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COVID-19: Here's What To Know About New XEC Strain That's Arrived In US From Europe COVID-19: Here's What To Know About New XEC Strain That's Arrived In US From Europe
Covid-19: Here's What To Know About New XEC Strain That's Arrived In US From Europe A new highly transmissible COVID-19 strain that first appeared in Europe is now beginning to spread in the United States. Called XEC, the offshoot of the Omicron strain was initially identified in Germany early this past summer before quickly spreading throughout Europe. It is not causing more serious symptoms than other COVID strains, but it is causing concern. “The rate of infections from XEC they're seeing in some countries rose pretty quickly compared to previous variants in those same places," Dr. Scott Roberts, a Yale Medicine infectious diseases specialist said in YaleMedicine.…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Stop & Shop Will No Longer Sell Tobacco Products Stop & Shop Will No Longer Sell Tobacco Products
Stop & Shop Will No Longer Sell Tobacco Products Stop & Shop, the supermarket chain with 360 stores throughout the Northeast, said its locations will stop carrying tobacco products at the end of the month.  The chain announced the move on Monday, Aug. 26, after it partnered with the American  American Cancer Society to improve community health, Stop & Shop CEO Gordon Reid said in a statement.  Our responsibility as a grocer goes far beyond our aisles, and we are committed to taking bold steps to help our associates, customers, and communities work towards better health outcomes. From our team of registered diet…

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by Josh Lanier
News
COVID-19: Surge In Summer Cases Sparks Concern COVID-19: Surge In Summer Cases Sparks Concern
Covid-19: Surge In Summer Cases Sparks Concern A surge in COVID-19 cases in the United States and around the globe is sparking concern among health officials who are warning that more severe variants of the virus may be coming. “COVID-19 is still very much with us and circulating in all countries," Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove of the World Health Organization said in a news conference last week. “Data from our sentinel-based surveillance system across 84 countries reports that the percent of positive tests for SARS-CoV-2 has been rising over several weeks." Wastewater surveillance suggests that the circulation of COVID is two to 20 times…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
2 Dead, 28 Sickened In Multistate Deli Meat Listeria Outbreak, CDC Says 2 Dead, 28 Sickened In Multistate Deli Meat Listeria Outbreak, CDC Says
2 Dead, 28 Sickened In Multistate Deli Meat Listeria Outbreak, CDC Says Two people died, and dozens of others sickened in a Listeria outbreak tied to deli meats in several states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twenty-eight people across 12 states had been sickened between late May and mid-July, the CDC says. The deaths occurred in New Jersey and Illinois, health officials said. All 28 individuals had been hospitalized as of Friday, July 19. According to the CDC map, seven illnesses were reported in New York; six in Maryland; two in New Jersey; two in Virginia; two in Massachusetts; and one in Pennsylvania. Click here for the…

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by Cecilia Levine
Politics
Fully Vaxxed, Boosted President Biden Gets COVID-19 Again Fully Vaxxed, Boosted President Biden Gets COVID-19 Again
Fully Vaxxed, Boosted President Biden Gets Covid-19 Again Despite being fully vaccinated and boosted, President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19 — again, White House officials announced on Wednesday, July 17. The 81-year-old Biden has tested positive for COVID while in Las Vegas, Nevada ahead of the DNC, officials with the White House explained. His symptoms are mild. His doctor noted that he presented with upper respiratory symptoms, such as a runny nose, a non-productive cough, and "general malaise," as stated in the release.  Since his condition did not improve throughout the day, a COVID test was conducted on Wednesda…

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by Jillian Pikora
News
COVID-19: New Highly Contagious KP.3 'FLiRT' Variant Now Accounts For Majority Of US Cases COVID-19: New Highly Contagious KP.3 'FLiRT' Variant Now Accounts For Majority Of US Cases
Covid-19: New Highly Contagious KP.3 'FLiRT' Variant Now Accounts For Majority Of US Cases A new highly contagious COVID-19 variant known as KP.3 now accounts for most infections in the United States. Data from the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that in a two-week period ending Saturday, June 8, the strain made up 25 percent of cases nationally, just ahead of the KP.2 variant (22.5 percent). Both KP.3 and KP.2 are offshoots of the highly contagious Omicron variant and are members of a newly identified group of variants known as  “FLiRT.”  COVID-19: New 'FLiRT' Variants Now Dominant In US Neither is expected to cause more serious symptom…

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by Joe Lombardi
Weather
Air Quality Alert: Widespread Smoke From Canadian Wildfires Lingers Throughout Region Air Quality Alert: Widespread Smoke From Canadian Wildfires Lingers Throughout Region
Air Quality Alert: Widespread Smoke From Canadian Wildfires Lingers Throughout Region An Air Quality Alert is in effect for much of the Northeast as smoke drifting south from more than 400 Canadian wildfires lingers. Air quality levels in outdoor air are predicted to be greater than an Air Quality Index value of 100 for the pollutant of fine particulates, according to the National Weather Service.   "The higher the AQI value, the greater the health concern," said the weather service. More than 8 million acres of land has already burned in what already is Canada's worst wildfire season in history.  That's way above the normal 600,000 acres…

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
This Hudson Valley County Is NY's Healthiest, Brand-New Study Says This Hudson Valley County Is NY's Healthiest, Brand-New Study Says
This Hudson Valley County Is NY's Healthiest, Brand-New Study Says Those looking to improve their wellness might want to consider moving to the Hudson Valley county which has been ranked as the healthiest in the entirety of New York, according to a new study.  Putnam County has been ranked as the healthiest out of the 62 counties in New York, according to a new study released on Wednesday, March 29 by researchers from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.  In ranking each county, the researchers considered data relating to categories such as length of life, quality of life, health behaviors, social and economic factors, and phy…

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
'King Of Summer': Holocaust Survivor Who Worked At Camp For 71 Years From Rockland County Dies 'King Of Summer': Holocaust Survivor Who Worked At Camp For 71 Years From Rockland County Dies
'King Of Summer': Holocaust Survivor Who Worked At Camp For 71 Years From Rockland County Dies A man who escaped the Holocaust at a young age and went on to become a mainstay at a summer camp for more than 70 years has died.  Rockland County resident Harry Vogel of Tappan died on Wednesday, Dec. 21 at the age of 87, according to his obituary.  Born on Yom Kippur in Frankfurt, Germany in 1935, Vogel was the first son of Arthur Vogel, who was taken to Buchenwald concentration camp during the Holocaust. However, Vogel's father was given the option to buy his family's way out because he had children and family members in the US willing to sponsor them, and they made the ar…

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by Ben Crnic
Sports
Popular Sports Journalist From NY, Age 48, Dies Suddenly While In Press Box Covering World Cup Popular Sports Journalist From NY, Age 48, Dies Suddenly While In Press Box Covering World Cup
Popular Sports Journalist From NY, Age 48, Dies Suddenly While In Press Box Covering World Cup A popular sports journalist died while covering a game at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Grant Wahl, a New York City resident and soccer analyst for CBS Sports, was age 48. According to CBS News, Wahl collapsed while in the press box during the Argentina-Netherlands quarterfinal match early Saturday, Dec. 10. Paramedics quickly responded, but Wahl was pronounced dead a short time later, the report said. Wahl had written about health issues he had been experiencing while in Qatar. "My body finally broke down on me," Wahl wrote on Substack on Monday, Dec. 5. "Three weeks of little sleep, hi…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Coffee Linked To Lower Risk Of Dying, New Study Says Coffee Linked To Lower Risk Of Dying, New Study Says
Coffee Linked To Lower Risk Of Dying, New Study Says Need some coffee before you're ready to get going each morning? Well, a new study says that cup of Joe may have some even bigger benefits. In fact, it may be linked to a lower risk of dying, according to a study that just published in The Annals of Internal Medicine. The study found that those who drank between 1.5 to 3.5 cups of coffee per day, with or without sugar, were up to 30 percent less likely to die during the study period than those who didn’t drink coffee.  The study examined information from more than 170,000 people between the ages of 37 and 73 from a medical database in…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Bill Clinton Glad To Be Home In Northern Westchester After Health Scare In California Bill Clinton Glad To Be Home In Northern Westchester After Health Scare In California
Bill Clinton Glad To Be Home In Northern Westchester After Health Scare In California Former President Bill Clinton is back resting in his Northern Westchester home following a health scare that left him hospitalized in California. While working on business for the Clinton Foundation, the former president was hospitalized at the UCI Medical Center in California when he began to feel fatigued, according to reports. While he was being treated, Clinton was diagnosed with a urological infection that led to a more broad infection that needed to be treated. According to Clinton’s doctors, he was “administered IV antibiotics and fluids” as part of his treatment, Dr. Alpesh Amin a…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Here's Hudson Valley Four-Day Testing Trend, Number Of New Cases In Each County COVID-19: Here's Hudson Valley Four-Day Testing Trend, Number Of New Cases In Each County
Covid-19: Here's Hudson Valley Four-Day Testing Trend, Number Of New Cases In Each County There was a slight downturn in the number of positive test results for COVID-19 in the Hudson Valley, according to four-day data released Thursday, July 16. Of the 72,685 tests conducted on Wednesday, July 15 in New York State, 769, or 1.06 percent, were positive.  In the Hudson Valley, the positive percentages in the last four days are as follows: Sunday, July 12: 0.8 percent Monday, July 13: 1.6 percent Tuesday, July 14: 1.4 percent Wednesday, July 15: 1.10 percent Here's a rundown of the number of new cases per Hudson Valley county: Westchester, 28 (same as a day earlier) Rockla…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
COVID-19: Have Plans Ready For The 'New Normal,' Cuomo Tells NY School Districts COVID-19: Have Plans Ready For The 'New Normal,' Cuomo Tells NY School Districts
Covid-19: Have Plans Ready For The 'New Normal,' Cuomo Tells NY School Districts It’s unclear what schools in New York will look like in the fall, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo is telling school districts to have learning plans in place and to be prepared for the “new normal” when classes resume. With some eager to get answers about how and when schools could reopen, Cuomo’s Communications Director Dani Lever said that the state will be meeting with stakeholders before making a definitive decision on schools. Cuomo has reiterated throughout the pandemic that the virus’ spread is not static, and that he “can’t know what things will look like two months from now.” “Of course th…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Here Are Latest Number Of Cases By Town As Rockland Moves To Phase 2 Of Reopening COVID-19: Here Are Latest Number Of Cases By Town As Rockland Moves To Phase 2 Of Reopening
Covid-19: Here Are Latest Number Of Cases By Town As Rockland Moves To Phase 2 Of Reopening Nearly two dozen Rockland residents remain hospitalized with cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as the county prepares to enter Phase 2 of its reopening plans. The most recent data from the Rockland County Department of Health found that 57,301 Rockland residents have been tested for COVID-19, with 13,297 testing positive for the virus. There are currently 19 people hospitalized with the virus, while eight additional patients are being tested for COVID-19. Since the pandemic hit the Hudson Valley 100 days ago, there have been 657 COVID-19-related deaths. Phase 2 includes office-based j…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: NY Summer Camps Could Be Closed Due To Mysterious Inflammatory Syndrome In Children COVID-19: NY Summer Camps Could Be Closed Due To Mysterious Inflammatory Syndrome In Children
Covid-19: NY Summer Camps Could Be Closed Due To Mysterious Inflammatory Syndrome In Children The new rash of inflammatory illnesses in children that may be related to novel coronavirus (COVID-19) could cause summer camps to be closed this year and have an impact on the decision regarding fall school openings in New York. During his daily COVID-19 briefing on Thursday, May 21 in midtown Manhattan, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that the state is currently considering whether camps will be permitted as they continue monitoring cases of pediatric multi-symptom inflammatory syndrome (PMIS). Cuomo said that “Let's put it this way, until we have this answer on this pediatric syndrome, as a paren…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Age Ranges Released Of 100 Young New Yorkers Battling Mysterious Illness COVID-19: Age Ranges Released Of 100 Young New Yorkers Battling Mysterious Illness
Covid-19: Age Ranges Released Of 100 Young New Yorkers Battling Mysterious Illness The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is presenting a new challenge to New Yorkers as children have started falling ill and dying with inflammatory symptoms that could be linked to the outbreak of the virus. The New York State Department of Health is now investigating approximately 100 cases of what could be a COVID-19-related illness in children under the age of 21. The symptoms officials have been seeing are similar to Kawasaki disease and toxic shock-like syndrome, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said during his daily COVID-19 briefing on Tuesday, May 12, held at the Binghamton University Sch…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: CDC Issues Guidelines On When Patients Can Stop Isolating Themselves COVID-19: CDC Issues Guidelines On When Patients Can Stop Isolating Themselves
Covid-19: CDC Issues Guidelines On When Patients Can Stop Isolating Themselves The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued guidance on when people who test positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) can stop self-isolating. Those patients can stop isolating themselves after they’ve been fever-free for three days (72 hours), the agency said. Those three days must be without using fever-reducing medicine. Patients should also see an improvement in respiratory symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath before breaking isolation. People with COVID-19 should stay isolated for at least seven days after the initial onset of symptoms. The CDC noted that …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: NY Orders Closures Of Playgrounds, Golf Courses, Boat Launches, Marinas COVID-19: NY Orders Closures Of Playgrounds, Golf Courses, Boat Launches, Marinas
Covid-19: NY Orders Closures Of Playgrounds, Golf Courses, Boat Launches, Marinas Playgrounds, golf courses and other recreation hubs that have provided relief from quarantine during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis have been deemed “non-essential” and will be closed. A new order, issued on Thursday, April 9 and lasting at least until Wednesday, April 29, states that parks and other public spaces - which had been open since the outbreak began - where people could gather are being closed off to help practice social distancing protocols. Some parks and other public open spaces will remain open to provide a place for New Yorkers to get out of the house and get some …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Death Toll Predicted For Individual States, Entire Nation In New Scientific Data COVID-19: Death Toll Predicted For Individual States, Entire Nation In New Scientific Data
Covid-19: Death Toll Predicted For Individual States, Entire Nation In New Scientific Data The number of deaths per day related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) are expected to peak in mid-April, according to new scientific data. There could be as many as 3,000 fatalities per day during that peak, according to graphs created by the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metric. (See image above.) According to that data, the predicted total number of deaths nationally will be 81,766 by early August. The data also projects deaths for each state, as well as hospital beds needed and intensive-care beds needed. The total number of deaths in New York, New Jersey and …

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Is it Safe to Travel? AAA Offers Advice Amid Coronavirus Concerns COVID-19: Is it Safe to Travel? AAA Offers Advice Amid Coronavirus Concerns
Covid-19: Is it Safe to Travel? AAA Offers Advice Amid Coronavirus Concerns With more and more positive cases of coronavirus cropping up around the country, many Americans are asking the question: is it safe to travel? Currently, the United States recommends travelers avoid all non-essential travel to China, Iran, South Korea and Italy. Traveling anywhere else is a personal decision you have to make based on all facts available. In response, AAA issued a series of advice for travelers, cautioning that the organization can’t determine who should or should not travel. “Research is important to any traveler ahead of a trip. It’s no different with the coronavirus,” Pa…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Do You Have One? These Are The Eight Major Food Allergies Do You Have One? These Are The Eight Major Food Allergies
Do You Have One? These Are The Eight Major Food Allergies As consumers become increasingly concerned with food safety and quality, ensuring food safety in terms of allergen exposure is still vitally important to everyday health, the USDA warns. Millions of Americans have allergic reactions to food each year. There are eight major food allergens, and being aware of the signs and symptoms associated with an allergy attack can help to keep you safe and avoid potential triggers in the future. More than 160 foods have been identified that can cause allergic reactions in those with allergies. These foods make up about 90 percent of food allergic reactio…

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by Valerie Musson
News
NY Law Raising Legal Age To Purchase Tobacco Products Takes Effect NY Law Raising Legal Age To Purchase Tobacco Products Takes Effect
NY Law Raising Legal Age To Purchase Tobacco Products Takes Effect Older teenagers in New York will officially no longer be able to purchase tobacco or e-cigarette products. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the legislation into law on Tuesday, July 16 that raises the minimum sales age for tobacco and e-cigarette products from 18 to 21. The law took effect after 120 days, on Wednesday, Nov. 13. "New York is taking aggressive action to stamp out smoking among teens and children, but tobacco and e-cigarette use still persists thanks to irresponsible corporate marketing campaigns targeting young people," Cuomo said. "By raising the smoking age from 18 to 21…

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by Zak Failla
News
Separate Salmonella Outbreaks Sicken 890 In 48 States Separate Salmonella Outbreaks Sicken 890 In 48 States
Separate Salmonella Outbreaks Sicken 890 In 48 States Two separate salmonella outbreaks have now sickened 890 people in 48 states, according to health officials.  In an outbreak linked to backyard poultry, 768 people in 48 states have been sickened, with 122 hospitalizations and two deaths reported. In interviews, 75 percent -- 237 of 315 -- ill people reported contact with chicks or ducklings, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A total of 38 cases have been confirmed in New York and 17 in Connecticut. People reported getting chicks and ducklings from several sources, including agricultural stores, websites, and hatche…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
New York Officially Raises Age To Buy Tobacco, E-Cigarettes From 18 to 21 New York Officially Raises Age To Buy Tobacco, E-Cigarettes From 18 to 21
New York Officially Raises Age To Buy Tobacco, E-Cigarettes From 18 to 21 Teenagers in New York will no longer be able to purchase tobacco or e-cigarette products. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the legislation into law on Tuesday, July 16 that raises the minimum sales age for tobacco and e-cigarette products from 18 to 21. "New York is taking aggressive action to stamp out smoking among teens and children, but tobacco and e-cigarette use still persists thanks to irresponsible corporate marketing campaigns targeting young people," Cuomo said.  "By raising the smoking age from 18 to 21, we can stop cigarettes and e-cigarettes from getting into the h…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Having A Stroke Can Happen To Anyone At Any Time, CDC Warns Having A Stroke Can Happen To Anyone At Any Time, CDC Warns
Having A Stroke Can Happen To Anyone At Any Time, CDC Warns The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is sharing a warning about the potential for anyone at any time to be afflicted by a stroke. Strokes are considered the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. A person’s risk of having a random stroke is dependent on a number of factors including undiagnosed high blood pressure, unknown family history and more. American actor Luke Perry died of complications following a massive ischemic stroke. The incident occurred in his Sherman Oaks, California home on Feb. 27. After Perry suffered from a second stroke, his family decided …

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by Valerie Musson
Lifestyle
Innovative Steam Treatment Solves Common Prostate Problem At Good Samaritan Hospital Innovative Steam Treatment Solves Common Prostate Problem At Good Samaritan Hospital
Innovative Steam Treatment Solves Common Prostate Problem At Good Samaritan Hospital When Michael Davis began to notice that "answering the call" was leading to more questions than relief, he knew something wasn't right with the important bodily function. “It’s like when your wife drives over the garden hose – it takes forever to water the garden,” joked the 68-year-old Nanuet resident. “I also had to get up more often during the night.” A condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or an enlarged prostate, is the most common prostate problem for men over 50, including Davis. His difficulty urinating was caused by two things that commonly happen as men age: the p…

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Content Partner: Good Samaritan Hospital
Lifestyle
Burnout Declared A Health Crisis According To Harvard, Health Organizations Burnout Declared A Health Crisis According To Harvard, Health Organizations
Burnout Declared A Health Crisis According To Harvard, Health Organizations Are you emotionally exhausted, cynical and feeling hopeless? You could be experiencing burnout, which is now being considered a legitimate public health crisis by Harvard as well as several health organizations. Burnout is more than just having a tough day or week — psychologist Sheryl Ziegler, the author of “Mommy Burnout,” published last year, describes the condition as “chronic stress gone awry.” What’s more is that anyone can experience burnout — from parents to doctors and other high-stress daily duties, rates are on the rise across the board. A survey among Human Resources leade…

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by Valerie Musson
Lifestyle
You Can Beat Spring Allergies You Can Beat Spring Allergies
You Can Beat Spring Allergies Does springtime make you sneeze? If you greet blooming flowers with a runny nose, then you may be among the millions of people with seasonal allergies. Hay fever or allergic rhinitis develop when your immune system overreacts to small airborne particles called allergens, during spring, summer or fall when certain plants pollinate. This allergic reaction commonly produces a range of episodic symptoms that tend to be worse outdoors, such as a stuffy, itchy or runny nose with clear mucus, sinus pressure or a “tickle” in your throat. When is allergy season? Tree pollination begins earliest in…

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Content Partner: Phelps Hospital
Lifestyle
Here's Where US Ranks Among World's Happiest Countries Here's Where US Ranks Among World's Happiest Countries
Here's Where US Ranks Among World's Happiest Countries A new list of the world’s happiest countries has yielded some surprising results. The United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network's 2019 World Happiness Report ranks each country using six different variables: income, freedom, trust, healthy life expectancy, social support and generosity. The top five happiest countries, according to the report, are Finland (No. 1), Denmark (No. 2), Norway (No. 3), Iceland (No. 4) and the Netherlands (No. 5). So, where does the United States fall on the list? At No. 19 — down one spot since last year and five spots since 2017. According…

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by Valerie Musson
Lifestyle
This Hudson Valley County Ranks First In NY For Overall Health In 2019 This Hudson Valley County Ranks First In NY For Overall Health In 2019
This Hudson Valley County Ranks First In NY For Overall Health In 2019 For the second time in a year, Rockland County has ranked No. 1 in the state for overall health in the annual County Health Rankings Report, released Tuesday, March 19.  The overall health of a county is measured by two types of health outcomes: how long people live and how healthy people feel while alive.  Since 2013, Rockland County has been ranked one of the top three counties in the state for overall health and has ranked first three times. "Safeguarding the public's health is a priority in Rockland County," said County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert. …

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by Kathy Reakes