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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
News
COVID-19: Half Of Group Who Attended NYC Convention With Omicron-Infected Man Now Have Virus COVID-19: Half Of Group Who Attended NYC Convention With Omicron-Infected Man Now Have Virus
Covid-19: Half Of Group Who Attended NYC Convention With Omicron-Infected Man Now Have Virus Half of a group of about 30 people who traveled together to New York City with a Minnesota man who was the second American to test positive for the COVID-19 Omicron variant have become infected with the virus, the man told health officials in Minnesota, according to a report in The New York Times. It has not yet been determined how many of the 15 who tested positive for COVID are infected with the new strain, the report said. They all attended an Anime convention held the weekend before Thanksgiving at the Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan. Those attending were required to be vacci…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Omicron Confirmed In CT Resident With Family Member Who Attended NYC Convention COVID-19: Omicron Confirmed In CT Resident With Family Member Who Attended NYC Convention
Covid-19: Omicron Confirmed In CT Resident With Family Member Who Attended NYC Convention Omicron, the new strain of COVID-19 that has caused worldwide alarm the last week, has now been detected in Connecticut and Massachusetts. "This evening we confirmed the first case of the Omicron variant in CT," Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced Saturday night, Dec. 4. "This is not a cause for alarm. We have life-saving tools available and I urge everyone to take the necessary precautions to fight this pandemic. Get your vaccination. Get your booster." The case involves a man in his 60s from Hartford County who developed mild symptoms on Saturday, Nov. 27. An at-home COVID-19 test…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Three More NY Residents Identified As Being Infected With Omicron Variant COVID-19: Three More NY Residents Identified As Being Infected With Omicron Variant
Covid-19: Three More NY Residents Identified As Being Infected With Omicron Variant Omicron, the new strain of COVID-19 that has caused worldwide alarm the last week, has now been detected in eight New York residents. On Saturday, Dec. 4, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced three more cases have been identified, two days after the state announced its first five cases. So far, the cases appear unrelated and have been confirmed through sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, according to the New York State Health Department.  All three of the new cases are from New York City. Nationally, a total of 23 people have been infected in 11 states: Utah, California, Minneso…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Five NY Residents Identified As Being Infected With Omicron Variant COVID-19: Five NY Residents Identified As Being Infected With Omicron Variant
Covid-19: Five NY Residents Identified As Being Infected With Omicron Variant Omicron, the new strain of COVID that has caused worldwide alarm the last week, has now been detected in five New York residents. Four are from New York City and the other was a 67-year-old Long Island woman who lives in Suffolk County and had recently traveled to South Africa, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced early Thursday evening, Dec. 2. All five had mild symptoms, Hochul said.  The vaccination status has only been determined for one of the five -- the Suffolk County woman who was fully vaccinated. She tested positive on Tuesday, Nov. 30, Hochul said. Two of the other fo…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: US Tightens Travel Testing Requirements, Extends Mask Mandate In New White House Plan COVID-19: US Tightens Travel Testing Requirements, Extends Mask Mandate In New White House Plan
Covid-19: US Tightens Travel Testing Requirements, Extends Mask Mandate In New White House Plan President Joe Biden announced a series of new measures to combat COVID-19 amid the emergence of the Omicron variant. Biden said in an announcement on Thursday, Dec. 2, that early next week the United States will require all inbound international travelers to get a COVID-19 test within one day of departure, regardless of their nationality or vaccination status.  "This tighter testing timeline provides an added degree of public health protection as scientists continue to assess the Omicron variant," the announcement from the White House reads. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention …

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: Man Who Went To NY Conference Tests Positive For Omicron Variant COVID-19: Man Who Went To NY Conference Tests Positive For Omicron Variant
Covid-19: Man Who Went To NY Conference Tests Positive For Omicron Variant A day after the first case of the new COVID-19 variant was identified in the United States, it has been announced that a man from the Midwest who attended a conference in New York City has tested positive for the Omicron COVID-19 strain. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Thursday, Dec. 2 that the Department of Health in Minnesota alerted her that a constituent tested positive for the variant after spending time at the conference held at the Javits Center in Manhattan. Earlier story - COVID-19: First Case Of New Omicron Variant Identified In United States Hochul noted that the pe…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: WHO Issues Travel Advisory Due To Omicron Variant COVID-19: WHO Issues Travel Advisory Due To Omicron Variant
Covid-19: WHO Issues Travel Advisory Due To Omicron Variant The World Health Organization has just given new guidelines for its travel recommendations amid the spread of the Omicron variant. The agency shared the update on the new COVID-19 variant of concern on Tuesday, Nov. 30, providing guidance on how to mitigate the risks while scientists research the variant. Related story - COVID-19: First Case Of New Omicron Variant Identified In United States The WHO advised countries to use an "evidence-informed and risk-based approach" when implementing new travel measures and advised against blanket travel bans.  "Blanket travel bans …

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: 'This Time, Unlike Last Year, We’re Not Defenseless,' Hochul Says Of New Variant COVID-19: 'This Time, Unlike Last Year, We’re Not Defenseless,' Hochul Says Of New Variant
Covid-19: 'This Time, Unlike Last Year, We’re Not Defenseless,' Hochul Says Of New Variant Gov. Kathy Hochul cautioned that New York is bracing for the new Omicron COVID-19 variant, declaring that the state will be ready for it when it does. Hochul said during a COVID-19 briefing this week that the new variant is being closely monitored by state health officials, including the state testing center at Wadsworth Labs in Albany, and while Omicron is a concern, New York now has more tools to combat it than at the outset of the pandemic in March 2020. Earlier story - COVID-19: First Case Of New Omicron Variant Identified In United States “We’re fully monitoring it - but the diff…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: NYC Issues New Mask Advisory Amid Concerns Over Omicron Variant COVID-19: NYC Issues New Mask Advisory Amid Concerns Over Omicron Variant
Covid-19: NYC Issues New Mask Advisory Amid Concerns Over Omicron Variant New York City has issued a new mask advisory as officials anticipate the arrival of the new COVID-19 variant. Dr. Dave Chokshi, the commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, advised New Yorkers to wear a mask at all times in indoor public settings, whether fully vaccinated or not. Chokshi shared the recommendation on Monday, Nov. 29. Masking: Today, I am issuing a Commissioner’s Advisory STRONGLY recommending that all New Yorkers wear a mask AT ALL TIMES when indoors and in a public setting – like at your grocery, building lobbies, offices, and stores. …

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: First Cases Of New Variant Identified In North America COVID-19: First Cases Of New Variant Identified In North America
Covid-19: First Cases Of New Variant Identified In North America The new strain of COVID-19 that has caused worldwide alarm the last week has been detected in North America for the first time. Two cases of the Omicron variant were confirmed in Canada. Both were in Ottawa, Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott said in a statement released Sunday evening, Nov. 28. The two infected people had traveled from Nigeria and have been isolated, Elliott said. The Omicron variant, whose name comes from the 15th letter of the Greek alphabet, is spreading fast in Europe after the first case was identified by scientists in South Africa on Tuesday, Nov. 9. In…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
COVID-19: Hochul Announces Urgent Action Amid Concern Over New Strain Of Virus COVID-19: Hochul Announces Urgent Action Amid Concern Over New Strain Of Virus
Covid-19: Hochul Announces Urgent Action Amid Concern Over New Strain Of Virus New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced urgent new protocols to boost hospital capacity amid concern over the new COVID-19 variant and possible spikes in cases this winter.  The governor said in an announcement on Friday, Nov. 26, that the state is preparing for a potential uptick in cases, adding that the Omicron variant has not yet been detected in the state. "We've taken extraordinary action to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and combat this pandemic," Hochul said. "However, we continue to see warning signs of spikes this upcoming winter, and while the new Omicron variant has yet to be …

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by Nicole Valinote