Category: Covid-19

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Investors have been fixated on growth companies over the past year, and one segment which has been on the rise is the fledgling cannabis industry. The sector offers a unique proposition and the prospect of further growth, as there is still a major catalyst on the horizon which will completely alter the industry. As expected, a Democrat led senate has been good news for those banking on marijuana reform at the federal level; And it looks like the anticipated changes could happen faster than initially expected. Backed by Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, Democratic Senators have stated that they will push for federal-level legalization of marijuana, promising a unified discussion draft on comprehensive [cannabis] reform in the first half of this year. The statement feeds expectations that the Democratic Congressional majority will pass and that President Biden will sign a bill to legalize marijuana. Investors are also looking at further state-level legalization moves; one key state in this regard is New York. So, the cannabis industry is looking up. There is an expanding network of state legalization regimes, and expectations of a change in federal policy; both are putting upward pressure on cannabis shares. Against this backdrop, we used TipRanks database to find two cannabis stocks that have been earmarked as 'Strong Buys' by the analyst consensus. Both have posted impressive year-to-date performances, and stand to rise even more in the year ahead. Village Farms International (VFF) We will start with Village Farms International, a company that has long been involved in the niche agricultural business. The company started out as a farmer, producing high-quality greenhouse vegetables year-round for sale in the North American market. That background fit the company well for a transition to the cannabis industry Village Farms has experience in greenhouse production and industrial-scale growing. Village Farms shares are showing a tremendous growth profile, up 327% in the past 12 months with a strong spike in recent days. Two important pieces of news precipitated the surge since the end of January. First, the company has fully repaid ahead of schedule the $15 million debt it incurred during its November acquisition of the cannabis growing company Pure Sunfarms. And second, Village Farms increased its investment in the Asian cannabinoid company Altum by 50%, to hold a 10% stake in the company. The move increases the international reach of Village Farms, and its ability to increase Altum holdings in the future. The company was able to fund these moves because it had a successful equity sale in January, putting an additional 10.8 million shares on the market, and raising US$135 million in new capital. In addition to its strong capital and expansion positions, Village Farms has been reporting solid financial results. The company saw US$43 million in revenue for 3Q20, a gain of 12.5% year-over-year. EPS came in at 1 cent per share, a turnaround from the US$0.10 loss in the year-ago quarter. Covering Village Farms for Craig-Hallum, 5-star analyst Eric Des Lauriers writes: Village Farms has clearly established itself as the leading cannabis producer in Canada with #1 brand share and industry-leading profitability. Canadian cannabis sales in 2020 through October (latest available) were up 128% y/y, and dispensary counts are set to accelerate through 2021, providing a tailwind to VFF revenues. Turning to the US markets, and VFFs position in Canadas larger neighbor, the analyst goes on to add, With 5.7M SF of greenhouses in TX, the company also has real US optionality, which is finally being appreciated by investors after the GA election. VFF has historically been undervalued compared to less profitable peers, but we expect shares to continue working higher as the prospect for US reform increases throughout the year. To this end, Des Lauriers rates VFF a Buy, and his $25 price target suggests the stock has room for ~26% upside in the coming year. (To watch Des Lauriers track record, click here) Overall, there are 3 recent reviews on VFF shares, and all are Buys, giving the stock a Strong Buy analyst consensus rating and showing a general agreement on Wall Street about the companys strengths. Shares are priced at $19.90, and the $24.33 average price target implies an upside of ~23% for the year ahead. (See VFF stock analysis on TipRanks) TerrAscend Corporation (TRSSF) The next cannabis stock were looking at, TerrAscend, is another major cannabis producer in both the US, Canada, and Europe. The company is involved in both the medical and recreational sides of the market, and both grows and produces cannabis and markets a range of products through numerous brand names. TerrAscends US operations are located in California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Utah, and the company looks to expand as more states legalize cannabis. In a strong sign of the cannabis industrys strength, TRSSF shares are up a sky-high 624% over the past 12 months. Growth has been fueled by expansion of the cultivation operations in California and Pennsylvania, and by the move into the adult-use recreational market in New Jersey. Last month, TerrAscend closed a non-brokered private placement stock sale, putting more than 18 million common shares on the market. The sale price was C$12.35 (US$9.72), and the offering grossed C$224 million (US$176.3 million). The bulk of the proceeds some 80% of the total was put up by four large US-based institutional investors. The funds raised will be used to continue expansion of the companys cultivation operations (TRSSF has plans to expand growing and manufacturing ops in New Jersey), as well as to pursue merger & acquisition activities. TerrAscends rapid growth and strong future prospects have attracted attention from top-rated analysts, including 5-star analyst Eric Des Lauriers of Craig-Hallum (stated above). "TerrAscend is a leading multi-state operator (MSO) in the US cannabis market with top-tier management, assets, and access to deal flow. We have been bullish on the company since initiating coverage last year and are happy to say the TRSSF team has exceeded our expectations, generating rapid increases in margins and operating leverage that have earned them a place solidly in the Top Tier of MSOs," Des Lauriers noted. The analyst summed up, "[With] US$280M+ raised since the elections and federal reform moving quicker than expected, we think TRSSF does deserve a premium to peers." In line with his bullish comments, Des Lauriers rates TRSSF shares a Buy, and has a $20 price target that implies a ~31% upside potential for the next 12 months. Once again, were looking at a stock with broad agreement from Wall Streets analysts the Strong Buy consensus rating is unanimous, based on 7 recent reviews. Shares are selling for $15.30, and their recent appreciation has pushed that price almost up to the $15.43 average price target. (See TRSSF stock analysis on TipRanks) To find good ideas for cannabis stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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COVID-19 outbreak in Arizona is 'still bad' and 'not under control': doctor - Yahoo Finance

Officials said that no misconduct is suspected and that the company uses tracking software on vaccine shipments.

The Knox County Health Department said Wednesday that 975 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine appeared to be missing, saying it believes the doses were mistakenly thrown away.

Officials said Tennessee leaders confirmed that the doses were shipped to the Knox County Health Department. However, county health leaders said that they had no record of receiving the vaccines.

KCHD Director Dr. Martha Buchanan was tearful when she announced the loss of the doses -- as each one is precious in this stage of the vaccine rollout due to the limited supply and critical protection they will provide to the most at-risk.

"It was a kick in the gut for all us," she said fighting through tears. "We remain very committed to integrity and transparency, which is why we're here today."

The box of vaccine that disappeared was intended to be distributed as second doses for people who already received their first dose. KCHD said it will need to use vaccine doses that were originally set aside as first doses to make up for the loss -- saying they will still honor appointments for people had them this week.

This is something you certainly hope never happens and we are working with the State to determine how it did, Buchanan said. It is an unfortunate situation, but in the meantime, our vaccination efforts continue unabated.

Buchanan said, based on GPS data, it appears the doses were accidentally discarded. She said different types of insulated boxes arrive for the Pfizer vaccine -- one containing vaccine doses preserved with dry ice inside a thermal container, and another that typically arrives a day later containing just dry ice in case the doses aren't put in on-site cold storage and need to be kept in the shipping container for longer. She said the boxes look nearly identical, saying they are "kind of generic."

Buchanan said KCHD orders vaccine every week and it has received doses and dry ice shipments on regular intervals. Two weeks ago, KCHD said it received two shipments -- a group of first-dose vaccine on Thursday, and another shipment on Friday that a team member believed was a dry ice-only shipment.

Based on the timing of the shipment and the similarities in the boxes, Buchanan said the team member discarded the box they thought contained just dry ice. However, once the second-dose vaccine shipment was reported missing, the team member reported what they feared happened.

"That's when the team member said, 'Oh goodness, maybe there was a second-dose shipment that I thought was dry ice," Buchanan explained.

Pfizer uses GPS-enabled thermal sensors to track the location and temperature of each vaccine shipment, so it is unclear how an error like this could occur. No misconduct is suspected, officials said.

"There are still a lot of questions to answer," Buchanan said. "Why didn't the GPS tracker work? Why didn't the temperature tracker work?"

The department held a short-notice press briefing on Wednesday about the discrepancy. They said that 975 doses are equivalent to 1.7% of all vaccines distributed in Knox County.

In the early stages of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution, the county distributed the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

The health department also released a new waitlist system Wednesday morning. Eligible people can sign up through the health department's website, by calling 311 or the Health Department at 865-215-5555.

In total, more than 56,000 vaccinations have been administered.

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'It was a kick in the gut': KCHD says 975 COVID-19 vaccines are believed to have been accidentally discarded - WBIR.com

We are still seeing far too many deaths, but this decreased positivity rate is a really hopeful leading indicator, Beshear said. We have come so far in our fight against this virus now, we need to hang on until we reach the finish line.

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1,914 cases of COVID-19, 49 new deaths reported in Kentucky - WXIX

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) The South Dakota Department of Health announced six new deaths due to COVID-19 as active cases dropped below 2,200 on Wednesday.

According to the latest update, 175 new total coronavirus cases were announced bringing the states total case count to 109,580, from Tuesday (109,405). Total recovered cases are now at 105,614, up from Tuesday (105,352).

Active cases are now at 2,151, down from Tuesday (2,244).

Six new COVID-19 deaths in South Dakota was reported on Wednesday. The death toll is at 1,815. The new deaths were five men and one woman in the following age ranges: 60-69 (2) and 80+ (4).

Current hospitalizations are at 109, the same from Tuesday (109). Total hospitalizations are at 6,397.

Total persons negative is now at 300,061, from Tuesday (298,972).

There were 1,264 new persons tested reported on Wednesday. Wednesdays new person tested positivity rate is 13.8%.

The latest seven-day all test positivity rate reported by the DOH is 6.7%. The DOH calculates that based on the results of the PCR test results but doesnt release total numbers for how many PCR tests are done daily. The latest one-day PCR test positivity rate is 8.1%.

Vaccine tracking is now being reported by the state. As of Wednesday, 60,812 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 68,729 doses of the Moderna vaccine have been administered to 89,050 total persons.

According to the South Dakota Department of Health, 21,619 people have received the second dose of the Moderna vaccine, while 18,872 people have completed the Pfizer vaccine series.

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COVID-19 in South Dakota: 175 total new cases; Death toll rises to 1,815; Active cases at 2,151 - KELOLAND.com

Merck & Co. is in talks with governments, public-health authorities and companies to potentially help with manufacturing Covid-19 vaccines already authorized, a company spokesman said.

The discussions mean Merck could play an even larger role in responding to the pandemic, beyond its current effort in advancing two potential Covid-19 therapies, according to Merck.

Helping manufacture Covid-19 vaccines could also allow the Kenilworth, N.J.-based company to remain involved in the global vaccination drive. Last month, Merck scrapped its two vaccine programs after disappointing results in clinical trials.

"We believe we have an important responsibility to contribute to the pandemic response and remain at the ready to do so," the spokesman said.

Global supply of Covid-19 vaccines, first authorized by governments late last year, remains in limited supply, prompting vaccine-makers such as Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE to partner with rivals. On Wednesday, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Chief Executive Kare Schultz said the Israeli drugmaker is in talks with Covid-19 vaccine makers to help manufacture shots.

Many scientists and public-health experts placed high hopes on Merck, which pioneered vaccines that have become staples around the world, including the first to prevent mumps, chickenpox, rubella and shingles. The company was slower than rivals to pursue Covid-19 vaccines, and executives expressed concern about the years vaccine research usually takes, and that it would divert resources from thriving areas, such as cancer drugs, The Wall Street Journal reported in October.

One of the experimental drugs Merck is working on would treat severe and critical Covid-19 patients. Merck received the drug through a $425 million acquisition of the firm OncoImmune. Merck expects results from a late-stage study by the end of March.

Another therapy, an oral antiviral called molnupiravir and developed with privately held Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP, is under evaluation in hospitalized and outpatient Covid-19 patients.

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Covid-19 Live Updates: Double Masks Offer Better Protection, CDC Finds - WSJ.com - The Wall Street Journal

Posted: Feb 10, 2021 / 12:14 PM EST / Updated: Feb 10, 2021 / 04:09 PM EST

Today, the Erie County Department of Health is reporting one of the lowest daily case counts for COVID-19 in months.

The county is reporting 23 new cases along with five new deaths. The cumulative total now stands at 16,220 with 413 total deaths (reported in NEDSS).

As of this morning, there were 40 total COVID-19 hospitalizations with three people on ventilators in Erie County.

Of the cumulative cases in the county, 53% are female and 47% are male. The breakdown of cumulative cases by race/ethnicity is as follows: 51% White residents 7% African American/Black residents 2% Asian residents 1% Other 38% UnknownThree percent of the cases are Hispanic, of any race; 35% are not Hispanic; and 62% are unknown.The age breakdown of the cumulative cases is as follows: 1% are ages 0-4 1% are ages 5-9 8% are ages 10-18 12% are ages 19-24 38% are ages 25-49 22% are ages 50-64 19% are ages 65 and olderNote: Percent values of each breakdown may not total 100 due to rounding.

Across the region:

Watch Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper give her weekly update on COVID-19 in Erie County Feb. 10, 2021:

Across the commonwealth, the Pennsylvania Department of Health is reporting 3,378 new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 880,291.

The department is also reporting 125 new deaths, for a statewide total of 22,745 deaths.

There are 2,890 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that number, 574 people are in the intensive care unit with COVID-19.

The trend in the 14-day moving average number of hospitalized patients per day has increased by nearly 2,800 since the end of September. Statewide percent positivity for the week of January 29 February 4 stood at 8.6%.

Through Feb. 9 1,401,840 doses of the vaccine have been administered to 1,084,502 people. 1,084,502, or 76 percent, of people have received their first dose of vaccine. 317,338, or 31 percent, of people have received their second dose of vaccine.

To date, 3,725,236 people have tested negative in Pennsylvania.

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Erie County reports 23 new cases of COVID-19; PA reports 3,378 more than 1.4 million vaccinations - YourErie

Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the Chicago Teachers Unions leadership reached a tentative agreement Sunday to reopen city schools for families seeking in-person instruction, narrowly avoiding a strike, sources said. Any deal is contingent on broader union approval of the terms via a vote by the unions 25,000 members.

Union officials indicated a vote by CTUs 25,000 members could begin late Monday or Tuesday, but only after the House of Delegates decides whether to send the vote to the full membership.

Under the tentative framework, the first group of students and staff pre-K and special education cluster programs would return Feb. 11.

Heres whats happening Monday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:

5:50 p.m. (update): Dems propose $1,400 direct payments to individuals as part of $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan

Democrats on a pivotal House panel have proposed an additional $1,400 in direct payments to individuals, bolstered unemployment benefits and more generous tax breaks for families with children and for lower earners as Congress began piecing together a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package on Monday.

The plan is expected to closely follow President Joe Bidens proposed package to address the tolls of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed over 460,000 Americans, and the nations still staggering economy, which has lost 10 million jobs since the crisis began last year. Biden, less than three weeks into his presidency, has declared that defeating the virus and fixing the economy are his top priorities.

The proposal by the Ways and Means Committee, which plans to vote on it by weeks end, would also expand tax credits for families with children, for lower-earning people and for Americans who buy health insurance on marketplaces created by former President Barack Obamas Affordable Care Act. It would also provide health care subsidies for some unemployed workers.

Spending by Ways and Means, one of Congress most powerful committees, is expected to exceed $900 billion, nearly half of Bidens overall plan. The House Education and Labor Committee also previewed its plans on Monday, a roughly $350 billion package that includes $130 billion to help schools reopen safely, $40 billion for colleges battered by the pandemic and gradually raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Top Democrats hope the House will approve the complete bill later this month and send a final House-Senate version to Biden for his signature before mid-March, when crucial emergency unemployment benefits will otherwise expire.

5:45 p.m.: Will County Board OKs $1.6 million contract to handle calls on COVID-19 vaccination

Will County Board members Monday approved a $1.6 million contract for a call center to handle the influx of phone calls to the Will County Health Department.

The action during a specially called county board meeting will aid in the response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the vaccine rollout.

The six-month contract with Harris & Harris, a Chicago based consulting firm, provides the health department with 25 employees to answer calls. The call center, which will be staffed remotely, should be up and running in the next 10 days and is being funded through the CARES Act, county officials said.

There is no question that this is an appropriate way to use these funds, County Board Minority Leader Mike Fricilone, R-Homer Glen, said in a statement.

Tentatively, the contract calls for operators to be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, but those hours may be adjusted to include evening hours and some Saturday hours, said Mitch Schaben, chief of staff for County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant.

5:10 p.m.: Chicago health commissioner says librarians shouldnt get moved up in vaccine line

Chicagos health commissioner on Monday rejected the idea of adding librarians to the ranks of essential workers to get prioritized for COVID-19 vaccine, saying the infection rates arent high enough within that group to justify the move.

After a group of progressive aldermen and union leaders last week called for public library workers to be considered front-line workers and moved up the vaccine line, Dr. Allison Arwady said the stats dont support such a change.

Librarians in particular ... they are the lowest department for cases, honestly, Arwady said. Only city public safety workers, teachers and transit workers are among the latest group of those eligible to get vaccinated, with other city workers still waiting their turn.

4 p.m.: Democrats push to include higher minimum wage as part of $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan

Increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour would reduce the number of Americans living in poverty and boost wages for millions of Americans while adding to the federal debt and joblessness, a new report from the Congressional Budget Office projects.

The federal deficit would increase by about $54 billion over 10 years under a Democratic proposal to gradually increase the federal minimum wage to $15, largely because the higher wages paid to workers, such as those caring for the elderly, would contribute to an increase in federal spending, the estimate found.

Democrats are pushing to include the higher minimum wage as part of their $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan. House committees this week will begin crafting the legislation along the lines that President Joe Biden has requested, but its unclear whether the minimum wage proposal will make it into the final product. The bill is expected to include another round of direct payments to Americans, an expansion of the child tax credit and aid to states and local governments.

The decision on the minimum wage is a key early test for Biden as he seeks to build public support for his proposal and navigate differences within his own party about how far the COVID-19 legislation should go. Voices on the left like Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the author of the wage legislation, want Democrats to fight now for the pay increase, but some moderates are wary, fearing the impact on small businesses during the pandemic.

The report from the Congressional Budget Office cites several positive and negative effects from raising the minimum wage. On the positive, the number of people living in poverty would fall by about 900,000 once the $15 wage is fully in place in 2025. On the negative, the number of people working would decline by about 1.4 million.

3 p.m.: Physicians group asks Pritzker to waive local background check requirements for doctors, nurses who want to volunteer at mass vaccination sites

A Chicago physicians group has asked the governors office to waive requirements that mandate fingerprinting and background checks for licensed health care workers before they can volunteer at mass vaccination sites, according to a letter sent to the office on Friday.

In the letter addressed to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the Chicago Medical Society said the requirements, set by local governments, are unnecessary for health care workers who are already licensed and in good standing in Illinois, and instead act as barriers for the workers who are trying to lend a hand in the vaccination effort.

Im writing to express our concern about the requirement that licensed physicians and nurses need to be fingerprinted and have their backgrounds checked before administering COVID-19 vaccines at mass vaccination centers, read the letter, signed by the medical societys president, Dr. Tariq Butt, on behalf of about 17,000 area physicians.

The governors office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Tribune. The Chicago Medical Society said it has not received a response from the governor, but noted the letter was only sent on Friday.

2 p.m.: The pandemic is making filing taxes complicated: Send us your questions and well ask experts

With tax season nearly underway,2020 filing looks to be more complicated than most years. Illinois residents will see some changes ushered in by the coronavirus pandemic that could affect their returns.

Experts say people should be aware of certain situations, including working in a different state or claiming a stimulus payment, that could affect their tax liability.

12:40 p.m.: Illinois reports 16,110 people received COVID-19 vaccinations on Sunday

Illinois public health officials reported 16,110 vaccinations were administered Sunday, bringing the state total to 1,358,967.

The number of Illinois residents who have been fully vaccinated receiving both of the required two shots reached 299,172. The 7-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 51,794 doses.

Officials Monday reported 1,747 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 35 additional fatalities. The total number of known infections in Illinois is 1,148,088 and the statewide death toll is 19,668.

Mondays new cases resulted from 47,210 tests. The seven-day statewide positivity rate for cases as a share of total tests was 3.3% as of Sunday.

As of Sunday night, 2,161 people in Illinois were hospitalized with COVID-19, with 469 patients in intensive care units and 251 patients on ventilators. Jenny Whidden

11:10 a.m.: New variants raise worry about COVID-19 virus reinfections

Evidence is mounting that having COVID-19 may not protect against getting infected again with some of the new variants. People also can get second infections with earlier versions of the coronavirus if they mounted a weak defense the first time, new research suggests.

How long immunity lasts from natural infection is one of the big questions in the pandemic. Scientists still think reinfections are fairly rare and usually less serious than initial ones, but recent developments around the world have raised concerns.

In South Africa, a vaccine study found new infections with a variant in 2% of people who previously had an earlier version of the virus.

In Brazil, several similar cases were documented with a new variant there. Researchers are exploring whether reinfections help explain a recent surge in the city of Manaus, where three-fourths of residents were thought to have been previously infected.

In the United States, a study found that 10% of Marine recruits who had evidence of prior infection and repeatedly tested negative before starting basic training were later infected again. That work was done before the new variants began to spread, said one study leader, Dr. Stuart Sealfon of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.

Previous infection does not give you a free pass, he said. A substantial risk of reinfection remains.

risti Rubin, a registered nurse from Plainfield, left, gives second-grade teacher Amy Schmidt from Long Beach Elementary School in Montgomery a COVID-19 vaccination Sunday at Yorkville High School. (David Sharos / The Beacon-News)

10:40 a.m.: At Kendall County mass vaccination clinic, people are determined to get the shot

While football fans around the country celebrated Super Bowl Sunday, others like Amy Schmidt of Aurora got ready for the big sports day with a pre-game COVID-19 vaccination.

I ordered a lot of food so I dont have a lot to do at home today, said the second-grade teacher who works at Long Beach Elementary School in Montgomery. I love that Im able to get the vaccine its better than another helping of wings.

Over the weekend, officials from Kendall County rolled out their first mass vaccination clinic at Yorkville High School a two-day affair that included 4,000 inoculations and a volunteer staff of nearly 150 people.

We only learned a week ago we were going to get the vaccine and were able to throw this together in just a week, said Kendall County Health Department Director RaeAnn VanGundy. This has been a major community event thats been done with minimal help and were proud of that.

9:28 a.m.: Coronavirus vaccine rollout leads to frustration, resentment as Americans await their shots

For a vast majority of Americans, a coronavirus vaccine is like sleep for a new parent: Its all you can think about, even if you have no idea when you will get it.

People are scrolling through perpetually crashing websites at 3 a.m., or driving 150 miles each way in the snow. Others are lining up at grocery stores for hours on end, hoping to snag a leftover shot, or racing to hospitals amid rumors of extra doses.

Many more are tossing in bed in the dark, praying that tomorrow will be their mothers lucky day.

A small portion about 11% have received one or two shots of the vaccine, leaving the nation in a medical and cultural interregnum. Some of those with only one shot are in a precarious limbo, in states snarled over second-dose distribution.

8:29 a.m.: Grocery stores see business boom during pandemic, but workers feel forgotten with little extra pay and a long wait for COVID-19 vaccines

The race to distribute vaccines and the emergence of more contagious variants of COVID-19 have put a renewed spotlight on the plight of grocery workers in the United States. The industry has boomed in the past year as Americans have stayed home and avoided restaurants. But in most cases, that has not translated into extra pay for its workers. After Long Beach, California, mandated hazard pay for grocery workers, the grocery giant Kroger responded last week by saying it would close two locations.

And now, even as experts warn people to minimize time spent in grocery stores because of new coronavirus variants, The New York Times found only 13 states that had started specifically vaccinating those workers.

6 a.m.: College instructors question why they should wait longer for shots than Illinois K-12 educators

Under the states vaccination plan, most college instructors wont be eligible to receive COVID-19 inoculations until phase 1c, though their counterparts in primary schools can get the shots now.

That distinction frustrates higher education employees who say faculty and staff with in-person roles must be vaccinated with the same urgency, regardless of what grade level they teach.

With a high likelihood of COVID-19 outbreaks at colleges and universities, along with reported community spread associated with these outbreaks, prioritizing higher education faculty and staff for the vaccine is necessary for our students futures and our communities well-being, said John Miller, president of the University Professionals of Illinois, a union representing employees at seven of the states 12 public universities, along with other college workers.

Phase 1c isnt projected to begin until spring at the earliest. But under phase 1b, which started in late January, the state allows for K-12 education workers including teachers, support staff and childcare workers to schedule their doses. The city of Chicago adopted the same guidelines. Still, eligible teachers in the city and suburbs have reported difficulty accessing the vaccine due to limited supply.

Steve Wiley, manager of the Pilsen Food Pantry on South Throop Street in Chicago, puts together items on a client's shopping list on Feb. 4, 2021. The pantry is one of the community partners of the Greater Chicago Food Depository to receive a grant. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

6 a.m.: Four new food pantries to open on Chicagos South and West Sides

Four new food pantries are set to open this spring as part of a major grant from the Greater Chicago Food Depository, which is shifting its funding strategy to focus on communities of color disproportionately affected by hunger and poverty.

The food bank, which supplies pantries and charities in Cook County, on Monday announced that it has awarded $2.6 million to 26 community partners, the largest grant amounts it has given in memory.

Four grants are in excess of $200,000 to open new food pantries in the Chicago neighborhoods of Roseland, Englewood and Little Village, plus south suburban Dolton. The rest of the grants, between $25,000 and $75,000, are meant to help existing pantries expand capacity and offer home delivery.

In a departure from usual practice, the organization targeted neighborhoods that it identified as high-need based on rates of food insecurity, poverty, unemployment and COVID-19 infection and mortality. It also looked at race and access to quality food pantries.

The Greater Chicago Food Depository, founded 41 years ago, traditionally supported its pantry partners equally and measured impact based on pounds of food distributed, said CEO Kate Maehr. The pandemic, which highlighted the overwhelming need in some communities, prompted it to change its approach.

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COVID-19 in Illinois updates: Heres whats happening Monday - Chicago Tribune

ITHACA, N.Y.Cornell University has upped its COVID-19 alert level to yellow in response to a cluster of positive coronavirus cases discovered among students.

In total, the school announced that it had found 42 cases in the past week. Twelve of those cases had been found in connection to a single cluster among students. For clarity, Cornell's "yellow" alert level means that "incidence remains low, but indicators show increased, or potential for increase in, transmissions."

The clusters were discovered as students return to campus from winter break though the school seemed to indicate that the 30 cases which were outside of the cluster were found using surveillance testing, not part of the arrival testing regimen, meaning that they indicate community spread as opposed to the virus coming into Ithaca from elsewhere.

"A rise in non-arrival positive COVID-19 test results indicates transmission has occurred locally due to lack of adherence to public health measures such as physical distancing, mask-wearing, and avoiding gatherings," the school announced. The school additionally revealed that the cluster itself stems from a Greek life party that was held in Collegetown in January.

In total, last week saw 71 positive tests at the school, though Cornell lists only 17 as being on-campus positives. The 71 positive tests represented a 0.24 percent positivity rate.

The higher risk level includes more intense restrictions on gatherings and testing, though the full extent of this specific activation of the yellow alert level wasn't specified:

However, Cornell President Martha Pollack did issue a statement that stated that the Cornell community should avoid gatherings of any size.

"Moving to COVID-19 alert level yellow prior to the first day of classes is not the start to the semester that we had hoped for," Pollack wrote. "And with Super Bowl weekend upon us, it is imperative that we each lead by example by following all public health and safety guidelines, including avoiding gatherings of any size."

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Cornell COVID-19 alert level raised to yellow after student clusters discovered - The Ithaca Voice

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) Virginia reported its lowest one-day increase in new coronavirus cases in over a month on Monday with just 1,700 total, a notable figure as Virginia sees cases trend down overall.

Reporting can typically be lower on Mondays, but Virginia is seeing a significant decrease in new cases on average. Cases are down about half on average compared to three weeks ago when Virginia saw a peak of 6,166 per day.

Still, case levels are higher than most of the pandemic, and the Virginia Department of Health also reported 42 new deaths and 2,285 current COVID-19 hospitalizations. Hospitalizations have dipped some, but deaths are still rising overall, with 49 per day on average.

Cases counts could however start to be affected by the new coronavirus variants from the U.K. and South Africa, which have been detected in Virginia. Theyre more contagious, and if virus levels overall stay high, that leaves the door open for future mutations that could become more resistant to current vaccines.

Statewide numbers

Vaccine distribution is improving in Virginia and there will be new options to get the vaccine for those eligible starting this week with CVS pharmacies.

Supply is still limited overall, but production is ramping up and there might be a new vaccine coming as early as March. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is less effective overall than the ones from Pfizer and Moderna, but health officials have emphasized its still very effective at preventing serious illness and death. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires just one dose, and 100 million doses could be distributed in the U.S. by June.

Key local metrics

Test positivity

Click here to viewmore coronavirus data from the Virginia Department of Health.

Read more here:

Virginia Feb. 8 COVID-19 update: 1,700 new cases, 42 new deaths; CVS to start helping with vaccinations this week - WAVY.com

This story has been updated.

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) Another South Dakota state lawmaker says he has COVID-19.

Representative Aaron Aylward, a Harrisburg Republican serving his first term, confirmed Monday he was diagnosed by a doctor late Sunday morning.

I decided to go in after not feeling well Saturday night/Sunday morning. I plan on going back (to session) next Tuesday, Aylward said in an email to KELOLAND News.

Aylward participated Saturday in the legislative coffee at Southeast Technical College with other state lawmakers from the Sioux Falls area.

He is the first legislator to contract the coronavirus since the 2021 legislative session opened January 12. Several senators, Helene Duhamel of Rapid City and Reynold Nesiba of Sioux Falls, reported catching COVID-19 after the governors December 8 budget speech to a joint gathering of House and Senate members.

Both former House Speaker Steven Haugaard of Sioux Falls and current Senate president pro tem Lee Schoenbeck of Watertown also have confirmed they had the disease. Representative Bob Glanzer of Huron contracted it last March and died.

House Speaker Spencer Gosch told KELOLAND News on Monday morning, Anyone that receives a positive COVID-19 test will be allowed to participate remotely. Those that feel that they were in close contact with someone with COVID-19 will be allowed to participate remotely until they have had the opportunity to get a COVID-19 test.

This will be the first time remote participation is triggered in the 2021 session. Most lawmakers participated remotely for the final day of the 2020 session March 30 because of COVID-19.

Rep. Aylward hasnt been wearing a face covering at the Capitol. The House encourages face coverings but doesnt require them in its chamber, lobby or committee hearings.

The Senate requires all non-legislators to wear face coverings in its chamber, lobby and committee hearings but doesnt require them for legislators.

Everyone was notified Sunday morning, Gosch said about Aylwards diagnosis.

Aylward wore a mask Saturday at the legislative coffee as did other participants and audience members.

South Dakota had 1,809 deaths among people with COVID-19 and 1,590 deaths caused by COVID-19, according to numbers released Sunday by the state Department of Health.

South Dakota currently ranks fifth among states, and sixth when New York City is added, for COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 residents, according to the federal CDC. The top 10 were NYC, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Rhode Island, SD, Connecticut, Louisiana, Arizona and North Dakota.

More here:

COVID-19 diagnosed at S.D. legislative session - KELOLAND.com