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COVID-19: These States Have Highest, Lowest Case Rates To Start November COVID-19: These States Have Highest, Lowest Case Rates To Start November
Covid-19: These States Have Highest, Lowest Case Rates To Start November The Northeast seems to be trending in the right direction when it comes to COVID cases to start out November. New data from the CDC shows the states with the highest COVID cases reported in the last 7 days. The 12 states with the highest number of new cases in the last week (per 100,000) are  New Hampshire: 622 North Dakota: 611 Montana: 866 Wyoming: 414 Alaska: 667 Minnesota: 2941 Maine: 1348 Idaho: 1244 Utah: 2152 Colorado: 2747 New Mexico: 1161 West Virginia 849 Hey Utah, once again we’re trending in the wrong direction. Utah now among top 10 states in nation with new COVID cases (…

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by Cecilia Levine
Schools
COVID-19: Sale Of Fake Vaccine Cards Prompts FBI Warning COVID-19: Sale Of Fake Vaccine Cards Prompts FBI Warning
Covid-19: Sale Of Fake Vaccine Cards Prompts FBI Warning The FBI has issued a warning about individuals selling fake COVID-19 vaccination cards and advertising them online. The agency said individuals should not purchase or make fake vaccine cards, and not fill in blank cards with false information, as it could put people's health at risk. "By misrepresenting yourself as vaccinated when entering schools, mass transit, workplaces, gyms, or places of worship, you put yourself and others around you at risk of contracting COVID-19," the FBI said. The FBI added that using an official government agency seal, like The Department of Health and Huma…

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by Nicole Valinote
Lifestyle
Drive-Thru Dinosaur Exhibit Coming To Connecticut Drive-Thru Dinosaur Exhibit Coming To Connecticut
Drive-Thru Dinosaur Exhibit Coming To Connecticut A taste of Jurassic Park is coming to Connecticut. More than 70 photorealistic dinosaurs are ready to return from extinction for families and dino fans in Connecticut as the Jurassic Quest Drive-Thru comes to Pratt & Whitney Stadium in Hartford from Friday, July 30 through Sunday, Aug. 8. According to organizers, “the Jurassic Quest Drive-Thru will transform outdoor areas throughout the region into a fun-filled drive-thru experience complete with life-like dinosaurs, baby dino, and trainer meet and greets, photo opportunities, a choose-your-own-audio-adventure…

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by Zak Failla
Business
COVID-19: These Retailers Are Allowing Maskless Shopping For Fully Vaccinated COVID-19: These Retailers Are Allowing Maskless Shopping For Fully Vaccinated
Covid-19: These Retailers Are Allowing Maskless Shopping For Fully Vaccinated With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and most states loosening up mask-wearing restrictions, many retailers are following suit and are enacting new policies for customers and employees. The CDC said last week that fully vaccinated people do not need to wear a mask or stay 6 feet apart from others in most cases, whether indoors or outdoors. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after they receive the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or the single dose of Johnson & Johnson. The following mandates are in place at thes…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: American Federation Of Teachers President Calls For Full School Reopenings In Fall COVID-19: American Federation Of Teachers President Calls For Full School Reopenings In Fall
Covid-19: American Federation Of Teachers President Calls For Full School Reopenings In Fall The head of the second-largest teachers union in the United States is calling on a full return to five-day-a-week in-person learning at all schools in the fall, declaring that her organization was “all-in.” In an address posted on social media, Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers said that with more and more Americans becoming eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, it is imperative that schools fully reopen for students and staff during the next academic year. “Conditions have changed,” she said. "We can and we must reopen schools in the fall for in-person te…

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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
News
COVID-19: Here's Number Of Americans Who've Become Infected Despite Being Vaccinated, CDC Says COVID-19: Here's Number Of Americans Who've Become Infected Despite Being Vaccinated, CDC Says
Covid-19: Here's Number Of Americans Who've Become Infected Despite Being Vaccinated, CDC Says The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has released the first data on so-called "breakthrough" COVID-19 cases, meaning those who have become infected despite being fully vaccinated. So far, there have been about 5,800 such cases, the CDC told CNN.  At the time that data was collected, 77 million American adults had been fully vaccinated, meaning 99.992 percent had dodged the disease. The efficacy rates of the double-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are both around 95 percent. "To date, no unexpected patterns have been identified in case demographics or vaccine ch…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: These Five Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Spread, DPH Says COVID-19: These Five Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Spread, DPH Says
Covid-19: These Five Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Spread, DPH Says Five communities in western Massachusetts are in the COVID-19 “red zone,” while nearly two dozen more have also seen an uptick in cases and have been placed into “yellow zones.” The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released its weekly COVID-19 health report on Thursday, March 25, highlighting the areas of the state that have seen an increase in new cases in relation to the area's population. Under the state’s new criteria, the Department of Public Health is taking population size into account when determining which are deemed “high-risk,” “medium-risk,” or “low-risk.” In the lates…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: CDC Director Warns Of 'Avoidable Rise In Cases,' Says US Is At Fork In Road COVID-19: CDC Director Warns Of 'Avoidable Rise In Cases,' Says US Is At Fork In Road
Covid-19: CDC Director Warns Of 'Avoidable Rise In Cases,' Says US Is At Fork In Road Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky is urging Americans to remain vigilant so the country doesn’t see an “avoidable rise in cases." Walensky warned on Monday, March 22 that another surge similar to what happened in the winter is “avoidable” as the federal government ramps up production and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. “I get it. We all want to return to our everyday activities and spend time with our friends, family, and loved ones,” she said. “But we must find the fortitude to hang in there just a bit longer. "We are at a critical point in this …

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Stay Away On St. Patrick's Day, CDC Says COVID-19: Stay Away On St. Patrick's Day, CDC Says
Covid-19: Stay Away On St. Patrick's Day, CDC Says Irish eyes will still be smiling on St. Patrick’s Day this year, but doing so socially distanced or virtually if the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has its way. Though the number of COVID-19 cases is dropping as more vaccines are distributed across the country, the CDC is advising that anyone planning to celebrate the holiday on Wednesday should do so at home to stay safe and protect others. Due to the pandemic, most St. Patrick’s Day parades and other traditional celebrations have been called off as the U.S. inches closer to the COVID-19. To still enjoy a festive St. Patrick’s…

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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
News
COVID-19: Police Break Up Large Party Near UConn Campus COVID-19: Police Break Up Large Party Near UConn Campus
Covid-19: Police Break Up Large Party Near UConn Campus State Police broke up a large party that was held overnight near the UConn campus in Storrs in violation of COVID-19 pandemic guidelines. Just before 11:30 p.m. Saturday, March 6, troopers responded to 160 Birch Road in Mansfield for a complaint of a large, loud party. Upon arrival, the troopers witnessed the disturbance and observed numerous college-aged students inside the residence. An estimated total of 150 to 200 students were observed, according to police.  The renters at this residence admitted to hosting the party, state police said.  No PPE, such as mask-wearing, or so…

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Could A Return To Normalcy Be Near, Despite Concerns Over Variants? COVID-19: Could A Return To Normalcy Be Near, Despite Concerns Over Variants?
Covid-19: Could A Return To Normalcy Be Near, Despite Concerns Over Variants? As COVID-19 rates continue to decrease, many people are feeling cautiously optimistic that normal life will soon resume. A survey of 21 experts found that most of them believe the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us, according to research by The New York Times. Americans may be able to get back to their pre-pandemic lives this summer. Unless … Researchers cautioned that people should not underestimate COVID-19.  Although signs are pointing to the end of the pandemic, a shift in the virus or how people respond to it could send infection and death rates to rising again. Fa…

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by Kristin Palpini
News
COVID-19: 1 In 6 US Counties Not Ready For In-School Education - Lookup Your County On Map COVID-19: 1 In 6 US Counties Not Ready For In-School Education - Lookup Your County On Map
Covid-19: 1 In 6 US Counties Not Ready For In-School Education - Lookup Your County On Map Is your county ready to return to full in-school education for elementary school students? According to new research by The New York Times, only 1 out of 6 counties in the U.S. have tamped down on the spread of COVID-19 enough to justify full-in person education. These counties tend to be sparsely populated in the Plains, West, and MidWest regions. This is concerning as President Biden and state governors have pushed for children to return to school within the next four months or so. The NYT has produced a new national map that shows, county-by-county, where cases of COVID-19 are low eno…

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by Kristin Palpini
Schools
COVID-19: Social Distance Rules For Students Far Shorter Than For Adults COVID-19: Social Distance Rules For Students Far Shorter Than For Adults
Covid-19: Social Distance Rules For Students Far Shorter Than For Adults The guidelines for social distancing at public schools recommend far less space between people than the 6 feet standard encouraged throughout much of the pandemic. On Tuesday, Feb. 23, Massachusetts announced a plan to return all elementary school students to the classroom by April. When asked about COVID-19 safeguards for the schools, Commission of the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Jeffrey Riley said that 3 feet of distance between students, staff, and faculty is the goal for public schools, though if they are able to distance further - up to 6 feet - all the better. …

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by Kristin Palpini
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: University Puts 13,000 Students On Lock-Down Following 'Massive' Frat Party COVID-19: University Puts 13,000 Students On Lock-Down Following 'Massive' Frat Party
Covid-19: University Puts 13,000 Students On Lock-Down Following 'Massive' Frat Party More than 13,000 students will be in self-sequester for the next two weeks following an outbreak of COVID-19 at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. As of Sunday, Feb. 7, the UMass Amherst campus had 398 active COVID-19 cases - nearly 300 of which were reported, Feb. 2-4.  On Sunday, UMass Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy sent a campus-wide email announcing the self-lockdown. He said that the flagship is now considered “high risk” for the spread of COVID-19 and that the rise in infections is likely due to undergrads. “Contract tracing indicates that transmission of the virus is especi…

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by Kristin Palpini
News
COVID-19: Did You Already Have Virus, And Not Know It? Here Are The Signs COVID-19: Did You Already Have Virus, And Not Know It? Here Are The Signs
Covid-19: Did You Already Have Virus, And Not Know It? Here Are The Signs Not everyone who has caught COVID-19 knows it. But there are ways to tell if you got the novel virus sometime since the pandemic touched down in the U.S. during winter 2020. In many people, signs of “Long COVID-19" persist, according to a new study, “Long COVID: a cross-sectional study of persisting symptoms” led by Dr. Swapna Mandal, a respiratory physician, and a growing host of research. There’s only one true way to know if you had COVID-19 - get an antibody blood test to check for signs of COVID-19. However, there are a number of more informal ways to tell if you previously caught t…

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by Kristin Palpini
News
First Case Of COVID-19 Variant Discovered In Massachusetts First Case Of COVID-19 Variant Discovered In Massachusetts
First Case Of Covid-19 Variant Discovered In Massachusetts The first case of the COVID-19 variant has been detected in Massachusetts, according to the Department of Public Health. The first Massachusetts person to get B.1.1.7 is a Boston woman in her 20s. The variant has also been discovered in New York and Connecticut. She first became ill in early January and received a positive COVID-19 test. A genetic sample was sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for further analysis and that’s when the variant was discovered, according to the state Department of Public Health. The woman, who is not being identified, had recently trave…

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by Kristin Palpini
News
COVID-19: Most Cases Transmitted By People Not Displaying Symptoms, New Study Reveals COVID-19: Most Cases Transmitted By People Not Displaying Symptoms, New Study Reveals
Covid-19: Most Cases Transmitted By People Not Displaying Symptoms, New Study Reveals Most COVID-19 cases are transmitted by people who do not exhibit symptoms, according to a new study by CDC researchers. The researchers, who used a mathematical approach to assess several scenarios, found that 59 percent of all infections came from asymptomatic transmission -- including those who are pre-symptomatic or never show any COVID symptoms. Most of those asymptomatic spreaders go on to become ill (35 percent), the researchers said, compared to 24 percent who never develop symptoms. "In addition to the identification and isolation of persons with symptomatic COVID-19, effective con…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: New Study Reveals Danger To Younger Americans, Who Are Dying At Historic Rate COVID-19: New Study Reveals Danger To Younger Americans, Who Are Dying At Historic Rate
Covid-19: New Study Reveals Danger To Younger Americans, Who Are Dying At Historic Rate Contrary to popular belief, COVID-19 is taking its toll on younger Americans, who are dying at a historic rate, according to a new study. Research published this week in the Journal of American Medical Association found that Americans between the ages of 25 and 44 have died at a rate that has never been seen in history. During the study, a total of 76,088 deaths were reported in adults between those ages, which was 11,899 more than the expected 64,189 fatalities during that stretch. Of those deaths, 38 percent were contributed to COVID-19. “Although the remaining excess deaths are unexpla…

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by Zak Failla
News
Thanksgiving Cancelled? Tips For A Safer Celebration During COVID-19 Thanksgiving Cancelled? Tips For A Safer Celebration During COVID-19
Thanksgiving Cancelled? Tips For A Safer Celebration During Covid-19 Thanksgiving can carry on this year, despite a surge in COVID-19 infections, but for celebrations to be safe, Massachusetts and the Centers for Disease Control have some suggestions. For starters, the CDC would prefer if everyone stayed home this Thanksgiving and had virtual feasts via Zoom with friends and family. But recognizing many people are going to see their loved ones on Thanksgiving, the CDC offered advice. In a new public information blast, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health reminded Bay State residents that: - No more than 10 people can attend a private indoor party,…

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by Kristin Palpini
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Planning A Big Thanksgiving COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Planning A Big Thanksgiving
Covid-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Planning A Big Thanksgiving Nearly 40 percent of Americans are planning to eschew COVID-19 safety protocols and host large Thanksgiving celebrations, despite the new surge in cases, according to a new national survey. Despite the pandemic, 38 percent of respondents surveyed by the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center said that they are planning a holiday gathering with more than 10 people, which is against the guidance of most health officials. The survey also found that 27 percent do not plan to socially distance, and a third said they are unlikely to ask guests to wear masks. Despite the severity of the virus…

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by Zak Failla
News
UPDATE COVID-19: The Towns Where You Can - And Can't - Go Trick-Or-Treating UPDATE COVID-19: The Towns Where You Can - And Can't - Go Trick-Or-Treating
Update Covid-19: The Towns Where You Can - And Can't - Go Trick-Or-Treating Communities across the state are taking different approaches to Halloween this year amid COVID-19 concerns. Some have outright banned trick-or-treating while others have left it up to parents whether their children will participate. If you’re wondering where you can go trick-or-treating this year, below is a list of cities and towns that have made decisions about how their communities will do Halloween amid COVID-19. Most communities are asking people to adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Halloween guidelines.  The CDC advised against door-to-door trick-or-tre…

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by Kristin Palpini
News
COVID-19: Uptick In Northeast Cases 'Concerning,' Says Dr. Birx Of Coronavirus Task Force COVID-19: Uptick In Northeast Cases 'Concerning,' Says Dr. Birx Of Coronavirus Task Force
Covid-19: Uptick In Northeast Cases 'Concerning,' Says Dr. Birx Of Coronavirus Task Force One of the leaders of the White House’s Coronavirus Task Force is cautioning that the rise of recent COVID-19 cases in the Northeast is “concerning.” Dr. Deborah Birx said in Boston on Friday, Oct. 9 that she’s seen signs of a “silent spread” of COVID-19 in the Northeast, calling it concerning and commenting that people in the region take precautions to help curtail the spread of the virus. “We do see some of those early signs that we saw across the south after Memorial Day, a sense that there’s early, asymptomatic silent spread occurring in communities,” Brix said. Birx said that the spr…

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by Zak Failla
Business
COVID-19: CT Moving To 'Phase 3' In Reopening Economy; Larger Crowds Allowed COVID-19: CT Moving To 'Phase 3' In Reopening Economy; Larger Crowds Allowed
Covid-19: CT Moving To 'Phase 3' In Reopening Economy; Larger Crowds Allowed Connecticut will soon enter “Phase 3” of the state’s COVID-19 reopening plan. This means bigger crowds at events and restaurants both inside and out. Face masks and social distancing requirements must still be observed.  Gov. Ned Lamont said Thursday, Sept. 24, that the state would go to Phase 3 on Oct. 8. “The changes will increase capacities for certain businesses, including restaurants, personal services, libraries, and performing arts venues,” Lamont said, “while ensuring safety protocols are still in effect.” Specifically, that means that: - Restaurants, personal services, and …

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by Kristin Palpini
News
COVID-19: CDC Releases Halloween Guidelines For Trick-Or-Treating COVID-19: CDC Releases Halloween Guidelines For Trick-Or-Treating
Covid-19: CDC Releases Halloween Guidelines For Trick-Or-Treating New guidelines for trick-or-treating on Halloween have been released by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). The guidance was published on the CDC website Monday night, Sept. 21. "Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses," the CDC said. "There are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween.  "If you may have COVID-19 or you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters." The CDC offered several …

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
COVID-19: Nearly 60 Layoffs Planned For Local Seller Of Music Fest, Sports Tickets COVID-19: Nearly 60 Layoffs Planned For Local Seller Of Music Fest, Sports Tickets
Covid-19: Nearly 60 Layoffs Planned For Local Seller Of Music Fest, Sports Tickets A local online retailer of music festivals, sports games, and theater has plans to layoff nearly 60 employees due to the ongoing economic damage wrought by COVID-19. On Thursday, Sept. 10, Director of Human Resources for TicketNetwork.com David Brogan, officially told the Connecticut Department of Labor that Ticket Network is planning to reduce its staff by about 60 employees between now and December. TicketNetwork sells admission to large entertainment, concert, sporting, and other such events. Due to COVID-19 restrictions on how many people can gather together, many venues have canceled …

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by Kristin Palpini