In San Francisco, Drug Overdoses Claimed Twice as Many Lives as COVID-19
More than twice as many people died from accidental drug overdoses in San Francisco in 2020 than from the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, according to preliminary data released by the city’s office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
A total of 713 people died from drug overdoses in the city in 2020 compared to 255 who died from the CCP virus, commonly known as the coronavirus.
Nationwide, the largest increase in the number of overdose deaths occurred in March and May 2020 and coincided with the CCP virus lockdowns, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Ted Cruz Done With Face Masks After Being Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) will no longer wear a face mask as he walks the U.S. Capitol and goes to the Senate floor after being fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a report.
“At this point, I’ve been vaccinated. Everybody working in the Senate has been vaccinated,” Cruz told CNN on Thursday.
Cruz has followed the footsteps of a fellow senator, Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who also ditched his mask which isn’t a requirement for members in the Senate, but it is for those in the House.
UK Reports 77 Cases of New Indian COVID-19 Variant
UK health authorities have identified 77 cases of a new CCP virus variant first identified in India, which has two mutations that may contribute to increased transmissibility and resistance to vaccines.
In its latest update issued on Thursday, Public Health England (PHE) said the new mutant virus, known as B.1.617, has been designated a “Variant Under Investigation” (VUI) and both PHE and its international partners continue to monitor the situation closely.
PHE said 73 cases of the new variant have been found in England, and four in Scotland. Two women self-administer a COVID-19 test at a mobile novel coronavirus testing centre on Clapham Common in south London, on Apr. 13, 2021. (Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP via Getty Images)
Biden Administration to Give States $1.7 Billion to Track CCP Virus Mutations
The Biden administration announced Friday that it is giving states $1.7 billion to track variants of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, the pathogen that causes COVID-19.
A White House said in a statement that the money will come from funds allocated under the American Rescue Plan, with the aim of helping the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state authorities to “monitor, track, and defeat emerging variants that are currently threatening pockets of the country.”
Prompting the move is the spread of “new and potentially dangerous strains” of the CCP virus, which now make up roughly half of all infections in the United States, the White House said.
Nevada Plans to Fully Reopen by Start of June: Governor
Nevada is setting a goal of reopening all its counties at 100 percent capacity by June 1, Gov. Steve Sisolak announced on April 13.
Currently, masks and social distancing are required statewide; Nevada rules also generally limit occupancy for businesses and gatherings at 50 percent.
Individual counties may opt to fully reopen earlier, since they are set to be granted control on May 1 over COVID-19 mitigation measures, Sisolak noted. County school districts will also be able to decide on mitigation measures.
“We are aware that some counties may make the decision to move to 100 percent capacity as early as May 1 when they gain the authority, and others may not,” the Democratic governor said at a press conference about the state’s actions regarding the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.