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Dr. Rochelle Walensky

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CDC Encouraging Americans To Mask Up For The Holidays Amid Tripledemic Of COVID-19, Flu, RSV CDC Encouraging Americans To Mask Up For The Holidays Amid Tripledemic Of COVID-19, Flu, RSV
CDC Encouraging Americans To Mask Up For The Holidays Amid Tripledemic Of Covid-19, Flu, RSV The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is encouraging Americans to wear masks during the holiday season to help prevent the spread of the so-called tripledemic of COVID-19, influenza, and Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). It's especially important for people living in areas with high levels of COVID transmission to mask up, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said on Monday, Dec. 5. “The past several years have certainly not been easy, and we now face yet another surge of ailments, another moment of overstretched capacity, and really one of tragic and often preventab…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: New Mask Guidance Coming Soon, CDC Director Says At White House Briefing COVID-19: New Mask Guidance Coming Soon, CDC Director Says At White House Briefing
Covid-19: New Mask Guidance Coming Soon, CDC Director Says At White House Briefing The “new normal” may start to look more like the “old normal” as federal health officials are expected to loosen up COVID-19 mask mandates across the country. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced during a White House briefing on Wednesday, Feb. 16 that the agency will “soon put guidance in place” regarding mask-wearing. The announcement comes as the country continues to recover from the surge of Omicron cases that mounted over several months around the holiday season. Walensky said that the CDC will monitor certain metrics s…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: CDC Cuts Isolation Time In Half For Those Not Displaying Symptoms COVID-19: CDC Cuts Isolation Time In Half For Those Not Displaying Symptoms
Covid-19: CDC Cuts Isolation Time In Half For Those Not Displaying Symptoms The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shortened the amount of time it recommends people isolate if they have contracted COVID-19 and are not experiencing symptoms. The CDC said in an announcement on Monday, Dec. 27, that based on what is currently known about COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, it is reducing the recommended time for isolation from 10 days to five days for those who have tested positive and are asymptomatic.  After leaving isolation, people should wear a mask for the next five days when around others, the CDC said. Health officials said those who are …

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: Omicron Now Dominant Variant In US; CDC Reveals Percentage Of New Cases COVID-19: Omicron Now Dominant Variant In US; CDC Reveals Percentage Of New Cases
Covid-19: Omicron Now Dominant Variant In US; CDC Reveals Percentage Of New Cases Less than three weeks after the first case of the highly transmissible Omicron variant was identified in the United States, it's now the nation's most dominant strain of the COVID-19 virus. Omicron accounted for 73 percent of new infections last week, federal health officials announced Monday, Dec. 20. That's nearly a six-fold increase in only one week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said. The first Omicron-related death in the United States was confirmed in Harris County, Texas - a man in his 50s. It has not been reported whether he was vaccinated or had any pre-exis…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Study Reveals Top 5 Symptoms Of Omicron Variant COVID-19: Study Reveals Top 5 Symptoms Of Omicron Variant
Covid-19: Study Reveals Top 5 Symptoms Of Omicron Variant Click here for an updated story - COVID-19: New Omicron Variant Symptom Emerges, Physicians Say COVID-19 cases are spiking ahead of the holidays, with the Omicron variant now having been identified in 48 states and 89 countries. “We’ve seen cases of Omicron among those who are both vaccinated and boosted and we believe these cases are milder or asymptomatic because of vaccine protection,” said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a White House COVID-19 briefing on Friday, Dec. 17. Preliminary lab studies indicate Omicron may not a…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Can You Safely Enjoy The Holidays Amid Surge In Cases Ahead Of Christmas? COVID-19: Can You Safely Enjoy The Holidays Amid Surge In Cases Ahead Of Christmas?
Covid-19: Can You Safely Enjoy The Holidays Amid Surge In Cases Ahead Of Christmas? With many areas in the nation seeing the largest rise in COVID-19 cases since January, coupled with the arrival of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, many Americans are entering the holiday season with uncertainty. Though breakthrough cases are inevitable, health experts agree that if you've been vaccinated and had your booster, whether you're exposed to Delta or Omicron, you should be very well protected against serious disease that could put you in the hospital. “We’ve seen cases of Omicron among those who are both vaccinated and boosted and we believe these cases are milder or asy…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: These Will Be Key Signs When End To Pandemic Is Coming, CDC Director Says COVID-19: These Will Be Key Signs When End To Pandemic Is Coming, CDC Director Says
Covid-19: These Will Be Key Signs When End To Pandemic Is Coming, CDC Director Says The COVID-19 pandemic is now nearly two years old, and there's still no end in sight. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky says there are two key signs to look for down the line that are key indicators when the time comes that it does finally wind down. The first is a manageable number of hospitalizations, and the second is a significant drop in the number of daily deaths, she said in an interview with ABC News. To get there, Walensky emphasized the importance of relying on strategies that have proven to be effective, namely vaccines and mask…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: CDC Study Finds Vaccination Provides Greater Protection Than Prior Infection COVID-19: CDC Study Finds Vaccination Provides Greater Protection Than Prior Infection
Covid-19: CDC Study Finds Vaccination Provides Greater Protection Than Prior Infection COVID-19 vaccination provides stronger protection against hospitalization than immunity from a previous infection alone, according to a new study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study examined 7,000 people across nine states who were hospitalized with symptoms similar to COVID-19, the CDC said in an announcement on Friday, Oct. 29. Researchers found that those who weren't vaccinated and had a recent COVID-19 infection were five times more likely to have contracted COVID-19 than those who were fully vaccinated and hadn't had a prior infection. Health of…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: CDC Panel Recommends Vaccine For Kids Ages 5 To 11 COVID-19: CDC Panel Recommends Vaccine For Kids Ages 5 To 11
Covid-19: CDC Panel Recommends Vaccine For Kids Ages 5 To 11 A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) panel has voted to recommend the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. The panel of vaccine advisers voted unanimously in favor of the recommendation on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 2. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky is expected to accept the recommendation before the vaccinations can begin for the age group, perhaps as early as Wednesday, Nov. 3. The dose will be much lower than the company's vaccine for teenagers and adults, about one-third of a full dose, according to reports.

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: New 'Delta Plus' Variant Being Carefully Monitored, CDC Director Says COVID-19: New 'Delta Plus' Variant Being Carefully Monitored, CDC Director Says
Covid-19: New 'Delta Plus' Variant Being Carefully Monitored, CDC Director Says The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the new COVID-19 variant, "Delta plus," is being carefully monitored by health officials.  CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky discussed the new strain in an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Oct. 24.  When asked if she is worried about "Delta plus," which is surging in the United Kingdom, Walensky said the agency is following the genomic sequencing of the variant "very carefully." "It is a variant of the delta variant," she said. "It has several mutations on the spike protein that we have …

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by Nicole Valinote
Schools
COVID-19: Children Should Keep Wearing Masks In School Even If Vaccinated, CDC Says COVID-19: Children Should Keep Wearing Masks In School Even If Vaccinated, CDC Says
Covid-19: Children Should Keep Wearing Masks In School Even If Vaccinated, CDC Says The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the agency will continue to recommend that children wear masks this winter while in school, regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status.  CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky made the announcement on Wednesday, Oct. 20, at a news briefing.  She said once COVID-19 vaccinations are authorized for children ages 5 to 11, the CDC will work to scale up pediatric vaccinations, but she added that this will take some time. "And as I just noted, as we head into these winter months, we know we cannot be complacent,"…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
CDC Urges Americans To Get Flu Vaccine, Reveals Time Frame For Highest Effectiveness CDC Urges Americans To Get Flu Vaccine, Reveals Time Frame For Highest Effectiveness
CDC Urges Americans To Get Flu Vaccine, Reveals Time Frame For Highest Effectiveness The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging Americans to get the annual flu vaccine. The CDC said everyone 6 months of age and older should get the vaccine every year "with rare exceptions." Health officials said this is particularly important for those who are at a higher risk of serious complications if they get sick. The CDC recommends September and October as good times to get vaccinated, adding that those who are best protected get the vaccine by the end of October. The public health agency said adults, especially seniors, should generally not get vaccinated in Ju…

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by Nicole Valinote
Schools
COVID-19: CDC Outlines 'Key Strategies' Schools Should Employ To Keep Kids, Staff Safe COVID-19: CDC Outlines 'Key Strategies' Schools Should Employ To Keep Kids, Staff Safe
Covid-19: CDC Outlines 'Key Strategies' Schools Should Employ To Keep Kids, Staff Safe The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released its COVID-19 safety guidelines for schools as students return to the classroom.  CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said the most important recommendation from the agency is that everyone eligible for COVID-19 vaccination gets vaccinated before school starts.  Walensky shared the guidelines at a White House press briefing on Tuesday, Aug. 31. Walensky said universal masking is also important for students, teachers, staff and visitors, regardless of their vaccination status. The CDC also recommended that schoo…

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by Nicole Valinote
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Unvaccinated Should Not Travel Over Labor Day Weekend, CDC Says COVID-19: Unvaccinated Should Not Travel Over Labor Day Weekend, CDC Says
Covid-19: Unvaccinated Should Not Travel Over Labor Day Weekend, CDC Says The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that those who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 avoid traveling over the Labor Day weekend. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a news briefing that those who are fully vaccinated and wearing masks can travel, although she said they should take risks into consideration due to the rate of transmission in the country.  "If you are unvaccinated, we would recommend not traveling,” Walensky said. Walensky also recommended that Americans take precautions during the weekend, such as gathering …

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: CDC Issues Strong Endorsement For Vaccines During Pregnancy COVID-19: CDC Issues Strong Endorsement For Vaccines During Pregnancy
Covid-19: CDC Issues Strong Endorsement For Vaccines During Pregnancy The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging pregnant people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 amid the rise in cases of the delta variant in the United States. The CDC released new data regarding the vaccine's safety among pregnant people on Wednesday, Aug. 11, and recommended that everyone ages 12 and older get the vaccine. “CDC encourages all pregnant people or people who are thinking about becoming pregnant and those breastfeeding to get vaccinated to protect themselves from COVID-19,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said. “The vaccines are safe and effective, and …

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: Unvaccinated Are More Than Twice As Likely To Get Virus A Second Time, CDC Says COVID-19: Unvaccinated Are More Than Twice As Likely To Get Virus A Second Time, CDC Says
Covid-19: Unvaccinated Are More Than Twice As Likely To Get Virus A Second Time, CDC Says A new study by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that COVID-19 vaccines offer better and more protection against reinfection of the virus than just natural immunity among those who already have been infected. On Friday, Aug. 6, the CDC released the findings of a new study of nearly 1,000 Americans who previously tested positive for COVID-19 but remained unvaccinated. According to the study, those who were unvaccinated proved to be more than twice as likely to become infected for a second time than those who were fully vaccinated against the virus. Researchers …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Cape Cod Cluster Linked To Delta Variant Grows To 430 Cases COVID-19: Cape Cod Cluster Linked To Delta Variant Grows To 430 Cases
Covid-19: Cape Cod Cluster Linked To Delta Variant Grows To 430 Cases Click here for an updated story - COVID-19: Cape Cod Cluster Among Vaccinated Led To Mask Shift; CDC Says 'The War Has Changed' The highly contagious Delta variant has become a major cause of concern in a Cape Cod community following a recent breakout of new COVID-19 infections. There are now more than 430 active cases of COVID-19 in Provincetown as of Tuesday, July 27, more than triple the cases reported last week, most of which have been linked to the variant. According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, genetic sequencing of initial samples associated with the recent …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: CDC Updates Guidance On Masks Indoors, In Schools As Delta Variant Spreads COVID-19: CDC Updates Guidance On Masks Indoors, In Schools As Delta Variant Spreads
Covid-19: CDC Updates Guidance On Masks Indoors, In Schools As Delta Variant Spreads With the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus rapidly spreading across the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is updating its guidance on wearing masks. As the more transmissible Delta variant becomes the dominant strain of COVID in the US, the CDC is now recommending that fully-vaccinated people wear masks indoors when in areas where there could be “substantial and high” transmission of the virus. Earlier report - COVID-19: CDC Expected To Recommend Masks For Some Fully Vaccinated People, Report Says The new guidance also recommends that students, teachers,…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: New Time Frame Provided For When Vaccine Booster Shots May Be Necessary COVID-19: New Time Frame Provided For When Vaccine Booster Shots May Be Necessary
Covid-19: New Time Frame Provided For When Vaccine Booster Shots May Be Necessary Executives and experts at the center of COVID-19 pandemic response are now providing a more specific possible time frame for when Americans who were first to receive a vaccine dose may need to take a booster shot. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, speaking during an Axios event, said that the data he has reviewed supports the notion "that likely there will be a need for a booster somewhere between eight and 12 months" after the initial vaccination regime. That means those who were among the first to get a vaccine shot in mid to late December 2020 or early January 2021 would likely need a booster sh…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Popular Area Supermarket Announces New Mask Policy Popular Area Supermarket Announces New Mask Policy
Popular Area Supermarket Announces New Mask Policy A popular supermarket is adjusting its policy on mask-wearing as the country continues its rapid recovery from the winter surge of COVID-19. In the wake of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and health departments in the tri-state area loosening the guidance on facial coverings for vaccinated people, Stew Leonard’s announced new guidelines for both customers and employees. As of Wednesday, May 19, customers can begin shopping at Stew Leonard’s locations in New York and Connecticut without a mask, though employees will continue to wear facial coverings through at least Mem…

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by Zak Failla
Sports
COVID-19: Details Emerge On Vaccine Brand Taken By Star Shortstop, Seven Other Infected Yankees COVID-19: Details Emerge On Vaccine Brand Taken By Star Shortstop, Seven Other Infected Yankees
Covid-19: Details Emerge On Vaccine Brand Taken By Star Shortstop, Seven Other Infected Yankees Despite being fully vaccinated for COVID-19, eight members of the New York Yankees still tested positive for the virus after receiving the one-dose Johnson & Johnson shot. The eight are: starting shortstop Gleyber Torres, third base coach Phil Nevin, first base coach Reggie Willits, pitching coach Matt Blake, and four support staffers. Related story - COVID-19: Fully Vaccinated TV Host, Star Shortstop, Seven Other NY Yankees Test Positive According to the initial clinical trial results, the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine has proven to be 72 percent effective against COVID-1…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Fully Vaccinated TV Host, Star Shortstop, Seven Other NY Yankees Test Positive COVID-19: Fully Vaccinated TV Host, Star Shortstop, Seven Other NY Yankees Test Positive
Covid-19: Fully Vaccinated TV Host, Star Shortstop, Seven Other NY Yankees Test Positive Click here for an updated story - COVID-19: Details Emerge On Vaccine Brand Taken By Star Shortstop, Seven Other Infected Yankees The percentage of people who have become infected with COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated is extremely low. But new so-called breakthrough cases of high-profile personalities in the entertainment and sports industries who are tested regularly are drawing attention. HBO has canceled the episode of "Real Time With Bill Maher" scheduled to air on Friday night, May 14 after the show's 65-year-old, fully vaccinated host tested positive for COVID. 'Bill tes…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: CDC Issues Brand-New Guidance On Mask-Wearing Indoors COVID-19: CDC Issues Brand-New Guidance On Mask-Wearing Indoors
Covid-19: CDC Issues Brand-New Guidance On Mask-Wearing Indoors The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is easing indoor mask-wearing guidance for Americans who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. On Thursday afternoon, May 13, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky announced the new guidance at a White House briefing, saying that anyone who has received both shots of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or the one-dose Johnson & Johnson shot can safely stop wearing masks indoors, except under some circumstances. The new guidance calls for continued mask-wearing in more crowded indoor spaces such as on mass transportation, hospitals, prisons, or …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: CDC Advisory Panel Endorses Use Of Pfizer Vaccine In Children 12 And Up COVID-19: CDC Advisory Panel Endorses Use Of Pfizer Vaccine In Children 12 And Up
Covid-19: CDC Advisory Panel Endorses Use Of Pfizer Vaccine In Children 12 And Up A panel of experts advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) voted to move forward with the approval process for the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine among children between the ages of 12 and 15. By a 14-0 vote on Wednesday afternoon, May 12, the CDC panel recommended the use of the Pfizer vaccine in children 12 and up, with the decision now moving forward to CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky for final approval. Once approved by Walensky, which is expected to happen quickly, it will be at states’ discretion about whether or not to move forward vaccinating children. …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Results Of New Federal Study On Vaccine Effectiveness Released COVID-19: Results Of New Federal Study On Vaccine Effectiveness Released
Covid-19: Results Of New Federal Study On Vaccine Effectiveness Released A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that the COVID-19 vaccine has proven effective in preventing hospitalizations among older adults who are fully vaccinated. According to the CDC, the Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccines are 94 percent effective in adults ages 65 and older who have received both doses of the shot and allowed 14 days to pass after the second dose. The study, which followed more than 400 hospitalized adults across 14 states from January to March, also found that the two-dose vaccines are 64 percent effective in the elderly who have o…

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by Zak Failla
Sports
COVID-19: Youth Sports, Not Reopening Schools, Fueling Increase In Cases, CDC Says COVID-19: Youth Sports, Not Reopening Schools, Fueling Increase In Cases, CDC Says
Covid-19: Youth Sports, Not Reopening Schools, Fueling Increase In Cases, CDC Says Youth sports, not the recent reopening of schools, has been cited for the recent rise of new COVID-19 cases among youths across America, federal health officials said. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said that the latest data found that COVID is spreading rapidly among younger Americans participating in after-school activities such as sports and clubs, where they gather unsafely in clusters. Walensky noted that the reopening of schools has not been linked to the rise in US cases, which are up approximately 3 percent week-to-w…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
COVID-19: CDC Director Warns Of 'Impending Doom,' As US Cases Rise; Biden Takes New Action COVID-19: CDC Director Warns Of 'Impending Doom,' As US Cases Rise; Biden Takes New Action
Covid-19: CDC Director Warns Of 'Impending Doom,' As US Cases Rise; Biden Takes New Action Alarm bells are ringing and red flags are flying for Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as she senses “impending doom” as the number of COVID-19 cases is on the rise amid a possible fourth wave, as the White House announced new actions. An emotional Walensky's voice broke during a briefing on Monday, March 29 as she cautioned Americans not to get complacent as a new wave of the virus could hit the country. “I’m (going to) lose the script and I’m going to reflect on the recurring feeling I have of impending doom,” she said from the W…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: CDC Revisiting Guidance After Study Reveals New Safe Social DIstance For Students COVID-19: CDC Revisiting Guidance After Study Reveals New Safe Social DIstance For Students
Covid-19: CDC Revisiting Guidance After Study Reveals New Safe Social DIstance For Students With President Joe Biden pushing to have all students back in the classroom within his first 100 days in office, and no later than the fall, the Centers for Disease Control is evaluating its guidance on socially distancing inside schools. Currently, students are advised to stay at least six feet apart while wearing facial coverings, however, a new study found that the number could possibly be dropped to three feet of social distance while still maintaining the safety of students and staff. A study recently published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, looked at 242 school districts…

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by Zak Failla