Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday that he is revoking the emergency powers he invoked earlier this month to quell protests against the country's COVID-19 public health restrictions.
What he's saying: “Today, after careful consideration, we’re ready to confirm that the situation is no longer an emergency,” Trudeau said at a press conference. “Therefore, the federal government will be ending the use of the Emergencies Act."
Target will no longer require employees or shoppers to wear masks indoors unless it's to comply with local regulations, the company announced in an update on its website Monday.
Driving the news: The company said in a statement it will "continue to monitor trends in COVID-19 cases, public health data and guidance from public health experts moving forward."
The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday authorized for the first time a condom for anal sex, as well as vaginal intercourse.
Why it matters: Public health experts have long advocated for the authorization because it could encourage more people to use condoms while having anal sex to prevent the spread of STIs and HIV, the New York Times notes.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Tuesday ordered state agencies to investigate gender-affirming care for transgender kids as child abuse.
Driving the news: "The Office of the Attorney General has now confirmed in the enclosed opinion that a number of so-called 'sex change' procedures constitute child abuse under existing Texas law," Abbott wrote in a letter to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
Texas-based startup FemTec Health has unveiled its first company brand, a health and wellness offering called Awesome Woman, founder Kimon Angelides tells Axios exclusively.
Why it matters: Awesome Woman is a subscription-based digital pharmacy and telehealth platform that is reflective of growing investor interest in women-focused digital health.
The maternal mortality rate in the U.S. for 2020 was 23.8 deaths per 100,000 live births, up from a rate of 20.1 in 2019, newly released CDC data shows.
Why it matters: The U.S. still has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the developed world and previous research has largely attributed that to an outsized prevalence among Black mothers.
Sanofi and GSK on Wednesday said that their coronavirus vaccine has a 100% efficacy against severe infection and hospitalization in a phase 3 clinical trial.
State of play: The companies said early data indicated that their recombinant protein-based vaccine is 77% effective against symptomatic disease caused by the Delta variant. However, no specific data on the Omicron variant, the current dominant strain, was provided.
Even as the Omicron wave winds down, federal health officials, experts and the vaccine makers are already preparing for a potential fourth COVID shot to protect against whatever may come next.
The catch: It's not yet clear whether another booster shot will be needed. And if it is, there are even more questions around who should receive one and what kind of shot would be most effective.
Advisors to the CDC will consider today whether to clarify flu vaccine guidelines and for the first time recommend a "high-dose" shot over a standard dose for seniors.
Why it matters: Even amid the pandemic, flu remains a major public health threat, especially for adults older than 65.
The cost of an ambulance ride has soared over the past five years, according to a report from FAIR Health, shared first with Axios.
Why it matters: Patients typically have little ability to choose their ambulance provider, and often find themselves on the hook for hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.
Neil Cavuto revealed during his return to hosting his show on Fox Business Network Monday that his weekslong broadcasting absence was due to him being hospitalized with "COVID pneumonia."
What he's saying: "It landed me in intensive care for quite a while and it really was touch-and-go," said the host of "Cavuto Coast to Coast," who is fully vaccinated but immunocompromised. "Let me be clear: Doctors say had I not been vaccinated at all, I wouldn't be here."
Lawmakers in Canada voted on Monday night to extend the emergency powers that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked last week in response to protests against the country's COVID-19 health measures.
The big picture: Ottawa police over the weekend effectively ended a weekslong blockade by protesters, some of whom harassed local residents. The parliamentary vote passed 185-151 hours after Trudeau told reporters there were "real concerns" about further threats in the coming days, per Reuters.
