Coronavirus Watch: Pregnancy-related deaths during the pandemic

Pregnancy-related deaths increased the first year of the pandemic, with Black people dying at three times the rate of white people, according to a federal report released Wednesday.

The greatest increase was among Black people, with 55 deaths per 100,000 births in 2020 compared to 44 deaths per 100,000 the year before.

How COVID-19 may have played into this is still a big question, said Dr. Allison Bryant, of Mass General Brigham health system. She wants to see more data on maternal mortality causes and how the pandemic may have disrupted equity efforts.

Reporter Nada Hassanein has the latest on the new CDC findings.

It's Thursday, and Paste BN's Politics team is tracking the Russian invasion of Ukraine here. For coronavirus updates today, here's more news to know:

• Drug manufacturers Sanofi and GSK announced they are seeking approval for a new COVID-19 vaccine that they say shows 100% effectiveness against hospitalization in human trials.
• The CDC updated its guidance for when to receive a second vaccine dose. Moderna and Pfizer vaccine receivers should consider waiting up to 8 weeks instead of the previously advised four and three weeks between doses.
• Los Angeles County's mask mandate for vaccinated people at indoor public places will end Friday.

See our COVID-19 resource guide here. See total reported cases and deaths here. On vaccinations: About 76% of people in the U.S. have received at least one vaccine shot, and about 64% are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

– Cady Stanton, Paste BN digital editor fellow, @cady_stanton