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New York hospital ship set to return to Virginia on Thursday

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — The U.S. Navy has announced that the hospital ship sent to relieve stressed New York City hospitals as coronavirus cases surged will leave this week and return to its homeport in Virginia.

Officials said in a statement Tuesday that the USNS Comfort will set sail for Norfolk on Thursday.

The ship docked in Manhattan on March 30.

It was originally deployed to care for non-coronavirus patients, but soon began accepting those with the virus as the city’s hospitals continued to crowd.

Officials say the ship will now restock and remain ready for possible future deployments.

Md. vaccine policy ‘will be led by science’: New law decouples guidance from federal agencies

As of July 1, Maryland will determine which vaccines should be administered, severing its reliance on federal agencies, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Vax Act, signed Tuesday by Gov. Wes Moore, authorizes Maryland's health secretary to set recommendations for immunizations, screenings and preventive services. It also requires insurance companies to cover vaccines endorsed by the state.
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