Past two weeks with hospitalizations down more than 20%. deaths, which are often weeks behind hospitalizations, are still very high and growing. with case numbers trending in the right direction, though, there is a growing push for some to begin ending covid restrictions, like masks indoors and in schools. here s meagan fitzgerald reporter: tonight, finally a downward trend. but as covid infections drop, growing calls from doctors, teachers and parents to drop masks for kids, citing concerns of long-term effects. masks in schools really decrease the quality of their educational environment and their social and emotional learning we do not have good high-quality evidence that children masking reduces the transmission of covid. reporter: but doctors are divided. i would say for certain right now it is not safe yet. we still have a very high number of people who are hospitalized. reporter: as the debate continues for
To save others hey, can you hear me reporter: miguel almaguer, nbc news late today churchill downs suspending the trainer of kentucky derby winner medina spirit after the horse failed a second drug test here s meagan fitzgerald reporter: tonight churchill downs announcing famed trainer bob baffert suspended from entering a horse at the kentucky derby for the next two years after weeks of controversy around his horse, medina spirit, winner of the derby. medina spirit has won the kentucky derby! reporter: today a second blood test coming back positive for betamethasone, increasing the colt s risk of being stripped of his derby title it now kicks off the process of possibly having him disqualified and the money returned in the kentucky derby reporter: baffert it s not in the barn so there s no way that we gave it reporter: before walking it back and saying a topical ointment used on the horse may have contained the drug the trainer saying in a statement through his att