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COVID-19 Variants

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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: Here's Brand-New Percentage Of NY Cases Linked To 'Stealth Omicron' Subvariant COVID-19: Here's Brand-New Percentage Of NY Cases Linked To 'Stealth Omicron' Subvariant
Covid-19: Here's Brand-New Percentage Of NY Cases Linked To 'Stealth Omicron' Subvariant The “stealth” COVID-19 Omicron subvariant has become the dominant strain of the virus in New York, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Health officials in the US are calling the BA.2 strain a “subvariant of concern" as countries overseas have seen the number of new cases spiking in China and parts of Europe. Related story - COVID-19: Stealth Omicron Now Labeled 'Subvariant Of Concern' In the region, which includes New York, according to the CDC, the “stealth” Omicron variant now accounts for 84 percent of new cases statewide, up marke…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Poll Reveals Percentage Of Americans Who Say ‘We Just Need To Get On With Our Lives' COVID-19: Poll Reveals Percentage Of Americans Who Say ‘We Just Need To Get On With Our Lives'
Covid-19: Poll Reveals Percentage Of Americans Who Say ‘We Just Need To Get On With Our Lives' The majority of Americans are ready to move on from the COVID-19 pandemic and simply accept it as a part of everyday life and move on, according to a newly released national poll. Monmouth University released the results of a new study, which found that seven in 10 Americans agree with the sentiment “it’s time that we accept that COVID-19 is here to stay and we just need to get on with our lives.” Of that 70 percent, 78 percent of those polled reported that they had previously contracted COVID-19, and 65 percent of whom have not been infected. The largest divide came between conservatives…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: Hudson Valley Sees New Increases In Number Of Cases, Infection Rate; Latest Breakdown COVID-19: Hudson Valley Sees New Increases In Number Of Cases, Infection Rate; Latest Breakdown
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Sees New Increases In Number Of Cases, Infection Rate; Latest Breakdown The positive COVID-19 infection rate of those tested for the virus in the Hudson Valley has hit another new dubious milestone. According to the latest update from the state Department of Health, the average seven-day COVID-19 positive infection rate has spiked above 3.50 percent, from 3.30 percent to 3.51 percent over the last three days, following weeks of waves of new infections. Statewide, the average positivity rate also has been surging, from 3.95 percent to 4.12 percent during the same timeframe, with the numbers expected to continue trending in the wrong direction following the first…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: Hudson Valley's Infection Rate Stays Above State Average; New Breakdown By County COVID-19: Hudson Valley's Infection Rate Stays Above State Average; New Breakdown By County
Covid-19: Hudson Valley's Infection Rate Stays Above State Average; New Breakdown By County The positive COVID-19 infection rate in the Hudson Valley is down slightly but remains above the state average as variants of the virus continue to surge. In the Hudson Valley, the seven-day average infection rate saw a downtick, from 3.67 percent of those tested in the region to 3.65 on Sunday, Aug. 29 in the latest data released by the state Department of Health. Statewide, over the past three days, the average infection rate dropped from 3.32 percent to 3.29 percent and back up to 3.31 percent on Aug. 29, still below the rate in the Hudson Valley. Eighteen new COVID-19-related deaths we…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: Hudson Valley Infection-Rate Stays Steadily High; New Breakdown By County COVID-19: Hudson Valley Infection-Rate Stays Steadily High; New Breakdown By County
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Infection-Rate Stays Steadily High; New Breakdown By County The Hudson Valley saw a slight dip in its COVID-19 infection rate, though the region remains concerned about new variants of the virus. According to the latest update from the state Department of Health, the positive COVID-19 infection rate of those tested was down slightly to 3.50 as the statewide rate rose from 3.13 percent to 3.18 percent. In the Hudson Valley, two new virus-related deaths were reported in Orange County, with one in both Ulster and Westchester counties. Other new COVID-19 deaths were reported in the Bronx (four), Suffolk, and Queens (three), Nassau County (two), with si…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: More Contagious Variant From India Now Spreading In United States COVID-19: More Contagious Variant From India Now Spreading In United States
Covid-19: More Contagious Variant From India Now Spreading In United States The more transmittable COVID-19 strain that came to the United States from India is becoming more prevalent as the country continues its recovery from the pandemic. New data found that the India variant is rapidly spreading across the US and now makes up approximately 7 percent of all new COVID-19 cases, according to a new report on Outbreak.info. At the beginning of May, the India variant only accounted for approximately 1 percent of new cases. The data shows that the variant - which is believed to be at least 60 percent more transmissible than the original strain from Wuhan, China - pea…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: Pfizer, Moderna Release Clinical Trial Results On Response Against Virus Variants COVID-19: Pfizer, Moderna Release Clinical Trial Results On Response Against Virus Variants
Covid-19: Pfizer, Moderna Release Clinical Trial Results On Response Against Virus Variants Both Pfizer and Moderna - two of the three COVID-19 vaccines approved for distribution in the US - have seen promising results in combating variants of the virus in recent studies. This week, both pharmaceutical companies released results of clinical trials that show the vaccines are effective in combating COVID-19 variants, including the prominent strains from South Africa and Brazil. Moderna has been testing a 50-microgram dose of its vaccine in previously vaccinated people, which found the booster dose increased neutralizing antibody responses against the original virus as well as the va…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: New Studies Shed Light On Moderna Vaccine's Effectiveness Against Variants COVID-19: New Studies Shed Light On Moderna Vaccine's Effectiveness Against Variants
Covid-19: New Studies Shed Light On Moderna Vaccine's Effectiveness Against Variants Researchers have found that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has proven effective in fighting off more contagious variants of the virus. A pair of new studies found that the Moderna vaccine, which is one of three approved by the FDA for administration in the U.S., is effective against the California variant that has recently been rapidly spreading, with protection lasting for at least six months. In one study, researchers from Duke University found that antibodies generated by the Moderna dose had approximately two times less neutralizing power against the California strain. While it showed a …

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by Zak Failla
Sports
COVID-19: Youth Sports, Not Reopening Schools, Fueling Increase In Cases, CDC Says COVID-19: Youth Sports, Not Reopening Schools, Fueling Increase In Cases, CDC Says
Covid-19: Youth Sports, Not Reopening Schools, Fueling Increase In Cases, CDC Says Youth sports, not the recent reopening of schools, has been cited for the recent rise of new COVID-19 cases among youths across America, federal health officials said. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said that the latest data found that COVID is spreading rapidly among younger Americans participating in after-school activities such as sports and clubs, where they gather unsafely in clusters. Walensky noted that the reopening of schools has not been linked to the rise in US cases, which are up approximately 3 percent week-to-w…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: 'No Excuses' For Not Getting Vaccine, Cuomo Says; Announces Essential Worker Memorial COVID-19: 'No Excuses' For Not Getting Vaccine, Cuomo Says; Announces Essential Worker Memorial
Covid-19: 'No Excuses' For Not Getting Vaccine, Cuomo Says; Announces Essential Worker Memorial New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is imploring all New Yorkers to sign up for COVID-19 vaccine appointments now that eligibility has been expanded to all adults 16 and older as the state prepares a monument celebrating essential workers. Cuomo was at the Javitz Center in Manhattan on Tuesday, April 6, where he laid out the steps that need to be taken as the end of the pandemic nears. Cuomo said that he spoke with the White House COVID-19 task force on Tuesday morning, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Dr. Anthony Fauci about what steps have to be taken to “crush COVID.” “The vaccine is …

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: First Case Of 'Double Mutant' Variant Detected In US COVID-19: First Case Of 'Double Mutant' Variant Detected In US
Covid-19: First Case Of 'Double Mutant' Variant Detected In US A new “double mutant” variant of the COVID-19 virus that could potentially be more infectious has been confirmed for the first time in the United States, raising red flags for researchers. The Stanford Clinical Virology Lab identified one case of the new variant — which first emerged in India — in California, officials announced to the San Fransisco Chronicle over the weekend. At least seven other purported cases of the same variant are also under investigation in the Bay Area. According to officials, the new strain has been dubbed the “double mutant” because it carries two mutations in…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Fourth Wave? Experts Disagree, But Say US At Tipping Point In Battle Vs. Virus COVID-19: Fourth Wave? Experts Disagree, But Say US At Tipping Point In Battle Vs. Virus
Covid-19: Fourth Wave? Experts Disagree, But Say US At Tipping Point In Battle Vs. Virus Who will win - the vaccine or the variants? That appears to be the question as to whether or not the United States could see a potential fourth wave of cases amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Two of the nation's top experts disagree but both are saying America is at a tipping point in the now more than one-year-long war against the virus.  Here's how it stands as of Monday, April 5.  More than one-third of American adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine. At the same time, there have been outbreaks of cases, especially in younger people, of the more contagious B.1.1.7 st…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Hudson Valley Positive-Test Rate Remains NY's Highest; Latest County Case Breakdown COVID-19: Hudson Valley Positive-Test Rate Remains NY's Highest; Latest County Case Breakdown
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Positive-Test Rate Remains NY's Highest; Latest County Case Breakdown There was a slight downtick in positive infection rate in the Hudson Valley for the first time in several days, but the region remains the hottest spot in New York for the virus. Hudson Valley counties were reporting a total of more than 1,000 newly confirmed COVID-19 infections on Friday, April 2, as the region continues contending with the latest spike of cases across the country. The average seven-day positive infection rate of those tested in the Hudson Valley dropped for the first time this week, modestly from 4.87 percent to 4.84 percent on Thursday, April 1. Statewide, the positive …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Here's What We Know Now About Three Virus Strains CDC Calls 'Variants Of Concern' COVID-19: Here's What We Know Now About Three Virus Strains CDC Calls 'Variants Of Concern'
Covid-19: Here's What We Know Now About Three Virus Strains CDC Calls 'Variants Of Concern' As millions more American receive the COVID-19 vaccine each day, the key question now in the now more than year-long battle against the novel coronavirus comes down to this: Do the three approved vaccines being administered in the United States work against the new strains of the virus that have been confirmed, especially the highly contagious Brazil, United Kingdom, and South Africa variants? As of now, the answer is unclear because the variants first surfaced in the United States either in late December 2020 or in January 2021. "So far, studies suggest that antibodies generated through v…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: First Cases Of Highly Contagious South African Mutant Strain Identified In US COVID-19: First Cases Of Highly Contagious South African Mutant Strain Identified In US
Covid-19: First Cases Of Highly Contagious South African Mutant Strain Identified In US The highly transmissible variant of COVID-19 first identified in South Africa has now made its way to the United States. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control announced late Thursday morning, Jan. 28 the detection of two cases associated with the variant that first emerged recently in South Africa, the first such cases in the US.  Neither patient has traveled recently, meaning the variant is likely already spreading in the community following an undetected introduction. "At this time, there’s no evidence to suggest that the B.1.351 (South African) variant c…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Hudson Valley Sees 1.5K-Plus New Cases; Latest Rundown By County COVID-19: Hudson Valley Sees 1.5K-Plus New Cases; Latest Rundown By County
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Sees 1.5K-Plus New Cases; Latest Rundown By County Despite seeing hundreds of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases, the overall positive infection rate in the Hudson Valley is trending in the right direction after spiking earlier this month. In the Hudson Valley, the positive infection rate dipped from 7.37 percent on Saturday, Jan. 16 to 7.25 percent the following day, and down to 7.13 percent on Monday, Jan. 18, while the statewide average is at 6.34 percent, down from 6.45 percent on Saturday. Hospitalizations are up slightly, to 1,061 in the Hudson Valley, after hitting 997 late last week. The number represents 0.04 percent of the region's po…

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by Zak Failla