The chalk is writing a predicable script through two rounds of the Sony Open in Hawaii.
Webb Simpson, a pre-tournament favorite and a winner of two events last season, birdied his final three holes Friday to fire his second consecutive 5-under-par 65 to move into a share of the lead midway through the second round of the Sony Open at windless Waialae Country Club.
Six hours later, Simpson stood two shots out of the lead set by pace-setter Nick Taylor.
But Simpsons in a much better place than he was around Christmas.
The world No. 8, who tied for 17th in last weeks year-opening Sentry Tournament of Champions, is back at full strength after contracting COVID-19 and tested positive on Dec. 28. He lost his sense of taste and smell but is back playing great golf. The 2018 Players champion and 2012 U.S. Open victor has 12 birdies and two bogeys through 36 holes.
Today wasnt quite as sharp as yesterday, said Simpson, who finished third and in a tie for fourth in his last two starts in the Sony. Hit a ball in the water on 2. Didnt hit quite as many fairways but managed really well. I think staying present this week has allowed me to kind of get through these frustrating moments.
Sony Open in Hawaii:Photo gallery|Leaderboard | Tee times, TV info
I birdied the last two holes yesterday and today I birdied the last three. I think being patient on this golf course is paying off for me. Its one of those days where calm winds, you feel like you need to go shoot 7-, 8-, 9-under, and I was a couple under for a while there. So really happy with my finish and I thought if I can get it to double digits, I would be at least close to the lead going into Saturday.
Simpson, who has 11 top-20 finishes in his last 14 starts, said earlier this week hes as confident about his game as he ever has been. And it doesnt hurt when youre playing alongside Collin Morikawa and Marc Leishman, who each shot 65.
I think seeing good shots before you hit always kind of helps to frame the shot well and then seeing putts go in, you realize, OK, the holes are big enough for these balls to fit in, Simpson said. I love playing with those two guys. Ive played a lot of golf with them. Collin made a lot of putts. Mark made a lot of putts. I made a lot of putts. Thats always nice knowing you dont have to force birdies, but you put it in the right spot, youre probably going to make some.
Taylors 62 was the low round of the day and moved him to 12 under and two shots clear of the field. Joining Simpson at 10 under was Russell Henley (64), Vaughn Taylor (66), Chris Kirk (65), and Stewart Cink, who continued his resurgence with a 63.
Eight players are at 9 under, including reigning PGA champion Morikawa (65), Leishman (65), Hideki Matsuyama, who was 7 under on his last seven holes to shoot 65, and Joaquin Niemann (69), who lost in a playoff last week in the Tournament of Champions.
Cink won the season-opening Safeway Open for his first title since his playoff victory against Tom Watson in the 2009 Open Championship. He also finished in the top 12 two other times in the fall and has finished in the top 20 in his last six starts in the Sony Open.
Today was a dream day for playing here at Waialae. It was almost no wind, Cink said. There was a little bit of moisture on the ground from last night, and it was just a day where you could really dial it in. You could really hit your spots instead of having to do the usual here which is trying to figure out how much wind is going to help or hurt the ball and crosswinds and all that.
Today there was nothing out there.
Vismita Gupta-Smith
We hear a lot about the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 nowadays. Hello and welcome to Science in 5. Im Vismita Gupta-Smith and this is WHOs conversations in science. Today, were talking to Dr. Peter Ben Embarek about the origins of the virus. Welcome, Peter.
Dr. Peter Ben Embarek
Thank you.
Vismita Gupta-Smith
Peter, why is it important for the public and the scientists to know about the origins of this virus?
Dr. Peter Ben Embarek
It's important to understand the origin of the virus for three key reasons. One is if we find the source and if it's still out there, we can prevent future reintroduction of the same virus into the human population. The second reason is that if we understand how this one jumped from bats origin into humans, we can perhaps prevent similar events in the future. So, to prevent future similar pandemics. And the third reason is that if we can find the virus, what it looked like before it jumped to the human population, we could potentially be in a better position to develop more efficient treatments and vaccines for this disease.
Vismita Gupta-Smith
Peter, you're leading the mission that will be studying the origins of this virus. Tell us about this mission and the people in it.
Dr. Peter Ben Embarek
We have put together a team of 10 international experts. And, this group will travel to Wuhan in the coming days and spend probably about a month there working in close collaboration with Chinese counterparts. The team includes experts in different fields that are necessary to help us understand the origin of the virus. There will be veterinarians, there will be medical doctors, there will be epidemiologists, there will be virologists, who are experts in these viruses. There'll be experts in these type of diseases that originate in animals and jump to humans. And all together, we will work together with Chinese counterparts on different studies, that hopefully will help us better understand this virus. We will start with two weeks in a hotel in quarantine where we won't be able to leave our rooms. We will all have our own rooms and stay there for two weeks but we will still be able to work from day one remotely. And then after the two weeks of quarantine, we will be able to move around and have face-to-face meetings and visit the different sites and areas that we would like to see as part of our studies.
Vismita Gupta-Smith
Peter, we see on social media, a lot of definitive claims that this virus originated in the laboratories.
Tell us, how do scientists look at this question and how should the public be looking at this question?
Dr. Peter Ben Embarek
We have now the tools that allow us to look at the genetic makeup of these viruses. And when we look at our virus, the COVID-19 virus, there is nothing in its makeup that would indicate that it has been manufactured. It's clearly a natural virus and there are many of these around, we have seen several of them in the past. So, in itself it's not a surprise. Laboratory accidents happen unfortunately once in a while. It has happened many times in the past. And of course, it's even a remote possibility. We have to look at this as a possibility. So, we will of course also look at that hypothesis among many others, even if it's an unlikely one. There is no evidence so far indicating that anybody was working with this virus in the past. There is no evidence to indicate that it would have escaped a laboratory in any way, but of course we will have that in mind when we look at the origin of this virus.
Vismita Gupta-Smith
That was Dr. Peter Ben Embarek explaining how science will be looking for the origins of this virus.
For more on this, tune into our social media channels and be the source of trusted, science-based information. Until next time then. Stay safe, stay healthy and stick with science.
SIOUX CITY (KTIV) -- As Siouxlanders continue to get the COVID-19 vaccine, many are hopeful that the days of mask wearing, and social distancing, will soon be behind us.
But, local health officials warn that even after someone receives the first of two vaccine doses or, even after the second vaccine dose, COVID-19 could still be a threat.
Doctor Larry Volz, with MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center, says the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine offers some protection to those who receive it.
He says patients can still get the virus after the first dose.
But, he says, they will experience less severe symptoms if they contract COVID-19.
That's why health officials say it's important to follow through with the second of the two dose vaccine protocol.
Volz says after that second vaccine dose, a patient is far more protected from the virus.
"The vaccine really protects you from getting sick. We don't know yet that it prevents you from spreading the virus. So you may have contracted the virus and have it in you, you're able to spread it, but you are not developing any symptoms related to that. We don't have the answer as to whether that stops you from spreading it," said Dr. Volz.
Volz says whether you've received the vaccine, or not, it's important to continue to wear a mask and social distance so you protect others.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) A military couple from the Three Rivers section of Palmer celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary in a most appropriate manner, receiving their COVID-19 vaccination shots together.
Army veterans Marjorie and Michael Cavanaugh of Three Rivers, who joined the Army nearly 70 years ago, were delighted to receive the vaccine together Friday. The great grandparents are among the many veterans whove been getting their shots at the Veterans Administration Clinic in Springfield.
And theyre not alone.
Were absolutely excited, Kimberly May of the VA clinic told 22News. Weve already vaccinated our 889 employees interested in taking the vaccine for the first time. We will be starting their second vaccination next week. Veterans just started this past week and we almost have almost 1,000 of them done.
The Cavanaughs are proud to be among the many veterans served by the VA outpatient clinic to be vaccinated. Proud of their service to their country and to each other.
22News wishes them both a very happy 66th wedding anniversary!
In three months, by mid-December, the Johnson and Johnson vaccine study ended. Around 45,000 people signed up worldwide. Now local doctors have hopeful news.
NEW ORLEANS Another COVID vaccine could soon be out on the market.
Doctors still need to go through the clinical trial results before it's approved, but local doctors say that could happen in the next couple of weeks.
And that could cut down on your wait time to get the shot in your arm.
In mid-September a small place in Metairie, was the first research center in the entire country, to open the Johnson and Johnson study for a coronavirus vaccine. Clinical Trials Management signed up nearly 500 study participants.
It became one of the top 10 places in the country to enroll volunteers.
Many, many of them say they want to do so, that they can contribute to the solution, to be a part of history, to be a part of believing that we are very close to a vaccine that will let us all get out of these masks, Cindy Kessler, CEO of Clinical Trials Management, said in November.
In three months, by mid-December, the Johnson and Johnson vaccine study ended. Around 45,000 people signed up worldwide. Now local doctors have hopeful news.
We're hoping that those results will become available at the end of January already, and so that vaccine may get approval in the United States sometime in the next four weeks, is what we're hoping, said Dr. Patrick Delafontaine, the Executive Dean of the Tulane University School of Medicine.
Tulane was another test site, enrolling 240 local people in the study. Doctors say if this version of a coronavirus vaccine is proven to work, it could make a big difference in getting the shots in our arms faster.
It may be with the vaccines that are coming along, that that may change the calculus quite dramatically. The AstraZeneca and the Johnson and Johnson have far less problematic delivery characteristics, because of storage and everything, and they're also far less expensive, explained Tulane Epidemiologist, Dr. Susan Hassig.
So, it is less expensive, doesn't need negative 94-degree storage, and only one dose is required.
Preliminary results published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine, show it is safe while producing a promising immune response in young and elderly volunteers.
The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is different from the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines on the market. This one uses a cold virus to deliver information to the immune system. The cold virus is harmless and can not make you sick or multiply in your body.
Stay up-to-date with the latest news and weather in the New Orleans area on the all-new free WWL TV app. Our app features the latest breaking news that impacts you and your family, interactive weather and radar, and live video from our newscasts and local events. LOCAL & BREAKING NEWS * Receive r...
We have to ensure that the experience, particularly for our elders, including frail elders, is as easy as possible, Dr. Chokshi said.
For now, many older adults are getting help from friends and relatives, but even that is no guarantee of success. In Riverdale, in the Bronx, Annette Gaudino, who works as policy director for a health advocacy organization, had been trying to register her 95-year-old mother for two days, checking multiple locations. She was not sure if she would be allowed to accompany her to the appointment.
My mom is increasingly confused, needs a walker and has a part-time home care aide who also needs vaccination, she said. Theres got to be a better way.
Joan Jeffri, 76, who lives in Midwood, Brooklyn and who was frustrated after being confirmed for an urgent care appointment only to be told later that they had no vaccine sent a letter to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo alerting him to the problems.
The lightest moment in her last few days, she said, was when she clicked on the link to her local Rite Aid through the citys website, only to be told there were 11,624 people waiting to enter the website in front of her.
I burst out laughing, she said.
Her daughter-in-law finally got her an appointment at a city site after two hours of effort, and she goes for her shot in two weeks.
Everyone I speak to is insanely and completely frustrated, Ms. Jeffri said, and has spent between two and eight hours or more trying to get through.
Sean Piccoli contributed reporting.
The Washington Wizards have six players who have tested positive for COVID-19, making it a total of nine Wizards players who are in the NBA's health and safety protocols.
The Wizards had their next two games against the Cleveland Cavaliers -- originally scheduled for Sunday and Monday -- postponed on Friday. Washington has had four consecutive games postponed since it last played Monday at Phoenix.
1 Related
"It is just an unfortunate set of circumstances," Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard said in a video call with reporters. "If you follow our track really going back to when we played Chicago [Dec. 29 and 31], almost every team we've played, a player tested positive. The next day [and] the next day, multiple players at some places. It was inevitable.
"The NBA has been pointing to this period for quite some time that this was going to be very difficult. And they weren't kidding. Every city that we went to, it just seemed to be more and more. You never want to say, 'Well, we escaped,' or, 'Nothing has gone wrong for us yet,' because you just know inevitably something is going to be your turn and this was our turn, unfortunately."
The Wizards canceled practice Tuesday before the league's decision to postpone Wednesday's game against the Utah Jazz. The Wizards then listed forward Rui Hachimura and center Moe Wagner as questionable because of health and safety protocols on the injury report.
Sheppard said the team learned it had reached six positive player cases on Friday. The team is hoping that if there are no new positive cases Saturday, the players who are not in quarantine and the safety protocols will be able to return to the facility for individual workouts.
Even if the Wizards were allowed to return to the court and practice, they don't have enough players to field a practice with so many players either injured, such as Russell Westbrook (quad), or in quarantine or safety protocol.
Westbrook will be reevaluated early next week.
"In terms of activity, we have been very limited, to zero, in terms of coming back to the facility," Sheppard said. "Certainly the players that are in quarantine, the players with COVID, can't even work out. If there is no positive test [Saturday], we can get guys back in the gym one-on-zero.
"I think four teams have missed multiple games," Sheppard said. "And so far I would think that is a small victory considering what is going out there, and what could become."
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Those working to get eligible people vaccinated against COVID-19 have discovered some are taking advantage of the multiple-provider system by setting up multiple appointments, thus slowing down an already difficult rollout process with last-minute cancellations or no-shows.
"We are seeing some people who are registering to get vaccinated on multiple sites for multiple appointments and this is a real issue because when you make your registration, a set of things goes into motion," Kent County Health Department spokesman Steve Kelso told News 8 Friday.
Karl-Anthony Towns has faced the impact of COVID-19 more than perhaps any player in the NBA. His mother, Jacqueline Cruz, died of complications stemming from the virus in April. His father had the virus and recovered, but in December, Towns revealed that six other family members of his died after battles with COVID, including an uncle.
Now, Towns is facing the virus himself. On Friday, the Minnesota Timberwolves star announced that he was diagnosed, but promised his family that he will recover.
"Prior to tonight's game, I received yet another awful call that I tested positive for COVID. I will immediately isolate and follow every protocol.
I pray every day that this nightmare of a virus will subside and I beg everyone to continue to take it seriously by taking all of the necessary precautions.
We cannot stop the spread of this virus alone, it must be a group effort by all of us.
It breaks my heart that my family, and particularly my father and sister continue to suffer from the anxiety that comes along with this diagnosis as we know all to well what the end result could be.
To my niece and nephew, Jolani and Max, I promise you I will not end up in a box next to grandma and I will beat this."
To this point, nothing is known about what symptoms Towns may be dealing with. His Minnesota Timberwolves, 3-8 and at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, will now likely be without him for some time as he recovers. Their game scheduled for Friday night against the Memphis Grizzlies has been postponed.
The NBA is attempting to move forward with playing games despite positive tests continuing to come in for players throughout the league. It has updated its COVID protocols on multiple occasions, but so far, nothing has prevented NBA players from catching the disease. Now the league, the Timberwolves and the Towns family will have to hope for what so many others are hoping for around the nation: a speedy recovery.
During Miami County Public Healths news conference Thursday morning, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted asked people to remain patient as the state works to distribute a limited supply. Ohio expects to receive about 100,000 doses next week. Ohio has roughly 420,000 people 80 and older.
The state is working on building a central scheduling system, said Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday. In the meantime, the state is launching an online statewide vaccine provider search tool Friday morning at vaccine.coronavirus.ohio.gov.
Heres how to get vaccinated in Montgomery, Warren, Greene, Miami and Preble counties:
Regional Providers
Kettering Health Network has nearly 2,000 doses available for distribution in Montgomery, Greene, Miami and Butler counties. To schedule an appointment at one of Ketterings vaccine clinics, visit ketteringhealth.org/coronavirus.
Premier Health has received 1,100 doses earmarked for the public. The hospital network will distribute the vaccine at four locations: Atrium Medical Center, Miami Valley Hospital South, Upper Valley Medical Center and a clinic across the street from Miami Valley Hospital. Area residents who are 80 years and older can call the hospital systems central hotline at 937-276-4141 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. to book an appointment.
Some Kroger pharmacies in the area will be administering a limited allotment of vaccines, spokeswoman Erin Rolfes said. Starting Saturday, people can sign up for an appointment at kroger.com/ohiocovidvaccine or by calling 866-211-5620.
Montgomery County
Public Health-Dayton & Montgomery County has roughly 600 doses to distribute and will administer the vaccine at the Dayton Convention Center starting Wednesday. Registration began at 8:30 a.m. Friday for Montgomery County residents who are 80 years and older and filled up before noon. For future information about vaccine clinics visit phdmc.org/coronavirus-updates or call 937-225-6217.
Kettering Health will distribute the vaccine by appointment at a clinic at 2050 E. Dorothy Lane in Dayton (the former Elder Beerman store at Kettering Town Center). To schedule an appointment, visit ketteringhealth.org/coronavirus. The hospital system has been allocated 1,575 doses for Montgomery County residents.
Premier Health will be administering vaccines at a clinic across the street from Miami Valley Hospital at 25 E. Foraker St. Area residents who are 80 years and older can call the hospital systems central hotline at 937-276-4141 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. to schedule an appointment.
Five Rivers Health Centers has been allotted 600 doses. It will only distribute the vaccine at this time at its Family Health Center location at 2261 Philadelphia Dr. Beginning Sunday morning, patients can sign up for an appointment at fiverivershealthcenter.org.
Community Health Centers of Greater Dayton has been allotted 900 doses. Residents can call central scheduling at 937-461-6869 to make an appointment at one of its six locations.
Warren County
According to the Warren County Health Districts website, all vaccines it has received or will be receiving over the next week have been scheduled for distribution by appointment. The earliest additional vaccine may be available through the department is Jan. 25. As the department receives more information about shipments, announcements will be posted at warrenchd.com/c19-vaccine.
Phase 1B eligible residents can schedule an appointment (subject to availability) by calling the dedicated scheduling line at 513-695-7468.
The health departments website states: The Warren County Health District only receives 300 400 doses per week for the entire county. There will be very limited vaccine availability for the first few months.
Greene County
Greene County Public Health announced on Wednesday that all Phase 1B eligible residents should register at healthalert.gcph.info/COVID19/signup or by calling 937-374-5600 to receive information about clinics. The health department will not share information publicly to avoid non-eligible people showing up.
Kettering Health announced Thursday that it will provide most of its doses allotted for Greene County through the health department but will also distribute 40 doses by appointment through a clinic at Jamestown Health Center. To schedule an appointment at one of Ketterings vaccine clinics, visit ketteringhealth.org/coronavirus.
Residents can go to premierhealth.com/vaccine to get more information as it becomes available on making an appointment to receive the vaccine at Premier Health locations.
Miami County
Premier Health is receiving 400 doses for Miami County next week. Residents can go to premierhealth.com/vaccine to get more information as it becomes available on making an appointment at Upper Valley Medical Center.
The Kroger pharmacies in Troy and Piqua are also receiving an allotment to distribute next week, said Miami County Health Commissioner Dennis Propes, but he had no details to provide. According to Krogers website, its pharmacies will be scheduling appointments at kroger.com/ohiocovidvaccine.
After opening registration Thursday morning, Miami County Public Healths vaccine clinic was booked by Thursday afternoon through next week. It stopped scheduling appointments, but registration will reopen once Public Health receives details on its next allocation. At that time, eligible residents can make an appointment at miamicountyhealth.net/vaccine-registration or 937-573-3461.
Clinics are being held at Public Health at 51 W. Water St. in Troy.
Public Health is scheduled to receive 600 doses for next week, 100 doses of which are from Kettering Health.
Preble County
Vaccinations through Preble County Public Health will be by appointment only. Starting today, people 80 years of age and older may register to be vaccinated at a clinic on Jan. 19 or two clinics on Jan. 21 through vaccinatepreble.com. If you have issues registering or need to cancel, call 937-336-8402.
Preble County Public Health is still seeking medical and nonmedical volunteers to help with the distribution. Volunteers will work through their Medical Reserve Corps program. If interested in volunteering, please call 937-472-0087, extension 207, or email suzy@preblecountyhealth.org.
Ohioans younger than 65 with the following severe congenital, developmental, or early-onset medical disorders are eligible for the vaccine beginning Jan. 25 as part of Phase 1B:
- cerebral palsy
- spina bifida
- congenital heart disease
- type 1 diabetes
- inherited metabolic disorders
- severe neurologic disorders including epilepsy
- severe genetic disorders including Down Syndrome, Fragile X, Prader Willi Syndrome, Turner Syndrome
- severe lung disease including cystic fibrosis and severe asthma
- sickle cell anemia
- alpha- and beta-thalassemia
Children with these medical conditions cannot yet get the coronavirus vaccine. The Moderna vaccine is authorized for use in people 18 years and older and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is authorized for use in people 16 years and older.
Community Conversations: Where do we stand with the coronavirus vaccine?
As part of our commitment to keeping readers informed about the COVID-19 vaccine and evolving plans to distribute it, the Dayton Daily News will host its second hour-long virtual discussion on the vaccine streamed live on our Facebook page at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan 19. After Tuesday, the video will be available for playback on our Facebook page and our website.
The free event includes a panel of local experts and is hosted by Dayton Daily News Community Impact Editor Amelia Robinson, with assistance from Editor Jim Bebbington and reporter Jordan Laird.
