Texas governor Greg Abbot banned all employers from enforcing vaccine mandates on Monday. The executive order states that no Texas entity can require its employees to get the vaccine. Abbot says that he believes that vaccine is safe and effective but that it should be a choice to receive it.

Merck is seeking emergency authorization from the federal government to distribute their COVID-19 treatment pill. The pill is said to reduce the chance of death by 50%. Merck hopes to produce 10 million pills by the end of the year.