Duke student vaccinations; Alabama, Utah end mask mandates

First it was Rutgers and Cornell. Then Notre Dame. Now Duke.

The record of schools and universities that may require COVID-19 vaccinations for brand spanking new and returning college students to attend in-person courses this fall grew once more Friday, with the North Carolina college asserting a coverage that may cowl all undergraduate, graduate, {and professional} college students.

“We know that widespread vaccination will be the only way to facilitate a return to normal and robust campus life,” Duke President Vincent Price said in a statement on the college’s web site.

Brown in Rhode Island, Northeastern in Boston, Nova Southeastern University in Florida and Fort Lewis College in Colorado have additionally adopted the precedent set by Rutgers in New Jersey and Cornell in New York.

“It doesn’t just make us safer. In the end, it makes our entire community safer,” Antonio Calcado, Rutgers’ chief operating officer, told USA TODAY this week. “That’s why we think requiring is the way to go versus encouraging.”

Colleges and universities have been particularly hard-hit by coronavirus restrictions, shedding college students who say they’re uninterested in paying full-price tuition for digital studying, and that typically means much less cash for universities that may already be struggling financially.

Also within the information:

►While Alabama’s statewide mask mandate ended Friday after practically 9 months, Birmingham, the biggest metropolis within the state, is protecting mask necessities in place “because the pandemic still exists and remains a threat,” Mayor Randall L. Woodfin stated. Montgomery, the state’s second-largest metropolis, will even proceed to require face coverings.

►The newest forecast from the University of Washington Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation’s coronavirus mannequin tasks nearly 620,000 U.S. deaths by Aug. 1. The forecast improves with 95% mask utilization (604,413) and tops out at 697,573 deaths in a worst-case state of affairs during which fully-vaccinated individuals return to pre-pandemic ranges of mobility.

►Connecticut plans to offer full summer time entry to its out of doors recreation areas together with state parks, campgrounds, shoreline seashores, boat launches and inland swimming spots after offering partial entry final summer time on the peak of the pandemic, state officers stated Friday.

►Utah’s statewide mask mandate expires Saturday, although some companies and authorities amenities will proceed to require face coverings – together with Salt Lake International Airport and the Utah Transit Authority.

►The CDC reported practically 3,400 new variant instances late Thursday, bringing the U.S. complete to 20,412, a quantity that is practically doubled since March 28.

📈 Today’s numbers: The U.S. has greater than 31 million confirmed coronavirus instances and 560,900 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The world totals: More than 134.3 million instances and greater than 2.9 million deaths. More than 233.5 million vaccine doses have been distributed within the U.S. and 178.8 million have been administered, according to the CDC. 

📘 What we’re studying: COVID-19 toes, Moderna arm and an all-body rash are among the many odd pores and skin reactions to vaccines. But, don’t fret: A brand new research says not one of the unwanted side effects are harmful. Read the full story.

USA TODAY is monitoring COVID-19 information. Keep refreshing this web page for the newest updates. Want extra? Sign up for our Coronavirus Watch newsletter for updates to your inbox and join our Facebook group.

Florida lady will get 29 days in jail for coughing on most cancers affected person

A Florida lady was sentenced to 29 days in jail for assault this week after she was captured on video coughing in the face of another woman, a most cancers affected person with a compromised immune system, final yr at a Jacksonville-area mall.

Debra Jo Michele Hunter, of Fernandina Beach, additionally made an obscene gesture towards Heather Sprague, who was sporting a mask to additional shield herself after latest mind tumor surgical procedure, in a video that gained widespread consideration.

Duval County Court Judge James Ruth heard testimony from Hunter’s husband, pals and household who stated she has a “really huge heart” and was “broken-hearted” over the incident. Sprague, who informed the decide she feared being attacked for sporting a mask, described Hunter’s actions as “rooted in privilege and entitlement.”

– Dan Scanlan, Florida Times-Union

Pfizer-BioNTech asks for FDA approval of its vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds

Pfizer and its German collaborator BioNTech on Friday requested the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to permit their COVID-19 vaccine for use on adolescents ages 12-15. Their vaccine is already licensed for these 16 and up.

The firms additionally plan to ask for comparable authorization from regulatory businesses in different elements of the world. In trial outcomes launched just lately, the businesses confirmed that their vaccine prevented all COVID-19 symptomatic illness in trial contributors ages 12-15, generated giant numbers of protecting antibodies in that age group, and didn’t pose any security considerations.

The firms will comply with all the greater than 2,200 trial contributors for 2 years after their second dose to make sure security and vaccine sturdiness.

– Doyle Rice

COVID pandemic knocks 80% off Atlantic City on line casino earnings in 2020

The coronavirus outbreak despatched earnings plunging at Atlantic City’s casinos by greater than 80% final yr, in accordance with figures launched Friday by New Jersey playing regulators.

Still, seven of the 9 casinos managed to eke out a revenue, regardless of how small, throughout what New Jersey Casino Control Commission chairman James Plousis known as the “most challenging year in history” for town and its casinos.

The state Division of Gaming Enforcement reported the 9 casinos collectively posted $117.5 million in gross working earnings in 2020. That was down from practically $594 million a yr earlier, earlier than the pandemic pressured casinos to shut for 3 1/2 months, and restricted their operations even after reopening.

Contributing: Chris Quintana, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

Source Link – rssfeeds.usatoday.com

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