Category: Corona Virus

Oregons count of coronavirus cases continue to climb with 412 new confirmed and presumptive cases, the Oregon Health Authority announced Saturday. The state has now eclipsed 23,000 total cases.

Where the new cases are by county: Baker (1), Benton (4), Clackamas (38), Clatsop (2), Columbia (3), Crook (1), Curry (2), Deschutes (10), Douglas (1), Hood River (1), Jackson (6), Jefferson (12), Josephine (2), Klamath (2), Lane (6), Lincoln (6), Linn (13), Malheur (25), Marion (75), Morrow (8), Multnomah (79), Polk (6), Umatilla (36), Union (1), Wallowa (1), Wasco (2), Washington (56), Yamhill (13).

New fatality: Oregons 386th COVID-19 death is a 71-year-old man in Jefferson County with underlying health conditions. He tested positive on August 6 and died on August 14, at St. Charles Bend Medical Center.

Whos in the hospital: The state Friday reported 167 Oregonians with confirmed coronavirus infections are currently in the hospital, up 11 from Thursday. Oregon remains well below its capacity, with hundreds of hospital beds and ventilators available. Updated hospitalization data was not released Saturday.

Since it began: Oregon has reported 23,018 confirmed or presumed infections and 386 deaths, among the lowest totals in the nation. To date, 461,861 Oregonians have been tested.

Brad Schmidt of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report.

-- K. Rambo

krambo@oregonian.com

@k_rambo_

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.

Excerpt from:

Coronavirus in Oregon: 412 new infections and 1 death - OregonLive

Should you get re-tested for the Covid-19 coronavirus after you have recovered from Covid-19? Well, ... [+] the CDC has some new guidance, sort of. (Photo by Robin Utrecht/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Oh no they didnt.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) didnt exactly say whether or how long you may remain immune to the Covid-19 coronavirus after recovering from an infection. But a new addition to the CDCs When to Quarantine web site did say something interesting:

People who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to 3 months as long as they do not develop symptoms again.

Hmm. Why wouldnt you need to quarantine or get tested again? Isnt re-infection with the virus a possibility? Or could you have that magical word that begins with the letter I and rhymes with the phrase hot dog eating community? In other words, is the CDC now suggesting that you may have immunity to the virus for up to three months after getting infected? Well, thats certainly one way of interpreting the statement. For example, here is a tweet response to this updated CDC guidance:

So looks like you dont have to go through that wonderful cotton-swab-way-up-your-nose experience for the three months after youve recovered from Covid-19, right? Maybe. Possibly. Perhaps. Read a little bit further on the CDC website, like one sentence further, and youll see the following:

People who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first bout of COVID-19 may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms.

So you may have immunity for up to three months, unless, of course, you dont have immunity for that long. Seems like that statement has the certainty of saying, I love you until, of course, someone else better comes along, right? Maybe, perhaps. Possibly. Well, not exactly.

Even though those on social media seemed to take the relatively new statements on the CDCs website (apparently these statement were added on August 3) as a statement about immunity, an August 14 CDC media release suggested otherwise. This release was entitled, Updated Isolation Guidance Does Not Imply Immunity to COVID-19. Here is what the release said: On August 3, 2020, CDC updated its isolation guidance based on the latest science about COVID-19 showing that people can continue to test positive for up to 3 months after diagnosis and not be infectious to others. The media release continued by saying, Contrary to media reporting today, this science does not imply a person is immune to reinfection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the 3 months following infection.

So what does the updated guidance really mean? The CDC release added that The latest data simply suggests that retesting someone in the 3 months following initial infection is not necessary unless that person is exhibiting the symptoms of COVID-19 and the symptoms cannot be associated with another illness.

Looks like then the CDC didnt really make a statement about immunity to the Covid-19 coronavirus. This makes sense given the current state of the science. The answer to the big question of whether and how long you may develop immunity against the virus has been like taking a selfie while riding a roller coaster on a vibrating pillow: its still a moving target and unclear. As I have covered before for Forbes, scientists still dont know for sure how immunity against Covid-19 coronavirus may work. Are you immune after you recover from an infection? If so, how long may immunity last? Does everyone develop this kind of immunity? Will everyone have the same degree and duration of immunity? What does this mean for vaccine development? How many people are really wearing pants while on Zoom? So many questions are still unanswered.

Covid-19 virus antibody testing is different from testing for the presence of the virus. (Photo by ... [+] MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images)

Several studies have suggested that immunity may last for at least a few months. In a research letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine in July, a team from the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), led by Otto Yang, MD, a Professor of Medicine, described how they followed the antibody levels over time in a sample of 34 patients who had had mild Covid-19 coronavirus infections. Now 34 people isnt a lot of people unless you want to play charades on Zoom or are waiting in line for the bathroom. Nevertheless, the study did show that recorded blood levels of immunoglobulin G in this sample dropped fairly rapidly after recovery from a mild severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) infection. (You can say IgG instead of immunoglobulin G if you want to say it faster or are running from a tiger.) The average half-life for IgG in the blood was about 36 days, which meant that after about a month blood levels had dropped by roughly half. The research team followed each patient for an average of only 86 days so didnt report if patients still had IgG after three months.

As I have written before, IgG is the important antibody for longer term immunity. To remember this, think G for go as in the song Please Dont Go, by KC and the Sunshine Band. Thus, the UCLA study suggests that the antibody immune response may still be around after three months but may soon thereafter be gone baby gone.

Another piece of evidence is a pre-print article entitled SARS-CoV-2 infection induces robust, neutralizing antibody responses that are stable for at least three months posted on medRxiv. The title of this pre-print kind of gives away the conclusion of the study, sort of like renaming the movie Avengers: Infinity War with the title Large purple guy wears glove with bling and snaps fingers, making half of humanity disappear to set up a very lucrative sequel.

For this second study, a team from Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City led by Carlos Cordon-Cardo, MD, PhD, a Professor of Pathology, Molecular and Cell Based Medicine, analyzed data from a database consisting of 19,860 people screened at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City for IgG against the SARS-CoV2. Over 90% of those who had experienced mild-to-moderate Covid-19 had measured IgG in their blood about three months after the infection. Moreover, these antibodies were able to neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 in test tubes. So, like the title of the pre-print said, you may have antibody protection against the virus for at least three months.

Keep in mind though that such a pre-print is not the same as a publication in a reputable scientific journal that has gone through peer-review. In other words, other real scientists havent had a chance to formally review the study, offer feedback, and suggest changes. The study is still in the hey look, this may be interesting phase and not the heres established scientific evidence phase. So take the results from any study posted on medRxiv with a ham, cheese, and egg biscuit full of salt for now.

Another thing to consider is that IgG levels dont exactly fit immunity to a T. The response provided by your immune system to the SARS-Cov2 in part can be a bit like a friends with benefits relationship. It can be quite complex with much more than what initially meets the eye. Your immune system can produce various types of lymphocytes to help with the immune response to an infection. These include B lymphocytes, which can secrete the aforementioned antibodies that are readily measurable by blood tests. However, other components, such as T cells or T lymphocytes, can be at work under the covers, so to speak. T cells have nothing to do with T-shirts but instead are cells that can help neutralize or kill viruses in different ways.

A study published in the journal Nature found T cells in people recovering from Covid-19 and that these T cells seemed to recognize the N-proteins in the SARS-Cov2. So even if antibodies were to disappear from your blood a few months after an infection, T cells could potentially hang around for longer and provide some defense against getting infected again.

The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) web page has some new guidance about Covid-19 ... [+] coronavirus testing and quarantine. (Photo Illustration by Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Thus, the CDCs current guidance is not surprising. The dearth of more definitive guidance may not feel very satisfying, but in the words of Wilson Phillips, hold on, the science is still emerging. Scientists need more time, resources, and funding to figure things out and gather more evidence. Its been only about six or seven missed haircuts since this completely new virus emerged.

For now, the CDC is trying to give you some respite to actions that could get out of control. In theory, you could keep testing yourself up the wazoo after recovering from an infection. (Figuratively, of course, and not literally. You shouldnt be testing your bottom for the SARS-CoV2.) After all, arent people in the White House getting tested each and every day for the Covid-19 coronavirus? The new CDC recommendation may give your nose a break. It may also keep you from quarantining constantly.

So, the CDC guidance may be more about practicing moderation than having strict definitive directions to follow to a T. The immune response, the situation, and in turn what you should do may still vary significantly from person-to-person and depend on how severe your infection happened to be. As Buffy sang to Big Bird on Sesame Street, different people, different ways. After all, maybe you dont have to worry so much about getting re-infected in the three months after youve recovered from Covid-19. That is, unless you actually do get re-infected.

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How Long Are You Immune After Covid-19 Coronavirus? Here Is What CDC Says - Forbes

Find developments on the coronavirus pandemic and the plan for recovery in the U.S. and Washington state.

Where cases stand in Washington:

Many people who have recovered from COVID-19 are wondering if they're now immune to the virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added a new passage to its website that gave those patients hope, but some doctors are urging caution.

The two-sentence blurb, which made national headlines on Friday, provides guidance for when to quarantine after possible COVID exposure.

"People who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to 3 months as long as they do not develop symptoms again, the CDC states.

The Food and Drug Administration announced Saturday that the agency has issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for a saliva-based coronavirus test developed by Yale University. The test, funded by the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association, is being touted as a "game changer" by health officials.

The FDA issued the EUA to Yale's School of Public Health for the SalivaDirect COVID-19 diagnostic test, which uses a new method that processes samples of saliva.

FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D. saidin a release, Providing this type of flexibility for processing saliva samples to test for COVID-19 infection is groundbreaking in terms of efficiency and avoiding shortages of crucial test components like reagents."

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has extended the moratorium on residential, nonprofit, and small business evictions through December 31 in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Mayor Durkan signed the executive order on Friday.

While the moratorium is in place, property owners may not issue termination notices or initiate an eviction action with the courts unless there is an "imminent threat to the health and safety of the community," according to a statement from city officials on Friday.

The spread of coronavirus has started to flatten, according to state health officials, who are attributing the plateau to mask use.

Case counts are plateauing or declining across age groups in King and Yakima counties, according to a new report. Pierce County cases also might be on the decline, according to the state.

However, that doesn't mean that people can let their guards down, according to state Secretary of Health John Wiesman.

Plateauing is not enough to keep this pandemic under control; we must transition to a state of sustained decline in new cases," he said.

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) on Friday released a report that analyzes the risks of sending students back to school for in-person instruction in the fall versus remote learning.

The report by the Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM) measures the tradeoffs between minimizing COVID-19 related health risks and maximizing educational benefits for students.

Health officials do outline a plan that could put some of the youngest students back in the classroom for a limited amount of time during the week, on a rotating schedule with other students to help limit the spread of the virus.

Read more here:

What you need to know about coronavirus Saturday, Aug. 15 - KING5.com

A study by researchers in South Korea last month suggested that children between the ages of 10 and 19 spread the coronavirus more frequently than adults a widely reported finding that influenced the debate about the risks of reopening schools.

But additional data from the research team now calls that conclusion into question; its not clear who was infecting whom. The incident underscores the need to consider the preponderance of evidence, rather than any single study, when making decisions about childrens health or education, scientists said.

Some of the household members who appeared in the initial report to have been infected by older children in fact were exposed to the virus at the same time as the children. All of them may have been infected by contacts they shared.

The disclosure does not negate the overall message of that study, experts said: Children under age 10 do not spread the virus as much as adults do, and the ability to transmit seems to increase with age.

The most important point of the paper is that it clarifies the care with which we need to interpret individual studies, particularly of transmission of a virus where we know the dynamics are complex, said Dr. Alasdair Munro, clinical research fellow in pediatric infectious diseases at University Hospital Southampton in Britain.

The earlier study was not intended to demonstrate transmission from children to adults, only to describe contact tracing efforts in South Korea, said Dr. Young June Choe, assistant professor of social and preventive medicine at Hallym University College of Medicine and an author of both studies.

Most studies of childrens transmissibility have been observational and have not directly followed infected children as they spread the virus. The few studies to have done so are not directly comparable their methods, the policies regarding prevention, and the transmission levels in communities all vary widely.

Many studies have grouped together children of widely varying ages. Yet a 10-year-old is likely to be very different from a 20-year-old in terms of infection risk and transmission, as well as in type and level of social activity, Dr. Munro said.

The first study from South Korea did try to document transmission from children directly, but it grouped them in 10-year ranges. Tracing the contacts of 29 children aged 9 or younger, it found that the children were about half as likely as adults to spread the virus to others, consistent with other research.

But Dr. Choe and his colleagues reported an odd finding in the group of 124 children aged 10 to 19: They appeared significantly more likely than adults to spread the coronavirus. Experts told The Times at the time that the finding was likely to be a fluke.

The group of older children was not the same in both studies, but many appeared in both reports, Dr. Choe said. In the latest study, the researchers found only one undebatable case of transmission among older children, from a 16-year old girl, who had returned from Britain, to her 14-year-old sister.

The remaining 40 infected contacts of the older children could all be explained by a shared exposure.

The children with confirmed infections were isolated in hospitals or community treatment centers, and caregivers who had contact with them were required to wear masks, gloves, a full body suit and goggles. The low rate of transmission from older children observed here may not represent what happens in the real world.

The new report does suggest that older children are at least unlikely to transmit more than adults, said Natalie Dean, a biostatistician at the University of Florida, as had been originally claimed.

Theres no biological explanation for that, she said. It didnt make any sense to me. Over all, Dr. Dean added, Were not seeing a lot of real transmission from children.

But that may be because most studies have been too small to adequately distinguish between age groups, and because children have been kept at home, away from potential exposures.

Even if the risk of transmission from children is lower, they usually have contact with a great number of other people more so than the average adult. When schools reopen, these increased exposures create more opportunities to transmit the virus, which may counterbalance their lower propensity to transmit the virus.

Updated Aug. 14, 2020

The latest highlights as the first students return to U.S. schools.

Dr. Dean and other experts cautioned against interpreting the scientific evidence so far as saying that children under age 10 simply cannot spread the coronavirus.

But its not true to say that they do not transmit, said Bill Hanage, an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. You hear people say this, and its wrong.

All available evidence so far makes it clear that older children, particularly those closest to adulthood, may spread the virus as much as adults, he added.

Its indisputable that the highest risk of becoming infected and being detected as being infected is in older age groups, Dr. Hanage said. I think you have to be really careful before you decide to open high schools.

Conversations about reopening schools are complicated because so much depends on the level of community transmission and on socioeconomic factors, he and other experts said.

Schools can fuel the influenza viruss spread to a disproportionate degree, compared with restaurants, bars or places of worship. Children may drive those outbreaks, so closing schools during flu outbreaks makes sense, Dr. Hanage said.

But with the coronavirus, Dr. Hanage said, closing schools is not expected to provide more bang for the buck than closing other parts of society. Instead of reopening bars and restaurants along with schools, he said, schools should be prioritized, while bars and restaurants should be closed in order to reduce community transmission and make school reopenings possible.

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Older Children and the Coronavirus: A New Wrinkle in the Debate - The New York Times

Intense debate continues to rage in some school districts with plans to open classrooms on Monday.

PHOENIX In an effort to track the changes with the coronavirus outbreak in Arizona, 12 News has started a daily live blog.

Here is the live blog for Saturday, Aug. 15.

COVID-19 cases reported in Arizona on Saturday

There have been192,654confirmed cases of coronavirus and4,492 coronavirus-related deaths reported in Arizona, according to the state's latest numbers.

That is an increase from191,721cases and 4,423coronavirus-related deaths reported as of Friday.

A week ago, there were 186,107cases and4,137deaths reported in Arizona.

Benchmark data for potential school reopenings released

Maricopa County has made the benchmark data recommended by the state to decide is schools should reopen classrooms.

Local school districts will be guided to reopen by the number of coronavirus cases in their county per capita, the percent of positive cases from testing and the percentage of people hospitalized with COVID-like illnesses.

AZDHS released the plan last week as Gov. Doug Ducey's order to keep classrooms closed expires on Monday. After that, school districts can decide when to open, but Arizona Superintended Kathy Hoffman highly recommends schools follow the state guidelines.

No county in Arizona meets the state's recommendations to reopen schools.

Even still, the Queen Creek School District approved a plan to reopen campuses on Monday, August 17 in a move that's fueled pushback from teachers.

Ducey says jobless Arizonans will get $300-a-week boost in benefits after Trump action

Gov. Ducey announced a plan to give jobless Arizonans a $300-a-week boost Friday. Arizona's unemployment benefits are the second-lowest in the nation at $240.

The CARES Acted provided an additional $600 per week benefit, but it expired late last month.

Now the maximum weekly check is $540 per week through Dec. 6, or until FEMA money runs out.

Free masks available for some Arizonans

The Arizona Department of Health Services announced that some Arizonans would be able to get free masks from the state.

The department partnered with Hanes to provide free face masks to Arizonas most vulnerable populations.

Anyone who is part of a vulnerable population (including, but not limited to, individuals with medical conditions or individuals age 65 or older) is able to get a free mask.

Each other will provide five washable, reusable cloth face masks, one order per household.

The department hopes to give out two million cloth face masks.

Anyone with questions can visit the department's FAQs page or contact Hanes at 1-800-503-6698.

Arizona releases ZIP code locations of coronavirus cases, other data

The Arizona Department of Health Services has released expanded data points regarding coronavirus cases in the state.

The AZDHS website now features the location of confirmed cases in Arizona by zip code.

You can see the current ZIP code map hereand can find yours by clicking around or searching for your ZIP code in the top right of the map.

More information on coronavirus cases from Saturday

There have been 192,654 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 4,492 coronavirus-related deaths reported in Arizona.

That is an increase from 191,721 cases and 4,423 coronavirus-related deaths reported as of Friday.

There were 933 new cases reported on Saturday, an increase from the 928 new cases reported on Friday.

There were 69 new deaths reported on Saturday, an increase from the 40 new deaths reported on Friday.

There were 5,482 cases reported on the collection date of June 29, the day with the most collected diagnoses so far. That is subject to change.

Health officials said the day with the highest number of reported deaths was July 17, when 94 people died. That is subject to change.

In total, 10,966 new tests were reported on Saturday, a decrease from the 11,242 new tests reported on Friday.

There have been a total of 1,325,778 PCR and Serology tests reported to the state as of Saturday.

12.2% of those tests have been positive as of Saturday, the same as Friday.

Here's a county breakdown:

Click on the links below to find more information from each county's health department:

COVID-19 is believed to be primarily spread through coughs or sneezes.

It may be possiblefor the virus to spread by touching a surface or object with the virus and then a person touching their mouth, nose or eyes, but this is not thought to be the main method of spread, the CDC says.

You should consult your doctor if you traveled to an area currently affected by COVID-19 and feel sick with fever, cough or difficulty breathing.

There is no vaccine for the coronavirus, so the best way to prevent COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases is to:

You can text FACTS to 602-444-1212 to receive more information on the coronavirus and to ask questions.

Link:

Everything you need to know about COVID-19 in Arizona on Aug. 15 - 12news.com KPNX

Some vacation spots, salons and a range of other service providers are asking consumers to waive any legal claim they might have if they're sickened with Covid-19 while at the business.

Why we're seeing waivers for a disease

First, know that liability waivers for general injury are nothing new. Think of waivers you might have signed before playing sports or going indoor rock climbing, saying you won't sue if you get hurt.

Waivers for a communicable disease are more novel.

"As businesses are opening up, they're very concerned (that) people are going to contract coronavirus because of something (the business) did, or didn't do."

How much will these waivers really protect businesses?

Before this coronavirus, injury waivers could protect businesses somewhat, if they met certain criteria. With Covid-19, "we're in such uncharted waters ... it may be something unique for the court to interpret," Bell said.

Still, we can start by checking how courts have treated waivers before Covid-19:

Ordinary negligence, or gross negligence?

Liability waivers basically say that if a businesses does something negligent, and the person signing gets hurt, that person can't succeed in a liability suit.

Laws vary by state. But while a court might let a waiver protect a business for ordinary negligence, it generally won't for gross negligence or willful misconduct -- no matter what the waiver says, Bell said.

Bell says this is how ordinary negligence might look for Covid-19: A business disinfects its public spaces, but not as often as a government recommended. Or maybe it didn't enforce customers' social distancing as often as might be reasonable.

Maybe, if other factors are met, a coronavirus waiver would protect that business from a lawsuit, Bell said.

But gross negligence might be a gym boss knowing an employee was sick, but letting him work with clients anyway. A waiver may not protect that gym, regardless of what's on paper, Bell said.

Some states also may consider whether a waiver is generally against public policy -- that is, against the state's interest in the health and safety of its citizens, Bell said.

Is the language clear?

Courts also will weigh how easily understood the waiver is.

"The question is one of fairness: Are they clear and understandable," or "are they 48 pages of single-spaced legalese?" said Elie Honig, a CNN legal analyst and former federal and state prosecutor.

How free was the consumer to reject the service?

Courts generally will consider how realistically free a consumer was to turn down a service if they didn't want to sign a waiver, Honig said. A court might invalidate a waiver for a customer who didn't have much choice.

Compare two theoretical businesses asking consumers to sign waivers: a remote grocery store, or a gym.

The consumer may feel free to reject the gym's waiver, and therefore its services, and perhaps go elsewhere for a gym. That choice may be harder in the grocery scenario, and a court may frown on that, Honig said.

What if Congress passes a Covid-19 liability law?

Recently, Republicans in the US Senate have proposed sweeping, temporary protection against coronavirus liability lawsuits for businesses, schools, health care providers and nonprofits.

The proposal explicitly would not provide liability protections for those who engage in willful misconduct or gross negligence.

If it ever did pass, it might seem to negate the need for businesses to get consumers to sign waivers in the short term. But, "any business is probably still going to ask for waivers," Honig said.

"It's belt and suspenders" for the business, Honig said. "What if the (federal) law gets struck down?"

"I would say (as a business), good, that (federal law) looks like it protects me from negligence. But why not get a waiver, too? There's next to no downside."

Is there a difference between 'I assume all risks' and 'I waive my right to sue'?

The examples listed above say varying things. Some only include language about the consumer assuming all risk; some specifically say they waive their right to sue.

Essentially, both are saying the same thing, Bell and Honig said.

But, again, gross negligence generally would nullify the waiver, regardless of how it is written, Bell says.

An invalid waiver doesn't necessarily mean a winning lawsuit

Just as a waiver doesn't automatically mean a business is going to win in court, gross negligence doesn't necessarily mean a plaintiff is going to win a lawsuit for getting Covid-19, Bell said.

"You have to prove causation -- meaning that the establishment caused me to contract Covid," Bell said.

"That's a very steep mountain to climb, because you have to prove that you got it from there."

Coronavirus lawsuits might be more likely to succeed in cases involving confined environments like nursing homes or cruise ships, where someone might argue they couldn't go anywhere else, and therefore caught the disease nowhere else, Bell said.

What to consider before you sign

Here's what consumers should consider before signing a coronavirus waiver, according to Bell:

Read it carefully. "It should be in the kind of lay language you understand."

Inspect the business, see if they're enforcing public health guidelines, and don't sign if they're not.

"If they're not meeting the new normal you have to say to yourself, 'Am I really comfortable with this? If you're not ... walk out and go somewhere else."

CNN's Phil Mattingly contributed to this report.

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Vacation spots, salons and youth sports leagues want people to sign coronavirus waivers. Here's what to know - CNN

Fox Business Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on FoxBusiness.com.

Ten staffers at Westbrook Inc., Will and Jada Pinkett Smith's media company,have tested positive for COVID-19, according to a new report.

In a statement to Variety, the company confirmed that nearly a dozen employees tested positive for the coronavirus.

"We received 10 positive tests and the crew members quarantined and remain in quarantine," the company said Wednesday.

WILL SMITH, WARNER BROS. REACH DEAL OVER LAWSUIT ABOUT UPCOMING BIOPIC ABOUT VENUS, SERENA WILLIAMS' FATHER

Westbrook also shared it is cooperating with a Department of Health investigation.

10 staffers at Will Smith's Westbrook Inc. tested positive for COVID-19. (Getty)

Westbrook Inc. is the parent company of Westbrook Studios, Smith's TV and production company, as well as Westbrook Media, a digital content studio, Westbrook International Holdings, and Good Goods. Westbrook Studios is currently filming "King Richard" which consists of a plotbased on Richard Williams, the father of tennis professionals Venus and Serena Williams.

The outbreak at Westbrook Inc. was first reported on the Los Angeles County public health website, according to Variety. It noted workers at the company's Calabasas offices were infected.

APPLE ACQUIRES WILL SMITH FILM 'EMANCIPATION' IN RECORD DEAL

It remains unclear whether or not the outbreak began at the facility, but a rep for the company has said the office has been closed throughout the pandemic.

According to Westbrook's statement, the 10 staffers who tested positive were all retested and "have received negative results."

A truck passes a sign for free COVID-19 testing, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in San Antonio. Coronavirus testing in Texas has dropped significantly, mirroring nationwide trends, just as schools reopen and football teams charge ahead with plans to play. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

"We will continue to follow all official guidelines and safety protocols," the business said.

Sources told the outlet that Westbrook was using Rapid Reliable Testing when first conducting the initial tests and follow-up tests. However, those familiar with the situation claimed to Variety that the company has stopped using the testing firm.

Rapid Reliable Testing President Anthony Capone spoke up about its practices in an interview on Friday.

The firm collects "only nasopharyngeal or mid-turbinate nasal swabs, and only relies on molecular tests" rather than the antigen tests that are "less reliable," the outlet reported via a chat with Capone.

Capone also claimed that the 10 employees who tested negative a second time may not indicate an example of flawed tests despite questions and concerns being raised.

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"That happens," he said, adding that it's "possible they go through a similar infection period and incubation period."

Capone added that Rapid Reliable Testing has not run into any difficulties with labs.

"We have our (quality assurance) process," he told Variety. "We have not found any irregularities in the studio space in California.

Meanwhile, Will and Jada have been open with fans about living in quarantine amid the pandemic. The "Spies in Disguise" actor, 51, even launched his own Snapchat series about living in self-isolation called "Will From Home."

Jada has been busy with her Red Table Talk show, which she hosts with her mother, Adrienne Banfield-Jones,and daughter, Willow.

Last month, Will and Jada's marriage was put to the test when Jada admitted on-air that she had a past "relationship" with August Alsina while separated from Will Smith.

Smith and Pinkett Smith founded Westbrook Inc. in 2019 with Kosaku Yada, Miguel Melendez, and Tera Hanks.

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Link:

Will Smith's company hit with coronavirus outbreak - Fox Business

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced hospitalizations have dropped to 523, a new low since March 17. The Governor also announced a new record high number of COVID-19 tests reported to New York State - 88,668. The number of new cases, percentage of tests that were positive and many other helpful data points are always available atforward.ny.gov.

"In New York, we knew from the beginning that testing would be a key factor in controlling this new virus. We ramped up testing immediately and took a nation-leading role in developing capacity to test as many New Yorkers as possible, and I'm proud that we continue to raise the bar and we've broken our record high once again,"Governor Cuomo said."Yesterday's numbers - especially the new low in hospitalizations - continue to reflect the progress we've made during this pandemic, but we will keep monitoring the data and the alarming increases in cases around the country. My message is the same: stay New York Smart, wash your hands, socially distance, and wear masks!"

Yesterday, the State Liquor Authority and State Police Task Force visited 1,344 establishments in New York City and Long Island and observed 22 establishments that were not in compliance with state requirements. A county breakdown of yesterday's observed violations is below:

Today's data issummarized brieflybelow:

Of the 88,668 test results reported to New York State yesterday, 734, or 0.83 percent, were positive. Each region's percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows:

REGION

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Capital Region

0.7%

0.6%

0.5%

CentralNew York

1.0%

0.9%

0.9%

Finger Lakes

0.7%

0.8%

0.5%

Long Island

0.6%

0.8%

0.9%

Mid-Hudson

0.8%

0.9%

0.7%

Mohawk Valley

0.4%

0.6%

0.5%

New York City

1.0%

0.9%

1.0%

North Country

0.1%

0.3%

0.2%

Southern Tier

0.5%

0.6%

0.2%

WesternNew York

0.7%

0.7%

1.3%

The Governor also confirmed 734 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 424,901 confirmed cases in New York State. Of the 424,901 total individuals who tested positive for the virus, the geographic breakdown is as follows:

County

Total Positive

New Positive

Albany

2,643

4

Allegany

80

0

Broome

1,165

0

Cattaraugus

170

1

Cayuga

163

0

Chautauqua

263

3

Chemung

188

1

Chenango

218

0

Clinton

131

1

Columbia

551

0

Cortland

97

0

Delaware

107

0

Dutchess

4,668

Read more:

Governor Cuomo Announces Lowest Number of COVID-19 Hospitalizations Since March 17 and New Record-High Number of Reported Tests - ny.gov

With Washington talks on emergency coronavirus aid having stalled, both sides are playing the blame game Thursday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted Republicans for not giving "a damn." (Aug. 13) AP Domestic

The United States Postal Service has warned almost every statethat deadlines for early voting may meansome ballots cannotbe delivered in time to be counted.

Many states have put new emphasis on early voting by mail because many voters may not want to go to the polls in person because of the pandemic. The warning, blamed by the USPS on changes to limit overtime and increase efficiency,has prompted charges that the move by the Trump administration is politically motivated.

Though President Donald Trump has unleasheda barrage of attacks on "universal" mail voting,few states are actually planning that in November: Only nine states and the District of Columbia so far plan to automatically send ballots to all voters. Even in these states, in-person voting will remain an option.

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now says people who have had COVID-19 within the past three months and comein close contact with someone who is actively infected do not need to quarantine or be tested again.

Here are some significant developments:

Today's numbers:The U.S. has5.3million confirmed infections and more than 168,000deaths. Worldwide, there have been more than 767,000 deaths and more than 21.2 million cases, according toJohn Hopkins University data.

What we're reading: Some people are listening to health experts, while others ignore them. What does that mean for the future of COVID-19 in America? The psychology behind following rules, explained.

The annual light display honoring victims of 9/11 is back on, officials announced Saturday, saying New York health officials will supervise this years tribute to ensure workers safety amid concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic.

This year it is especially important that we all appreciate and commemorate 9/11, the lives lost and the heroism displayed as New Yorkers are once again called upon to face a common enemy, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement.

The announcement came days afterthe National September 11 Memorial & Museum canceled the Tribute in Lightover concerns the coronavirus might spread among crews creating twin columns of light to represent the World Trade Center in the Manhattan sky.

A school districtoutside Phoenix voted to return to in-person classes on Monday but has been forced to reverse course after pushback from staff.

J. O. Combs Unified School Districtannounced Friday afternoon that it would not open at all on Monday because too many teachers refused to show up.

Superintendent Gregory A. Wyman in a statement said the district had received an "overwhelming response" from staff indicating that they did not feel safe returning to classrooms with students.

"Due to these insufficient staffing levels, schools will not be able to re-open on Monday as planned," Wyman wrote. "At this time, we do not know the duration of these staff absences, and cannot yet confirm when in-person instruction may resume."

Lorraine Longhi, Arizona Republic

Only a handful of contact tracers working to slow COVID-19 in 125 communities near Chicago speak Spanish, despite significant Hispanic populations. Churches and advocacy groups in the Houston area are trying to convince immigrants to cooperate when health officials call. And in California, immigrants are being trained as contact tracers to ease mistrust.

The crucial job of reaching people who test positive for the coronavirus and those theyve come in contact with is proving especially difficult in immigrant communities because of language barriers, confusion and fear of the government.

The failure of health departments across the U.S. to adequately investigate coronavirus outbreaks among non-English speakers is all the more fraught given the soaring and disproportionate case counts among Latinos in many states. Four of the hardest-hit states Florida, Texas, Arizona and California have major Spanish-speaking populations.

The Associated Press

Two senior Trump-appointeesdeparted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention onFriday, according to reports from Politico and CNN.Kyle McGowan, the chief of staff, and Amanda Campbell, the deputy chief of staff, both voluntarily left the agency to start a consulting firm, according to the reports.

The CDC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Grace Hauck

A saliva-based COVID-19 test developed by researchers at Yale in partnership and funding from the NBA and National Basketball Players Association was approved on Saturday for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Called SalivaDirect, the test uses saliva samples to detect COVID-19.

"Providing this type of flexibility for processing saliva samples to test for COVID-19 infection is groundbreaking in terms of efficiency and avoiding shortages of crucial test components like reagents,"FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn said in a statement.

Researchers have been looking for a COVID-19 test that is less invasive than the nasopharyngeal swabbing method and less expensive which can lead to widespread testing and make up for shortages of other testing methods. This is the fifth saliva-based testauthorized by the FDA.

Anne Wyllie, assistant professor and associate research scientist at Yale School of Public Health, said she expects labs to charge about $10 for the test.

Jeff Zillgitt

The U.S. Postal Service is warning that it may not be able to meet many state deadlines for returning early voting ballots for the November election.The issue is arising asstates gear up for an expected avalanche of early ballotrequests byvoters fearful of going to the polls in person because of the pandemic.

The warnings, blamed on USPS changes this summer to limit overtime and increase efficiency, have gone out to almost every state, notably including such as Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Arizona.

The warning lettersto state election officials,first reported by The Washington Post, prompted immediate questions from the League of Women Voters and suspicion from the American Postal Workers Union that the warnings were politically motivated.

Kevin McCoy, Donovan Slack and Katie Wedell

Achild returning to school this fallmight go throughthe following morning routine: their parent checks them for COVID-19 symptoms, they take a socially distanced bus ride, and a faculty member, like a school nurse, conducts a final screening at the school entrance before letting them through the door.

As students return to class, many school districts have introduced routine symptom screenings into their reopening plans. But their effectiveness and feasibility in stopping the spread of COVID-19 in schools remain unclear.

Screenings are limited for a variety of reasons, including that the novel coronavirus shares many symptoms with common illnesses like the fluand not everyone with COVID-19 will have symptoms, saidAdam Karcz,director of infection prevention at Indiana University'sRiley Hospital for Children.The Centers for Disease Control and Preventiondoesn't recommend universal health screenings or COVID-19 testingat schools because of theselimitations.

Tiana Woodard,Indianapolis Star

People who have had COVID-19 within the past three months and comein close contact with someone who is actively infected do not need to quarantine, according to updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"People who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to 3 months as long as they do not develop symptoms again," the new guidance says. "People who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first bout of COVID-19 may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms."

But antibodies may begin to decline sooner than that. A June study in the journal Naturefound that antibodies may begin to decrease within 2 to 3 months after infection.

"This science does not imply a person is immune to reinfection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the 3 months following infection," CDC spokesperson Jason McDonald said in a statement. "The latest data simply suggests that retesting someone in the 3 months following initial infection is not necessary unless that person is exhibiting the symptoms of COVID-19 and the symptoms cannot be associated with another illness."

Mayo Clinic researchers reported a strong hint that blood plasma from COVID-19 survivors helps other patients recover, but its not proof and some experts worry if, amid clamor for the treatment, they'll ever get a clear answer.

More than 64,000 patients in the U.S. have been given convalescent plasma, a century-old approach to fend off flu and measles before vaccines. It's a go-to tactic when new diseases come along, and history suggests it works against some, but not all, infections.

Theres no solid evidence yet that it fights the coronavirus and, if so, how best to use it. But preliminary data from 35,000 coronavirus patients treated with plasma offers what Mayo lead researcher Dr. Michael Joyner on Friday called signals of efficacy.

After bitter battles with municipalities over mandatory mask ordinances, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has yielded to local citys demands.Kemp isexpected to sign an executive order on Saturday that allows cities like Savannah, Atlanta, Augusta and Athens to enforce the mask mandates that the governor had previously insisted had no power.

Until Friday, Kemp had strongly encouraged people to wear masks. Hed filed a lawsuit against Atlanta Mayor Kesha Lance Bottoms to drop her local mandate, but earlier this week Kemp dropped that suit.

Under the order, first reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the ordinances for businesses will only be applicable if the owner agrees to it. Kemp also said people must be given a warning before being issued a citation. Kemp has not gone as far as making masks a statewide mandate.

Rana L. Cash, Savannah Morning News

Bowling alleys, gyms, museums and other low-risk indoor cultural venues will soon be allowed to open in New York with strict COVID-19 rules, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday.

Bowling alleys will be allowed to open Monday, being limited to 50% of occupancy capacity and forced to follow other rules, such as bowlers must have a face covering and every other lane will remain closed. Food and alcohol service will also be limited to wait service, reports USA TODAY Network's New York State Team.

Museums, aquariums and other low-risk indoor cultural venues will be allowed to open in New York City on Aug. 24 with various COVID-19 restrictions, including operating at 25% occupancy capacity. In upstate communities, museums and other indoor venues opened previously.

The opening date and rules for gyms will be revealed on Monday, Cuomo said.

David Robinson, New York State Team

The Canada-U.S. border will remain closed to nonessential travel for at least another month, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said in a statement Friday, a day after Mexico announced a similar measure for its border with the United States. The land border restrictions aimed at controlling the coronavirus pandemic were first announced in March and have been renewed monthly.

Essential cross-border workers such as health care professionals, airline crews and truck drivers are still permitted to cross. Americans and Canadians returning to their respective countries are exempted from the border closure.

The Associated Press

Communities of color are dying at higher rates from the novel coronavirus than white Americans. Here's how structural inequities play a role. USA TODAY

On Facebook:There's still a lot unknown about the coronavirus. But what we do know, we're sharing with you.Join our Facebook group,Coronavirus Watch,to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19.

In your inbox:Stay up-to-date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network.Sign up for thedailyCoronavirus Watchnewsletter here.

Tips for coping:Every Saturday and Tuesday we'll be in your inbox, offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times.Sign up forStaying Apart, Togetherhere.

Contributing: The Associated Press

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Coronavirus updates: USPS says some absentee ballots may not arrive in time; it's the final weekend for massive Sturgis bike rally - USA TODAY

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- State liquor agents on Friday cited a Lakewood bar with violating health orders meant to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Patio Tavern, a Madison Avenue drinkery that describes itself on Facebook as the home of Lakewoods least expensive drinks, was cited for improper conduct, disorderly activity and limitation on hours for sales and on-premises consumption, according to a release from the State Highway Patrols Ohio Investigative Unit.

The action came after the Ohio Investigative Unit said it received several complaints about blatant violations of bars violating Gov. Mike DeWines executive orders that barred the sale of alcohol after 10 p.m. and required social distancing guidelines in bars and restaurants.

Agents watched as Patio Tavern staff served alcoholic beverages between 10:30 p.m. to 10:50 p.m., the release said. Agents went into the bar at 10:55 p.m. and saw more drinks being served, and a lack of social distancing and patrons congregating around the bar, the release said.

Agents also issued similar citations to bars near Dayton and Columbus, and cited three bars and restaurants in Athens as part of an investigation into a July 4 fatal crash.

The Ohio Liquor Control Commission will hold hearings in each case to determine whether the bars and staff should face any penalties, which could result in the establishment having to pay fines or have its liquor permit suspended or revoked.

Representatives from Patio Tavern could not be reached Saturday for comment.

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Link:

Lakewood bar accused of violating coronavirus health orders - cleveland.com