MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A new sign of recovery from the pandemic as the U.S. prepares to reopen its borders with Canada and Mexico to vaccinated travelers. The government also released data Wednesday that shows the COVID-19 booster program is off to strong start. Traffic will soon flow both ways at the Canadian border again. READ MORE: CBS4 Nat Moore Trophy Profile: American Heritage DB Jacolby Spells Starting next month, the U.S. will allow vaccinated travelers to enter at its northern and southern borders for non-essential activities, like family visits and tourism. “They’re allowing families to be reunited, they’re allowing businesses to get back to a sense of normalcy, and they’re allowing our local economy to finally, fully recover,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. Within our borders, Biden administration officials touted the government’s booster program, reaching an estimated 7 million Americans so far. “In less than three weeks, more than one in three eligible seniors … [Read more...]

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – The Superior Court of Los Angeles County began scaling back operations Monday amid a memo obtained by CNN that all criminal and civil trials in L.A. County Superior Court will be suspended through the end of the month. Real estate heir Robert Durst looks on during his murder trial on March 10, 2020 in Los Angeles. (Getty Images) READ MORE: LAPD Officer Shot, Wounded In South LA; Juvenile Suspect Detained “Effective Monday, March 16, 2020, there will be a suspension of all jury trials, both those currently in progress, as well as those pending commencement, through March 30th. This notification applies to jury trials only,” the memo reads, according to CNN, which cited Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson Josh Rubenstein as confirming its contents. Officer Rosario Cervantes of the LAPD’s Media Relations Section confirmed to City News Service that a memo was issued, but she would not confirm its contents. The court did not confirm the … [Read more...]

Federal health officials are already trying to decide who will get the first doses of any effective coronavirus vaccines , which could be on the market this winter but could require many additional months to become widely available to Americans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and an advisory committee of outside health experts in April began working on a ranking system for what may be an extended rollout in the United States. According to a preliminary plan, any approved vaccines would be offered to vital medical and national security officials first, and then to other essential workers and those considered at high risk — the elderly instead of children, people with underlying conditions instead of the relatively healthy. Agency officials and the advisers are also considering what has become a contentious option: putting Black and Latino people, who have disproportionately fallen victim to Covid-19 , ahead of others in the population. In private … [Read more...]

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Live music is back in the Twin Cities. But fans may not know that many venues have their COVID-19 protocols set by the artist that’s coming to town. Harry Styles fans had to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test for a recent concert at Xcel Energy Center. No bags were allowed for fewer touchpoints. Fans had to be masked whenever they were not eating or drinking. READ MORE: COVID In Minnesota: 24 More Deaths Reported, As Positivity Rate Climbs To 8.4% Amy Orstad went to the show with her 16-year-old daughter. “Harry Styles … is her favorite on the planet,” Orstad said. “I felt really safe. People were following protocol, everybody kept their masks on and were really respectful, and they just love and trust him, I think.” (credit: Amy Orstad) Ticket King told WCCO that COVID-19 protocols vary by event, artist and venue. The Rolling Stones “No Filter” tour stop in Minneapolis is later this month after being rescheduled from … [Read more...]

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Health officials on Wednesday reported an additional 2,388 virus cases and 24 more deaths due to COVID-19, as the state’s positivity rate continues to climb toward the high risk category. This follows the processing of nearly 30,000 more tests. According to the Minnesota Department of Health’s daily update , the state’s total positive cases have risen to 749,144 since the pandemic began, with 8,354 deaths attributed to the virus. READ MORE: With Varying Concert COVID Protocols, Health Officials Urge Music Lovers To Weigh Risks Meanwhile, the latest rolling seven-day average positivity rate is rising rapidly, now at 8.4%, as reported Wednesday. The line for high risk is drawn at 10%. The current figure represents the highest mark since vaccines first rolled out late last year. There are also a reported 52.4 daily new cases per 100,000 Minnesota residents, which puts the state well above the line considered high risk, and the highest that figure has been … [Read more...]

A judge says two features of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan for reopening public schools in California are too restrictive: a requirement to keep students’ desks 4 feet apart, and, for high-risk “purple tier” counties, a ban on in-person instruction in grades seven through 12. Newsom’s Jan. 14 “Framework and Public Health Guidance” for schools in the COVID-19 pandemic set detailed standards for returning students to the classroom and protecting the health of students and staff. The governor also signed legislation this month providing state funding to districts that reopened and complied with the safety standards. But San Diego County Superior Court Judge Cynthia Freeland said the state had failed to present medical evidence to justify the desk spacing requirement or the purple-tier rule allowing in-person learning only in elementary schools. In a lawsuit by six students in San Diego County, Freeland issued a statewide temporary restraining order Wednesday putting those … [Read more...]