Category: Covid-19

The Denver Broncos placed three players on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday. Linebacker Andre Mintze, defensive linemen Mike Purcell and Jonathan Harris were all placed on the list. As weve seen in recent weeks, this is usually how it starts and well need to hold our breath for additional positive tests throughout the week.

Aside from that bit of news, head coach Vic Fangio was also hit with questions about his future on Monday. He obviously said he wasnt worried about his future, but he understood the importance of a strong finish.

I dont, and I know you think thats a standard answer, but for a lot of reasons I do not worry about it. Those reasons are personal for me, but do I acknowledge that its certainly out there and could happenabsolutely. Do I worry about it? I absolutely do not worry about it for many, many reasons.

He went on to say that he felt he and his staff deserve another shot at things in 2022. Whether that means his entire staff or him and his defensive staff is left up for interpretation. When asked about the offensive struggles, he did kind of call out offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur to prove it these final two games.

Pat [Shurmur] and Iand the offensive staff for that matter talk a lot, Fangio said. We have meetings regularly so yes, we do talk a lot about what wed like the offense to look like, where we think we can improve on a week-to-week basis, taking a look at what weve done in the past few week, what we can change up, [and], etc. Pat [Shurmur] has a long history of being successful in this league, and Im counting on that happening here these final two weeks.

His recent history is any indication of future performance, Shumur wont be up to task. Drew Lock and his league leading turnovers in 2020 was a scapegoat. Under Teddy Bridgewater, turnovers are way down, and yet the red zone offense languishes. The Broncos are averaging 19 points per game in 2021. They averages 20 last season.

It wasnt the turnovers, Pat. It was you.

Broncos feel close to success, focused on ending season strong"These last three losses theyre all losses, it doesnt really matter what the score is but theyve all been close games and have come down to the wire," Vic Fangio said. "We just need to find a way to get those turned in our favor.

Vic Fangio says he 'absolutely' deserves another year as Denver Broncos' coachBroncos coach Vic Fangio said Monday he "absolutely" deserves to return as the team's coach in 2022, the final season of his contract.

Teddy Bridgewater remains in concussion protocol as Broncos begin preparation for Week 17Teddy Bridgewater remains in concussion protocol after getting hurt in Week 15 against Cincinnati, so as of Monday, Drew Locks in line for his second start of the season.

Drew Lock: "I'd like to think I can sign off on almost all of (my passes)""I feel I did alright," Lock said. "Obviously there's going to be some things I want to fix and make better, but there's going to be a lot of good things on tape and a lot things I can hang my hat on and say that I was proud of this throw or that."

Talk of Vic Fangios job status with Broncos obscuring another major issueFangio's future with the Broncos is uncertain but is only one on a long list of issues GM George Paton will need to sort out.

2022 NFL Draft order: Broncos, Browns inch closer to top 10The Browns are still alive in the race for the AFC North title, but they're also a step closer to holding a top-10 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft after suffering a second straight loss. Dan Parr and Chase Goodbread provide a look at the updated first-round or

NFL head coaching carousel: What jobs will become open and who could fill them?From jobs already open, to ones where the seat is red hot.

3 winners and 5 losers from Week 16 in the NFLThe Colts are looking really scary.

Stefon Diggs told Patriots fans how the world really feels about themStefon Diggs had a relatable message for Patriots fans.

Read the original:

Denver Broncos placed three players on Reserve/COVID-19 list - Mile High Report

Weather closed several testing and vaccine sites across western Washington.

SEATTLE Winter weather forced many COVID-19 testing sites to close and cancel hundreds of appointments in western Washington.

On Monday, people were turned away from the UW Medicine testing site on Aurora Avenue. Dozens of people stood in line outside and cars lined the road of the testing site, which was scheduled to open at 9 a.m., but was closed due to weather, according to UW Medicine's website.

The website said eight other testing sites were also closed because of weather. The sites will also be closed Tuesday, December 28. UW Medicine said the Angle Lake and Renton sites will be open, but have reduced hours. The Auburn site will be open by appointment only.

Other closures include the drive-through COVID testing site at the Thurston County Fairgrounds, the Capital Mall vaccination clinic, as well as the Snohomish Health District's drive-through site.

Many people were scrambling to find an open appointment after their scheduled time was canceled on Monday. Some people were needing a test in order to travel, some needed a test to see family and others were experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

Testing right now is critical. Dr. Patrick Mathias, vice chair of clinical operations at UW Medicine, said samples in Seattle collected Christmas Eve had a 13% positivity rate, which is a record high for the pandemic.

The Polyclinic Madison Center COVID-19 testing site opened Monday for people with an appointment.

"I'm really grateful that they're out here and working," said Angela Zang, who had an appointment at the clinic.

Link:

COVID-19 testing sites shut down due to winter weather in Puget Sound region - KING5.com

CHICAGO Chicago Public Schools officials are asking students to get tested for COVID-19 on Tuesday to ensure results will be back in time for classes to resume on January 3.

The Chicago Teachers Union has said the city is failing to distribute at-home tests to the students who need them the most.

Just before winter break, schools such as Park Manor Elementary in the Grand Crossing neighborhood were virtually empty due to widespread COVID-19 cases.

Hundreds of CPS students and staff members were in quarantine due to close contact with someone who tested positive.

The school district said it has provided 150,000 home testing kits to parents to test their children and send the results back on a laptop. The district concentrated sending the tests to the areas hardest hit by the virus, though signing up for a test is possible at the CPS website.

CTU officials said most students at Park Manor were in quarantine and unable to receive the testing kits, with parents having issues accessing testing kits as well. Union members plan to walk parents through the process later Tuesday at the school.

View original post here:

CPS asking students to test for COVID-19 ahead of return to schools next week - WGN TV Chicago

The Indianapolis Colts are one of the hotter teams in the NFL coming into the final two weeks of the 2021 regular season. Theyve won six of seven and coming out of their bye have wins over the contending Patriots and Cardinals. They likely wont win the AFC South, but they should clinch a playoff spot.

Their biggest concern at the moment is COVID-19. On Monday following Week 16, the team added five players to the reserve/COVID-19 list. They have 12 players on the list, but have also implemented plans to protect quarterback Carson Wentz, who is unvaccinated. Here is their current list of players on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Well update as the final two weeks progress.

RB Marlon Mack (Placed Mon, Dec 27)WR Zach Pascal (Placed Sat, Dec 25)OL Quenton Nelson (Placed Fri, Dec 24)OL Mark Glowinski (Placed Thu, Dec 23)OL Braden Smith (Placed Mon, Dec 27)DE Kemoko Turay (Placed Wed, Dec 22)LB Malik Jefferson (Placed Mon, Dec 27)LB Darius Leonard (Placed Sat, Dec 25)CB T.J. Carrie (Placed Mon, Dec 27)CB Rock Ya-Sin (Placed Wed, Dec 22)S Jahleel Addae (Placed Mon, Dec 27)S Khari Willis (Placed Sat, Dec 25)

If unvaccinated, a player must miss five days if a close contact and ten days if due to a positive test. If vaccinated, a player does not have to miss a game as a close contact. If he tests positive, he can return if he is asymptomatic for at least 24 hours by one of the following options:

The previously policy required two negative tests at least 24 hours apart, but that has been cut down considerably with these new protocols.

Read this article:

Colts COVID-19 news: Which Colts players are on the COVID-19 list in Week 17? - DraftKings Nation

The Las Vegas Raiders are on the outside looking in at the AFC playoff picture, but they still have a chance. They head into Week 17 with an 8-7 record and are in tenth place. The 8-7 Dolphins hold the final wild card berth, and the Raiders are currently tied with them, the Ravens, and the Chargers.

The Raiders have dealt with a host of issues, including the firing of head coach Jon Gruden. Special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia is serving as interim head coach and the team has begun the process of finding their permanent next head coach. If Bisaccia can somehow guide this team to the playoffs, that might be enough to secure him the permanent title.

However, it wont be easy. Along with injuries and other issues, COVID-19 remains a hurdle for every NFL team. The Raiders placed eight players on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday to open Week 17. The team returns to practice on Wednesday, and well update this list as the team progresses through the final two weeks of the regular season.

QB Marcus Mariota (Placed Mon, Dec 27)WR Bryan Edwards (Placed Mon, Dec 27)OL Jermaine Eluemunor (Placed Thu, Dec 23)DT Darius Philon (Placed Mon, Dec 27)LB K.J. Wright (Placed Mon, Dec 27)LB Denzel Perryman (Placed Mon, Dec 27)LB Patrick Onwuasor (Placed Mon, Dec 27)LB Cory Littleton (Placed Mon, Dec 27)CB Casey Hayward, Jr. (Placed Mon, Dec 27)CB Brandon Facyson (Placed Wed, Dec 22)S Roderic Teamer (Placed Thu, Dec 23)

If unvaccinated, a player must miss five days if a close contact and ten days if due to a positive test. If vaccinated, a player does not have to miss a game as a close contact. If he tests positive, he can return if he is asymptomatic for at least 24 hours by one of the following options:

The previously policy required two negative tests at least 24 hours apart, but that has been cut down considerably with these new protocols.

Read the rest here:

Which Raiders players are on the COVID-19 list? - DraftKings Nation

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- To Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich, it was just a matter of time before his team would be adding a few players to the NFL's COVID-19 list.

The Colts placed safety Jahleel Addae, cornerback T.J. Carrie, linebacker Malik Jefferson, running back Marlon Mack and tackle Braden Smith on the list Monday. Smith has been a key member of the offensive line that has helped Jonathan Taylor lead the league in rushing. Cornerback Chris Wilcox went on the practice squad COVID-19 list.

Its interesting that since we had more unvaxxed players than the average around the league that we were one of the last teams to (test) positive, Reich said. You kind of feel like its going to catch up with you at some point just because the virus is so rampant. But this is what you prepare for, hitting adversity you dont expect, although this is something we probably could have expected to hit us at some point.

As for changes in operations this week, Reich said: There are going to be some elements that are virtual this week. It could be all meetings are virtual and guys just come in for practice.

The NFL mandated that all media covering playoff teams and games, and the Super Bowl, must have received a COVID-19 booster by Jan. 12. Exceptions are for:

An individual who is not eligible for a booster pursuant to the CDC definition;

An individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days;

An individual who received monoclonal antibodies within the immediately preceding 90 days.

Also:

The Carolina Panthers sent all of their players home from Bank of America Stadium after six more players tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.

That brings the total number of Carolina players on the COVID-19 list to 13.

Defensive end Brian Burns, linebacker Shaq Thompson, defensive end Marquis Haynes, defensive tackle Phil Hoskins, center Matt Paradis and defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon all tested positive on Monday. Paradis and Nixon were already on injured reserve.

Panthers coach Matt Rhule said the decision to send players home was made to stem the tide and get things under control. The team will conduct its meetings virtually until then, and Rhule is hoping to have players back in the building for practice on Wednesday.

The Panthers lost 32-6 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday and have been eliminated from playoff contention. They visit the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

The Jacksonville Jaguars placed 10 players on the COVID-19 list Monday, including five defensive linemen and two starting offensive linemen.

Because left guard Andrew Norwell is unvaccinated, he will be out at least 10 days under NFL protocols and will miss Sundays game at New England. The other nine players are vaccinated and have a chance to play against the Patriots.

The Jaguars already ruled out pass rusher Josh Allen, who also is unvaccinated and wont be cleared in time to play. He tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday along with receiver Laviska Shenault and right guard Ben Bartch.

The Tennessee Titans got left guard Rodger Saffold and rookie defensive back Elijah Molden back from the COVID-19 list. They still have two other offensive linemen still on the list, and they also put four players including three starters on the list, including outside linebacker Bud Dupree, wide receiver Julio Jones, defensive back Buster Skrine and receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. They also put cornerback Caleb Farley, whos on injured reserve, on the list.

Tennessee can clinch the AFC South for a second straight year with one victory or an Indianapolis loss. The Titans host Miami on Sunday.

The Cleveland Browns, who have been hit as hard as any team by COVID-19 the past few weeks, activated eight players, including defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and running back Kareem Hunt.

Clowney has missed the past two games -- both losses -- and his return will help a pass rush that hasnt been the same without him. Starting left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. is also back. Hes been replaced the last two games by left guard Joel Bitoni, who can slide back to his usual spot.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, hard hit by injuries on offense, put star wideout Mike Evans on the COVID-19 list, but activated wide receiver Breshad Perriman from it. Evans missed Sundays game with an injury. Wide receivers coach Kevin Garver also went on the list.

The Green Bay Packers placed G Ben Braden, LB Tipa Galeai, WR Amari Rodgers and LB Ty Summers on the list, and placed defensive lineman RJ McIntosh on the practice squad COVID-19 list.

The Houston Texans added RB David Johnson, LB Neville Hewitt and practice squad fullback Paul Quessenberry to the list.

The Cincinnati Bengals placed backup quarterback Brandon Allen and already-injured cornerback/kick returner Darius Phillips on the list. Phillips (shoulder), who was the Bengals primary kick returner, has been on injured reserve since Dec. 9.

Allen has been the No. 2 quarterback behind starter Joe Burrow. The team will likely have to add a quarterback to the roster.

Starting defensive tackle D.J. Reader missed last Sundays game after going on the COVID-19 list on Dec. 20, the same day that starting cornerback Chidobe Awuzie came off it.

Cincinnati hosts Kansas City on Sunday.

The San Francisco 49ers placed punter Mitch Wishnowsky on COVID-19 list.

The Las Vegas Raiders added CB Casey Hayward, LB Cory Littleton, LB Patrick Onwuasor, LB Denzel Perryman, DT Darius Philon and LB K.J. Wright to the list.

The Seahawks added defensive end L.J. Collier to the list. Collier played 25 snaps in Sundays loss to the Bears. Seattle has six players from the 53-man roster on the virus list.

Minnesota placed guard Olisaemeka Udoh on the list.

Denver added starting defensive lineman Mike Purcell and outside linebacker Andre Mintze to the list.

More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/APNFL

More here:

COVID-19 issues continue in NFL; Colts, Panthers hit hard - ABC News

Im not sure this is a question for the Moneyist, but here goes. Im 34, I live alone, and I have not gotten vaccinated. Heres my issue: I have a fake vaccine card that I only very occasionally flash to get into bars and restaurants. I choose restaurants that I know are not crowded, and I am in the age group that has only relatively mild symptoms from COVID-19.

I have a friend who had bad side effects from the vaccine elevated heart rate and it put me off getting one. I have a never say never approach. I dont go out that much, but I will obviously be meeting friends and family over Christmas. My family knows Im not vaccinated. They have made their decision about whether they want to see me, and they have no problem with that.

My family knows Im not vaccinated. They made their decision about whether they want to see me, and they have no problem with that. I just want to get through 2022 with as little hassle as possible.

Im fed up with the coronavirus, Im fed up with the government telling me what to do, and Im fed up with omicron. My best friend told me she didnt want to see me if I was going to use a fake vaccine card. She is vaccinated. But she wont even see me outside, and she has other friends who are not vaccinated whom she has met for walks in the park, and drinks and stuff.

I want to get through 2022 with as little hassle as possible, and the pandemic has made my anxiety 10 times worse. I barely use the card, only when I really need it. Is that really so bad? The way she went on, you would swear I had robbed a bank, or worse. I said cutting me off was not the answer to a problem, and not a way to treat our friendship.

Another Christmas Canceled

Were all fed up.

Rather than think about how your friend is treating you, think about how you are treating people who dont know you are unvaccinated. They are gathering in a place that requires vaccine cards and, as such, where they have reduced the risk of contracting coronavirus. By entering under false pretenses, you have chosen to violate their trust.

We can only get through this if we wear masks, socially distance and get vaccinated. People have a choice to either get vaccinated or not. Choosing the latter and then using a fake vaccine card is not the answer to your anxiety, dealing with a public-health crisis responsibly, or handling a friendship.You are rolling the dice for yourself, but worse you are also rolling the dice for other people.

As for the vaccine side effects: A miniscule percentage of people have serious adverse events. The vast majority of people experience tiredness, a sore arm, headache, and/or muscle pain. Read this data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you think those potential side effects are an inconvenience, try spending two weeks in bed with COVID-19, losing your taste and smell, or being the reason a beloved older relative ends up on a ventilator.

You want people to respect your decision not to get vaccinated, but you are not giving others that same respect: You are not giving them all the information they need to make an informed decision.

Now for the legal and financial part: Using a fake vaccine card is a federal crime. The cards carry two federal seals: one from the CDC and the other from the Department of Health and Human Services. Forging vaccine cards, a crime that has been on the rise since President Bidens vaccine mandate, could result in prison time. You may not get sent to prison, but you could lose your job.

Fake vaccine cards capitalize on peoples fear about science, and anger about the pandemic and the governments response. The typical cost of a fake vaccine card with the CDC logo was $100 on Sept. 2. The day after Bidens Sept. 9 announcement that he would mandate vaccines for federal workers, the price doubled to $200, according to Check Point Software Technologies.

The coronavirus is exploiting the lack of herd immunity and pockets of unvaccinated people to find ways to mutate and spread. The phony vaccine card manufacturers are exploiting the fears and resentments of unvaccinated Americans who want to cheat and/or game the public healthcare system, and vulnerable people most at risk. And you are exploiting the trust of people you encounter in public spaces.

The coronavirus is exploiting the pockets of unvaccinated people to mutate and survive. The phony vaccine card manufacturers are exploiting the fears and resentments of unvaccinated Americans.

Over 800,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the U.S. Thats higher than the estimated U.S. death toll from the 1918 influenza. Vaccinations have been shown to reduce the likelihood of hospitalization and death from COVID-19, and early research suggests the omicron variant can evade immunity from two vaccine doses or past infection, highlighting the importance of a booster dose.

The person you infect may not come down with a serious illness, but what about their friends brothers grandmother or next-door neighbor? I believe vaccinated people should respect the decision of those who decide not to get vaccinated. But the problem here is you are not giving people that same courtesy: You are not giving them all the information they need to make an informed decision.

Your more vulnerable and elderly family members appear to have given you a green light for the holiday parties. By virtue that you are a daughter or granddaughter, you have goodwill and emotional leverage in that relationship. Forcing your family to choose between you and a vaccine puts you at an unfair advantage. If you dont want to get vaccinated, dont do it. But why put other people at risk?

If you dont want to get vaccinated, thats your right. We all have to make that decision for ourselves. So take your chances, and stay home. By visiting family and going to bars and restaurants, you are giving the virus a pathway to spread. At least be honest with yourself about that. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Your broken friendship should be the least of your and our worries.

You can email The Moneyist with any financial and ethical questions related to coronavirus at qfottrell@marketwatch.com, and follow Quentin Fottrell onTwitter.

Check outthe Moneyist private Facebookgroup, where we look for answers to lifes thorniest money issues. Readers write in to me with all sorts of dilemmas. Post your questions, tell me what you want to know more about, or weigh in on the latest Moneyist columns.

The Moneyist regrets he cannot reply to questions individually.

More from Quentin Fottrell:

I live with my girlfriend, 59, who owns several homes and has saved $3 million. I pay utilities and cable, and do lots of repairs. Is that enough?Until now, Ive been waiting tables: Im 32, and just started a new job in a factory. I have a 401(k) and an emergency fund. What can I do to retire at 55?He is the most computer-illiterate person I know: I was my husbands research analyst, caregiver, cook and housekeeper. Now he wants a divorce after 38 years.My daughter, 29, will inherit a substantial sum from her late grandfather. But my husband maintains a tight grip on her trust.

Read this article:

I have a fake COVID-19 vaccine card. My best friend won't speak to me. Don't I have the right to make these decisions for myself? - MarketWatch

CHICAGO COVID-19 is putting a wrinkle in New Years Eve plans, but the show will still go on in the city.

As the city prepares to celebrate yet another New Year during a pandemic, the more things have changed the more they are actually staying the same.

People are going to do what they want to do, theres a gradation of safety, Pritzker said.

Chicago is planning the biggest fireworks celebration in the citys history along the Chicago River and at Navy Pier. Various downtown bridges will host launch spots.

While some are excited to celebrate in style, others say not so fast.

I think typically Id go out and do something with other people more but this year were not doing that. We just think its a little big safer to be at home, its good to be with family still, Evanston resident Annalise Vernon said.

In a press release Monday, the city is both encouraging people to stay home and go out. Large hotel parties are already sold out. Many restaurants, especially with views of the fireworks, are booked.

While masks will be mandatory, vaccines will not be due to the citys rule going into effect on Jan. 3.

Last week saw the biggest spike in state COVID-19 cases yet.

If residents want to attend the parties at Navy Pier, you will have to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within the past 72 hours.

Read the original:

COVID-19 putting a wrinkle in Chicago New Years Eve plans, but show will go on - WGN TV Chicago

New York City, home to the nations largest school system, will eliminate its current policy of quarantining entire classrooms exposed to Covid, and will instead use a ramped-up testing program to allow asymptomatic students who test negative for the coronavirus to remain in school.

The new policy, which Mayor Bill de Blasio referred to as Stay Safe, and Stay Open, will take effect on Jan. 3, when the nearly one million students who attend the citys public schools are scheduled to return from holiday break.

Mr. de Blasio, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor-elect Eric Adams, who takes office on Sunday, appeared together at a news conference on Tuesday to present a united front against school closures, despite an enormous surge in cases driven by the Omicron variant that has only worsened in the days since city schools closed for winter break last week.

Your children are safer in school, the numbers speak for themselves, Mr. Adams said.

Instead of delaying the start of in-person school and pivoting to remote learning, as some other school districts across the state and country are doing, the city will aim to detect more infections while mitigating disruptions. Ms. Hochul thanked educators for their work during school closures, but called remote learning a failed experiment that was extremely difficult for many students and had caused major disruptions.

Hundreds of classrooms either entirely closed or partially closed last week. The citys previous policy was to quarantine unvaccinated close contacts of infected students for 10 days. Many elementary school children in particular have not been vaccinated, even though they are eligible.

Now, instead of sending classes of unvaccinated students home to learn online when one or more students test positive, the students will be given rapid at-home tests. If they are asymptomatic and test negative, they can return the day after their first negative test. Students will then be given a second at-home test within seven days of their exposure.

But that does not mean that the new semester will be without disruption. New York will still close entire schools when there is evidence of major in-school spread.

Schools remain among the safest settings in our communities, Dr. Dave A. Chokshi, the citys health commissioner, said on Tuesday.

He said that even if virus rates continued to rise across the city and in schools, we estimate that in schools about 98 percent of close contacts do not end up developing Covid-19.

Ms. Hochul said Monday that she would send two million rapid at-home tests to New York City schools in the coming days.

Dr. Michael Mina, a former Harvard University epidemiologist, has been a forceful advocate of using testing to keep classrooms open and children in school.

But Dr. Mina, who is now the chief science officer for eMed, which distributes at-home tests, said that testing children twice a week in classrooms where an infection was detected would simply not do enough to dramatically reduce transmission. Instead, he said, those who have been exposed should be tested every day.

By testing just twice, youre very likely to miss when someone becomes infectious and potentially becomes a superspreader, he said. This virus goes from zero to a 100 easily in a day or maybe two days.

Police Commissioner: Keechant Sewell. The Nassau County chief of detectives will becomeNew York Citys first female police commissioner, taking over the nations largest police force amid a crisis of trust in American policing and a troubling rise in violence.

Commissioner of Correction Department: Louis Molina. The former N.Y.P.D. officerwho currently oversees a public safety department in Las Vegas will be tasked with leading the citys embattled Correction Departmentand restoring order at the troubled Rikers Island jail complex.

Chief Counsel: Brendan McGuire. After a stint as a partner in a law firms white-collar practice, the former federal prosecutor will return to the public sector to advise the mayor on legal mattersinvolving City Hall, the executive staff and administrative matters.

Deputies. Lorraine Grillo will be the top deputy mayor, Meera Joshi will be deputy mayor for operations, Maria Torres-Springer deputy mayor for economic development, Anne Williams-Isom deputy mayor for health and human services and Sheena Wright deputy mayor for strategic operations.

Seventeen of the citys roughly 1,600 schools closed temporarily during the fall semester, with more than half of the closures taking place during its final two weeks.

Mr. de Blasio has faced criticism for subjecting only a small percentage of consenting students in schools to random surveillance testing about 10 percent in each school each week. The city aims to ramp up random testing to include 20 percent of students in each school weekly.

In another shift, the city will now test both vaccinated and unvaccinated students, whereas for months it only tested unvaccinated students. Omicron is extremely contagious, even among vaccinated people.

But theres a catch: Only students whose parents have allowed them to be tested are eligible, meaning many children are not involved in the effort. City officials plan to encourage more parents to opt their children into the random testing pool.

City and state officials have also emphasized in recent days that many more eligible young children in particular need to get vaccinated to keep schools safe amid Omicron. The city sent vaccine trucks to schools when the shots were first authorized for young children this fall, but now its significantly easier for parents to find appointments for first or second doses.

Joseph Goldstein contributed reporting.

More:

NYC Schools Will Reopen with More Covid-19 Testing to Limit Closures - The New York Times

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to plague the NFL. More than 400 players have tested positive in December alone, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, compared to 262 player positives all of last year (from the start of the regular season through the Super Bowl).

Many high-profile players have missed games this season after testing positive for the virus, and more players will undoubtedly miss time during the final two weeks of the 2021 regular season.

The Saints were crushed by the virus ahead of their "Monday Night Football" showdown with the Dolphins. It showed as the Saints fell 20-3 with rookie QB Ian Book making his NFL debut. New Orleans was down its top two quarterbacks due to COVID. The Saints were also without four defensive starters with linebackers Kaden Elliss,Demario Davisand Kwon Alexander -- as well as strong safetyMalcolm Jenkins-- all on reserve/COVID.

Here's an updated look at each team's current COVID-19 situation as we head into Week 17, specifically which players are on COVID reserve:

(NOTE: This list does not include players on practice squad or injured reserve.)

The rest is here:

NFL COVID-19 tracker, Week 16: Depleted Saints fall to Dolphins with several defensive starters, top 2 QBs out - CBS Sports