‘Pacing’ for Long COVID; China Reports 60K COVID Deaths; Abortion Jury in Virginia?

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Long COVID patients are “pacing” — a practice of limiting daily activities, conserving energy, and tracking their illness — to cope with lingering symptoms. (Washington Post)

With the COVID emergency response winding down, David Kessler, MD, head of the federal COVID-19 vaccine program under the Biden administration, announced that he is leaving the White House. (Politico)

Walgreens has removed online purchasing restrictions on children’s pain and fever medications after weeks of shortages. (CNN)

China recorded nearly 60,000 COVID deaths since it lifted restrictions in early December; prior to this the country had disclosed fewer than 6,000 COVID-linked deaths since the start of the pandemic. (New York Times)

Doctors in China say they are discouraged from citing “COVID” as a cause of death on patient death certificates. (Reuters)

The World Health Organization recommended that China track its excess mortality from COVID-19 to fully understand the impacts of the latest surge. (Reuters)

As of Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. ET, the unofficial COVID toll in the U.S. reached 101,654,621 cases and 1,099,885 deaths.

Season flu activity in the U.S. continues to decline, according to the CDC.

While animal testing is no longer a requirement for new drug approvals, technology to replace animal testing has yet to be fully developed. (USA Today)

The Biden administration is increasing its surveillance of airplane toilets to monitor for new COVID variants. (Politico)

COVID-19 at any point in pregnancy was linked with a higher risk of maternal death, severe maternal morbidity, and neonatal morbidity compared to those not infected, according a meta-analysis in BMJ Global Health.

Lawmakers in Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Virginia have filed legislation aiming to restrict gender-affirming care for adults as old as 26. (The Hill)

Also in Virginia, Republicans in the state legislature have introduced a law that would ban abortion after 15 weeks gestation and appoint a jury each time an emergency abortion is performed to determine if it was legal. (VICE)

Who is the father of the abortion pill? (New York Times)

The uninsured rate in younger Americans declined from 2019 to 2021, according to a new HHS report.

The FDA approved a biweekly long-acting risperidone injection (Rykindo) for adults with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder, Luye Pharma announced.

Fewer than a third of drugs advertised on TV have at least a moderate improvement over existing treatments. (JAMA Network Open)

Injection drug use is causing an increase in endocarditis cases, but hospitals are not prepared to treat these patients. (STAT)

More young people are developing alcohol-related liver disease. (CBS News)

While it’s common for patients to experience morning sickness during pregnancy, some women need greater medical attention for their nausea. Why do so many go untreated? (Kaiser Health News)

In Texas, a high school football coach was suspended after multiple student athletes were hospitalized following a team workout. (NBC News)

Another Colorado library has closed due to methamphetamine contamination. (AP)

After the Golden Globes, several celebrities including Jamie Lee Curtis and Michelle Pfeiffer tested positive for COVID. (ABC News)