But, Bacharach said, there is a labor shortage in many industries, including nursing homes and other health care facilities, as well as in retail. So maybe they will require new workers to get vaccinated but not push existing workers. For them, the employers may be more likely to offer incentives.
MIAMI (CBSMiami)
Cancer treatment can affect the immune system, which can leave patients susceptible to infections.
Many medical groups recommend most cancer patients and survivors receive the COVID-19 vaccine, but there are some questions about the effectiveness of the shot for this group.
Researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center have launched a study to understand how the vaccine impacts those patients.
There are some patients where were not measuring as good an antibody response as what we would like to see, says Dr. Peter Shields who is leading the study. However, we have no idea whether or not thats still sufficiently protective. So, there may very well be a subset of patients who need to get boosters more often. This is what were trying to figure out.
Vaccinated patients with and without cancer have been enrolled in the study. Participants provide weekly saliva samples to test for COVID and blood samples to measure immune response.
Dave Hill is taking part in the research. This is one thing that came in that allowed me to participate and pay back to those people who helped me and who are helping others, he said.
Even before the pandemic, the 63-year-old had to isolate himself after receiving intense chemotherapy and then a stem cell transplant for lymphoma.
Ive been doing this since mid-2018. And I said, so if you think your stir crazy, you should be in my shoes, Hill says.
The stakes got even higher when COVID hit.
There was an extremely high anxiety about any kind of infection. I just had to continue to be very diligent, Hill said.
He hopes the vaccine protects him and everybody else.
Michigan crossed the 60% threshold for residents 16 years and older who have received at least a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
As of Thursday, June 10, more than 4.86 million residents have gotten their first dose of vaccine. The state is 806,870 residents away from hitting its goal of reaching 70% partially vaccinated.
The milestone comes as coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and positive test rates continue to dip into lows not seen since last summer.
Thanks to every Michiganderwho stepped up to keep themselves, their family, and their community safe, Whitmer said via a prepared statement Friday, June 11. We can all feel a sense of optimism thanks to the tireless efforts of countless frontline workers who put their own safety on the line to keep the rest of us going. And we are tremendously grateful to the medical community who kept us all safe andcreatedthe safe, effective vaccines, all miracles of modern science.
As we crossthe60% milestone in vaccinations, we are seeing cases, deaths, and hospitalizations continue to fall fast,which has helped to poise our economy for astrong recovery. I know that we can give Michigan the economic jumpstart it needs with the billions in available federal fundsand our multi-billion dollarbudget surplus. We will emerge from this once-in-a-century pandemic stronger than ever, and I am confident that we can make lasting, transformative investments in our schools, small businesses, and communities to help them thrive.
Related: Michigans affluent neighborhoods are three times more likely to be vaccinated than poor areas
While Michigan has set its goals around getting residents at least partially vaccinated, health officials recommend getting two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna shots for maximum efficacy. In Michigan, 48.7% of residents 12 years and older have completed their vaccination -- or nearly 4.19 million people -- compared to 54.8% of residents in that age range who have started their dosage.
Below is a breakdown by age group of Michigan residents who have gotten at least one dose of vaccine and those who are fully immunized.
Under the states prior reopening plan, the lifting of restrictions on businesses were tied to reaching vaccination milestones including one for reaching 60%. At that time, indoor capacity at sports stadiums would have increased to 25%; indoor capacity at conference centers, banquet halls and funeral homes would have increased to 25%; gym capacity would have moved to 50%; and bars and restaurants would no longer be required to close early.
However, the governor pivoted after receiving new guidance from the CDC in mid-May. Instead, Michigan chose to lift its COVID-19 restrictions in two steps -- one on June 1 and the other on July 1.
As of June 1, all outdoor capacity limits were removed, curfews on bars and restaurants were lifted, and all indoor settings were allowed 50% capacity. Beginning July 1, those capacity restrictions, as well as the mask mandate for individuals not fully vaccinated, will be lifted.
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II also expressed his appreciation for the continued effort to get residents vaccinated Friday, via a press release.
I ampleased to see thatsomany Michiganders arecontinuing to makethe choice to get vaccinated.Thank you to every person who has had a conversation with someone in their lifeto encourage them to get vaccinated, and theprofessionals and volunteers who have made vaccines available everywhere in our state, he said.
These safe, effectivevaccinesareour best shot to end this pandemic on our own terms. As more Michiganders make that choice, wecome closer and closer toconfidentlygrowingour economyacross the board, and setting our path toward a stronger Michigan.As we reach these vaccine milestones, were ableto hug our families, return to offices,enjoy a dinner out at our favorite restaurant, andsafelyspendtime withfriends.
Vaccine appointments, including walk-ins, are available throughout the state for individuals 12 years and older. For more information, visit thestates COVID-19 vaccine website.
Read more on MLive:
Michigan coronavirus data for Friday, June 11: States daily positivity rate drops to 1.7%, a record low
Michigan reports 301 new coronavirus cases for Thursday, June 10
Covid-19 cases continue to drop in Michigan, are we out of the woods?
Could Michigan implement a lottery to incentivize COVID-19 vaccines?
PRESQUE ISLE Northern Light AR Gould Hospital is continuing to adapt COVID-19 vaccine opportunities to make getting a vaccine as convenient as possible for community members. Starting on Monday, June 14, these vaccines will now be offered at all of the hospitals primary care and pediatric locations, as well as in its OB/GYN practice. Additionally, hours for vaccines in Walk-In Care locations have been greatly extended.
When the hospital closed its mass vaccination site at Northern Maine Community College last month, they began offering vaccines at their Walk-In Care locations in Caribou and Presque Isle for designated times two days a week. Beginning on June 14, individuals can present to either location whenever they are open to get their vaccine. The Caribou Walk-In on Bennett Drive is open seven days a week from noon to 8 p.m.; the site on North Street in Presque Isle is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. No appointment or pre-registration is necessary. The Pfizer vaccine will be offered, so it is available to anyone age 12 and older, whether or not they are a Northern Light Health patient.
In addition to extending vaccine availability to seven days a week at Walk-In Care, the hospital will also begin offering vaccines in its primary care, pediatric, and OB/GYN practices starting that same day (Monday, June 14). Patients can request the vaccine when they are being seen for an appointment; walk-in opportunities for individuals (whether or not a patient) will also be an option. People can reach out to the practice they wish to go to in order to learn more specific details.
The Pfizer vaccine will be offered in the pediatric practice locations in both Presque Isle and Caribou, at the primary care office in Caribou, and at both the Womens Health Center and OB/GYN practices in Presque Isle.
The one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be offered at primary care offices in Presque Isle, Fort Fairfield and Mars Hill.
The hospital has continued to adapt plans and services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to meet the needs of the community. Being able to adapt quickly to ever-changing rules, procedures, and needs has been the hallmark of the hospitals response efforts.
When we first started, it was all about getting as many people as possible vaccinated as quickly as possible. Now it is more about expanding availability to people who couldnt make it to our larger vaccination site. We are trying to make access as easy as possible for those who are interested in being vaccinated, said Jay Reynolds, MD, senior physician executive at Northern Light AR Gould Hospital.
More articles from the BDN
A number of Brazilian states can now import and use Sputnik V, the Russian vaccine for COVID-19, although a key regulatory agency in the country still has safety concerns.
By Sofia MoutinhoJun. 9, 2021 , 12:50 PM
Sciences COVID-19 reporting is supported by the Heising-Simons Foundation.
Despite safety concerns, the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa) reversed itself last week and voted to allow a trickle of Sputnik V, the Russian-made COVID-19 vaccine, into the country. Only 928,000 doses will be importedjust a fraction of the total requested by a group of state governorsand the agency imposed stringent measures to reduce supposed health risks and monitor the vaccines safety and efficacy.
In April, with Brazil facing a massive COVID-19 surge and a scarcity of vaccine, Anvisa vetoed a previous import request, citing concerns that the vaccine contains adenoviruses that could replicate and harm vaccinated people. The decision sparked a lawsuit threat by Sputnik Vs manufacturer, the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, and drew criticism from some scientists. But on 4 June, four of Anvisas five directors decided to allow the importation of Sputnik V, swayed by a new law and Brazils continuing, worsening crisis. The health context that our country is going through makes us face the need to make the greatest number of vaccines and medicines available, said Alex Machado, one of the four directors. Brazil has one of the worlds highest burdens of COVID-19 but has only vaccinatedabout 15% of its people with a first dose.
Sputnik Vs two doses use two different adenoviruses to deliver genes encoding the spike protein in the pandemic coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The adenoviruses are supposed to be unable to make copies of themselves. But Anvisas general manager of medicines and biological products, Gustavo Mendes, says the latest documents the agency received, describing analyses performed by the Russian health minister, put the number of replication-competent adenoviruses at not more than 50 per dose. Thats fewer than earlier documentation suggested, but still not acceptable, he adds. It is not clear for us what was the rationale used to approve this specification nor how the presence of these viruses can be safe.
Some scientists outside the fray have previously said Anvisa is misreading such Russian documentation. They argue it does not indicate the presence of live virus, but rather the detection limits of tests for such virus.
According to a Brazilian law enacted in March, the country can selectively import vaccines already approved for emergency use by certain countriesincluding Russia. So Anvisa staffers and the governors had several meetings to discuss ways to get out the shots and, at the same time, minimize risks associated with the vaccine, Mendes says.
Anvisa has for now restricted Sputnik V imports to a number sufficient to cover only 1% of the population of the six northern states that filed the original vaccine request, which called for 67 million doses. The batches will have to undergo analysis by a state-owned lab to show they are safe and do not contain replicant adenoviruses, and only healthy adults will be eligible for the shots.
Moreover, the states administering the vaccine must disclose to the population that the regulatory agency did not clear the products for quality, safety, or efficacy. And in a step proposed by the Brazilian governors, the states will have to conduct a Sputnik V efficacy study under Anvisas supervision.
It was a victory for us, and we are going to work together to follow all the conditions, says Sergio Rezende, Brazils former science minister, who is part of the scientific board supporting the governors who requested the vaccine. Rezende maintains that Anvisa originally vetoed the import for political reasons, as Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has criticized COVID-19 vaccines, especially those manufactured by communist countries,such as China and Russia.
Sputnik Vs temporary use permit can be suspended at any time if either Anvisa or the World Health Organization denies it a formal emergency use authorization (still under evaluation in Brazil), or if any issues arise during the laboratory tests or vaccination. There is no prediction of when the approved doses will arrive, but Brazilian governors, Anvisa, and the manufacturer are already discussing the vaccination rollout.
For the immunologist Jorge Kalil, a vaccine expert at the Federal University of So Paulos main campus, Anvisas compromise was a clever strategy. We are not in a position to discard vaccines, and that was a good solution to see if, effectively, under Brazilian eyes, this vaccine works well and can be distributed to the whole population.
Spain's players and coaches were given COVID-19 vaccinations on Friday morning, three days before their Euro 2020 Group E opener against Sweden in Seville.
The army arrived at the national team's headquarters in Las Rozas, Madrid, to administer different vaccines "depending on the situation of each member."
The Spanish Football Association (RFEF) opted for those members that have not had COVID-19 to be given the single dose of the vaccine to avoid needing a second jab during the competition.
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"I don't want any adverse effects of the vaccine to affect the players during the tournament," Spain coach Luis Enrique said earlier this week.
"We would have liked to have been vaccinated at the right time, which was after the squad list was announced [on June 1]."
Team captain Sergio Busquets' positive test on June 6, followed days later by that of Leeds defender Diego Llorente, disrupted the team's preparations and brought a sense of urgency to have the players vaccinated ahead of Euro 2020.
Llorente has since had three PCR negative tests and needs one more negative result -- which he returned on Friday, thus allowing him to rejoin the team.
The RFEF said in a statement it was "grateful and thankful" to the Spanish authorities for "their sensibility" when giving the approval.
The vaccination of the players has been a source of controversy for weeks.
Only 25% of Spain's population has been fully vaccinated, with no date scheduled for when those under 40 will be vaccinated.
The Spanish government ultimately authorised priority vaccinations for the footballers on Thursday.
Some local politicians have said it is "deplorable" that Luis Enrique's team is getting preferential treatment over essential service workers, such as shop attendants, delivery drivers, with one politician stating "those that were at the forefront of the pandemic have been relegated by 11 men tapping a football."
Moreover, others are questioning if it's worth vaccinating the players three days before the start of the tournament, when the vaccine will only become effective two weeks after it is administered.
Aside from Busquets, eight players -- Jose Gaya, Mikel Oyarzabal, Thiago Alcantara, Adama Traore, Aymeric Laporte, Eric Garcia, Fabian Ruiz and Ferran Torres -- in Spain's squad have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.
Liverpool midfielder Thiago, who tested positive for COVID-19 in September, said: "We are fortunate to have access to it. We have less risk in our profession, but we need to be thankful to those that have wanted to help us.
"The vaccine is a priority in the world. We are representing Spain, hopefully in different countries, [if they go beyond the group stages], and if we are vaccinated, all the better."
Spain's Olympic athletes have been receiving the vaccine since May 17.
Spain's Olympic Committee announced that 3,880 doses -- the amount used to vaccinate the Spanish Olympic and Paralympic athletes -- will be given to the Spanish government thanks to a donation by American company Pfizer.
Due to the pandemic, UEFA expanded squad limits from 23 to 26 players for Euro 2020, which is taking place a year later than scheduled.
Luis Enrique only selected 24 players, however, and has faced criticism because of it.
He has stood by the decision despite having to form a parallel training bubble with other players in case he had to make changes to the squad.
Spain will host their Group E games against Sweden, Poland and Slovakia in Seville's La Cartuja stadium.
India has partly or fully vaccinated about 101 million men, nearly 17% more than women. Men account for 54% of the total number of people inoculated, according to the data.
Many federally administered regions, the capital Delhi, and big states such as Uttar Pradesh have seen some of the worst inequities. Only Kerala in the south and Chhattisgarh in central India have vaccinated more women than men.
"We are noticing that men, especially in towns and villages, prefer to take the vaccine before women as they have to travel for work, while women are relegated to domestic chores," said Prashant Pandya, medical superintendent at a big government hospital in the western state of Gujarat.
Health officials say rumors about vaccines disrupting women's menstruation cycle and reducing fertility have also contributed to the skewed data. The government has rejected the concerns.
"The government will have to ramp up awareness programs in rural India to ensure women understand the importance of vaccines and prioritize themselves in this race to secure the two shots," said Sudha Narayanan, a former bureaucrat who worked in the health ministry in New Delhi.
Women will have to step forward to get vaccinated or the divide will rapidly widen, Narayanan added.
India, with a population of 1.3 billion, has about 6% more men than women.
A spokesperson for the federal Ministry of Health and Family Welfare did not respond to Reuters' questions about the gender disparity.
Some women in the rural parts of Gujarat and neighboring Rajasthan state have urged the authorities to deliver vaccines at their doorstep, saying they are unable to travel to hospitals leaving their children behind.
"I don't know how to read and write ... how will I register for the vaccine?" said Laxmiben Suthar, a mother of four in the town of Vadnagar in Gujarat. "The government must send the medicine to us."
Urban Indians are also getting Covid shots much faster than the hundreds of millions of people living in the countryside, government data has shown. That is partly due to a policy that helped richer cities buy more vaccine doses than rural districts.
On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reversed the previous policy and said vaccines will be offered at no charge to all adults starting June 21. The government will also facilitate more walk-in inoculations after complaints about the online registration process.
India has so far administered 233.7 million doses, the most in the world after China and the United States, but given the necessary two doses to only about 5% of its estimated 950 million adults.
In early 2020, a new virus began generating headlines all over the world because of the unprecedented speed of its transmission.
Its origins have been traced to a food market in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. From there, its reached countries as distant as the United States and the Philippines.
The virus (officially named SARS-CoV-2) has been responsible for over 100 million infections globally, causing around 2.5 million deaths. The United States is the country most affected.
The disease caused by contracting SARS-CoV-2 is called COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019.
Lets bust some myths.
Read on to learn:
Stay informed with our live updates about the current COVID-19 outbreak.
Also, visit our coronavirus hub for more information on how to prepare, advice on prevention and treatment, and expert recommendations.
Doctors and scientists are learning new things about this virus every day. So far, we know that COVID-19 may not cause any symptoms for some people.
You may carry the virus for 2 days or up to 2 weeks before you develop symptoms.
Some common symptoms that have been specifically linked to COVID-19 include:
Less common symptoms include:
However, individuals with COVID-19 may have some, all, or none of the above symptoms.
For instance, fever is often referred to as the most common symptom of COVID-19. However, a July 2020 study of 213 people with mild disease found that only 11.6 percent of them had experienced fever.
Most people with COVID-19 will only have a mild case.
According to the National Institute of Healths COVID-19 treatment guidelines, people are characterized as having a mild case if they:
Mild cases can still have long-lasting effects. People who experience symptoms months after first contracting the virus and after the virus is no longer detectable in their body are referred to as long haulers.
According to a February 2021 research letter in JAMA Network Open, approximately one-third of people with COVID-19 had persistent symptoms as long as 9 months after infection.
A December 2020 literature review estimated that 17 percent of people with COVID-19 are actually asymptomatic. This means they have no symptoms at all.
Twenty percent of people who have COVID-19 and require any sort of senior care services are asymptomatic. The authors evaluated data from 13 studies to come up with their estimates.
A January 2021 literature review looked at 61 studies and reports about COVID-19. The researchers concluded that:
Call emergency medical services if you have or someone you care for has any of the following symptoms:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is still investigating the full range of symptoms.
The 2019 coronavirus causes more deaths than the seasonal flu.
According to the CDC, an estimated 0.04 to 0.16 percent of people who developed the flu during the 20192020 flu season in the United States died by April 4, 2020.
In comparison, about 1.80 percent of those with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the United States have died as of March 2, 2021.
The flu and COVID-19 share many of the same symptoms. Common flu symptoms include:
Coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means they first develop in animals before being transmitted to humans.
For the virus to be transmitted from animals to humans, a person has to come into close contact with an animal that has the infection.
Once the virus develops in people, coronaviruses can be transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets. This is a technical name for the wet stuff that moves through the air when you exhale, cough, sneeze, or talk.
The viral material hangs out in these droplets and can be breathed into the respiratory tract (your windpipe and lungs), where the virus can then lead to an infection.
Its possible that you could acquire SARS-CoV-2 if you touch your mouth, nose, or eyes after touching a surface or object that has the virus on it. However, this is not thought to be the main way that the virus is passed on.
SARS-CoV-2 can also be passed on via airborne transmission of small infectious particles that may linger in the air for minutes to hours.
However, contraction of an infection through close contact with people with SARS-CoV-2 and their respiratory droplets is currently thought to be much more common.
The 2019 coronavirus hasnt been definitively linked to a specific animal.
Researchers believe that the virus may have been passed from bats to another animal either snakes or pangolins and then transmitted to humans.
This transmission likely occurred in the open food market in Wuhan.
Youre at high risk for contracting SARS-CoV-2 if you come into contact with someone whos carrying it, especially if youve been exposed to their saliva or been near them when theyve coughed, sneezed, or talked.
Without taking proper preventive measures, youre also at high risk if you:
Older adults and people with certain health conditions have a higher risk for severe complications if they contract the virus. These health conditions include:
Pregnancy also puts you at a higher risk for complications from COVID-19.
The CDC reports that pregnant women are more likely to experience severe COVID-19 illness than nonpregnant women.
For instance, pregnant women entered the intensive care unit (ICU) at nearly three times the rate of nonpregnant women. Mortality rates for pregnant women are also higher.
According to a study from September 2020, women with COVID-19 are also more likely to have a preterm birth than women without COVID-19.
Transmitting the virus from mother to child during pregnancy isnt likely, but the newborn is able to contract the virus after birth.
COVID-19 can be diagnosed similarly to other conditions caused by viral infections: using a blood, saliva, or tissue sample.
However, most tests use a cotton swab to retrieve a sample from the inside of your nostrils.
Locations that conduct tests include:
Visit the websites of your states health department or the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to find out where testing is offered near you.
On November 17, 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued its first emergency use authorization (EUA) for a COVID-19 self-testing kit.
The EUA specifies that the test kit is authorized for use by people ages 14 years and older whom healthcare professionals have identified as having suspected COVID-19.
The Lucira COVID-19 All-In-One Test Kit is a rapid test, which means that the nasal swab sample doesnt have to be sent off to a lab. The test kit is available by prescription only and promises results within 30 minutes.
Back on April 21, 2020, the FDA authorized the use of the first COVID-19 home collection kit. Its produced by Pixel by LabCorp.
A cotton swab is provided, and people will be able to collect a nasal sample with it and mail it to a designated laboratory for testing.
Its authorized for use by people ages 18 years and older.
In recent months, the FDA has also granted EUAs to additional at-home kits, including ones from Everlywell and QuickVue.
Emergency use authorizations (EUAs) allow for the use of medical products that havent received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The FDA issues EUAs in circumstances where no FDA-approved alternatives are available to help diagnose, treat, or prevent a serious condition.
Talk with your doctor right away if you think you have COVID-19 or you notice symptoms.
Your doctor will advise you on whether you should:
Theres currently no cure for an infection caused by the new coronavirus. However, many treatments and vaccines are currently under study.
On October 22, 2020, the FDA approved its first COVID-19 treatment, the medication remdesivir (Veklury). Its available by prescription to treat COVID-19 in people ages 12 years and older whove been hospitalized. Its administered as an intravenous (IV) infusion.
In November 2020, the FDA also granted EUAs to monoclonal antibody medications.
Monoclonal antibodies are human-made proteins that help the body develop an immune response against foreign-made substances such as viruses.
These medications are:
Like remdesivir, theyre also administered by IV infusion and intended to treat COVID-19 in people ages 12 years and older. These medications are used for outpatient therapy.
The FDA has also issued EUAs to a few other treatments, such as convalescent plasma, that are intended for treatment in people who are hospitalized or at high risk for hospitalization.
Most COVID-19 treatment focuses on managing symptoms as the virus runs its course.
Seek medical help if you think you have COVID-19. Your doctor will recommend treatment for any symptoms or complications that develop and let you know if you need to seek emergency treatment.
Other coronaviruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) are also treated by managing symptoms. In some cases, experimental treatments have been tested to see how effective they are.
Examples of therapies used for these illnesses include:
The most serious complication of COVID-19 is a type of pneumonia thats been called 2019 novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia (NCIP).
Results from a 2020 study of 138 people admitted into hospitals in Wuhan with NCIP found that 26 percent of those admitted had severe cases and needed to be treated in the ICU.
The percentage of people who died from NCIP after being admitted to the hospital was 4.3 percent.
It should be noted that people who were admitted to the ICU were, on average, older and had more underlying health conditions than people who didnt go to the ICU.
NCIP isnt the only complication specifically linked to the 2019 coronavirus.
Researchers have seen the following complications in people who have developed COVID-19:
The best way to prevent the transmission of the virus is to avoid or limit contact with people who are showing symptoms of COVID-19 or any respiratory infection.
The next best thing you can do is practice good hygiene and physical distancing to help prevent bacteria and viruses from being transmitted.
Multiple vaccines are in development. Two are currently available to certain groups in the United States (such as older adults and first responders) and are helping to prevent transmission of the virus.
On December 11, 2020, the FDA granted its first EUA for a vaccine. This vaccine was developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. It can be given to people ages 16 years and older.
On December 18, 2020, the FDA granted an EUA to a vaccine developed by Moderna. The Moderna vaccine can be given to people ages 18 years and older.
On February 24, 2021, the FDA announced that a one-dose vaccine from Johnson & Johnson was effective against severe COVID-19. The FDA granted an EUA on February 27. The vaccine can be given to people ages 18 years and older.
While certain high risk groups and essential workers are eligible to receive the vaccine now, it may be summer 2021 before the vaccine is available to the public at large.
If youre out in a public setting where its difficult to follow physical distancing guidelines, the CDC recommends that you wear a cloth face mask or covering that covers your mouth and nose.
When worn correctly, and by large percentages of the public, these masks can help to slow the transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
Thats because they can block the respiratory droplets of people who may be asymptomatic or people who have the virus but have gone undiagnosed.
You can make your own mask using basic materials such as a bandana, a T-shirt, or cotton fabric.
Cloth masks are preferred for the general public since other types of masks should be reserved for healthcare workers.
Its critical to keep the mask or covering clean. Wash it after each time you use it. Avoid touching the front of it with your hands. Also, try to avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes when you remove it.
This helps prevent you from possibly transferring the virus from a mask to your hands and from your hands to your face.
Keep in mind that wearing a face mask or covering isnt a replacement for other preventive measures, such as frequent handwashing and practicing physical distancing. All of them are important.
Certain people shouldnt wear face masks, including:
A coronavirus gets its name from the way it looks under a microscope.
The word corona means crown.
When examined closely, the round virus has a crown of proteins called peplomers jutting out from its center in every direction. These proteins help the virus identify whether it can infect its host.
The condition known as SARS was also linked to a highly infectious coronavirus back in the early 2000s.
This isnt the first time a coronavirus has made news. The 2003 SARS outbreak was also caused by a coronavirus.
As with the 2019 virus, the SARS virus was first found in animals before it was transmitted to humans.
The SARS virus is thought to have come from bats and was transferred to another animal and then to humans. Once transmitted to humans, the SARS virus began spreading quickly among people.
Duration: 02:37 2 days ago
Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, tells TODAY that the Delta variant of COVID-19 is by far the most contagious variant of the virus we have seen throughout the whole pandemic but says people who have been vaccinated neednt worry. But he worries about large pockets of Americans who are still unvaccinated, and has doubts about whether President Bidens goal will be reached: Im not sure were going to hit that number.
