Judge Jon Levy denies a motion for a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit seeking a religious exemption, meaning health care workers must get inoculated by Friday to comply with state rules.
Health
FDA sets lower sodium goals for food industry
A majority of the salt in U.S. diets comes from packaged or restaurant foods – not the salt added to meals at home.
Maine sees jump in vaccinations among health care workers as deadline nears
Meanwhile, signs are mixed about whether Maine’s COVID-19 surge is easing.
Central Maine Healthcare curtailing services, asking for flexibility as employee vaccine mandate looms
The Lewiston-based hospital system says it will have to scale back neonatal intensive care, trauma and pediatric care because employees are refusing the vaccine, but Gov. Mills defends the mandate as necessary to protect patients and health care workers.
Drugmaker Merck asks FDA to authorize promising anti-COVID pill
If approved, it would be the first pill shown to treat the illness.
Number of COVID-19 patients in Maine hospitals remains elevated
The count rose slightly Monday to 165, but remains below the peak numbers the state was reporting 2 weeks ago.
COVID-19 is more dangerous for pregnant women, but only a minority are vaccinated
While the CDC urges pregnant women to get vaccinated because of their lower immune system response, only about 33% have been fully vaccinated, according to CDC data.
Anti-vaccine chiropractors are a rising force behind misinformation
An investigation by the Associated Press finds that a vocal group of chiropractors has become an influential force in stirring up anti-vaccine misinformation during the pandemic.
Specialized health care services, nursing homes worry about staffing as vaccine deadline looms
Health care workers have until Oct. 29 to be fully vaccinated. One provider is weighing whether to seek another extension of the deadline from the Mills administration.
The Texas abortion law is suspended for now, but its impact has been swift
A federal judge has ordered Texas to suspend a new law banning most abortions in the state, but that doesn’t mean abortion services will instantly resume.