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COVID-19: FDA Approves Updated Booster Shots Targeting New Variants COVID-19: FDA Approves Updated Booster Shots Targeting New Variants
Covid-19: FDA Approves Updated Booster Shots Targeting New Variants Health officials are one step closer to rolling out updated COVID-19 vaccines just in time for a rise in cases heading into the fall and winter months. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved new vaccines on Monday, Sept. 11, that are meant to better target currently circulating COVID-19 variants and provide better protection against hospitalization and death, the agency announced. Monday’s move affects vaccines manufactured by Moderna and Pfizer. The updated mRNA vaccines are each approved for people ages 12 and older and are authorized under emergency use for children ages 6 mo…

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by Michael Mashburn
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COVID-19: Increase In Cases Sparks Concern At Start Of School Year COVID-19: Increase In Cases Sparks Concern At Start Of School Year
Covid-19: Increase In Cases Sparks Concern At Start Of School Year There's always plenty of anxiety at the start of a new school year, but that's especially true now due to increased COVID-19 cases. COVID-related hospitalizations have increased in the US for six straight weeks, with a 19-percent increase reported in the most recent week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The White House announced that First Lady Jill Biden tested positive for COVID on Monday morning, Sept. 5, and is experiencing “mild symptoms." Three school districts in Kentucky and Texas briefly suspended in-person classes after surges of COVID cases. T…

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by Joe Lombardi
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COVID-19 Fraud: Capital Region Man Gets Prison Time For $125K Loan Scheme COVID-19 Fraud: Capital Region Man Gets Prison Time For $125K Loan Scheme
Covid-19 Fraud: Capital Region Man Gets Prison Time For $125K Loan Scheme After bilking the federal government out of more than $100,000 through a fraudulently obtained loan, a 36-year-old man from the region is heading to prison. Christopher Mozone, of Albany, was sentenced to 3 ½ years behind bars in Albany federal court on Thursday, Aug. 31. It followed his guilty plea to wire fraud stemming from a government loan he received that was meant to help businesses struggling due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to prosecutors, Mozone admitted to obtaining a $124,800 Economic Injury Disaster Loan from the US Small Business Administration (SBA). I…

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by Michael Mashburn
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COVID-19: These Are Most Likely Symptoms Of New Pirola Variant Spreading In US COVID-19: These Are Most Likely Symptoms Of New Pirola Variant Spreading In US
Covid-19: These Are Most Likely Symptoms Of New Pirola Variant Spreading In US The most likely symptoms of a new COVID-19 variant with around 30 mutations are expected to be similar to the highly contagious Omicron strain based on reports so far. COVID-related hospitalizations have increased in the US for six straight weeks, with a 19-percent increase reported in the most recent week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The BA.2.86 strain, known as Pirola, has now been identified in five states: New York, Texas, Michigan, Virginia, and Ohio. The strain was first detected in Israel around Sunday, Aug. 20, and cases have also been identif…

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by Joe Lombardi
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COVID-19: First Case Of Highly Mutated Pirola Variant Confirmed In NY COVID-19: First Case Of Highly Mutated Pirola Variant Confirmed In NY
Covid-19: First Case Of Highly Mutated Pirola Variant Confirmed In NY A newly identified COVID-19 strain with around 30 mutations is spreading in the nation and around the world, with a fourth state in America and several more countries confirming cases. Click here for a new, updated report - COVID-19: These Are Most Likely Symptoms Of New Pirola Variant Spreading In US The BA.2.86 strain, known as Pirola, has now been identified in four states: New York, Michigan, Virginia, and Ohio.  New York became the latest state to report the presence of the variant this week after wastewater samples tested positive for the strain. "While we have yet …

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by Joe Lombardi
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COVID-19: Hochul Urges 'Appropriate Precautions' After New Variant With 30 Mutations Identified COVID-19: Hochul Urges 'Appropriate Precautions' After New Variant With 30 Mutations Identified
Covid-19: Hochul Urges 'Appropriate Precautions' After New Variant With 30 Mutations Identified State health officials say while a newly identified COVID-19 strain that may cause breakthrough infections has not yet been detected in New York, residents should take steps to protect themselves. The BA.2.86 strain, now known as Pirola, has been identified in three states: Michigan, Virginia, and Ohio, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). So far, the BA.2.86 variant has not been detected in New York, where officials have relied on a dual surveillance strategy using wastewater testing and laboratory clinical analysis, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office said. Officials…

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by Michael Mashburn
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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
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COVID-19: Highly Mutated Pirola Variant Spreading In US With New Cases Confirmed COVID-19: Highly Mutated Pirola Variant Spreading In US With New Cases Confirmed
Covid-19: Highly Mutated Pirola Variant Spreading In US With New Cases Confirmed Scientists are scrambling to study a newly identified COVID-19 strain with around 30 mutations spreading in the United States and multiple other countries. Click here for a new, updated story - COVID-19: First Case Of Highly Mutated Pirola Variant Confirmed In NY The BA.2.86 strain, known as Pirola, has now 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. At a World Health Organization (WHO) news briefing on Friday, Aug. 25, authorities said they consider BA.2.86 to be…

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by Joe Lombardi
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COVID-19: CDC Issues Risk Assessment On New Pirola Variant As Hospitalizations Increase 21.6% COVID-19: CDC Issues Risk Assessment On New Pirola Variant As Hospitalizations Increase 21.6%
Covid-19: CDC Issues Risk Assessment On New Pirola Variant As Hospitalizations Increase 21.6% COVID-19 hospitalizations saw a 21.6 percent jump in one week according to the latest data reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has just released new information on a brand-new highly mutated variant. New increases are expected for the next month, the agency is now projecting. The news comes as the CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) are monitoring the newly identified BA.2.86 strain, now known as Pirola, which has around 30 mutations. The second figure above shows the number of daily COVID hospitalizations in the US each day from Thursday, June 13 th…

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by Joe Lombardi
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COVID-19: First US Case Of Pirola Variant With 30 Mutations Confirmed COVID-19: First US Case Of Pirola Variant With 30 Mutations Confirmed
Covid-19: First US Case Of Pirola Variant With 30 Mutations Confirmed The first case of the newly identified COVID-19 variant with 30 mutations has been identified in the United States. The World Health Organization (WHO) upgraded BA.2.86 to a “variant under monitoring," citing the "large number of mutations it carries." BA.2.86, which has now been nicknamed "Pirola," was first detected in Israel, and cases have also been identified in the United Kingdom and Denmark. The initial case in the US has been detected in Michigan. The patient, an older person with mild symptoms, is from Washtenaw County, the Michigan Department of Health and Hu…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: New BA.2.86 Variant With 30 Mutations Leads To Rapid Reaction From CDC, WHO COVID-19: New BA.2.86 Variant With 30 Mutations Leads To Rapid Reaction From CDC, WHO
Covid-19: New BA.2.86 Variant With 30 Mutations Leads To Rapid Reaction From CDC, WHO New update - COVID-19: First US Case Of BA.2.86 Variant With 30 Mutations Confirmed A newly identified COVID-19 variant has over 30 mutations, prompting immediate attention from health agencies. The World Health Organization (WHO) upgraded BA.2.86 to a “variant under monitoring," citing the "large number of mutations it carries." So far, only a few sequences of the variant have been reported from a handful of countries, the WHO said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it's also tracking the new strain. The WHO says a "variant under monitoring" has genetic change…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Popular Pizzeria In Capital Region Closing After 17 Years: 'Time Will Dictate Our Struggles' Popular Pizzeria In Capital Region Closing After 17 Years: 'Time Will Dictate Our Struggles'
Popular Pizzeria In Capital Region Closing After 17 Years: 'Time Will Dictate Our Struggles' It’s the end of the line for a popular pizzeria in the region that has welcomed customers for nearly two decades. Albany County eatery I Love NY Pizza, located in Albany’s Loudon Plaza at 336 Northern Boulevard, permanently closed after 17 years in business on Friday, Aug. 11, the company announced on its website. “We would like to thank all of our great and loyal customers for supporting us for the last 17 years!” owner Zef Boga said. “Unfortunately time will dictate our struggles.” Boga told WTEN that the business never recovered from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It wasn’t th…

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by Michael Mashburn