Prior to the Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon launches a huge Covid-19 operation.
The African Cup of Nations (CAN) soccer finals begin on Sunday, and Cameroonian authorities have initiated a large testing and vaccine campaign against Covid-19.
Hundreds of vaccination stations have been set up in all six cities hosting the tournament, in accordance with the Confederation of African Football's criteria (CAF).
Before entering stadiums, CAF will need supporters to produce proof of vaccination as well as a negative Covid-19 test.
"Supporters may only access stadiums to watch Africa Cup of Nations matches in Cameroon if they are completely vaccinated and can provide a negative PCR test result from within the last 72 hours or a negative antigen test result from within the last 24 hours," CAF stated in a statement.
Airlines have canceled another 1,600 flights due to reports of worker coronavirus.
As their operations suffer from workers calling out ill with coronavirus, airlines continue to cancel and postpone thousands of flights.
According to flight-tracking website FlightAware, airlines had canceled or delayed more than 1,620 flights countrywide by Thursday afternoon.
Airlines in the United States canceled 1,790 flights and delayed another 6,097 on Wednesday.
For the first time, Italy reaches 200,000 cases of Covid-19 in a single day.
According to official data, Italy has registered more than 200,000 new daily Covid-19 cases for the first time since the pandemic began.
On Thursday, the country's health ministry recorded a total of 219,441 new daily Covid-19 cases. There were 198 deaths recorded as a result of Covid-19, bringing the total number of deaths to at least 138,474.
On Wednesday, the Italian government made the Covid-19 vaccine mandatory for anyone over the age of 50.
1% of Mayo Clinic staff were fired for failing to comply with the Covid-19 vaccination program.
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| (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP) |
According to the Mayo Clinic, 1% of its staff were fired for failing to adhere to the clinic's mandatory Covid-19 vaccination program.
In an email to CNN, the health system stated that "the requirements of the patient come first."
Mayo Clinic said in a statement that "now is a time when the evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines must be firmly supported to help preserve the health and safety of our patients, workers, visitors, and communities."
According to its website, the Mayo Clinic employs 73,000 people.
If you're taking the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, complying with the program includes getting at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and not being overdue for a second dosage. According to the announcement, nearly 99 percent of staff at all Mayo Clinic facilities met the program's Jan. 3 deadline.
The White House plans to release data about contracts between the federal government and industry to make the 500 million quick Covid-19 tests that Vice President Joe Biden claimed Americans would be able to receive for free over the following day.
"In the next 24 hours, I expect to hear more. We'll let you know as soon as we know more, and as soon as there are additional things to share "Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary stated.
Some background information: Last month, Biden unveiled a plan to purchase half a billion at-home quick tests, which Americans may request for free online. They will be available in January, according to the White House, though no specific date has been set.
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| Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, right, speaks during a briefing in Laurel, Maryland, on January 6. (WJZ) |
Officials estimate that Omicron accounts for 90 percent of Covid-19 occurrences in Maryland.
According to state officials, sample test findings reveal that Omicron is responsible for almost 90% of the Covid-19 instances that are on the rise across the state.
"Every 24 hours, as part of our aggressive sequencing program, we are analyzing more samples to detect the Omicron variant," Gov. Larry Hogan said in a press conference Thursday. "As of today, we now estimate that the Omicron variant accounts for approximately 90% of all lab-confirmed cases in the state, as well as 90% of all hospitalized cases," he added.
Hogan, speaking from a new testing site at the University of Maryland Laurel Medical Center, announced the opening of 20 additional testing facilities across the state that would be set up outside hospitals to reroute people away from emergency rooms for Covid-19 tests.
Officials are already witnessing a significant reduction in emergency room visits in hospitals where testing sites have been put up outside, according to Hogan.
Even if you've been vaccinated, the CDC recommends avoiding cruise ships.
The COVID-19 Travel Health Notice level has been raised to Level 4, the highest level, by the CDC, to reflect an increase in cases on cruise ships since the discovery of the Omicron variant.
On ships, even if you've been fully vaccinated and have had a COVID-19 vaccine booster dosage, the virus that causes COVID-19 spreads rapidly among people in close quarters, according to CDC officials.
The COVID-19 Travel Health Notice level has been raised to Level 4, the highest level, by the CDC, to reflect an increase in cases on cruise ships since the discovery of the Omicron variant.
On ships, even if you've been fully vaccinated and have had a COVID-19 vaccine booster dosage, the virus that causes COVID-19 spreads rapidly among people in close quarters, according to CDC officials.
The EUA for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has been updated to include children between the ages of 12 and 15 years old by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
A Pfizer-BioNTech booster dose will be given at least five months after the first immunization, according to FDA authorities.
Some immunocompromised children aged 5 to 11 will be able to get booster doses under the amended EUA.
Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said in a statement that the agency has had to fast adapt to the evolving virus that causes COVID-19 because of the need to make informed decisions with the health and safety of the American public in mind throughout the pandemic.
Woodcock underlined the necessity of maintaining long-standing disease preventive practices.
This latest wave of the Omicron variety calls on us to maintain lifesaving preventative measures including primary vaccine and boosters, mask-wearing, social distancing, etc. in order to effectively battle COVID-19, she stated.
A Pfizer-BioNTech booster dose will be given at least five months after the first immunization, according to FDA authorities.
Some immunocompromised children aged 5 to 11 will be able to get booster doses under the amended EUA.
Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said in a statement that the agency has had to fast adapt to the evolving virus that causes COVID-19 because of the need to make informed decisions with the health and safety of the American public in mind throughout the pandemic.
Woodcock underlined the necessity of maintaining long-standing disease preventive practices.
This latest wave of the Omicron variety calls on us to maintain lifesaving preventative measures including primary vaccine and boosters, mask-wearing, social distancing, etc. in order to effectively battle COVID-19, she stated.
Mandatory vaccination for military personnel is denied by a federal judge
Judge Reed O'Connor, a U.S. District Court judge, issued an injunction against the Biden administration's requirement that military personnel receives vaccines on Monday.
Judge O'Connor imposed a preliminary injunction (PI) prohibiting the Navy from acting against 35 Navy Seals who filed a lawsuit seeking a religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
According to NBC, a biology instructor in Nassau County, New York, was arrested on December 31 for giving a single dosage of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine to a 17-year-old boy.
According to a civic notice issued by the Nassau County Police Department (NCPD), defendant Laura Parker Russo, 54, injected a 17-year-old male with COVID-19 vaccination.
Upon returning home, the male victim informed his mother of the incident. The mother had not granted consent or authority for her son to be injected with a COVID Vaccine and had contacted the NCPD," the NCPD stated in a statement.
According to Johns Hopkins University, there have been over 294.1 million verified COVID-19 cases worldwide, with over 5.4 million deaths.
More than 56.6 million confirmed cases and more than 828,000 deaths have been reported in the United States.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 243.5 million people in the United States have gotten their first COVID-19 vaccination dosage, with more than 205.8 million fully vaccinated. More than 68 million people have received a booster dosage.
1/4/22 1:37 p.m. PST—The United States sets a new daily record for COVID-19 cases.
According to Johns Hopkins University data, the United States reported more than one million new illnesses on Monday – a record level for a single day.
According to UPI, this is nearly double the previous record of 590,000 instances recorded four days ago, with Maryland, Alabama, Delaware, New Jersey, and Ohio reporting the newest COVID-19 infections per 100,000 population.
According to the most recent available statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Delta variation accounted for over 40% of cases and Omicron for roughly 60% of all infections in the United States.
Pexel photo. Information source: Healthline
While advancements occur on a daily basis in science, real breakthroughs are uncommon. What does it take to make game-changing scientific discoveries? Some are the consequence of a fortunate accident paired with curiosity: scientists driving down one road discover a reason to deviate onto another, one they had not intended to travel – a route that may possibly lead nowhere.
Other significant discoveries have occurred as a result of scientists pursuing a very specific dream. They have an idea that they can't stop thinking about one day, usually early in their career. They think it's insane, but is it truly impossible? They consult with respected peers, who frequently remind them of all the reasons their proposal can fail and the potential consequences for their career. It's a sobering lesson, but the concept will endure. As a result, they search for financial assistance and colleagues prepared to take the risk of driving down that road with them — a route that may or may not lead somewhere. However, occasionally, the path leads to big advances such as penicillin and mRNA vaccines.
While you may look forward to flying to an exciting destination for a vacation or business trip, you do
not want to be concerned about becoming ill following your airplane flight! After all, studies indicate
that colds are 113 times more likely to spread on a plane than they are on the ground! The excellent
news is that there are many things you can do to remain healthy before or after your flight.
The following are four ways to avoid becoming ill on a plane:
1. Maintain Clean Hands
Hand sanitizer is one of the most critical items you can bring on a plane, but it must be 3 ounces or
less to comply with security regulations. This is because, on planes and elsewhere, your hands are
frequently the first point of contact with cold and flu germs. Tray tables, seat belt buckles, overhead
air vents and lavatory latches are just a few of the plane or anywhere else. Some of the dirtiest surfaces.
If you touch any of these items during your flight, be sure to immediately use your hand sanitizer to kill any germs!
What happened to trusting medical experts?
We rely on professionals in almost every facet of our lives, from home repairs to weather forecasting to food safety, and just about everything else. There's no way to know everything there is to know about everything. When it comes to medicine, however, people appear to be taking their health into their own hands in ways they would never consider if, for example, their car brakes required repair and they were not an auto mechanic.
What if your brakes were completely worn out?
Let's say a reputable car mechanic informs you your brakes need to be repaired. Hopefully, they will explain why this is essential and go over the advantages and disadvantages of your alternatives, which may include no repairs. You may absolutely seek more advice and estimates. However, you must accept that a technician has specialized knowledge and that their advise is sound in order to make a selection. Rather than risking injury, you'd probably get the brakes fixed.
What if your brakes were completely worn out?
Let's say a reputable car mechanic informs you your brakes need to be repaired. Hopefully, they will explain why this is essential and go over the advantages and disadvantages of your alternatives, which may include no repairs. You may absolutely seek more advice and estimates. However, you must accept that a technician has specialized knowledge and that their advise is sound in order to make a selection. Rather than risking injury, you'd probably get the brakes fixed.
Conservative media personalities dishonestly utilized the death of former US Secretary of State Colin Powell, who died of Covid-19 problems, to cast doubt on the efficacy of the coronavirus vaccines on Monday, according to the conservative website Right Wing Watch.
Powell was battling multiple myeloma at the time of his vaccination, which made him more susceptible to the virus and less likely to establish an immune response after being vaccinated. Because he was 84 years old, he was also in a higher-than-average risk group.
But Powell's cancer did not make it into the monologue of Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson, who was covering the story.
Instead, Carlson, the highest-rated star on the right-wing talk network, used Powell's death on Monday night to argue that Americans are being "lied to" about vaccines, according to CNN.
As we embark on another school year under the shadow of the COVID-19 epidemic, many parents are asking themselves: What can we do to keep our children healthy in this environment? Is it possible to strengthen one's immune system in order to fend off COVID-19 and other illnesses?
There are no magic wands or magic pills to help you. The most effective approach to maintain a healthy immune system is, simply put, to follow the recommended health-promoting behaviors. As monotonous as it may sound, it has been tried and tested.
There are no magic wands or magic pills to help you. The most effective approach to maintain a healthy immune system is, simply put, to follow the recommended health-promoting behaviors. As monotonous as it may sound, it has been tried and tested.
You can help your children stay healthy this school year by following these suggestions.
The most critical lifesaving tool we have in this pandemic is vaccination against the virus that causes COVID-19. All of the vaccines that have been licensed in the United States have been proven to be extremely safe and reliable. And we've known from the start that the robust protection they provide would eventually wane.
However, has protection deteriorated sufficiently to warrant booster shots? Recent studies published by researchers in the United Kingdom, Israel, and the United States (reviewed here and here) raised this possibility, and Israel and the United Kingdom have already launched ambitious booster programs.
Vaccinate every single person.
You might be aware, that the CDC and FDA conducted a review of the need, safety, and effectiveness of boosters for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. In the coming weeks and months, both agencies will conduct a review of data for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. This is the only booster shot available right now.
But first and foremost, it's critical not to overlook this fact: vaccinating the unvaccinated should take priority over booster shots for those who have already received vaccines. This is true for individuals in the United States who have been unable or unwilling to obtain the vaccine, as well as individuals in other parts of the world with limited access to vaccines.
Not only would expanding the pool of people who have received their initial vaccinations save more lives than promoting boosters, but it would also help reduce COVID-related healthcare disparities between richer and poorer countries. That is why the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for a moratorium on booster doses. Biden administration officials announced that an additional 500 million vaccines would be donated to developing countries with low vaccination rates, bringing the US commitment to 1.1 billion doses. The administration emphasizes that establishing a booster program in the United States and assisting other countries in vaccinating their citizens are not mutually exclusive.
Is a booster dose different from a third shot?
Not all additional vaccine doses are boosters. FDA approved a third dose in August 2021, the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for immunocompromised individuals. This includes individuals living with HIV and those undergoing cancer treatment that suppresses the immune system. The extra dose is not considered a booster for them; it is considered part of their initial immunization series.
Choosing the right time to receive vaccine boosters
Ideally, vaccines booster are administered no sooner than necessary, but well before widespread protective immunity begins to decline. The dangers of waiting too long are self-evident: as immunity declines, infection, serious illness, and death rates may begin to rise.
However, there are downsides to administering boosters prematurely:
Side effects may be more common. While published research indicates that boosters are safe, we don’t yet have long-term data.
The benefit may be small. It may be advisable to wait on booster vaccinations if the majority of people are still protected by their initial vaccinations.
It's possible that current boosters won't cover future variants. Boosters may be modified to include new variants of concern in the coming months.
Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine booster recommendations
The CDC and FDA have concluded that boosters are necessary for some recipients of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. A booster dose is recommended at least six months after the second dose for those who are :
- 65 years of age or older.
- 18 to 64 years of age and at a high risk of developing severe illness from COVID, such as those who have chronic lung disease, cancer, or diabetes.
- Residents of long-term care facilities, healthcare workers, teachers and daycare staff, grocery workers, and prisoners all work in high-exposure environments.
There are currently no Pfizer/BioNTech boosters recommended for the general population. This is because the initial doses continue to provide adequate protection against serious illness and death.
Countless unknowns
The publication of these new recommendations for Pfizer vaccine boosters raises several concerns:
How credible is the safety data? To date, reports indicate that boosters are safe, but additional research and real-world data are needed.
Moderna and Johnson & Johnson boosters are still awaiting FDA approval. When can we expect that?
Should all boosters contain the same vaccine as the initial regimen, or does mixing vaccines provide additional protection?
The unfortunate thing is that some people are combining vaccines on their own, sometimes by falsely stating they didn't get the COVID shot before getting a different kind of shot altogether.
Will booster doses be identical to initial doses? So far, the answer for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has been affirmative. If the Moderna booster is authorized, it will very certainly be for a half-dose.
Will boosters be altered to protect against new variants?
Will there be a future need for additional boosters? If so, how frequently?
In the coming weeks and months, look for answers to these questions.
What is next?
Based on ongoing review and analysis of available research, the FDA and CDC are expected to revise and expand booster recommendations. Meanwhile, we should intensify our efforts to vaccinate those who have not received vaccines. Individuals can benefit significantly from boosters. However, as Dr. Rochelle Wallensky, director of the CDC, notes, "we will not boost our way out of this pandemic."
Some persons who have been infected with the virus show no signs or symptoms. Symptoms associated with the virus are chills, a cough, discomfort, and a lack of appetite. Certain people have been affected more negatively by COVID-19 since it might cause more serious symptoms. , such as a high temperature, a strong cough, and shortness of breath, all of which are signs of pneumonia.
COVID-19 patients may also have neurological, gastrointestinal (GI), or both symptoms. These can happen with or without respiratory symptoms.
Is it true that after recovering from COVID-19, people are more prone to get other diseases?
The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 can permanently harm the lungs, heart muscle, kidneys, brain, and other organs. Furthermore, some persons (called "long haulers") who recover from COVID's severe symptoms may experience debilitating tiredness, trouble thinking, and other symptoms that make it impossible to function normally at work or at home.
As if the pain wasn't bad enough, it's becoming evident that people who recover from COVID have a higher chance of contracting a number of other diseases. Research published online by the journal Nature on April 22, 2021, compared 73,000 U.S. veterans who survived COVID against almost five million non-hospitalized veterans without COVID and another big group with pneumonia caused by. In terms of age, sex, race and ethnicity, neighbourhood where they resided, patient's previous medical history, use of medical services, and other factors, the two comparison groups were similar to the COVID group. All of the groups were monitored for four months on average. People who "recovered" from COVID were more likely to acquire new health issues during that period, such as heart attacks, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, muscle inflammation, diabetes and blood clots in their lungs. COVID patients had a 60 per cent greater chance of dying during the study. People became more vulnerable to infections as a result of the coronavirus's response to the body, even after the virus's symptoms had ended. Although individuals who had been sickest with COVID had the highest risk of these diseases, even those who were only slightly ill had a higher risk.
The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 can permanently harm the lungs, heart muscle, kidneys, brain, and other organs. Furthermore, some persons (called "long haulers") who recover from COVID's severe symptoms may experience debilitating tiredness, trouble thinking, and other symptoms that make it impossible to function normally at work or at home.
As if the pain wasn't bad enough, it's becoming evident that people who recover from COVID have a higher chance of contracting a number of other diseases. Research published online by the journal Nature on April 22, 2021, compared 73,000 U.S. veterans who survived COVID against almost five million non-hospitalized veterans without COVID and another big group with pneumonia caused by. In terms of age, sex, race and ethnicity, neighbourhood where they resided, patient's previous medical history, use of medical services, and other factors, the two comparison groups were similar to the COVID group. All of the groups were monitored for four months on average. People who "recovered" from COVID were more likely to acquire new health issues during that period, such as heart attacks, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, muscle inflammation, diabetes and blood clots in their lungs. COVID patients had a 60 per cent greater chance of dying during the study. People became more vulnerable to infections as a result of the coronavirus's response to the body, even after the virus's symptoms had ended. Although individuals who had been sickest with COVID had the highest risk of these diseases, even those who were only slightly ill had a higher risk.
Image: pexel.
The United States is a large country with disparities in COVID-19 immunization rates and incidence between states — and even within them. Now, the fast spread of the highly infectious Delta variation is confounding our understanding of how well vaccinations protects us from infection.If you're a parent, you're undoubtedly wondering about how COVID-19 will influence the back-to-school season, regardless of where you reside. What will the first few weeks and months of the school year be like? How flexible will we have to be? Health guidelines for the United States, as well as state and municipal regulations, will continue to evolve. We'll go through the current guidelines for keeping schools and children safe when students return to classes in the coming weeks and explain what families can do outside of school to further reduce the risk of infection.
National recommendations for safe schools
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States both recommend that :
Regardless of vaccination status, all staff and students above the age of two who are able to securely mask should do so inside.
Anyone above the age of 12 should get vaccinated.
Undergoing preventive measures in schools by keeping at least three feet between people when possible, better ventilation, frequent hand-washing, and staying home when sick.
If exposures occur in the school, schools should maintain active protocols to contact-trace, isolate, and quarantine impacted children and staff.
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