Source: Block Club Chicago

Chicago Hospital Executive Bragged About Vaccinating Eric Trump On Day His Hospital Vaccinated Workers At Trump Tower
Hospital officials said their doctor’s relationship with Trump and his owning a condo in Trump Tower had nothing to do with the improper vaccine event. Millionaire Trump would not have been eligible for a vaccine in Chicago.

CHICAGO — A top executive of a West Side hospital in Chicago bragged about vaccinating Eric Trump the same day the hospital vaccinated workers at Trump Tower Downtown — where the executive owns a condo.

In a photo obtained by Block Club Chicago, Dr. Anosh Ahmed, chief operating officer of Loretto Hospital, poses with a smiling Trump, the son of former President Donald Trump. In a text message, Ahmed bragged about vaccinating Trump that day: “Vaccinated Eric Trump,” he said after sharing the photo. He also shared a message praising Trump, calling him a “cool guy.”

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Hospital officials said the vaccine event held at the luxury hotel Downtown was meant to benefit predominantly Black and Brown hotel workers, and later said they made a mistake by offering doses meant for West Siders to hotel employees before they were eligible.

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“Eric Trump happened to be in the building but we did not vaccinate him,” Ahmed said in the statement. “A few residents including myself did take a photo with him. My post was meant as a joke … .”

Read more: https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/03/17/chicago-hospital-executive-bragged-about-vaccinating-eric-trump-on-day-his-hospital-vaccinated-workers-at-trump-tower/?fbclid=IwAR1DFE-X6JMsmlraL1I49geQopKbDBlIp4SDW9Dh5-xDGKMuYvPOluHtPRk

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Source: The Hill

A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that mask mandates were linked to a decline in COVID-19 cases and deaths.

The study also found that allowing restaurant dining was linked to increases in cases and deaths.

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The study examined the period March 1 to Dec. 31 of last year. It did not make a distinction between indoor and outdoor dining. Experts have long said outdoor dining is safer, given the ability of the virus to spread through poorly-ventilated indoor air.

The study provides additional empirical backing for mask mandates and limiting restaurant dining, at a time when some states are opening. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott this week ended his state's mask mandate, as did Mississippi's governor.

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/541805-cdc-study-links-masks-to-fewer-covid-deaths

Source: The Hill

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Thursday defended his decision to eliminate a statewide mask mandate amid an avalanche of criticism over the decision.

Abbott said in an interview with Fox News that officials in Austin are still advocating that Texans wear face coverings and that the state's residents are more aware now of how to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

“We are still strongly advocating that every Texan follow the best practice. Where we are today is completely different from where we were this time last year when Texans and Americans didn’t know how to deal with this. For an entire year, Texans have learned the best practice, and that is to wear a mask, and we still strongly recommend that people do wear a mask,” he said.

“The mask requirement being eliminated isn’t going to make that big of a change in the state of Texas. Also, people in Texas will continue to wear a mask even though there’s not a state mandate. We’re just in a situation now where government mandates are not needed because Texans do know best practices,” he added.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/541615-abbott-defends-scrapping-mask-mandate-it-isnt-going-to-make-that-big-of