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A recent settlement protecting about 4,300 Navy sailors from being negatively affected by COVID-19 policies in the future is the latest example of how the consequences of the pandemic are still unfolding—specifically in terms of how the military dealt with it.
An estimated “80,000 to 100,000 service members—both active-duty and reservists … were impacted by the mandate,” Breitbart reported.
As retired Army Maj. Chase Spears said, many service members began to wonder if “those who made such un-American policy decisions can be trusted going forward.”
Reportedly, over “8,400 troops were kicked out of the military for refusing [a COVID-19] vaccine,” which became a requirement for all service members under the Biden administration’s Defense Department in August 2021. Despite the consequences, many in the military continued to fight against the vaccine mandate—be it for personal or religious reasons.
In 2022, President Joe Biden repealed the mandate put in place by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. And in November 2023, the Army sent out letters to several troops who were discharged for not taking the shot, requesting their return.
As a result, each branch of the military suffered from tremendous recruitment shortages. According to reports last year, the Air Force fell roughly 2,700 airmen short, the Army was 15,000 soldiers short, the Navy missed its goal by over 7,450 sailors, and the Coast Guard by about 4,800. The military as a whole missed its recruitment target by 41,000 recruits.
Over the last couple of years, different branches of the military have taken different approaches in attempts to grow in numbers, the letters sent last year by the Army being one example. But the most recent win for service members seeking reconciliation was the legal settlement announced July 24, at least for sailors.
As summarized by former Rep. Jody Hice, R-Ga., guest host on last Thursday’s episode of “Washington Watch,” the settlement “ensures that Navy service members who refuse[d] to have the COVID vaccine for religious reasons … now have an opportunity to have both their records corrected and their careers protected.”
Hice added: “The Navy also agreed to post a statement affirming the Navy’s respect for religious service members, to provide more training for commanders who review religious accommodation requests, revise a policy related to accommodation requests that was actually changed during the mandate, and they also had to pay $1.5 million in attorney fees.” --->READ MORE HERE
| Hollis Johnson/Business |
The COVID-19 pandemic brought about many changes in the fast-food industry, including the removal of multiple fan-favorite menu items.
In 2020, fast-food restaurants opted for shortened menus that focused more on chains' most popular items to streamline working conditions for their employees.
McDonald's and Taco Bell both overhauled their menus during the pandemic, while other chains chose to discontinue a few items due to changing tastes.
While many menu items have since returned to menus, others haven't.
Here are fast-food menu items that disappeared during the pandemic and never made a comeback.
Taco Bell began removing the Quesarito and other items from its menu in 2020.
Amid the pandemic, Taco Bell announced it would be streamlining its menu and removing its Quesarito, a combination of a beef burrito and a quesadilla, from restaurant menus, among other popular items.
By 2023, the Quesarito was still available to order online and via Taco Bell's app for pickup or delivery. However, it has since been removed from menus entirely as a result of the chain's pandemic-era changes.
"While change is hard, a simplified menu and innovation process will leave room for new fan favorites, continued progress in categories such as plant-based diets, and even opportunities for the return of some classics on a limited-time basis," Taco Bell said in a press release in 2020.
The Quesarito still hasn't made a comeback. --->LOTS MORE HEREFollow links below to relevant/related stories and resources:
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Listing of COVID-19 policies in public, private schools
USA TODAY: Coronavirus Updates
WSJ: Coronavirus Live Updates
YAHOO NEWS: Coronavirus Live Updates
NEW YORK POST: Coronavirus The Latest
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