All posts by nedhamson

Activist, writer, researcher, addicted to sharing information and facts.

After protest charges dropped, Detroit Will Breathe co-founder says, ‘We won’t go silently’ | News Hits

Then last week, Wallace’s persistence paid off. A 36th District Court judge dismissed charges against her and seven other protesters for their roles in the summer demonstrations.

“They want, to the best of their ability, to make an example out of Detroit Will Breathe and anybody else involved in the lawsuit,” Wallace tells Metro Times. “That is the price for standing up against the city of Detroit.”

The city of Detroit has waged an unusual and controversial campaign against protesters, filing a counter lawsuit against them in pursuit of damages from predominantly peaceful demonstrations. On Jan. 26, the Detroit City Council voted 5-4 to authorize $200,000 to pursue the counter suit, which critics say amounts to a tax-subsidized assault on free speech.

“We’re being hunted,” Wallace says. “To use tax dollars to come after us is disturbing.”

The cases against the protesters were weak. Police failed to provide basic discovery information, including the identities of arresting officers and body cam footage, that could be used at trial.

“The charges were dismissed because the city hasn’t met their burden of proof,” Wallace says. “They couldn’t produce evidence that people were committing crimes, and the arrests were sloppy.” Source: After protest charges dropped, Detroit Will Breathe co-founder says, ‘We won’t go silently’ | News Hits

COVID-19 Outbreak Among Attendees of an Exercise Facility — Chicago, Illinois, August–September 2020 | MMWR

The figure describes the percentage of fitness class attendees who developed COVID-19 during 1 week.  In August 2020, 55 COVID-19 cases were identified among 81 attendees of indoor high-intensity classes at a Chicago exercise facility. Twenty-two (40%) persons with COVID-19 attended on or after the day symptoms began. Most attendees (76%) wore masks infrequently, including persons with (84%) and without COVID-19 (60%).

What are the implications for public health practice?

To reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission in fitness facilities, attendees should wear a mask, including during high-intensity activities when ≥6 ft apart. In addition, facilities should enforce physical distancing, improve ventilation, and encourage attendees to isolate after symptom onset or receiving a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result and to quarantine after a potential exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and while awaiting test results. Exercising outdoors or virtually could further reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk.

Source: COVID-19 Outbreak Among Attendees of an Exercise Facility — Chicago, Illinois, August–September 2020 | MMWR

Adapting COVID-19 vaccines to SARS-CoV-2 variants: guidance for vaccine manufacturers | European Medicines Agency

EMA’s human medicines committee (CHMP) has adopted a reflection paper which details the laboratory (non-clinical), clinical, quality and manufacturing data needed to support the approval of such ‘variant’ vaccines.

The assumption behind the CHMP’s guidance is that a new variant vaccine would largely rely on the same technology and platform as the ‘parent’ vaccine – a vaccine already approved in the EU for the prevention of COVID-19. The difference would be in the specific structure (antigen) selected to trigger the immune response in the body.

Source: Adapting COVID-19 vaccines to SARS-CoV-2 variants: guidance for vaccine manufacturers | European Medicines Agency

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Allows More Flexible Storage, Transportation Conditions for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine | FDA

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it is allowing undiluted frozen vials of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to be transported and stored at conventional temperatures commonly found in pharmaceutical freezers for a period of up to two weeks. This reflects an alternative to the preferred storage of the undiluted vials in an ultra-low temperature freezer between -80ºC to -60ºC (-112ºF to -76ºF). The change is being reflected in updates to the Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine (Vaccination Providers). Source: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Allows More Flexible Storage, Transportation Conditions for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine | FDA

Publix to administer COVID-19 vaccines at all 730 Florida pharmacies | WFLA

Publix is opening its online reservation system for COVID 19 vaccination appointments at all 730 of its in-store Florida pharmacies.

Appointment scheduling starts Friday, Feb. 26, at 7 a.m. Eastern time.

“We’re pleased to bring appointment opportunities to each of our in-store Florida pharmacies,” said Publix CEO Todd Jones. “We know how important this vaccine is to the people we serve, and we are grateful we can expand our ability to help our communities during this time of need.”

Source: Publix to administer COVID-19 vaccines at all 730 Florida pharmacies | WFLA

UK urged to end arms sales to Saudi Arabia following Khashoggi report

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Campaigners say relationship with Riyadh needs a rethink after US concludes crown prince approved murder of journalist

Britain faced fresh calls to end unrestricted arms sales to Saudi Arabia after the US published a CIA assessment which concluded that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Charities, civil rights groups and others said the disclosure threw the UK’s traditionally close relationship with Riyadh into stark relief in the aftermath of the release of the short but unambiguous report.

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