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COVID-19: This Key Factor Could Indicate Whether Stealth Omicron Will Cause New Surge In US COVID-19: This Key Factor Could Indicate Whether Stealth Omicron Will Cause New Surge In US
Covid-19: This Key Factor Could Indicate Whether Stealth Omicron Will Cause New Surge In US With the new “stealth” COVID-19 sub-variant emerging from the shadows in the US and overseas, researchers are concerned that one subset of Americans could potentially lead to a possible new surge of infections. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Omicron, which is known as B.1.1.529, has three sub-variants: the original BA.1 that remains the dominant strain, the “stealth” BA.2, which is picking up steam, and the more elusive BA.3. The new “stealth” variant - named for its difficulty to identify due to a lack of certain genetic characteristics - has been becoming more of a co…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: New Strain Of Virus Detected That Combines Two Omicron Sub-Variants COVID-19: New Strain Of Virus Detected That Combines Two Omicron Sub-Variants
Covid-19: New Strain Of Virus Detected That Combines Two Omicron Sub-Variants A new COVID-19 strain has been discovered that is a combination of a pair of sub-variants of the Omicron version of the virus. Israel’s Ministry of Health announced that it has recorded multiple cases of the new strain, which combines the two sub-variants - dubbed BA.1 and BA.2 - during PCR testing of passengers arriving at the Ben Guiron airport. Health officials in Israel said that “the variant is still unknown around the world,” according to a statement released by the Ministry of Health. "The two cases of the combined strain, which have been discovered so far, suffered from mild sympto…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: FDA Announces New At-Home Test Recall COVID-19: FDA Announces New At-Home Test Recall
Covid-19: FDA Announces New At-Home Test Recall Federal health officials are cautioning Americans not to use a specific COVID-19 at-home testing kit that has not been approved or authorized by medical authorities. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are advising against the use of the LuSys Laboratories COVID-19 Antigen Test because they have not been cleared for use. In total, nearly 165,000 at-home kits are subject to the recall, according to the FDA. Officials said that the LuSys Laboratories COVID-19 Antigen Test uses a nasal swab, or a saliva (spit) sample intended to de…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: 'Many Variants Are Coming,' Pfizer CEO Warns, Saying Fourth Shot Will Be Needed COVID-19: 'Many Variants Are Coming,' Pfizer CEO Warns, Saying Fourth Shot Will Be Needed
Covid-19: 'Many Variants Are Coming,' Pfizer CEO Warns, Saying Fourth Shot Will Be Needed Warning that "many variants are coming," the chairman and chief executive officer of Pfizer says a fourth dose of the COVID-19 -- a second booster shot -- will be needed. Appearing on CBS-TV's "Face the Nation" on Sunday, March 13, Dr. Albert Bourla was asked if a COVID booster shot could become recommended each fall - similar to a flu shot. "I think so," Bourla responded. "And I think this is what we are trying now to make." Bourla said Pfizer is trying "very diligently to stay ahead of the virus" because "many variants are coming and Omicron was the first one that was able to evade in a …

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by Joe Lombardi
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COVID-19: Here's How You Can Now Order Four More Free At-Home Tests COVID-19: Here's How You Can Now Order Four More Free At-Home Tests
Covid-19: Here's How You Can Now Order Four More Free At-Home Tests Americans are now eligible to order a second round of free at-home COVID-19 test kits from the federal government. In January, the website covidtests.gov was launched, permitting Americans to order up to four more free testing kits per household, though supplies were initially limited. Families that ordered up to four tests during the first round are now eligible to order another four, while households that missed the first round are now also able to order up to eight kits. During the first round of distribution of the kits, federal officials said that more than half of US households order…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Who've Never Had Virus, Chances Of Getting It Now COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Who've Never Had Virus, Chances Of Getting It Now
Covid-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Who've Never Had Virus, Chances Of Getting It Now After weathering the winter storm of new COVID-19 infections, some Americans who never got vaccinated against the virus are questioning whether they can relax or should be worried. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), by the end of January, 43.4 percent of Americans had antibodies to the virus that was triggered by infection, not by vaccination, leaving approximately 57 percent of the population who have not been infected at all.  Doctors and researchers have not been able to pinpoint why exactly some Americans were more susceptible to the virus, while oth…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: US Extends Airplane Mask Mandate COVID-19: US Extends Airplane Mask Mandate
Covid-19: US Extends Airplane Mask Mandate The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that it will be extending its national COVID-19 face mask requirements inside public transportation hubs and vehicles. The TSA announced on Thursday, March 10 that it will be extending its mask requirement for airports, planes, buses, and rail systems through Monday, April 18, effectively covering most schools’ scheduled spring break holidays. Previously, the mandate was scheduled to expire on Friday, March 18. This is the third time the TSA extended its mask requirements. “During that time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prev…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: New 'Deltacron' Variant Identified For First Time COVID-19: New 'Deltacron' Variant Identified For First Time
Covid-19: New 'Deltacron' Variant Identified For First Time A new hybrid COVID-19 strain combining the Delta and Omicron variants of the virus has been confirmed for the first time and is being tracked by the World Health Organization (WHO). Researchers reported that they now have solid evidence regarding the first confirmed case of “Deltacron,” though it is not believed to be considered a cause of concern as the number of vaccines and people with natural immunity continue to rise across the globe. The “Deltacron” variant had previously been suspected in several countries, but scientists in Paris submitted a full genomic sequence on Tuesday, March 8…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: Feds Aim To Stop Deceptive Marketing Of Tea Product Advertised As Virus Treatment COVID-19: Feds Aim To Stop Deceptive Marketing Of Tea Product Advertised As Virus Treatment
Covid-19: Feds Aim To Stop Deceptive Marketing Of Tea Product Advertised As Virus Treatment Federal officials are seeking civil penalties after a tea company allegedly advertised that its product could prevent or treat COVID-19. B4B Earth Tea LLC, B4B Corp., and Andrew Martin Sinclair are accused of violating the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, according to an announcement on Thursday, March 3, from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. The defendants reportedly advertised that the herbal tea product, Earth Tea, could prevent or treat COVID-19, according to a crimi…

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by Nicole Valinote
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COVID-19: Don't Use This Specific At-Home Test, FDA Warns COVID-19: Don't Use This Specific At-Home Test, FDA Warns
Covid-19: Don't Use This Specific At-Home Test, FDA Warns Federal health officials are cautioning Americans not to use a specific at-home rapid COVID-19 test that is being distributed but has yet to be authorized. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert to advise that people should not use the ACON Laboratories test “Flowflex SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test (Self Testing” that is packaged in a dark blue box (see above). Officials said that the test has not been authorized, cleared, or approved by the FDA for distribution or use in the United States, and the agency is concerned about the risk of false results from those using it. T…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: Masking Decision Now Up To School Districts As Massachusetts Mandate Expires COVID-19: Masking Decision Now Up To School Districts As Massachusetts Mandate Expires
Covid-19: Masking Decision Now Up To School Districts As Massachusetts Mandate Expires With the statewide mask mandate expiring for students in Massachusetts schools, the decision on whether to send children to class with a facial covering now falls on parents and local school districts. As of Monday, Feb. 28, the statewide COVID-19 mandate in schools ended, leaving the decision to individual schools, most of which are opting to ditch the masks. The mandate had been in effect since last August and has been extended three times as new variants of the virus caused several separate spikes of new infections. Related story - COVID-19: School District In Western Mass Rescind…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: New Studies Shed Light On How Pandemic May Have Started COVID-19: New Studies Shed Light On How Pandemic May Have Started
Covid-19: New Studies Shed Light On How Pandemic May Have Started New clues about how the COVID-19 pandemic started have been detailed in studies that have just been released by scientists on Saturday, Feb. 26. Two studies, conducted by United States scientists, trace the original of the SARS-CoV-2 novel strain of the coronavirus to the large market in Wuhan, China that sold live animals.  The studies are based on genetic analyses of COVID-19 samples from the market and from those who were infected in the first two months after the initial strain was identified. “When you look at all of the evidence together, it’s an extraordinarily clear picture th…

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by Joe Lombardi