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COVID-19: New York Announces New Easing Of Guidance On Travel, Gatherings COVID-19: New York Announces New Easing Of Guidance On Travel, Gatherings
Covid-19: New York Announces New Easing Of Guidance On Travel, Gatherings New York is loosening up its restrictions on domestic travelers and social gatherings as the state continues recovering from the post-holiday COVID-19 surge. During a COVID-19 briefing on Wednesday, March 3 in Albany, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that due to the declining numbers in New York, some restrictions and limits will be lifted. Beginning on Monday, March 22, residential gatherings will be restricted to 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors, up from a universal 10. Social gatherings, which were capped at 50 people, can now accommodate 100 people indoors and 200 people outdoors. As of Fr…

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

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: New CDC Director Gives Guidance On Schools Reopening COVID-19: New CDC Director Gives Guidance On Schools Reopening
Covid-19: New CDC Director Gives Guidance On Schools Reopening With President Joe Biden seeking to open all elementary and middle schools for in-person learning within his first 100 days in office, the CDC has provided new guidance on getting students back into the classroom. The CDC is now saying that it is possible to return to the classroom without fully vaccinating all educators beforehand. “There is increasing data to suggest that schools can safely reopen and that safe reopening does not suggest that teachers need to be vaccinated in order to reopen safely," CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said on Wednesday, Feb. 3. "Vaccination of teachers is not…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: What Happens To Me If I Don't Take The 2nd Vaccine Dose On Time? COVID-19: What Happens To Me If I Don't Take The 2nd Vaccine Dose On Time?
Covid-19: What Happens To Me If I Don't Take The 2nd Vaccine Dose On Time? With the COVID-19 vaccine becoming increasingly available, many people are wondering about the two-visit/two-dose treatment - and what happens if you miss that second required dose or take it really late. Concerns are arising about what the impacts are for people who get the first, but not the second dose of the mRNA-type COVID-19 vaccine. There are also questions about whether a person can mix vaccines - taking different products for the first and second doses. Data is limited, but it seems that some people can handle a little deviation from the vaccination schedule just fine. It is bette…

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by Kristin Palpini
News
COVID-19: Cuomo Seeks To Buy Vaccines For New York Directly From Pfizer COVID-19: Cuomo Seeks To Buy Vaccines For New York Directly From Pfizer
Covid-19: Cuomo Seeks To Buy Vaccines For New York Directly From Pfizer New York has asked Pfizer Inc. if the state can buy COVID-19 vaccines directly from the company because the United States government has failed to increase supply. Cuomo said on Monday, Jan. 18 that he sent a letter to Pfizer Chairman and CEO Dr. Albert Bourla asking for the ability to purchase COVID-19 vaccines directly from Pfizer, as the company is not bound by commitments that Moderna made under the government's Operation Warp Speed. Pfizer has headquarters in New York City and in Rockland County, in Pearl River. "Pfizer is a New York company - something I am greatly proud of," Cuomo w…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: NY State Loosens Restrictions On Who's Eligible For Vaccine COVID-19: NY State Loosens Restrictions On Who's Eligible For Vaccine
Covid-19: NY State Loosens Restrictions On Who's Eligible For Vaccine Following a slow rollout of the much-anticipated COVID-19 vaccine, New York continues loosening its restrictions on who is eligible as it continues following the guidance of the federal government. On Monday, Jan. 11, New York entered “phase 1B” of its vaccination program, which includes first responders, corrections officers, teachers, transit workers, and the general population over the age of 75. After the CDC released new guidance, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Tuesday, Jan. 12 that the state would now be opening up vaccines to anyone who is over the age of 65 and those consid…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
COVID-19: Connecticut Vaccinating At Twice New York's Rate As Cuomo Draws Criticism For Rollout COVID-19: Connecticut Vaccinating At Twice New York's Rate As Cuomo Draws Criticism For Rollout
Covid-19: Connecticut Vaccinating At Twice New York's Rate As Cuomo Draws Criticism For Rollout Connecticut continues to lead the way in the region for administering the COVID-19 vaccine, getting shots in the arms of residents at a pace twice that of their neighbors in New York. More than 2 percent of Connecticut’s population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, with a total of more than 100,000 shots administered since the rollout began last mont, with hospitals in Connecticut having used approximately 62.1 percent of the vaccinations that have been allocated to the Nutmeg State. Comparatively, in New York, approximately 350,000 vaccines have been administered, rep…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: Westchester School Reports 15 New Infections; High School To Go Remote COVID-19: Westchester School Reports 15 New Infections; High School To Go Remote
Covid-19: Westchester School Reports 15 New Infections; High School To Go Remote A Westchester school district has been forced to make changes to its schedule due to a small surge in new COVID-19 cases and some mandatory quarantines from holiday travelers. Bronxville Schools Superintendent Roy Montesano issued an alert to the community on Friday, Jan. 8 advising that the district had learned of 15 newly confirmed positive cases in students. Of the 15 positive cases, nine were from the high school, four elementary school students, and two in the middle school. Montesano also made note that the district has seen an increase in the number of students who are learning remo…

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by Zak Failla
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: Here's How Much AAA Projects Travel To Decline For Rest Of Holiday Season COVID-19: Here's How Much AAA Projects Travel To Decline For Rest Of Holiday Season
Covid-19: Here's How Much AAA Projects Travel To Decline For Rest Of Holiday Season Like it did with everything else in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to dramatically alter holiday travel plans. At least 34 million fewer people are expected to travel this year compared to last year, according to projections from AAA, which expects Americans to stay home this year as the virus continues to spread rapidly as the temperature drops. Despite the expected drop in travelers due to travel restrictions and health decisions related to COVID-19, as many as 84.5 million Americans still may travel between Wednesday, Dec. 23, and Sunday, Jan. 3, AAA noted. “While Thanksgiving …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Task Force Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx To Step Down Following Holiday Travel Fallout COVID-19: Task Force Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx To Step Down Following Holiday Travel Fallout
Covid-19: Task Force Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx To Step Down Following Holiday Travel Fallout The coordinator of the White House COVID-19 response is planning to retire once the transition to President-elect Joe Biden is complete next month following a firestorm of controversy after she apparently violated the CDC's guidelines for travel. Dr. Deborah Birx, who has been one of the public faces in the fight against the virus, announced on Tuesday, Dec. 22 in an interview with Newsy that she was planning to step down from her position, though no specific timeline was provided for her retirement. The announcement comes days after it was reported that Birx ignored federal health official…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: CDC Updates Guidelines On Caring For Person Who's Sick With Virus COVID-19: CDC Updates Guidelines On Caring For Person Who's Sick With Virus
Covid-19: CDC Updates Guidelines On Caring For Person Who's Sick With Virus Federal health officials have laid out guidelines for how to best care for someone who contracts COVID-19 without falling ill yourself. With new COVID-19 cases on the rise across the country, the CDC laid out new guidance to help those who have to provide support for someone who falls sick. The CDC said that caretakers should follow doctor’s orders, and see if any over-the-counter medicines help make the person feel slightly better. The sick person should be drinking lots of fluid, and contact should be limited between the two. Officials said that a doctor’s phone number should be readily…

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by Zak Failla