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COVID-19: First Case Of 'Double Mutant' Variant Detected In US COVID-19: First Case Of 'Double Mutant' Variant Detected In US
Covid-19: First Case Of 'Double Mutant' Variant Detected In US A new “double mutant” variant of the COVID-19 virus that could potentially be more infectious has been confirmed for the first time in the United States, raising red flags for researchers. The Stanford Clinical Virology Lab identified one case of the new variant — which first emerged in India — in California, officials announced to the San Fransisco Chronicle over the weekend. At least seven other purported cases of the same variant are also under investigation in the Bay Area. According to officials, the new strain has been dubbed the “double mutant” because it carries two mutations in…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Still Waiting On Stimulus Check? Here's New Info On Status COVID-19: Still Waiting On Stimulus Check? Here's New Info On Status
Covid-19: Still Waiting On Stimulus Check? Here's New Info On Status Some Americans are still waiting on the third round of COVID-19 stimulus checks as the federal government continues sending out millions of payments to those waiting. Two rounds of the latest batch of COVID-19 have already been distributed to eligible taxpayers who provided direct deposit information on their 2019 or 2020 returns, providing some relief to Americans struggling during the pandemic. According to the IRS, it has already distributed approximately 127 million payments for a total of $325 billion under President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan. For the third stimulus payment, 30…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Once Crown Jewel 'Trump Force One' Now Sits Idle In Hudson Valley Airport Once Crown Jewel 'Trump Force One' Now Sits Idle In Hudson Valley Airport
Once Crown Jewel 'Trump Force One' Now Sits Idle In Hudson Valley Airport “Trump Force One,” a tricked-out Boeing 757 that once represented the former president’s personal wealth has become something of a relic of his past as it sits idly in a Hudson Valley airport. Trump’s personal plane, which he enjoyed showing off before his time in the Oval Office, was once a popular talking point and rallying cry for the former president, though it is now defunct and sitting on a ramp at New York Stewart International Airport in Orange County. According to multiple reports, the plane has not been used since Trump’s time on the campaign trail, and has seemingly been abandone…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
COVID-19: Tighter Relief Check Income Limits OK'd During Negotiations; Here Are New Cutoffs COVID-19: Tighter Relief Check Income Limits OK'd During Negotiations; Here Are New Cutoffs
Covid-19: Tighter Relief Check Income Limits OK'd During Negotiations; Here Are New Cutoffs President Joe Biden’s administration has reached an agreement to narrow the income eligibility of the next round of COVID-19 stimulus checks. Under the new plan, anyone who individually earns more than $80,000 annually, or couples filing jointly earning more than $160,000 will be cut off from the checks under the revised plan. The House version of the bill set income caps at $100,000 individually and $200,000 for couples. Singles making between $80,000 and $100,000 and couples earning between $160,000 and $200,000 would be newly excluded from a partial benefit under the revised structure B…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: This Is When Life Will Get Back To Normal, Fauci Says COVID-19: This Is When Life Will Get Back To Normal, Fauci Says
Covid-19: This Is When Life Will Get Back To Normal, Fauci Says For as long as the COVID-19 pandemic has been present people have been asking - when will life get back to normal? On Thursday, Feb. 18, Dr. Anthony Fauci made a prediction on when Americans’ jobs and social lives may return to a semblance of pre-pandemic normalcy. In an interview on MSNBC, Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said while there are many variables that could change when normal life resumes - if America remains on its current trajectory, life should return to normal by around Christmas, that is, late December. “These are all estima…

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by Kristin Palpini
Schools
COVID-19: CDC Releases New Guidance, Strategies For Reopening Schools COVID-19: CDC Releases New Guidance, Strategies For Reopening Schools
Covid-19: CDC Releases New Guidance, Strategies For Reopening Schools The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is encouraging schools and school districts to reopen safely and has just released new guidance for doing just that. On Friday, Feb. 12, the CDC unveiled the new science-based plan. “It is critical for schools to open as safely and as soon as possible, and remain open, to achieve the benefits of in-person learning and key support services,” health officials said. “To enable schools to open safely and remain open, it is important to adopt and consistently implement actions to slow the spread of COVID in schools and in the community.” The…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: CDC Outlines Mask Practices That Can Cut Transmission 96.5 Percent COVID-19: CDC Outlines Mask Practices That Can Cut Transmission 96.5 Percent
Covid-19: CDC Outlines Mask Practices That Can Cut Transmission 96.5 Percent The CDC has laid out new guidance on mask-wearing that could help dramatically curtail the spread of COVID-19. According to health officials, wearing any mask will reduce the risk of contracting or spreading the virus, but more tightly fitted surgical masks, or double-masking can vastly improve protection for both the wearer and others. New research found that transmission of the virus can be reduced by up to 96.5 percent if tightly-fitted surgical masks or a combination of fitted surgical masks with a cloth covering are worn, officials said. Rochelle Walensky, the new director of the CDC…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Who Support Biden Stimulus Bill, Raising Minimum Wage COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Who Support Biden Stimulus Bill, Raising Minimum Wage
Covid-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Who Support Biden Stimulus Bill, Raising Minimum Wage The majority of Americans support President Joe Biden’s proposed stimulus bill, as well as raising the national minimum wage to $15, according to a newly released Quinnipiac University poll. With millions of Americans struggling financially due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the bulk of those polled were in favor of anything that will put more cash in their pockets during the pandemic. Related story - COVID-19: Here's Who's Expected To Qualify For Third IRS Stimulus Check A total of 1,075 American adults nationwide were surveyed from Thursday, Jan. 28 through Monday, Feb. 1.  Ne…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Here's Who's Expected To Qualify For Third IRS Stimulus Check COVID-19: Here's Who's Expected To Qualify For Third IRS Stimulus Check
Covid-19: Here's Who's Expected To Qualify For Third IRS Stimulus Check Relief may be coming for millions of Americans after the Senate and House of Representatives took a major step forward by approving a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 package that includes a third round of stimulus checks. President Joe Biden has proposed sending $1,400 to every person who received stimulus checks during the first two rounds of payments, though it could be weeks until money starts showing up in bank accounts. The approvals by Congress will now lead to a “reconciliation” process in which congressional committees will draft a bill based on Biden’s sweeping proposal. Every adult taxpay…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Newly Revealed Virus Map Shows Worst Hotspots In Nation COVID-19: Newly Revealed Virus Map Shows Worst Hotspots In Nation
Covid-19: Newly Revealed Virus Map Shows Worst Hotspots In Nation Three states have emerged as national hotspots for the spread of the COVID-19 virus, according to new data. When new COVID-19 incident rates per 100,000 people were compared nationally, Arizona, South Carolina, and California were revealed to be the states with the highest risk for the transmission of COVID-19. This insight was provided by a weekly, state and county-level COVID-19 data report. The data has been regularly produced for President Joe Biden and Donald Trump, which is just now being made available to the public, according to the U.S. Sun. The newly revealed data repor…

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by Kristin Palpini
News
FBI Offering $100K Reward For Info On Person/Persons Who Placed Pipe Bombs Near Capitol FBI Offering $100K Reward For Info On Person/Persons Who Placed Pipe Bombs Near Capitol
FBI Offering $100K Reward For Info On Person/Persons Who Placed Pipe Bombs Near Capitol The reward has been increased again for information about who planted pipe bombs at the Democratic and Republican national committee headquarters the night before the Jan. 6 Capitol Building Riot. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives are offering up to $100,000 for information that leads to the suspect’s location, arrest, and conviction. This is an increase from the $50,000 that was being offered several days after the Jan. 6 fatal attack on the Capitol Building. On that day a mob of pro-Trump loyalists broke into the Capitol Building …

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by Kristin Palpini
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Wearing Two Masks Better Than One, Creates Obstacle Course For Virus, CDC Says COVID-19: Wearing Two Masks Better Than One, Creates Obstacle Course For Virus, CDC Says
Covid-19: Wearing Two Masks Better Than One, Creates Obstacle Course For Virus, CDC Says Face masks help prevent the spread of COVID-19, but you could be getting more protection out of them by wearing two. Research shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  (CDC) recently noted the increased effectiveness of multi-layered masks or wearing two masks compared to a single-layer or just one mask. Multi-layer cloth masks can block up to 50-70 percent of fine droplets and particles and limit the forward spread of those captured. The message is pressing in the United States where more than 400,000 people have died due to COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. T…

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by Kristin Palpini