Category: Corona Virus

Health officials in Illinois say that more than 80 coronavirus outbreaks have been reported at schools across the state, with several involving more than a dozen cases at educational institutions.

According to the latest figures from the Illinois Department of Public Health, 81 outbreaks are active at Illinois schools as of this weekend, including 11 in Cook County alone.

At Glenbrook Elementary School, an outbreak involving at least a dozen cases has been reported, while another outbreak at St. Mary Catholic School, located in Mokena, involves between five and 10 cases.

At least eight outbreaks have also been reported in Will County, including one involving more than five cases at Reed-Custer Elementary School.

Some of the worst outbreaks have been occurring in western and southern Illinois, including in the North Macoupin school district in Macoupin County. There, between 11 and 16 cases of the virus remain active, according to officials.

In nearly Staunton, more than 16 cases have been reported in the school district, according to officials.

At East Side High School in St. Clair County, more than 16 cases have been reported, and at Okawville Elementary School, a similar number of cases have been reported.

Here is a full list of school outbreaks reported by state officials.

DeKalb County 4 outbreaks

Little John Elementary School (Less than 5 cases)

Sycamore Middle School (Less than 5 cases)

Sycamore Middle School (Less than 5 cases)

Sycamore Middle School (Less than 5 cases)

Ogle County 5 outbreaks

Highland Elementary School (5-10 cases)

Highland Elementary School (Less than 5 cases)

Oregon Elementary School (Less than 5 cases)

Stillman Valley High School (Less than 5 cases)

Stillman Valley High School (Less than 5 cases)

Winnebago County 1 outbreak

Hononegah High School (5-10 cases)

Henry County 3 outbreaks

Central Junior High School (Less than 5 cases)

Colona Grade School (5-10 cases)

Geneseo High School (Less than 5 cases)

Knox County 1 outbreak

ROWVA High School (Less than 5 cases)

LaSalle County 2 outbreaks

Lincoln Junior High School (5-10 cases)

Seneca Grade School (Less than 5 cases)

Livingston County 1 outbreak

Prairie Central East (5-10 cases)

McLean County 1 outbreak

Ridgeview Elementary School (Less than 5 cases)

Mercer County 3 outbreaks

Mercer County High School (5-10 cases)

Mercer County High School (5-10 cases)

Mercer County High School (5-10 cases)

Peoria County 1 outbreak

St. Jude Catholic School (Less than 5 cases)

Rock Island 3 outbreaks

Bicentennial Elementary School (Less than 5 cases)

Rock Island High School (Less than 5 cases)

United Township High School (Less than 5 cases)

Brown County 1 outbreak

Brown County High School (5-10 cases)

Greene County 1 outbreak

North Greene Elementary School (5-10 cases)

Logan County 1 outbreak

Northwest Elementary School (Less than 5 cases)

Macoupin County 6 outbreaks

Ben-Gil Elementary School (Less than 5 cases)

Bunker Hill Schools (16+ cases)

Carlinville High School CUSD #1 (Less than 5 cases)

Mount Olive School (Less than 5 cases)

North Macoupin Schools (11-16 cases)

Staunton Community USD #6 (16+ cases)

Mason County 1 outbreak

Midwest Central CUSD #191 (11-16 cases)

Sangamon County 6 outbreaks

Ball Charter School (5-10 cases)

Chatham High School (Less than 5 cases)

Iles School (Less than 5 cases)

Pleasant Plains Middle School (Less than 5 cases)

Pleasant Plains Middle School (Less than 5 cases)

Williamsville High School (Less than 5 cases)

Scott County 1 outbreak

Winchester Grade School (5-10 cases)

Clinton County 1 outbreak

Carlyle School (16+ cases)

Madison County 5 outbreaks

Evangelical School (Less than 5 cases)

Liberty Middle School (Less than 5 cases)

Maryville Christian School (Less than 5 cases)

St. Marys School (Less than 5 cases)

Woodland Elementary School (Less than 5 cases)

St. Clair County 1 outbreak

East Side High School (16+ cases)

Washington County 1 outbreak

Okawville Grade School (16+ cases)

Marion County 1 outbreak

Centralia Junior High School (Less than 5 cases)

Will County 8 outbreaks

Beecher Junior High School (Less than 5 cases)

Caretta Scott King Elementary School (Less than 5 cases)

Cherry Hill School (Less than 5 cases)

Mokena Elementary School (Less than 5 cases)

Nelson Ridge School (Less than 5 cases)

Nelson Ridge School (Less than 5 cases)

Reed-Custer Elementary School (5-10 cases)

Troy Middle School (Less than 5 cases)

DuPage County 2 outbreaks

Downers Grove South High School (Less than 5 cases)

Owen Elementary School (Less than 5 cases)

Kane County 6 outbreaks

East Aurora School District 131 (Less than 5 cases)

Fox Meadow Elementary School (Less than 5 cases)

Gary D. Wright Elementary School (Less than 5 cases)

Holy Angels Catholic School (5-10 cases)

Kaneland John Shields Elementary (Less than 5 cases)

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Coronavirus by the Numbers: More Than 80 COVID Outbreaks Reported in Illinois Schools - NBC Chicago

COLUMBUS, Ohio - U.S. Coronavirus deaths have surpassed 650,000 nationally and in Ohio, 21,020 state residents have died with the virus, with rates increasing likely due to the highly contagious delta variant.

On Tuesday, the federal government reported 73 additional Ohio residents had died with COVID-19, which pushed the state past 21,000.

Yet on Tuesday, June 8, there were just 41 new COVID-19 deaths in Ohio. On July 7, there 22 new deaths. On Aug. 10, there were 24 new deaths.

The delta variant became predominant by late July, and then the higher deaths began to follow. On Aug. 27, 70 new deaths were reported.

From Aug. 1 through Tuesday, the federal government, which provides Ohio the death data, has identified 354 coronavirus deaths of Ohio residents.

This is a preliminary number. Ohio gives coroners and physicians up to six months to identify a cause of death. And sometimes the federal government takes time identifying causes of death too, meaning more deaths from Aug. 1 through Tuesday will likely be identified.

The following Ohio counties have had the highest number of deaths from Aug. 1, based on county of residence.

1. Montgomery: 32 deaths

2. Butler: 23 deaths

3. Hamilton: 23 deaths

4. Cuyahoga: 19

5. Franklin: 16

6. Stark: 12

7. Scioto: 11

8. Richland: 10

9. Lucas: 10

10. Greene: 9

11. Warren: 9

Many of these counties have among the states highest number of residents.

Some of Ohios smaller-population counties rank high when looking at deaths per 100,000 residents. Some of these counties have the lowest vaccination rates in the state.

1. Ashland: 15.3 deaths per capita

2. Scioto: 14.9 deaths per capita

3. Adams: 14.6 deaths per capita

4. Jackson: 12.3 deaths per capita

5. Fulton: 11.7 deaths per capita

Read more:

From full ICUs to long wait times in the ER, coronavirus in children is surging in Ohio

See the 10 Ohio counties with the highest vaccination rates

Ohio Supreme Court to decide whether Cleveland must refund $4.1 million in traffic camera tickets

Ohio heads into holiday weekend with 6,179 new coronavirus cases, 81 more deaths. See hospitalizations by region.

35 Cuyahoga County schools, districts will have blended learning if needed for coronavirus exposure

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With Ohio coronavirus deaths surpassing 21,000, see which counties have had the highest deaths since August - cleveland.com

Idaho public health leaders have activated crisis standards of care allowing health are rationing for the states northern hospitals because there are more coronavirus patients than the institutions can handle.

The Idaho department of health and welfare quietly enacted the move on Monday and publicly announced it in a statement on Tuesday morning warning residents that they may not get the care they would normally expect if they need to be hospitalized.

The move came as the states confirmed coronavirus cases rocketed in recent weeks. Idaho has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the US.

Governor Brad Little, a Republican, called the move to limit care an unprecedented and unwanted point in the history of our state and urged residents to get vaccinated against coronavirus.

The state health agency cited a severe shortage of staffing and available beds in the northern area of the state caused by a massive increase in patients with Covid-19 who require hospitalization.

The designation includes 10 hospitals and healthcare systems in the Idaho panhandle and in north-central Idaho. The agency said its goal is to extend care to as many patients as possible and to save as many lives as possible.

Crisis standards of care is a last resort. It means we have exhausted our resources to the point that our healthcare systems are unable to provide the treatment and care we expect, the Idaho department of health and welfare director, Dave Jeppesen, said in a statement.

He added: This is a decision I was fervently hoping to avoid. The best tools we have to turn this around is for more people to get vaccinated and to wear masks indoors and in outdoor crowded public places. Please choose to get vaccinated as soon as possible it is your very best protection against being hospitalized from Covid-19.

The move allows hospitals to allot scarce resources like intensive care unit rooms to patients most likely to survive and make other dramatic changes to the way they treat patients. Other patients will still receive care, but they may be placed in hospital classrooms or conference rooms rather than traditional hospital rooms or go without some life-saving medical equipment.

At Kootenai Health the largest hospital in northern Idaho some patients are waiting for long periods for beds to open up in the full intensive care unit, said Robert Scoggins, the chief of staff. Inside the ICU, one critical care nurse might be supervising up to six patients with the help of two other non-critical care nurses. Thats a big departure from the usual one ICU nurse for one ICU patient ratio, he said.

On Monday, the Coeur dAlene hospital started moving some coronavirus patients into its nearby conference center. A large classroom in the center was converted into a Covid-19 ward, with temporary dividers separating the beds. Some emergency room patients are being treated in a converted portion of the emergency room lobby, and the hospitals entire third floor has also been designated for coronavirus patients.

Urgent and elective surgeries are on hold, Scoggins said, and Kootenai Health is struggling to accept any of the high-level trauma patients that would normally be transferred from the smaller hospitals in the region.

Other states are preparing to take similar measures if needed. Hawaiis governor, David Ige, quietly signed an order last week releasing hospitals and healthcare workers from liability if they have to ration healthcare.

The unfolding crush of patients to Idaho hospitals has been anticipated with dread by the states heathcare providers. Medical experts have said that Idaho, which has a population of around 1.8 millions, could have as many as 30,000 new coronavirus cases a week by mid-September if the current rate of infections lasts.

The designation will remain in effect until there are enough resources including staffing, hospital beds and equipment or a drop in the number of patients to provide normal levels of treatment to all.

More than 500 people were hospitalized statewide with Covid-19 on 1 September and more than a third of them were in intensive care unit beds.

Idahos hospitals have struggled to fill empty nursing, housekeeping and other healthcare positions, in part because some staffers have left because they are burned out by the strain of the pandemic and because others have been quarantined because they were exposed to Covid-19.

Late last month, Little called in 220 medical workers available through federal programs and mobilized 150 Idaho national guard soldiers to help hospitals cope with the surge.

When the pandemic first came to Idaho at the start of 2020, Little ordered a partial shutdown of the state ordering some businesses to temporarily close or shift to takeout-style services, banning some large gatherings and asking residents to stay home as much as possible.

The move was aimed at ensuring that hospitals wouldnt become overwhelmed by patients. Idaho was on the verge of enacting crisis standards of care during a major coronavirus surge last winter, but narrowly avoided doing so making this the first time the state has taken the drastic measure.

Little reopened the state in stages over a period of several months and has not reimposed restrictions limiting gatherings. Businesses are mostly operating as normal.

The states crisis guidelines are complex, and give hospitals a legal and ethical template to use while rationing care.

Associated Press contributed to this report

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Idaho enacts crisis standards of care protocol to battle worsening Covid - The Guardian

Follow our latest updates on the California Recall Election and Governor Newsom.

As the pandemic-fueled campaign to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom of California heads into its last week, its lead proponent said he has been sidelined with the coronavirus.

Orrin Heatlie, 52, a retired Republican sheriffs sergeant from Yolo County, said he was at home recovering from a bout of the coronavirus.

Thought I was immune as Ive had it before, Mr. Heatlie said in a text message, adding that he is unvaccinated. Then spent 13 hours in a warm truck traveling back from Wyoming with a friend who came down with it on the trip.

The pandemic has played a major role in fueling the recall, which had been regarded as a long shot when Mr. Heatlie and a small group of grass-roots Tea Party activists began circulating petitions in 2019.

Their initial complaint with the governor arose from his stances on the death penalty and immigration, which they disagreed with. But when Mr. Newsom initiated stay-at-home orders, classroom closures and other health restrictions to slow the spread of the virus, recall supporters added those upheavals to their list of grievances against him.

In November, a judge granted them an extension to continue circulating petitions because Mr. Newsoms health orders had made it harder to gather signatures. That extension allowed Mr. Heatlies group to gather the nearly 1.5 million signatures required to bring the proposed recall to a vote an effort that was helped along when a maskless Mr. Newsom was seen dining at an exclusive restaurant with friends, after he had asked Californians to stay home to avoid spreading the virus.

Throughout the campaign, the recall supporters have blasted the governors mandates to get vaccinated, socially distance and wear face masks. Mr. Heatlie said his wife, who is vaccinated, had caught the virus from him.

The acknowledgment came as coronavirus cases, which are surging in other parts of the country, have plateaued in California, which now has some of the nations highest vaccination rates. This week, Mr. Newsom, ahead in the polls, released a new ad warning Californians that Republicans backing the recall will eliminate vaccine mandates, and endanger the states recovery.

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Orrin Heatlie, the Lead Behind Newsoms Recall, Has the Coronavirus - The New York Times

While some health care regions in Illinois are making progress in turning back the tide of increasing COVID cases, some areas are continuing to struggle, seeing stubbornly high positivity rates and increasing hospitalizations amid an upswing in cases.

According to the latest figures from the Illinois Department of Public Health, numerous areas in northern Illinois, including in McHenry and Lake counties and in Cook County, are making good progress in turning back increasing positivity rates.

In Region 9, comprised of McHenry and Lake counties, the positivity rate has dropped to 4.5%, while ICU bed availability has rebounded to 22% in recent days. Hospitalizations are increasing there, but have also showed signs of slowing down, according to IDPH data.

Chicago currently owns the best positivity rate in the state at 3.7%, while Kane and DuPage counties have the best ICU bed availability, sitting at 26%.

Not all areas are seeing improvements in their COVID rates, however. In Region 5, located in southern Illinois, the positivity rate has remained steady at 10.3%, the highest in the state, and its ICU bed availability is the lowest in the state at 5%.

While positivity rates are decreasing in Region 2, located in western Illinois, hospitalizations have increased nine of the last 10 days.

Here is a full picture of the metrics across Illinois.

Positivity Rate: 5.7% (stable)

ICU Bed Availability: 19% (increasing)

Hospitalization Trends: 9/10 days increasing

Positivity Rate: 5.2% (decreasing)

ICU Bed Availability: 18% (steady)

Hospitalization Trends: 9/10 days increasing

Positivity Rate: 5.6% (decreasing)

ICU Bed Availability: 16% (steady)

Hospitalization Trends: 9/10 days decreasing or stable

Positivity Rate: 6.5% (decreasing)

ICU Bed Availability: 21% (stable)

Hospitalization Trends: 7/10 days decreasing or stable

Positivity Rate: 10.3% (stable)

ICU Bed Availability: 5% (stable)

Hospitalization Trends: 5/10 days increasing

Positivity Rate: 8.1% (stable)

ICU Bed Availability: 20% (increasing)

Hospitalization Trends: 6/10 days increasing

Positivity Rate: 5.7% (decreasing)

ICU Bed Availability: 25% (increasing)

Hospitalization Trends: 7/10 days increasing

Positivity Rate: 4.8% (decreasing)

ICU Bed Availability: 26% (increasing)

Hospitalization Trends: 6/10 days decreasing or stable

Positivity Rate: 4.5% (decreasing)

ICU Bed Availability: 22% (increasing)

Hospitalization Trends: 6/10 days increasing

Positivity Rate: 4.1% (decreasing)

ICU Bed Availability: 17% (increasing)

Hospitalization Trends: 9/10 days increasing

Positivity Rate: 3.7% (decreasing)

ICU Bed Availability: 19% (stable)

Hospitalization Trends: 7/10 days increasing

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COVID by the Numbers: Coronavirus Metrics in Each of Illinois' 11 Health Care Regions - NBC Chicago

The UKs vaccines watchdog is expected to decide on Thursday about a Covid booster vaccine programme, with ministers hopeful that approval for vaccinations for 12- to 15-year-olds could follow imminently.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is scheduled to meet on Thursday to examine interim results from the Cov-Boost study, which looks at the impact of one of seven different vaccines as a third dose, on top of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines.

The research, run by Southampton University, is seen as the main element in the JCVIs deliberations, with the government prepared to begin an immediate programme of widespread booster jabs if this is approved.

Some scientists say there is limited evidence for the efficacy of such jabs beyond people with clinical vulnerabilities, despite countries such as Israel pressing ahead with population-wide boosters.

It is understood that JCVI members will not be shown any material for the meeting before late on Wednesday, in an attempt to prevent leaks.

A week ago, the JCVI approved the use of a third vaccination for half a million people with severely weakened immune systems, although this was presented as separate to a formal booster programme.

Ministers are also awaiting news on 12- to 15-year-olds, after the JCVI said on Friday that the evidence of the clinical benefits of vaccinating this age group was not strong enough to recommend it.

The committee instead suggested ministers ask the four chief medical officers of the UK nations to examine wider factors such as the potential impact of disruption to schools.

Javid said on Wednesday he expected a decision on children to come from the UKs four chief medical officers within days.

He told Sky News: I want to give them the breathing space, its their independent view and thats exactly what it should be. But I would expect to hear from them in the next few days.

He said consent would be sought from parents of 12- to 15-year-olds as it has been for decades, but if children and their parents cannot agree, then the childs view would take precedence as long as they are competent enough to decide.

He said: If there is a difference of opinion between the child and the parent then we have specialists that work in this area, the schools vaccination service. They would usually literally sit down with the parent and the child, and try to reach some kind of consensus.

If ultimately that doesnt work, as along as we believe that the child is competent enough to make this decision then the child will prevail.

Javid also said he was very confident that the UK would have a booster programme so that older adults could receive a third jab.

He told Sky News: In terms of who actually gets it and when, were waiting for final advice which could come across, certainly, in the next few days from the JCVI.

He said the advice was expected to include information on whether people should get different vaccines from the ones they have already had, adding: Im confident that we can start the booster programme this month.

Scientists on the governments Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) subgroup on modelling said decisions on whether to go ahead with booster vaccines and vaccines for 12- to 15-year-olds were unlikely to make a big difference to the trajectory of cases and hospitalisations over the autumn.

Behavioural changes, such as more mixing indoors and the severity of this years flu season are expected to have a bigger impact on cases and the overall burden on the NHS, according to experts, who also said they did not expect to see a steep rise in severe Covid cases over the coming weeks.

Chris Jewell, an epidemiologist at Lancaster University, said: Based on the current situation, most people are in agreement that were not likely to see a massive rise in hospitalisations over the autumn. Things seem to be quite stable.

Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, said that while he did not expect a surge in Covid cases, flu remained a major concern. Were due a bad flu year because we had very little flu last year and less the year before. If you have Covid and you catch flu at the same time youre twice as likely to die.

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UK decision on Covid vaccine boosters expected on Thursday - The Guardian

The Northern Light Mercy Hospital in Portland will reopen a drive-up coronavirus testing facility at the Fore River Parkway campus on Friday.

The move comes as the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported 734 new cases of COVID-19 since Saturday, and the demand for testing continues to increase.

The testing site, which will be a self-swab site, will start taking appointments on Thursday, according to Dave Guthro, the hospitals communications director. The drive-up facility will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

There are testing sites provided by Northern Light Mercy Hospital that are available in Gorham, Westbrook and Windham, which are open daily.

Over the last two weeks, the spread of the highly contagious delta variant has led to increased hospitalizations, and Maine reported the highest coronavirus case rates in New England ahead of Labor Day.

More articles from the BDN

Leela Stockley is an alumna of the University of Maine. She was raised in northern Maine, and loves her cat Wesley and staying active in the Maine outdoors.More by Leela Stockley

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Drive-up coronavirus testing site to reopen in Portland - Bangor Daily News

A look at some of the top headlines trending online today around the world including the latest news about the Talibans takeover in Afghanistan, the upcoming Sept. 11 anniversary, coronavirus updates and much more.

Taliban form all-male Afghan government of old guard members (AP)

Talibans interior minister is on FBIs most-wanted list, believed to be holding American hostage (Fox News)

Blinken: Taliban not blocking departure for U.S. passport, visa holders (Politico)

20 years after 9/11 attacks, just half call US more secure: POLL (ABC News)

Two 9/11 victims identified nearly 20 years after the attacks (CBS)

Democrats hit the gas on Bidens multitrillion-dollar safety net bill (NBC News)

Biden to lay out new strategy against delta variant of COVID-19 (ABC)

How the pandemic turned humble shipping containers into the hottest items on the planet (CNN)

Surge in COVID cases forces Idaho hospitals to ration health care (AP)

New Studies Find Evidence Of Superhuman Immunity To COVID-19 In Some Individuals (NPR)

WHO criticizes wealthy nations for hoarding Covid treatments and vaccines, saying its prolonging pandemic (CNBC)

Britney Spears father formally files to end conservatorship (BBC)

California fire threat high despite progress near Tahoe (AP)

A large earthquake near Acapulco shakes Mexicos capital (NY Times)

Grimace is a what? McDonalds managers interview leaves the internet even more confused (USA Today)

Kylie Jenner Confirms Her Pregnancy With A Sweet Instagram Video (ELLE)

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Taliban, 9/11, coronavirus & more: Whats trending today - cleveland.com

COVID-19 and children under 12: How the pandemic affects the unvaccinated

COVID-19 cases have spiked among children especially those under 12 who are unvaccinated. Heres how to protect them.

Just the FAQs, USA TODAY

The Mississippi State Department of Health reported 5,781new coronavirus cases Monday for the period Friday through Sunday.The highly contagious delta variant is fuelingnew cases.

On Monday, the state reported 125new coronavirus-related deaths. Seventy-six deaths occurred between July 23and Sept. 4, according to the health department's website. Forty-nine deaths occurred between Aug. 1and Aug. 30, as identified from death certificate reports.

COVID-19 in MS: 'Not nearly as bad as predicted': Already packed hospitals avoid further crowding from Ida

Since COVID-19 hit the state in March 2020, a total of 452,664COVID-19 cases and 8,664coronavirus-related deaths have been reported.

The health department on Monday reported 146 outbreaks at Mississippi nursinghomes. There have been 10,993cases of the coronavirus in long-term care facilitiesand 2,047deaths reported as of Monday.

According to aNew York Times database, at least 377new coronavirus deaths and 44,417 new cases were reported in the U.S. on Sunday. Over the past week, there has been an average of 161,327cases per day,an increase of 8% from two weeks prior.

Residents between the ages of 25 and 39represent the largest portion of the infected population in the state,with 101,441cases reported Friday, the latest figureavailable.

Among patients under18, children between the ages of 11 and 17 have the highest infection rate, with 40,615cases identified. The 65 and older age group has the highest total number of deaths with 6,227reported.

According tohealth department data, at least 1,433,469people began thevaccination process in Mississippias of Thursday. Since December, about 1,185,057people have been fully immunized against COVID-19. At least 28,002have received a third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

Approximately 372,119 people are presumed recovered from the virus as of Tuesday, according tothe health department's website.

Read More: No COVID-19 vaccine mandate for public Mississippi universities for now, board says

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Harrison County numbers have steadily climbed, overtaking Hinds County to record the highest number of reported cases with 30,666; Hinds County follows with 29,896cases. DeSoto County is reporting 28,381cases. Jackson County is reporting 21,932cases and Rankin County has 20,526total cases.

Daily number of new deaths: 2

Daily number of new cases: 374

Total deaths: 543

Total cases:29,896

Daily number of new deaths: 3

Daily number of new cases: 189

Total deaths:259

Total cases:13,607

Daily number of new deaths: 9

Daily number of new cases: 334

Total deaths:338

Total cases:20,526

Have an education-relatednews tip? Contact Keisha Rowe at nrowe@gannett.com, on Twitter or at (601) 760-2483.

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Tracking COVID-19 in Mississippi: 5,781 new coronavirus cases reported over the weekend - Clarion Ledger

Dave Golowenski| Special to The Columbus Dispatch

The fact that a significant percentage of wild Ohio deer tested last winter were positive forSARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus pathogen that causes COVID-19 in people, doesnt necessarily change the hunting game when the 2021-22 whitetail season opens later this month.

Prudent hunters, however, should wear rubber or throwaway surgical gloves when field-dressing a downed animal. And thats only one of several just-in-case precautions being recommended by the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

That's because what was found in the wild deer captured by Ohio State Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine with test results confirmed at a federal lab is in fact the same virus identified in late 2019 at the start of a global outbreak, said Mike Tonkovich, the wildlife divisions deer project leader.

None of the infected Ohio deer showed signs of disease.

People arent consistently as fortunate. Infection symptoms range from none to hospitalization and death. COVIDis officially blamed for almost 650,000 deaths in the United States and around 4.5 million worldwide.

SARS-CoV-2 is known to infect a number of wild and domesticated animals, some more readily than others. Deer, it turns out, are among the creatures that, like humans, are prone to the pathogen.

Researchers earlierthis year noteda high degree of similarity between the SARS-CoV-2 receptor in humans and deer, and they demonstrated in lab testing that deer arehighly susceptible to infection.

A U.S. Department of Agriculture study conducted around the same time showed abouta third of the hundreds of deer sampled between January 2020 and March 2021 in Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan and Illinois possessedSARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

What made the Ohio deer results unique was thatthe active SARS-CoV-2 virus was discovered, not merely antibodies, and the virus wasfound in about 35 percent of the animals. Those tests, of course, offer a snapshot of the Buckeye State deer landscape months ago, not a guidebook for what lies ahead.

While its probable that humans spread SARS-CoV-2 into the North American deer population, no evidence to this point indicates whitetails are infecting people, though that possibility remains.

Because deer dont exhibit overt symptoms from an active SARS-CoV-2 infection theres no way to know whether a deer has the disease. To this point, however, deerseem to pose little threat to hunters who take care.

Testing shows the coronavirus isn't present in blood, body muscle, lungs, kidneys, trachea or colon. Sources of infection are mostlythe nose, throat and upper respiratory areas.

Under such circumstances, wearing rubber gloves is a no-brainer. Equally important is keeping hands away from the face.

Dont eat. Dont smoke while field dressing, Tonkovich said. You might want to wear a face covering, he added.

outdoors@dispatch.com

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Outdoors: Deer are infected with COVID-19 virus. Here's what hunters need to do to protect themselves - The Columbus Dispatch