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COVID-19

Mt. Nittany Medical: COVID hits Centre hard

BELLEFONTE — During Tuesday’s Centre County commissioners’ meeting, Tom Charles, Executive Vice President System Development and Chief Strategy Officer of Mount Nittany Health, spoke about the COVID-19 pandemic. Charles painted a bleak picture of what is happening in the community as the county heads into the holiday season. “This is a serious virus. It’s had a huge impact on families across Centre County, State College and surrounding communities,” Charles said. He then broke down the numbers, taking a closer look at cases and hospitalizations. Cases On Monday, ...

Data indicate omicron is milder, better at evading vaccines

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The omicron variant is offering more hints about what it may have in store as it spreads around the globe: A highly transmissible virus that may cause less severe disease, and one that can be slowed — but not stopped — by today’s vaccines. An analysis Tuesday of data from South Africa, where the new variant is driving a surge in infections, suggests the Pfizer vaccine offers less defense against infection from omicron and reduced, but still good, protection from hospitalization. The findings are preliminary and have not been peer-reviewed — the gold ...

Long COVID symptoms need not put off vaccination

DEAR DR. ROACH: Is it safe for an unvaccinated person experiencing long-term symptoms after a COVID-19 infection to get the vaccination, or must they wait until the typical 90-day period for symptoms to diminish or disappear? — P.M. ANSWER: In general, people can expect to have symptoms of acute COVID-19 infection for up to four weeks after the onset of symptoms. Beyond four weeks, people with persistent symptoms are considered to have post-COVID conditions, also called “long COVID.” The most typical symptoms are fatigue, shortness of breath and difficulty thinking or with ...

Philadelphia to require vaccine proof for indoor dining

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia will require proof of COVID-19 vaccination to dine indoors at bars, restaurants, indoor sporting events and other food-related establishments starting Jan. 3, city and public health officials announced Monday. Public Health Director Cheryl Bettigole said ...

One year of vaccines: Many lives saved, many needlessly lost

One year ago, the biggest vaccination drive in American history began with a flush of excitement in an otherwise gloomy December. Trucks loaded with freezer-packed vials of a COVID-19 vaccine that had proved wildly successful in clinical trials fanned out across the land, bringing shots that many hoped would spell the end of the crisis. That hasn’t happened. A year later, too many Americans remain unvaccinated and too many are dying. The nation’s COVID-19 death toll stands at around 800,000 as the anniversary of the U.S. vaccine rollout arrives. A year ago it stood at 300,000. An ...

Martin: KCSD will follow its health and safety plan

MILL HALL — In the Keystone Central School District, the masks are staying put. On Sunday, KCSD superintendent Jacquelyn Martin announced that the district would continue to follow its health and safety plan, which means that there will be "voluntary masking" for students and staff. In an email, Martin said: “The universal masking order for K-12 Pennsylvania schools has been lifted by action of the PA Supreme Court. The KCSD Health and Safety Plan will continue to be implemented across all schools. Our board approved plan includes voluntary masking unless there are state or federal ...