The Latest: Some Iowa hospitals limit elective surgeries

By The Associated Press

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Hospitals successful Iowa’s second-largest metropolis are limiting elective procedures due to the fact that of accrued numbers of patients driven partially by a surge successful COVID-19 admissions.

The Cedar Falls Gazette reports that some UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s Hospital and Mercy Medical Center confirmed Friday their facilities are preserving capableness due to the fact that of precocious diligent counts successful caller weeks. Cedar Rapids hospitals had not delayed oregon postponed elective surgeries and procedures since past fall.

St. Luke’s is limiting surgeries that necessitate a infirmary enactment to 10 per day.

Mercy officials confirmed that it besides is temporarily reducing the fig of elective procedures that necessitate infirmary stays aft surgery.

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MORE ON THE PANDEMIC:

— Tale of 2 clinics: Lines successful Kenya, fewer takers successful Atlanta

— Crowded U.S. shot stadiums make combustible premix this fall

— China pledges 3 cardinal doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnam

— Coronavirus infects respective gorillas astatine Atlanta zoo

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— See AP sum astatine https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic.

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HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

OMAHA, Neb. — Four students are suing Creighton University implicit its request to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to stay enrolled.

They reason that immoderate of them consciousness pushed to interruption their spiritual beliefs against abortion. The suit filed this week successful Douglas County District Court besides alleges that immoderate of the 4 students person aesculapian conditions that marque vaccines not recommended for them.

The Catholic assemblage successful Omaha mandated that each students get vaccinated successful August.

The suit says the students entity due to the fact that vaccines were developed oregon tested utilizing cells from aborted fetuses.

The Vatican has declared that specified vaccines are morally acceptable erstwhile others aren’t available. The assemblage declined comment.

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Most Wyandotte County residents volition beryllium required to deterioration masks successful indoor nationalist spaces into mid-November, and Kansas aviation companies are acceptable to person astir $104 cardinal successful national COVID-19 alleviation funds.

The disguise request applies successful Kansas City, Kansas, and to residents aged 5 and older, successful businesses and houses of worship. Wyandotte County imposed the mandate successful August, and it is present acceptable to stay successful spot done Nov. 18. The region committee voted this past week to widen the mandate by 2 months.

The Wichita Eagle reports that 31 companies volition person national alleviation funds to support a full of astir 4,300 jobs.

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LOWVILLE, N.Y. — An upstate New York infirmary volition halt delivering babies aboriginal this month, successful portion due to the fact that of worker resignations implicit a request they beryllium vaccinated against COVID-19.

Six maternity unit members resigned from Lewis County General Hospital during the past week, worsening an existing unit shortage, the Watertown Daily Times reported. The section has 7 different unvaccinated employees who besides could determine to leave, infirmary officials said.

“The fig of resignations received leaves america nary prime but to intermission delivering babies astatine Lewis County General Hospital,” Chief Executive Gerald Cayer said astatine a quality league Friday. “It is my anticipation that the (state) Department of Health volition enactment with america successful pausing the work alternatively than closing the maternity department.”

Services besides whitethorn person to beryllium curtailed successful 5 different departments if unit members resign alternatively than beryllium vaccinated by the state’s Sept. 27 deadline for wellness attraction workers, authorities said.

Cayer said 30 radical person resigned since the vaccine mandate was announced past month, astir of whom held objective positions similar nurses, therapists and technicians. Thirty others person gotten astatine slightest 1 dose of the vaccine, helium said.

“Essential wellness services are not astatine hazard due to the fact that of the mandate,” Cayer said. “The mandate ensures we volition person a steadfast workforce and we are not liable for (causing COVID-19) transmission successful oregon retired of our facilities.”

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GARFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A authoritative has filed transgression complaints against 2 bluish Michigan men successful transportation with an onslaught connected a paper newsman covering a gathering by a radical opposing masks and vaccination mandates.

Court records amusement misdemeanor battle oregon battle and artillery complaints were authorized against Michael Adams, 55, of Kingsley, and Joseph Welsh, 51, of Traverse City, the Traverse City Record-Eagle reported Saturday.

The charges were authorized Friday by Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg.

Record-Eagle acquisition newsman Brendan Quealy said helium was punched successful the look Aug. 26 portion covering an anti-mask lawsuit astatine a nationalist recreation country conscionable extracurricular Traverse City successful Garfield Township. Quealy said an lawsuit organizer pointed him retired and told him to leave.

A Citizens Liberating Michigan organizer tin beryllium heard connected an audio signaling challenging the reporter’s beingness and asking attendees to basal successful beforehand of him, according to the newspaper.

Quealy told investigators helium was attacked erstwhile helium refused to leave.

The Associated Press was incapable to scope Adams oregon Welsh connected Saturday. The AP near messages seeking remark from an lawyer listed arsenic representing Adams.

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ISTANBUL — Thousands of radical protested successful Istanbul against COVID-19 restrictions connected Saturday.

Unmasked crowds gathered successful Maltepe, an unfastened abstraction connected the city’s Asian side. A pistillate successful the assemblage held a placard that read: “we are calved escaped and we privation to unrecorded free.”

Turkey’s disguise mandate outdoors and successful nationalist places remains successful spot aft reopening successful July aft a lockdown. The state has seen a emergence successful cases and deaths since then, with regular infections expanding from astir 5,000 to much than 20,000.

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SANTA FE, N.M. — New Mexico reported 20 much deaths from the coronavirus, the largest single-day summation since May.

The authorities besides reported 885 confirmed cases, the largest one-day summation successful a week.

Health attraction officials person expressed interest astir New Mexico’s infirmary capableness during the existent coronavirus surge.

The state’s pandemic totals accrued to astir 240,000 confirmed cases and much than 4,600 confirmed deaths.

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ATLANTA — Atlanta’s zoo says astatine slightest 13 occidental lowland gorillas person tested affirmative for the coronavirus.

That includes 60-year-old Ozzie, the oldest antheral gorilla successful captivity. Zoo Atlanta says employees noticed the gorillas had been coughing, had runny noses and showed changes successful appetite.

A veterinary laboratory astatine the University of Georgia returned affirmative tests for the respiratory illness. Zoo Atlanta says it’s waiting connected confirmation from the National Veterinary Services Lab successful Iowa. The zoo says it I s treating the gorillas astatine hazard of complications with monoclonal antibodies.

Zoo officials accidental they judge an asymptomatic worker passed connected the virus. The worker had been afloat vaccinated and was wearing protective equipment.

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HANOI, Vietnam — China plans to donate 3 cardinal doses of its coronavirus vaccine to Vietnam.

The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the pledge Saturday arsenic helium wrapped up a two-day sojourn to Hanoi. The sojourn comes amid a microorganism lockdown successful Vietnam to incorporate a coronavirus surge.

About 23 cardinal Vietnamese students started a caller schoolhouse twelvemonth this week, astir successful virtual classrooms.

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh says the 2 countries should usage dialog to enactment retired immoderate differences, authorities broadcaster VTV reported. Vietnam has antecedently accused China of obstructing its state exploration activities successful the South China Sea.

Wang’s sojourn comes 2 weeks aft U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris travelled to Vietnam to fortify ties.

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PHOENIX — Arizona reported much than 3,000 regular coronavirus cases and hospitalizations remained supra 2,000.

There were 3,355 cases and 36 deaths connected Saturday, according to the Department of Health Services’ coronavirus dashboard.

The authorities reported that 2,085 coronavirus patients occupied infirmary beds connected Friday, topping 2,000 for astir 2 weeks.

Arizona’s pandemic totals accrued to 1.04 cardinal cases and 19,183 confirmed deaths.

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WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s medication is gearing up for different large clash betwixt national and authorities regularisation implicit its sweeping caller vaccine requirements that person Republican governors threatening lawsuits.

While galore details astir the rules stay unknown, immoderate experts accidental Biden appears to beryllium connected steadfast ineligible crushed to contented the directive successful the sanction of protecting worker safety.

Republicans swiftly denounced the vaccine mandate that could interaction cardinal Americans arsenic authorities overreach and vowed to sue.

Currently, the highly contagious delta variant is driving 1,500 deaths and 150,000 cases a day. Some 80 cardinal Americans stay unvaccinated.

There are present astir 300% much regular infections, two-and-a-half times the hospitalizations and astir doubly the deaths arsenic the aforesaid clip past twelvemonth – earlier vaccines were available.

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CHALMETTE, La. — Some of the hardest-hit victims near successful deadly Hurricane Ida’s aftermath are Louisiana residents already devastated by the pandemic. Many impoverished people, particularly those of color, already mislaid livelihoods.

They were connected the brink earlier Ida and don’t cognize however they’ll rebound. One specified pistillate is Natasha Blunt. She mislaid her banquet-hall occupation and faced eviction. She’s suffered strokes. She moved from New Orleans to an flat a fewer miles distant and was getting settled erstwhile Ida hit.

Her location mislaid power; belongings were destroyed. Now she faces eviction again. She wants to permission Louisiana but doesn’t person the means. Advocates effort to assistance Blunt and others similar her but accidental it’s an uphill conflict and systemic alteration is needed.

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INDIANAPOLIS — Health experts accidental this fall’s crowded assemblage and nonrecreational shot stadiums could make ripe conditions for COVID-19 to dispersed among unvaccinated fans.

Many shot stadiums aren’t requiring fans to deterioration masks oregon beryllium vaccinated. The chances of a instrumentality being exposed volition beryllium connected wherever the stadium is and whether the crippled is outdoors, among different factors. Experts accidental the azygous biggest mode to negociate the hazard earlier attending a crippled is to get afloat vaccinated.

Most shot stadiums clasp from 65,000 to 100,000 fans.

“At immoderate benignant of ample lawsuit similar astatine a shot stadium, without question determination volition beryllium galore infected radical there,” said Ryan Demmer epidemiologist astatine the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

The NFL doesn’t person a broad argumentation for masks oregon vaccination presumption for fans. That creates a patchwork of guidelines developed by each of the 32 teams. The Las Vegas Raiders requires impervious of vaccination for each fans 12 and over. The New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks requires fans amusement impervious of vaccination oregon a antagonistic COVID-19 test.

Wearing masks and utilizing manus sanitizer astatine the crippled is besides a bully idea, said Dr. Sharon Wright, main corruption prevention serviceman astatine Beth Israel Lahey Health successful Boston.

The highly contagious delta variant has triggered a summertime surge successful infections. The seven-day rolling mean for regular cases successful the U.S. sits astatine astir 150,000 aft starting September supra 167,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.

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NAIROBI, Kenya — Plans for COVID-19 booster shots successful immoderate Western countries are highlighting immense disparities successful entree to vaccines astir the world.

Wealthier nations are awash successful vaccines, portion they are scarce successful poorer countries, and galore radical are inactive waiting for their archetypal shot.

Just implicit 3% of radical crossed Africa person been afloat vaccinated. Health officials and citizens successful Africa often person small thought if vaccines volition beryllium disposable from 1 time to the next.

In Nairobi, Kenya, respective 100 radical enactment up regular extracurricular the city’s largest infirmary to hold for a shot. Halfway astir the satellite successful Atlanta, a session had lone 1 idiosyncratic amusement up implicit a six-hour play Wednesday to get vaccinated.

The disparity comes arsenic the U.S. is moving person to offering booster shots to ample segments of the colonisation adjacent arsenic it struggles to transportation Americans to get vaccinated. About 53% of the U.S. colonisation is vaccinated.

Margaret Herro, the Georgia manager of alleviation enactment CORE, says the radical has seen an uptick successful vaccinations astatine its pop-up sites successful caller weeks amid the delta lawsuit surge and the FDA’s afloat support of the Pfizer vaccine.

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama’s main wellness serviceman says a surge successful COVID-19 hospitalizations appears to person stabilized but the authorities inactive faces a “real crisis” of an overwhelming fig of patients needing intensive care, astir each of whom aren’t vaccinated.

Dr. Scott Harris, caput of the Alabama Department of Public Health reports that aft threatening to scope an all-time precocious for coronavirus hospitalizations, authorities hospitals person seen a flimsy diminution successful caller days.

He says he’s thankful that determination has been “a small spot of a plateau implicit the past week. … The numbers aren’t great. But the numbers astatine slightest person not continued to spell up,” helium said.

Still, Harris says, request for intensive attraction beds is exceeding the state’s capacity. Patients who usually would beryllium treated successful ICU wards are alternatively successful exigency rooms, mean beds oregon adjacent gurneys near successful hallways.

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The on-again, off-again prohibition imposed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to forestall mandated masks for Florida schoolhouse students is backmost successful force.

The 1st District Court of Appeal ruled Friday that a Tallahassee justice shouldn’t person lifted an automatic enactment 2 days agone that halted enforcement of the disguise mandate ban. The upshot is the authorities tin resume its efforts to enforce fiscal penalties connected the 13 Florida schoolhouse boards presently defying the disguise ban.

The U.S. Department of Education has begun a assistance programme for schoolhouse districts that suffer wealth for implementing mandatory masks and different coronavirus information measures.

DeSantis has argued the caller Parents Bill of Rights instrumentality gives parents the authorization to find whether their children should deterioration a disguise to school. School districts with mandatory disguise rules let an opt-out lone for aesculapian reasons, not parental discretion.

Charles Gallagher, lawyer for parents challenging the DeSantis ban, says successful a tweet, “students, parents and teachers are backmost successful harm’s way.”

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JACKSON, Miss. — Doctors who dispersed misinformation astir the COVID-19 vaccine could person their licence to signifier medicine suspended oregon revoked, according to a caller argumentation adopted by the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure.

The argumentation says doctors person an “ethical and nonrecreational responsibility” to signifier medicine successful the champion involvement of their patients and stock factual and scientifically grounded accusation with them.

“Spreading inaccurate COVID-19 vaccine accusation contradicts that responsibility, threatens to further erode nationalist spot successful the aesculapian assemblage and puts each patients astatine risk,” it reads.

Mississippi ranks among the lowest successful the state with conscionable 38% of its 3 cardinal residents afloat vaccinated. The section of wellness reported 1,892 confirmed cases and 35 deaths connected Friday.

Mississippi has registered astatine slightest 460,000 cases and 8,905 confirmed deaths.

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WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is calling immoderate Republican governors “cavalier” for resisting caller national vaccine requirements helium hopes volition incorporate the surging delta variant.

Biden visited Brookland Middle School connected Friday, conscionable a abbreviated thrust from the White House. He was making the lawsuit for caller national rules that could interaction 100 cardinal Americans.

All employers with much than 100 workers indispensable beryllium vaccinated oregon tested play for the virus, affecting astir 80 cardinal Americans. About 17 cardinal workers astatine wellness facilities that person national Medicare oregon Medicaid besides indispensable beryllium afloat vaccinated.

“I americium truthful disappointed that peculiarly immoderate Republican governors person been truthful cavalier with the wellness of these kids, truthful cavalier with the wellness of their communities,” Biden said during the visit. “This isn’t a game.”

Some Republicans and immoderate national officials accidental he’s overreaching his authority. Asked astir imaginable ineligible challenges to the caller vaccine requirements, Biden responded, “Have astatine it.”

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