Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
NY Public Colleges Will Require Jabs Once FDA Fully Approves Them
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday that the State University of New York and the City University of New York will require Covid-19 vaccinations for students returning this fall, assuming the federal government gives full approval to the vaccines. 鈥淚f you must have a vaccine, get it now if you have to get it anyway," Cuomo said. "I also encourage private schools to do the same thing. Let鈥檚 make a global statement 鈥 you cannot go back to school in September unless you have a vaccine. That will be a major motivation to get the vaccine." Cuomo added that the requirement would be contingent on standard approval of the vaccine, which is being distributed under emergency authorization from the federal government. (Bocanegra and Young, 5/10)
The University of Oregon and Western Oregon University on Monday joined the growing list of colleges and universities that will require COVID-19 vaccinations for students and employees this fall. The two schools said vaccination would be required for anyone attending classes or working on campus. They join Oregon State University, Portland State University and a handful of private schools that previously announced similar requirements. All will allow exemptions for medical, religious or philosophical reasons. (Njus, 5/10)
In other news about reopenings and covid restrictions 鈥
The New York Times is tracking coronavirus restrictions at the state level, including what businesses are allowed to open and whether officials require masks. A state is considered fully reopened once it has lifted all specific restrictions on businesses statewide, though masking and social distancing rules and limits on gatherings may remain in effect. Stricter local orders may also be in place, and local conditions may not always reflect state requirements. This page will be updated regularly. (5/10)
Michigan on Monday surpassed a 55% COVID-19 vaccination rate, reaching a milestone that will lead to the automatic easing of in-person work restrictions in two weeks. Employers currently must prohibit onsite work if employees鈥 jobs can feasibly be done remotely. The state anticipates lifting the rule on May 24, said COVID-19 workplace safety director Sean Egan. (Eggert, 5/11)
Washington, D.C., is emerging from its pandemic quarantine. With COVID-19 numbers dropping, officials in the nation鈥檚 capital have announced a reopening timeline that would see all indoor capacity limits eliminated by early June, but with mask requirements still in place. (Khalil, 5/10)
Orange County has disbanded the strike teams it was sending out to make sure businesses were in compliance with COVID-19 restrictions.聽The county says the decision is in response to Gov. Ron DeSantis鈥 executive order suspending local government mandates. The five teams of three people each included a code compliance officer, a health department representative and a county fire marshal office representative.聽(Peddie, 5/10)
Also 鈥
Twenty cases of the coronavirus have been recorded among the 20,000 staffers and students who have returned to San Francisco elementary school campuses since the district reopened for in-person learning three weeks ago, health officials said Monday. All the cases reported by the school district were related to community transmission in unvaccinated people, according to city officials. 鈥淚n other words, zero cases were related to in-school transmission at SFUSD,鈥 the city Department of Public Health said in a statement. 鈥淭here were no cases among vaccinated teachers and staff鈥 in the school district. (Vaziri, 5/10)
KHN: Masks At The Campfire: Summer Camps For Kids With Medical Needs Adapt To Covid
Olivia Klassen鈥檚 face lights up when she talks about summer camp. She loves to do the scavenger hunt with her camp friends. She also loves paddleboarding, swimming in the lake and 鈥渒itchen raids.鈥 But what she loves most is being surrounded by kids who, just like her, have Type 1 diabetes 鈥 which allows her to focus on having fun instead of being different. 鈥淐amp is a top priority for me,鈥 Klassen, 13, said of Camp Ho Mita Koda. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 really feel the same without camp. That鈥檚 my second family, my home away from home. Being there makes me feel like a normal kid, because everyone is doing the same things I do.鈥 (West, 5/11)