中国学者称 这波疫情对经济冲击恐超过2020年
世界新闻网
4/08/2022
中国人民银行调查统计司前司长盛松成指出，中国3月起爆发的这波本土新冠疫情，使得原本逐渐恢复的中国经济遭受新的冲击，而且由于此次疫情是在上海、深圳等内核城市爆发，疫情冲击的外溢效应明显，影响可能延续整个上半年，冲击甚至可能超过2020年。
盛松成现为中欧国际工商学院经济学与金融学教授，他8日在上海证券报撰文指出，中国最近的疫情形势是2020年初新冠肺炎在武汉爆发以来最为严峻的，给正在「爬坡过坎」的中国经济带来考验，要实现全年5.5%左右的GDP增速目标更需努力。
他表示，今年前两个月，中国经济持续稳定恢复，生产、需求较快增长，就业、物价总体稳定，主要经济指针优于预期。但3月新一轮疫情爆发，截至4月6日，现有本土新冠肺炎确诊病例已达到2万4,123人，无症状感染者13万2,948人，合计已超过2020年2月疫情的感染人数。
而且本轮疫情分布面广，中国全国已有29个省市区发生本土病例，经济发达的广东、福建和长三角地区更是重灾区。为应对疫情，各地普遍采取全员核酸检测、区域管控、减少人员流动等措施，经济运行因此承受较大的压力。
3月，中国制造业采购经理指数（PMI）降至49.5、非制造业商务活动指数降为48.4，双双跌破景气荣枯线，分别比前一个月低0.7和3.2个百分点。
盛松成称，中国这波疫情在3月集中爆发，而3月又是第1季经济运行最重要的一个月，因此疫情对一季度经济的冲击也会比较大。
他认为，从目前形势来看，疫情对经济的影响不会仅停留在3月。以上海为例，封控已延续到4月。即使4月中下旬经济逐步恢复，疫情的次生影响也会在一定程度上拖累5、6月的经济增长。而失去的消费，尤其是服务消费，很难弥补。不少小微企业、工商个体户面临生存考验。
Healthcare Certification and ESL Programs
盛松成预期，中国失业率将会上升，消费潜力将下降，疫情反复还将影响生产经营预期，疫后的经济恢复可能需要较长的时间。
他指出，上海、深圳作为长三角和珠三角的内核城市，是中国国内外循环的重要枢纽，经济影响甚广。此外，疫情引发的供应链阻塞对订单的影响也不仅限于当期，而会延续到未来。如果疫情冲击的影响长期化，全球供应链的调整可能在一定程度上削减中国的竞争优势。
盛松成称，与当年武汉疫情相比，最近一轮疫情波及面更广，叠加市场主体预期转弱，其对经济的影响不可小觑，甚至可能超过2020年。
因此，他建议，中国对房地产需求端的调控可适度继续放松。其次，基建投资仍是稳增长的重要「抓手」，在疫情冲击下，基建投资扮演的角色将更为重要。
与此同时，财政政策援企纾困、兜底民生、减税降费应加快落实；货币政策则要灵活适度，保持流动性合理充裕，发挥货币政策工具的总量和结构双重功能，为实体经济提供有力支持。
北京堵疫情 进口货先摆7天
世界新闻网
4/05/2022
自3月疫情大爆发以来，中国本土疫情持续升温，中国国家卫健委昨通报，添加本土确诊病例1173例、本土无症状感染者1万5239例，合共1万6412例，为连续第3天破万例。
这波本土疫情来势汹汹，中国各地严阵以待。其中，山西省太原市传出因发现5例阳性病例，立即「软封城」，不但将该小区列为封控区，还要求全市民众「非必要不离开」，若确需离开者，不但要持有48小时内核酸检测阴性证明和山西健康码「绿码」，并实施离开审批报备制度。须到街道（镇）或单位报批，按谁主管谁负责原则，还党政机关和企事业人员带头不离开当地。
北京市昨通报添加一例新冠本土确诊病例，与服饰店传播链有关，北京初步认为这名感染者在外地候车期间感染可能性较大。但也怀疑进口产品带有病毒。北京目前已要求入境后无特殊急用货品，原则上应至少存放7天。
据南方都市报等中媒指出，除了北京、辽宁大连和江苏常熟的疫情都与韩国服饰有关。
韩国出口服装带新冠病毒？北京、辽宁、江苏均传确诊
世界新闻网
4/05/2022
据人民日报社旗下「健康时报」报导，中国北京、辽宁、江苏近日接连传出因南韩进口服装而导致的确诊病例。辽宁省大连市疾病预防控制中心已于4日发布通知，要求当地民众近期不购买、不转销南韩进口服装等进口物品。北京也宣布，将强化对来自疫情高风险国家和地区进口货物和的防疫管理。
报导称，据北京市朝阳区微信公众号发布的消息，截至4日7时，朝阳区添加5名新冠核酸检测阳性，均为专营韩国服装的望京SOHO小金阁阁服装店的店员和同住人。
4月2日，辽宁大连新冠肺炎疫情防控总指挥部通报，4月1日大连市添加的1例阳性感染者基因串行为Omicron变异株（BA.2进化分支），该阳性感染者为经营韩国进口服装商店店员，经对其经营的韩国进口服装、包装袋内表面检测出新冠病毒核酸单基因阳性。通报指出，不排除因接触被新冠病毒污染的进口物品感染的可能。
同日，江苏常熟新冠肺炎疫情防控指挥部也通报，当地3月28日报告的1例确诊病例，经反复疫调和检测，其住处衣柜内4份网购韩国卫衣检出阳性，其他环境、密切接触者、次密切接触者和一般接触者多次核酸检测结果均为阴性。结合中国国内韩国进口服装相关病例，经综合分析，该例疫情与网购韩国服装有关。
韩国新冠肺炎疫情一直十分严重。据韩联社报导，南韩中央防疫对策本部5日通报，截至当日零时，南韩较前一天零时添加感染新冠病毒确诊病例26万6135例，累计确诊1426万7401例。
但韩国政府认为，目前疫情已达高峰，南韩疾病管理厅中央防疫对策本部上个月底宣布，4月1日起，所有完成疫苗接种的海外入境者不用再进行居家隔离。
本月4日至17日，南韩也将实施新版防疫措施，将私人聚会人数从8人放宽至10人，营业性娱乐场所、舞厅、餐厅、咖啡厅、练歌房、桑拿房、室内体育设施、网吧和影院等的营业截止时间，从晚上11点延长至12点。
南韩政府称，如果在实行新版防疫措施的两周内疫情仍明显趋稳，且重症病例数得到控制，医疗系统足以承压，将考虑完全解除私人聚会人数限制和营业时间限制规定。
XE毒株或是目前传播最快的变种，传染力强43%
来源：新加坡眼
4/03/2022
3月29日，冠病疫情暴发以来，世界卫生组织第三次更新应对大流行的计划报告，同时希望是最后一次发布计划。世卫报告称，在全球陆续被发现的这种名为XE的新突变体可能比任何新冠毒株都更具传染性，可能是迄今为止已知最具传染性的毒株。
XE变异株是奥密克戎BA.1和BA.2的重组体，结合了上述两种毒株的遗传特性，在传播和疾病特征（包括严重程度）可能出现显著差异之前，XE仍属奥密克戎变体。
英国研究发现，XE变异株比奥密克戎BA.2的传播力强10%，比奥密克戎原株的传播力甚至高达43%，世界卫生组织早前已对此发出警告。
奥密克戎XE病毒株是1月19日首次在英国发现的，有些科学家判断，XE病毒株或有可能取代BA.2，成为全球新一波流行病的主流病毒株。
除了XE，WHO 还在监测另一种称为XD的重组变体，它是德尔塔和奥密克戎的混合体，目前主要在法国、丹麦和比利时被发现。
港台、泰国发现XE变异病毒病例
4月2日，台湾指挥中心医疗应变组证实，台湾地区已出现1例XE变异毒株病例。该病例一名女性，3月18日从捷克入境，在落地采检时查出阳性，属于无症状个案。
4月1日，香港政府卫生署卫生防护中心传染病处主任张竹君在记者会上透露，香港大学团队发现2022年2月初有2名抵港旅客感染奥密克戎混合病毒XE，所幸未流入社区。
张竹君称，这两名旅客是在机场检测中发现的，已按规定接受隔离。目前，在香港社区并未发现相关病例。
4月3日，泰国《曼古邮报》报道，超强传播力的奥密克戎新变异病毒株XE首次在泰国“登陆”。
泰国拉马蒂博迪医院医学基因组学中心运用基因分型技术对感染者样本进行检测，发现1起“XE病毒株”病例，已在全球冠病数据库“GISAID”上传分享，并紧急通知转诊医生以获取更多信息。4月3日，泰国通报新增确诊病例2万6840起，累计371万1595起；新增死亡病例97起，累计2万5415起。
泰国过去几个月来积极开放，从4月1日起，入境防疫措施进一步松绑，在Test & Go和沙盒计划下入境的国际旅客，再也不必进行行前检测，只须在入境时接受PCR核酸检测，并在入境后的第五天自行ART抗原检测。
泰国首相巴育说，他听取了各方的意见，尽可能松绑，但是，如果疫情恶化，免不了得收紧防疫措施，这就是治国的挑战。
他说，现在需要人人负起个人应有的防疫的责任。苏州发现奥密克戎BA.1.1分支药理学博士张洪涛：需要恐慌吗？
根据中国央视报道，4月2日下午，苏州市疾控中心介绍，3月28日苏州常熟市发现的一例轻型确诊病例杨某，其感染的病毒，经测序对比为奥密克戎变异株BA.1.1进化分支，在本土病例和输入病例数据库、全球新冠病毒GISAlD数据库中均未发现新冠病毒基因组高度同源序列。
此消息一出，引起大量媒体报道和公众关注。
药理学博士张洪涛撰文介绍，从2020年疫情爆发以来，病毒一直在进化；目前全球流行的是奥密克戎变异株，它本身也在不停突变，病毒从一个人传染给下一个人，都会有些许变异，并且在集量变为质变。通过比对病毒的基因序列，科学家可以画出病毒的进化树。
对于奥密克戎来说，进化树分为两支，一支是BA.1，另外一支是BA.2，是上海目前正在流行的毒株。从BA.1，又可以继续进化出BA.1.1。
张洪涛分析，苏州常熟出现的这个BA.1.1，在本土病例数据库未发现新冠病毒基因组高度同源序列，无法证明说病毒是从中国其他地方传来的。
同时，BA.1.1在中国的输入病例数据库、全球新冠病毒GISAlD数据库中也未发现新冠病毒基因组高度同源序列，无法证明它是从境外传来的，无论是人传人或物传人，如冷链运输、国际快递等。
张洪涛分析，首先，如果常熟当地一直在认真做核酸检测，那么该病毒在当地已经大面积传染的可能性并不大。
其次，张洪涛说，病毒不在数据库中，并不等于病毒就不存在，因为只有少量的病毒才会被测序，收入数据库。
他说，“既然BA.1.1来自（奥密克戎）BA.1，BA.1我们已经见识过了，没有必要惊慌吧？”
50多岁女打AZ亡 获600万救济 台疫苗理赔史上最高
台湾新闻组
3/30/2022
台湾疫情未歇，民众持续接种新冠疫苗，但部分施打疫苗后出现不良反应。据卫福部预防接种受害救济审议小组公布最新结果，台北市一名50多岁女性接种AZ疫苗后血栓并血小板低下症死亡，获法定最高救济上限600万（台币，下同，约20.9万美元），是台湾所有疫苗接种史上首次出现最高救济金额。
卫生福利部预防接种受害救济审议小组3月10日召开第175次会议，这次共审议57案，其中50案不予救济，七案核予救济，包括莫德纳两案，AZ四案，BNT一案，救济金额介于1万至600万元。其中，核予救济600万为台北市50多岁女性，接种AZ后并发血栓并血小板低下症候群之死亡个案，
专家认为，个案发病时间在接种AZ疫苗后，是可能发生血栓并血小板低下症候群合理时间内，研判个案血栓并血小板低下症候群与疫苗接种相关，个案血栓并血小板低下症候群直接造成脑部梗塞及导致脑压升高，并发后续脑出血致死，认定个案死亡与接种AZ疫苗。
中央流行疫情指挥中心发言人庄人祥表示，自去年3月中旬接种COVID-19疫苗起，此案为目前核予救济的最高金额者，已达法定最高救济金额上限，更创下预防接种受害救济制度创办以来，在所有种类疫苗接种救济中，首度出现救济金600万元。
庄人祥也表示，虽然此案并非首例接种COVID-19疫苗后死亡或救济个案，但是专家首度认定死因与COVID-19疫苗接种有关个案，过去死亡个案都是无法确定关联性，核予大约50万元左右救济金。
另外，这次予以救济案件中，值得注意的还有一例BNT疫苗救济案，庄人祥表示，此案为十多岁青少年，个案接种BNT疫苗四天后出现心悸及胸口不适等症状，经医师诊断为心肌炎，与接种BNT疫苗相关，核予救济金2.5万元，是COVID-19疫苗接种救济最年轻个案。
韩学生打疫苗脑死「绅士的品格」金荷娜捐2.5万助复健
嘘！星闻
01/12/2022
新冠肺炎疫情全球烧，许多国家都提倡接种疫苗，但仍免不了有部分人接种后出现副作用，甚至有严重不良反应需就医的情况，南韩最近就出现不少打完疫苗后猝死的案件，还有一名中学女生出现不良反应后，目前呈现脑死状态，仍在治疗中。
而南韩一基金会则曝光了女星金荷娜捐了3000万韩币（约2.5万美元）的暖举。脑死女学生家境清寒，金荷娜得知情况后，捐出此笔款项，希望能补贴女学生的医疗费用，亦或是日后复健的费用，而她的暖举事经过基金会曝光才引起大众注意。
金荷娜有票房女王、收视女王、爱情剧女王之称，与孙艺珍、河智苑、全智贤、宋慧乔并称南韩当家花旦。2012年与张东健主演SBS电视剧「绅士的品格」演技及收视率表现皆获得一致好评、攀上演艺事业高峰。
才打第三剂新冠疫苗, 电视主播节目中突重摔倒地 骇人视频疯传
文章来源: 东森新闻
01/11/2022
巴西一名电视台主持人不久前接种第三剂新冠疫苗，3日在直播节目中看来一切正常，没想到播报到一半身体45度倾斜，下秒重重倒地，工作人员和观众都吓了一跳。这段影片掀起热议，部分网友质疑，这可能是第三剂疫苗副作用。
当地媒体报导，现年36岁的席尔瓦（Rafael Silva）是巴西TV Alterosa电视台节目主持人，3日在节目中突然心脏病发倒地。影片中可见，席尔瓦对着镜头播报到一半，身体开始向后倾斜，平板从手中飞出，接着整个人重重撞上身后的背板，昏倒在地。电视台赶紧切换画面，但他昏倒的过程已经完整播出。
事发后现场工作人员马上将席尔瓦送医，他在前往医院途中5度心脏麻痹，情况相当危急，所幸经过治疗后已经没有生病危险，目前仍在加护病房，但病情稳定，预计11日再度接受检查。
Jan 3, 2022
他昏倒的画面在网路上疯传，令许多网友感到震惊。有人翻出席尔瓦的推特发文，发现他不久前才刚接种第三剂疫苗，当时还开心亮出照片。因此有传言指出，席尔瓦心脏病发是疫苗引发的副作用，不过电视台人员已经出面否认此说法。
席尔瓦的同事洛佩斯（Kadu Lopes）说明，他在去年12月28日接种疫苗，昏倒则是在3日，有人说他是打完疫苗突然不适，但专家已经排除这种可能性，且为席尔瓦治疗的医师表示，他患有先天性心脏病，这次昏倒也和他的遗传性疾病直接相关，并非疫苗副作用。
Covid-19 Vaccine Injuries/Deaths
11/06/2021
Rumble — Roundtable discussion with vaccine injured and medical experts on federal vaccine mandates and the importance of health care freedom.
美国陆军飞行医官特蕾莎中校关于新冠疫苗的证词
By 萧笙客
11/06/2021
11月2日，飞行医官特蕾莎·朗中校在约翰逊参议员主持的关于新冠疫苗的圆桌会议上的作证。
美国德州胡德堡陆军基地负责四千名陆军飞行旅官兵身体健康和飞行安全的军医特蕾莎反对对官兵、特别是飞行员强制性注射疫苗，向法院提出的临时禁令书写的补充材料。
Sen. Johnson hosts panel highlighting people claiming to be harmed by COVID-19 vaccines
By WEAU 13 News
11/06/2021
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WEAU) – Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson is giving a stage to people who claim they were harmed by COVID-19 vaccinations.
Tuesday, Johnson held a roundtable with several people who say they or a loved one experienced life-altering side-effects from various COVID vaccinations.
One panelist, who says she experienced adverse side effects from the vaccine, called for a federal safety net for others who are also injured.
Another woman at the meeting claimed that those who catch COVID receive medical help, while those who have adverse side effects to vaccines are ignored.
The panel included researches and doctors who generally agreed vaccines have a role in fighting the pandemic, but also cautioned against mandating them.
Johnson said the panel is not about creating fear or increasing vaccine hesitancy, but says federal health officials aren’t being honest when they say the vaccines are safe and effective, and shouldn’t be mandated.
“I had COVID,” Johnson said. “I’ve had my antibodies tested as my doctor told me. I’ve got a whopping level of antibodies.”
Johnson also spoke about his personal vaccination decision.
“Again, natural immunity should be strong, pretty long-lasting, which is the case of very, you know, many, many illnesses, many viruses,” Johnson said. “And so there’s no reason for me to get a vaccine.”
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention fact page maintains the vaccines are safe and effective. It also acknowledges the existence of some of the adverse effects discussed at Johnson’s roundtable, and says COVID vaccines are under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history.
Survey: Majority of Federal Employees Disagree With Biden’s Vaccine Mandate
Comments submitted as part of the survey show a diversity of thought on the requirement.
By COURTNEY BUBLÉ
he majority of federal employees recently surveyed (53%) strongly or somewhat disagreed with the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal employees, while 44% strongly or somewhat agreed with it.
The Government Business Council, the research arm of Government Executive, sent a survey between October 27 and November 2 to Government Executive and Defense One readers, which drew 3,186 respondents. The survey had a 95% confidence level and margin of error of +/- 3%; the vast majority of respondents currently work for a federal agency but the results did include some retirees and congressional and private sector workers. President Biden announced the mandate on September 9 and the deadline is November 22.
“I am not pro or anti-vaccine, I am pro-choice,” wrote one federal employee in the comments section. “It should be a choice not a mandate, last I knew this was a free country.” Anonymous comments submitted as part of the survey show the diversity of thought on the mandate as well as the nuance of arguments on both sides.
Thirty-percent of respondents said they thought the vaccine mandate will be slightly or moderately effective in protecting the federal workforce from the coronavirus; 42% thought it will be very or extremely effective and 29% thought it will not be effective.
“The vaccine mandate is most likely legal. It’s also probably effective,” said a respondent. “It, however, does not mean the federal [government] should have the power to force adults and the civilian workforce to get a shot that they don’t want.”
The mandate requires all federal employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 by November 22, or claim a religious or medical exemption. Those who decline vaccination and whose agencies deny their exemption requests will face progressive discipline, up to removal from the federal service.
Another respondent said, “the mandate will not be effective if the many false religious exemptions are approved,” because “most are not sincerely held beliefs, but just people that don’t want to get their vaccine.”
A different person said, “A coworker’s choice not to be vaccinated increases my potential exposure to COVID, potentially increases my workload if I have to cover for them if they are out ill and increases the cost of [Federal Employees Health Benefits]/Medicare.”
The survey looked at the difference of views among those on full telework compared to those going into the office at least one day a week. The chart below shows approval and disapproval levels based on that status, with those going into the office at least once a week more likely to strongly disapprove of the mandate.
“If you can do your job, i.e. telework, without contacting others there is no reason to be vaccinated,” said one federal employee in the comments section. “It is the individual’s body and they should have the right to decide what is done to it without fearing economic ruin.”
Another said, “I worked and put the protocols in to keep everyone safe. I worked on the front lines for the last two years and now you want to fire me?”
One respondent who said they work for the Agriculture Department’s Farm Service Agency said they love their job and customers they serve, “but lately I do not feel the agency has my back or appreciates the work our agency does. After being on the front lines, figuring out telework, changing the way our agency goals are achieved I feel the employees deserve a little more than a ‘do it or get out policy.’ ”
As for the ability to enforce a vaccine mandate, 50% of respondents strongly or somewhat disagreed that the federal government has the authority to enforce the requirement, while 46% somewhat or strongly agreed. There were no major differences in responses from managers and non-managers to this question; however, there were some differences among those in different work environments, as shown below.
The Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel issued a legal opinion in July that says federal law doesn’t prohibit public and private entities from mandating coronavirus vaccines, even if those vaccines do not yet have full authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. Also, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued a similar decision in May, which it updated in October.
As for regions, the area with the highest approval rating (54%) of the mandate was the D.C. metro area, which is where federal agency headquarters are concentrated. Respondents living in the Southwest had the highest disapproval rating.
“The D.C. power brokers are using us as pawns,” said a respondent.
While not a question in the survey, many raised concerns in the comments section about loss of employees due to the mandate.
“Is the federal government prepared to lose 20-30% of its workforce to retirements, resignations or terminations?” said one respondent.
“I will retire from federal service if I am threatened with discipline/firing,” said another. “ I am proud of my military service (Vietnam veteran) and federal service (FBI and [Internal Revenue Service]) and continually received ‘outstanding’ performance evals as GS-14. The federal mandate is morally wrong.”
Someone else said, “this is a train wreck, but may provide promotion opportunities for the younger workforce.”
However, there were also several comments encouraging vaccinations. “I sincerely appreciate efforts to get our team vaccinated,” said one person. “I am grateful for the mandate and wish it had come sooner.”
For comparison, a recent survey from Qualtrics, an experience management company, found that the majority of respondents (58%) supported vaccine mandates from either employers or the federal government.
“Employees in the [technology and information technology] industry are the most supportive of federal vaccine mandates compared to those who work in health care, retail and government,” said Qualtrics. “Roughly a quarter of government, health care, and private employees oppose mandates that would apply to them.”
Overall, 42% of respondents want their company leaders to enforce the mandate, while 39% do not, the Qualtrics survey found. That survey was done between October 12 and 15. There were 1,309 respondents who were chosen from a randomized panel and deemed eligible if they live in the United States, are an adult and are at least part-time employees.
Government Executive previously reported about reactions to the mandate from NASA, Federal Bureau of Prisons and other federal employees. While some agencies have shared their vaccination levels with reporters, lawmakers or the public, the levels are not known for all. Top House Republicans are seeking those numbers by November 10.
In one example, as of late October, several intelligence agencies had at least 20% of their workforce unvaccinated, with some as high as 40%, said Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, who is a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the Associated Press reported on Friday. He cited information that the Biden administration gave to the committee, but hasn’t released publicly, and didn’t name the specific agencies since the full results were classified.
Biden admin considering vaccine mandate for businesses with fewer than 100 employees
OSHA rule for big businesses forces employees to be vaccinated or wear masks and get weekly COVID-19 tests
By Tyler Olson | FOX Business
11/05/2021
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says it is “seeking comment” about whether businesses with fewer than 100 employees should be subject to the COVID-19 vaccine and testing mandate it is implementing on big businesses.
OSHA’s requirement will force businesses with more than 100 employees to mandate vaccines or else their employees will need to wear masks and be tested for COVID-19 weekly. It will go into effect Jan. 4.
But according to a summary released by OSHA, it appears to be considering implementing the rule for small businesses as well.
“OSHA is confident that employers with 100 or more employees have the administrative capacity to implement the standard’s requirements promptly, but is less confident that smaller employers can do so without undue disruption,” the summary says. “OSHA needs additional time to assess the capacity of smaller employers, and is seeking comment to help the agency make that determination.”
The same language is included in the Federal Register page for the vaccine rule.
A Department of Labor spokesperson told FOX Business Friday that it is indeed considering whether to extend the vaccine or mask and testing mandate to businesses with fewer than 100 workers.
“OSHA chose a 100-employees threshold at this time because the agency is confident that employers with 100 or more employees have the administrative capacity to implement the standard’s requirements promptly,” the spokesperson said. “Because the emergency situation required OSHA to act quickly, the information immediately available to the agency did not allow it to confidently assess the impact on smaller firms.”
The spokesperson added: “OSHA will consider whether to extend the rule to smaller firms in the public rulemaking that begins with the publication of this emergency rule.”
Raytheon CEO warns company could lose ‘several thousand’ employees over vaccine mandate
By Mike Brest
10/27/2021
Raytheon Technologies’s top boss warned that the U.S. aerospace and defense company will lose thousands of employees who have thus far refused to comply with the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
“So, we’re going to be faced on Dec. 8 with a choice. We’re going to potentially lose several thousand people who refuse to be vaccinated,” Raytheon CEO Greg Hayes said in a CNBC interview on Tuesday. “Now, this is a tough thing, but we are preparing for it.”
Hayes also said that 83% of the company, which has a total workforce of roughly 125,000 U.S. employees, according to Reuters, is already vaccinated while another 6% are “in the process of being vaccinated.”
Additionally, there is another 3% of employees who are seeking either a religious or medical exemption, while another 3% have said they don’t intend to receive the vaccine, the CEO added, though he did not address the status of the employees who do not fall into those categories.
The company has already begun hiring people to fill the upcoming vacancies, Hayes said.
Raytheon had issued a companywide mandate requiring vaccination by Jan. 1, but that order was usurped when President Joe Biden declared that all federal contractors must receive the vaccine by Dec. 8.
Hayes’s comments came the same day Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville sent a letter to the White House claiming that Biden’s “federal contractor vaccine mandate will have negative effects on our national security” and called on the president “to remove — or, at a minimum, delay and clarify — vaccination requirements on private companies and academic research institutions that are actively supporting the Department of Defense.”
Similarly, nearly a dozen Republican lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee petitioned the White House and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to reverse the Pentagon’s vaccine mandate for contractors over fears that it could lead to supply chain issues.
Roughly 100 employees at United Launch Alliance, a Lockheed Martin and Boeing joint venture that contracts to both the Pentagon and NASA, walked off the job Monday over the federal government’s vaccine mandates and pledged to continue protesting in the days leading up to the deadline to be vaccinated.
Former WSU football coach Nick Rolovich to sue university over firing after refusing vaccine
According to a press release sent by his attorney, Rolovich is accusing WSU Athletic Director Pat Chun of “discriminatory and vindictive behavior.”
By KREM Staff
10/20/2021
PULLMAN, Wash. — Former Washington State University football coach Nick Rolovich was fired Tuesday, Oct. 19 after refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and now he plans to sue the university.
According to his lawyer, Rolovich will be taking legal action against WSU and all parties responsible for his termination. The decision to terminate Rolovich came after his request for a religious exemption from the vaccine was denied by the WSU. According to his lawyer, WSU “indicated that even if the exemption had been granted, no accommodation would have been made.”
Rolovich is accusing WSU Athletic Director Pat Chun of “discriminatory and vindictive behavior,” according to the statement from his lawyer, Brian Fahling.
“Since at least early April, it became clear that Chun had already determined that Coach Rolovich would be fired,” Fahling says. “Chun’s animus towards Coach Rolovich’s sincerely held religious beliefs, and Chun’s dishonesty at the expense of Coach Rolovich during the past year is damning and will be thoroughly detailed in litigation.”
In the statement, Fahling says, “Chun’s discriminatory and vindictive behavior has caused immeasurable harm to Rolovich and his family. It is a tragic and damning commentary on our culture, and more specifically, on Chun, that Rolovich has been derided, demonized, and ultimately fired from his job, merely for being devout in his Catholic faith.”
Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, has encouraged people to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Here is the statement from Rolovich’s lawyer in full:
“The termination of Washington State football coach Nick Rolovich on Monday was unjust and unlawful.
It came after Coach Rolovich’s request for a religious exemption from the vaccine was denied by the University. The institution also indicated that even if the exemption had been granted, no accommodation would have been made. As a result, Coach Rolovich will be taking legal action against Washington State University, and all parties responsible for his illegal termination.
Immediately after terminating Coach Rolovich, WSU Athletic Director, Pat Chun, directed campus police to escort the coach to his car, he wasn’t allowed into his office, and he was not even allowed to speak to his team. Since at least early April, it became clear that Chun had already determined that Coach Rolovich would be fired. Chun’s animus towards Coach Rolovich’s sincerely held religious beliefs, and Chun’s dishonesty at the expense of Coach Rolovich during the past year is damning and will be thoroughly detailed in litigation.
Chun’s discriminatory and vindictive behavior has caused immeasurable harm to Coach Rolovich and his family. Furthermore, the University’s deceitfulness about being unable to accommodate Coach Rolovich even if his religious exemption request had been granted, is exemplified by Chun’s actions arranging a “secret” donor trip that he had Coach Rolovich attend at the height of the pandemic in July 2020.
During that excursion, Chun and other attendees contracted the disease, but Coach Rolovich did not. It is a tragic and damning commentary on our culture, and more specifically, on Chun, that Coach Rolovich has been derided, demonized, and ultimately fired from his job, merely for being devout in his Catholic faith.”
KREM has reached out to WSU for a statement but has not yet received a response.
320万年薪傲视全州公务员 华盛顿州立大学教练拒打疫苗遭开除
10/20/2021
华盛顿州立大学(Washington State University，WSU)足球队总教练罗洛维奇(Nick Rolovich)年薪320万元，在领取州政府薪水的公务员收入排行榜称霸。但因罗洛维奇拒绝遵守华州要求公务员必须接种新冠疫苗的规定，本周稍早已被开除。华盛顿邮报报导，罗洛维奇堪称到目前为止，最为引人注目的公职人员拒打疫苗而丢饭碗案例。
华盛顿州立大学18日宣布已经解聘罗洛维奇。华盛顿州立大学美洲狮队(Washington State Cougars)体育主任秦派特(Pat Chun，音译)指出，罗洛维奇拒绝配合疫苗接种规定，已经失去获得校方聘用的资格。
秦派特在声明中说，这起事件让学校足球队感到沮丧。
42岁的罗洛维奇出身于夏威夷大学(University of Hawaii)足球队，2019年曾获西部山区联盟(Mountain West Conference)最佳教练。罗洛维奇年薪320万元，是领取华州州政府薪水的公务员当中排行最高者。
罗洛维奇今年暑假已经表明坚决不打疫苗，太平洋十二校联盟(Pacific-12 Conference)在洛杉矶举办媒体宣传，由于规定全体出席者必须打疫苗，罗洛维奇便因此缺席。
秦派特指出，校方与罗洛维奇协商长达数月，但罗洛维奇态度坚定，「他有权做出选择，他的决定就是不配合规定」。
华盛顿州立大学校长薛尔兹(Kirk Schulz)则在声明中说，虽然少数人士拒打疫苗而引发轩然大波，但学校接近90%雇员及97%学生则都打了疫苗。
薛尔兹说：「人们可以做选择，而且有好几个月的时间可以决定。这并不是突然发生的。」
除了罗洛维奇之外，华盛顿州立大学美洲狮队另外四名助理教练罗戈(Ricky Logo)、理查森(John Richardson)、史特兹曼(Craig Stutzmann)、韦伯(Mark Weber)，同样因为拒打疫苗，一并遭到开除。
美国ESPN知名体育记者拒打疫苗被开除
本文源自: 金融界网
10/20/2021
迪士尼旗下娱乐与体育节目电视网（ESPN）的知名记者艾莉森-威廉姆斯（Allison Williams）周一表示，她因为拒绝接种新冠病毒疫苗而被解雇，下周将是她在这里工作的的最后日子。
这位明星记者最出名的是她对美国大学橄榄球和篮球比赛的报道，她在社交媒体上的一段视频中说，她要求豁免不接种疫苗的请求被拒绝了。
威廉姆斯从2011年3月开始为ESPN工作。上个月，她在推特上发表声明称，在咨询了医生后，她拒绝接种疫苗，因为她和她的丈夫正试图生第二个孩子，接种疫苗“不符合我的最佳利益”。
ESPN的母公司迪士尼是众多要求员工接种疫苗的企业之一。该公司在一份声明中说，不会对威廉姆斯的个案置评。迪士尼表示，公司正在按照其法律义务，处理员工提出的豁免要求。
ESPN’s Allison Williams explains why she’s giving up her job over a vaccine mandate
By ANDREA HSU
10/20/2021
Lance King/Getty Images
ESPN college basketball and football reporter Allison Williams has joined a small minority of workers who have quit or been fired from their jobs over a vaccine mandate.
“I have been denied my request for accommodation by ESPN and the Walt Disney Company, and effective next week, I will be separated from the company,” she said in a video posted to Instagram on Friday.
ESPN’s parent company, Disney, had announced a vaccine mandate over the summer with a deadline of this Friday, Oct. 22.
In early September, Williams shared on Twitter that she’d decided not to get a COVID-19 vaccine while she and her husband were trying to have a second child.
“Taking the vaccine at this time is not in my interest,” she wrote.
The CDC has urged people who are pregnant or might become pregnant to get vaccinated, saying there is currently no evidence showing COVID-19 vaccines cause fertility problems and no data pointing to an increased risk of miscarriage among people who received an mRNA vaccine during pregnancy.
In the Instagram video, Williams spoke of her medical apprehensions about receiving the vaccine and added, “I am also so morally and ethically not aligned with this.”
“Ultimately, I cannot put a paycheck over principle, and I will not sacrifice something that I believe and hold so strongly to maintain a career,” she said in the video. “I’m going to pray things get better and that I can see you on the television set in some capacity in some stadium, covering some game soon.”
Williams, who had reported for ESPN since 2011, acknowledged she’s not the only one walking away from a career or a profession they love.
Hundreds of hospital workers have quit rather than get vaccinated, but they represent only a tiny fraction of employees overall. For example, Duke Health in North Carolina reported it had fired just 20 people out of a workforce of 23,000.
Meanwhile, United Airlines said it is terminating a couple of hundred of its 67,000 employees who did not comply with the airline’s vaccine mandate. Other employers that have imposed vaccine mandates are also reporting compliance rates topping 90%.
Veteran police officer resigns over vaccine mandate in chronically understaffed department
The department has chronically been understaffed and more officers could resign over the mandate
By Emma Colton | Fox News
9/21/2021
A nearly 30-year police veteran in California resigned over San Jose’s vaccine mandate as the police force continues struggling with chronic understaffing.
“First of all, it’s my religious belief. I also believe I’ve been given a choice about what to do with my body,” Sgt. David Gutierrez said after he resigned from the San Jose Police Department this weekend, KPIX reported.
Gutierrez spent 23 years with the San Jose Police Department working as a homicide detective, internal affairs investigator and patrol supervisor, before retiring in 2019. He then returned to the force as a reserve officer.
Gutierrez worked his last shift at the department on Saturday, and said he sent a letter to the city manager on Monday denouncing the city’s vaccine mandate, which requires city employees to show proof of vaccination or get a medical exemption. Those who don’t comply face disciplinary action, such as termination.
“Disciplinary action is when you have done something wrong,” Gutierrez said, according to NBC Bay Area. “I have done nothing wrong – by making a choice not to be vaccinated why would you be disciplined?”
Gutierrez added that he is not anti-vaccine and would be open to the city testing him on a weekly basis instead of enforcing the vaccine or getting a medical exemption.
“I’m not anti-vaccine. I don’t tell people, ‘You shouldn’t get it.’ But when it comes to my body, it’s my choice about what I want to put in my body,” Gutierrez said.
He sent his resignation letter ahead of the city’s Sept. 30 deadline for employees to get the vaccine, and said more officers could also walk off the job amid the department already facing understaffing issues.
“We are already understaffed and can’t afford to lose more,” Gutierrez said.
“If they let go police officers who’ve been here five years, 10 years, 15 years, you can hire somebody else, but you’re not going to hire that experience though,” he added.
A recent audit examining the last 10 years of the police department found the force has heavily relied on overtime as it struggles with understaffing.
About 200 officers in the department have so far asked for exemptions, many of which are for religious purposes. But the Democratic mayor, Sam Liccardo, says the vaccine mandate is overall working and doesn’t anticipate an exodus from the force.
“This is certainly for the protection of the individual members of our city team. But it’s also, critically, for the safety of our entire community because we know, obviously, first responders are out there interacting [with the public] every day,” Liccardo said, according to KPIX.
Northern NY hospital to stop delivering babies after resignations over Covid-19 vaccine
BY Christine Vendel
9/12/2021
A hospital in New York plans to stop delivering babies later this month because too many maternity workers resigned rather than get the Covid-19 vaccine.
Lewis County Health System Chief Executive Officer Gerald R. Cayer announced at a news conference Friday afternoon that the maternity department would be closed on Sept. 25 until they can find enough vaccinated nurses to safely reopen it.
Cayer told reporters in Lowville, is the North Country of New York state, that seven of the 30 people who have resigned from the hospital worked in the maternity department, according to the news site NNY360.
Seven additional maternity workers have not said whether or not they will get their first vaccine shot by Sept. 27, which is the deadline set by the state for healthcare workers to get at least one shot, according to the news site.
The health system has a higher than average percentage of its staff vaccinated, Cayer told reporters, with 464 employees vaccinated out of 650, or 73 percent.
But there are still 165 employees who have not yet shared their decision with hospital management, WWNY television news reported.
Medical services in five other departments may have to be cut back as well if more staff members resign because they refuse to be vaccinated
“It just is a crazy time,” Mr. Cayer said, according to NNY360, “It’s not just LCHS-centric. Rural hospitals everywhere are really trying to figure out how we’re going to make it work.”
“If you don’t have staff, how do you deliver the service? That’s what I’m going to be talking about,” Cayer said.
The Health System is one of only two county-owned hospitals left in the state and is the largest employer in the county.
