Conservative radio giant Rush Limbaugh has died, following a bout with lung cancer. His wife Kathryn made the announcement at the outset of his radio show Wednesday.

“It is with profound sadness I must share with you directly that our beloved Rush, my wonderful husband, passed away this morning due to complications from lung cancer,” Kathryn announced to the audience.

Limbaugh first announced his diagnosis just over a year ago. He shared his health battle with listeners regularly in candid fashion.

“It’s tough to realize that the days where I do not think I’m under a death sentence are over,” Limbaugh told listeners in October. “We all know we’re going to die at some point. When you have a terminal disease diagnosis that has a time frame to it, then that puts a different psychological and even physical awareness to it.”

Shortly after sharing his diagnosis, Limbaugh was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by former President Donald Trump. The radio icon, who began his career in national syndication more than three decades ago, was beloved by conservatives, and a longtime favorite of Trump — who was a frequent guest. He also drew frequent condemnation, over the course of his career, from progressives and other critics — who called out his commentary as bigoted, and regularly false.

The host’s appearances on his show grew less frequent as his condition deteriorated. But he was still active in the days leading up to, and the days following, the 2020 election

Limbaugh was 70 years old. He is survived by Kathryn — his wife of 10 years.

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A coalition of health and technology organizations are working to develop a digital COVID-19 vaccination passport to allow businesses, airlines and countries to check if people have received the vaccine.

The Vaccination Credential Initiative, announced on Thursday, is formulating technology to confirm vaccinations in the likelihood that some governments will mandate people provide proof of their shots in order to enter the nation.

The organization hopes the technology will allow people to “demonstrate their health status to safely return to travel, work, school and life while protecting their data privacy.”

The initiative, which includes members like Microsoft, Oracle and U.S. nonprofit Mayo Clinic, is using the work from member Commons Project’s international digital document that verifies a person has tested negative for COVID-19, the Financial Times reported.

The Commons Project’s technology, created in partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation, is being utilized by three major airline alliances. 

The coalition is reportedly in discussions with several governments to create a program requiring either negative tests or proof of vaccination to enter, Paul Meyer, the chief executive of The Commons Project, told the Times.

“The goal of the Vaccination Credential Initiative is to empower individuals with digital access to their vaccination records so they can use tools like CommonPass to safely return to travel, work, school, and life, while protecting their data privacy,” Meyer said in a release.

The people who have vaccinated are currently receiving a piece of paper confirming their vaccination he said, but the coalition could develop a digital certificate using electronic medical records.

The technology will need to allow patients to keep their data secure while being available in a digital wallet or a physical QR code for them to regulate who sees the information.

The Vaccination Credential Initiative expects certain businesses such as event planners and universities will require their consumers, students and workers to provide proof of vaccination, according to the Times.

Source: The Hill

“An illusion it will be, so large, so vast it will escape their perception.