中国疫情持续扩散 多地包裹验出新冠病毒阳性
世界新闻网
11/15/2021
中国疫情持续扩散，目前已波及21个省分，而最近多地包裹更被验出新冠病毒阳性，北京15日有居民收到外包装病毒呈阳性的快递；辽宁阜新、黑龙江黑河也出现快递、食品包装验出新冠病毒阳性。对此，多地疾控中心紧急提醒，快递外包装不要带入室内。
健康时报报导，北京中关村街道15日接到海淀疾控中心通报，科源社区居民收到一件从内蒙古锡林郭勒盟发出的快递物品，外包装检测结果为阳性。
中国疾控部门提醒民众示，要做好活动期间电商、物流、冷链等重点环节的检测消毒，从业人员要做好个人防护、健康监测等防控措施。快递员及民众收发快递时应注意，疫情防控期间，非必需不要从境外高风险地区邮购商品，谨慎网购中国国内有本土疫情报告所在地区的商品。拆件时尽量在户外进行，外包装不要带回家中。
辽宁阜新疫情防控指挥部则表示，在接收货物时做好个人防护，快件不入户，戴好口罩和手套，对外包装内外表面用75%的酒精或1:100的消毒液进行消毒，随时注意做好手部卫生。对涉疫货物立即原地封存，等待专业人员处置。
中国疾控中心消毒学首席专家张流波在13日指出，这几个条件同时存在，快递就能传播新冠病毒：第一，在收运快递的过程中被新冠病毒污染；第二，在收快递时，快递物品上面的新冠病毒还存活；第三，在拿到快递时，受到新冠病毒的污染。
广州对境外入境实施「14+7+7」检疫隔离
世界新闻网
11/15/2021
中国疫情仍未停歇，为加强境外与境内防控，广州15日晚间发布通告，对所有从国外入境人员实施「集中隔离14天+居家隔离7天+自我健康监测7天」的防疫隔离措施，而中国境内有高风险地区旅居史的到（返）穗人员则需「集中隔离14天」。
据广州市新冠肺炎疫情防控指挥部通告，为加强防疫，对所有从国外入境人员（目的地为广州市者）实施「集中隔离14天+居家隔离7天+自我健康监测7天」，解除隔离后在入境第23天、28天凭解除隔离证明在医院免费进行核酸检测。
同时，对中国境内高风险地区旅居史的到（返）穗人员实施「集中隔离14天」；对有中风险地区旅居史的实施「居家隔离14天」；对于有本土阳性个案地级市旅居史的人员实施「三天两检」（间隔24小时）和14天居家健康监测，在第7天、第14天分别做一次核酸检测。
而其他省分（自治区、直辖市）到（返）穗人员抵穗后应48小时内主动做一次核酸检测。
通告称，民众如果与已经报告本土阳性感染者的公布行程有交集，或近期有本土阳性感染者所在省（自治区、直辖市）旅居史的，必须于12小时内主动向社区或小区、单位、饭店或宾馆报告，并配合各项健康管理措施。
中国清零政策异常严厉 为何仍受民众支持？
文章来源: ABC中文
11/14/2021
朱莉·郭（Julie Guo，音）很享受在塔州首府霍巴特的生活，这里洋溢着自然气息，空气清新。而且这个城市基本没有像澳大利亚其他首府城市一样经历严厉的封城。
但是，从今年4月底起全澳新冠病例有所增加，朱莉在中国的父母认为这表明澳大利亚的疫情失去控制，让她回国。
朱莉的父母坚持认为，保证她和国内其他人免遭新冠疾病侵袭的最佳方式就是“清零”政策。
所以，曾拥有澳大利亚临时签证、从事口译工作的朱莉打点行装，处理好一切事情后便永久性地回国定居了。此时，她已经与家人分别两年。
朱莉的家人坚决支持中国采取的严格疫情防控措施，即便在她回国后要隔离四周，家人对那些措施的支持也没有动摇。
一些人因为在中国国内出行受困而对疫情防控政策提出抗议和批评，还有一些城市为了遏制“德尔塔”变种病毒而长时间封城。但是，还是有很多中国人支持清零政策，即便这意味着依旧要紧闭国门。
此前，一名男性返回中国后检测出阳性，结果一些人就呼吁旅居国外的华侨不要回国。
这名男性与家人在网上遭人辱骂，后来被迫公开道歉。
清零政策下的生活
中国的新冠清零策略有一项内容就是，一旦有迹象表明病例数可能失控就立即封城，然后在几天内对数以百万计的居民进行检测。
所有人出门时都要使用被称为健康码的二维码， 健康码的颜色有绿、黄、红三种，分别表示不同的健康情况。
如果是确诊病例的密接者，健康码颜色为红色，需要隔离者的健康码颜色为黄色，健康或康复患者的健康码则是绿色。
朱莉·郭回国后在中国北方某地接受工作面试，之后便回到位于西南的四川老家。不久，她的健康码就变成了黄色，因为她去过靠近病毒暴露地点的某个地方。
当地卫生部门的工作人员接到通知后，不到一个小时就把她送到住家附近某医院进行隔离。
不过，因为在两天内做的两次检测结果皆呈阴性，朱莉被放回家。
她说，快速的检测与隔离程序是中国实施的疫情防控政策比较容易得到遵循的一个原因。
“做检测非常方便，这里的工作人员的工作效率也非常高，”她说。
朱莉认为，中国的封城大多时间短暂而且有针对性，只要不出门就能过正常生活。
“而且没有像澳大利亚那样的情况，在某[营业、工作]场所还限制入内人数，”她说。
“我想大家只有搭乘公共交通时才被要求戴口罩，”她补充说。事实是，有关部门还要求民众在难以保持社交距离的情况下也戴口罩。
一家人为了社会安全而分开
由于中国的新冠清零战略，北京市民杨金锁与在澳大利亚的女儿分开了近两年时间。
他表示，自己非常想念女儿，但如果女儿要回国看他就必须在酒店隔离两周，之后再居家隔离两周。
尽管如此，杨金锁还是认为继续坚持实施这一措施很重要。
“我认为，这么做挺好的。可以控制疫情，一开始就不让病毒传播，”杨金锁说。
“这是为了整个社会的安全着想。”
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疫情以来，澳大利亚共有至少177,400例新冠病例，病例数比中国多。在中国，正式报告的病例只有逾11万例。
中国在很大程度上避免了全国性的疫情爆发，但北京最近再次出现了“德尔塔”变种病毒导致病例数激增的情况，也一直在与新疫情抗争。
杨金锁说，虽然如此，但在北京的生活几乎没有受到影响。
“到目前为止，我还没有感到任何不便，”杨金锁说。
“我还是照样去晨练、买东西。”
中国将新冠病例清零作为长期战略
在世界各地，澳大利亚、新西兰和新加坡等国家最近都放弃了推行清零政策。
然而，中国国家呼吸医学中心名誉主任钟南山上周证实，清零政策在中国 “将持续很长时间”。
据路透社的报道，中国在今年7月和8月的疫情爆发共出现了1200余名感染者。
主要在北方地区爆发的最近一次疫情中，10月17日和11月1日之间报告有约538例本地病例。
钟南山医生表示有信心在一个月内控制住北方地区的疫情，说在病例数依然较低的时候可以更有效控制住疫情。
“在其他一些地区，一旦出现病毒传播，就会持续几个月时间，影响更大，”他说。
其他国家重新开放的结果令人担忧
钟医生为中国的清零政策辩解时引述有关言论说，这是一种相对来说成本较低的疫情防控方法。
“中国实施的‘零容忍’或‘零传播’政策是不得已而为之，”他说。
他引证说，即使有了疫苗，全球的平均病例死亡率也在2%以上，并解释说这是中国还没有选择开放的原因。
钟医生认为，世界其他地区完全开放后所面临的最新情况让中国感到担忧。
许多国家都遇到了感染人数激增的情况，这种情况往往导致需要采取严厉的限制措施。
“这一来一回带来的成本的代价更大，对市民、对社会的心理影响也更大，”他说。
新南威尔士大学（UNSW）的专家冯晓琦副教授也认为中国的抗疫方式有可取之处，她在中国从事过公共卫生研究。
冯副教授表示，中国观察全球范围内如何控制疫情，并评估本国的疫苗接种率，之后再调整应对新冠疾病的政策。
她说，如果任何染上病毒的外国旅客，哪怕是一小波人进入中国，也可能引发全国性的疫情爆发。
“这可能会造成非常大的卫生系统负担，也可能造成大量死亡，还可能对经济造成进一步损害。”
陈薇团队研制全球首款吸入式冠病疫苗亮相 外形似奶茶杯
11/13/2021
由中国军事医学研究院陈薇院士团队与康希诺生物股份公司合作研发的全球首款可吸入式新冠疫苗昨天亮相。这款外形酷似奶茶杯的可吸入式新冠疫苗被网民评论称，姿势好像喝奶茶。
根据“央视军事”公号消息，这款在“2021第五届海南国际健康产业博览会”亮相的疫苗可让观众现场体验。该疫苗目前二期临床试验已取得阶段性成果，正在推进紧急使用的申请工作。
据了解，吸入式新冠疫苗与肌肉注射使用了同种疫苗，其制剂配方未改变，仅采用不同的给药方式。雾化吸入免疫采用雾化器将疫苗雾化成微小颗粒，通过口部吸入的方式进入呼吸道和肺部，从而激发黏膜免疫，而这种免疫是通过肌肉注射所不能带来的。
此前，由陈薇院士团队领衔研制的雾化吸入新冠疫苗在《柳叶刀 传染病》发表临床研究数据，这也是全球首个公开发表的新冠疫苗粘膜免疫临床试验结果。
研究结果显示，雾化吸入接种疫苗安全性好，无肌肉注射局部不良反应。雾化吸入只需要使用五分之一剂肌肉注射用的剂量，细胞免疫反应水平就可以与一剂肌肉注射相当。肌肉注射后采用雾化吸入加强免疫，可产生高水平中和抗体。
与目前批准上市的肌肉注射疫苗相比，疫苗制剂处方、包装形式和生产设施等完全一致。同时，雾化吸入还能够显著提高已经注射疫苗人群的多重免疫效果，抵御新冠病毒的变异，适用于大规模人群推广使用。
World’s first inhalable Covid vaccine unveiled in South China
11/13/2021
The world’s first inhalable Covid-19 vaccine has been unveiled an expo in the country’s Hainan Province.
Jointly developed by Chinese military infectious disease expert Chen Wei’s team and the Chinese biotech company, CanSino Biologics Inc., the vaccine was presented at the 5th Hainan International Health Industry Expo held in Haikou City.
Nov 12, 2021
The vaccine is inhaled through the mouth to stimulate mucosal immunity that can’t be created by intramuscular injections.
Aerosol vaccination with one-fifth of the intramuscular dose could trigger a cellular immune response similar to that of one dose of intramuscular injection, according to research.
New vaccine mandate bans foreign visitors who got the wrong shot
We spoke with a couple separated by the new rule
By Rob Manch
11/12/2021
PORT CHARLOTTE — Imagine being fully-vaccinated against COVID-19 and still being told you can’t get on an airplane.
That’s the reality this week for millions of people across the world, thanks to a new proclamation signed by President Joe Biden. Foreign nationals now have to be vaccinated with an approved vaccine in order to travel to the United States.
“It’s very frustrating because there’s not a timeline to it,” said Daniela Zamuvio, who is now stuck in Mexico because of the new proclamation.
We met up with her boyfriend, Jason Hayner, who lives in Port Charlotte and we spoke with Zamuvio in a Zoom call on his laptop. That’s how they have to stay in touch for now.
“I couldn’t even make a guess as to when I could have Daniela in the states with me,” said Hayner.
Zamuvio can’t be here because the proclamation says foreign nationals can’t fly to the United States if they don’t have an approved vaccine.
“Her vaccine that she received from the Mexican Government back in May is the CanSino vaccine, which is not approved by the CDC,” said Hayner.
The CanSino vaccine was developed in China and has been approved for use in nine countries around the world.
But the U.S. isn’t one of them, and that meant Zamuvio had to cancel her flight last weekend.
“It hit me and I was like oh, I don’t think I’ll be able to travel, and then we had to call everything off,” said Zamuvio.
And Zamuvio isn’t alone. People who got Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine are in the same boat.
“It’s millions of people that are being affected by this and not being allowed to visit their friends and family that reside in the U.S.” said Hayner.
With millions of people now facing these new restrictions, a professor at Florida Gulf Coast University tells us the new restrictions could begin to have an impact on businesses you visit every day. Professor Thomas Felke said areas like Southwest Florida, that rely heavily on the service industry, could start to quickly feel the effect of these restrictions.
“Things like retail, landscaping, all of these types of service-related industries that, we know that that’s where a lot of our workforce migration comes from,” said Felke.
And even if Zamuvio wanted to get one of the approved vaccines, there isn’t any data yet on the health impacts of mixing-and-matching with CanSino.
So for now, Hayner and Zamuvio have to settle for a screen.
“If somebody can give me a solution of what to do with my case, because not being able to travel is not one of them,” said Zamuvio.
There’s another part of the proclamation Zamuvio and Hayner find unfair. It includes a list of 50 countries that are exempted from the rule, because it’s hard to get access to vaccines in those places.
So people in countries like Libya or Afghanistan can travel to the U.S. unvaccinated as long as they test negative for COVID-19, but people like Zamuvio are stuck.
The list of approved vaccines for travel to the U.S. are:
- Pfizer-BioNTech
- Moderna
- AstraZeneca
- Covaxin
- Covishield
- BIBP/Sinopharm
- Sinovac
- Janssen/J&J
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%.
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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.
