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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As Covid-19 cases fall and masks come off, flu cases are rising After circulating at nearly nonexistent levels last year, influenza is increasing in most of the United States. Jacqueline Howard, CNN CNN

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While flu activity has been increasing in most places across the country, the highest levels have been recorded in the central and south-central regions of the United States, according to the CDC. ...

Shanghai starts China's biggest COVID-19 lockdown in 2 years BEIJING (AP) — China began its most extensive coronavirus lockdown in two years Monday to conduct mass testing and control a growing outbreak in Shanghai as questions are raised about the economic toll of the nation's “zero-COVID” strategy. AP NEWS

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Shanghai, China’s financial capital and largest city with 26 million people, had managed its smaller previous outbreaks with limited lockdowns of housing compounds and workplaces where the virus was spreading.

FDA expected to OK additional Covid-19 booster shots for adults over 50 next week The Biden administration is expected to give older adults the option of getting a second Covid-19 vaccine booster as early as next week. Brenda Goodman, CNN CNN

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The use of at-home coronavirus tests jumped during the Omicron wave, but disparities remain, a survey suggests

The use of at-home coronavirus tests surged during the winter Omicron wave in the United States, with white, high-income and highly educated people most likely to report using the tests, an online survey of U.S. adults suggests.

Between Dec. 19 and March 12, 20.1 percent of survey respondents who said they had symptoms consistent with Covid-19 reported using an at-home test, up from 5.7 percent between late August and early December, when Delta was the predominant coronavirus variant in the United States....

Lessons from the COVID data wizards Nature - Data dashboards have been an important part of pandemic response and planning. What have their developers learnt about communicating science in a crisis? Peeples, Lynne nature

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