Live: Coronavirus daily news updates, March 1: What to know today about COVID-19

On Mar 1, 2022

New York health officials found that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is less effective in preventing coronavirus infection in children 5 to 11 years old than among adolescents and adults. The data set analysis found that while the vaccine prevents children from becoming severely ill, it offers “virtually no protection” against infection.

Meanwhile, several public health experts have expressed worries that many are mistaking the end of the omicron surge with the end of the pandemic.

The concerns come after several states have announced plans to end COVID-19 safety restrictions. The Centers for Disease Control has also updated its safety guidelines, shifting to no longer recommend enforcement of masks and social distancing among communities where the risk to contract COVID-19 is low.

Many states, including Washington, have announced plans to end mask mandates and other COVID-19 restrictions aimed at keeping the public safe as reported COVID-19 cases decline. Gov. Jay Inslee said he will lift COVID-19 mask requirements about a week earlier than originally planned.

We’re updating this page with the latest news about the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the Seattle area, the U.S. and the world. Click here to see the rest of our coronavirus coverage and here to see how we track the daily spread across Washington.

11:00 am

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene tests positive for COVID-19, will miss State of the Union

U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene will miss the President Biden’s first State of the Union address after testing positive for COVID-19.

DelBene, D-Medina, who represents the state’s 1st Congressional District, took a test Tuesday morning, which came back positive, her office announced.

“I will be isolating and working remotely. I will not be attending the State of the Union. My office remains fully operational for WA-01 constituents,” DelBene said in a statement.

DelBene, who is fully vaccinated and boosted, is “feeling ok for now,” said her spokesperson, Nick Martin, in an email.

Earlier Tuesday, DelBene who chairs the centrist New Democrat Coalition, joined U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Seattle, who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, in calling for “urgent action” to deliver on pieces of Biden’s stalled domestic agenda on climate change and other priorities.

—Jim Brunner

10:00 am

New Orleans hosts its 1st full-dress Mardi Gras since 2020

Revelers decked out in traditional purple, green and gold came out to party on Fat Tuesday in New Orleans’ first full-dress Mardi Gras since 2020. The fun includes back-to-back parades across the city and marches through the French Quarter and beyond, with masks against COVID-19 required only in indoor public spaces.

Parade routes are shorter than usual, because there aren’t enough police for the standard ones, even with officers working 12-hour shifts as they always do on Mardi Gras and the days leading up to the end of the Carnival season.

But with COVID-19 hospitalizations and case…

Live: Coronavirus daily news updates, March 1: What to know today about COVID-19

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene tests positive for COVID-19, will miss State of the Union

New Orleans hosts its 1st full-dress Mardi Gras since 2020

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