GOP Lawmakers Go Maskless; Texas Gov. Bars Mask Rules; India Variant Rising in U.K.

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An Israeli airstrike damaged Gaza’s only laboratory for processing coronavirus tests. (New York Times)

Several Republican members of Congress deliberately ignored masking rules on the House floor, with one calling the expected fine “the best $500 I ever spent.” (NBC News)

Staff members at a prison in San Diego are asking prisoners who refuse COVID-19 testing to sign a liability waiver, something a medical expert says is unethical and a lawyer says is unconstitutional. (inewsource)

Home Depot has become the latest retailer to drop mask requirements for vaccinated employees and customers. (CBS News)

As of 8 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, the unofficial COVID-19 toll in the U.S. included 32,997,870 cases and 587,225 deaths, up about 28,000 and 800, respectively, since this time a day ago.

How can you trust that unmasked people are actually vaccinated? (New York Times)

Latest CDC data show that 60% of U.S. adults have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 47.6% are fully vaccinated.

Hospitals who serve poor patients have made out much worse during the COVID-19 pandemic than wealthier hospitals. (NPR)

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed an executive order prohibiting any local government entities from enforcing mask mandates. (CNBC)

Andy Slavitt, White House Senior Adviser for COVID-19 Response, revealed that his teenage son is suffering from long COVID. (AP)

It’s too soon to relax mask rules, says National Nurses United. (Washington Post)

The COVID variant from India could become the dominant strain in the U.K. in a matter of days, according to researchers. (CNBC)

The slow uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine in rural areas may delay the end of the pandemic, experts say. (CNN)

New Hampshire’s state epidemiologist says everyone should still wear masks and socially distance indoors if they are around unvaccinated people or those of unknown vaccination status, contracting guidance from the CDC. (WMUR)

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