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Politics
COVID-19: VP Kamala Harris Tests Positive COVID-19: VP Kamala Harris Tests Positive
Covid-19: VP Kamala Harris Tests Positive Fully vaccinated Vice President Kamala Harris has become the latest high-ranking elected official to test positive for COVID-19 amid an outbreak of cases in the Biden Administration. Harris tested positive for COVID-19 on both rapid and PCR tests, her office announced on Tuesday, April 26. According to Kirsten Allen, the press secretary to the vice president, Harris has exhibited no symptoms, is in isolation, and will continue to work from the Vice President’s residence. Harris "has not been a close contact to the President or First Lady due to their respective recent travel schedules,” …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Infection Rate Back Below 8 Percent In CT, Hospitalizations Approach 200 COVID-19: Infection Rate Back Below 8 Percent In CT, Hospitalizations Approach 200
Covid-19: Infection Rate Back Below 8 Percent In CT, Hospitalizations Approach 200 The positive COVID-19 infection rate in Connecticut is declining, though the number of patients being treated for the virus in state hospitals is approaching a dubious number. In the past seven days, there have been more than 67,000 COVID-19 PCR and NAAT tests administered in Connecticut, according to the state Department of Public Health, resulting in 5,261 laboratory-confirmed cases of the virus. The seven-day average positivity rate of those tests has dipped to 7.81 percent after surging past 8 percent last week. Thirty-four more COVID-19 patients were administered to Connecticut hospit…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Seven-Day Positivity Rate Tops 8 Percent In CT; Latest Breakdown Of Cases, Deaths COVID-19: Seven-Day Positivity Rate Tops 8 Percent In CT; Latest Breakdown Of Cases, Deaths
Covid-19: Seven-Day Positivity Rate Tops 8 Percent In CT; Latest Breakdown Of Cases, Deaths The positive COVID-19 infection rate in Connecticut is back approaching 10 percent as the state and region contend with sub-variants of the virus. According to the state Department of Public Health, the COVID-19 positivity rate and hospitalizations have risen over the past seven days amid the rise in cases across the country. In the past seven days, the Department of Public Health has administered nearly 60,000 PCR and NAAT COVID-19 tests in Connecticut, resulting in 4,828 confirmed cases of the virus for an 8.09 percent positive infection rate. Twenty-seven new COVID-19 patients were admi…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Positivity Rate Above 7.5 Percent In CT, 17 New Deaths Reported COVID-19: Positivity Rate Above 7.5 Percent In CT, 17 New Deaths Reported
Covid-19: Positivity Rate Above 7.5 Percent In CT, 17 New Deaths Reported With the emergence of sub-variants of the COVID-19 Omicron strain rapidly spreading across the country, Connecticut continues to see the number of new cases and deaths in the state rise. In its latest update on Thursday, April 21, the state Department of Public Health reported 17 new virus-related deaths in the past week, as the number of deaths climbed to 10,826 since the pandemic began in March 2020. Over the past seven days, the positive infection rate in Connecticut also continues to rise, up to an average of 7.60 percent after holding steady below 2 percent for several weeks earlier in…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: CDC Issues New Advisory Recommending People Wear Masks In These Settings COVID-19: CDC Issues New Advisory Recommending People Wear Masks In These Settings
Covid-19: CDC Issues New Advisory Recommending People Wear Masks In These Settings The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is calling on the Department of Justice to proceed with an appeal after a federal judge struck down President Joe Biden’s mask mandate for public transportation settings. Following the announcement of the judgment, the CDC issued a statement advising that the agency is continuing to advise that all Americans continue to mask up while using public transportation, despite the ruling. Original story - COVID-19: Federal Judge Strikes Down CDC Mask Mandate For Travel According to the CDC, officials “continue to recommend that people west mask…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: CT Infection Rate Climbs Above 7 Percent Amid Wave Of New Cases COVID-19: CT Infection Rate Climbs Above 7 Percent Amid Wave Of New Cases
Covid-19: CT Infection Rate Climbs Above 7 Percent Amid Wave Of New Cases The positive COVID-19 infection rate and hospitalizations are both spiking in Connecticut as the state contends with the most recent wave of new cases. In the past seven days, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said that there have been more than 61,000 COVID-19 PCR and NAAT tests administered, resulting in a total of 4,521 laboratory-confirmed cases of the virus for a 7.35 percent positivity rate. According to the state Department of Public Health, 37 more COVID-19 patients were administered to Connecticut hospitals, bringing the total to 150 statewide. As of Tuesday, April 19, officials sa…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Where's My Refund? IRS Facing Staff Shortages Amid Backup In Processing Tax Returns Where's My Refund? IRS Facing Staff Shortages Amid Backup In Processing Tax Returns
Where's My Refund? IRS Facing Staff Shortages Amid Backup In Processing Tax Returns With the 2022 tax season coming to its conclusion, the IRS is cautioning that some Americans could see delays in receiving their refunds as the agency deals with a staffing shortage and backlog of unprocessed returns. IRS Commission Chuck Rettig acknowledged that his organization is contending with issues and the continued fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is expected to lead to some receiving their returns later than expected. Original story - Here's How Long It Should Take To Get A Tax Refund After Filing, IRS Says “The IRS is serving more people and entities in a global environmen…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: 'This Is Not Going To Be Eradicated,' Individuals Should Assess Risk, Fauci Says COVID-19: 'This Is Not Going To Be Eradicated,' Individuals Should Assess Risk, Fauci Says
Covid-19: 'This Is Not Going To Be Eradicated,' Individuals Should Assess Risk, Fauci Says Infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said that with a new wave of COVID-19 cases potentially on the horizon as new sub-variants emerge, it will be up to Americans to assess their own risk and potential to spread the virus. Fauci cautioned that with new infections on the rise across the country, it will be up to individuals to help curtail the spread of COVID-19. Earlier story - COVID-19: Expect Increases In Cases Next Few Weeks Followed By New Fall Surge, Fauci Says “It's going to be a person's decision about the individual risks they're going to take," Fauci told ABC "This Week" c…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Federal Judge Strikes Down CDC Mask Mandate For Travel COVID-19: Federal Judge Strikes Down CDC Mask Mandate For Travel
Covid-19: Federal Judge Strikes Down CDC Mask Mandate For Travel Travelers using public transit will have the option of ditching their masks following a ruling from a federal judge appointed by former President Donald Trump in Florida. On Monday, April 18, US District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle overruled guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding facial coverings on airplanes and other public transportation. According to the judge, the CDC overstepped its authority in ruling that masks be required for travelers, stating that the agency failed to adequately explain its reasons for the mandate. Mizelle determined that…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: UConn Reinstates Mask Mandate Amid Rise In Cases COVID-19: UConn Reinstates Mask Mandate Amid Rise In Cases
Covid-19: UConn Reinstates Mask Mandate Amid Rise In Cases The University of Connecticut is reinstating its mask mandate amid a rise in COVID-19 cases across the state and region. Officials announced that facial coverings will be required for students and staff through the remainder of the school ear due to the spring surge of new cases of the virus. According to officials, the school will begin requiring masks beginning on Monday, April 18, for all instructional settings, workspaces, and indoor events exceeding 100 people. Instructional settings include classrooms, labs, studios, rehearsal rooms, and clinics, they said. The mandate will remain i…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Increases In Cost Of Eggs, Meat Linked To Bird Flu Increases In Cost Of Eggs, Meat Linked To Bird Flu
Increases In Cost Of Eggs, Meat Linked To Bird Flu With the avian flu detected in nearly half the states across the country, it has posed an unexpected price hike for consumers looking to purchase poultry, eggs, and other produce in advance of the spring holidays. Earlier this year, upwards of 25 states announced a rise in positive cases of a dangerous, easily-transmissible strain of avian flu. According to reports, the outbreak of bird flu has led to an unexpected rise in grocery bills, specifically on the price of meat and eggs, which have doubled in some states over the past several months since the flu was first recorded. The price hi…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Amazon Adds New 'Fuel, Inflation' Surcharge To Seller Fees For Prime Shipments Amazon Adds New 'Fuel, Inflation' Surcharge To Seller Fees For Prime Shipments
Amazon Adds New 'Fuel, Inflation' Surcharge To Seller Fees For Prime Shipments A new "fuel and inflation surcharge" on third-party sellers who ship through Amazon will be added by the e-commerce giant. The five-percent increase will take effect on Thursday, April 28, and will include products purchased before that date. The surcharge could apparently increase or decrease in the future. "In 2022, we expected a return to normalcy as COVID-19 restrictions around the world eased, but fuel and inflation have presented further challenges," Amazon stated in a memo to sellers obtained by NPR. "It is still unclear if these inflationary costs will go up or down, or f…

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by Joe Lombardi