Key takeaways: The Energy Department’s report concluded with “low confidence” that it is plausible the COVID-19 pandemic originated from a laboratory leak. The report was…
Posts published in “Health”
Residents of East Palestine, Ohio are still demanding answers from environmental officials after a train derailment caused toxic fumes to spread across the area. The EPA and CDC are conducting home re-entry screenings and air monitoring, and have reported no exceedances for residential air quality standards. The CDC is also committed to targeting any resident who may be affected by the incident and providing resources and support.
The US Department of Energy has concluded with "low confidence" that the Covid-19 pandemic "likely" originated from a laboratory leak in Wuhan, China, according to a classified report delivered to key lawmakers on the House and Senate Intelligence Committees. Intelligence agencies can make assessments with either low, medium or high confidence, but one source cautioned that the DOE's conclusion was not being viewed as hugely significant due to interagency disagreements. The US Department of Energy's assessment is the latest in a series of reports from the US government and other countries that have sought to determine the origin of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Residents of East Palestine, Ohio, have been concerned about the safety of their water supply since a train derailment in July caused several cars containing chemicals to spill. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and local and state leaders have said that the water supply is safe to drink, but residents remain concerned and are calling for further testing and monitoring. The Ohio EPA has said that it is continuing to monitor the situation and will take any necessary action to protect public health.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced on Friday that it will be reinstating federal requirements for powerful drugs such as OxyContin and Adderall, which were waived when the COVID-19 pandemic began. This move is seen as a way to address the opioid crisis and ensure that patients are getting the right medications and that they are being used safely and effectively. The new requirements will go into effect in the coming months and the DEA will be working with healthcare providers to ensure compliance.
Twelve Democratic-led states have filed a lawsuit in federal court to challenge restrictions on the abortion pill mifepristone, which is used in over half of U.S. abortions. An anti-abortion group in Texas has also filed a lawsuit seeking to restrict access to the drug, leading the Biden administration to prepare for a worst-case scenario. The lawsuit filed by the twelve Democratic-led states aims to ensure that mifepristone and misoprostol remain available to women who need them.
The FDA has released draft rules allowing plant-based drinks to label themselves as "milk" and providing voluntary extra nutrition labels to note when the drinks have lower levels of certain nutrients than dairy milk. The rules are open for public comment until April 13, 2021, and will provide clarity for consumers and producers when the final rule is issued.
20 Democratic governors have joined forces to form the Reproductive Freedom Alliance in response to the Supreme Court's June ruling which overturned the right to abortion and gave states broad regulatory authority. 44 states have placed some restrictions on or outright banned abortion, making it more difficult for women to access services. The alliance is a step towards protecting and expanding access to abortion services, sending a clear message that the governors are committed to protecting the right to choose.