Category: Covid-19

Marking more than five years since conflict escalated in the country between Government forces and their allies, against Houthi rebel militias, the new UNICEF report warns the number of malnourished children could reach 2.4 million by end of year, almost half of all under-fives.

An additional 30,000 children could develop life-threatening severe acute malnutrition over the next six months.

Yemen five years on: Children, conflict and COVID-19 warns that as Yemens devastated health system and infrastructure overall struggles to cope with the coronavirus pandemic, the already dire situation for children is likely to deteriorate considerably.

UNICEF reported that an additional 6,600 children under five could die from preventable causes by the end of the year. With a health system teetering closer to collapse, only half of health facilities are operational, with huge shortages in medicine, equipment and staff.

More than eight million people, nearly half of them children, depend directly on the agency for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), amid ongoing conflict, cholera outbreaks and the COVID-19 pandemic.

We cannot overstate the scale of this emergency as children, in what is already the worlds worst humanitarian crisis, battle for survival as COVID-19 takes hold, said Sara Beysolow Nyanti, UNICEF Representative to Yemen.

As the worlds attention focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic I fear the children of Yemen will be all but forgotten. Despite our own preoccupations right now, we all have a responsibility to act and help the children of Yemen. They have the same rights of any child, anywhere, Ms. Nyanti added.

In the report, the agency alerts for almost 10 million children without proper access to water and sanitation, as well as for 7.8 million children without access to education, following school closures.

Widespread absence from class and a worsening economy could put children at greater risk of child labour, recruitment into armed groups and child marriage, the report highlights.

UNICEF

Volunteers teach people living in settlements, in Sana'a, Yemen, instructing them on social distancing and other preventative measure against COVID-19.

If we do not receive urgent funding, children will be pushed to the brink of starvation and many will die. The international community will be sending a message that the lives of children in a nation devastated by conflict, disease and economic collapse, simply do not matter, Ms. Nyanti pointed.

Yemen five years on: Children, conflict and COVID-19 warns that unless US$54.5 million is received for health and nutrition services by the end of August, more than 23,000 children with severe acute malnutrition will be at increased risk of dying; there will be shortages on the childrens immunization, and 19 million people will lose access to healthcare, including one million pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and their children.

The report also highlights that crucial water and sanitation services for three million children and their communities will begin to shut down from the end of July, unless US$45 million is secured.

UNICEF is working around the clock in incredibly difficult situations to get aid to children in desperate need, but we only have a fraction of the funding required to do this, conlcluded Ms. Nyanti.

On Wednesday, the UN humanitarian chief warned that Yemen will fall off the cliff without massive financial support.

Speaking to a closed virtual Security Council meeting on Wednesday, Mark Lowcock said that coronavirus was spreading rapidly across Yemen, and about 25 percent of the countrys confirmed cases, have died.

At a minimum, we can expect many more people to starve to death and to succumb to COVID-19 and to die of cholera and to watch their children die because they are not immunized for killer diseases, he said.

The UN relief chief warned that the coronavirus pandemic is adding one more layer of misery upon many others. Caling for funding, he told members that the choice was between supporting the humanitarian response in Yemen and help to create the space for a sustainable political situation, or watch Yemen fall off the cliff.

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Yemen: millions of children facing deadly hunger, amidst aid shortages and COVID-19 - UN News

Good morning. The number of known US cases of coronavirus is nearing 2.4 million, but the Centers for Disease Control has estimated 10 times that number have caught the disease. The US is among 10 countries where cases have risen since lockdown measures were relaxed, with infections surging in its three most populous states:

In an exclusive interview, Ed Pilkington spoke to the progressive Democratic congresswoman Rashida Tlaib about her efforts to free vulnerable inmates from a prison system where the virus is rife: Close to a million people right now are incarcerated who are legally innocent, waiting for trial because they cant afford bail when the courts are closed because of the pandemic, Tlaib said. Its crazy.

Meanwhile, the EU is considering blocking American travellers when it reopens its borders at the beginning of July. The US has become a pariah nation of super-spreaders, writes Francine Prose:

America has done such a poor job of controlling the Covid-19 outbreak that our infection rate is increasing dramatically while that of most European nations is either remaining stable or decreasing. Were simply too dangerous too likely to bring the deadly virus along with the more welcome (and needed) tourist dollars.

Unlike most EU countries, Sweden did not impose tough lockdown rules on its citizens in response to the pandemic, instead relying on their innate sense of civic responsibility to slow the spread of Covid-19. Now, with the countrys relative death toll far outstripping its near neighbours, polling has shown that Swedes are rapidly losing faith in their governments handling of the crisis. It is a dent to the nations morally superior self-image, writes Erik Augustin Palm:

Covid-19 has toppled Swedish exceptionalism. How are we so open-minded with such limited room for divergence? How are we so rational when our Covid-19 strategy is an outlier compared to that of countries with more successful responses based on the same data?

The governor of Colorado has appointed a special prosecutor to investigate the killing of a 23-year-old black man who died in police custody in 2019, amid the national reckoning over racism and police brutality. Elijah McClain died of cardiac arrest shortly after he was put in a neck-hold by a police officer, and given a dose of a sedative by a paramedic, in suburban Colorado last August.

After three months away from the pitch amid the coronavirus lockdown, Liverpool FC at last won the English league title on Thursday night after their closest rivals, Manchester City, were beaten 2-1 at Chelsea. It is the historic clubs 19th championship victory, but their first of the Premier League era and their first since the Merseyside side dominated the league during the 1980s.

The teams coach, Jrgen Klopp, said it was an incredible moment for his team. Barney Ronay pays tribute to the footballing machine Klopp built, which is still operating at the peak of its power. Make no mistake, Ronay writes, this was an annihilation.

Nascar has released an image of the noose found in Bubba Wallaces garage at a racetrack in Alabama. The FBI found that the garage door pull had been in place since last year and so was not a threat directed at Wallace, who is black, but as Nascar notes: the image makes clear that the noose was real.

Donald Trumps brother failed to block his nieces book. A New York judge told Robert Trump several improprieties in the lawsuit he filed to block Mary Trumps family memoir made his attempt to prevent its publication fatally defective.

More than 100 people have been killed by lightning strikes in India at the start of the annual monsoon season. At least 83 died in Bihar state, one of the regions highest daily tolls in recent years.

A New Zealand supermarket chain will use the word period to label menstrual products previously given euphemistic names such as sanitary or feminine hygiene, claiming it is the first retailer in the world to do so.

Why the election is a matter of life and death for immigrants

Marielena Hincapi, the chief of one of the USs most high-profile immigrant advocacy groups, tells Amanda Holpuch defeating Trump in 2020 is an existential issue for immigrants: We have been experiencing war, nothing short of what feels like an all-out war by the Trump administration, frankly, since he started running for office.

The secretive agency planting cyanide bombs across the US

In 2017, a teenage boy playing near his Idaho home came across a strange device that sprayed him with cyanide, killing his dog and leaving him with lasting health issues. The device, known as an M-44, had been planted by an obscure government agency, Wildlife Services, and was intended to kill predators. Jimmy Tobias reports.

Opinion: The FBI is still targeting black civil rights leaders

The FBI has always viewed black activism as a threat to national security, monitoring Black Lives Matter leaders much as it did Martin Luther King. Its time would be better spent holding accountable the police officers whose brutality fuelled the movement, says Mike German.

In 2018 and 2019, the FBI conducted nationwide assessments of Black identity extremists under an intelligence collection operation it called Iron Fist, prioritizing these cases over investigations of far more prevalent violence from white supremacists and far right militants.

If you thought the coronavirus was messing with your plans, spare a thought for the Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, who has postponed her wedding to her cinematographer fiance Bo Tengberg for a third time, because it clashes with a European Council meeting.

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First Thing: Covid-19 has made the US a 'pariah nation' - The Guardian

Tocilizumab in patients with severe COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study  The Lancet

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Tocilizumab in patients with severe COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study - The Lancet

Jessica Brewer, LMH Health

The Fourth of July is upon us and with that comes fireworks, crowds and injuries, oh my! There is no doubt that this 4thmay look a bit different from previous years. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many counties and cities to cancel their fireworks displays to keep large crowds from gathering in one place. Though some shows are still on, it is important to be very careful when it comes to social distancing.

Allison Koonce, LMH Health community outreach and engagement supervisor, said that when it comes to fireworks, they are dangerous for both kids and adults when not handled properly.

In 2018, there were 207 reported firework related injuries in Kansas, Koonce said. Nearly half involved children under the age of 18. We typically see firework related injuries reported mostly to the hands, eyes, face and head.

It is very important to not let little hands handle fireworks and yes, even sparklers. For those who are too young, Koonce recommends that parents and guardians provide their little ones with glow sticks, a much safer yet still very fun alternative.

Did you know that sparklers burn at a temperature hot enough to melt glass? Koonce said. Even what may seem like the most harmless of fireworks still burn very hot.

COVID-19 has altered many plans from travel, to family gatherings and of course, firework shows. Many local shows have been cancelled to avoid large group gatherings, but search your area to see if there is an alternative.

Some cities are continuing with their fireworks shows, but are encouraging community members to watch from their homes or online where its being streamed, Koonce said. Look to see if there are virtual shows located near you. You should also look to see what your local and state fireworks laws are. Since shows have been cancelled and at home fireworks are on the rise, it is important to stay extra safe and to know the laws.

Dr. Jennifer Schrimsher, an infectious diseasesphysician with LMH Health, shared her own concerns on the potential for mass gatherings around the holiday. As guidelines continue to relax, our efforts to keep ourselves, our families and the community safe should not.

Regardless of where were at in our county or states reopening, my recommendations arent going to change much, Dr. Schrimsher said. The basic tenets are the same: keep your distance, wear a mask, continue frequent hand hygiene and stay home if youre sick. People should still avoid large gatherings and non-essential trips and visits. Everything we do should be viewed through this lens. These simple rules will remain important in keeping ourselves, our families and our community as safe as possible.

Not only should Douglas County residents be mindful of traveling, but any residents who have family members traveling in should be aware as well.

In addition to my regular firework concerns, I am concerned about the great potential for large gatherings and travel, she said. Im hopeful that people are mindful of where theyre traveling as well as their out of town visitors. If your visitors are from a hot spot, they need to quarantine here and avoid contact with others. If you travel to a hot spot, you should quarantine at home for 14 days when you return.

Dr. Schrimsher said with the stay-at-home orders, she could see how much people care about the well-being of our community. Her hope is that we can carry the same safe practices like hand hygiene, face covering and social distancing - into our day-to-day lives as we return to our new normal.

The virus hasnt left. Its quite the opposite actually, Dr. Schrimsher said. Were finding most people that are currently testing positive dont have any symptoms and are going about life normally. If these people are wearing masks, especially in public places or around others, the virus is more likely to get trapped in their mask, preventing spread.

Masks are a critical part of keeping our community healthy, I cant emphasize this enough! I encourage you to mask up, educate your friends and family and set a positive example for those around you Lets make masks the new norm together.

July 4thwill still be an exciting time in 2020 - it just may look different. Dr. Schrimsher empathizes with community members wanting to feel normal again. Many of us have the itch to get back to work, fully enjoy summer and times with friends. We can still enjoy these activities, but as Dr. Schrimsher says, we have to do it responsibly.

COVID is still here and it isnt going away any time soon, she said. In fact, were seeing a sharper rise in cases now than we have since the beginning. We need people to remain vigilant. We need people to remain diligent. Mask up. Keep your distance. And as always, wash those hands!

Jessica Brewer is the social media and digital communications specialist at LMH Health.

Originally posted here:

Safely celebrate the Fourth of July during the COVID-19 pandemic | LMH Health | Lawrence, KS - LMH Health

Restaurants and retailers have applauded recent changes in the governments $670 billion small business rescue program that make it easier for companies battling the Covid-19 pandemic to qualify for loan forgiveness. But the increased flexibility has come late for scores of small businesses that followed the Paycheck Protection Programs original rulesand quickly used up most or all of their money.

Rising numbers of Covid-19 cases in Florida, Texas and other Sunbelt states have disrupted many reopening plans. The governor...

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Small Businesses Raced to Spend PPP Funds but Covid-19 Pandemic Drags On - The Wall Street Journal

Lauren Mitchell, Austin American-Statesman Published 6:00 a.m. ET June 26, 2020 | Updated 8:05 a.m. ET June 26, 2020

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is pausing the state's aggressive reopening as it deals with a surge in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations. The number of patients admitted with COVID-19 has more than doubled in just two weeks. (June 25) AP Domestic

AUSTIN Eighteen members of a North Texas family tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a surprise birthday party in late May.

Only one member of the family unknowingly had the virus at the time of the party,WFAA reports.

We knew this was going to happen. I mean this whole time this has been going on weve been terrified, Ron Barbosa told WFAA.

Barbosa, who is a volunteer EMT, and his wife, a doctor, chose not to attend the party, which was hosted by his nephew, due to safety reasons. Barbosa said that his family suspects his nephew, who had a slight cough at the time of the party, was the family member who was unknowingly infected after possibly being exposed at work.

Those infected include two young children, Barbosas elderly parents and his sister, who is battling breast cancer.

Barbosas father, Frank, was admitted to the hospital on June 17 and placed in the intensive care unit soon after, where he remains.

Barbosa told WFAA that his father is in need of blood plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients, who have established antibodies. If youve recovered go donate your plasma, Barbosa .

While it appears that most of Barbosas family is on the road to recovery,the experience serves as a warning for what could happen even when proper safety precautions are attempted. Barbosa says all 25 people who attended the party attempted to remain socially distant, and not all of the attendees were there for the entirety of the party.

However, in reference to a photo taken at the party,he also told BuzzFeed, My message is that if youre going to see family and they dont live with you, mask up and keep your distance. I want everyone to be with their loved ones. I just want everybody to be cautious and not try to take pictures and selfies with a group of 20 people.

In Texas the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise, with 5,996 new cases reported Thursday, following two days of record highs. The state also broke its record for hospitalizations for the 14th day in a row Thursday, with state health officials reporting 4,738 patients in Texas hospitals.

Follow Lauren Mitchell on Twitter: @renlaux

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At least 18 members of Texas family test positive for COVID-19 after surprise birthday party - USA TODAY

WINK NEWS

We spoke to a Southwest Florida comedian Thursday who has the coronavirus. From the stage to a hospital bed, he wants community members to take precautions for COVID-19.

When the bars and restaurants opened up, I was going out every night, John Loeber told WINK News. I wasnt wearing a mask. I just didnt take it seriously at all.

Loeber is now being cared for at Gulf Coast Medical Center in south Fort Myers, undergoing test after test. Doctors told him hes going to be there for a while.

From his hospital bed in the medical center, he told us he originally believed COVID-19 was blown out of proportion. Because, with all these numbers and cases, he didnt know a single person who tested positive.

But, now, that person is him, and hes fighting or his life.

Loeber, a stand-up comedian, loves to make people burst out laughing when hes performing. But his message to all is more sobering as he deals with COVID-19 personally.

Its a serious condition, Loeber said. And, if you think that youre not gonna get it, well, I hope you dont, but I also thought I wouldnt get it.

Loeber is dealing with the coronavirus and has also been diagnosed with pneumonia. Every three hours, he has a CT scan of his lungs and has blood work done.

No one can come to visit you, Loeber said. You just sit here, and luckily you have social media to connect, but like no one can stop by, say hello. They just cant.

And Loeber says he thought social distancing was lonely. He also thought it was a joke.

I have not taken this seriously at all since the beginning, Loeber said. I thought the quarantine was overkill.

Last Thursday, hours before a comedy show, Loeber became suddenly dizzy and sweating, so he canceled the show.

I was all excited because I havent done a show in three months, Loeber said. So I was all ready to try out these new jokes about the quarantine, how much weight I gained during it, how difficult it was to online date.

Now, its difficult for him to think about all of the precautions he never took.

I see the numbers on the news every night, Loeber said. And I was like those are just numbers. How bad could this really be when the bars and restaurants opened up. I was going out every night. I wasnt wearing a mask. I just didnt take it seriously at all.

Unfortunately, I couldve exposed other people to it and I have to live with that, Loeber said.

Loeber said hes now waiting on a blood transfusion to get antibodies. But he never had a fever or a cough. He originally thought what he has was vertigo, but it turned out to be the coronavirus.

A true comedian, Loeber wants to see people smile, see people healthy and never see them go through pain like his.

I woke up today, and I was like, Oh, Im going home today. Theyre like, No, youre not going home for a while, Loeber said. My lungs are getting worse and worse, so I wont be going anywhere soon.

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SWFL comedian with COVID-19 warns others to take precautions - Wink News

The U.S. jobs market started recovering relatively soon after tanking in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, but only modestly, according to two papers to be discussed at the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity (BPEA) conference on June 25.

Some businesses shuttered in March and April are resuming operations, but often with fewer employees than before the pandemic, according to the papers.

One paperThe U.S. labor market during the beginning of the pandemic recession also found that employers are cutting the wages of about 11 percent of workers (about twice as many as during the 2007-2009 recession) and skipping scheduled pay increases for others. It analyzed weekly payroll data from Automatic Data Processing (ADP), Inc., covering about 26 million workers.

Its authors are Tomaz Cajner, Leland D. Crane, Ryan A. Decker, Adrian Hamins-Puertolas, and Christopher Kurz of the Federal Reserve Board; Erik Hurst and John Grigsby of the University of Chicago; and Ahu Yildirmaz of ADP.

Their payroll data show that job losses were concentrated among low-wage workers: 37 percent of workers in the bottom fifth of the wage distribution lost their jobs through late April, compared with 9 percent of workers in the top fifth, and 21 percent of employees overall. The rebound has been modest so far. By late May, employment overall was still 15 percent below pre-pandemic levels and, for low-wage workers, 30 percent.

Women experienced sharper employment declines than menabout 4 percentage points more through late Apriland very little of the decline is because women work disproportionately in businessesrestaurants and retailersthat have been hard hit by the pandemic, according to the paper. The gap widened slightly through May even as some businesses recalled workers, it said.

We speculate it could be that the availability of childcare is driving the pattern, Hurst said in an interview with The Brookings Institution.

The ADP data also suggests that roughly one-third of the employment rebound in May can be attributed to the reopening of temporarily shuttered business, especially businesses with fewer than 50 employees. (Many other businesses continued operating through the pandemic but reduced employment.) For the most part, reopening firms are recalling original employees rather than hiring new ones. Thats a positive trend, Hurst said, because long spells of unemployment, by eroding workers skills and attachment to the workforce, can have long-lasting effects.

However, he warned, that at least so far, when firms are coming back, they are coming back at a fraction of their original sizeabout 40 percent of employment relative to February.

A second paperMeasuring the labor market at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis also found that reopening businesses are primarily recalling former employees rather than hiring new onesbut only some of them. It found that older workers, Black and Asian workers, and unmarried workers have been less likely to start work again.

Its authorsAlexander W. Bartik of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Marianne Bertrand and Feng Lin of the University of Chicago; and Jesse Rothstein and Matthew Unrath of the University of California at Berkeleyexamined monthly government labor market reports as well as daily timeclock data on roughly 500,000 workers from Homebase, a firm that provides scheduling software to small businesses, including restaurants, retailers, and personal service providers. They also looked at surveys of employees at firms using Homebase.

The authors found that the pandemic recession has been very different from recent recessions, such as the 2007-2009 recession. In this one, economic activity collapsed and bottomed out in a few weeks, compared with months or years. The downturn was driven by service businesses such as restaurants and retailers rather than the typically more cyclical manufacturing and construction industries. Also, many more laid-off workers in this recession were expecting to get their jobs back, at least initially.

Like the first paper, the second paper found that job losses in the pandemic recession were concentrated among low-wage workers and that women experienced sharper employment declines than men. It also found that workers 65 and older and younger than 25 were more likely to lose work in April than workers in the 25-to-34 age group. It said workers without a high school degree were 10 percentage points more likely to have stopped working than otherwise similar employees with college degrees. Black workers were 4.6 percent more likely than similar white workers to lose work; Asian workers 5.2 percent more likely; and Hispanic workers, 1.6 percent more likely.

These inequities in the distribution of job loss were for the most part not offset by rehiring in May, the authors write. They found, in particular, that older workers, Black and Asian workers, and unmarried workers were more likely to lose their jobs in April and, having done so, less likely to start work again in May.

They also looked at the job market effects of two policy responses to the pandemica temporary $600-a-week supplement to unemployment benefits (which vary by state) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which offered small business loans that are forgivable if recipients meet employee-retention requirements. They found that states that received more PPP loans and states with more generous unemployment insurance benefits had milder declines and faster recoveries. And they found no evidence to support the view that the temporary $600 supplement, which meant many workers received benefits higher than their wages, drove job losses or slowed rehiring substantially.

David Skidmore authored the summary language for this paper. Becca Portman assisted with data visualization.

Bartik, Alexander W., Marianne Bertrand,Feng Ling,Jesse Rothstein, and MatthewUnrath. 2020. Measuring the Labor Market at the Onset of the COVID-19 Crisis. BPEA Conference Draft, Summer.

Cajner, Tomaz, Leland D. Crane, Ryan A Decker, John Grigsby, AdrianHamins-Puertolas, Erik Hurst, ChristopherKurz, and AhuYildirmaz. 2020. TheU.S. Labor Market During the Beginning of the Pandemic Recession. BPEA Conference Draft, Summer.

Cajner, et al.:

The authors and discussant did not receive financial support from any firm or person for this paper or from any firm or person with a financial or political interest in this paper. They are currently not officers, directors, or board members of any organization with an interest in this paper. Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP) reviewed the paper to ensure privacy protection of its clients and to ensure it did not contain proprietary information. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect those of ADP, the Federal Reserve Board, or the University of Chicago.

Bartik, et al.:

The authors did not receive financial support from any firm or person for this paper or from any firm or person with a financial or political interest in this paper. The authors utilized data provided by Homebase, which was made available to a large number of academics and has not been restricted in its use in any way. They are currently not officers, directors, or board members of any organization with an interest in this paper. No outside party had the right to review this paper before circulation. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect those of the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Chicago, or the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

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COVID-19 and labor markets - Brookings Institution

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Anchorage resident Tonia Baklanova, 32, was experiencing mild symptoms associated with COVID-19 a sore throat and fatigue so she decided to get a test at the drive-thru testing site on Lake Otis Parkway earlier this week.

Anchorage opened the site to more people on Tuesday, including travelers with testing vouchers and those without a doctors referral. But the site had long wait times for some seeking a test, including Baklanova.

Baklanova said she pulled into the line of the testing facility at 2 p.m. on Tuesday. Then, she waited for nearly five hours.

She said she thought about leaving, but she decided to get tested because she didnt want to spread the illness to others.

It was just really frustrating sitting there and waiting in the car, Baklanova said.

The site was initially set to close down in mid-June but has been able to stay open, funded by the Municipality of Anchorage and staffed by Fairweather LLC through a contract with Providence Health & Services Alaska, which owns the physical location, according to Providence spokesman Mikal Canfield.

The municipality sent out an alert Thursday clarifying guidelines for online pre-registration and testing at the site. The city later removed a line in the alert about testing at the facility for someone who is not experiencing symptoms.

The site may be used by people who have COVID-19 symptoms, travelers and people who need a test before going back to work, according to Canfield.

Compared to when Providence was running the site, it is running slower, said Audrey Gray, public information officer for the Anchorage Emergency Operations Center. But part of that is just because of the change of how to access, how to pre-register, who was actually being tested.

Shortly after noon Thursday, a long line stretching at least 40 cars deep wound around the block.

Another source of confusion is the website app.kelvin.care where someone can register for a test ahead of time, in a form that appears to be designed for interstate travelers. Since the state of Alaska provides the testing supplies, they requested the use of that app because it makes it easier for them to get people their test results, Gray said.

But, Gray said, if someone is experiencing symptoms and hasnt traveled recently, or if they need to be tested so they can go back to work, they can still fill out that pre-registration form before going to the drive-thru testing facility. The city recommended pre-registering to reduce wait times.

I know its really confusing, but its all we have for right now until they can update the app, Gray said.

There was one worker registering people at the site Tuesday, Baklanova said, describing her experience there. She said she thought many of the people who lined up hadnt registered beforehand. It took 10 minutes to register one person, according to Baklanovas estimate.

The test itself was fast, Baklanova said. She leaned out of her window, got swabbed and then was on her way home. She registered in advance and was waiting on her results Thursday afternoon, she said.

Baklanova said she read on the state health departments website that anyone experiencing symptoms should get a test as soon as possible.

So I went there literally within an hour of reading that information, she said.

She said she was there from 2 to 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, and there were several drivers behind her who had to leave without getting tested.

Gray confirmed that on Tuesday and Wednesday, the line stretched around three blocks long and people were turned away at the site. Gray said they could still come back for a test another day.

[Because of a high volume of comments requiring moderation, we are temporarily disabling comments on many of our articles so editors can focus on the coronavirus crisis and other coverage. We invite you to write a letter to the editor or reach out directly if youd like to communicate with us about a particular article. Thanks.]

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Long waits and confusion at Anchorage's drive-thru COVID-19 testing site - Anchorage Daily News

by: Natasha Anderson and Nexstar Media Wire

(WJW) A new study suggests that your blood type may be tied to your risk of contracting COVID-19 and the severity of your symptoms.

The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, compared 1,900 people undergoing treatment for severe COVID-19 and respiratory failure at seven medical centers in Italy and Spain to 1,200 healthy blood donors from the same population groups.

Researchers combed through genetic codes looking for similarities. One similarity they found among the ill patients was a DNA cluster which determines blood types. This prompted further research into which specific blood types were present in the majority of severe coronavirus cases in the sample population.

Results indicated that people with Type A blood had a 45% higher risk of infection than those with other blood types.

Similarly, researchers identified a protective effectin people with Type O blood, saying they were only two-thirds as likely to become infected.

People with O blood types appear to be less likely to be infected by and suffer severe illness from #COVID19. We're now learning more about the nature of the relationship between blood type and Covid. Bottom line: all are vulnerable, more is being learned. https://t.co/GMBNeVDm5R pic.twitter.com/LMPvcAu2sn

The results hinge from a DNA cluster observed at a specific chromosome that scientists believe is relevant to COVID-19 infection.

However, researchers state that this study cannot accurately name a causative gene based on its presented evidence. Scientists cite time constraints and confounding variables that were not controlled for, such as underlying cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, as reasons for potential inaccuracies.

Meanwhile, Roy Silverstein, a hematologist at the Medical College of Wisconsin, told MarketWatch that the aforementioned DNA cluster can be found in other parts of the body. He says blood types may not totally predict an individuals risk of contracting the coronavirus.

Those who are not Type A should not interpret this study to mean that they can let their guard down, Silverstein reportedly said. Similarly, the data are not yet convincing enough to recommend that those with Type A need to do even more than what is recommended.

Scientists say further research must still be conducted into these findings. They remind citizens that while this study shows correlation between blood types and severity of illness, it does not necessarily indicate causation.

Everyone needs to pay attention to COVID-19 prevention by following well-accepted guidelines related to social distancing, face covering, hand-washing, and self-isolation and testing in the setting of possible COVID-related symptoms, Silverstein added.

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Study: Blood type may factor in COVID-19 risk, severity of symptoms - WFLA