BRANSON, Mo. -- The Taney County Health Department released information about a case of COVID-19 exposure in the Branson area.
The patient does not live in the Branson area, only visited.
Possible Exposures:-Branson Zipline at Wolf Mountain in Walnut Shade -Saturday, May 30 between 2:30 -3:30 p.m.-Track #4 at The Track Family Fun Parks in Branson- Saturday, May 30 between 4-6:30 p.m.-Mellow Mushroom at the Branson Landing- Saturday, May 30 between 9:15 p.m. -10:15 p.m.-Maurices at Tanger Outlets Branson- Sunday, May 31 between 11 a.m. to noon.
If you visited any of these establishments during these days and times, your risk of contracting COVID19 is considered low. However, you should monitor for symptoms for 14 days following the date of potential exposure.
Symptoms include:-Fever or chills-Cough-Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing-Fatigue-Muscle or body aches-Headache-New loss of taste or smell-Sore throat-Congestion or runny nose-Nausea or vomiting-Diarrhea
If you experience any of these symptoms, please contact your physician.
Google is continuing to build more helpful new features into Google Maps to assist people trying to navigate around cities that have begun emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic. When you look for public transit directions, youll now see relevant alerts from transit agencies about mandatory precautions youll need to take such as wearing a face covering. And if a public transit line is temporarily suspended due to the ongoing COVID-19 response, youll hopefully get a heads-up about that, too.
Maps is making it easier to see how crowded a train station usually is, but since that historical data might not necessarily apply right now, youve still got the option of viewing live data for crowdedness.
Simply search for a station in Google Maps or tap on the station on the map to see the departure board and busyness data, where available, Maps product director Ramesh Nagarajan wrote in a blog post. Google Maps pulls this anonymized information from people who have enabled location history on their Google account. The company notes this setting is off by default, but Googles apps make a habit of encouraging you to turn it on for the best experience.
Additional alerts are also coming to driving mode, which will notify you about COVID-19 checkpoints and restrictions along your route, like when crossing national borders (starting first in Canada, Mexico, and the US). Google will show these alerts on the main directions screen and also after navigation has started if your route will be impacted.
And lastly, when you enter a medical facility or COVID-19 testing center as your destination, Google Maps will nudge you to do a bit of quick research to make sure you wont be turned away once you get there. An appointment may be required for COVID-19 testing here, is one example of this alert, which will roll out beginning this week for medical facilities in Indonesia, Israel, the Philippines, South Korea, and the US.
Back in March, Google Maps began encouraging users to call their doctors if they were experiencing novel coronavirus symptoms before going to hospitals and other sites. This came during the surge of COVID-19 cases worldwide, when some health facilities were getting overwhelmed. Google has also put greater emphasis on takeout and delivery food options in the app while many restaurants remain closed to dine-in customers.
On Monday, hundreds of free COVID-19 tests were administered at the Shenandoah County Fairgrounds by the Lord Fairfax Health District of the Virginia Department of Health.
The district, which covers Winchester and the counties of Clarke, Frederick, Page, Warren and Shenandoah, was hoping to reach more people who may have been exposed to the coronavirus, said District Health Director Dr. Colin Greene.
By late morning, he said health care workers had administered 150 tests.
Were ready to do 500 tests, he said.
Planning to offer more free tests around the region in the coming weeks, he said they started in Woodstock because of the high number of cases in the county.
Shenandoah County also has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the district, with 484 confirmed cases as of Monday. So far, 50 patients in the county have been hospitalized and 24 have died, the Virginia Department of Health reported at its website, vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus.
Statewide, the VDH was expecting an increase of 2,372 cases on Monday, up from the probable 2,251 cases it reported on Friday.
It expected an increase of 31 hospitalizations on Monday and 104 deaths, compared with Fridays numbers of an additional 30 hospitalizations and 103 deaths statewide.
On Monday, Frederick County was reporting 409 total cases since the pandemic started, including 26 hospitalizations and four deaths.
Page County reported 245 cases so far, with 26 hospitalizations and 24 deaths.
Winchester reported 235 cases, 15 hospitalizations and two deaths.
Warren County reported 220 cases, 14 hospitalizations and four deaths.
Clarke County reported 25 cases, three hospitalizations and no deaths.
Uncertain why numbers were particularly high in Shenandoah County, Greene said reasons could include outbreaks in areas where people are in close contact or instances of people spreading it around the county.
This is a disease of proximity, he said.
Though Shenandoah is largely rural, Greene said that population centers around the county can offer an avenue for the virus to spread.
COVID-19 stands for coronavirus disease 2019, the year it was identified. The virus is spread through saliva and mucous droplets that people spread when they cough, talk, sing or sneeze, Greene said. A person catches the virus by being close to someone when they spread the infection or by touching a surface that has been infected. The virus is then transferred to themselves through the mouth or eyes.
Though the commonwealth has eased up on social-distancing restrictions in recent weeks as the rate of increase has dropped, Gov. Ralph Northam has enforced Phase Two of a multi-phase reopening plan that mandates people wear masks inside public buildings and still maintain 6 feet of distance between each other wherever possible while in public.
Greene said offering free tests is a way of reaching under-served populations that might avoid health care facilities because of financial or travel challenges.
From statistics, we do see that the Hispanic populations around Virginia have gotten a higher number of cases per group than any of the other groups, Greene said. The estimate is somewhere around a third of the cases.
Thats significant, he said, since its so much higher than the percentage of Hispanic people in Virginia. The U.S. Census Bureau reported a 9.6% Hispanic or Latino population in Virginia as of July 1, 2019.
Greene said it could be for cultural or housing reasons that Hispanic populations are more greatly affected by the virus since infected people might be living or working among close family and friends.
The free tests are available to anyone and take less than 10 minutes from the time someone drives up to the time they leave, he said. Patients must register when they arrive so the health department has someone to contact with results, Greene said.
Were not in any way interested in if someone has official [residency] documents, he said. The health department doesnt ask those questions
AUGUSTA, Maine The Mill Administration announced its "Keep Maine Healthy" plan on Monday that seeks to help small businesses and Maine's tourism economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The new plan will provide out-of-state visitors an alternative option to the 14-day quarantine requirement: proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test.
The COVID-19 pandemic has loomed large over our states tourism industry. Many Maine people are fearful that more visitors will increase the spread of the virus while many small businesses are fearful that a lack of visitors will force them to permanently close their doors, Gov. Janet Mills said in a statement. It is my hope that by creating layers of protection to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus this plan will protect public health, establish Maine as a safe place to visit, and allow tourists to come to Maine to support our small businesses.
The Mills Administration says plan rests on three cornerstones:
The plan was floated last week to business owners and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services used feedback from businesses to develop the official plan.
RELATED: Mills Administration says plan to rollback quarantine would encourage tourists to visit Maine
RELATED: Mills' new 'COVID passport' plan could help out-of-staters avoid 14-day quarantine
Tourism businesses have been urging the Administration to drop the 14-day quarantine requirement. Last month, seven tourism industry groups across Maine wrote an open letter to Mills urging her to lift the quarantine requirement.
Maines tourism industry rakes in $9 billion each year and supports upwards of 110,000 jobs, according to the letter. This year, businesses have been bracing for their toughest summer tourism season yet.
It's a dire situation, Tony Cameron with the Maine Tourism Association said. "It's incredibly urgent to act and try to find alternative solutions so we can welcome as many people as we can."
RELATED: Maine tourism groups call for an end to 14-day quarantine rule for out-of-state visitors
Maine people and businesses should be proud that their commitment to public health and science-based precautions has limited the spread of COVID-19, Jeanne Lambrew, Commissioner of the Maine DHHS said. As we enter the summer months, Maine is prepared to support visitors as well as residents of our state in keeping Maine healthy.
Here's a breakdown of the plan:
Testing as an Alternative to Quarantine:
The State will allow adults who obtain and receive a negative COVID-19 test no later than 72 hours prior to arrival forgo the 14-day quarantine upon arrival in Maine. This test indicates that, even when coming from areas with a higher prevalence of the disease than Maines, such individuals are unlikely to have COVID-19 and to spread it to Maine residents and other visitors. Maine is strongly urging visitors to Know Before You Go, meaning they should get tested and receive their test results in their home state before traveling to Maine, which will allow them to take appropriate action depending on the result. Individuals may be tested upon arrival in Maine as well, but they must quarantine while awaiting the results.
Additionally, the State will exempt residents of New Hampshire and Vermont from the testing and 14-day quarantine requirement altogether because, when adjusted for population, the prevalence of active cases of COVID-19 in these states is similar to that in Maine. There is no other state with as low of prevalence of COVID-19 within a 12-hour drive. Meanwhile, the prevalence of the virus in states like Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey where nearly half of Maines tourists historically originate is eight to eleven times higher than the population-adjusted cases in Maine. This exemption is effective immediately for travel and effective June 12th for stays in lodging establishments. The State will continue to evaluate possible additional exemptions based on trends in other states.
People who are not residents of Maine, New Hampshire or Vermont and are visiting Maine will be asked to sign a Certificate of Compliance indicating either that they have received a negative COVID-19 test result, that they will quarantine in Maine for 14 days, or that they have already completed their quarantine in Maine. This compliance form must be provided to check-in at all Maine lodging, campgrounds, seasonal rentals, overnight camps, and other commercial lodgings, such as Airbnb. Visitors may be asked to furnish proof of the negative test result upon request. It will become effective July 1 (Stage 3) when lodging establishments may begin serving residents outside of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The Department of Economic and Community Development, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services, has prepared a draft form for public feedback and will finalize it in the coming week. Signing a compliance form in order to stay in lodging establishments is also a policy employed by both the states of New Hampshire and Vermont.
Increasing symptom checking:
Given that at least half of all people with COVID-19 show symptoms, the State will encourage symptom checks through State and local systems, as well as through the private sector, like those the State has already required for some COVID-19 Prevention Checklists utilized by Maine businesses.
DHHS will partner with the Maine Community College System to enlist Maine students in the health professions under the guidance of the Public Health Nursing Program to ask visitors in high-traffic places in tourist destinations, such as visitors centers and beach parking lot entrances, about such symptoms and to offer advice on staying well. Additionally, the Department of Transportation will place signs at key sites such as along major roadways entering Maine, State Parks, or State Ferries instructing people to stay home or seek medical care if they have symptoms of COVID-19. These signs will also include the requirement that most out-of-state visitors quarantine or get tested for COVID-19. High-density private sector businesses, such as museums and retail stores, will be encouraged to use symptom checks as well.
Supporting local public health and COVID-19 prevention efforts:
Recognizing that municipalities are on the front lines for community questions and concerns related to COVID-19 and that many municipalities would like to partner with the state to be part of the solution, the State will incentivize municipalities to develop and implement their own COVID-19 prevention and protection plans by reimbursing municipal costs associated with public health education and prevention activities. The State will support up to a total of $13 million statewide from the 100 percent federal Coronavirus Relief Fund. Local prevention and education plans should include a point of contact for the municipality or Tribal government and one or more of the following:
Throughout this process, Maine CDC will monitor epidemiological data, as it has throughout the entire reopening process, including case trends, hospitalization rates, and reports of COVID-like symptoms, as well as health care readiness and capacity. If a review of these metrics in their totality and in context finds evidence of a concerning increase in COVID-19, the State reserves the right to move swiftly to limit harm and protect Maine people, including the potential of rolling back some sector-specific re-openings in a community or region.
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At NEWS CENTER Maine, were focusing our news coverage on the facts and not the fear around the illness. To see our full coverage, visit our coronavirus section, here:/coronavirus
NEWS CENTER Maine Coronavirus Coverage
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RELATED: Group suing Gov. Mills over COVID-19 order files preliminary injunction in York County
RELATED: State to quadruple COVID-19 testing capacity with expanded IDEXX partnership
RELATED: Maine Bicentennial events postponed to 2021
A nail salon industry group says it will sue Gov. Gavin Newsoms office to get court-ordered guidelines for salons to reopen and a targeted reopening date.
This comes after nail salon owners told NBC Bay Area they were outrage to learn the governors prior assertion community spread of COVID-19 started in a nail salon was wrong. Potential community transmission may have occurred earlier, state health officials say.
Pro Nail Association, a nail industry organization based in Irvine, took to the streets Monday to make the announcement about their efforts to file the lawsuit. Mike Vo, an attorney with the association, says nail salon owners feared the governors comments would cause anti-Asian backlash against the already wounded industry, thats largely owned by minority individuals.
There are a lot of people in the community who are now nervous about entering a nail salon, and the governors statement was completely unfounded, Vo said.
NBC Bay Area has reached out to Governor Newsoms office several times after first reporting on the issue Friday. Newsoms office has not responded to our questions but shared our inquiry with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
A CDPH spokesperson told NBC Bay Area Monday:
The first known community spread of COVID-19 in California was detected in a nail salon. However, as some counties review autopsies, we are beginning to learn that potential community transmission may have been taking place earlier than previously known, and before the CDC had developed adequate testing capacity and protocols.
Tam Nguyen with Nailing It for America, a nail industry advocacy group, says CDPHs statement further angered his community because it did not address their concerns.
[Newsoms] statement was erroneous and irresponsible, Nguyen said.
Pro Nail Association plans to file their lawsuit by the end of next week.
Posted: Jun 8, 2020 / 11:59 AM EDT / Updated: Jun 8, 2020 / 11:59 AM EDT
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported as of June 8th that there are 351 new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 75,943.
The department also reported 10 new deaths, bringing the statewide total to 5,953 deaths.
With more than half of the state now in the green phase of the process to reopen, it is essential that we continue to take precautions to protect against COVID-19, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. Each of us has a responsibility to protect ourselves, our loved ones and others by wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing and washing our hands frequently. Together we can protect our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our essential workers and our healthcare system.
According to the department, there are 620 patients who have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure, which are considered probable cases and not confirmed cases.
In nursing and personal care homes, there are 16,167 resident cases of COVID-19 and 2,807 cases among employees, for a total of 18,974. Out of Pennsylvanias total deaths, 4,094 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities.
5,742 of Pennsylvanias total cases are in health care workers.
As of today, 451,387 people have tested negative in Pennsylvania.
ALBION Deaths from COVID-19 outweighed new cases Monday in a grim turnabout.
Orleans County reported four new deaths, all at nursing homes. Two were residents of Orchard Manor while the other two were at The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehab.
In comparison, only three new coronavirus cases were reported in the entire GLOW region.
The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehab had a total of 89 positive cases and 30 deaths as of Monday, indicating a mortality rate of 33.7 percent. Orchard Manor has 48 cases and 14 deaths for a mortality rate of 29.2 percent.
The county also reported one new positive case, for a total of 244. The person is a resident of Ridgeway in their 50s, who wasnt in mandatory quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.
A total of 17 of the active cases are currently hospitalized.
To date, Orleans County has had a total of 2,982 negative cases. It currently has nine in the community under mandatory isolation; 47 in the community under mandatory quarantine; 45 total deaths; and an overall total of 92 community recoveries.
Genesee County has one new positive case for a total of 198. The new case is a resident of Batavia in their 30s who wasnt in mandatory quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.
There are no cases currently hospitalized.
To date, Genesee County has had 4,678 total negative cases, seven in the community under mandatory isolation, 48 in the community under mandatory quarantine, five total deaths and 135 community recoveries.
At the earliest Phase 3 may be opened this Friday, but it will be at the governors discretion, Genesee and Orleans county officials said in their daily update. With that in mind, everyone waiting on Phase 3 is advised to be developing and implementing their business safety plan to the best of their ability and geared toward their organization whether it be a business, house of worship, non-for-profit organization, etc.
You are responsible to have your plan in place prior to opening, they said. You will not be submitting your plan, however it must be on the premises in the event of a state, local or safety inspection. Keep checking the New York Forward website for your industry/organization summary guidelines at forward.ny.gov.
Wyoming County reported its first new COVID-19 case in a week on Monday.
The case was reported in the countys southwest quadrant that includes Arcade, Eagle, Java and Wethersfield. It brought the overall total to 83. The number of recoveries increased by two to 77.
The county has one active case.
Wyoming Countys current statistics include:
n A total of 28 cases have been confirmed in the northwest quadrant that includes Attica, Bennington, Orangeville and Sheldon. Two have been attributed to Attica Correctional Facility and all 28 have recovered.
n Twenty-four cases have been confirmed in the northeast quadrant that includes Warsaw, Perry, Middlebury and Covington. Nineteen of those have recovered and five have died.
n Fifteen cases have been confirmed in the southeast quadrant that includes Castile, Gainesville, Genesee Falls and Pike. All 15 have recovered.
n Sixteen cases have been confirmed in the southwest quadrant. Fifteen have recovered.
The total of negative tests was 2,028 as of Monday. Other statistics included one person in mandatory isolation, eleven in mandatory quarantine, and none in precautionary quarantine.
The age breakdown included 17 people in their 20s; 16 people in their 40s; 15 people in their 60s; 13 people in their 50s; eight people in their 70s; seven people in their 30s; three people in their 80s; two people less than 20 years old; and two people in their 90s.
Livingston County still was at 119 total cases on Monday, with 110 people recovered. There was just one active case in the county, although it also reported its eighth death on Sunday.
Livingston County has conducted 5,175 tests for COVID-19 with 5,056 negative tests and 119 positive tests. The infection rate among those tested is 2.3 percent.
TORONTO -- As temperatures across Canada continue to rise, few things do a better job of keeping us cool than going for a swim.
But with the closure of public swimming pools across the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many may be left wondering how safe it will be to return to these spaces once they reopen.
According to Matthew Miller, a biochemistry professor at McMaster University in Hamilton who is studying the novel coronavirus, COVID-19 is highly unlikely to be transmitted through water.
Respiratory viruses like COVID-19 are different from viruses like polio or other pathogens like cholera that are actually spread in water, he told CTVNews.ca over the phone on Monday. The risk of contracting the virus from the pool water itself is likely very low.
While no major studies have been conducted on the lifespan of COVID-19 in water, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have said [t]here is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, or water playgrounds.
Community pools remain closed across most of the country, though there are some exceptions. As of June 8, the Quebec government has authorized the reopening of outdoor public and private swimming pools as well as the sanitary portions of these facilities. Splash pads have also been given the green light to reopen.
Indoor and outdoor pools are currently open in New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador as well, but residents must adhere to gathering limits of 50 and 20 respectively. All pools in Prince Edward Island are also open but face no restrictions on the number of people allowed.
Miller explained that exposure to water would weaken the virus, reducing its ability to cause infection.
Any virus thats in water would be super diluted, so you likely wouldnt be exposed to any appreciable concentration of it, he said.
Infectious disease specialist Dr. Neil Rau also explained that the chlorine normally found in public pools would serve to kill the virus. This means that the risk of contracting COVID-19 from swallowing water, for example, is very slim, he said.
Chlorinated water in a classic swimming pool would have an antiviral effect, he told CTVNews.ca via telephone on Monday. You dont get this virus through consumption or aspiration of water.
The CDC share a similar view, stating that proper operation of these aquatic venues and disinfection of the water (with chlorine or bromine) should inactivate the virus.
WHERE DOES THE RISK STEM FROM?
The risk of contracting COVID-19 somewhere like a public pool isnt so much in exposure to the water, but rather to people crowding together in an enclosed space, Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist with the University Health Network in Toronto, told CTVNews.ca on Monday.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 is mainly transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets released from the mouth or nose. The infection spreads when a person with the virus coughs, sneezes, or exhales, and someone else breathes in these droplets.
While it is also possible to contract COVID-19 from touching a surface contaminated with the virus, and then touching their eyes, nose or mouth, this isnt believed to be the main source of transmission, according to the CDC.
This is why government and health officials across the country continue to recommend maintaining a physical distance of at least two metres from those around you. Rau explained that while this is imperative in preventing the spread of COVID-19, it can likely be difficult to do at public pools, especially in communal areas such as change or locker rooms.
Being in such close proximity to other people can place someone at greater risk of contracting or transmitting COVID-19. For this reason, its advised to try your best to stay at a distance, said Rau. The doctor also predicts that pools will have to limit the number of people they allow in at a time.
I could see staggered swim times being an option if you want to completely minimize risk, he said. Its a form of physical distancing youre segmenting them from a group that might bring them the virus.
Physical distancing continues to be a concern while swimming in pools at a friend or family members house, explained Miller. In addition to following provincial guidelines on the size of gatherings, he recommends maintaining physical distancing guidelines inside the pool as best you can. This means only allowing enough people in so that they can be spaced out appropriately.
Bogoch also points out that high-contact surfaces such as door handles and handrails in public spaces can also be a potential source of transmission for COVID-19.
To combat this, he suggests adhering to national guidelines on cleaning and disinfecting public spaces, as well as diligent hand hygiene. This means washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand rub with more than 60 per cent ethanol and 70 per cent isopropanol.
The devil's in the details, he said. If those measures are adhered to, I think the risk [of contracting COVID-19] would be quite low.
SWIMMING OUTDOORS
The limited circulation of air typically found among indoor swimming pools can also lead to an increased risk of transmitting COVID-19.
According to Rau, respiratory droplets carrying COVID-19 are more easily spread in confined spaces, especially ones that are not properly ventilated.
Almost all of the big [COVID-19] outbreaks that we know about are indoor outbreaks where ventilation is poor, he explained. Or where its a shared air space without the continuous air exchanges you get when youre outdoors due to prevailing winds or the amount of air thats recirculating.
For this reason, Miller advises sticking as much as possible to outdoor swimming pools rather than indoor ones. Another option to consider would be a beach or lake, depending on whether theyre open.
Not only is air ventilation no longer an issue, but the greater amount of space makes it easier to adhere to physical distancing measures.
The real risk of transmission comes from other people and not from the water, said Miller. Its important to be really thoughtful about that spacing.
STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO MITIGATE RISK
Aside from guidelines already recommended by government and health officials, Miller suggests preventing any water in the pool from entering your mouth.
People should be conscious about dispersing water in the air from their mouths, he said.
For those considering wearing masks, Rau insists that unless youre going for a stroll or simply sitting poolside, it isnt feasible to wear one while swimming.
But the best advice, according to all three experts, is to maintain that physical distance and keep clean. Miller goes as far as suggesting taking a shower both before and after swimming of any kind, and making sure to scrub your hands while doing so.
Maintaining regular handwashing is a good idea generally, but certainly more imperative in community pools or even backyard pools, he said. Just do all the same things that you would try and do normally.
The effect of large-scale anti-contagion policies on the COVID-19 pandemic Nature.com
