden still suffering from sore throat caused by COVID-19

President Joe Biden’s doctor, Dr. Kevin O’Conner, says Biden continues to “improve significantly” regardless of a lingering sore throat, as reported by the Associated Press.

Biden examined optimistic for the virus on Thursday, and he’s been taking the antiviral drug Paxlovid. The White House COVID-19 coordinator, Dr. Ashisha Jha, says Biden is feeling “much, much better,” and “thank goodness our vaccines and therapeutics work well against it.”

Officials have emphasised that Biden’s signs are gentle as a result of he obtained 4 vaccine doses and had began taking Paxlovid.

O’conner mentioned the president doubtless turned contaminated with a extremely contagious variant referred to as BA.5 that’s spreading all through the nation. Jha confirmed it on Sunday.

10:38 a.m.: North Korea relies on herbal medicines to fight COVID-19

North Korea has lately reported fewer than 200 day by day fever instances amid its first home COVID-19 outbreak and says its conventional Koryo natural medicines are enjoying a key position in curing sufferers.

According to the Associated Press, outdoors specialists say North Korea’s emphasis on the position of Koryo medicines means it’s going to doubtless declare that it’s overcoming the outbreak by itself with out worldwide assist.

Observers say North Korea is mobilizing Koryo medication as a result of it lacks trendy medication to deal with COVID-19 diseases. They say conventional medicines might successfully deal with fevers and minor signs, however not critical diseases.

11:07 a.m.: Here’s what we know about Biden’s COVID-19 infection

President Joe Biden is reporting a runny nostril, fatigue and an occasional dry cough from his COVID-19 an infection.

According to the Associated Press, Biden examined optimistic Thursday on the White House, and he’s been taking Paxlovid, an antiviral tablet that’s been proven to scale back the possibilities of extreme illness.

His an infection was detected first with an antigen take a look at, the identical kind that many Americans use at house. His an infection was later confirmed with a PCR take a look at.

Biden felt drained Wednesday night and didn’t sleep effectively.

The president is totally vaccinated and twice boosted. The White House says the president will work in isolation till he assessments destructive.

10:57 a.m.: Oregon encourages a return to masking in 21 counties

Oregon well being officers are urging folks in 21 counties with excessive COVID-19 instances, together with three Portland-area counties, to return to mask-wearing as a result of the hospital system is once more underneath excessive pressure.

The Oregonian/OregonStay stories whereas COVID-19 hospitalizations are decrease than in previous surges, workers shortages, sufferers who delayed care and elevated COVID-19 infections have considerably diminished hospital methods’ capability to care for sufferers.

Oregon Health Authority epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger suggests folks rethink summer season plans to guard themselves and others throughout what he known as “this extremely challenging time.”

He says Central Oregon hospitals have been significantly hard-hit however that no a part of the state has been spared.

5:10 p.m.: Top California lawmaker calls U.S. monkeypox response ‘maddeningly slow’ despite two years of COVID 

1:13 p.m.: Sacramento City Council meetings going back to in-person

The Sacramento City Council is headed again to City Hall chambers after holding digital conferences all pandemic lengthy.

The metropolis has argued for months it ought to proceed with digital conferences whereas underneath a state of emergency. They mentioned it’s an effort to maintain probably the most weak protected whereas bodily distancing remains to be really useful.

But after two years of video conferences, the council goes again to the dais on Aug. 9.

The following week, residents will have the ability to attend conferences in individual, however the chambers will solely be half-full. People will even must put on a masks and sit one seat aside from one another.

11:53 a.m.: Southern California man sentenced for pandemic PPP fraud

A Southern California man who tried to acquire $27 million in unemployment advantages by falsely claiming his enterprise was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic has been sentenced to greater than 11 years in federal jail.

The Associated Press stories that Robert Benlevi submitted 27 functions for forgivable loans underneath the Paycheck Protection Program.

Benlevi made functions to 4 banks on behalf of the eight corporations he owned. He claimed that every firm had 100 staff when in truth, they’d none.

Authorities say Benlevi sought $27 million and obtained $3 million.

11:40 a.m.: FDA approves Novavax, a ‘traditional’ vaccine option for COVID-19

Health officers say U.S. adults who haven’t gotten any COVID-19 photographs but ought to contemplate a brand new choice from Novavax.

According to the Associated Press, the protein-based shot is a extra conventional form of vaccine than the three mRNA manufacturers out there within the U.S.

Federal regulators approved the two-dose vaccine final week for adults. Recently advisers for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unanimously really useful the choice on Tuesday and the company agreed.

The firm hopes to additionally clear booster doses and teenage use pretty quickly.

11:55 a.m.: Dr. Fauci plans to retire by 2025

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal government’s prime infectious illness skilled, says he plans to retire by the top of President Joe Biden’s time period in January 2025, as reported by the Associated Press.

Fauci, 81, turned director for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 1984 and has suggested seven presidents.

Fauci mentioned on CNN Monday that he doesn’t have a particular retirement date in thoughts and hasn’t began the method.

He was thrust into the nationwide highlight on the top of the coronavirus pandemic underneath then-President Donald Trump, who urged the pandemic would “fade away,” promoted unproven therapy strategies and vilified scientists who countered him.

11:24 a.m.: Scars of COVID persist for sickest survivors, their families

While greater than 1 million folks within the United States died of COVID-19, many extra survived ICU stays which have left them with anxiousness, PTSD, and a bunch of well being points, the Associated Press reports.

Research has proven that intensive remedy beginning within the ICU will help, nevertheless it was typically exhausting to supply as hospitals teemed with sufferers.

Families discover themselves in a tricky place because the world strikes on and masks mandates disappear. The COVID-19 pandemic just isn’t gone for them and it might by no means be. Those that survived are left dealing with long-term penalties.

11:32 a.m.: Ballot boxes used during COVID-19 pandemic for 2020 election are safe, survey says

An Associated Press survey of state election officers throughout the U.S. discovered that the expanded use of drop containers for mailed allots through the 2020 election didn’t result in any widespread issues.

The survey revealed no instances of fraud, vandalism, or theft that might have affected the outcomes — opposite to false claims made by former President Donald Trump and his allies, who’ve intensely criticized their use and falsely claimed they opened the door to fraud.

Drop containers are thought of by election officers to be protected and safe. They turned a mainstay in states with intensive mail voting for years and had not beforehand rained any alarms.

They have been used broadly in 2020 as election officers sought to supply alternative routes to forged ballots with the COVID-19 outbreak, creating considerations about in-person voting and U.S. Postal Service delays.

Despite mail-in poll containers being almost universally agreed to be a protected voting technique, conspiracy theories and efforts by some Republicans to get rid of or prohibit them persist.

11 a.m.: The UK to offer a fourth booster dose to residents 50 and older

Everyone in Britain who’s 50 or older will probably be supplied a fourth dose of the coronavirus vaccine within the fall, reducing the age threshold from the beforehand introduced 65.

According to the Associated Press, the U.Okay.’s Department of Health mentioned it had accepted recommendation from the Union’s impartial vaccines adviser in regards to the autumn booster program.

Fourth doses will even be given to well being care staff, nursing house workers and residents, and everybody 5 and older with well being situations that make them extra weak to extreme sickness from COVID-19.

Outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson mentioned the booster marketing campaign would “keep our defenses strong over autumn and winter.”

The U.Okay. has one in every of Europe’s highest official loss of life tolls within the pandemic, with nearly 178,000 confirmed deaths.

11:41 a.m.: 25 million kids worldwide missed their immunizations due to misinformation surrounding COVID-19

About 25 million youngsters worldwide have missed out on routine immunizations in opposition to ailments like diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, largely as a result of the coronavirus pandemic disrupted common well being companies or triggered misinformation about vaccines.

According to the Associated Press, a brand new report revealed Friday by the World Health Organization and UNICEF mentioned their figures present that 25 million youngsters final 12 months did not get vaccinated in opposition to these three ailments, a marker for childhood immunization protection.

That continues a downward pattern in childhood immunizations that started in 2019.

UNICEF known as it “a red alert” for baby well being, warning that the dearth of vaccinations and the present rise in world malnutrition would lead to many lives misplaced.

11:35 a.m.: Canada approves Moderna vaccine for preschoolers

Canadian regulators have approved Moderna’s COVID-19 photographs for infants and preschoolers, in line with the Associated Press.

Health Canada mentioned the Moderna vaccine might be given to youngsters between the ages of 6 months and 5 years in doses one-quarter the scale of that authorized for adults.

U.S. regulators approved the primary COVID-19 photographs from Moderna and Pfizer for infants and preschoolers final month.

Pfizer’s pediatric COVID-19 vaccine for youngsters aged 6 months to five years was submitted to Health Canada final month and remains to be underneath evaluation.

3:38 p.m.: Los Angeles County may soon require masks

The nation’s most populous county is going through a return to a broad indoor masks mandate as new omicron variants are once more driving hospital admissions and deaths greater. 

Health officers say Los Angeles County, house to 10 million residents, might reinstate the mandate on July 29, the Associated Press stories. In current weeks, states and cities started to rethink their responses to COVID-19. And the White House is stepping up efforts to alert the general public. 

Some specialists say the warnings are too little, too late. The extremely transmissible variants have proven a outstanding capacity to get across the safety supplied by vaccination.

The extremely transmissible variants have proven a outstanding capacity to get across the safety supplied by an infection and vaccination — particularly as safety from vaccinations are warning for Americans overdue for booster photographs. 

Less than half of all eligible U.S. adults have gotten a single booster shot, and solely about 1 in 4 Americans age 50 and older who’re eligible for a second booster have obtained one. 

1:23 p.m.: You can reduce the time you wait between COVID-19 infection and a booster shot, Yolo County health officer says

With new, extremely contagious variants like BA.5 and the even newer BA.2.75, COVID-19 instances are growing. Hospitalizations in California are rising, however deaths stay low due to vaccines, remedies and therapeutics.

Dr. Aimee Sisson, the general public well being officer for Yolo County, mentioned she’s now encouraging folks to not wait as lengthy after an an infection to rise up thus far on their vaccination or booster photographs if they should.

“I used to encourage people to wait about 90 days after an infection before getting boosted because the infection itself can serve as a booster dose,” Sisson mentioned. “But I think, you know, now with the variants that we have that are escaping immunity, any additional boost that you can get from a vaccine in addition to the booster that you get from infection is important.”

Sisson mentioned you continue to want to attend at the least 10 days after an infection and never present signs equivalent to a fever earlier than getting a vaccine or booster shot.

11:04 a.m.: Food banks are seeing long lines again

Long traces are again at meals banks across the U.S. as working Americans overwhelmed by inflation more and more search out charity to feed their households.

As reported by the Associated Press, meals banks battle to assist at the same time as federal packages present much less meals, grocery retailer donations wane and money gits don’t go almost as far whereas U.S. inflation hits a 40-year excessive. 

Charitable meals distribution has remained far above quantities given away earlier than the coronavirus pandemic, though demand tapered off considerably late final 12 months.

11 a.m.: Officials look to expand monkeypox vaccine access as outbreak continues

While COVID-19 continues to unfold, one other virus outbreak is on the rise in California: Monkeypox.

There are over 140 potential and confirmed instances of the virus within the state California as of this week. At least 10 potential instances have been reported in Sacramento County, according to KCRA.

The Biden administration introduced final week that just about 300,000 doses of the vaccine would turn into out there nationwide all through the nation within the upcoming weeks to handle an ongoing vaccine scarcity.

Currently, the vaccine is just out there now for those that have had suspected or confirmed publicity to monkeypox.

In Sacramento County, it’s additionally being supplied to males who’ve intercourse with different males and trans folks in the event that they match particular standards. County well being officers mentioned these occupied with getting the vaccine ought to verify with their healthcare supplier or contact the Sacramento County Public Health Immunization Assistance Program at (916) 875-7468 to schedule an appointment.

Tuesday, July 12

11:34 a.m.: White House urges caution on latest COVID-19 variants and is pushing for more booster shots

The Biden Administration is asking on folks to train renewed warning about COVID-19, emphasizing the significance of getting booster photographs for those that are eligible and carrying masks indoors.

According to the Associated Press, the warning comes as two new extremely transmissible variants are spreading quickly throughout the nation.

The new variants, labeled BA.4 and BA.5, are offshoots of the omicron pressure that has been accountable for almost the entire virus unfold within the U.S. and are much more contagious than their predecessors.

White House medical doctors pressed the significance of getting booster doses and mentioned folks shouldn’t wait till the autumn when vaccines focused on the variants along with the unique strains.

11:06 a.m.: European Union urges another booster for people ages 60 to 79

The European Union says it’s “critical” that authorities within the 27-nation bloc contemplate giving second coronavirus booster photographs to folks between the ages of 60 to 79 years and different weak folks.

As reported by the Associated Press, a brand new wave of the pandemic is sweeping throughout Europe.

European Commissioner Stella Kyriakides mentioned in an announcement that with instances rising in many countries, “there is no time to lose.”

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control and European Medicines Agency mentioned that the second booster might be given at the least 4 months after the primary booster.

The current recommendation comes after the businesses in April really useful that folks over 80 years of age be thought of for a second booster.

10:48 a.m.: London’s Heathrow will limit daily passengers amid travel boom

London’s Heathrow Airport is capping day by day passenger numbers for the summer season and telling airways to cease promoting tickets because it steps up efforts to quell journey chaos brought on by hovering journey demand and workers shortages.

According to the Associated Press, Britain’s busiest airport mentioned that it’s setting a restrict of 100,000 passengers that it could possibly deal with every day via Sept. 11.

The restriction is prone to lead to extra canceled flights even after airways have already slashed hundreds of flights from their summer season schedules.

Booming demand for summer season journey after two years of COVID-19 journey restrictions have overwhelmed European airways and airports that had laid off tens of hundreds of workers amid the depths of the pandemic.

11:02 a.m.: New coronavirus mutation is causing concerns among scientists

The shortly altering coronavirus has spawned one more tremendous contagious omicron mutant that’s worrying scientists because it beneficial properties floor in India and pops up in quite a few different international locations, together with the U.S.

Scientists say the variant, which is named BA.2.75, could possibly unfold quickly and get round immunity from vaccines and former an infection, in line with the Associated Press.

It’s nonetheless unclear whether or not it might trigger extra critical illness than the globally dominate omicron variant BA.5.

Scientists are involved about the truth that this new variant is geographically widespread — it’s already been detected in India in addition to about 10 different nations.

10:32 a.m.: Weddings derailed by pandemic got to celebrate their union at a ‘re-wedding’ event in New York

Hundreds of {couples} whose weddings have been derailed or scaled again as a result of COVD-19 pandemic bought a do-over due to a New York City landmark.

According to the Associated Press, the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts in New York City hosted “Celebrate Love: A (Re)Wedding” on Sunday within the pavilion outdoors the middle.

Lincoln Center’s web site known as it “a special day for newlyweds, those whose weddings were canceled or diminished and people who want to recommit their love to their partners and the city we love.”

The occasion featured a multicultural ceremony, music, dancing and extra. The web site notes that the ceremony just isn’t legally binding.

10:05 a.m.: Baby formula production once again resumes at the troubled Abbott Nutrition factory

Abbott Nutrition says child system manufacturing has resumed on the Michigan plant, whose February shutdown over contamination contributed to a nationwide scarcity.

As reported by the Associated Press, harm from extreme thunderstorms had halted the Sturgis plant operations in mid-June after simply two weeks of renewed manufacturing. Abbott says EleCare, a specialty system, is being made at Sturgis following a July 1 reboot and that Similac manufacturing will resume as quickly as potential.

Abbott is only one of 4 corporations that produce 90% of U.S. child system.

Its recall in February of a number of main rands squeezed provides already strained by provide chain disruptions and stockpiling throughout COVID-19 shutdowns.

10:38 a.m.: Biden awards Medal of Freedom to first nurse in the US to receive coronavirus vaccine

President Joe Biden has introduced the nation’s highest civilian honor to 17 folks, together with gymnast Simone Biles and the late Arizona Republican Sen. Jon McCain.

The president who took workplace through the coronavirus pandemic additionally honored Sandra Lindsay, the New York nurse who obtained the primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine that was administered within the U.S. outdoors of medical trials.

Others receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom embody gun security advocate Gabrielle Giffords, U.S. girls’s nationwide soccer crew participant Megan Rapinoe and late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

10:30 a.m.: Uruguay pauses vaccinations for children under 13

Uruguay has stopped administering coronavirus vaccines to youngsters underneath age 13, the Associated Press stories.

The halt started after a decide ordered on Thursday that each one inoculations in that age group halt till officers current paperwork regarding contracts signed with vaccine producers.

The authorities says it’ll attire the ruling, characterizing the stoppage as a menace to public well being.

Vaccination for youngsters underneath 13 in Uruguay has been on a voluntary foundation. The Health Ministry says vaccinations for these older than 13 will proceed.

10:16 a.m.: Beijing residents push back against vaccine mandate

Beijing, China’s capital, seems to be backing off a vaccine mandate it introduced simply two days in the past.

According to the Associated Press, the mandate would require vaccinations for entry into sure public areas, together with gyms, museums and libraries, beginning subsequent week. It drew intense dialogue as metropolis residents fearful how the sudden coverage announcement would disrupt their lives.

While not explicitly saying the federal government had dropped the plan, a metropolis official was quoted in state media late Thursday saying that folks might enter venues with a destructive virus take a look at end result and a temperature verify, as has been the norm.

They additionally mentioned vaccinations would proceed on the precept of knowledgeable, voluntary consent.

10:41 a.m.: Pharmacists can now prescribe COVID-19 pill to patients

U.S. pharmacists can now prescribe the main COVID-19 tablet on to customers, in line with the Associated Press.

The Food and Drug Administration mentioned Wednesday that pharmacists can start screening sufferers to see if they’re eligible after which prescribe Pfizer’s drug Paxlovid.

Previously solely medical doctors might prescribe it. Paxlovid has been proven to curb the worst results of COVID-19, nevertheless it must be began inside 5 days of signs.

Paxlovid is meant for folks with COVID-19 who usually tend to turn into significantly ailing, together with older folks and people with well being situations.

10:19 a.m.: The Sacramento Food Bank’s two Oak Park locations are closing

The Sacramento Food Bank is closing its two Oak Park services to consolidate companies at its North Sacramento Location.

The closures got here with little warning to the neighborhood it’s served for 50 years. Residents have been outraged on social media and have been left confused by the choice.

The group’s Family Services constructing had grownup schooling, clothes packages and offered authorized help for immigrants.

In response, the meals financial institution’s president and CEO, Blake Young, answered a couple of questions in regards to the closure at a current public assembly.

“We’re lucky in that we can provide some of those other family services,” they mentioned. “But with the pandemic, with inflation, with where we saw the demand for food resources in our own county going, we needed to focus on that.”

He mentioned numerous companies supplied at Oak Park places had been suspended due to the pandemic. Since then, the meals financial institution has leaned on different neighborhood organizations to assist.

9:52 a.m.: Canada is throwing out 13.6 AstraZeneca vaccine doses

Canada goes to throw out about 13.6 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines as a result of it couldn’t discover any takers for it both at house or overseas.

According to the Associated Press, Canada signed a contract with AstraZeneca in 2020 to get 20 million doses, and a couple of.3 million Canadians obtained at the least one dose of it, principally between March and June 2021.

Following considerations within the spring of 2021 about uncommon however doubtlessly deadly blood clots from AstraZeneca, Canada as a substitute targeted on utilizing its ample provides of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

In July 2021, the nation promised to donate the remainder of its procured provide, about 17.7 million doses, however in an announcement on Tuesday, Health Canada mentioned that regardless of efforts to fulfill the pledge, 13.6 million doses have expired and can must be thrown out.

10:56 a.m.: COVID-19 vaccine requirement dropped for Nevada university employees

The Nevada Board of Regents will now not require workers on the state’s public universities and schools to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

According to the Associated Press, a majority of the regents for the Nevada System of Higher Education voted Thursday to rescind an worker vaccine mandate after it was first authorized final 12 months.

Regents met on the difficulty in December however couldn’t come to a majority vote.

Hundreds of staff statewide ended up quitting or dropping their job as a result of they might not get vaccinated. It was not instantly clear if these staff could be supplied their jobs again.

According to the regents, roughly 97% of twenty-two,000 present system staff have gotten vaccinated.

10:40 a.m.: CDC urges counties in high-risk areas to start masking again. Sacramento County is on this list.

People in 24 Oregon counties, 15 counties in Washington and over 30 counties in California ought to resume mask-wearing indoors in public and on public transportation, in line with suggestions from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Data from the CDC reveals that these aforementioned counties are thought of at excessive danger for COVID-19 an infection as of June 30, the Associated Press reports.

California counties labeled as excessive danger embody: Sacramento, Yolo, Placer, El Dorado and the remainder of the encircling space.

High danger means the counties have had 200 or extra new COVID-19 instances per 100,000 folks within the final seven days or greater than 20 new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 inside a seven-day interval.

Emerging analysis suggests reinfections might put folks at greater danger for well being issues.

Unvaccinated folks have a six occasions greater danger of dying from COVID-19 in contrast with folks with at the least a major collection of photographs, the CDC estimated based mostly on out there knowledge from April.

10:36 a.m.: Shanghai and Beijing are forced to undergo more COVID-19 testing

Residents in components of Shanghai and Beijing have been ordered to endure additional rounds of COVID-19 testing following the invention of latest instances within the two cities.

According to the Associated Press, eating places have additionally been restricted to takeout solely within the northern metropolis of Xi’an, which endured one in every of China’s most sweeping lockdowns underneath the hardline zero-COVID coverage.

The playing hub of Macao has additionally shut down one in every of its most well-known lodge casinos after instances have been found there.

The strict measures have been retained regardless of comparatively low numbers of instances, with mainland China reporting 353 instances of home transmission on Wednesday, 241 of them asymptomatic.

10:03 a.m.: About half of US adults would continue using virtual services

A brand new ballot reveals that about half of Americans would suppose it’s a “good thing” if digital choices proceed, as reported by the Associated Press.

Digital companies like train lessons, telehealth and so forth are all examples of companies that moved remotely through the pandemic.

However, a ballot from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that near half of U.S. adults say they received’t return to digital actions like having groceries delivered or use curbside pickup as soon as the pandemic ends.

9:56 a.m.: Monkeypox cases triple, worrying health officials

The World Health group’s European chief has warned that monkeypox instances throughout the area have tripled within the final two weeks and known as on international locations to take stronger measures to make sure the beforehand uncommon illness doesn’t turn into entrenched within the continent.

According to the Associated Press, in an announcement on Friday, Dr. Hans Kluge mentioned elevated efforts have been wanted regardless of the U.N. well being company’s resolution to not declare the escalating outbreak a worldwide well being emergency final week.

To date, greater than 5,000 monkeypox instances have been reported from 51 international locations worldwide, in line with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and prevention.

Kluge mentioned the variety of infections in Europe represents about 90% of the worldwide whole.

9:32 a.m.: Two people accused of $5 million in fraud from CARES Act loans

Two males have been indicted by a federal grand jury in New Hampshire on a number of fraud expenses alleging that they falsely utilized for $5 million in federal CARES Act loans for corporations and misused a few of the proceeds, together with one man’s buy of a Rolls Royce.

According to the Associated Press, court docket paperwork say each males have been based mostly in New Hampshire, however one later moved to Irvine, Calif.

Prosecutors allege that the 2 utilized for over two dozen loans in 2020 and in 2021, submitting fabricated tax paperwork.

The California man was arrested in Hawaii on Thursday.

It wasn’t instantly identified if he had an lawyer. The New Hampshire man was arrested, launched and faces a listening to.

9:16 a.m.: When can you stop isolating after a COVID-19 infection? Here’s what you need to know

With inections on the rise in some locations, some Americans are questioning — when are you able to cease isolating after a COVID-19 an infection?

It can really feel further tense and complicated should you’re feeling good however nonetheless testing optimistic on a speedy take a look at.

NPR stories that even with the brand new subvariants, the fundamental guidelines haven’t modified since omicron first developed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says somebody can cease isolating after 5 days in the event that they’re fever-free for 24 hours and are beginning to get higher.

Just hold carrying your masks for one other 5 days.

Some researchers don’t agree and level out that some persons are nonetheless infectious after day 5. But should you’re feeling alright and are bored with ready, right here’s what it’s worthwhile to know.

8:32 a.m.: Summer travel numbers are all over the place due to pandemic recovery

Summer journey is underway throughout the globe, however a full restoration from two years of coronavirus might final so long as the pandemic itself.

Interviews by the Associated Press in 11 international locations in June present that almost all passionate vacationers are thronging to locales just like the French Riviera, Amsterdam and the American Midwest.

But at the same time as security restrictions fall, locations like Israel, India and Rome are reporting solely fractions of the record-setting tourism of 2019.

For them, a full restoration isn’t forecasted till at the least 2024. China, as soon as the world’s greatest supply of vacationers, stays closed per its “zero-COVID” coverage, which is holding down the rebound in lots of international locations.

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