U.S. House votes to end foreign air traveler COVID vaccine requirement.

 WASHINGTON, United States (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to end a requirement that most foreign air travelers be vaccinated against COVID-19, one of the few remaining pandemic travel restrictions still in place.

The vote was 227 to 201 with seven Democrats joining Republicans. No Republicans voted against the bill.

The Biden administration in June dropped its requirement that people arriving in the United States by air must test negative for COVID but has not lifted Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccination requirements for most foreign travelers. 

The White House said Tuesday it was opposed to the bill saying the vaccine requirement "has allowed loved ones across the globe to reunite while reducing the spread of COVID-19 and the burdens it places on the health care system in the United States." It is not clear if the Senate will take up the bill.

Covid-19: China suffers surge in cases after easing zero COVID lockdowns. Here's why and what we can learn.

Author: S. Jeffery

While the world has practically moved on from Covid, the Chinese government and its people still struggle with a recurring surge in cases due to the harsh lockdowns and the consequences that follow when the restrictions are eased. 

While the official data shows a drop in new cases, the information no longer covers large parts of the Chinese population, since the government ended mandatory testing for its citizens on Wednesday (Dec 7, 2022). On Friday (Dec 9, 2022) however, there were several cases of the virus being reported in schools and businesses.

Covid News: Belize experiencing a new surge in COVID-19 cases.

Image of COVID-19 virus cell.

Bemopan, Belize (CMC)  — Belize is experiencing a new wave of COVID-19 infections with the Ministry of Health and Wellness releasing a report indicating that 69 new cases were recorded during the period November 29 to December 5.

While there are no new hospitalisation cases or deaths, the health authorities said the positivity rate is at 11 cumulatively, while the daily rate is at 3.71.

Health Minister Kevin Bernard told reporters "we have to remember that COVID is here, and while 69 may be a significant jump indeed, there is surveillance being done.

San Francisco will allow police to deploy robots that kill.

San Francisco Police Chief, Bill Scott during a news conference in 2019.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Supervisors in San Francisco voted Tuesday to give city police the ability to use potentially lethal, remote-controlled robots in emergency situations -- following an emotionally charged debate that reflected divisions on the politically liberal board over support for law enforcement.

The vote was 8-3, with the majority agreeing to grant police the option despite strong objections from civil liberties and other police oversight groups. Opponents said the authority would lead to the further militarization of a police force already too aggressive with poor and minority communities.

Supervisor Connie Chan, a member of the committee that forwarded the proposal to the full board, said she understood concerns over use of force but that “according to state law, we are required to approve the use of these equipments. So here we are, and it’s definitely not a easy discussion.”

The San Francisco Police Department said

COVID-19 VACCINES: No case! 2005 law protects COVID-19 vaccine makers from being sued for vaccine injuries.

 

Consider this scenario: You received the first shot of the Covid-19 vaccine, after ten minutes you have difficulty breathing, you're flushed, have a rash and you have an elevated heart rate. This was the experience of a health care worker who in 2020, received her first shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at a hospital in Alaska. Fortunately she was treated quickly and has recovered.

But consider this -- what if she hadn't recovered? What if she had gone into anaphalactic shock and her situation had gone down hill? What if she could have been seriously hurt? Maybe paralysis from taking the Pfizer vaccine. What then?

You would say, "Surely there would be a thorough investigation of her case as to what had happened and why. Right?" Yes. Everything would be viewed as data. A report was made at the hospital about her symptoms. But what about her? If something had gone terribly wrong, would she and her family be thoroughly compensated? Um...well, no.

What The Bible says... about Peace of mind, according to Isaiah 26:3

  Author: S. Jeffery

Many times we may find ourselves staring out a window or pausing at intervals while we carry out our daily tasks. 

Courtesy of Dreamstime.com

Our minds wander off, thinking about the various activities we have to do for the day, but sometimes we are lost in thought because we worry and are worried about things that steal our peace. 

Hello all! I thought I would share with you (in this new blog) posts that will help us all to keep our minds focused on "the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14, KJV).

Here is our key verse for today: