NY: Black and Latino New Yorkers lag behind white residents in launching COVID-19 vaccine
nytimes.com
Of the nearly 300,000 New York City residents who received a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and whose race was registered, about 48% were white, 15% were Latino, 15% were Asian and 11% were black. Latino and black residents were underrepresented: the city’s population is approximately 29% Latino and 24% black.
USA: essential workers get lost in the COVID-19 vaccine dispute, as states prioritize older adults
washingtonpost.com
Many states are trying to accelerate the delayed and often chaotic distribution of coronavirus vaccines by adding people 65 and older near the front line. As a result, workers who often face the greatest risk of exposure to the virus will wait longer to be protected, according to experts, union leaders and workers.
OR: Oregon companies cited for health violations received millions in federal aid
oregonlive.com
However, Oregon companies cited by the state for violating coronavirus security standards received more than $ 12.5 million in federal pandemic relief loans last year through the Pay Check Protection Program. The relief program does not specifically require companies to comply with security rules to qualify for coronavirus relief loans.
DC: Referee decision authorizes District of Columbia schools to reopen
washingtonpost.com
A last-minute effort to delay the reopening of the District of Columbia public school buildings because of concerns about coronavirus security failed, with a referee’s decision that the city’s violations under an agreement with the Washington Teachers’ Union were narrow and could be resolved without delaying the start date.
TX: In search of COVID-19 vaccines, some rural Texans drive hundreds of miles
texastribune.org
While the state continues to struggle against the uneven launch of the COVID-19 vaccine, some Texans, especially in distant parts of the state, have resorted to traveling hundreds of miles away from their homes, desperate to protect themselves from the virus that has killed more than 35,000 people in the state.
CA: Governor of California under fire from Democrats over COVID-19 response as it faces a recall campaign led by the Republican Party
latimes.com
More California Democratic lawmakers and allies of Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom are beginning to publicly criticize him as frustration grows almost a year after the COVID-19 pandemic.
PA: Pennsylvania prison officials admit that significant flaws in coronavirus data are ‘unacceptable’
spotlightpa.org
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections is reporting flaws in the COVID-19 data it provided to prisoners, families and public officials, raising questions about the agency’s ability to accurately track the extent of the outbreak.
NV: Nevada is being hampered in allocating the dose of the COVID-19 vaccine
reviewjournal.com
AN Las Vegas Review-Journal the analysis indicates that Nevada receives doses at a significantly lower rate than most other states. Using population estimates from 2020, for example, Nevada was receiving about 2,000 fewer doses per 100,000 adult residents than the state of Vermont.
SC: South Carolina to relocate COVID-19 vaccines from nursing homes due to lack of absorption
thestate.com
Frustrated by the low administration rate of the COVID-19 vaccine in the nearly 900 facilities that the state’s federal pharmaceutical partners are serving, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, a Republican, sent a letter to the chairman of the Department of Health and Control State environmental agency asking the agency to redistribute 37,800 doses of the vaccine previously allocated to the long-term care program.
ME: As Walgreens is late on COVID-19 vaccinations, Maine changes doses to independent pharmacies
pressherald.com
For the third consecutive week, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention gave independent pharmacies thousands of doses, while Walgreens and CVS, national chains with a federal contract, received none. Walgreens has completed only 25% of its COVID-19 vaccination clinics at long-term care facilities in Maine.
ID: Idaho is taking back 10,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine that arrived at pharmacies
idahostatesman.com
The Idaho statesman identified several thousand doses of the COVID-19 vaccine that were sent to Idaho, reserved for a federal public-private partnership – and were then not used. More than 10,000 doses are being returned to state control for use at upcoming vaccination clinics.
HI: Some pregnant women in Hawaii are avoiding hospitals
civilbeat.org
As the pandemic disrupts parents’ plans, some Hawaiians say they are exchanging a hospital experience and medical resources for a home birth because of anxiety about visitor restrictions and possible exposure to COVID-19. Local midwives say they are responding to a record number of consultations.
OK: Oklahoma’s Native American nations strive to protect their own against COVID-19
oklahoman.com
For some Native American tribes in Oklahoma who have dealt with countless historical injustices and neglect, the COVID-19 pandemic would not be another example.
MA: Massachusetts communities are helping to connect older adults to COVID-19 vaccines
bostonherald.com
By mobilizing taxis and organizing volunteers, organizations in Massachusetts are trying to figure out how to put COVID-19 vaccines in the arms of the elderly.
IA: 2 more COVID-19 cases reported at the Iowa Capitol, including a state representative
desmoinesregister.com
Two more people who work at the Iowa Capitol tested positive for COVID-19, including state deputy Amy Nielsen; the cases were the third and fourth positive cases known on Capitol this year.
NH: Maskless New Hampshire lawmaker holds hearings after trip out of state
apnews.com
A day after returning from Florida, a Republican lawmaker from the House of New Hampshire did not cover his face, as required, for more than three hours of testimony in a courtroom.
VT: COVID-19 changes plans for Vermont city meetings
vtdigger.org
Vermont electoral officials agree that the COVID-19 pandemic will significantly change the city’s traditional meeting season in March this year, although they are still unable to summarize how. In a normal year, Vermont’s 246 counties would post notices to assemblies and votes on or near the first Tuesday in March.
KS: Kansas’ largest counties have little to say about their elections. Some want a change.
kansas.com
As the elections become more complex and public confidence in them is increasingly threatened by unfounded allegations of fraud, some Democrats and Republicans in Kansas are calling for a change.
MO: Governor suggests that ‘disgusting scheme’ prevented him from giving annual speech at the Missouri House
stltoday.com
Missouri Republican Governor Mike Parson sent a heated letter to Republican lawmakers suggesting that the House leadership engaged in a “purposeful and disgusting scheme to embarrass you”, cutting off access to the House chamber hours before his annual speech about the State of the State.
MT: Montana House approves repeal of local steam product bans
billingsgazette.com
A bill to ban local governments from placing regulations on vaping and alternative nicotine products obtained initial approval from the House of Montana. The proposal was carried out by a legislator who is co-owner of three steam shops.