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COVID-19

Texas governor tests positive for COVID-19, in ‘good health’

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, according to his office, who said the Republican is in good health and experiencing no symptoms. Abbott, who was vaccinated in December and has refused calls to reinstate mask mandates as the highly contagious delta variant surges in Texas, was isolating in the governor’s mansion in Austin and receiving monoclonal antibody treatment, spokesman Mark Miner said in a statement. He is at least the 11th governor to test positive for the virus since the pandemic began, according to a tally by The ...

EMS chief urges community to mask up

MILL HALL — As COVID cases are rising, Lock Haven EMS is telling the community that masks work and the science is there to back it up. Lock Haven Emergency Medical Services Chief Gerard Banfill spoke at Monday’s meeting of the Bald Eagle Township supervisors about the second rising of the pandemic with the new Delta variant, causing concern for children, both those vaccinated and those not vaccinated. He said Lock Haven EMS has recently hired two new paramedics in order to help with vaccinations in Clinton County. “We have just hired two new paramedics to help with the ...

More protection: US likely to authorize COVID booster shots

WASHINGTON (AP) — After struggling for months to persuade Americans to get the COVID-19 vaccine, U.S. health officials could soon face a fresh challenge: talking vaccinated people into getting booster shots to gain longer-lasting protection as the delta variant sends infections soaring ...

PA to offer weekly opt-in COVID testing for schools

Pennsylvania will offer voluntary COVID-19 testing in K-12 schools, state health and education officials announced Monday, promoting the effort as a way to keep the doors open for in-person learning amid a statewide resurgence of the coronavirus. School districts will have to opt in, and parents must give consent to the weekly classroom testing, in which students’ nasal swabs will be pooled and evaluated together to detect the presence of COVID-19 in a school building. The statewide program will be available to all schools, public and private, with the exception of Philadelphia, ...

Vaccinations are on the rise in area, state

As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise statewide, there is an increase in demand for vaccines. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s dashboard, vaccination numbers are up in Clinton, Centre, and Lycoming counties. The dashboard was not updated Monday, but according to data through Aug. 15, the numbers looked like this: In The Express’ coverage area, Centre County leads the way with 78,829 fully vaccinated and 6,070 partially vaccinated. Lycoming County is next with 46,079 fully vaccinated and 4,670 partially vaccinated. Clinton County has 13,745 fully vaccinated and ...

Misinformation at public forums vexes local boards, big tech

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — There are plenty of places to turn for accurate information about COVID-19. Your physician. Local health departments. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control. But not, perhaps, your local government's public comment session. During a meeting of the St. Louis County ...