Updates on the reborn pandemic of COVID variants

[Leigha]

''May'' ...

Time will tell.

[Syne]

A quick history on the subject of employer discrimination against deeply held beliefs: https://www.littler.com/publication-pres...laim-vegan

Even though mRNA vaccines do not use animal products, many vegans have a problem with them having been tested on animals.

[Leigha]

As long as the ''accommodation'' doesn't cause undue hardship for the employer, then they'd probably give the exception. I wonder if the employee will have to prove that they're following 'x' religion, etc. This is going to turn into an endless buffet for attorneys.

https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/l...ation.aspx


Religious Accommodation

Title VII requires an employer to accommodate an employee's sincerely held religious belief, practice or observance, unless it would cause an undue hardship on the business. Courts have said that an "undue hardship" is created by an accommodation that has more than a "de minimis," or very small, cost or burden on the employer.

[Leigha]

So, New York is seeking to impose fines on businesses up to $5000 for not enforcing proof of vaccination to all patrons, while Florida threatens to impose fines of up to $5000 for businesses who do ask customers for proof of vaccination. lol

I disagree with both - being forced to follow government mandates seems extreme, in either direction. Although, the mask mandates somewhat make sense to me in certain situations, like crowded places etc...

[Syne]

So, New York is seeking to impose fines on businesses up to $5000 for not enforcing proof of vaccination to all patrons, while Florida threatens to impose fines of up to $5000 for businesses who do ask customers for proof of vaccination. lol

I disagree with both - being forced to follow government mandates seems extreme, in either direction. Although, the mask mandates somewhat make sense to me in certain situations, like crowded places etc...

Florida is just taking the side of freedom, as opposed to New York taking the side of authoritarianism. If you allow businesses to "demand your papers," who's to say they can't demand your voter registration, proof of citizenship, or anything else that could be discrimination? Barring people from accessing businesses of public accommodation is illegal...everywhere.

[Leigha]

So, New York is seeking to impose fines on businesses up to $5000 for not enforcing proof of vaccination to all patrons, while Florida threatens to impose fines of up to $5000 for businesses who do ask customers for proof of vaccination. lol

I disagree with both - being forced to follow government mandates seems extreme, in either direction. Although, the mask mandates somewhat make sense to me in certain situations, like crowded places etc...

Florida is just taking the side of freedom, as opposed to New York taking the side of authoritarianism. If you allow businesses to "demand your papers," who's to say they can't demand your voter registration, proof of citizenship, or anything else that could be discrimination? Barring people from accessing businesses of public accommodation is illegal...everywhere.

I know, it’ll be interesting to see if either state gets their “mandate’’ passed. So, Florida is within its legal rights to impose fines on businesses who ask for vaccine passports?

[Syne]

So, Florida is within its legal rights to impose fines on businesses who ask for vaccine passports?

AFAIK, a business isn't likely to get away with discriminating in any way that could also end up discriminating against a legally protected class. IOW, a business cannot ban baggy pants, as that could just be a roundabout way of banning young black men. Even requiring proof of vaccination would disproportionately hurt minorities, as they tend to be more vaccine hesitant.

So Florida has the same right to impose fines for vaccine discrimination as they would for any other discrimination. A state also has a responsibility to its citizens to protect the state economy.

[Leigha]

So, Florida is within its legal rights to impose fines on businesses who ask for vaccine passports?

AFAIK, a business isn't likely to get away with discriminating in any way that could also end up discriminating against a legally protected class. IOW, a business cannot ban baggy pants, as that could just be a roundabout way of banning young black men. Even requiring proof of vaccination would disproportionately hurt minorities, as they tend to be more vaccine hesitant.

So Florida has the same right to impose fines for vaccine discrimination as they would for any other discrimination. A state also has a responsibility to its citizens to protect the state economy.

I’m hearing that some businesses want to give customers the option - proof of vaccine or they have to wear a mask.

Hmm, if businesses can’t turn away unvaccinated patrons, then I’d think employers wouldn’t be allowed to fire employees who aren’t vaxxed.

[Syne]

I’m hearing that some businesses want to give customers the option - proof of vaccine or they have to wear a mask.

Hmm, if businesses can’t turn away unvaccinated patrons, then I’d think employers wouldn’t be allowed to fire employees who aren’t vaxxed.

The option to vaxx or mask would be hard to enforce, once customers are through the doors, unless they walk around repeatedly asking customers for proof of vaxx (which people could misconstrue as them keeping tabs on the minorities, so that's untenable).

All mandates, whether proof of vaxx, not, or from employers, will likely have to be settled by the courts.

[C C]

Nearly 4 million UK diabetes tests have been missed or delayed in the pandemic
https://inews.co.uk/news/health/nearly-4...ic-1219216

INTRO: Some 3.8 million diagnostic and monitoring tests for diabetes were missed or delayed during six months of lockdown in the UK, a study has found. It came as GPs were forced to postpone appointments and patients feared that visits to healthcare centres could expose them to the virus.

Estimates extrapolated from data from six testing centres across the UK, covering around six per cent of the total population, indicate that 2.4 million diagnostic diabetes tests were missed or delayed between the end of March and the end of September last year – including 213,000 missed pre-diabetes and 68,500 missed diabetes diagnoses.

A further 1.4 million monitoring tests in people with diabetes were also missed nationally, including over 500,000 in people with high blood glucose levels, according to new research being presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the study of Diabetes (EASD). The missed cases applied to both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Missing or delaying these tests increasing the likelihood of immediate and long-term complications such as hyperglycaemia – high bood sugar –  heart disease, kidney disease, blindness and nerve damage, in addition to life-threatening conditions such as heart attack and stroke, researchers warned.

It is important that people with diabetes keep blood glucose – sugar – levels as close to the normal range as possible. However, the pandemic has brought unprecedented disruptions to many routine healthcare services, including blood testing monitoring that is key to diabetes diagnosis and management.

“As many as a third of Covid deaths in the UK have been people with diabetes, and more may be at risk of the worst of the virus’ effects because so many have been unable to manage their diabetes effectively or have gone undiagnosed”, says lead researcher David Holland from healthcare data consultant The Benchmarking Partnership... (MORE)