Got to Category

Coronavirus category, Page 65

Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
Much of Europe tightens anti-pandemic rules as virus surges
ROME — Tighter restrictions aimed at reining in surging coronavirus infections took hold in much of Italy and parts of Poland on Monday, while in France, Paris risks being slapped with a weekend lockdown as ICUs near saturation with covid-19 patients. In line with an Italian government decision late last...
U.S. prison guards refusing vaccine despite covid-19 outbreaks
A Florida correctional officer polled his colleagues earlier this year in a private Facebook group: “Will you take the covid-19 vaccine if offered?” The answer from more than half: “Hell no.” Only 40 of the 475 respondents said yes. In Massachusetts, more than half the people employed by the Department...
Giant Eagle clinic at Heinz Field extended, open to more teachers
Giant Eagle’s mass vaccination clinic at Heinz Field was again extended, this time for all PreK-12 teachers in Western Pennsylvania. The chain will be holding clinic hours, by appointment, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. As with...
All Duke University undergrads must quarantine
DURHAM, N.C. — Duke University issued a quarantine order for all of its undergraduates effective Saturday night because of a coronavirus outbreak caused by students who attended recruitment parties, the school said. The university said in a statement that all undergraduate students will be forced to stay-in-place until at least...
Fauci: Trump should urge his followers to get vaccinated 
Dr. Anthony Fauci said Sunday he wishes former President Donald Trump would use his popularity among Republicans to persuade more of his followers to get the covid-19 vaccine. In a round of interviews on the morning news shows, the government’s top infectious disease expert lamented polling showing that Trump supporters...
Ireland suspends AstraZeneca vaccine amid blood clot reports
LONDON — Irish health officials on Sunday recommended the temporary suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine after reports of serious blood clotting after inoculations in Norway. Dr. Ronan Glynn, Ireland’s deputy chief medical officer, said the recommendation was made after Norway’s medicines agency reported four cases of blood clotting in adults...
Survivors struggle as scientists race to solve covid mystery
There was no reason to celebrate on Rachel Van Lear’s anniversary. The same day a global pandemic was declared, she developed symptoms of covid-19. A year later, she’s still waiting for them to disappear. And for experts to come up with some answers. The Texas woman is one of thousands...
North Country Brewing owner contends Pa. officials unfairly targeted restaurants during pandemic 
The owner of North Country Brewing in Slippery Rock believes he did everything right. When faced with the initial covid-19 shutdown orders implemented by the governor a year ago — the first of which, right before St. Patrick’s Day, cost him about $32,000 in wasted food — Robert McCafferty closed....
Westmoreland County hospitality grant program opens Monday
Westmoreland County will begin accepting applications for hospitality grants Monday. Commissioners have said they expect to award up to 200 grants, which will be capped at $20,000 each, to local restaurants, taverns and hotels as part of a state program to assist businesses among the hardest hit by the ongoing...
‘Absolutely beautiful’: West Penn Hospital staff gave Harrison man 2nd goodbye with dying mother
It was time. The soulful tones of Diana Ross’ version of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” playing from a nurse’s cellphone cut through the surreal moment. Motown music, her favorite, was the soundtrack to 74-year-old Josephine Ferguson’s final breaths, after covid-19 devastated her previously healthy body. Gregory Del Duca, her...
‘Reverberation of grief’: Covid losses take toll on Western Pennsylvania residents, communities
It has been nearly a year since the world of Ludmil Velev changed forever. For a few months in early 2020, his mother was visiting Pittsburgh from Bulgaria, thrilled to be with her granddaughter. “I’m happy I spent time with her,” said Velev, 44, of Greenfield. “She was extremely happy...
Pennsylvania ramps up covid vaccines in past week; cases, hospitalizations roughly constant
The latest data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health shows that, of Pennsylvania residents who have received covid-19 shots, more are fully inoculated than those who have received partial doses. Meanwhile, cases, hospitalizations and deaths haven’t seen significant fluctuations one way or the other, but remain on a downward trend....
Virus tolls similar despite governors’ contrasting actions
Nearly a year after California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the nation’s first statewide shutdown because of the coronavirus, masks remain mandated, indoor dining and other activities are significantly limited, and Disneyland remains closed. By contrast, Florida has no statewide restrictions. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has prohibited municipalities from fining people...
It’s been a year. When will the pandemic end?
It’s not likely covid-19 will be completely eradicated, at least not any time soon. That would be the best case scenario, said Dr. Graham Snyder, medical director of Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology at UPMC. The worst case would be that the virus continually evolves to become more deadly and...
Governors applaud Biden’s vaccine timeline, but need supply
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Governors largely cheered President Joe Biden’s declaration that all adults should be eligible for coronavirus vaccinations by May 1, but the goal will require a shift for states that have been methodical in how they roll out the shots. The top health official in California said the...
More than half of Pittsburgh Public Schools employees receive covid vaccines
More than half of the Pittsburgh Public Schools’ teachers and staff will be at least partially vaccinated by the end of this weekend, following a series of clinics that started this week, district officials said. “This is the end of a pretty fantastic week,” Superintendent Anthony Hamlet said Friday. Rodney...
Brazil reaches deal for 10 million shots of Russian vaccine
Brazil’s federal government said Friday it has reached a deal to purchase 10 million doses of the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine against covid-19, though the shot is yet to be approved by the South American nation’s health agency. The Brazilian Health Ministry said on Twitter that the jabs will be...
Wolf says all Phase 1A Pennsylvanians can have vaccine appointments by month’s end
Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday said he is confident Pennsylvania can meet President Biden’s goal of making every adult eligible for the vaccine by May 1, including a pledge to have appointments made for all Phase 1A residents in the next two weeks and promises to elevate the priority of...
Conflict grows between U.S. and allies over vaccine supply
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s administration is stockpiling tens of millions of doses of a covid-19 vaccine whose authorization in the U.S. remains uncertain, frustrating U.S. allies who say those doses should be used now to save lives overseas. The standoff is part of a growing global debate over who...
WHO grants emergency approval for 1-shot J&J covid vaccine
GENEVA — The World Health Organization granted an emergency use listing Friday for the coronavirus vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson, meaning the one-dose shot can now theoretically be used as part of the international COVAX effort to distribute vaccines globally, including to poor countries without any supplies. In a...
More than 6,500 Pa. teachers, school staff vaccinated through state initiative so far
Pennsylvania officials on Friday reported that more than 6,500 teachers and school staff have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week, through the state’s initiative to inoculate educators. Twenty out of 28 intermediate units are now fully operational as vaccine clinics, with the rest of the units set to...
Covid cases tick up slightly in Pennsylvania, deaths trend downward
Pennsylvania recorded a slight increase in covid-19 cases but is seeing a downward trend in covid-related deaths and a drop in hospitalizations. Pennsylvania The state on Friday added 3,074 new covid cases, the most in a single day this month, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The seven-day average...
Michigan: All adults eligible for covid vaccine April 5
LANSING, Mich. — Michigan announced Friday that all residents age 16 and up will become eligible for the covid-19 vaccine on April 5, nearly a month before the May 1 date pledged by President Joe Biden. People age 16 to 49 with certain medical conditions or disabilities will qualify starting...
Global rise in childhood mental health issues amid pandemic
PARIS — By the time his parents rushed him to the hospital, 11-year-old Pablo was barely eating and had stopped drinking entirely. Weakened by months of self-privation, his heart had slowed to a crawl and his kidneys were faltering. Medics injected him with fluids and fed him through a tube...
U.S., Indo-Pacific allies to expand India’s vaccine production
President Joe Biden and fellow leaders of the Indo-Pacific alliance known as the Quad are set to announce a plan to expand coronavirus vaccine manufacturing capacity in India, according to administration officials. The effort was to be announced Friday at a virtual meeting of the leaders of Australia, India, Japan...


Editor's Picks

Front Porch Theatricals’ musical ‘Baby’ is a labor of love

Washington townhouse on the market for $1,225,000
Folk legend Bruce Cockburn gives uplifting performance at City Winery
‘Champagne & Chapeaux’: Westmoreland Symphony’s annual soiree for a good cause
Jimmy Stewart’s P-51 Mustang stops in hometown for museum anniversary
More Editor's Picks >