A Mount Everest climbing expert on Saturday told the AP there are at least 100 active coronavirus cases at the base camp.
Why it matters: The remarks from Lukas Furtenbach contradict statements from Nepalese officials who have denied knowledge of active infections among climbers and support staff during this season, AP reports.
German authorities announced it will ban most non-essential travel from the United Kingdom starting Sunday to prevent the spread of new coronavirus variants.
The state of play: Germany classified Britain as "an area of variant of concern," saying that outbreaks are reemerging and more infectious variants, including the one dominant in India, have been detected.
Nepal's president on Saturday dissolved the country's parliament and scheduled new general elections for November, Reuters reports.
Driving the news: Opposition leaders protested the move, saying that planning new elections should not be the government's focus while the country continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, the New York Times reports.
Employers and their workers have hundreds of billions of dollars at stake in the fight over House Democrats' drug pricing bill, according to a new West Health Policy Center analysis.
Why it matters: If anyone has the political clout to take on the drug industry, it's employers.
There are hundreds of open healthcare jobs for every applicant — and the shortfall is only growing.
Why it matters: America is aging, and millions of recovering COVID patients will need long-term care, dramatically increasing the demand for physicians, nurses, and home health aides. But there aren't enough workers with the skills to fill these jobs.
More hospitals and health systems nationwide are requiring their health care workforce to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Driving the news: RWJBarnabas Health in New Jersey announced a mandate on Thursday, saying supervisors and those of higher rank must get the vaccine by June 30. They will eventually require the system's 35,000 employees to do the same.
The White House is hoping that the urge to merge will motivate more Americans to get vaccinated, teaming up with nine of the largest dating sites to offer badges and other perks to those who have gotten their COVID-19 shot.
Why it matters: The White House has an ambitious goal to get 70% of American adults to have had at least their first vaccine shot by July 4.
