Possible ‘Tightening’ Vaccine Requirements Spark Protests:

Anti-vaccine protests by parents broke out at the Capitol earlier this week in response to the legislature’s public health committee plans to vote for a bill that would tighten vaccine requirements for school children.

The bill would bar parents from being able to cite “religious beliefs” as a reason to not vaccinate their school-age children, the Hartford Courant reported.

Parents protesting argued that the vote infringes on their parental rights.

In a nearly 22-hour long public hearing, doctors and other healthcare professionals fought back, citing that vaccinations are “highly effective and safe” ways to protect children from potentially deadly diseases.

The bill is expected to be voted on this week.

Sanders Emerges As Democratic Frontrunner, Wins Nevada:

Bernie Sanders is locking in his place as the 2020 Democratic front-runner after defeating his rivals in the Nevada Caucus last week.

Sanders won 11 out of Nevada’s 17 countries.

Former Vice President Joe Biden trailed behind Sanders, coming in second. The remainder of the field is split between Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren.

Currently, Sanders has 21 out of the 1,990 delegates needed to become the Democratic nominee.

World Should Prepare For Pandemic, WHO Says:

The World Health Organization is urging the world to “do more” to prepare for a possible coronavirus pandemic, according to BBC News.

Though too early to call the outbreak a pandemic, the WHO said countries should be “in a phase of preparedness.”

The virus is continuing to emerge in other parts of the world, including South Korea and Iran, with most of the infections remaining in China.

Over 1,200 cases have been confirmed in roughly 30 countries, BBC said.