3.22pm EDT15:22
At the White House briefing earlier, Jen Psaki mentioned a story that attracted a lot of attention at the weekend, that of Tennessee conservative radio host Phil Valentine and his battle with Covid.
Valentine doubted and mocked vaccination efforts – even singing a cod-Beatles song, Vaxman – but then ended up seriously ill in hospital with Covid-19.
Psaki said: “Some of those, like a radio host in Tennessee, are saying from their hospital bed that they plan to be a strong advocate for the vaccine after recovering from severe illness because of Covid.”
Our original story about Valentine’s experience, from Saturday, is here.
It contains a statement from Valentine’s family, which said: “Phil would like for his listeners to know that while he has never been an ‘anti-vaxer’ he regrets not being more vehemently ‘pro-vaccine’, and looks forward to being able to more vigorously advocate that as soon as he is back on the air.”
His radio station has since provided updates on his health:
2.56pm EDT14:56
Biden confirms VA vaccine mandate move
Joe Biden has been speaking to reporters at the White House, where he is meeting the Iraqi prime minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, and he has confirmed that the Department of Veterans Affairs will become the first federal agency to mandate Covid-19 vaccinations among staff, in this case in frontline healthcare roles.
The New York Times reported the move shortly after Jen Psaki finished a White House press briefing replete with questions about whether such mandates would enter administration policy.
Veterans affairs secretary Denis McDonough, a former White House chief of staff, told the Times he had told the White House about the move and added: “I am doing this because it’s the best way to keep our veterans safe, full stop.”
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at 2.58pm EDT
2.42pm EDT14:42
Clay Higgins, a Republican congressman from Louisiana who has criticised mask mandates and other public health measures during the coronavirus pandemic, has announced that he, his wife and son have contracted Covid-19.
Higgins, who has not said if he has been vaccinated, announced the news on Facebook on Sunday night. He said he and his wife were infected last year.
“This episode is far more challenging,” he wrote. “It has required all my devoted energy. We are all under excellent care and our prognosis is positive.”
In May, Higgins wrote on Facebook: “If you want to get vaccinated, get vaccinated. If you want to wear a mask, wear a mask. If you don’t, then don’t. That’s your right as a free American.”
Amid dwindling vaccination rates, Higgins’ state is among those experiencing a fourth surge of Covid cases.
Last December, a 41-year-old Republican congressman-elect from Louisiana, Luke Letlow, died from complications from Covid-19.
Steve Scalise, another Louisiana Republican and as House Minority Whip a key member of party leadership in Washington, said recently that he only got vaccinated this month, because he thought he had immunity because he previously tested positive for coronavirus antibodies.
Last week, the Florida Republican Vern Buchanan announced a positive test. He said he had been fully vaccinated and was experiencing mild symptoms.
Here’s Jessica Glenza on the problem of vaccine hesitancy:
2.25pm EDT14:25
VA will mandate vaccines for frontline health staff
The New York Times reports that the Department of Veterans Affairs will become the first federal agency to mandate vaccinations for employees, in this case 115,000 frontline healthcare workers who look after those who have served in the US military.
The move follows similar by New York City earlier today.
Veterans affairs secretary Denis McDonough, a former White House chief of staff under Barack Obama, told the Times: “I am doing this because it’s the best way to keep our veterans safe, full stop.”
At the White House earlier, press secretary Jen Psaki said mandates on vaccinations were a matter for individual companies and communities.
McDonough told the Times he had told the White House about his decision.
2.11pm EDT14:11
EPA revises Trump rule on coal plant river waste
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said it will revise a Donald Trump-era rule that allowed coal-fired power plants to dump certain toxins into rivers and streams.
The EPA said it will draw up a new rule later this year to strengthen wastewater pollution regulations for coal plants that produce electricity. The agency hopes the new rule will be in place by the end of Joe Biden’s first term in office.
Under Trump, the EPA allowed plant operators to avoid or delay installing equipment that ensured toxins such as lead and mercury did not seep into waterways.
The agency will continue to use this weaker standard until the new rule comes into force, which has disappointed green groups that voiced dismay at the barrage of environmental protections rolled back by the former president.
“EPA is committed to science-based policy decisions to protect our natural resources and public health,” said Michael Regan, administrator of the EPA.