National

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has been barred from receiving communion until she ends her support for abortion, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone said Friday.

Driving the news: "After numerous attempts to speak with Speaker Pelosi to help her understand the grave evil she is perpetrating, the scandal she is causing, an the danger to her own soul she is risking, I have determined that she is not to be admitted to Holy Communion," Cordileone, the archbishop of San Francisco, tweeted of the California Democrat.

A spokesperson for Pelosi did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

Diving in: Cordileone explained in a letter to priests of the Archdiocese of San Francisco Friday that his decision to bar Pelosi was "pastoral, not political.”

“I have been very clear all along, in both my words and my actions, that my motive is pastoral, not political," he wrote in the letter.

Pope Francis previously said Catholic bishops should not let their politics influence pastoral decisions.

Context: Pelosi has described herself as a devout Catholic while remaining supportive of abortion rights and Roe v. Wade, per the Catholic News Agency.

She acknowledged that her opinion on abortion is at odds with the Catholic church's teachings.

“This [topic] really gets me burned up in case you didn't notice, because again I'm very Catholic, devout, practicing, all of that. They would like to throw me out. But I'm not going because I don't want to make their day,” she said.  

A leaked draft opinion from Supreme Court showed conservative justices are prepared to overturn Roe v. Wade. Democrats have pushed to codify the ruling into federal law. 

The big picture: Biden said Pope Francis told him to "keep receiving communion” when they met last year. They did not speak about abortion, according to the president.

"We just talked about the fact he was happy that I was a good Catholic and I should keep receiving communion,” Biden said.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops debated whether or not politicians who support abortion should be denied communion or not, Axios' Oriana Gonzalez writes.

Go deeper: What abortion access would look like if Roe v. Wade is overturned 

Nancy Pelosi's Catholic archbishop bans her from receiving communion

The House speaker has described herself as a devout Catholic while remaining supportive of abortion rights.

photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Nancy Pelosi

Politics & Policy

The World Health Organization's European chief on Friday said he is concerned that monkeypox could spread in Europe in the next few months, as people gather for parties and festivals during the summer.

Driving the news:  "As we enter the summer season in the European region, with mass gatherings, festivals and parties, I am concerned that transmission could accelerate, as the cases currently being detected are among those engaging in sexual activity, and the symptoms are unfamiliar to many," WHO regional director for Europe Hans Kluge said in a statement.

Context: Europe has seen a recent spread of monkeypox, with cases found in Belgium, Italy, London and northern Ireland, Portugal and Spain.

Kluge said he's concerned because cases have risen among those who have no travel history to places where monkeypox is endemic.

He said there's also concern "because most of the initial cases found are being detected through sexual health services and are among men who have sex with men" — a sign that community transmission may have been happening for some time.

Zoom out: One monkeypox case has been identified in the United States, too. Australia and Canada also reported cases.

The outbreak could become the biggest outbreak outside of Africa, Axios' Eileen Drage O'Reilly writes.

The spread is not likely to cause a global pandemic like COVID did.

Worth noting: Monkeypox incubates within people for six to 13 days before symptoms appear first appear.

Go deeper: What we know about the new monkeypox outbreak

WHO concerned monkeypox could accelerate during summer months

Cases of monkeypox have risen among those with no travel history to places where the virus is endemic.

World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Europe Hans Henri Kluge.

Hans Kluge. Photo: AytgÄ Can Sencar via Getty Images

World Health Organization (WHO)

The World Health Organization&#x27;s European chief on Friday said he is concerned that <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="monkeypox" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/19/monkeypox-outbreak-us-world" data-vars-content-id="9b451f62-9e87-45c9-9892-e01991684b44" data-vars-headline="WHO concerned monkeypox could accelerate during summer months" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/19/monkeypox-outbreak-us-world" target="_self">monkeypox</a> could spread in Europe in the next few months, as people gather for parties and festivals during the summer.Driving the news: &quot;As we enter the summer season in the European region, with mass gatherings, festivals and parties, I am concerned that transmission could accelerate, as the cases currently being detected are among those engaging in sexual activity, and the symptoms are unfamiliar to many,&quot; WHO regional director for Europe <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Hans Kluge" data-vars-click-url="https://www.euro.who.int/en/media-centre/sections/statements/2022/statement-investigations-ongoing-into-atypical-cases-of-monkeypox-now-reported-in-eight-countries-in-europe" data-vars-content-id="9b451f62-9e87-45c9-9892-e01991684b44" data-vars-headline="WHO concerned monkeypox could accelerate during summer months" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.euro.who.int/en/media-centre/sections/statements/2022/statement-investigations-ongoing-into-atypical-cases-of-monkeypox-now-reported-in-eight-countries-in-europe" target="_blank">Hans Kluge</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="said in a statement." data-vars-click-url="https://www.euro.who.int/en/media-centre/sections/statements/2022/statement-investigations-ongoing-into-atypical-cases-of-monkeypox-now-reported-in-eight-countries-in-europe" data-vars-content-id="9b451f62-9e87-45c9-9892-e01991684b44" data-vars-headline="WHO concerned monkeypox could accelerate during summer months" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.euro.who.int/en/media-centre/sections/statements/2022/statement-investigations-ongoing-into-atypical-cases-of-monkeypox-now-reported-in-eight-countries-in-europe" target="_blank">said in a statement.</a>

The U.S. faces a range of health care flashpoints — unaffordable drugs, opioids, vaping — as we debate whether to adopt universal care. For now, the Affordable Care Act is the law of the land, but Republicans want to issue it a final death blow.

Health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that doctors and state health departments in the U.S. should be on the lookout for possible cases of monkeypox.

Driving the news: The Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the CDC are currently investigating a confirmed case of monkeypox, which has been spreading throughout several European nations in recent days.

Details: The CDC said in its alert that clinicians "should be vigilant to the characteristic rash associated with monkeypox."

Doctors should suspect monkeypox if patients have a rash after they've traveled to countries with confirmed cases, or if a patient has reported having contact with someone who has been to one of those countries, the CDC said.

The CDC added that doctors should also be suspicious of monkeypox if the patient "is a man who regularly has close or intimate in-person contact with other men, including those met through an online website, digital application ('app'), or at a bar or party."

The big picture: Monkeypox cases have popped up in Belgium, Italy, London and northern Ireland, Portugal and Spain, as well as Australia and Canada.

Confirmed or suspected cases have reached more than 100 in Europe, per Reuters.

"This is the largest and most widespread outbreak of monkeypox ever seen in Europe," said Germany's armed forces' medical service, Reuters reported.

Note: Monkeypox is more common and locally transmitted in west and central Africa; Map: Axios Visuals

What's next: WHO regional director for Europe Hans Kluge warned Friday that monkeypox cases could spread in the forthcoming summer due to mass gatherings, festivals and parties.

Be smart: Fabian Leendertz, from the Robert Koch Institute, told Reuters that the current outbreak "is very unlikely that this epidemic will last long. The cases can be well isolated via contact tracing and there are also drugs and effective vaccines that can be used if necessary."

HHS says recent U.S. smallpox vaccine order not related to monkeypox outbreak

CDC: Doctors should be on alert for monkeypox symptoms

The CDC said monkeypox cases could show up in the United States.

Photo: Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Monkeypox

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Centers for Disease Control and Prevention" data-vars-click-url="https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/2022/han00466.asp" data-vars-content-id="a0371bfe-73f7-46ba-826c-57d83ccae6fe" data-vars-headline="CDC: Doctors should be on alert for monkeypox symptoms" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/2022/han00466.asp" target="_blank">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> said Friday that doctors and state health departments in the U.S. should be on the lookout for possible cases of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="monkeypox" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/19/monkeypox-outbreak-us-world" data-vars-content-id="a0371bfe-73f7-46ba-826c-57d83ccae6fe" data-vars-headline="CDC: Doctors should be on alert for monkeypox symptoms" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/19/monkeypox-outbreak-us-world" target="_self">monkeypox</a>.Driving the news: The Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the CDC are currently investigating a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="confirmed case of monkeypox" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/18/cdc-monkeypox-uk-comments" data-vars-content-id="a0371bfe-73f7-46ba-826c-57d83ccae6fe" data-vars-headline="CDC: Doctors should be on alert for monkeypox symptoms" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/18/cdc-monkeypox-uk-comments" target="_self">confirmed case of monkeypox</a>, which has been spreading throughout several European nations in recent days.

The U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority's (BARDA) recent purchase of smallpox vaccines is not related to the new monkeypox outbreak, a spokesperson with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services told Axios.

Driving the news: "The most recent BARDA purchase of smallpox vaccine was part of a standard and ongoing preparedness efforts and unrelated to specific events," an HHS spokesperson told Axios.

"BARDA has worked with industry to develop and purchase vaccines and treatments for a potential smallpox emergency, some of which may also be used to respond to monkeypox," the spokesperson said.

Details: On Thursday, Bavarian Nordic, a bio tech company that develops vaccines, announced that the U.S. had exercised options under an existing contract to order $119 million worth of a freeze-dried version of the Jynneos smallpox vaccine, which can help prevent smallpox and monkeypox disease in adults.

The order converts existing smallpox vaccines into freeze-dried versions. The converted vaccines will be manufactured in 2023 and 2024. 

Bavarian Nordic has been working with the U.S government since 2003, per Fortune.

The Jynneos vaccine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration to prevent smallpox and monkeypox in 2019.

An unidentified European nation, however, has placed an order to obtain the same smallpox vaccine (known as Imvanex in Europe) in response to the recent monkeypox outbreak, according to Bavarian Nordic.

What they're saying: “While the full circumstances around the current monkeypox cases in Europe remain to be elucidated, the speed of which these have evolved, combined with the potential for infections beyond the initial case going undetected, calls for a rapid and coordinated approach by the health authorities, and we are pleased to assist in this emergency situation,” Paul Chaplin, president and CEO of Bavarian Nordic, said in a statement.

"Infection control has been a high priority for societies during COVID-19, and this situation is an unfortunate reminder, that we cannot let our guard down, but must continue to build and strengthen our infectious disease preparedness to keep the world open.”

Be smart: This may become the largest outbreak of the virus outside of Africa, but it's not likely to cause a global pandemic like COVID, an infectious disease expert tells Axios. 

Go deeper ... What we know about the new monkeypox outbreak

First U.S. monkeypox case confirmed in Massachusetts

"The most recent BARDA purchase of smallpox vaccine was part of a standard and ongoing preparedness efforts and unrelated to specific events."

Smallpox vaccine. Photo: cott A. Miller/Getty Image

The U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority&#x27;s (BARDA) <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="recent purchase of smallpox vaccines" data-vars-click-url="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/05/18/2445603/0/en/Bavarian-Nordic-to-Manufacture-First-Freeze-dried-Doses-of-Smallpox-Vaccine-upon-Exercise-of-Contract-Option-by-the-U-S-Government.html" data-vars-content-id="ae9ef851-7745-4c95-a780-0315973cb746" data-vars-headline="HHS says recent U.S. smallpox vaccine order not related to monkeypox outbreak" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/05/18/2445603/0/en/Bavarian-Nordic-to-Manufacture-First-Freeze-dried-Doses-of-Smallpox-Vaccine-upon-Exercise-of-Contract-Option-by-the-U-S-Government.html" target="_blank">recent purchase of smallpox vaccines</a> is not related to the new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="monkeypox outbreak" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/19/monkeypox-outbreak-us-world" data-vars-content-id="ae9ef851-7745-4c95-a780-0315973cb746" data-vars-headline="HHS says recent U.S. smallpox vaccine order not related to monkeypox outbreak" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/19/monkeypox-outbreak-us-world" target="_self">monkeypox outbreak</a>, a spokesperson with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services told Axios.Driving the news: &quot;The most recent BARDA purchase of smallpox vaccine was part of a standard and ongoing preparedness efforts and unrelated to specific events,&quot; an HHS spokesperson told Axios.

Broadway theaters will continue requiring attendees to wear face masks at least through June 30 due to rising COVID-19 cases, the Broadway League announced on Friday. 

Driving the news: The decision comes as New York City declared a “high Covid alert" due to rising cases, per the New York Times.

What they're saying: “The safety and security of our cast, crew, and audience has been our top priority,” Charlotte St. Martin, the president of the Broadway League, said in a statement. 

“By maintaining our audience masking requirement through at least the month of June, we intend to continue that track record of safety for all, despite the Omicron subvariants.”

The big picture: Biden administration officials said Wednesday that one-third of Americans currently live in areas where the risk for COVID-19 infection is high and people should consider wearing masks indoors.

COVID-19 cases are rising in almost every state.

But about one in three Americans now say the pandemic is over, according to the latest installment of the Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index.

Broadway theaters will require masks through June

The decision comes as New York City declared "a high Covid alert" due to rising cases.

Broadway theaters. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Broadway

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Broadway theaters" data-vars-click-url="https://www.broadwayleague.com/press/press-releases/broadways-mask-policy-extended-to-june-30/" data-vars-content-id="bf927027-bc51-4bf9-bf75-aeac4e51f7fe" data-vars-headline="Broadway theaters will require masks through June" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.broadwayleague.com/press/press-releases/broadways-mask-policy-extended-to-june-30/" target="_blank">Broadway theaters</a> will continue requiring attendees to wear face masks at least through June 30 due to rising COVID-19 cases, the Broadway League announced on Friday. Driving the news: The decision comes as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New York City declared a “high Covid alert" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/17/nyregion/nyc-covid-high-alert.html?smid=url-share" data-vars-content-id="bf927027-bc51-4bf9-bf75-aeac4e51f7fe" data-vars-headline="Broadway theaters will require masks through June" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/17/nyregion/nyc-covid-high-alert.html?smid=url-share" target="_blank">New York City declared a “high Covid alert</a>&quot; due to rising cases, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the New York Times." data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/17/nyregion/nyc-covid-high-alert.html?smid=url-share" data-vars-content-id="bf927027-bc51-4bf9-bf75-aeac4e51f7fe" data-vars-headline="Broadway theaters will require masks through June" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/17/nyregion/nyc-covid-high-alert.html?smid=url-share" target="_blank">the New York Times.</a>

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Stories

CDC: Doctors should be on alert for monkeypox symptoms

Nancy Pelosi's Catholic archbishop bans her from receiving communion

Broadway theaters will require masks through June

HHS says recent U.S. smallpox vaccine order not related to monkeypox outbreak

WHO concerned monkeypox could accelerate during summer months