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COVID-19: New Omicron Subvariant More Severe, Immune Resistant Than Original Strain, Study Says COVID-19: New Omicron Subvariant More Severe, Immune Resistant Than Original Strain, Study Says
Covid-19: New Omicron Subvariant More Severe, Immune Resistant Than Original Strain, Study Says The new “stealth" subvariant of the Omicron COVID-19 strain is proving to cause more severe infections, and is believed to be spreading faster than its distant cousin, according to a new study conducted in Japan. The BA.2 virus not only has been spreading faster than other variants, but has proven capable of overcoming some of the weapons the US has employed against COVID-19. Original story - COVID-19: 'Stealth Omicron,' A New Version Of Variant, Identified In US The new strain, dubbed the “stealth” Omicron variant because it’s difficult to identify due to a lack of certain genetic ch…

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by Zak Failla
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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
Politics
Poll Reveals How Trump Would Fare In Potential 2024 Rematch Against Biden Poll Reveals How Trump Would Fare In Potential 2024 Rematch Against Biden
Poll Reveals How Trump Would Fare In Potential 2024 Rematch Against Biden A newly released poll found out who Americans favor if the 2024 presidential election turns out to be a Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump rematch. Marquette Law School conducted two hypothetical head-to-head matchups for the 2024 presidential election to see which candidate had the most support as of January 2022. According to the poll, 43 percent of adult Americans would support President Joe Biden in a one-on-one matchup, while 33 percent would be voting for Trump. The results also found that 16 percent would prefer an entirely different candidate, and 6 percent stated they would not vote. …

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Justice Stephen Breyer To Retire, Allowing Biden To Make First Pick For Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer To Retire, Allowing Biden To Make First Pick For Supreme Court
Justice Stephen Breyer To Retire, Allowing Biden To Make First Pick For Supreme Court Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer announced that he will retire at the end of his current term, paving the way for President Joe Biden to handpick his replacement. The 83-year-old liberal judge is the oldest member of the court, having been nominated by former President Bill Clinton and taking his seat in 1994 alongside the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. His retirement will take effect at the end of his current term after serving 28 years on the court. Biden said when he was a 2020 presidential candidate that his first Supreme Court nominee would be a Black woman.  Amy Coney Barret…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: 'Stealth Omicron,' A New Version Of Variant, Identified In US COVID-19: 'Stealth Omicron,' A New Version Of Variant, Identified In US
Covid-19: 'Stealth Omicron,' A New Version Of Variant, Identified In US A new sub-variant of the dominant COVID-19 Omicron strain could be on the rise, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The new strain, dubbed the “stealth” Omicron variant because it’s difficult to identify due to a lack of certain genetic characteristics, appears to be on the rise, with confirmed cases of the virus in at least 40 countries, including the United States. According to the 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. Re…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: Here's When White House Will Start Distributing 400 Million N95 Masks COVID-19: Here's When White House Will Start Distributing 400 Million N95 Masks
Covid-19: Here's When White House Will Start Distributing 400 Million N95 Masks With free COVID-19 at-home testing kits being shipped out this week, the White House is set to begin distributing millions of N95 masks as the pandemic approaches the beginning of its third year. President Joe Biden’s administration will make upwards of 400 million N95 masks available for free at thousands of locations across the country beginning this week, officials said on Wednesday, Jan. 19 as the Omicron variant continues to be the dominant strain of the virus. Related story - COVID-19: Website For Ordering Free At-Home Tests Launches Sooner Than Expected Officials said that the plan …

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by Zak Failla
Politics
'Perfect Storm' For Comeback? Speculation Starts About Possible Hillary Clinton 2024 Run 'Perfect Storm' For Comeback? Speculation Starts About Possible Hillary Clinton 2024 Run
'Perfect Storm' For Comeback? Speculation Starts About Possible Hillary Clinton 2024 Run Could a rematch be on the horizon between former President Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in 2024? A new op-ed in The Wall Street Journal made the case that a “perfect storm” could be on the horizon for the Democratic Party as it looks to maintain its hold on the Oval Office, and the former US secretary of state may be its best option. Citing Biden’s age - he’s now 79 years old - and dipping approval numbers, researchers said there could be a “leadership vacuum” that paves the way for another Clinton run. According to pollsters, Clinton "is already in an advantageous position to become…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: $1.8M In Federal Funds Awarded To Northern Westchester Facility COVID-19: $1.8M In Federal Funds Awarded To Northern Westchester Facility
Covid-19: $1.8M In Federal Funds Awarded To Northern Westchester Facility A Northern Westchester town was awarded more than $1.8 million for COVID-19 pandemic-related safety improvements at a local senior center. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a number of newly approved Community Development Block Grant CARES Act awards at senior centers across the state on Wednesday, Dec. 29. One of the approved awards will be used for upgrades at a senior center in Somers. The senior center in the historic Van Tassell House will receive $1,825,000 to be used for the following: A 13-passenger van and a mini-cargo van for senior center use  Improving air quality and…

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by Nicole Valinote
Police & Fire
COVID-19: Omicron Surge Affecting Staffing Levels For Essential Workers COVID-19: Omicron Surge Affecting Staffing Levels For Essential Workers
Covid-19: Omicron Surge Affecting Staffing Levels For Essential Workers The spread of the more-transmissible Omicron COVID-19 variant is leading to staffing shortages for some essential employers who have been hit hardest by the winter surge of the virus. Essential employees have been forced to call out of work en masse in recent weeks due to positive Omicron infections that have led to staffing shortages for first responders, healthcare workers, supermarket workers, flight crews, and other key professions. The shortages have led to hundreds of canceled flights, closed restaurants, and short-staffed retail stores, leaving workers frustrated and fatigued af…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: FDA OKs First Authorized Home Treatment For Virus COVID-19: FDA OKs First Authorized Home Treatment For Virus
Covid-19: FDA OKs First Authorized Home Treatment For Virus The fight against COVID-19 took a step forward as federal health officials authorized the first pill that Americans will be able to take at home to head off the worst effects of the virus. On Wednesday, Dec. 22, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency authorization for Pfizer’s COVID-19 treatment pill, which has been recommended for people at high risk of developing severe cases of COVID-19. The pill could be available as soon as this weekend, according to Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla. Related story - COVID-19: Pfizer Releases Data On Anti-Viral Pill's Effective…

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by Zak Failla
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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: Study Reveals Top 5 Symptoms Of Omicron Variant COVID-19: Study Reveals Top 5 Symptoms Of Omicron Variant
Covid-19: Study Reveals Top 5 Symptoms Of Omicron Variant Click here for an updated story - COVID-19: New Omicron Variant Symptom Emerges, Physicians Say COVID-19 cases are spiking ahead of the holidays, with the Omicron variant now having been identified in 48 states and 89 countries. “We’ve seen cases of Omicron among those who are both vaccinated and boosted and we believe these cases are milder or asymptomatic because of vaccine protection,” said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a White House COVID-19 briefing on Friday, Dec. 17. Preliminary lab studies indicate Omicron may not a…

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by Joe Lombardi