Get Ready to Vaccinate Young Kids; Indictment Over Threats to Doctor; Lab Leak Redux

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Anticipating FDA authorization, White House officials are urging governors across the country to get ready to vaccinate children as young as 5 against COVID-19 starting in early November. (NBC News)

COVID cases are declining across the country, but the number of new cases in children remains “exceptionally high,” with 148,222 cases reported in the week ending October 7, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. (CNN)

Escalating infection rates led to 960 COVID-19 hospitalizations in Minnesota this week, the most since 2020. (Star Tribune)

But in Arkansas, COVID hospitalizations have been falling for 8 days straight. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

As of Wednesday at 8 a.m. EDT, the unofficial U.S. COVID-19 toll reached 44,571,733 cases and 716,570 deaths, up 114,797 cases and 2,506 deaths since this time a day ago.

A federal grand jury indicted a Texas man for sending violent and explicit threats to a Maryland doctor who was identified as Leana Wen, MD, former Baltimore health commissioner and vocal advocate of the COVID-19 vaccine. (Department of Justice, NBC News)

A federal judge temporarily allowed healthcare workers in New York to refuse mandatory COVID-19 vaccines if they apply for religious exemptions. (New York Times)

The Idaho Medical Association filed a complaint against Ryan Cole, MD, who recently was appointed to the state’s Central District Health Board, for prescribing ivermectin to COVID-19 patients. (Boise State Public Radio)

The U.S. will open its Canada and Mexico land borders for fully vaccinated travelers in November. (AP)

One in five people lie about their mental health to their doctor, an AdventHealth survey showed. (Orlando Sentinel)

Healthcare has lost more than half a million workers since February 2020, mainly in nursing and residential facilities. (Becker’s Hospital Review)

Did SARS-CoV2 spring from nature or human error? The New Yorker takes a closer look at the COVID-19 lab leak theory.

As demands grow for transparency over SARS-CoV-2 origins, China prepares to test tens of thousands of blood bank samples from Wuhan. (CNN)

An anti-mask group sued a San Diego school district over its vaccine mandate. (San Diego Union-Tribune)

In Florida, one county was fined more than $3.5 million for enforcing a vaccine mandate. (USA Today)

Here’s how Tennessee residents can learn whether physicians who spread COVID-19 misinformation face disciplinary action. (Channel 5 Nashville)

It’s legal in 45 states, but pharmacists and other critics question whether doctors should sell drugs to patients. (Undark)

With supplies no longer scarce, the FDA is withdrawing temporary rules for alcohol-based hand sanitizers set during the public health emergency.

The agency also warned that, under certain conditions, ENFit low dose tip syringes may lead to medication overdose.

The NBA’s Brooklyn Nets banned Kyrie Irving from the team until he complies with New York City’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate. (Fox News)

Jordan Tropf, MD, an orthopedic surgery resident at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, ran three marathons in 3 days in three different cities — Baltimore, Chicago, and Boston — completing each in about 2.5 hours. (Montgomery County Media)

Last Updated October 13, 2021