COVID in California: Bill restricting misinformation by doctors signed by Newsom

Newsom signs bill restricting misinformation by doctors

California doctors who spread COVID-19 misinformation could face disciplinary action after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law that holds physicians and surgeons accountable for “unprofessional conduct.” The bill, AB2098,  introduced by Democratic Assembly Member Evan Low, restricts the dissemination of “misinformation or disinformation” about the prevention, treatment, and effectiveness of vaccines related to the coronavirus. Those who engage in misconduct could potentially lose their license to practice in the state. “To be clear, this bill does not apply to any speech outside of discussions related to COVID-19 treatment within a direct physician-patient relationship,” Newsom said at the signing, in reference to critics who said the law limits doctors’ First Amendment right.

Long COVID: Tens of millions likely suffering from long-term loss of smell, taste

Roughly 5% of adults who reported losing their sense of smell or taste after a bout with COVID-19 may develop long-term smell and taste problems, newly published research suggests. 

An estimated 15 million adults may experience long-term problems with their sense of smell, and 12 million may have persistent issues with taste, the research found. 

“Given the huge impact that loss of smell and taste can have on quality of life and general health, this could contribute to the rising burden of long COVID,” the researchers wrote. 

Half of adults know little or nothing about updated COVID boosters 

While bivalent COVID booster shots have been widely available for weeks, nearly half of adults have reported hearing little or no information about them, according to a recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation. Awareness of the updated shots was “relatively modest,with about half of adults saying they’ve heard “a lot” (17%) or “some” (33%) about the new shots, the foundation found. 

Nearly a third of adults said they’ve already gotten a booster, or intended to get one “as soon as possible.”

U.K. hospitals strain under weight of surging new number of COVID hospitalizations

Hospitals in the U.K. were struggling to contend with a rapidly rising number of COVID-related hospitalizations, which have increased nearly 37% in a week, the Guardian reported. 

Several hospitals were canceling operations and urging people to steer clear of hospital settings, unless there was an emergency. In the past, the ebbs and flows of the pandemic in the U.K. have served as bellwethers for the U.S., which may raise concerns about a possible fall or winter surge stateside.