Category: Health

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When to quarantine for Thanksgiving – CNN

(CNN)If you want to visit your family for Thanksgiving and avoid passing coronavirus on to them, experts say you need to quarantine for 14 days.

That’s two weeks of doing even less than we’re doing now, and it needs to start today.
CNN talked to CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and a visiting professor at George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, to find out what that entails. Here’s her guidance.
CNN: Why do we need to quarantine before seeing relatives?
Dr. Leana Wen: The United States is suffering through the worst part of the pandemic that we have seen yet. We have added 1 million new infections in just 10 days. Hospitals in multiple states are already diverting patients because their emergency rooms and intensive care units are too full.
Covid-19 in the US is a 'humanitarian disaster,' and the pandemic is only accelerating

Covid-19 in the US is a ‘humanitarian disaster,’ and the pandemic is only accelerating
Remember that people we love can carry the virus as much as strangers can. When the level of virus in the community is so high, it’s not safe to get together in person, indoors, with anyone not in your immediate household bubble.
If you want to get together with other households for an indoor Thanksgiving, you need to quarantine for 14 days and then get tested.
CNN: Why is quarantine 14 days long?
Wen: Fourteen days is the maximum incubation period for the virus that causes Covid-19. If you quarantine for less time than 14 days, you could be infected and not know it. I am certain that none of us would want to inadvertently spread Covid-19 to those we love the most. Taking a test too early — before a 14-day quarantine — may not pick up on the infection.
Will Thanksgiving be a superspreading event? Look to Canada for answers

Will Thanksgiving be a superspreading event? Look to Canada for answers
CNN: What can we do during our quarantine?
Wen: In this case, quarantine refers to staying away from others and minimizing your risk as much as you can. It doesn’t mean staying locked in your house. Getting fresh air is good and important for your physical and mental health. So it’s fine to take walks and exercise outdoors. Try your best to stay away from other others, and keep at least a 6-foot distance when outdoors.
We know Thanksgiving can involve a lot of cooking, and therefore grocery shopping. Going to the grocery store can also be low risk, although you should try to go during off-times and try to go just once during your 14-day period. You could also try to order groceries or the entire meal to be delivered to your home.
CDC Thanksgiving guidelines: How to stay safe and coronavirus-free

CDC Thanksgiving guidelines: How to stay safe and coronavirus-free
CNN: What should we not do?
Wen: Here’s what’s high risk and should be avoided during this period. Do not go to indoor bars or restaurants. Avoid gyms. Most important: do not get together with anyone else outside your household for anything indoors — no dinner parties, no birthday celebrations or any other get-together indoors. If you are socializing outdoors, make sure you keep a 6-foot distance from others at all times.
If you’re getting together with other households for the holiday, you should discuss what other activities you would be OK with. Many doctors’ offices have put in place precautions and it’s probably low-risk to visit the doctor. Many workplaces have instituted many protocols to reduce risk, and it may even be very low-risk to go to work if you can keep at least a 10-foot distance from others and wear masks at all times.
CNN: Does everyone have to quarantine?
Wen: Yes. The key is that every member of every household that wants to get together must participate in the quarantine for 14 days. If one person breaks quarantine, that person is exposing everyone else to their risk. This requires a lot of trust, so set that expectation in advance.
CNN: What about daycares and schools?
Wen: This is a tough one. Daycares and schools may be necessary for a lot of families when it comes to childcare for working parents. They may be relatively lower risk for transmission, especially for younger children. However, there is an infection risk, especially given the high level of coronavirus across the country. I would not consider a family that’s still sending kids to daycare or school to be low risk enough to be part of an indoor celebration. But if kids stop daycare or school now and then get tested in 14 days, they could see other relatives indoors.
CNN: Can we still see one another if we don’t quarantine for 14 days?
Wen: Yes, but you can only see them outdoors, with households spaced at least six feet apart. You can still host safely and have fun! But do not get together indoors.
CNN: Are there other ways to celebrate if we can’t get together with our family?
Wen: Yes! Being safe doesn’t mean we should stay isolated. Maybe we can’t get together in person with family. You can plan an outdoor “Friendsgiving.” Bundle up and bring warm blankets. Be flexible if it turns out that we can’t celebrate Thanksgiving on that day because of the weather.
How to decline Thanksgiving this year

How to decline Thanksgiving this year
CNN: What if we have to travel to see family for Thanksgiving?
Wen: I’m less concerned about the travel itself than the activities before the travel. The 14-day quarantine period should happen before the travel. Then do everything you can to minimize risk while traveling.
CNN: Is driving better than flying?
Wen: Driving will be safer than flying because you can control who’s in your car. Keep rest stops to a minimum. Make sure to wear a mask if you’re using a public restroom and sanitize your hands after leaving. Even flying has relatively low risk, with only a handful of infections reported for flights where everyone is wearing masks. Make sure to wear a mask the entire flight, ideally an N95 or at least a 3-ply surgical mask.
Still, I urge everyone to reduce nonessential travel. Even though the travel itself is low-risk, I worry about people coming from all over the country, since nearly every part is a coronavirus hotspot at this point.
CNN: What about college students coming home for the holiday?
Wen: Many colleges have had outbreaks. Young people tend to be asymptomatic spreaders, and returning college students should be treated as being very high risk.
It’s probably not practical for students to quarantine for 14 days before they return. In that case, they need to quarantine once they return home. That means staying in an area of the house that’s totally separate from anyone else. They should not be in any indoor areas with other people for 14 days. They can socialize outdoors only during that period.

Source: When to quarantine for Thanksgiving – CNN

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Utah governor orders statewide mask mandate, new coronavirus restrictions – The Salt Lake Tribune

[Updated: Gov. Gary Herbert says data drove decision for new state of COVID-19 emergency]

Utah’s governor declared a new state of emergency late Sunday after the state’s most devastating week of the pandemic, as COVID-19 infections skyrocketed and deaths hit new highs. His big concern is the surge in hospitalizations that may soon overwhelm doctors and nurses.

Unlike other restrictions, the governor intends to extend the mask mandate “for the foreseeable future.” Businesses that fail to comply will face fines.

The new executive orders are signed by Herbert and by Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, who is the governor-elect. They limit any social gatherings to people in the same households and place a hold on all school extracurricular activities, including athletic and intramural events.

These restrictions take effect at 1 p.m. Monday and will end Nov. 23, just a few days before Thanksgiving. The governor said the state will offer holiday recommendations in the coming days.

This order doesn’t require any business to close, but businesses and event hosts must require social distancing.

It doesn’t require any schools to go online — despite a teachers union pushing for junior high and high schools to go virtual.

Source: Utah governor orders statewide mask mandate, new coronavirus restrictions – The Salt Lake Tribune

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New outpatient center to open in Greensburg | News | tribdem.com

GREENSBURG – A new UPMC outpatient center will open Monday in Greensburg.

The 2,520 square-foot multi-specialty clinic at

410 Pellis Road will be staffed by 14 clinicians from UPMC East in Monroeville, bringing an array of services.

“Every day, an average of 228 Greensburg-area residents travel to a UPMC location for their health care,” UPMC East President Mark O’Hern said. 

“One of our goals in serving our communities is to make it as easy as possible for patients to obtain the high-quality care and services they need close to home, conveniently and efficiently.”

Orthopedic and sports medicine, heart and vascular, pain management, gastroenterology, general surgery and women’s health services will be available.

The new center is less than two miles from UPMC competitor Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital.

Source: New outpatient center to open in Greensburg | News | tribdem.com

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Biden Faces Uphill Battle To Contain Coronavirus

More masks, more tests, more scientists: Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election will flip the United States’ coronavirus pandemic response to what doctors and scientists hope will be a long-overdue, full-throated, nationally coordinated effort that will save lives.

But the president-elect is being handed an unprecedented health crisis with no easy fixes. On his predecessor’s watch, the coronavirus infected upwards of 9 million Americans and killed more than 237,000. Access to a vaccine is likely months away. Public confidence in federal health agencies has eroded.

Cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are surging across the country, more than two months before Biden will take office.And despite winning the election, Biden will need to persuade the 70 million-plus people who voted for Trump to accept his more aggressive strategy to combat the pandemic.

Any COVID relief funding he’ll want to pass to boost the economy will depend on a deeply divided Congress, with control of the Senate resting in the hands of Georgia voters in a double runoff in January.But with Biden in charge, the country at least has a chance of containing the outbreak, according to medical experts. They expect to see a night-and-day difference between him and President Donald Trump, who told the world not to fear the virus even when he was infected with it.

The Trump administration’s strategy consisted mostly of banking on a vaccine while giving up on preventing or slowing infections, flouting the guidance of his own top federal health officials.In contrast, Biden “respects scientists, he respects doctors,” Eric Topol, a cardiologist at the Scripps Translational Science Institute, told BuzzFeed News. “That’s something that will be refreshing, for sure.”

Source: Biden Faces Uphill Battle To Contain Coronavirus

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Pittsburgh Public Schools reopening school campuses, only 800 students returning

PITTSBURGH — We are learning how Pittsburgh Public Schools are preparing to reopen their school campuses.

On Monday, a select group of students will return – following weeks of virtual learning.

Since March, schools have been closed to in-person learning to keep students and staff safe due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the district, 800 students out of 23,000 will be welcomed back.Students with special needs and those who are considered medically fragile will be the first to return.

“Safety comes first. That’s what we have to go by right now. It’s unfortunate, but we are doing the best we can under the current circumstances. Please bear with us. Hopefully, we will get a vaccine soon, and we can go back to a bit of normalcy. But, if not – we are doing the best we can to educate our students,” said Dr. Anthony Hamlet, superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools.

Source: PPS reopening school campuses, only 800 students returning

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Greece imposes lockdown to avoid worst at hospitals

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that he acted before infection rates reached the levels seen in many neighboring countries because, after years of financial crises that have damaged its health system, it couldn’t afford to wait as long to impose restrictions as others had.

“We must stop this wave,” Mitsotakis said. “I chose once again to take drastic measures sooner rather than later.”

Source: Greece imposes lockdown to avoid worst at hospitals

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Walmart Scraps Plan to Have Robots Scan Shelves – WSJ

The retail giant is ending its push to have machines developed by Bossa Nova Robotics rove stores to keep track of inventory, after discovering during the coronavirus pandemic that humans can help get similar results.

Walmart Inc. has ended its effort to use roving robots in store aisles to keep track of its inventory, reversing a yearslong push to automate the task with the hulking machines after finding during the coronavirus pandemic that humans can help get similar results.

The retail giant has ended its contract with robotics company Bossa Nova Robotics Inc., with which it joined over the past five years to gradually add six-foot-tall inventory-scanning machines to stores. Walmart had made the robots a frequent topic of conversation…

Source: Walmart Scraps Plan to Have Robots Scan Shelves – WSJ

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Surge in COVID-19 cases creates another roadblock for office workers | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

By Mark Belko

It’s 15 minutes past noon on a sunny October weekday — typically a bustling time for the food court at Fifth Avenue Place, Downtown.

But with the pandemic still raging and much of the city’s office staff working from home, the lunch counters are dark — and it’s eerily quiet.

Instead of the chattering din of a crowd, the only sound that can be heard is the whirring of the escalators rotating in a ghostly, endless loop. A sign declaring “Line Starts Here” at the end of a retractable rope at the shuttered Rosso Pizzeria stands as a mocking reminder of normal times.

Just outside, despite the unusually warm weather, the sidewalks are sparsely peppered with pedestrians.

Let’s talk: High office vacancies forcing landlords to wheel and deal, report finds

Across the street, there are no lines at McDonald’s, while the swanky Eddie Merlot’s restaurant is closed except for takeout until dinnertime. Down the street at the Sly Fox Taphouse, just two outdoor tables are occupied. There are no customers inside.

During these unsettling times, parking garages sit nearly empty, and many restaurants and businesses that rely on the regular swarm of office workers into town have been forced to close, at least temporarily.

Amid a fall surge in COVID-19 cases and with the governor’s mandate to work remotely still in force, the scene is unlikely to change any time soon.

Image Description
“Closed until further notice” sign posted in a store window in the deserted Fifth Avenue Place on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020, in Downtown.(Andrew Rush/Post-Gazette)

One of Pittsburgh’s signature skyscrapers, Fifth Avenue Place is the headquarters for health care giant Highmark Health, which occupies 26 floors in the now largely empty 31-story building.

“We continue to plan for a safe, phased and gradual return to work for our non-clinical employees after Jan. 1, subject to re-evaluation … as we draw closer to that date,” spokeswoman Janice Maszle said recently in an email. “The health and safety of our employees remain paramount.”

Source: Surge in COVID-19 cases creates another roadblock for office workers | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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Pandemic Bringing Rodents To Pittsburgh-Area Suburbs In Search Of Food – CBS Pittsburgh

 

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – With restaurants and bars operating at a lower capacity because of the pandemic, not as much food and garbage is going into dumpsters. Without their usual food sources, pest control experts say the rodents are going into the suburbs to find food.

Pest control expert Dan Martin says 2020 has been busy for his pest control company, Budget Pest Control in Ross Township. He says people who live in the suburbs are calling him because they’re seeing rats and mice in their yards or basements, many for the first time

Source: Pandemic Bringing Rodents To Pittsburgh-Area Suburbs In Search Of Food – CBS Pittsburgh

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Regeneron’s COVID-19 antibody cuts medical visits in phase 2/3 trial

Regeneron’s anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody cocktail has significantly reduced medical visits in ambulatory COVID-19 patients. The phase 2/3 clinical trial linked REGN-COV2 to a 57% decline in medical visits associated with COVID-19 in the 29 days after treatment.

One month ago, Regeneron shared data on the first 275 patients enrolled in the study. That update, which provided early evidence that REGN-COV2 reduces viral load, set Regeneron up to apply for FDA emergency use authorization. Now, Regeneron has shared data on an additional 525 patients to further elucidate the effect of REGN-COV2 on viral load and clinical endpoints.

The primary endpoint looked at average daily change in viral load through to Day 7 of the trial. In patients with a high viral load, REGN-COV2 drove a 0.68 log10 copies/mL greater reduction than the placebo. The effect was particularly pronounced over the first five days of the trial, over which period Regeneron linked REGN-COV2 to a tenfold reduction in viral load. A smaller, but still statistically significant, difference was seen in patients with all levels of viral load at baseline.

Source: Regeneron’s COVID-19 antibody cuts medical visits in phase 2/3 trial

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France and Germany thrust into lockdown as second COVID-19 wave sweeps Europe | Reuters

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel ordered their countries back into lockdown on Wednesday, as a massive second wave of coronavirus infections threatened to overwhelm Europe before the winter.

World stock markets went into a dive in response to the news that Europe’s biggest economies were imposing nationwide restrictions almost as severe as the ones that drove the global economy this year into its deepest recession in generations.

“The virus is circulating at a speed that not even the most pessimistic forecasts had anticipated,” Macron said in a televised address. “Like all our neighbours, we are submerged by the sudden acceleration of the virus.”

“We are all in the same position: overrun by a second wave which we know will be harder, more deadly than the first,” he said. “I have decided that we need to return to the lockdown which stopped the virus.”

Under the new French measures which come into force on Friday, people will be required to stay in their homes except to buy essential goods, seek medical attention, or exercise for up to one hour a day. They will be permitted to go to work if their employer deems it impossible for them to do the job from home. Schools will stay open.

Source: France and Germany thrust into lockdown as second COVID-19 wave sweeps Europe | Reuters

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COVID’s cognitive costs? Some patients’ brains may age 10 years | Reuters

People recovering from COVID-19 may suffer significant brain function impacts, with the worst cases of the infection linked to mental decline equivalent to the brain ageing by 10 years, researchers warned on Tuesday.

Source: COVID’s cognitive costs? Some patients’ brains may age 10 years | Reuters

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State Police Issue 8 Warnings, 1 Notice Of Violation To Local Establishments Not Following Coronavirus Orders – CBS Pittsburgh

During coronavirus compliance checks, state police issued one notice of violation and eight warnings to Pittsburgh-area licensed liquor establishments.

Source: State Police Issue 8 Warnings, 1 Notice Of Violation To Local Establishments Not Following Coronavirus Orders – CBS Pittsburgh

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China reports largest new cluster of coronavirus cases

China has reported its biggest cluster of asymptomatic coronavirus cases in nearly seven months — which it uncovered during a drive to test 4.7 million people after the discovery of a single infection.

Authorities in the Kashgar area of Xinjiang went into a partial lockdown almost as soon as a 17-year-old girl who works at a garment factory tested positive during routine weekly tests, the state-run Xinhua news agency said.

By Sunday afternoon, more than 2.8 million residents had been tested — with the rest expected to be completed by Tuesday.

The initial results showed 137 positive infections, with another 26 by Monday, Xinhua said. All 163 infected were asymptomatic — the highest number since China began reporting such daily counts on April 1.

The infected teen’s immediate family all tested negative, even though the cluster of cases appeared to be based at a different factory where her parents work, the South China Post reported. Yet all 831 workers at the factory where the girl works all tested negative, the report said.

The scale and speed of the testing highlighted the dramatic push by China to stamp out the contagion. Earlier this month, the port city of Qingdao tested its entire population of 9 million after just 12 cases were detected.

While the pandemic originated in Wuhan, China claims to have had fewer than 100,000 cases and less than 5,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data — although its relatively low numbers have been met with skepticism.

Source: China reports largest new cluster of coronavirus cases

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Spices From 2 Companies Are Being Recalled Over Salmonella Fears

Two different companies have issued recalls.

Two companies have issued recalls on their dried spices over fears that the products could contain salmonella, the FDA posted this month.

The first is Sauer Brands, Inc. which voluntarily recalled specific lot codes of more than two dozen spices by The Spice Hunter, including organic parsley, organic cinnamon, Madagascar cloves, gourmet sesame seeds, and more. This occurred because even after raw materials had tested negative for salmonella, the company’s supplier notified them of the presence of salmonella in some lots of organic parsley given to them.

Source: Spices From 2 Companies Are Being Recalled Over Salmonella Fears

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Residents at North Huntingdon care facility test positive for covid-19 | TribLIVE.com

Several residents at a North Huntingdon care facility tested positive for covid-19 this month, officials announced Wednesday night.

Transitions Healthcare posted on their Facebook page that 60 residents had contracted coronavirus in October. Nine of those residents have since recovered and officials said they “anticipate and hope that 51 of the residents will be resolved of all symptoms as of next week.”

Officials at the facility, located on Barnes Lake Road, were not available for comment early Thursday morning.

According to their Facebook post, the cases were discovered following required weekly testing, a measure that was put in place as coronavirus cases in Westmoreland County began to increase. Tests were previously conducted monthly.

Source: Residents at North Huntingdon care facility test positive for covid-19 | TribLIVE.com

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Governor Tom Wolf to visit Pittsburgh to announce support for restaurant and bar industry

Visit planned for Thursday afternoonPITTSBURGH —

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf plans to visit Pittsburgh Thursday to announce additional support for the restaurant and bar industry amid the COVID

Wolf will be joined by state Reps. Dan Deasy, Ed Gainey and Jake Wheatley, as well as state Sen. Wayne Fontana, when he makes the announcement on Thursday afternoon

Source: Governor Tom Wolf to visit Pittsburgh to announce support for restaurant and bar industry

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Hempfield Area High School to close for remainder of week due to additional COVID-19 cases

The district said it was notified at 1 p.m. Tuesday that one additional high school student and one additional middle school student tested positive for COVID-19.

The district said a total of 12 high school students have tested positive since Monday, Oct. 12.

The high school will reopen on Monday, Oct. 26 for students of group “A.”

The district said free meals can continue to be picked up at the high school between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily. High school athletics are canceled for the remainder of this week.

Click here to read the full letter from the district.

Elementary parents, please follow this link to access a survey indicating if you would like your child to receive a
district-issued Chromebook for remote instruction. Please complete this form no later than Friday, October 23,
2020, by 4:00 PM so that Chromebooks can be prepared for distribution in the event of remote instruction.

Source: Hempfield Area High School to close for remainder of week due to additional COVID-19 cases

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Greensburg City Hall closed this week due to suspected coronavirus case | TribLIVE.com

Greensburg City Hall is closed this week due to a suspected coronavirus infection of a city employee, Councilman Randy Finfrock said.

“Just as an abundance of caution we’re deep cleaning City Hall, and we’ll be back in business Monday,” he said.

Officials closed the building Tuesday afternoon.

A city employee was feeling ill and took a coronavirus test, but the results have not been confirmed.

Source: Greensburg City Hall closed this week due to suspected coronavirus case | TribLIVE.com

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Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Oct. 10 – The Moscow Times

New restrictions in Moscow. Deaths surpass 22,000. Vaccine race.

Oct. 10: What you need to know today

  • Russia confirmed 12,846 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, bringing its official number of cases to 1,285,084.
  • Russia has carried out more than 500,000 coronavirus tests in a single day for the first time since the start of the pandemic, consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said Friday.
  • Starting Monday, Moscow employers will be required to transfer 30% of their employees to remote work through Oct. 28 due to the city’s coronavirus situation. Workers over the age of 65 and those suffering from chronic diseases will also be required to work remotely. Workers at medical institutions, defense agencies, Rosatom and Roscosmos are exempt from the new rules.

Source: Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Oct. 10 – The Moscow Times

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US Coronavirus: CDC ensemble forecast forsees death toll from Covid-19 climbing to 233,000 by end of month

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention forecast that combines the data from dozens of independent models predicts US deaths from Covid-19 could reach 233,000 by the end of the month.

Source: US Coronavirus: CDC ensemble forecast forsees death toll from Covid-19 climbing to 233,000 by end of month

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Westmoreland Prison on lockdown as two guards test positive for coronavirus | TribLIVE.com

Two guards at the Westmoreland County Prison tested positive for coronavirus and the Hempfield jail was placed on lockdown status Wednesday.

“The prison continues to follow all appropriate and currently recommended protocols to mitigate the spread of covid-19 to keep the employees and prison population safe,” according to a statement released by county commissioners.

Officials said both guards reported their positive tests on Wednesday. One had not been at the jail since Sept. 24 and the other was last at the facility on Oct. 3.

Wednesday’s cases were the first infections among the jail staff.

Source: Westmoreland Prison on lockdown as two guards test positive for coronavirus | TribLIVE.com

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‘Thanks, But No Thanks:’ Trump Campaign Reportedly Exploring Holding Event In Pittsburgh On Monday – CBS Pittsburgh

The Trump campaign is reportedly “exploring” a visit to Pittsburgh next week.

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Reports say this potential visit from President Donald Trump would not be a rally, where typically hundreds or even thousands could be in attendance.

But the possibility of the president being here, while still having the coronavirus, is not sitting well with some local leaders.

Here’s what a New York Times reporter tweeted last night:

Mayor Bill Peduto responded on Twitter, as well.

Mayor Peduto’s assumption is correct.

However, according to the CDC, if you think or know you had COVID-19, you can be around others after 10 days since symptoms first appeared, have had 24 hours with no fever without the use of medications and you find other symptoms of the virus are improving.

On Wednesday, Sean Conley, President Trump’s doctor said the 74-year-old has been fever-free for more than four days and symptom-free for over 24 hours.

At this point, the Trump campaign has not publicly announced a visit to the city.

We’re also hearing from County Executive Rich Fitzgerald about the President possibly stopping by.

Source: ‘Thanks, But No Thanks:’ Trump Campaign Reportedly Exploring Holding Event In Pittsburgh On Monday – CBS Pittsburgh

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Trump expected to carry out duties ‘without disruption,’ his doctor says

President Trump’s physician released a memo early Friday in which he said he expects the commander-in-chief “to continue carrying out his duties without disruption.”

“This evening I received confirmation that both President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus,” Dr. Sean Conley wrote.

“The President and First Lady are both well at this time, and they plan to remain at home within the White House during their convalescence,” he continued.

Source: Trump expected to carry out duties ‘without disruption,’ his doctor says

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Face mask comments draw online backlash for Ullman, Wolf

A viral video capturing comments between Rep. Wendy Ullman and Gov. Tom Wolf Wednesday caught backlash online from Eric Trump and conservative groups.

An exchange between Gov. Tom Wolf and a state House member from Bucks County on Tuesday went viral on social media, drawing the ire of Republican groups and even garnering national attention courtesy of Eric Trump.

The state livestream includes audio of Rep. Wendy Ullman, D-143, of Plumstead, referring to keeping her face mask on while at the podium before and removing it to speak as “political theater” at a press conference in Doylestown Borough.

“Wendy, I’m going to, I’m going to take my mask off before I speak,” Wolf is heard saying to Ullman before her remarks. It was picked up by a microphone at the podium.

“I will as well. I’m waiting so we can do a little political theater,” Ullman responded, laughing with Wolf after she spoke and then returning to the microphone with her mask still on.

The 19-second clip spread online Tuesday afternoon through tweets like one from the Young Republican National Confederation, one video gaining more than 850,000 views by Wednesday morning.

Just an hour before the first Presidential Debate began at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Eric Trump shared the Young Republicans’ tweet, which was then shared by nearly 30,000 people over night.

“While ‘political theatre’ may not have been the best turn of phrase, I’m not going to apologize for wearing a mask,” Ullman said in a statement to this news organization Wednesday afternoon after this story was published online.

Ullman added that wearing a mask on camera should be viewed as setting an example for Pennsylvanians to wear a mask and treat the coronavirus seriously.

Source: Face mask comments draw online backlash for Ullman, Wolf

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China’s Media Predicts Winter COVID Pain for U.S., Europe and India

Chinese state media has continued its attacks on its rivals over their handling of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, predicting that continued failure to deal with the virus will bring a painful winter wave of new infections and deaths.

The pandemic originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan at the start of this year, spreading worldwide and to date claiming more than 1 million lives. China was able to bring its own outbreak under control through strict population control measures, but was unable to stop the virus spreading beyond its borders.

Nationalistic Chinese state media has celebrated Beijing’s success and maligned its rivals’ efforts to fight the spread of the disease. State media has been at the forefront of China’s propaganda push to avoid blame for the pandemic and reject accusations that Beijing covered up the severity of the outbreak and failed to adequately warn the international community.

Source: China’s Media Predicts Winter COVID Pain for U.S., Europe and India

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Coronavirus: Global Covid-19 death toll passes one million – BBC News

UN chief António Guterres calls it “an agonising milestone” as the fight to stem the virus continues.

The tally by Johns Hopkins University shows that deaths in the US, Brazil and India make up nearly half that total.

Experts caution that the true figure is probably much higher.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called it a “mind-numbing” figure and “an agonising milestone”.

“Yet we must never lose sight of each and every individual life,” he said in a video message.

“They were fathers and mothers, wives and husbands, brothers and sisters, friends and colleagues. The pain has been multiplied by the savageness of this disease.”

The development comes nearly 10 months after news of the coronavirus began to emerge from Wuhan, China.

Source: Coronavirus: Global Covid-19 death toll passes one million – BBC News

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