New York City has fired more than 1,400 workers who failed to comply with its COVID-19 vaccine mandate, a total representing less than 1% of the 370,000-person city workforce.
Educators and first responders were not spared: The total includes 36 NYPD personnel, 25 Fire Department workers and 914 education staffers. Almost all of those let go haven't been working or collecting paychecks since November.
The fate of almost 10,000 more workers is pending as medical and religious exemption requests and appeals make their way through the system. The mandate has survived a series of legal challenges – last week the U.S. Supreme Court denied an emergency appeal sought by some city teachers.
Adams lauded city workers for their efforts, referring to the "Get Stuff Done" theme he has repeatedly stressed since taking office.
“Our goal was always to vaccinate, not terminate, and city workers stepped up and met the goal placed before them,” Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement. “I’m grateful to all the city workers who continue to serve New Yorkers and ‘Get Stuff Done’ for the greatest city in the world.”
Also in the news:
►Novak Djokovic, winner of 20 Grand Slam tennis tournaments, said missing the French Open and Wimbledon "is the price I am willing to pay" if vaccination against the coronavirus is required. Djokovic, 34, was forced out of the Australian Open last month.
►Federal health officials are warning U.S. travelers to avoid more than 135 destinations, including South Korea and Belarus, as of Monday due to COVID-19.
►Sweden is recommending a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose to people over age 80 and those living in nursing homes or getting home care, authorities said Monday, adding it must be administered no earlier than four months after the previous shot.
📈Today's numbers: The U.S. has recorded more than 77.9 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 922,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Global totals: More than 413.7 million cases and over 5.8 million deaths. More than 213.9 million Americans – 64.4% – are fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
📘 What we're reading: The four free COVID-19 rapid tests President Joe Biden promised in December for every American household have begun arriving in earnest in mailboxes and on doorsteps. How much is the government paying for each test? And what were the terms of the agreements? The government won’t yet say, even though, by law, this information should be available.
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Russian, Ukraine, at odds politically, share public health threat
Russia and Ukraine, embroiled in a political conflict that has the world on edge, also are struggling with runaway coronavirus infections. The head of the World Health Organization’s Europe office said Tuesday that the two nations are among six in Eastern Europe that have seen new cases double in the last two weeks. About half of all Russians are fully vaccinated, about one-third of the population of Ukraine is inoculated. The other four countries with the booming numbers are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Georgia.
“Today, our focus is towards the east of the WHO European region,” Kluge said. “As anticipated, the omicron wave is moving east."
Washington, D.C., rolling back vaccination, mask requirements
Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser is rolling back vaccination and mask restrictions. Effective today, indoor venues are no longer be required to verify that patrons are vaccinated, although businesses may choose to keep the requirement in place. And on March 1, masks will no longer be required in most public spaces and houses of worships. They will still be needed in schools, day care and medical facilities, libraries, city offices, public transit, cabs and rideshare vehicles.
Since the height of the omicron wave in Washington, COVID-19 cases have dropped by more than 90% and there’s been a 95% reduction in hospitalizations, Bowser said.
New infections in children falling sharply
COVID-19 cases have fallen dramatically across the U.S. in recent weeks, and pediatric cases are no exception. Coronavirus cases in children totaled 300,000 in the week ending Feb. 10, less than a third of cases recorded in a week during omicron's peak in mid-January, the American Academy of Pediatrics reported.
Despite dropping case counts, child COVID cases are still higher than the peak level of delta's reign in 2021, according to the organization. Only 66% of children ages 12- 17 have received one shot, according to the academy. Younger children have even worse inoculation rates: Only 31% of 5- 11-year-olds have received one dose of the COVID vaccine.
Vaccines are not yet available for children under age 5 in the U.S. On Monday, Hong Kong authorities said they will begin vaccinating children as young as 3 years old to combat a record surge of infections.
Wisconsin Senate looks to protect workers who don't want vaccines
The Wisconsin Senate is considering measures aimed at protecting workers who don't want the coronavirus vaccine, including one measure that would require employers to count a prior coronavirus infection as an alternative to vaccination and testing. Another would prohibit requiring proof of vaccination while the others involve unemployment benefits and workers' compensation. All four bills could face vetoes from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.
Wisconsin, which has no statewide vaccine mandate or any statewide requirements to wear masks, has seen 11,000 residents die from COVID in the last two years.
Staying in the ICU with COVID leaves long-term impacts, experts say
Most people who die of COVID-19 first spend time in an ICU. Early in the pandemic, about one-third of COVID-19 patients treated in intensive care died. Those figures are far better now, though precise numbers aren't available.
A study published in late January found that among Dutch people treated for COVID-19 in an ICU, 74% still had physical symptoms a year later, including weakness and muscle and joint pain. More than a quarter reported lingering mental symptoms and 16% had cognitive problems.
COVID-19 patients who end up in intensive care have a rougher road than those with other respiratory illnesses, often suffering long-term organ damage, said Dr. Amit Gaggar, an attending physician in ICUs at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the Birmingham VA Medical Center.
After being released, many have lingering shortness of breath, new or exacerbated heart failure, kidney problems and lung scarring – all conditions that are possible after an ICU stay without COVID-19. But, Gaggar said, "the degree is a lot more severe with the COVID population." Read more here.
– Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY
Contributing: The Associated Press
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