INSIDER
A first: US Senate confirms transgender doctor for key post
Read full article: A first: US Senate confirms transgender doctor for key postVoting mostly along party lines, the U.S. Senate on March 24, confirmed Levine to be assistant secretary of health. She becomes the first openly transgender federal official to win Senate confirmation. (Caroline Brehman/Pool via AP, File)Voting mostly along party lines, the U.S. Senate has confirmed former Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine to be the nation’s assistant secretary of health. She is the first openly transgender federal official to win Senate confirmation. She won confirmation by the Republican-majority Pennsylvania Senate.
A first: US Senate confirms transgender doctor for key post
Read full article: A first: US Senate confirms transgender doctor for key postVoting mostly along party lines, the U.S. Senate on March 24, confirmed Levine to be assistant secretary of health. She becomes the first openly transgender federal official to win Senate confirmation. (Caroline Brehman/Pool via AP, File)Voting mostly along party lines, the U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed former Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine to be the nation’s assistant secretary of health. She is the first openly transgender federal official to win Senate confirmation. She won confirmation by the Republican-majority Pennsylvania Senate.
Biden picks 1st transgender person for Senate-confirmed post
Read full article: Biden picks 1st transgender person for Senate-confirmed post(Joe Hermitt/The Patriot-News via AP)WASHINGTON – President-elect Joe Biden has tapped Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine to be his assistant secretary of health, leaving her poised to become the first openly transgender federal official to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. A pediatrician and former Pennsylvania physician general, Levine was appointed to her current post by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf in 2017, making her one of the few transgender people serving in elected or appointed positions nationwide. A transition spokesperson also said Tuesday that Dawn O’Connell will serve as senior counselor for coronavirus response to the health and human services secretary. ___This story has been corrected to show there will be 100 million, not 100, shots.
The Latest: Birx says Americans must be strict for pandemic
Read full article: The Latest: Birx says Americans must be strict for pandemicDr. Deborah Birx says people also have to observe social distancing and wash their hands to contain the coronavirus pandemic. The number is second only to the 238 deaths reported Wednesday. Gary Herbert says Utah plans to prioritize front-line health care workers after it receives its first round of coronavirus vaccine doses. The number of new daily coronavirus cases reached 23,225 on Thursday, falling after three tiers of regional restrictions put in a month ago. ___WASHINGTON — Three former presidents say they’d publicly take a coronavirus vaccine, once one becomes available, to encourage all Americans to get inoculated.
Transgender official takes abuse while leading virus efforts
Read full article: Transgender official takes abuse while leading virus effortsMany of the attacks against Pennsylvanias health secretary have little to do with the way she has handled the statewide response to the coronavirus pandemic. As a transgender woman, Dr. Rachel Levine has been subjected to a stream of mockery and abuse on social media and elsewhere. The dunk tank was part of a weekend carnival held on the fairgrounds to benefit the region's volunteer fire departments. The fair deleted the post from its Facebook page, but critics slammed the dunk tank impersonation and the fair associations comment as transphobic. A fellow dressed up in a dress to get people to throw balls at the dunk tank to raise money.
Pennsylvania reports first human case of West Nile Virus this year
Read full article: Pennsylvania reports first human case of West Nile Virus this yearHARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania's first probable human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) infection in 2019 has been detected in a Philadelphia resident, according to the state Departments of Health and Environmental Protection. "With the first human case of West Nile Virus detected, we want people to protect themselves. "DEP monitors mosquito populations across Pennsylvania for the presence of disease." Simple steps to eliminate standing water around the home include:Remove tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, discarded tires or any object that could collect standing water. Treat standing water that cannot be eliminated with Bti products which are sold at outdoor supply, home improvement and other stores.