Category: Corona Virus

CoronavirusMWRA's Deer Island Sewage Treatment Plant is seen from Spectacle Island in Boston Harbor. Lane Turner / The Boston Globe

By Maria Elena Little Endara, The Boston Globe

The detection of coronavirus in Boston-area wastewater reached record-breaking levels in recent days, with the most recent seven-day average soaring past previous record highs set earlier this month.

On Dec. 23, the seven-day average of virus traces in the wastewater in the southern sample was 2,574 RNA copies/mL. Thats up from 1,136 copies/mL on Dec. 1, meaning the average has increased by 127% in the last three weeks.

The increase in the wastewater levels continues a trend that began around late November, but the tests found that the seven-day averages of virus traces in the wastewater have risen incredibly fast over the last three weeks.

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Coronavirus detected in Boston-area wastewater soars to new record levels - Boston.com

A medical worker administers a coronavirus test at a new testing site at the Times Square subway station in New York City on Monday. Scott Heins/Getty Images hide caption

A medical worker administers a coronavirus test at a new testing site at the Times Square subway station in New York City on Monday.

People who test positive for the coronavirus need to isolate themselves for only five days if they don't show symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday. This cuts in half the earlier recommendation of 10 days of isolation.

Data shows that the majority of coronavirus transmission "occurs early in the course of illness," the CDC explained generally in the one or two days before symptoms begin and two or three days after.

"Therefore, people who test positive should isolate for 5 days and, if asymptomatic at that time, they may leave isolation if they can continue to mask for 5 days to minimize the risk of infecting others," the CDC said in a statement.

The CDC has also updated its recommended quarantine period for people exposed to the virus. It says unvaccinated people should quarantine for five days, followed by five days of "strict mask use." Exposed people who are more than six months past their second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, or two months out from a Johnson & Johnson vaccine, should also quarantine for five days.

People who have gotten their booster shot don't need to quarantine after exposure but should wear a mask for the next 10 days.

Alejandro Brown receives a COVID-19 vaccine from a health care worker at a drive-through site in Miami on Dec. 16. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption

Alejandro Brown receives a COVID-19 vaccine from a health care worker at a drive-through site in Miami on Dec. 16.

"The Omicron variant is spreading quickly and has the potential to impact all facets of our society," said the CDC's director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, in a statement. "CDC's updated recommendations for isolation and quarantine balance what we know about the spread of the virus and the protection provided by vaccination and booster doses. These updates ensure people can safely continue their daily lives."

Dr. Megan Ranney, the associate dean at Brown University's School of Public Health, tweeted Monday that a major reason the federal government altered isolation requirements is due to the economic strain of a full quarantine.

"Our economy is going to shut down if everyone has to isolate for 10 days. Luckily the science backs up the move, at least partially," she tweeted. "On the one hand: I'm all for following the science for the vaccinated & asymptomatic. No reason to keep people home unnecessarily."

Kudos, she said, to the CDC "for recognizing that our knowledge has changed - and the virus has changed" especially for the vaccinated.

Ranney said what would make this decision even safer would be to require a rapid test before ending isolation.

The CDC doesn't currently require this step and rapid, at-home COVID tests have been hard to come by during the omicron surge.

The Biden administration, which has come under pressure for not increasing widespread availability of at-home tests, last week rolled out a plan to set up federal testing across the country. The government will also buy a half-billion at-home COVID test kits and mail them out. But deliveries won't start until January.

The new guidance comes days after the CDC loosened rules for how long health care workers should isolate after infection with the coronavirus, from 10 days to seven days. If there were staffing shortages, that isolation time could be further reduced.

The next day, New York officials followed suit, reducing to five the number of days for health care workers to isolate after a positive coronavirus test. On NPR's Morning Edition on Monday, Dr. Anthony Fauci praised the move.

Five days of quarantine should be enough for health care workers, Fauci said, adding: "That's going to be under consideration of whether or not we want to diminish it" for the general public.

In the U.S. as of Monday, 242 million people have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, 205 million are fully vaccinated and 66 million have received a booster, according to the CDC's COVID Data Tracker.

Continued here:

CDC cuts recommended isolation and quarantine time after coronavirus exposure : Coronavirus Updates - NPR

Have No Fear, she tapped out on the computer.

I am not going to say the fear is gone. I am not going to say I will live my life without caution, said Mazza. But I have to let some of that go. I want to be more present for my kids. I want my kids to have normalcy.

Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus are seen in a decorated truck in Marietta Square. (BRANDEN CAMP FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)

Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus are seen in a decorated truck in Marietta Square. (BRANDEN CAMP FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)

Dr. Lateefah Watford, a psychiatrist in the Behavioral Health Department at Kaiser Permanente of Georgia, said the pandemic has forced changes to every aspect of our life from how and where we work to who cares for our children to how we worship or spend time with loved ones. Society has adapted with Zoom calls, working from home, gathering outside, wearing masks. All that change means people have become more flexible and can respond better going forward.

Watford and other experts agree, we can no longer expect life to return to pre-COVID normal.

I think for me as a psychiatrist and a person, as a parent and wife, I have to step back and say this is where we are, and I can only say whats going on right now. Whats normal before is never going to be normal again and thats OK, said Watford. To accept that, and not think this time its going to be over and going away, its just not. And truly acknowledging that will help us move forward.

Case in point: Watford has planned a trip to the Dominican Republic early next year. She realizes the pandemic has created a checklist of required documents and has made traveling more complicated. Vaccinated, she is prepared to get tested before and after the trip. Shell monitor her destination and airline for any special requirements.

Im planning the trip the best way I can, she said of her lengthy preparations. But it no longer throws me off.

Experts say the same coping tips recommended during challenging times are still valid but maybe more important than ever during a pandemic. Watford said its important people take time to care for themselves to help reduce stress and avoid burnout. That means, she said, making a commitment every day to carve out something you enjoy doing such as exercising, reading, cooking. Mindfulness can also be helpful. And many experts point to a practice of gratitude and focusing on what we have and what we can do, not what we dont.

Keeping social connections are also important.

Dr. Lateefah Watford, a psychiatrist in the Behavioral Health Department at Kaiser Permanente of Georgia,. Contributed

Credit: Kasier

Dr. Lateefah Watford, a psychiatrist in the Behavioral Health Department at Kaiser Permanente of Georgia,. Contributed

Credit: Kasier

Credit: Kasier

Meanwhile, even as people try to move forward and accept the reality of the lasting pandemic, the toll of the past several months has been grueling, even traumatic. Loved ones have died. More than 26,000 people have died in Georgia alone. Many people who caught the virus are dealing with a constellation of long-haul symptoms. Many kids have returned to school but are still reeling from pandemic-induced isolation and academic gaps.

Im encouraging my patients to give themselves grace, Watford said. No one says lets have a pandemic that will kill millions of people and destroy everything we thought as normal. To think you were not affected is ridiculous. Allow yourself to acknowledge how the pandemic has truly impacted you and allow yourself time to heal.

Alyza Berman, an Atlanta psychotherapist, said while people still worry about COVID-19 affecting their physical health, It seems like a majority of are more worried about their mental health; how they were affected by quarantine and being isolated. People have to live with this anxiety and uncertainty of the new year but what I hear from every client and every staff member is, I hope we dont shut down ever again.

Mazza said almost a year of online school was traumatic for her children. They are struggling to make up ground academically.

Her 9-year-old daughter, she said, had a love for her school before the pandemic and everything shut down. Now that shes back in school, the love has not yet come back. Shes still recovering.

Nilah Mazza and her four children in a recent photo. Contributed

Credit: courte

Nilah Mazza and her four children in a recent photo. Contributed

Credit: courte

Credit: courte

Mazza has moments of worry especially after the latest variant emerged. But if anything, she is more nonchalant about COVID-19. She and her children caught the coronavirus in April. They have not gotten vaccinated yet. I am not saying not ever, just not now. I am watching this very closely, she said.

Berman said many people have felt a profound sense of loss and have moved through the five stages of grief as they come to terms with the pandemic. At first when the pandemic first hit we were in denial, and then anger, bargaining and depression to now, we have some level of acceptance, she said.

Xavier Ashe, left, looks at a decorated holiday tree with his daughter Emily Ashe, 10, at Marietta Square. (BRANDEN CAMP FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)

Xavier Ashe, left, looks at a decorated holiday tree with his daughter Emily Ashe, 10, at Marietta Square. (BRANDEN CAMP FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)

As a mother to four children, all of whom have chronic health conditions, Leah Ashe of Acworth said she feels like she and her family might have been better prepared than most for coping with the stress and worry of the pandemic.

Even before the first coronavirus cases emerged, Ashe said she and her husband were conscientious about keeping their children safe and already living with the daily worry of hospitalization and severe illness.

When the pandemic first hit, Ashe said the family turned to game nights and invested in bikes and electric scooters for the kids, and they enjoyed outside activities in the community. Ashe said priorities shifted, and the family spent less time cleaning, more time doing fun things together as a family.

Once she and her husband got vaccinated this past spring, they felt more comfortable going out, resuming date nights. They went on evening strolls and ordered take-out and set up a folding table for romantic picnics outside, including once by a lake in Acworth.

The pandemic has definitely made me realize that its the relationships that are the most important thing, she said. And its really put things in perspective. I know it sounds very cheesy but its definitely very true.

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The coronavirus is here to stay. Heres how were coming to terms with that. - Atlanta Journal Constitution

The number of Oregonians known to be infected with COVID-19 climbed by 25% this past week even though the overall number of tests administered dropped 15%, reflecting the omicron variants tightening grip on the state.

While omicron has been surging nationwide in the past few weeks, Oregon clearly is now following suit, albeit at a slower pace. Across the U.S., new infections rose by 61% week to week, while testing declined by 24%.

In Oregon, new known infections grew from about 5,600 for the week ending Dec. 19 to nearly 7,000 cases for the week ending Sunday. The latest number almost certainly is an undercount because some counties didnt report their case numbers from the long Christmas weekend. On top of that, the state cant track the results of the increasing number of people who used store-bought home tests to self-check for the virus in advance of holiday travel and gatherings.

The percentage of Oregonians testing positive for COVID-19 known as the positivity rate rose to 9%, up from 5% a week ago.

With most omicron infections thought to be milder than those caused by delta and many occurring in fully vaccinated people, experts say what matters most are the numbers of people experiencing severe disease and the potential for death. On that front, the outlook worsened slightly, with the number of hospitalized patients rising 42 patients since Thursday to 381 patients on Monday.

The latest forecast from Oregon Health & Science University last week predicts omicron peaking in the state with more than 1,200 hospitalized patients by early February, slightly above the pandemic record set Sept. 1. But hospitalized patients might reach 1,700 if Oregonians dont embrace COVID-19 safety precautions, according to the forecast.

The Oregon Health Authoritys deputy state epidemiologist, Tom Jeanne, said the latest numbers are a stark reminder that the fight against COVID-19 and its variants isnt over, but that residents can make a difference by getting vaccinated and boosted, wearing masks and physically distancing.

The COVID-19 data OHA is reporting today show us that what weve been warning Oregonians about the last several weeks is coming to pass: Omicron is poised to become the states dominant variant and will likely drive a new surge in cases, hospitalizations and, sadly, deaths, Jeanne said, in a written statement.

The federal government believes omicron is already dominating. As of Dec. 18, the CDC estimated omicron was responsible for 93% of COVID-19 cases in the four-state region of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska. But Oregon officials have few hard numbers so far. As of Dec. 21, the Oregon Health Authority said it is aware of only 13 COVID-19 samples in the state that have been confirmed as omicron.

Latest case counts: The state on Monday reported 3,585 new known infections and 25 newly reported deaths for the four-day period Thursday through Sunday.

Where the new cases are by county: Baker (9), Benton (105), Clackamas (428), Clatsop (10), Columbia (30), Coos (26), Crook (6), Curry (1), Deschutes (324), Douglas (52), Grant (5), Harney (8), Hood River (13), Jackson (169), Jefferson (25), Josephine (104), Klamath (18), Lane (256), Lincoln (32), Linn (155), Malheur (9), Marion (97), Morrow (7), Multnomah (1,032), Polk (23), Tillamook (12), Umatilla (37), Union (20), Wasco (10), Washington (540) and Yamhill (22).

Deaths: Those who died ranged in age from 44 to 95:

A 91-year-old woman from Deschutes County died Aug. 18 at her home.

A 44-year-old woman from Clackamas County tested positive Nov. 20 and died Nov. 22 at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center.

A 55-year-old man from Yamhill County tested positive Nov. 9 and died Nov. 27 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.

A 69-year-old man from Umatilla County tested positive Oct. 5 and died Nov. 1 at Providence Portland Medical Center.

A 90-year-old woman from Clackamas County tested positive Oct. 16 and died Nov. 11 at her home

An 80-year-old woman from Yamhill County tested positive Oct. 21 and died Nov. 7 at her home.

A 48-year-old man from Deschutes County tested positive Oct. 25 and died Nov. 4 at St. Charles Bend.

A 95-year-old man from Deschutes Count tested positive Oct. 25 and died Nov. 4 at his home.

A 78-year-old woman from Clackamas County tested positive Nov. 2 and died Nov. 10 at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center.

A 79-year-old man from Linn County tested positive Nov. 5 and died Nov. 12 at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital

A 74-year-old woman from Linn County tested positive Nov. 10 and died Nov. 10 at her home

A 51-year-old man from Clackamas County tested positive Nov. 1 and died Nov. 11 at Providence Portland Medical Center

A 64-year-old woman from Marion County tested positive Nov. 10 and died Nov. 10 at her home.

A 93-year-old woman from Josephine County tested positive Dec. 13 and died Dec. 23 at her home.

A 65-year-old man from Jackson County died May 11 at his home.

A 92-year-old man from Jackson County tested positive Dec. 22 and died Dec. 24 at Providence Medford Medical Center.

A 47-year-old man from Jackson County tested positive Dec. 13 and died Dec. 22 at Providence Medford Medical Center.

An 80-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive Dec. 9 and died Dec. 22 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center.

A 62-year-old woman from Douglas County tested positive Dec. 16 and died Dec. 23 at Mercy Medical Center.

A 68-year-old woman from Douglas County tested positive Dec. 8 and died Dec. 18.

A 69-year-old man from Douglas County tested positive Nov. 7 and died Dec. 22 at Mercy Medical Center.

A 95-year-old woman from Washington County tested positive Nov. 28 and died Dec. 19 at her home.

An 82-year-old woman from Lane County tested positive Dec. 6 and died Dec. 22 at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center.

An 88-year-old woman from Klamath County tested positive Dec. 13 and died Dec. 23 at Sky Lakes Medical Center.

A 49-year-old man from Klamath County tested positive Nov. 24 and died Dec. 21 at Sky Lakes Medical Center.

Hospitalizations: 381 people with confirmed cases of COVID-19 are hospitalized Monday, 23 more than Sunday. That number includes 94 in intensive care units, two more than Sunday.

Vaccines: The state reported 6,259 people receiving first shots since Thursday.

Since it began: Oregon has reported 414,190 confirmed or presumed infections and 5,623 deaths, among the lowest per capita numbers in the nation. To date, the state has reported 6,679,032 vaccine doses administered, fully vaccinating 2,759,458 people and partially vaccinating 279,738 people.

-- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee

Originally posted here:

Coronavirus in Oregon: Weekly cases up 25%, as omicron bears down on state - OregonLive

The seemingly more transmissible Omicron variant of the Covid-19 coronavirus has raised questions as ... [+] to whether standard face coverings are enough or if N-95 face masks should be worn. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

The Covid-19 coronavirus seems to have upped its game with the Omicron variant. Does that mean that you need to up your face mask game as well? Will wearing traditional face masks be enough? Or do you now need to upgrade to N95 ones?

These are some of the questions that you may be facing with the spread of the seemingly more transmissible Omicron variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). I covered for Forbes such questions back in January after the Alpha variant had emerged. But that was several Greek letters ago.

The Omicron variant has essentially said hold me beer to all other predecessors including the Delta variant when it comes to spreading faster and more readily. Its not yet clear whether the Omicron variant is equally or less likely to cause severe Covid-19 compared to previous versions of the virus. Nevertheless, anecdotal reports seem to suggest that people are getting infected even when supposedly diligently wearing face masks.

Of course, wearing face masks is as broad and vague as wearing underwear or maybe even wearing clothes. When someone tells you that he or she got frost bite despite wearing clothes, it is helpful to clarify whether wearing clothes meant wearing more than a thong. Similarly, when someone tells you that he or she caught the SARS-CoV-2 despite wearing a face mask, you want to know what kind of face mask and how it was being worn.

Face coverings have come in many different types, forms, and sizes. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto ... [+] via Getty Images)

As youve probably noticed, face coverings have been coming in all kinds of sizes, shapes, and types. And not everyone has been wearing such face coverings properly, which in turn can affect their effectiveness. For example, wearing a face covering yet allowing your nose to stick out would be a bit like wearing underwear while allowing your, well, use your imagination. So without more extensive studies, its difficult to tell how effective different face masks may be against the Omicron variant.

Moreover, increased transmissibility doesnt necessarily mean that the Omicron variant can get through face masks more easily. A lot of different things can increase the transmissibility of a respiratory virus. For example, an infected person may on average be shedding more of the virus or shedding for longer periods of time. The virus may survive for greater durations in the air or on surfaces. The virus could more readily get into your cells or get past your bodys defenses and into your cells. Without enough proper studies, its still way too early to tell how different the Omicron variant may be from its predecessors.

Nevertheless, an N95 face mask should still give you good protection against the Omicron variant. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) bestows the N95 label on face masks that can filter out at least 95% of all airborne particles, regardless of their size. So, yes, a N95 respirator would provide you much better protection than a face covering that doesnt meet N95 standards.

Of course, you should verify that a face mask is indeed N95 certified. News flash. People and businesses may do something thats called lying, which in this case doesnt refer to their positioning on a couch. Therefore, always check the official list of NIOSH-approved N95 face masks to makes sure that a so-called N95 face mask has indeed been tested and certified as such.

N95-certification would be preferable to KN95 certification. The latter is a China standard, which uses testing approaches that may not be as stringent as NIOSHs procedures. Just because a face mask has KN95 certification doesnt necessarily mean that it would meet NIOSH N95 requirements. Nevertheless, KN95 certification is still better than no certification. And either a N95-cerified or a KN95-certified face mask would provide you with much better protection than a standard face covering.

Again just because a mask and its packaging says N95 or KN95, doesnt mean that it has officially earned such certifications as this CBC News segment showed:

This doesnt mean that standard face coverings would be completely useless against the Omicron variant. While the virus may be small enough to make it though the pores of standard face coverings, such coverings could still at least reduce the amount of virus that may make it through to your nose and mouth. Viruses can be like platypuses in your bathtub. A few may not cause much trouble. However, at some point, the more there are, the more trouble they can cause. Whether you get infected and how severe the resulting infection may be can depend on how much virus gets into your body in the first place.

Moreover, its not all about you. Like wearing clothes and not peeing in the swimming pool, wearing face masks is about protecting each other. When you are infected with the virus, nearly any type of face covering can block at least some of the virus coming out of your nose and mouth. Thus, you are doing everyone a public service by wearing a face covering. Naturally, this depends on how much of your nose and mouth are covered, how porous the material may be, and how many layers are involved. Two layers would be better than one layer of the same material. Three layers would be better than two layers. And in theory, 2,523 layers would be better than three layers, although breathing would probably be an issue with the former.

So on the face of it, or the face of you, some type of face covering is better than no face covering. But remember wearing a standard face covering is more about protecting others from you than protecting yourself from others and demonstrating that you actually care about other people. It may offer you some protection but make sure you layer on other types of precautions such as social distancing and being fully vaccinated plus boosted.

If you do have a choice, opt for a N95-certified face mask or the equivalent. Wearing such a mask will be especially important when you cannot combine at least two other Covid-19 precautions at all times. For example, wear a N95 face mask if you cant maintain social distancing and are not sure whether everyone around you is fully vaccinated and boosted, such as on an airplane. And make sure that your N95 face mask fits against your face snugly, creating an air seal. Otherwise, like wearing underwear that doesnt fit, an ill-fitting N95 face mask could end up letting in or out things that no one wants to see.

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Are N95 Face Masks Needed Against The Omicron Covid-19 Coronavirus Variant? - Forbes

The virus that causes COVID-19 can spread to a patients heart and brain days after infection and survive for months in organs, according to a new study that may shed light on the so-called long COVID.

Scientists at the US National Institutes of Health in Maryland studied tissues taken from 44 people who had died after contracting the illness during the first year of the pandemic in the US, Bloomberg News reported.

They discovered SARS-CoV-2 RNA in various parts of the body including the heart and brain for as long as 230 days after the onset of symptoms, according to the news outlet.

The delayed viral clearance was cited as a possible contributor to long-haul COVID, also called post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2, which is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a range of long-lasting symptoms among patients.

The study is under review by independent scientists for publication in the journal Nature.

This is remarkably important work, Ziyad Al-Aly, director of the clinical epidemiology center at the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System in Missouri, told Bloomberg.

For a long time now, we have been scratching our heads and asking why long COVID seems to affect so many organ systems, said Al-Aly, who has led separate studies into the long-term effects of the illness.

This paper sheds some light, and may help explain why long COVID can occur even in people who had mild or asymptomatic acute disease, he added.

Scientists have cited evidence both for and against the likelihood that the deadly bug infects cells outside the lungs and respiratory tract, Bloomberg noted.

Our results collectively show that while the highest burden of SARS-CoV-2 is in the airways and lung, the virus can disseminate early during infection and infect cells throughout the entire body, including widely throughout the brain, said the team, led by Daniel Chertow, who runs the NIHs emerging pathogens section.

Raina MacIntyre, professor of global biosecurity at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, told Bloomberg that the research provides a warning about being blas about mass infection in children and adults.

MacIntyre, who was not involved in the study, told the outlet: We dont yet know what burden of chronic illness will result in years to come.

Will we see young-onset cardiac failure in survivors, or early onset dementia? These are unanswered questions which call for a precautionary public health approach to mitigation of the spread of this virus, she added.

The NIH scientists suggested that infection of the pulmonary system may cause an early viremic phase, in which the coronavirus is present in the bloodstream throughout the body.

MacIntyre told Bloomberg that the findings also support previous research that shows that the virus directly kills heart muscle cells and that surviving patients suffer cognitive deficits.

The virus was detected in the brains of all six patients who died over a month after they developed symptoms, as well as in most areas studied in the brains of five others, including one who died 230 days after the onset of symptoms, the outlet said.

Al-Aly said the focus on multiple brain areas is particularly helpful.

It can help us understand the neurocognitive decline or brain fog and other neuropsychiatric manifestations of long Covid, he told Bloomberg.

We need to start thinking of SARS-CoV-2 as a systemic virus that may clear in some people, but in others may persist for weeks or months and produce long Covid a multifaceted systemic disorder, he added.

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COVID virus can spread to heart, brain days after infection, study says - New York Post

The global tally for COVID-19 rose to 281.5 million as of Tuesday morning and the death toll climbed to 5.41 million, according to data aggregated by Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. leads the world with a total COVID-19 case count of 52.8 million and death toll of 818,371. On Monday, there were 543,415 new cases recorded, which boosted the 7-day average of new cases to 243,099, the most since Jan. 13, and more than double (105%) the average from two weeks ago, according to a New York Times tracker. The daily average was also the seventh-highest since the start of the pandemic. The continued spike in new cases comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cut its recommended quarantine time for people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in half to five days if they are free of symptoms. Meanwhile, the daily average death toll slipped to 1,205 from 1,328 on Sunday, and the daily average of hospitalizations slipped to 71,381 from 71,459. Separately, the number of fully vaccinated in the U.S. crept up to 205.2 million, or 61.8% of the total population, according to CDC data, while 66.4 million Americans have received a booster dose.

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Coronavirus tally: U.S. counts more than 500,000 new COVID cases in a day, lifting the daily average to a near 1-year high - MarketWatch

Maryland's largest public school system is asking parents to report COVID-19 cases if their kids test positive for the virus over winter break.

Public schools in Montgomery County, Maryland, are asking parents to report COVID-19 cases if their kids test positive for the virus over winter break.

The public school system said the request will help them to reopen schools on Jan. 3.

Monifa McKnight, the school systems interim superintendent, said she was doing everything in her power to keep our school system open for our students, during a news briefing on Dec. 20.

The announcement brought mixed reviews, with some parents saying the move to return to in-person classes is irresponsible. Other parents advocated for a buffer period of temporary virtual classes after winter break.

Last February, dozens of students and parents protested the phased reopening plan of Montgomery County schools in cold temperatures.

Still, some welcomed the decision.

The county isnt relying on self-reporting as the only way to keep schools open parents have had the option to opt-in their students for both random and rapid testing in all schools.

The random tests are given as a preventive measure to a sample of students and give results to parents in a few days while the rapid tests are given to students who are symptomatic at school (with parental permission).

More Coronavirus News

Looking for more information? D.C., Maryland and Virginia are each releasing more data every day. Visit their official sites here: Virginia | Maryland | D.C.

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Montgomery Co. schools ask parents to report kids' COVID-19 cases over winter break - WTOP

Aint Too Proud, a jukebox musical about the Temptations that opened on Broadway in early 2019, will close on Jan. 16, the shows producers said on Tuesday.

The musical is the fourth Broadway show to announce a closing in the last eight days, as the spike in coronavirus cases from the Omicron variant has exacerbated the financial woes of an already pandemic-damaged theater industry.

Last week, the musicals Jagged Little Pill and Waitress, as well as the play Thoughts of a Colored Man announced that they had closed without so much as a farewell performance all were already on hiatus because of coronavirus cases among cast or crew.

The Broadway production of Aint Too Proud, about the powerhouse Motown group, has not run since Dec. 15, citing coronavirus cases. It is planning to resume on Tuesday, Dec. 28, and hoping to run for three more weeks before closing for good.

The musical also has a touring production that had to postpone shows at the Kennedy Center in Washington because of coronavirus cases; it is scheduled to have its delayed start on Tuesday night, as well.

Aint Too Proud had a yearlong prepandemic run, opening in March 2019 to a positive review in The New York Times, where the critic Ben Brantley wrote, While honoring all the expected biomusical clichs, which include rolling out its subjects greatest hits in brisk and sometimes too fragmented succession, this production refreshingly emphasizes the improbable triumph of rough, combustible parts assembled into glistening smoothness.

After the lengthy Broadway shutdown, Aint Too Proud resumed performances on Oct. 16; because the Broadway League is no longer releasing box office grosses for individual productions, it is not clear how the show has been doing over the last two months. The production received a $10 million Shuttered Venue Operators Grant as pandemic emergency assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The musical won a Tony Award for its choreography by Sergio Trujillo; it features a book by Dominique Morisseau and direction by Des McAnuff, and the lead producers are Ira Pittelman and Tom Hulce. The show was capitalized for $16.75 million, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission; it successfully recouped that investment, according to a spokesman.

Continued here:

Aint Too Proud to Close on Broadway as Covid-19 Takes Its Toll - The New York Times

The latest:

COVID-19 cases continued to rise in Quebec on Tuesday, as health officials reported 12,833 new cases a single-day high and 15 additional deaths.

Health Minister Christian Dubis expected to provide a live briefing on the state of the pandemic at 1 p.m. ET as the province faces increasing strain on its hospital system.

Meanwhile, health officials inOntarioon Tuesday reported8,825 new cases and seven additional deaths.Health Minister Christine Elliott said in a tweet there were 491 people hospitalized with COVID-19.

Elliott shared the figures on Twitter Tuesday but government websites did not publish updated numbers of virus-related deaths or patients on ventilators because of the statutory holiday. Health experts warn that the real number of COVID-19 cases is likely to be much higher as a number of hospitals and centres have reached testing limits.

Dr. Kieran Moore, the province's chief medical officer of health, is expected to provide an update about the province's "updated case and contact management and testing guidance" at 1:30 p.m. ET.

-From CBC News and The Canadian Press, last updated at 11:30 a.m. ET

For more details on the situation in your province and territory including the latest on hospitalizations and ICU capacity, as well as local testing issues click through tothe local coverage below.

In Atlantic Canada,Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, Dr. Robert Strang, is expected to provide an update Tuesday about the planned return to school. Strang is set to appear with the province's education minister at 2 p.m. local time. The scheduled briefing comes as the province on Tuesday reported 561 new cases of COVID-19.

Newfoundland and Labradorsaw 357 new cases of COVID-19 over the holiday weekend, bringing the number of active cases in the province to a high of 677.Prince Edward Islandsaw156 new cases of COVID-19 over a three-day period, whileNew Brunswicksaw639 new cases over the same period and four additional deaths.

Across the North, there were 11 new cases of COVID-19 reported inNunavuton Tuesday.Health officials in theNorthwest TerritoriesandYukonhad not yet provided updated information for the day.

In the Prairies, health officials inManitobareported 675 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday and eight additional deaths. The update came as the province announced it was ramping up restrictions again, including limits on capacity for both indoor and outdoor public gatherings.

There were no updated figures released inSaskatchewanor Alberta.

In British Columbia, health officials on Monday reported6,288 new COVID-19 cases over three days. Updated information on deaths and hospitalizations is expected later this week.

-From CBC News and The Canadian Press, last updated at 11:55 a.m. ET

As of lateTuesday morning, more than281.6 million cases of COVID-19 had been reported worldwide, according to a tracking site maintained by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University. The reported global death toll stood at more than 5.4 million.

InEurope,France will pay intensive care nurses an extra 100 (roughly $145 Cdn)per month from January as it seeks to improve work conditions for staff exhausted by the fight against COVID-19.

Confirmed cases in Greece are expected to hit a fresh daily record on Tuesday, topping 15,000, after the country announced tighter curbs a day earlier.

InAfrica,health officials in South Africa on Monday reported3,782 new cases of COVID-19 and 15 additional deaths.

In theAsia-Pacificregion, India has granted emergency use authorization for two vaccines and one COVID-19 pill, the health minister tweeted, as authorities warn about the spread of the Omicron variant across the country.

The first is Covovax, the Serum Institute of India's version of the Novavax vaccine, a two-dose shot made with lab-grown copies of the spike protein that coats the coronavirus. The second is Corbevax, made by Indian firm Biological-E, which the health minister said is the country's first indigenously developed protein-based vaccine against COVID-19.

It also granted emergency use approval for molnupiravir, an antiviral drug, that will be manufactured by 13 companies in India and will be used in emergency situations to treat COVID-19 patients at high risk.

Even though daily cases in India have remained low for months after the country saw a devastating surge earlier this year, concern over Omicron has grown in recent weeks, sparking various states to enforce new restrictions. In the capital, New Delhi, a slew of new restrictions were announced Tuesday, including a night curfew, shutting down cinemas and gyms, and a ban on large public gatherings or events. India has so far confirmed more than 650 Omicron cases.

In theMiddle East,the multibillion-dollar world's fair in Dubai has warned that some venues on site may shut down as coronavirus cases rapidly rise in the United Arab Emirates. Dubai's Expo 2020 said that virus outbreaks among workers may force parts of the fair to "close temporarily for deep cleaning and sanitization." It did not elaborate.

The UAE's daily virus caseload has skyrocketed by a multiple of 35 in just the last three weeks after the arrival of the Omicron variant. The vague statement from Dubai's government-run media office on Monday underscores the daunting challenges of hosting among the world's first major in-person events amid a still-raging pandemic.

In theAmericas,U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday pledged the full support of the federal government to states facing surges in COVID-19 cases from the more-transmissible Omicron variant and a run on at-home tests.

Biden acknowledged long lines and chaotic scenes as Americans sought out testing amid the case surge and as they looked to safely gather with family and friends over the holidays. He referenced his administration's plan to make 500 million rapid tests available to Americans beginning next month through an as-yet-to-be-developed website.

Meanwhile,Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, said Monday that the U.S. should "seriously" consider a vaccination mandate for domestic travel.Speaking to MSNBC, Fauci, who serves as Biden's chief science adviser on the COVID-19 response, said, "When you make vaccination a requirement, that's another incentive to get more people vaccinated."

-From Reuters, The Associated Press and CBC News, last updated at 11:35a.m. ET

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Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Tuesday - CBC News