Florida, other states challenge CDC transit mask rule ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Twenty-one states with Republican attorneys general sued Tuesday to halt the federal government’s requirement that people wear masks on planes, trains, ferries and other public transportation amid the coronavirus pandemic. AP NEWS

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Fewer than 800 coronavirus deaths are being reported each day in the United States, the lowest daily average since before the Omicron variant took hold late last fall. The last time the rate was this low was in mid-August, according to a New York Times database.

Trends in deaths lag behind cases and hospitalizations by weeks because of the time it takes for people to become seriously ill, and the time needed to complete and file death records.

Omicron sub-variant BA.2 accounts for about 55% of COVID variants in U.S. - CDC The U.S. national public health agency said on Tuesday that BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron was estimated to account for more than half the coronavirus variants in the country. Reuters Reuters

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Clinics, hospitals brace for end of cushion for uninsured covid care Christina Paz was typing up notes about a patient she'd just seen at Centro San Vicente, El Paso's largest community health center, when an email from Washington showed up. "Lord," she thought as she read it at the clinic's nursing station. "Oh, my God." The brief email told Paz, a nurse practitioner who is the clinic's chief executive officer, that at 11:59 p.m. on March 22 the federal COVID-19 Uninsured Program would stop accepting claims for testing and treating for the deadly virus on patien YahooNews

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State to report COVID-19 data once per week as cases decline LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The state plans to begin reporting Michigan's COVID-19 data once per week as the numbers of cases and deaths decline. Michigan’s online COVID-19 dashboard will be updated only on Wednesdays, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. AP NEWS

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Michigan has reported more than 2 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and 32,758 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Idaho gov vetoes bill banning business vaccine requirements BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho Gov. Brad Little has vetoed legislation that would make it illegal for most businesses to require the coronavirus vaccine. “I am vetoing this legislation because I am a lifelong advocate of limited government,” Little wrote in his transmittal letter on Monday, saying the bill “significantly expands government overreach into the private sector.” AP NEWS

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Wisconsin Makes Threats Against Healthcare Workers a Felony Offenders could go to prison for 6 years, but is that enough to prevent harassment and violence? Sophie Putka medpagetoday

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D) signed a bill into law on Wednesday that makes threatening a healthcare worker a felony.

California schools prepare to spot post-break COVID-19 cases SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California's 7 million students and school employees are getting free at-home COVID-19 tests to help prevent outbreaks at their school when they return from spring break. The state has shipped or delivered more than 14.3 million antigen tests, enough for two tests per person, to counties and school districts as part of a massive push to limit infections and avoid classroom closures after the break, Gov. AP NEWS

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