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Delta variant

Lifestyle
COVID-19: CT Cancer Patient Has Been Infected With Virus At Least 471 Days, Case Study Says COVID-19: CT Cancer Patient Has Been Infected With Virus At Least 471 Days, Case Study Says
Covid-19: CT Cancer Patient Has Been Infected With Virus At Least 471 Days, Case Study Says A Connecticut resident experienced a chronic COVID-19 infection for at least 471 days, researchers reported. Researchers from Yale University found that a patient, who is diagnosed with lymphoma, has been testing positive for the virus for at least 471 days and that the virus rapidly mutated during their infection, according to the Daily Mail. The study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, can be found here. Researchers reported that their surveillance system captured 30 nasal swabs from the unnamed individual, and sequenced COVID-19 genomes from day 79 through 471, which was between Feb…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
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
News
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
News
COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Who Think Pandemic Is Getting Worse, New Poll Says COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Who Think Pandemic Is Getting Worse, New Poll Says
Covid-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Who Think Pandemic Is Getting Worse, New Poll Says While some Americans have expressed optimism about the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic being over after the post-holiday surge of infections, the majority still believe that the pandemic is getting worse, according to a new poll. Gallup released new data that found that optimism about the trajectory of the pandemic in the US has fallen precipitously in recent weeks and months, to the highest level in a year. The latest Gallup poll depicting how worried Americans are about the pandemic.Gallup According to the latest poll, which was conducted between Monday, Jan. 3 and Friday, Jan. 14 foun…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: CDC Reveals If Getting Vaxxed Is More Effective Than Natural Immunity COVID-19: CDC Reveals If Getting Vaxxed Is More Effective Than Natural Immunity
Covid-19: CDC Reveals If Getting Vaxxed Is More Effective Than Natural Immunity Top federal health officials have dispelled the long-standing question regarding the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccinations versus natural immunity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report of a new study that found that both vaccinations and prior infection help to protect against new COVID-19 infections, though the former has proven far more effective in preventing virus-related hospitalizations. In the study, researchers evaluated more than a million COVID-19 cases in California and New York to analyze the risk of COVID-19 infection and hospitalizations among fou…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Wave Of Omicron Cases In US May Be At Turning Point, Virus Expert Says COVID-19: Wave Of Omicron Cases In US May Be At Turning Point, Virus Expert Says
Covid-19: Wave Of Omicron Cases In US May Be At Turning Point, Virus Expert Says The wave of COVID-19 cases in the United States triggered by the highly contagious Omicron variant may be at a turning point, an infectious disease expert says. Former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb says parts of the nation may be about to pass the peak phase of the outbreak, while other regions will likely soon be hit hard. "f you look what's happening across the East Coast right now in New York City, Washington, DC, Maryland, probably Florida as well have already peaked, maybe Delaware and Rhode Island," Gottlieb said Sunday, Jan. 9 on CBS-TV's "Face the Nation." "You start to see t…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Researcher Discovers 'Deltacron' Strain Combining Parts Of Both Variants COVID-19: Researcher Discovers 'Deltacron' Strain Combining Parts Of Both Variants
Covid-19: Researcher Discovers 'Deltacron' Strain Combining Parts Of Both Variants A COVID-19 strain that combines both the Omicron and Delta variants has been discovered by a researcher, according to a brand-new report. The strain has been labeled “Deltacron” by the researcher, Leondios Kostrikis, a biological sciences professor at the University of Cyprus because of its omicron-like genetic signatures within the delta genomes, Bloomberg reported on Saturday, Jan. 8. Kostrikis told Sigma TV that "we will see in the future if this strain is more pathological or more contagious or if it will prevail” over Delta and Omicron. To date, 25 cases of Deltacron have been identif…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: FDA Expands Pfizer Booster Eligibility Among Adolescents As Omicron Cases Skyrocket COVID-19: FDA Expands Pfizer Booster Eligibility Among Adolescents As Omicron Cases Skyrocket
Covid-19: FDA Expands Pfizer Booster Eligibility Among Adolescents As Omicron Cases Skyrocket As the Omicron COVID-19 variant rages across the country, federal health officials have expanded the eligibility for booster shots in younger Americans. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Monday, Jan. 3 that it is expanding the eligibility for Pfizer and BioNTech booster shots to American between the ages of 12 and 15 years old as children return to school amid a surge of new COVID-19 infections. FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks said in a statement the agency made its decision because a booster “may help provide better protection against both the delt…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Study Reveals How Likely Omicron Patients Are To Be Hospitalized Compared To Delta COVID-19: Study Reveals How Likely Omicron Patients Are To Be Hospitalized Compared To Delta
Covid-19: Study Reveals How Likely Omicron Patients Are To Be Hospitalized Compared To Delta While the wildly spreading Omicron COVID-19 variant is believed to be more transmissible than previous strains, a new study found that patients are less likely to be hospitalized with severe infections if they contract it. Researchers found that those who contract the Omicron variant are 80 percent less likely to be hospitalized, compared to other strains, according to a new study released by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases. Once admitted to the hospital, the risk of severe disease doesn’t differ from other variants; however, the researchers led by scientists Nicole Walter…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Info Released On First US Omicron Death; Biden To Announce 500M Free At-Home Tests COVID-19: Info Released On First US Omicron Death; Biden To Announce 500M Free At-Home Tests
Covid-19: Info Released On First US Omicron Death; Biden To Announce 500M Free At-Home Tests Less than three weeks after the first case of the highly transmissible Omicron COVID-19 variant was identified in the United States, the first death in the nation connected to the strain has been confirmed in the Houston, Texas area. The patient was a man in his 50s who was not vaccinated and had an underlying health condition, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said, according to KHOU-11, a CBS-affiliated television station in Houston. Houston Methodist said on Monday, Dec. 20 that 82 percent of its new cases are omicron after just three weeks of testing for it, KHOU reported. Omicron …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Here Are Penalties In Place, Info On Vax Requirements As NY Mask Mandate Takes Effect COVID-19: Here Are Penalties In Place, Info On Vax Requirements As NY Mask Mandate Takes Effect
Covid-19: Here Are Penalties In Place, Info On Vax Requirements As NY Mask Mandate Takes Effect Harsh penalties for those refusing to wear a mask indoors and new vaccine requirements are now in effect in New York as the state fends off new variants of the virus as the number of new cases soars. Beginning on Monday, Dec. 13, masks will be required to be worn in all indoor public places unless businesses or venues implement a vaccine requirement due to the rise in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations across the state. The new requirements will be in effect through Saturday, Jan. 15, at which point the state will reassess the situation based on the conditions statewide at that time. …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: FDA Expands Booster Vaccine Eligibility To Include Ages 16 & 17 COVID-19: FDA Expands Booster Vaccine Eligibility To Include Ages 16 & 17
Covid-19: FDA Expands Booster Vaccine Eligibility To Include Ages 16 & 17 The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded eligibility for Pfizer's COVID-19 booster vaccines to include 16- and 17-year-olds. The FDA said in an announcement on Thursday, Dec. 9, that it has amended the emergency use authorization of the booster vaccine to include those aged 16 and older at least six months after they've completed their primary vaccination. “Vaccination and getting a booster when eligible, along with other preventive measures like masking and avoiding large crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, remain our most effective methods for fighting COVID-19,”…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: First Omicron Case In Westchester Identified In 13-Year-Old COVID-19: First Omicron Case In Westchester Identified In 13-Year-Old
Covid-19: First Omicron Case In Westchester Identified In 13-Year-Old The first case of the COVID-19 Omicron variant has been identified in Westchester. County Executive George Latimer announced the news late Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 7, saying the case is in a 13-year-old.  " We are concerned about this discovery, and are closely monitoring the situation," Latimer said. "With the new variant circulating, the best way we can protect our families and ourselves is by being vaccinated, and by getting a booster shot if you are eligible. “Additionally, I have officially signed the State of Emergency Executive Order for Westchester County. I am taking this act…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of New US Cases Linked To Delta Variant, CDC Says COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of New US Cases Linked To Delta Variant, CDC Says
Covid-19: Here's Percentage Of New US Cases Linked To Delta Variant, CDC Says Amid concern over the brand-new Omicron strain, estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are revealing the percentage of new COVID-19 infections in the United States from the Delta variant. The CDC estimated that in the week from Sunday, Nov. 21 through Saturday, Nov. 27 that 99.9 percent of all COVID-19 cases in the United States were from the Delta variant. The public health agency reported that it uses genomic surveillance to track the proportions of variants circulating. According to the agency, the Delta variant is more than twice as contagious as previous v…

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by Nicole Valinote
Politics
COVID-19: County Assessing Possible 'Major Steps We May Need To Take' On Omicron, Latimer Says COVID-19: County Assessing Possible 'Major Steps We May Need To Take' On Omicron, Latimer Says
Covid-19: County Assessing Possible 'Major Steps We May Need To Take' On Omicron, Latimer Says County Executive George Latimer is ready to take “major steps” in Westchester if the Omicron COVID-19 strain poses as large a threat as many fear. During a COVID-19 update on Monday, Nov. 29, Latimer addressed the new variant, which was just confirmed in neighboring Canada and could lead to a spike similar to when the Delta variant first began rapidly spreading earlier this year. Earlier story - COVID-19: County Assessing Possible 'Major Steps We May Need To Take' On Omicron, Latimer Says The World Health Organization identified the Omicron variant as one “of concern” at an emergency meeti…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Newly Discovered Strain Could Be Worse Than Delta Variant, Scientists Fear COVID-19: Newly Discovered Strain Could Be Worse Than Delta Variant, Scientists Fear
Covid-19: Newly Discovered Strain Could Be Worse Than Delta Variant, Scientists Fear Updated story - COVID-19: New Variant's 50 Mutations Make It Different From Original Virus, NIH Director Says A new COVID-19 variant that could be worse than the Delta strain is sparking concerns among scientists. The B.1.1.529 strain, now known as Omicron, could become a "variant of concern" as soon as Friday, Nov. 26, when the World Health Organization holds an emergency meeting. It is now spreading rapidly in parts of South Africa after first being detected in neighboring Botswana.  The new variant has already shown a large number of mutations, and scientists fear it…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Study Shows Chance Of Winter Surge That Could Be Worse Than Delta Variant COVID-19: Study Shows Chance Of Winter Surge That Could Be Worse Than Delta Variant
Covid-19: Study Shows Chance Of Winter Surge That Could Be Worse Than Delta Variant With the weather cooling down and crowded indoor holiday season gatherings fast approaching, a new study is showing that there could be a winter surge of COVID-19 cases that could rival the earlier emergence of the Delta variant. According to a newly released study, researchers are predicting that there is at least a 30 percent chance that states could experience a surge of new infections that could exceed the numbers seen during the spike in cases in mid-September during the variant. With activities moving indoors, there is expected to be a surge in cases, though with more Americans getti…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Pfizer Asks FDA To Approve Vaccine For Children Ages 5 To 11 COVID-19: Pfizer Asks FDA To Approve Vaccine For Children Ages 5 To 11
Covid-19: Pfizer Asks FDA To Approve Vaccine For Children Ages 5 To 11 Pfizer has officially asked the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine to be administered to children between the ages of 5 and 11. With parents and politicians alike agreeing that keeping children learning in the classroom after a lost year in 2020, Pfizer is pushing to allow its vaccine to be administered among younger Americans. Pfizer tweeted this week that the company had submitted their formal request for Emergency Use Authorization of the vaccine to the FDA. "With new cases in children in the U.S. continuing to be at a high lev…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Hudson Valley Continues Downward Trend In Positive Cases; New Breakdown By County COVID-19: Hudson Valley Continues Downward Trend In Positive Cases; New Breakdown By County
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Continues Downward Trend In Positive Cases; New Breakdown By County The positive COVID-19 infection rate in the Hudson Valley continues to decline, though multiple new virus-related deaths were reported throughout the region in the latest update from the Department of Health. After spiking toward the end of the summer, the average seven-day average positive infection rate for those tested for COVID-19 in the Hudson Valley has dipped for the fourth straight day, from 2.37 percent on Friday, Oct. 1 to 2.20 percent of those tested on Monday, Oct. 4. Statewide, the positive infection rate is also dropping, from 2.45 percent to 2.34 percent during the same time …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: More Virus-Related Mandates Could Be Coming To NY, Hochul Warns COVID-19: More Virus-Related Mandates Could Be Coming To NY, Hochul Warns
Covid-19: More Virus-Related Mandates Could Be Coming To NY, Hochul Warns More COVID-19 mask and vaccine mandates could be coming to New York as the state continues to contend with the Delta variant of the virus, which has become the dominant strain across the East Coast. During a COVID-19 briefing on Tuesday, Oct. 5 in Albany, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul touted the recent results of mandates that took effect in curtailing the spread of the virus, while cautioning that more could potentially be on the way. Although there are lawsuits regarding the legality of vaccination mandates in certain professions, Hochul touted their effectiveness, including a vaccination r…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Hochul Announces Series Of New Universal Mask Requirements In New York COVID-19: Hochul Announces Series Of New Universal Mask Requirements In New York
Covid-19: Hochul Announces Series Of New Universal Mask Requirements In New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a series of universal mask requirements she said will help protect New Yorkers against the highly contagious Delta variant and the surge in COVID-19 infections statewide. Mask mandates for children in New York are being expanded to include children in child care and daycare centers as the number of new infections in kids rises across the country. During her latest COVID briefing on Wednesday, Sept. 15 in Albany, Hochul announced the new mandates that will impact children still too young to be eligible for the vaccine. Beginning on Sept. 15, child care, daycare c…

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by Zak Failla
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
Business
COVID-19: Here's Why Auto Prices Are Expected To Remain High COVID-19: Here's Why Auto Prices Are Expected To Remain High
Covid-19: Here's Why Auto Prices Are Expected To Remain High A shortage of a key part caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to keep automobile prices high until as late as 2023, according to multiple reports. Experts say that computer chip shortages caused car prices to increase in the spring, and delta variant cases in countries that produce the computer chips could lead to even longer wait times before prices lower. Jeff Aiosa, the Connecticut Director of the National Automobile Dealers Association, told WTNH in New Haven that dealers across the United States usually sell more than 17 million new cars, but that number has gone down to 16 mill…

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by Nicole Valinote
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
News
COVID-19: New Variant Believed To Be More Transmissible Than Delta Has Been Found In 49 States COVID-19: New Variant Believed To Be More Transmissible Than Delta Has Been Found In 49 States
Covid-19: New Variant Believed To Be More Transmissible Than Delta Has Been Found In 49 States Alarm bells are sounding for some health officials as a new, possibly more transmissible COVID-19 variant has now been identified in 49 states. The mu variant, first discovered in Colombia in January, is threatening to become the dominant strain of the virus, potentially overtaking the Delta variant, as health officials continue to combat the constantly mutating virus. According to reports, the only state in the US that has not recorded a case of the mu virus is Nebraska after the strain it made its presence known in Alaska and Hawaii recently. The new variant is believed to be more trans…

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by Zak Failla
Business
COVID-19: McDonald's To Close Indoor Seating Areas In Some Parts Of US COVID-19: McDonald's To Close Indoor Seating Areas In Some Parts Of US
Covid-19: McDonald's To Close Indoor Seating Areas In Some Parts Of US McDonald's is preparing to close its indoor seating areas as cases of the delta variant increase across the United States, according to a new report. The fast-food chain had previously announced plans to reopen indoor dining in all of its franchises by Labor Day as long as there wasn't a resurgence of COVID-19, after closing it down in 2020, according to a report from Reuters. The company has now told its locations to close indoor seating areas in places where the virus is spreading quickly.  Reuters reported that McDonald's recommended that restaurants close indoor seating in places …

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: Hudson Valley Infection-Rate Stays Steadily High; Latest Breakdown By County COVID-19: Hudson Valley Infection-Rate Stays Steadily High; Latest Breakdown By County
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Infection-Rate Stays Steadily High; Latest Breakdown By County The positive COVID-19 rate in the Hudson Valley dipped slightly, but still remains high following several days of seeing the numbers rise, according to the New York State Department of Health. According to the Department of Health, the average seven-day positive infection rate of those tested in the Hudson Valley dipped down to 3.61 percent in the latest update after spiking to 3.70 percent as recently as Monday, Aug. 30. Thirty-three New Yorkers died due to COVID-19, according to the latest update from the state, including two in Dutchess, and one each in Westchester and Sullivan counties.…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Hudson Valley Positive-Test Rate On Rise; Latest County Breakdown COVID-19: Hudson Valley Positive-Test Rate On Rise; Latest County Breakdown
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Positive-Test Rate On Rise; Latest County Breakdown The positive COVID-19 infection rate in the Hudson Valley is back on the rise after seeing a slight dip as the region continues contending with the now-dominant Delta variant of the virus.  After falling to 3.65 percent, the seven-day average COVID-19 infection rate in the Hudson Valley rose to 3.70 percent of those tested on Monday, Aug. 30, according to the latest update from the state Department of Health. Twenty-two New Yorkers died of virus-related deaths, according to the latest update from the state, including one in Dutchess County. Other deaths were reported in Queens (five),…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: Weekly Testing Requirement For Unvaccinated School Staff To Start In NY COVID-19: Weekly Testing Requirement For Unvaccinated School Staff To Start In NY
Covid-19: Weekly Testing Requirement For Unvaccinated School Staff To Start In NY Children in New York will be wearing masks - at least at the beginning of the school year - in the classroom until regions get the Delta COVID-19 variant under control, and school staffers who aren't vaccinated will now have to be tested weekly. During a COVID-19 briefing in Buffalo on Tuesday, Aug. 31, Gov. Kathy Hochul, calling children “resilient,” said that all students will be masked up to start the school year, though circumstances could change depending on the spread of the virus. “It’s been a brutal year and a half for children who have been denied that normal support system and man…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Those Not Vaccinated 11 Times More Likely To Be Hospitalized, NY DOH Study Says COVID-19: Those Not Vaccinated 11 Times More Likely To Be Hospitalized, NY DOH Study Says
Covid-19: Those Not Vaccinated 11 Times More Likely To Be Hospitalized, NY DOH Study Says A newly-released study by the New York State Department of Health found that unvaccinated adults were eight times more likely to be diagnosed with the COVID-19 and 11 times more likely to be hospitalized with the virus than those who are fully vaccinated. The study was published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday, Aug. 18. It focused on the time period from May 3 through July 25. Researchers reported that during the time period, the majority of the new COVID-19 cases in New York were reported among unvaccinated residents. A total of 9,675 new cas…

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by Nicole Valinote