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COVID-19: New LB.1 Variant Sees Climb In Infections Amid Nationwide Uptick In Cases COVID-19: New LB.1 Variant Sees Climb In Infections Amid Nationwide Uptick In Cases
Covid-19: New LB.1 Variant Sees Climb In Infections Amid Nationwide Uptick In Cases Cases of a new COVID-19 variant are on the rise nationally as the spread of the virus overall is climbing, according to brand-new data from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). The highly contagious variant, LB.1, now accounts for 17.5 percent of US cases in the two weeks ending Saturday, June 22. LB.1 cases have more than doubled since May, and some experts think it could be on a path to surpass two offshoots of the highly contagious Omicron variant who are part of the so-called "FLiRT" group: KP.3 and KP. 2. Combined, those two subvariants account for mo…

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Pandemic Has Caused 'Collective Trauma' Among US Adults, New Poll Reveals COVID-19: Pandemic Has Caused 'Collective Trauma' Among US Adults, New Poll Reveals
Covid-19: Pandemic Has Caused 'Collective Trauma' Among US Adults, New Poll Reveals Adult Americans are still experiencing "collective trauma" nearly four years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a brand-new poll. The long-term stress sustained since the outbreak began has had a significant impact on well-being, evidenced by a significant increase in reported mental health conditions and chronic illnesses, according to the results of the nationwide survey conducted by The Harris Poll for the American Psychological Association (APA) among more than 3,000 US adults age 18 and older. Those ages 35 to 44 reported the most significant increase in chroni…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: New Variant With 30 Mutations May Cause Breakthrough Infections, CDC Warns COVID-19: New Variant With 30 Mutations May Cause Breakthrough Infections, CDC Warns
Covid-19: New Variant With 30 Mutations May Cause Breakthrough Infections, CDC Warns A newly identified COVID-19 strain with around 30 mutations may cause breakthrough infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The BA.2.86 strain, now known as Pirola, has been identified in three states: Michigan, Virginia, and Ohio. The Michigan case, the first in the US, was an older woman who had recently returned from Japan. "BA.2.86 may be more capable of causing infection in people who have previously had COVID-19 or who have received COVID-19 vaccines," the CDC said in a Risk Assessment Summary. "Scientists are evaluating the effectiveness of the f…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Massachusetts Ranks 3rd Worst In Country For Accessible Housing, Report Says Massachusetts Ranks 3rd Worst In Country For Accessible Housing, Report Says
Massachusetts Ranks 3rd Worst In Country For Accessible Housing, Report Says Massachusetts minimum-wage workers would need to work 91 hours a week to afford a "modest" one-room rental home, a new report says.  Affordable housing is out of reach for many Americans, and Massachusetts workers are even harder-hit. The state ranked the third-worst in the country for worker housing accessibility, according to an annual report released by the National Low Income Housing Coalition on Wednesday, June 14.  The average Massachusetts minimum wage worker can afford rent of up to $780 per month, but the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom house is $1,772, the report said.  T…

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by Morgan Gonzales
News
6-Week-Old Girl From Cape Cod Battling RSV At Boston's Children Hospital 6-Week-Old Girl From Cape Cod Battling RSV At Boston's Children Hospital
6-Week-Old Girl From Cape Cod Battling RSV At Boston's Children Hospital A 6-week-old girl is one of thousands of people in Massachusetts to contract a virus that has seen a surge in cases over the past month.  Katie Hauge's niece Kinsley was hospitalized with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) at Boston Children's Hospital on Friday, Nov. 4, Hauge said in a GoFundMe campaign.  Kinsley's parents, Josh and Mariah, have been traveling from Cape Cod to Boston to visit their daughter while she remains in the intensive care unit, Hauge said.  "With Kinsley only being 6 weeks into this world and the lack of maternity leave benefits available, Mariah spends the majori…

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by David Cifarelli
News
COVID-19: New Wave With 'Worst Version' Of Omicron Starting, Leading NY Doctor Says COVID-19: New Wave With 'Worst Version' Of Omicron Starting, Leading NY Doctor Says
Covid-19: New Wave With 'Worst Version' Of Omicron Starting, Leading NY Doctor Says A new COVID-19 wave with the strongest strain of the Omicron variant appears to have started in New York, one of NYC's top epidemiologists in the city is saying. Dr. Jay Varma, who was former Mayor Bill de Blasio's top public health advisor during the pandemic, said the infection rate appears to have stabilized at a high level rather than subsiding as summer starts to get into full swing. "This is likely the beginning of a BA.5 wave," Varma stated in a Tweet.  "Reported cases are at a high plateau, which means actual transmission is very high when you account for the &g…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
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
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: US Exiting 'Full-Blown' Phase Of Pandemic, Restrictions Could End Soon, Fauci Says COVID-19: US Exiting 'Full-Blown' Phase Of Pandemic, Restrictions Could End Soon, Fauci Says
Covid-19: US Exiting 'Full-Blown' Phase Of Pandemic, Restrictions Could End Soon, Fauci Says The light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel may be fast approaching, according to infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci. With the number of new infections and hospitalizations plummeting over the past several weeks, Fauci, President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser, said that the US is almost past the “full-blown” pandemic phase. If Fauci’s prediction holds true, it could lead to a rollback of virus-related restrictions and mandates sooner than later, including an end to mandatory mask wearing by the end of 2022. 
“As we get out of the full-blown pandemic phase of COVID-19,” Fauci s…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Poll Reveals Percentage Of Americans Who Say ‘We Just Need To Get On With Our Lives' COVID-19: Poll Reveals Percentage Of Americans Who Say ‘We Just Need To Get On With Our Lives'
Covid-19: Poll Reveals Percentage Of Americans Who Say ‘We Just Need To Get On With Our Lives' The majority of Americans are ready to move on from the COVID-19 pandemic and simply accept it as a part of everyday life and move on, according to a newly released national poll. Monmouth University released the results of a new study, which found that seven in 10 Americans agree with the sentiment “it’s time that we accept that COVID-19 is here to stay and we just need to get on with our lives.” Of that 70 percent, 78 percent of those polled reported that they had previously contracted COVID-19, and 65 percent of whom have not been infected. The largest divide came between conservatives…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Here's Percentage Of US Workers Who Plan To Quit Their Jobs This Year, New Report Reveals Here's Percentage Of US Workers Who Plan To Quit Their Jobs This Year, New Report Reveals
Here's Percentage Of US Workers Who Plan To Quit Their Jobs This Year, New Report Reveals A new survey found that nearly one-quarter of workers in the United States plan to find a new job this year. ResumeBuilders.com said in a report on Monday, Jan. 3, that it surveyed 1,250 American adults who are currently employed, and found that 23 percent plan to find a new job in 2022. Nine percent of those respondents also said they had already secured a new job. The survey found the turnover will be the highest among the following fields: Retail Food and hospitality Education Office and administrative support The website reported that 31 percent of retail workers and 26 percent of fo…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: Massachusetts Hospitalizations Surge To Highest Level Since Spring 2020 COVID-19: Massachusetts Hospitalizations Surge To Highest Level Since Spring 2020
Covid-19: Massachusetts Hospitalizations Surge To Highest Level Since Spring 2020 Massachusetts hospitals have been quickly filling up as the state is reporting more patients being treated for COVID-19 than at any point since the outset of the pandemic nearly two years ago. According to the latest update from the Massachusetts Department of Health, there are now 2,524 COVID-19 patients being treated in state hospitals, the highest number since March 2020, just months after the initial outbreak of the virus. Among those 2,524 patients, 416 are in Intensive Care Units, while 259 are intubated as the Omicron COVID-19 variant continues to rage through the region. The jump i…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: First Cases Of Double-Infection Florona Disease Identified COVID-19: First Cases Of Double-Infection Florona Disease Identified
Covid-19: First Cases Of Double-Infection Florona Disease Identified While all eyes are on the Omicron COVID-19 variant, a new public health threat has emerged as the country enters the heart of flu season amid the second year of the pandemic. The first cases of Florona disease - a combination of the flu and coronavirus infections - have been reported, causing concern for some as the double infection looms large in parts of the world. In Israel, the first reported case of the disease was identified on Friday, Dec. 31 in a woman who went into labor and was not vaccinated against COVID-19, officials said. Another case was also identified in a pregnant woman. A…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: US Sees Surge Of Cases Among Children; Here's Latest Data COVID-19: US Sees Surge Of Cases Among Children; Here's Latest Data
Covid-19: US Sees Surge Of Cases Among Children; Here's Latest Data With children back in the classroom and activities moving indoors as the calendar turns to the holiday season, the US has seen a spike in new COVID-19 cases among children that are causing concerns. According to a new report, in the past week, more than 122,000 COVID-19 cases were reported among minors, marking a 22 percent increase from approximately two weeks ago. The numbers represent the 14th straight week that child COVID-19 cases topped 100,000, despite the vaccine becoming more readily available for those between the ages of 5 and 12, though the number has dropped since peaking at 25…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
These Massachusetts Locales Rank Among Top 100 Safest Communities In US These Massachusetts Locales Rank Among Top 100 Safest Communities In US
These Massachusetts Locales Rank Among Top 100 Safest Communities In US Though violent crimes spiked across the US during the pandemic, some Massachusetts towns ranked among the safest in the country according to a newly released report. Wenham in Essex County was the highest-ranked community in Massachusetts on the top 100 list of safest small towns, boasting a 0.0 crime rate per 1,000 residents, and a rate of 1.5 property crimes. Lewisboro and Sleepy Hollow in New York, Luzerne Township in Pennsylvania, Weiser in Idaho, and the Thet Township in Michigan all tied for the safest small town after reporting zero violent or property crimes last year in a report re…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Five Massachusetts Schools Awarded Blue Ribbon Status Five Massachusetts Schools Awarded Blue Ribbon Status
Five Massachusetts Schools Awarded Blue Ribbon Status Five schools in Massachusetts have earned top marks in 2021 by being recognized with National Blue Ribbon status. US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced 325 schools across the country were recognized for their overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among students. In Massachusetts, these schools were designated as National Blue Ribbon recipients: John D. Hardy Elementary School in Wellesley (Norfolk County); Josiah Haynes Elementary School in Sudbury (Middlesex County); Northfield Elementary School in Northfield (Franklin County); Weston Middle Sc…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Brand-New Poll Reveals Who's Most Comfortable Returning To The Office By Age Group COVID-19: Brand-New Poll Reveals Who's Most Comfortable Returning To The Office By Age Group
Covid-19: Brand-New Poll Reveals Who's Most Comfortable Returning To The Office By Age Group Gen Z is the age group least comfortable returning to the office in the current state of the pandemic, according to a new poll. The Harris Poll separated respondents into categories Gen Z (ages 18 to 24), Millenials (ages 25 to 40), Gen X (ages 41 to 56) and Baby Boomers and older (ages 57 and older). The results found that 33 percent of Gen Z respondents said they would be uncomfortable returning to the office. Millennials were the most comfortable returning to the office, with just 25 percent of respondents saying they would be uncomfortable to return.  The poll found that 28 perce…

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by Nicole Valinote
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Risk Of 'Monster' Variant Grows With Number Of Cases 10 Times Too High, Fauci Warns COVID-19: Risk Of 'Monster' Variant Grows With Number Of Cases 10 Times Too High, Fauci Warns
Covid-19: Risk Of 'Monster' Variant Grows With Number Of Cases 10 Times Too High, Fauci Warns The COVID-19 pandemic may not yet have reared its ugliest head as the number of new infections continues to surge across the US, increasing the chances of a new variant forming even more contagious than the Delta strain, White House medical adviser Anthony Fauci is cautioning. In a new interview with Axios, Fauci said that the COVID-19 infection rate could be unsustainable and is 10 times where it needs to be in order for the pandemic to end. 
“The endgame is to suppress the virus,” Fauci said. "Right now, we're still in pandemic mode, because we have 160,000 new infections a day. That's no…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Risk Of 'Monster' Variant Grows With Number Of Cases 10 Times Too High, Fauci Warns COVID-19: Risk Of 'Monster' Variant Grows With Number Of Cases 10 Times Too High, Fauci Warns
Covid-19: Risk Of 'Monster' Variant Grows With Number Of Cases 10 Times Too High, Fauci Warns The COVID-19 pandemic may not yet have reared its ugliest head as the number of new infections continues to surge across the US, increasing the chances of a new variant forming even more contagious than the Delta strain, White House medical adviser Anthony Fauci is cautioning. In a new interview with Axios, Fauci said that the COVID-19 infection rate could be unsustainable and is 10 times where it needs to be in order for the pandemic to end. 
“The endgame is to suppress the virus,” Fauci said. "Right now, we're still in pandemic mode, because we have 160,000 new infections a day. That's no…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Cases In Kids At All-Time High; Here's Percentage Of New US Infections In Children COVID-19: Cases In Kids At All-Time High; Here's Percentage Of New US Infections In Children
Covid-19: Cases In Kids At All-Time High; Here's Percentage Of New US Infections In Children With students returning to class for the new school year, the number of children coming down with COVID-19 is on the rise as overall cases continue to climb due to the Delta variant. In the latest data released by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children now represent 26.8 percent of new weekly COVID-19 cases nationwide as health officials encourage all eligible parties to get vaccinated against the virus to help curtail the spread of the virus. According to the latest report, more than 250,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported among children in the past week out of nearly 940,000 …

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by Zak Failla
Politics
'Rhymes With Local': Kathy Hochul Takes Command As NY's First Female Governor 'Rhymes With Local': Kathy Hochul Takes Command As NY's First Female Governor
'Rhymes With Local': Kathy Hochul Takes Command As NY's First Female Governor Just after midnight, Kathy C. Hochul, became the 57th governor of New York, making history as the first woman to take the reins of state’s highest office. She was sworn in early Tuesday, Aug. 24, at the State Capitol by Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, in a private ceremony, just hours after outgoing governor Andrew M. Cuomo walked out the door amid a series of sexual harassment allegations. Hochul, a 62-year-old Democrat from Buffalo, who has served as Cuomo’s top lieutenant for seven years, is slated to reveal some of her priorities as well as her choice for lieutenant governor later Tuesday. …

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by Kathy Reakes
News
COVID-19: County In Western Mass Elevated To 'Substantial' Risk For Spread, CDC Says COVID-19: County In Western Mass Elevated To 'Substantial' Risk For Spread, CDC Says
Covid-19: County In Western Mass Elevated To 'Substantial' Risk For Spread, CDC Says The last remaining county in Massachusetts has been upgraded from “moderate” to “substantial” risk for COVID-19 transmission as the country contends with the now-dominant Delta variant of the virus. In its latest update, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) upgraded Hampshire County to “substantial,” after being previously dubbed a “moderate” risk for spreading infection. According to the CDC, people in “substantial,” or “high” transmission areas should wear a mask indoors to help reduce the spread of the virus. Anyone who is immunocompromised has also been advised to mask u…

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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
Business
New Brewery Opens In Western Massachusetts New Brewery Opens In Western Massachusetts
New Brewery Opens In Western Massachusetts A large party and ribbon-cutting ceremony welcomed a new brewery to Western Massachusetts months after it was slated to open. White Lion Brewery officials opened its new brewery and taproom to much fanfare including plenty of music, and well, beer, on Wednesday, June 23, in Springfield. Located in Springfield's Tower Square, the new brewery began offering its craft beer in 2014.  The opening of the brewery experienced a 14-month construction delay due to the pandemic, but now the owner, Ray Berry, told 22News, his biggest challenge has been staffing. But good news, the word is they a…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
COVID-19: US To Invest $3.2 Billion For Purchase Of Anti-Viral Pills COVID-19: US To Invest $3.2 Billion For Purchase Of Anti-Viral Pills
Covid-19: US To Invest $3.2 Billion For Purchase Of Anti-Viral Pills President Joe Biden’s administration announced the United States is investing $3.2 billion to advance the development of antiviral drugs to treat viruses, including COVID-19. On Thursday, June 17, Biden announced the Antiviral Program for Pandemics, “a government-wide effort to speed up clinical trials of promising candidate drugs and develop next-generation treatments for Covid and other viruses that may cause future pandemics,” according to infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci. As part of the plan, the National Institutes of Health will “evaluate, prioritize, and advance” antivira…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Many Kept Traveling Despite Showing Symptoms, Study Finds COVID-19: Many Kept Traveling Despite Showing Symptoms, Study Finds
Covid-19: Many Kept Traveling Despite Showing Symptoms, Study Finds Despite showing COVID-19 symptoms, many Americans continued to travel normally during the pandemic, according to a new study. Researchers from George Mason University reported that they found “no real change” in daily activity, travel, and contact with others during the pandemic, even from those who showed signs of potentially contracting the virus. A team from the university’s College of Health and Human Services tracked the movement patterns of nearly 200 volunteers who showed possible COVID-19 symptoms. Of those being evaluated, few did anything to limit their daily movements, even when …

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Here's When Massachusetts' Outdoor Mask Mandate Ends, What It Means COVID-19: Here's When Massachusetts' Outdoor Mask Mandate Ends, What It Means
Covid-19: Here's When Massachusetts' Outdoor Mask Mandate Ends, What It Means Massachusetts is set to become the latest state to adopt the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) new guidance on mask-wearing amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Charlie Baker announced this week that beginning on Friday, April 30, the state will be lifting the outdoor mask mandate and will begin relaxing other pandemic-related restrictions that were put on businesses early in May. As of April 30, masks will no longer be required outdoors as long as social distancing can be maintained. Anyone who is fully vaccinated will be permitted to walk, run, hike and bike outdoors alone or w…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
UMass Board of Trustees OKs In-State Tuition Freeze UMass Board of Trustees OKs In-State Tuition Freeze
UMass Board of Trustees OKs In-State Tuition Freeze All in-state and most out-of-state students at University of Massachusetts campuses will have their tuition frozen during the upcoming academic year. On Wednesday, April 14, the UMass Board of Trustees voted to approve President Marty Meehan’s proposal, which will mark the second-straight year that tuition and mandatory fees for in-state undergraduate and graduate students were frozen. “We recognize the very real challenges that our students and their families continue to face due to the pandemic and we are committed to doing everything within our control to lessen the burden while als…

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by Zak Failla
Obituaries
COVID-19: Lost Loved One To Virus? FEMA Will Reimburse Families For Funeral Costs: Details COVID-19: Lost Loved One To Virus? FEMA Will Reimburse Families For Funeral Costs: Details
Covid-19: Lost Loved One To Virus? FEMA Will Reimburse Families For Funeral Costs: Details For those who lost a loved one to COVID-19, the federal government is now offering up to $9,000 for funeral expenses. FEMA announced the program on Thursday, April 8, which is aimed at easing the burden caused by the pandemic. “At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during, and after disasters,” Acting FEMA Administrator Bob Fenton said in a statement. “The COVID-19 pandemic has caused immense grief for so many people. Although we cannot change what has happened, we affirm our commitment to help with funeral and burial expenses that many families did not anticipate.” Families that …

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by Kathy Reakes
News
COVID-19: Here's New Breakdown Of Massachusetts Cases By County COVID-19: Here's New Breakdown Of Massachusetts Cases By County
Covid-19: Here's New Breakdown Of Massachusetts Cases By County The number of COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts continues to increase as the death toll mounts across the state amid what some fear could slowly become a potential fourth wave of the virus. In the latest data released by the state Department of Health, there were 2,252 new COVID-19 cases, which resulted in 36 newly reported virus-related deaths. There were nearly 32,000 active COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts as of Thursday, April 1, up more than 250 from earlier in the week. Younger residents in Massachusetts have seen the largest number of COVID-19 cases confirmed in state laboratories sinc…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Who Think Pandemic Is Improving, New Poll Shows COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Who Think Pandemic Is Improving, New Poll Shows
Covid-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Who Think Pandemic Is Improving, New Poll Shows Americans are feeling more optimistic about the nation’s ability to bring the pandemic crisis to an end, according to a new survey. On Friday, March 5, about one year after the pandemic began, Gallup released the outcome of its latest national COVID-19 opinion poll. The survey looked into what American adults are thinking about COVID-19 trends, access to vaccines and tests, and how the pandemic is affecting their lives. Here are some of the survey’s highlights: COVID-19 Gallup found that 60 percent of Americans said the COVID-19 situation in the U.S. is improving. This is the most upbeat…

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by Kristin Palpini