Source: Newsweek

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency over the Omicron variant of COVID-19, stating, "It's coming." The variant is believed to be possibly more contagious and immune-resistant than previous COVID-19 variants.

"We've taken extraordinary action to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and combat this pandemic," Hochul wrote in a statement. "While the new Omicron variant has yet to be detected in New York State, it's coming."

The state of emergency will allow officials to more quickly acquire critical supplies for combatting the pandemic, Hochul's declaration said. It will also allow the state Department of Health to limit non-essential, non-urgent procedures for hospitals and healthcare systems with limited capacity. This way, they can focus on caring for those most needing treatment for COVID-19.

The emergency protocols will take place December 3, and will be reassessed based on the latest COVID-19 data on January 15.



Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/its-coming-ny-gov-kathy-hochul-issues-omicron-warning-declares-state-emergency-1653658

Source: NYT

President Biden will restrict travel from South Africa and seven other African countries to try to contain a troubling new variant of the coronavirus, senior administration officials said on Friday, though they said it would be impossible to prevent it from entering the United States.

Starting on Monday, the administration will prohibit travelers from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi from coming to the United States, the officials said.

The travel ban will not apply to American citizens or lawful permanent residents, officials said. But they will need to show a negative coronavirus test before coming to the United States.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/26/world/americas/us-travel-restrictions-new-covid-variant-omicron.html

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Buckle up folks. Get a clean stack of masks. Make sure your booster is up to date. Stock up.

Source: Washington Post

Stephen K. Bannon, the former Trump White House adviser, has filed an opposition to the U.S. district court’s standard protective order for discovery, which prohibits either side from releasing documents or evidence publicly.


Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/stephen-k-bannons-lawyers-file-opposition-to-keeping-documents-from-being-released/2021/11/25/29889174-4e3e-11ec-b73b-a00d6e559a6e_story.html

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Seattle Times really has a better article on this, but gave the national paper the nod:

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/bannons-lawyers-file-opposition-to-keeping-documents-from-being-released/

Sorry little red Stephen, we'll know all about your little insurrection soon!

Source: CBS NY

LONG BEACH, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — There is a positive update on an emergency room on Long Island that closed earlier this week due to a staffing shortage.

On Thursday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the ER at Mount Sinai South Nassau in Long Beach will reopen Friday at 7 a.m.

The governor said the state Department of Health worked with hospital officials and community leaders to get the emergency department back up and running.

Read more: https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2021/11/25/long-beach-emergency-room-mount-sinai-south-nassau/

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A brief hiccup in service but Governor Hochul continues to impress!

Great news for Long Beach residents. You can be certain if you need emergency care that your healthcare workers are COVID-19 vaccinated!

Source: The Times UK

As an ecologist-turned-diplomat who helps a noble house take control of a mining planet in a distant galaxy, she plays a crucial role in the blockbuster Dune.

Yet in a marketing push for audiences in China to see the science-fiction epic, there is little evidence of Sharon Duncan-Brewster, a British actress of Trinidadian heritage.

Duncan-Brewster, 45, featured prominently in the original US poster for the Warner Bros adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel. However, according to reports, she has been removed for the promotion in the film in China.

Read more: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hollywood-removes-black-actress-from-dune-film-poster-in-china-lgbqqx2vh

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They did add some other people to the poster too so it may have just been marketing for the region. I'm not sure we're in any position to cast stones at China w/respect to racism.

Source: CNBC

Southwest Airlines canceled more than 1,800 flights this weekend, disrupting the travel plans of thousands of customers and stranding flight crews — the airline blamed the meltdown on a combination of bad weather, air traffic control and its own shortage of available staff.

“I know this is incredibly difficult for all of you, and our Customers are not happy,” Alan Kasher executive vice president of daily flight operations told staff in a note on Sunday, which was seen by CNBC.

The airline said initial problems on bad weather and an “FAA-imposed air traffic management program” were to blame.

“Although we were staffed for the weekend, we could not anticipate the significant disruption that was created from unexpected ATC issues and bad weather across our Florida stations,” said Kasher.

Other airlines canceled relatively few flights. Southwest did not comment on the disparity.

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/10/southwest-airlines-cancels-1000-more-flights-as-disruptions-mount.html

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Anyone have any insights on the mentioned air traffic management program?

Source: MSN

Kaiser Permanente suspended nearly 5,000 employees who have not yet gotten the COVID-19 vaccine.

This accounts for about 2% of the healthcare company's 240,000 employees.

Anyone who changes their mind has until December 1 to get the vaccine and return to work.

The vaccination rate at Kaiser Permanent has jumped 14% since the health care company announced in August that it would be requiring employees to be inoculated against COVID-19.

But the California-based company - which previously announced its vaccine mandate would go into effect September 30 - has had to place, as of October 4, just over 2,200 employees on unpaid leave for failing to comply with the requirement, a spokesperson said.


Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/kaiser-permanente-suspends-2200-employees-who-have-not-yet-gotten-the-covid-19-vaccine-less-than-2-of-its-workforce/ar-AAPaP9e

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It looks like they started at 2% (around 5,000 mental defectives) but that number decreased even more down to 2,000.

It's also interesting that they took the "suspended without pay" route vs. the firing route. I wonder if companies taking that position will be less aggressive about re-filling the positions?

“Bridgerton” hair and makeup designer Marc Pilcher, who won an Emmy just weeks ago, died Sunday of COVID-19.

He was 53.

Pilcher was double vaccinated and had no underlying health conditions, his family and friends said in a statement.

“The passing of Marc Pilcher is beyond words,” “Bridgerton” producer Shonda Rhimes tweeted. “I will forever be in awe of the incredible hairstyling and makeup work that he brought to ‘Bridgerton.’ My heart goes out to his loved ones as we lost him way too soon.”

Phoebe Dynevor, who starred in the Netflix regal drama as Daphne Bassett, said she was at a “loss for words.”

“Marc was so passionate about his work and so tremendously talented. Not even a month ago he won his first Emmy award,” tweeted Nicola Coughlan, who played Penelope Featherington.

“It’s a tragedy that he’s been taken so young when he had so much yet to do. Please also use this as a reminder that COVID is still a very real and present danger, please get vaccinated and mask up to protect yourself and others.”

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RIP Marc. Glad that he was able to go out having been recognized at the pinnacle of his profession.

Source: New York Times

Northwell Health, New York State’s largest health care provider, announced on Monday that 1,400 employees — less than 2 percent of its staff — refused to get vaccinated against the coronavirus and had to leave their jobs.

New York is requiring that the state’s more than 650,000 hospital and nursing home workers be vaccinated, a mandate that started to take effect last week, prompting tens of thousands of employees to get their shots. Others filed lawsuits, and courtrooms across the state are determining when and how to allow exemptions to the requirement.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/04/nyregion/northwell-employees-fired.html

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Overall this is _extremely_ encouraging because that'd put the number of holdouts at less than two percent.

After Newsom's win I think the verdict is clear: mandatory vaccines are a winning policy!

Source: MSN/NBC

A large North Carolina hospital network says that it has fired nearly 200 workers for failing to take a Covid-19 vaccine.

Dr. David H. Priest, chief for safety for Novant Health, said at a Tuesday press briefing that roughly 175 staffers did not comply with their vaccine mandate deadline.

"By doing that, by not getting vaccinated, they voluntarily resign," Priest said.

The departures will not impact staffing at the hospital system of over 35,000 employees, Priest said, because the hospital has been using temporary staff for the duration of the pandemic to make up for shortages from staff falling ill with Covid.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/north-carolina-hospital-network-fires-around-175-staffers-for-not-getting-vaccinated/ar-AAOVUZf

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David Priest was quoted as saying they "voluntarily resigned". That they were "fired" was MSN/NBC's wording, from my reading of the article.