The Biden administration requirement is welcomed by some, but others fear it will worsen already serious staff shortages if employees quit their jobs rather than comply.
COVID-19
Posted inNation & World, News
Judge temporarily restores New York’s mask mandate
As of now, the mandate is in effect until Feb. 1.
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Posted inHealth, Nation & World, News
COVID-19 vaccine booster drive faltering in U.S.
A new poll finds Americans are more likely to see the initial vaccinations as essential.
Posted inHealth, Nation & World, News
Pfizer begins testing omicron-matched COVID shots in adults
Some vaccines are being updated in case health authorities decide a change is needed.
Posted inNation & World
Sarah Palin’s lawsuit against New York Times delayed by her positive COVID test
The former Alaska governor, who is a one-time Republican vice presidential nominee, has had COVID-19 before. She’s urged people not to get vaccinated.
Posted inLocal & State
How do I get my free COVID tests, and are they reliable?
The new year has ushered in a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, one dominated by the latest variant, omicron, which is spreading faster than any other version of the virus to date. Although Mainers have been adapting to the latest public health recommendations since March 2020, some recent changes have generated uncertainty and confusion. […]
Posted inHealth, Nation & World, Politics
Texas judge blocks Biden vaccine mandate for federal workers nationwide
In November, the White House said more than 95% of federal workers were already in compliance with the mandate either by being vaccinated or by having requested an exemption.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
More National Guard members arrive to help Maine hospitals handle omicron surge
A total of 169 Guard members have been dispatched to health care facilities this week to help blunt the variant’s impact on the state’s health care system.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
Maine CDC overwhelmed by backlog of 46,000 positive COVID-19 tests
The omicron variant has created a flood of positive tests in the past two weeks and the state has been unable to keep up with the screening process, which means the daily numbers have dramatically undercounted the infection rate.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
Dramatic rise in positive COVID test results reveals intensity of omicron surge in Maine
The number of positive tests reported to the state each day has roughly tripled over the past month, further overwhelming the state’s ability to determine which are confirmed new cases and which are followup tests.