Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 4, that there were 3,226 additional positive cases of COVID-19, in addition to 4,579 new cases reported Sunday, January 3 for a two-day total of 7,805additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 665,097. The case counts today are atypically low as a result of technical maintenance to the data server on Sunday. This technical maintenance did not impact the death reporting system on Sunday or Monday as the death data comes from a different server.

There are 5,529 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, near double the peak in the spring. Of that number, 1,149 patients are in the intensive care unit with COVID-19. Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is availablehere.

The trend in the 14-day moving average of number of hospitalized patients per day has increased by nearly 5,400 since the end of September.

Statewide percent positivity for the week of December 25 December 31 stood at 15.0%.

The most accurate daily data is available on the website, with archived data also available.

As of 11:59 p.m. Saturday, January 2, there were 56 new deaths and as of 11:59 p.m. Sunday, January 3, there were 66 new deaths reported for a total of 16,361 deaths attributed to COVID-19. County-specific information and a statewide map are available on the COVID-19 Data Dashboard.

Mask-wearing is required in all businesses and whenever leaving home. Consistent mask-wearing is critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19.

There are 58,275 individualswho have a positive viral antigen test and are considered probable casesand 637 individualswho have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure.

There are 3,301,186 individuals who have tested negative to date.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 54,465 resident cases of COVID-19, and 9,827 cases among employees, for a total of 64,292 at 1,479 distinct facilities in all 67 counties. Out of our total deaths, 9,023 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities. A county breakdown can be found here.

Approximately 19,437 of our total cases are among health care workers.

COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

Pennsylvania hospitals began receiving shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine the week of Dec. 14 and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine the week of Dec. 21.

Through Jan. 3:

A spreadsheet of facilities that have received vaccine can be found here.

Statewide The Wolf Administration has since noon, Jan. 3:

The Wolf Administration stresses the role Pennsylvanians play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

Updated Coronavirus Links: Press Releases, State Lab Photos, Graphics

All Pennsylvania residents are encouraged to sign up for AlertPA, a text notification system for health, weather, and other important alerts like COVID-19 updates from commonwealth agencies. Residents can sign up online at http://www.ready.pa.gov/BeInformed/Signup-For-Alerts.

MEDIA CONTACT: April Hutcheson - RA-DHpressoffice@pa.gov

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Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19: 5,529 Patients Hospitalized and 1,149 Patients in the Intensive Care Unit - Pennsylvania Pressroom

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) -- Patients receiving COVID-19 treatment at Mayo Clinic have a better outcome compared to hospitals around the world. That's according to a study released by Mayo on Dec. 22.

The study looked at 7,891 COVID-19 patients within the Mayo Clinic Enterprise (Minnesota, Florida, Arizona and outcare systems). Of those patients, 77 percent received some kind of COVID directed therapy, 11 percent of patients were hospitalized, 4.5 percent were admitted into the ICU and 1.1 percent died.

"How this compared to other center is that it's lower than anything else that's been reported," Mayo Clinic COVID Research Task Force Dr. Andrew Badley said.

Dr. Badley compared Mayo's numbers with the latest numbers this last week. Around the country, there were more than 20.5 million cases and 350,000 deaths, for a 1.7 percent death rate. Around the world, there have been 79 million cases and 1.7 million deaths, making for a mortality rate of 2.1 percent.

"At Mayo we saw 1.1," Badley said. "So why are these results different?"

Badley credits Mayo's success with a variety of advantages.

"We had the opportunity to learn from experience," he said.

With the deadly virus making itself known on the West coast, he leading health organization also had time to plan and prepare before outbreaks starting occurring where its hospitals were.

"So, the approach we put together was a multi-layer integrated approach. We brought together experts on everything we could think of," Badely said. "So, COVID, and immunology, and intense care unit and kidney disease and blood clots, to make sure we always had, at our fingers tips, the most up to date information about COVID."

Clinical trials also played a role in the hospital's success.

"Early in the epidemic, there weren't a lot of clinic trials. Within several months there were a lot. We had the option of choosing between clinical trails, and we could select the trails that most likely would have a meaningful impact."

This let the enterprise lead other hospitals in the fight. For example, creating a separate location to treat COVID-19 patients with antibodies.

"What we have done, and what other centers have started to do, is we have created out patient centers that are only for COVID patients," Badley said. "So, we can administer these antibodies to COVID patients and not risk infecting other patients."

Perhaps the biggest feat though, is the teamwork mentality demonstrated by those on the frontlines.

"It's a true testament to the teamwork of Mayo employees everyday, even pre-COVID. So, everybody from janitorial staff, to secretarial staff, nursing staff, to specialties; when there has been a request -- and there has been a lot of requests these last ten months -- they jump up to do it without hesitation. Because it's in the best interest of our patients."

The study took place between March 1 and July 31, 2020.

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Mayo Clinic study shows lower mortality rates among its COVID-19 patients compared to the world - KTTC

Across the NBA, team officials tasked with enforcing and managing the league's day-to-day health and safety protocols say they're exhausted and struggling to balance those roles along with their typical team duties, many of which are focused on player health.

Further, several of these officials say they have found themselves so busy with protocols that their ability to work with individual players on a hands-on basis -- in areas that include treatment, recovery, training -- has been sacrificed, leading to concerns about reduced care for players.

"I've actually told my peers on these trips that we've been on -- it's very, very difficult for me to get my hands on [players]," said one Western Conference head athletic trainer, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity because they aren't authorized to speak publicly. One Eastern Conference head athletic trainer independently echoed this point and said it's shared league-wide among peers.

One league health official who is close to the matter added, "What scares me -- and I know it's happening -- is that their normal job of doing health care on players [is impaired]. I've had some trainers tell me, 'I haven't touched a player in two weeks because I've been so busy doing all this logistics and testing and all that.' That's concerning. That's definitely what I don't want to happen."

A second Western Conference head athletic trainer agreed with the above sentiment.

"There will be some decline in player health care," that head athletic trainer said. "But I think the larger part will be the overload of the care providers."

As the NBA tries to hold a season outside a bubble during the coronavirus pandemic, team health officials and others filling protocol roles are essentially the NBA's front-line workers. Roles that have been largely delegated to team health officials, as outlined in the NBA's 158-page protocols, include testing officer, contact tracing officer, facemask enforcement officer, facility hygiene officer, health education and awareness officer and travel safety officer, among others. Some team health officials hold more than one of those roles, along with their original roles.

"We're responsible for the logistics of all of the staff, PCR testing, and all of the player rapid testing, and the compliance with the timelines that go into that every day, whether it's an off day, whether it's a game day," said the second Western Conference head athletic trainer. "So the workload has increased dramatically. [And] there's not been a decrease in any of the other workload."

Said one Eastern Conference basketball operations official who is working to handle their team's contract tracing program, "It's just frustrating because with all these things they are making us do it's been hard to find time to do our actual jobs. People are going to be exhausted and sick after this year with everything we are forced to do."

For all their duties, no team official who spoke with ESPN blamed the NBA or its protocols. Rather, there was an understanding that this is an extraordinary situation with understandably high demands. There is hope that staffers can find a rhythm as the season goes on, but several team health officials also noted that the situation continually evolves, with more memos and conference calls from the league in which new protocols are introduced or changes are made. There are also continually evolving city and state restrictions that affect team markets differently.

"Emails are coming fast and furious at all times," said the Eastern Conference head athletic trainer. "And they're not a one-page memo; these are 15 pages, sometimes. They come through daily almost. And so, yeah, we have an obligation to stay current on stuff and it's time-consuming."

A Western Conference GM added, "There's just not enough hours in the day to read the memos, the nuances, compliance, testing, the things that quickly change." The Western Conference GM continued, "You have constant scenarios happening where the memos don't cover that particular situation...That's no one's fault. It's just where we're at."

If their own physical and mental health is failing under the weight of added duties, as several team officials independently say is already happening, then what about the health of players? Several of these officials voiced concerns about not only a decline in players' health care but in the fragility of a non-bubble season, given the constant potential for outbreaks if there's slippage in protocols, vigilance, diligence or compliance.

"Normally, if you can get a 90% compliance rate in a lot of things, that's really good," said the second Western Conference head athletic trainer. "In some ways, a 90% compliance rate here might as well be zero."

Some team health officials reported weeks ago, as training camp was gearing up in early December, that they were already far busier than they had ever been in their careers, with the Western Conference head athletic trainer saying that the workload was at least double if not three times what it was before. For some, looking ahead to the coming months is daunting.

"Every waking hour seems to be committed to [the protocols]," said the Eastern Conference head athletic training official. "But you look down the pike here, and... you wonder, 'God, I barely got through today, how am I going to do this another 100-something times?'"

Said one Eastern Conference general manager, "There's a lot of people that are exhausted. I think their mental weight is as heavy as the physical weight. It wears on you, especially when you're traveling, especially on the road. There's so many moving parts."

Sleep loss is another factor in a league that has struggled with that very issue for years.

"It's extremely difficult," said the first Western Conference head athletic trainer. "The days become longer when you thought they were as long as they could be. If you get a phone call at 2 or 3 in the morning about a possible positive [test] that ends up being a false positive, you're trying to deal with that up until the team is starting to come in the facility at 8 or 9 just to make sure you're complying with everything and then go through your shootaround and then you have a game [and if you] get to bed at midnight, you're lucky to get three or four hours."

The Western Conference GM said his team's health and athletic training staff is robust but still struggling.

"The reality is, these people are really working hard to keep us all safe," said the Western Conference GM. "And like the front-line health care workers, we probably haven't put enough time and thought into their physical and emotional state."

That GM added, "I can't say thank you enough to my guys because you can feel it on them. It's really emotionally exhausting the health performance staff."

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NBA team health officials find balance tough with new COVID-19 protocols - ESPN

For it to be within minutes of each other was shocking and surreal, said Vanessa Lee, who lost both her grandfathers.

PORTLAND, Ore. It could be months before the general population gets access to the COVID-19 vaccine. In the meantime, one family is hoping we all continue to keep each other safe.

They lost both of their grandfathers, Jim Ledbetter and Don Lee, to COVID-19-related complications in the same day, roughly 15 minutes apart. And it was on the night before Thanksgiving.

Jim Ledbetters family described him as a man of peace. His daughter, Karen Lee, said he grew up during the Great Depression, moved from Tennessee to California, was the first one in his family to go to college, and became an American Baptist minister.

He graduated from Linfield College in 51 and met my mom there, said Karen.

She said he was active, loved to play handball, and ran in the Portland Marathon as well as the Boston Marathon.

She said her father-in-law, Don Lee, was a survivor.

He survived the communist takeover of China in the '50s and they escaped, Karen said.

She said Don and his son, her husband, moved to the United States in 1969. Her husband was 16 years old at the time.

Karen said once in the U.S., Don worked at The Pagoda Restaurant in Portlands Hollywood District for a time, then went to the Hilton as a bartender, and retired from the Arlington Club in Southwest Portland, where he was well liked.

Both Don and Jim lived full lives. They both loved watching sports, eating good food, the outdoors, and most of all they loved their family.

They went the whole year, clear until the end of October with no virus at all, said Karen.

But in November things changed. Karen said her father, Jim, came down with COVID-19 at the beginning of November, along with her mother.

Karen said she knew when they were first diagnosed with COVID-19 that she would likely lose at least one of her parents.

Im a nurse. My heart just sank, Karen said.

She said both her parents had come out of quarantine, but still had not completely recovered due to fallout from the virus.

He stopped eating and he didnt have any taste or smell, Karen said of her father.

She said the COVID-19 cases popped up quickly at her fathers care facility.

It went from no cases, to 16 cases, and eventually, like 37," she said. "And that was over half of the place and the employees."

As for Don, family members said he had shown symptoms a week prior to his death. But he got a test showing he was not infected with COVID-19.

On the Monday before Thanksgiving, Jim was admitted to hospice. Then, two days later, he tested positive for COVID-19 and was sent to the hospital.

That night Karen left her father's facility to grab a quick meal when she got the call about Don.

My husband called and said that his dad had just passed away, said Karen.

She broke the news to her kids about their grandpa Don. Then, the unthinkable happened. She found out within minutes her own father died.

Within 15 minutes I had gotten a call from my mom that my other grandfather had passed away, said Karens daughter, Vanessa Lee. For it to be within minutes of each other was shocking and surreal.

Meanwhile on the East Coast in Boston, Karens son Cameron had just finished telling his family about grandpa Don: My wife was talking to the kids and I was like The other grandpa just died too.'

Karen said three days before her dad Jim passed away, family members saw him on a Zoom video call.

Everybody started crying because he had lost so much weight and we were like, Oh man, Dad, your not gonna make it. So, that was really hard, said Karen.

Days later, he was gone. Jims surviving wife, Karen's mom, is 90 years old and suffers from dementia. Karen made sure her mom got a chance to say goodbye, even if she didnt know it.

I had her give him a hug and kiss on the cheek," Karen said, "and she had no idea that he had already passed.

Were it not for COVID-19, its possible both Don and Jim would still be around.

What makes it hard is, it sort of accelerated the rate of which so many people have lost fragile loved ones, said Cameron about COVID-19.

Cameron said he and his family canceled a holiday trip back to Portland after his grandfathers deaths.

I didnt want to be the start of a chain reaction that would impact someone elses family, he said.

At this point, family members are coping as best they can.

Both my dad and Don both loved dim sum, and Chinese food, and buffets," Karen said. "That was our big thing, that when they died, they mustve had to get to the big buffet in the sky somewhere and they didnt want each one to beat them there."

Now, after losing the two men roughly 15 minutes apart, just as the holidays were getting underway, Karen said she hopes other families will be spared similar heartache.

It doesnt hurt you to wear a mask," she said. "It does not hurt.

You kind of have to chip in and try to protect them by breaking the chains of transmission, said Cameron.

Its not political," Vanessa said. "These are peoples lives."

Karen said no one really knows how Jim and Don contracted COVID-19, though the timing was right after Halloween.

She said she wants people to know that those who are elderly, vulnerable, or veterans have put their lives on hold many times for our collective benefit, whether its to raise families or fight a war, and we owe it to them to keep them safe by slowing the spread of COVID-19.

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Family loses two grandfathers to COVID-19 minutes apart on eve of Thanksgiving - KGW.com

9Health Expert Dr. Payal Kohli said she's surprised by the pace in which the virus has been mutating and spreading all over the world.

New variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 are popping up in different parts of the world and they're spreading rapidly.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is tracking the new versions of the virus originating in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Nigeria.

9NEWS asked 9Health Expert Dr. Payal Kohli to help break down what we know about the new strains.

Strain Discovered in the U.K.

The COVID-19 variant known as B.1.1.7. emerged in the UK in September. The CDC said the variant spreads more quickly and easily than other versions of the virus.

On Monday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a new national lockdown lasting at least until mid-February in an effort to contain the new strain.

It has changed the behavior of the virus in the sense that its made it 70% more contagious," explained Dr. Kohli. "But, it does not appear to render the vaccines ineffective based on the studies that weve seen so far.

The highly contagious variant of COVID-19 is prevalent in London and southeast England.

Colorado detected the first case of the variant in the U.S. State leaders announced Dec. 29 a man in Elbert County was infected with the variant of the virus. He was a member of the National Guard working at a nursing home in Simla.

WATCH: Can you be infected with the COVID variant after already having COVID?

Variant Discovered in South Africa

The CDC said a separate variant of COVID-19 was detected in South Africa in early October.

The strain "shares some mutations with the variant detected in the UK," according to information on the CDC website.

The variant also appears to spread faster and more easily than other versions of the virus.

The CDC said there's no evidence the strains found in the UK or South Africa are more deadly or cause people to get sicker than the original coronavirus.

The fact that they spread more quickly means that more people are going to get infected which means that more people are going to get sick and more people are going to die," Dr. Kohli said.

Variant Discovered in Nigeria

Another version of COVID-19 recently popped up in Nigeria. The CDC is monitoring the strain and "there is no evidence to indicate this variant is causing more severe illness or increased spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria," according to the CDC website.

The CDC is also studying whether any of the strains will impact the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Dr. Kohli said it's only a matter of time before the various strains of COVID-19 make their way to Colorado.

"its going to get on a plane and its going to fly here," she said.

WATCH: How did the new COVID variant affect Colorado's case count?

SUGGESTED VIDEOS:COVID-19 Coronavirus

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What we know about the new variants of COVID-19 - 9News.com KUSA

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens on Saturday said they were informed by the NFL that "at least four unique strains" of COVID-19 were found inside their facility during the team's outbreak.

"Three of the four were stopped and not spread within our organization," Ravens president Dick Cass said in a statement. "Unfortunately, the fourth was a highly-contagious strain and spread throughout our organization."

The outbreak in Baltimore was one of the biggest in professional sports.

At least one Ravens player tested positive for 10 straight days. Baltimore placed 23 players on the reserve/COVID-19 list during that span.

1 Related

"From the outset, we have taken the virus seriously, very seriously," Cass said. "... Despite our best efforts, the protocol is only as effective as our weakest link. With a dangerous virus like this, everyone must comply with the protocol to avoid infecting many. We now know that not everyone at the Ravens followed the protocol thoroughly."

The Ravens recently announced that a staff member had been disciplined. According to a source, the team's strength and conditioning coach was suspended for not always wearing a mask and contact-tracing device in the facility.

The outbreak forced the recent Ravens-Steelers game to be postponed three times.

The Ravens, who have had four straight days without a positive test, reduced their reserve/COVID-19 list to 10 players on Saturday.

"We cannot undo what has occurred," Cass said. "But, we can do our best to learn from what has happened and be vigilant moving forward to ensure that it does not happen again. As the recent experience has shown us, this virus does not need a large opening to spread within an organization, and 99% compliance is not a passing grade when dealing with this virus."

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'At least' four strains of COVID-19 found in Baltimore Ravens' facility - ESPN

We're making this important information about the pandemic available without a subscription as a public service. But we depend on reader support to do this work. Please consider joining others in supporting independent journalism in Alaska for just $3.23 a week.

Saturdays daily case tally is the most reported in a single day so far during the pandemic. Its the second time this week that a daily record for new cases has been set, after 760 cases were recorded Thursday (followed closely by Fridays near-record total of 756 cases).

The consistently high daily case counts are translating to more deaths and hospitalizations that are stressing the health care system, Alaska health officials say.

The death reported Saturday involved an Anchorage woman in her 70s, according to the state health department, and follows the 12 deaths reported Friday. In total, 142 Alaskans and one nonresident have died with the virus since it was first detected here in March. While the states overall death rate per capita remains one of the lowest in the country, state officials say its difficult to compare Alaska to other states because of its unique geography and vulnerable health care system.

Health officials say the daily reports underestimate the true number of virus cases because of a backlog in public health data, and they continue to report that shrinking hospital capacity and limited staffing pose a significant concern statewide.

By Saturday, ICU capacity in Alaska was in the red zone, or more than 75% full. There were 150 people hospitalized with COVID-19, along with 14 people with suspected infections. Thirty adult intensive care unit beds were available out of 128, and 16.1% of the adult hospitalizations in Alaska were COVID-related.

State data showed just five adult ICU beds available Friday in Anchorage hospitals, where the states sickest patients tend to end up.

Of the 908 new cases reported by the state Saturday among Alaska residents, there were 298 in Anchorage, plus 22 in Eagle River, six in Chugiak and one in Girdwood; 177 in Wasilla, 35 in Palmer and five in Big Lake; 89 in Fairbanks, 34 in North Pole and one in Ester; 36 in Kenai, 33 in Soldotna, five in Sterling, four in Homer, four in Nikiski and two in Seward; 19 in Kodiak; 12 in Bethel; 11 in Delta Junction; five in Utqiagvik; five in Sitka; four in Juneau; four in Ketchikan; two in Craig and one in Metlakatla; two in Dillingham; one in Cordova and one in Valdez; one in Healy; one in Kotzebue; and one in Chevak.

Among communities smaller than 1,000 people not named to protect privacy, there were 39 resident cases in the Bethel Census Area; 24 in the Kusilvak Census Area; 12 in the Fairbanks North Star Borough; five in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area; one in the northern Kenai Peninsula Borough; one in the Southeast Fairbanks Census Area; one in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area; one in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough; one in the Bristol Bay plus Lake and Peninsula boroughs; and one in the Dillingham Census Area.

Twenty-five cases were reported among nonresidents: seven in Fairbanks, three in Anchorage, two in smaller North Slope Borough communities, one in Kenai, one in Utqiagvik, one in Unalaska and 10 in unidentified regions of the state.

All regions in Alaska as of Saturday were in a high alert status, reflecting the average daily case rate over 14 days per 100,000. The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region has the highest average rate, at 174.29 cases per 100,000, followed by Mat-Su with 142.94 cases per 100,000.

State health officials continue to encourage Alaskans to avoid indoor gatherings with non-household members, and report that most Alaskans who contract the virus get it from a friend, family member or coworker.

Travel is also currently considered a high-risk activity.

The Centers for Disease Control announced this week it was revising its quarantine guidance to allow people who may have been exposed to COVID-19 to shorten their quarantine period from two weeks to as few as seven days with a negative COVID-19 test.

More than 1 million tests have been performed in Alaska since March. While people might get tested more than once, each case reported by the state health department represents only one person.

Among the new cases, the state does not report how many people show symptoms when they test positive. The CDC estimates that about a third of people who have the virus are asymptomatic.

As of Saturday, the state had an average positivity rate of 7.24% over the last seven days. Health officials warn that a positivity rate over 5% can mean there is not enough broad testing occurring in a community.

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Tracking COVID-19 in Alaska: 1 death and a record 933 new cases reported Saturday - Anchorage Daily News

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Two Additional Youth at Stevenson House Test Positive for COVID-19Date Posted: November 23, 2020

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Christina senior secretary named Delawares first Educational Support Professional of the YearDate Posted: November 20, 2020

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20 District/Charter Educational Support Professionals of the Year honored, one to be named state winnerDate Posted: November 16, 2020

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Delaware Veterans Day 2020Date Posted: November 10, 2020

More Delaware Beaches are Cleared of Oily DebrisDate Posted: November 10, 2020

November 10, 2020: COVID-19 BriefingDate Posted: November 10, 2020

DNREC Natural Resources Police Collect Toys as Holiday Gifts for Delaware ChildrenDate Posted: November 10, 2020

Governor Carney, DPH, DEMA Announce Community COVID-19 Testing SitesDate Posted: November 9, 2020

Weekly COVID-19 Update Nov. 6, 2020: Delaware Sees Highest Single-Day Total of New Cases Since Height of PandemicDate Posted: November 6, 2020

Attorney General Jennings Secures Relief for Investors in Real Estate Joint VentureDate Posted: November 6, 2020

Reminder: FY 2022 Budget Hearings To Be Held Virtually Nov 9 20Date Posted: November 6, 2020

The Mezzanine Gallery to Exhibit Works on Paper by Kim KlabeDate Posted: November 6, 2020

Governor Carney Issues Second Revision to Omnibus COVID-19 OrderDate Posted: November 5, 2020

Governor Carney Announces Nominations to Key Administration PostsDate Posted: November 5, 2020

Some Southern Delaware, Maryland Beaches Cleared of Oily Debris, Tar BallsDate Posted: November 5, 2020

Del. Museums Sponsor Three Virtual-Programs During NovemberDate Posted: November 4, 2020

Delaware Emitir Beneficios de Emergencia Para Octubre a los Hogares Elegibles de SNAP, TANF, y Asistencia GeneralDate Posted: November 4, 2020

Statement from Attorney General Jennings on passing of Elaine and Wayne ManloveDate Posted: November 3, 2020

November 03, 2020: COVID-19 BriefingDate Posted: November 2, 2020

Child and Adult Care Food Program offers meal reimbursementDate Posted: November 2, 2020

Unified Command for Delaware Coastal Oil Spill Assesses Cleanup Effort and Smaller Remaining Tar Balls on BeachesDate Posted: November 2, 2020

Governor Carney, DPH, DEMA Announce Community COVID-19 Testing SitesDate Posted: November 1, 2020

Enrollment Open For Delawares Health Insurance MarketplaceDate Posted: November 1, 2020

URGENT: Get Your Ballot In!Date Posted: October 31, 2020

Weekly COVID-19 Update Oct. 30, 2020: New Daily Cases, Hospitalizations Remain Elevated; Deaths IncreaseDate Posted: October 30, 2020

DNREC Extends Public Comment Period 30 Days for Diamond State Port Corp.s Proposed Container PortDate Posted: October 30, 2020

Governor Carney Formally Extends State of EmergencyDate Posted: October 30, 2020

Delaware, New Jersey, and Rhode Island Announce Coordination on COVID-19 Testing GuidanceDate Posted: October 30, 2020

Delaware to Issue Emergency Benefits for October to Eligible SNAP, TANF, and General Assistance HouseholdsDate Posted: October 30, 2020

Additional Delaware Hunting Seasons Open in NovemberDate Posted: October 30, 2020

Kent County added to Delawares spotted lanternfly quarantineDate Posted: October 29, 2020

Virtual Halloween Costume ContestDate Posted: October 29, 2020

Cleanup Operation Extends from Upper Delaware Bay to Ocean City, Md.Date Posted: October 28, 2020

OMB to Hold FY 2022 Online Budget Hearings November 9 -20Date Posted: October 28, 2020

Original post:

Statement from Governor Carney on COVID-19 Hospitalizations - news.delaware.gov

TheWest Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) reports as of December 5, 2020, therehave been 1,207,000 total confirmatorylaboratory results received for COVID-19, with 53,572totalcases and 829 deaths.

DHHR has confirmed the deaths of a 67-year old male from TylerCounty, a 73-year old male from Cabell County, an 85-year old female fromPutnam County, a 62-year old female from Kanawha County, a 65-year old malefrom Mercer County, an 85-year old female from Kanawha County, a 79-year oldmale from Mercer County, a 69-year old female from Mineral County, a 68-yearold male from Berkeley County, an 84-year old male from Barbour County, a 54-yearold male from Fayette County, a 36-year old male from Mingo County, a 51-yearold male from Kanawha County, a 76-year old male from Mineral County, a 93-yearold female from Mineral County, a 73-year old female from Berkeley County, an 88-yearold female Putnam County, a 95-year old female from Kanawha County, a 74-yearold female from Fayette County, a 76-year old male from Fayette County,an84-year old male from Kanawha County, a 75-yearold male from Kanawha County, an 80-year old male from Ohio County, an 85-yearold female from Putnam County, a 61-year old male from Mineral County, an 84-yearold male from Mineral County, an 82-year old female from Preston County, an 83-yearold female from Preston County, a 47-year old male from Logan County, and a 63-yearold female from Logan County.

Each loss is a heartbreak to a family and toour state, said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary. I urge you toremember your actions for safety result in saving the lives of other WestVirginians.

CASESPER COUNTY: Barbour (497), Berkeley (3,747),Boone (709), Braxton (140), Brooke (777), Cabell (3,276), Calhoun (88), Clay(149), Doddridge (136), Fayette (1,241), Gilmer (218), Grant (465), Greenbrier(625), Hampshire (422), Hancock (910), Hardy (377), Harrison (1,623), Jackson(766), Jefferson (1,536), Kanawha (6,107), Lewis (266), Lincoln (460), Logan(1,128), Marion (1,024), Marshall (1,468), Mason (598), McDowell (674), Mercer(1,465), Mineral (1,515), Mingo (1,032), Monongalia (3,561), Monroe (411),Morgan (334), Nicholas (404), Ohio (1,764), Pendleton (125), Pleasants (120),Pocahontas (266), Preston (793), Putnam (2,184), Raleigh (1,759), Randolph(779), Ritchie (200), Roane (211), Summers (294), Taylor (397), Tucker (176),Tyler (167), Upshur (561), Wayne (1,147), Webster (72), Wetzel (464), Wirt(131), Wood (2,973), Wyoming (840).

Please note that delaysmay be experienced with the reporting of information from the local healthdepartment to DHHR. As case surveillance continues at the local healthdepartment level, it may reveal that those tested in a certain county may notbe a resident of that county, or even the state as an individual in questionmay have crossed the state border to be tested. Such is the case of Calhoun County in this report.

Please visit the dashboard located at http://www.coronavirus.wv.gov for more information.

Free COVID-19 testing daily events scheduled fortoday:

December 5, 2020

BerkeleyCounty

Doddridge County

10:00 AM 2:00 PM, Doddridge County Park, 1252 Snowbird Road, West Union,WV (in the barn)

Hampshire County

1:00 PM 6:00 PM, Hampshire County Fairgrounds, Fairground Drive, Augusta,WV (at the dining hall)

Jefferson County

9:00 AM 1:00 PM, Jefferson County Health Department, Front Parking Lot,1948 Wiltshire Road, Kearneysville, WV (pre-registration: https://wv.getmycovidresult.com/)

2:30 PM 6:30 PM, Shepherd University, Parking Lot beside Wellness Center,164 University Drive, Shepherdstown, WV (pre-registration: https://wv.getmycovidresult.com/)

Logan County

Marshall County

Mingo County

10:00 AM 4:00 PM, Hurley Drug Company, 210 Logan Street, Williamson, WV

Morgan County

11:00 AM 6:00 PM, Berkeley Baptist Church (Family Life Center), 172Winchester Grade Road, Berkeley Springs, WV

Nicholas County

1:00 PM 5:00 PM, Richwood City Hall, 6 White Avenue, Richwood, WV

Ohio County

11:00 AM 4:00 PM, Valley Grove Volunteer Fire Department, 355 Fire HouseLane, Valley Grove, WV

11:00 AM 4:00 PM, Warwood Fire Station 9, 1301 Richland Avenue, Wheeling,WV

11:00 AM 4:00 PM, Wheeling Island Fire Station 5, 11 North Wabash Street,Wheeling, WV

WyomingCounty

11:00 AM 3:00 PM, Old Board of Education, 19 Park Street,Pineville, WV

December6, 2020

Hancock County

JacksonCounty

1:00 PM 5:00 PM, Jackson County Health Department, 504 SouthChurch Street, Ripley, WV

Nicholas County

1:00 PM 5:00 PM, Richwood City Hall, 6 White Avenue, Richwood, WV

Additional free testing events will be held Monday, December 7 inBarbour, Berkeley, Cabell, Grant, Hancock, Harrison, Jefferson, Marshall,Mason, Mineral, Mingo, Nichola, Taylor, Wayne, Wirt, Wood, and Wyomingcounties.

There are many ways to obtain free testing in West Virginia. Pleasevisit https://dhhr.wv.gov/COVID-19/pages/testing.aspx for more testing options.

Excerpt from:

COVID-19 Daily Update 12-5-2020 - West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources

Michigan on Saturdayreported 193 additional deaths linked to the COVID-19 virus, surpassing the previous record of 190 set Tuesday.

Saturday's deathsinclude 145 identified during a vital records review. Tuesday's totalincluded 30 deaths identified during a review, according to state data.

The state reported 6,004 new confirmed cases on Saturday. The latest figuresbring thetotal number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Michigan to 395,036 and deaths to 9,854, according to tracking by the state Department of Health and Human Services.

Teena Chopra, a professor of infectious disease with Wayne State University, said even though some ofthe latest death figures are based on vital record reviews, "deaths are deaths."

"These are human beings who have died of COVID," she said. "These numbers are real."

The state, she said, remains in a surge and she expects "some dark days ahead of us."

Michigan reported atotal of 45,015 new cases this week. It reported 47,316 new cases last week and established the weekly record of 50,892 casestwo weeks ago.

The state was averagingnearly 84 daily cases per 100,000 people in the last week the 10th highest rate in the country, according to ranking by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Sixteen percent of diagnostic COVID tests run in the state in the past week are coming back positive, according to state data. A positivity rate above 3% is concerning to public health officials.

Of the state's COVID patients, 2,585 are in intensive care units and ICU beds are at 81% capacity, according to state data from Friday. There are 1,552 patients on ventilators.

As of Friday, 4,113adults were hospitalized statewide with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. That's compared with 2,199 COVID inpatientson Nov. 4.

The state was tracking at least 969 active outbreaks as of last week. Top categories for outbreaks continue to be long-term care facilities, including nursing homes as well as manufacturing and construction sites and schools.

On Monday, 221 new outbreaks were reported across the state, including 21 new retail-employee associated outbreaks, 19 office-setting outbreaks and 25 outbreaks related to construction.

Long term care facilities and K-12 schools reported the largest number of outbreaks with 47 coming from nursing facilities and assisted living and 32 from school settings.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmerannounced new restrictions in Novemberlimiting gatherings at high schools, colleges and restaurants to combat what she described as the "worst moment" yet in the pandemic.

The policies temporarily halt in-person instruction at high schools and colleges, indoor dine-in service at restaurants and bars, and high school athletics as well as close some businesses, including movie theaters, bowling alleys and casinos.

Whitmer, during a Thursday afternoon news conference, said that the activity around Thanksgiving was"concerning" and she expects the upcoming Christmas holiday will create even more potential for virus spread.

The governor said that the state intends to get "a few more days of information under our belts" before making a decision on "if we have to make some extensions of the current pause in some realms."

"That is sadly possible because of the sheer volume of COVID," Whitmer said.

Chopra said medical professionals continue to see younger patients who traveled during the Thanksgiving holiday or attended parties. With the upcoming Christmas holiday, she's concerned about continued spikes in the virus into January.

"I don't think that there is any way we are out of the woods," she said. "We are continuing to surge and continuing to see very sick patients."

Chopra encouraged residents to stay on high alert by wearing face coverings in public and to limit gatheringsto their immediate household contacts only.

"You want to remain in your own bubble and of course you want to be masked when you are outside and socially distance yourself," she said.

As the state considers 165,269 people recovered from the virus as of Nov. 25, state officials are anticipating vaccines as soon as drug makers report encouraging results in trials.

cferretti@detroitnews.com

Read or Share this story: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2020/12/05/michigan-sets-new-daily-record-covid-19-deaths-193/3838658001/

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Michigan sets daily record with 193 COVID-19 deaths but most from records review - The Detroit News

In a statement issued by his family, the 33-year-old entertainer thanked the staff at Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital for keeping him alive.

"First and foremost I would like to thank God and the incredible team of doctors and nurses at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for saving my life," the statement, obtained by CNN Saturday, reads. "I will be forever grateful. I would also like to thank my family and friends for all their prayers and well wishes."

He said he also continues to thank the artists Chance The Rapper, 50 Cent and Diddy for "their love and support" and extends gratitude to his fans and people around the world who prayed for him.

"I'm getting stronger every day, and look forward to spending time with my sons," he said.

The singer/songwriter's first Top 10 hit was 2009's "Birthday Sex."

He's had more hits since and successful collaborations with other artists, including Ty Dolla Sign and YG.

CNN's Lisa Respers France contributed to this report.

Read the original post:

Singer Jeremih leaves hospital after battling Covid-19 and thanks health care workers for saving his life - CNN

Tennessee's first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine is expected to arrive at 27 hospitals across the state around Dec. 19, and those most at-risk from the serious and deadly COVID-19 infection will begin to access the revolutionary new drugs.

Having a safe, effective vaccine on hand is a significant milestone and much-welcomed good news as the rapidly-spreading coronavirus that's so far killed nearly 270,000 Americans and more than 1.5 million people worldwide shows no sign of slowing. But public health experts know that injecting two doses of vaccine into the bodies of 4.8 million Tennesseans how many people it's estimated need to be vaccinated in order to ultimately control COVID-19 will not be easy.

"If we don't get about 70% of the population of Tennessee vaccinated against COVID-19, we don't stand a whole lot of a chance of moving beyond where we are right now with masks and distancing and holidays away from loved ones," Dr. Michelle Fiscus, medical director for the vaccine-preventable diseases and immunizations program at the Tennessee Department of Health, said during the state's COVID-19 Health Disparity Task Force meeting Thursday.

She said that although distributing COVID-19 vaccine will be a major undertaking for the department, it's something that officials have long anticipated.

"We have exercised for years the ability to vaccinate large numbers of individuals expecting what we thought would be a pandemic flu. It ends up that it's a pandemic coronavirus, but we know how to do this," Fiscus said.

To accomplish that goal, state and local officials will need to navigate complicated logistics, unexpected challenges and inevitable supply shortages. They will also be monitoring who gets the vaccine, tracking outcomes and trying to reach underserved populations with longstanding distrust for the health care system all while educating the public that getting vaccinated is in their best interest in the face of rampant misinformation on the internet and a raging pandemic.

"Vaccines are one thing. You got to get them in arms," said Mary Lambert, an advanced practice nurse and professor of epidemiology and public health policy at the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing who used to work at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"This is so different, just because of where we are in time and the social media aspect that influences so many things. The trust that individuals have in scientists and health care providers has been eroded just a bit," Lambert said. "We've got some work to do. I'm most concerned about getting the messaging out there how we do that, who's going to do that, and how soon we can get started? We probably should have started yesterday."

Fiscus said that the name "Operation Warp Speed" the partnership between the federal government and the private sector to accelerate development of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics works against those tasked with instilling confidence in the safety of vaccines. However, people need to understand that the scientific process for developing these vaccines was not rushed, she said.

"This is the same scientific process that we use for measles and mumps and chickenpox vaccines," Fiscus said. "What changed is that the manufacturing side has happened alongside of the science."

When drugs are developed under normal circumstances, Fiscus said they go through three phases of clinical trials in order to evaluate safety, effectiveness, side effects and outcomes. Then, funding the mass production process begins.

"This process can take years, especially because the risk part of this is in the manufacturing of these vaccines, and it can sometimes be very difficult to raise the capital to manufacture vaccines," she said.

In the case of Operation Warp Speed, the federal government took on that financial risk and began scaling up manufacturing from the start, so that when the research side was complete and the vaccine made it through all the safety checks, it could be immediately deployed.

Fiscus said Tennesseans can find additional comfort in knowing that by the time the first vaccine reaches the state, millions of people will already have received it because Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine has already been approved in the United Kingdom with the first round of shipments on the ground.

"Which puts us at some nice advantage to be able to look and be further reassured from the data coming out of the United Kingdom that these vaccines are going to be safe," she said.

R. Alta Charo, a professor of law and bioethics at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, said during a webinar for science journalists last week that state and local officials need to anticipate confusion with the rollout.

"Officials have to be really open and transparent about why some groups go first and another doesn't, how they're making these decisions, and then, crucially, that these are not fixed in stone," she said. "These will change as new vaccines come online with different profiles for risk and benefit for different groups, as we see outbreaks here and there ... we need to recognize there will be change, and change doesn't mean we were wrong. It means that we are adapting on the fly as the situation changes, which is what a responsible health department would do."

After the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new vaccination allocation guidance last week, Tennessee revised its distribution plan by moving up residents and staff in long-term care facilities, which have been hit especially hard by the virus.

(READ MORE: Infection rates soar at Hamilton County nursing homes as COVID-19 surge continues)

Fiscus said that she expects it will take "the better part of 2021" before vaccines are widely available for all Tennesseans, so even after they arrive, residents should prepare to keep social distancing, wearing face masks and avoiding crowds.

Contact Elizabeth Fite at efite@timesfreepress.com or follow her on Twitter @ecfite.

Read more from the original source:

COVID-19 vaccines set to arrive in Tennessee after months of uncertainty - Chattanooga Times Free Press

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) Depression can be an overlooked health concern for many, but especially in the elderly community.

Since 2020 has been a tough year for everyone, Kristen Gallant explains how its specifically impacted the elderly who are in nursing homes and havent been able to see their families and friends.

Covid-19 has forced everyone to stay home more so than normal, leaving many people who are high risk for the virus cooped up inside and isolated.

This includes not being able to go to nursing homes or see older family members who may be living alone.

One organization is trying to raise awareness for mental health in the elderly community.

This is probably one of the hardest years of our seniors lives, said Kathryn McDonald, the Director of Jeb Foundation.

Waving from outside windows and calling those we love has become the only way to connect with those who are in assisted living facilities.

My heart goes out to anybody thats feeling depressed right now and especially people in senior citizens homes that arent able to see their family or their friends, and I know how difficult that must be, said Amber Boyd.

During the holiday season, the longing to be with family and friends grows even greater, as its a time usually spent surrounded by loved ones.

Boyd has fought with her own mental health battles, especially in the midst of Covid-19.

Ive struggles with depression off and on and post-partum, and I think everybody can agree that this year has been tough, and so weve been dealing with that the best we can and one of the best ways is getting outside and walking and moving, Boyd explained.

This is why the JEB Foundation in Johnson City is bringing awarness to senior citizens and their mental health by hosting a Steps for Seniors walk.

The walk started on East Tennessee State Universitys campus and ended at the Watauga Square Living Center.

It started in 2017, said McDonald. I really wanted to accentuate what I was already doing. So, I was already in the health care field connecting with seniors and as I connected with more individuals I saw the need of empowering those who are suffering from depression.

For Boyd, dealing with her own mental health gives her compassion for those who are struggling,

I think the biggest thing that has helped me is to be thankful, and on my headrest days when I woke up and didnt want to get out of bed, I just started making a list of things I was thankful for.

Other members who participated in the walk could join virtually or in person.

Mcdonald said JEB is an acronym for her mothers initials, Jane English Brown, and that she was walking in support of her mother and other seniors in the community.

Depression doesnt look the same in everyone, McDonald explained. Depression isnt always sadness. A lot of individuals that I have met with have experienced depression physically where they may be having panic attacks and they dont understand what theyre feeling.

See more here:

Identifying depression in the elderly during COVID-19 - WJHL-TV News Channel 11

Florida virus cases top 1M | Dec. 2

The focus this week on the one-millionth COVID-19 case in Florida is expected from the Tampa Bay Times, but needs a little perspective. If you look at the other side of the equation, this number means that over the roughly 10 months of the pandemic, about 95 percent of Floridians have not tested positive for the virus. And 99.9 percent of Floridians have not died of COVID-19.

While we would all prefer no deaths and no infections, the current surge in infections in states like California that have had statewide mask mandates and endured significant lockdowns shows that it is not possible. So maybe Floridas approach to managing the virus by protecting the vulnerable while preserving the economy is not as bad as you think.

Barry Butler, Tarpon Springs

Fire commissioner arrested in spat over mask in Keys | Dec. 4

The East Lake Fire Commissioner arrested in Key West should wear his mask as prescribed period. His actions display his sense of personal entitlement, which he feels is greater than protecting fellow citizens or the friends he was visiting. I dont believe what his wife is saying, that there were hundreds of people not wearing masks at the time. Yesterday, in a local Walmart shopping center, four people during my shopping had no masks on. Employees were wearing their masks under their noses, and no one working in the store cared about enforcing the mask rule.

It amazes me how many grown people think mask-wearing doesnt apply to them. Thankfully, some sense will be returning to the White House soon. President-elect Joe Biden is already calling for 100 days of mask-wearing when he takes office. January 20 cant come fast enough.

Ron Kaiser, Gulfport

Fire commissioner arrested in spat over mask in Keys | Dec. 4

Like Tammy Dalrymple and presumably her husband, James, I too am distressed that this is what our country is coming to. But my distress is for a different reason. It seems that more and more people are putting their own self-interest and comfort ahead of concern and respect for the community. Wearing a mask is not that difficult.

John Doellinger, Wimauma

Reconsider highway projects | Editorial, Dec. 2

When the Florida Department of Transportation and the M-CORES task forces released their final reports, I was disappointed to not see the no build option adopted. While the final report for the Southwest-Central connector makes mention of guiding principles to protect the panther and habitat connectivity, the report misses the mark. How are you going to protect the panther and ensure its recovery when 34 percent of the study area is panther habitat? The proposed guiding principles and instructions are not sufficient to protect Floridas wildlife and waterways, and they put the remnants of wild Florida at risk of being paved over by the construction of these roads and the sprawl they will bring. Florida is home to many important and unique water features, such as our aquifers, the Green Swamp, and the greater Everglades ecosystem.

The proposed toll roads are unnecessary and will only induce harm onto Floridas unique wildlife and waterways. As Floridians, we must prioritize protecting our iconic state animal and unique ecosystems over development. We need to repeal the roads and exit from this proposal all together.

Gabrielle Gonzalez, Sarasota

Hospitals: Were vaccine-ready | Dec. 4

Since there will be limited doses of the vaccine for awhile, the following people and groups should be at the very back of the line for receiving the vaccine. Our governor and other politicians who refused to model good behavior by defying reasonable U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for mask-wearing and social distancing. Private citizens who also refused to put public health at the forefront to limit the spread of the virus. Sports professionals and other athletes who jumped the line to get tested even though many medical professionals and front line workers could not easily get tests. Seems only fair for them to wait their turn.

J.M. Romano, Clearwater

Is Florida doing better on coronavirus than locked down states? | Politifact, Dec. 3

In a well-written article, Politifact writers Louis Jacobson and Amy Sherman do a good job fact-checking Gov. Ron DeSantis claims regarding Floridas success on COVID-19. Yet, while they provide a large breadth of information, I feel as though their respectable quest for objectivity resulted in the omissions of some key details that better place DeSantis comments in context.

First and foremost, DeSantis has said this before. Think back to March, April, and even May, when Fox News and other conservatives were parading Florida and Texas around as success stories of how to handle COVID-19. We saw how that turned out. Even in late June, when the virus was beginning to ravage Florida in its first wave, he was attempting to point out that some parts of the country were seeing 50-60 percent positivity rates in March and early April.

These recent comments are nothing more than DeSantis attempt to shift blame, once again, from himself and the President Donald Trump machine.

Grant Edick, Hartsdale

Read the original here:

Floridas 1 million COVID-19 cases are not as bad as you think | Letters - Tampa Bay Times

If big bad COVID-19 is ever to be knocked down, it just might take a plucky grandmother from St. Simons Island to do it.

But Diane Durand is no hero, she says. Just a determined woman who stood up and took a shot in the arm for the rest of us.

That shot contained a vaccine being developed in part by the Pfizer pharmaceutical giant to combat the virus that has spawned a crippling and deadly worldwide pandemic.

Durand, 75, was among 44,000 people who took part in Pfizers recent clinical trials to develop an effective vaccine to stop COVID-19.

Its what I wanted to do because I wanted to give back, Durand said Wednesday. I wanted to be a part of something positive.

Durand first learned about getting involved in the clinical trials from a friend who lives in Glynn County. The friend took part in the COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials conducted by the biotech company Moderna beginning in August.

So Durand obtained a number to call and reached out. After a phone interview with study organizers, Durand received a call back.

It was a selling point that I live on St. Simons, which has a high volume of tourist traffic, she said.

Durand made an appointment with the Encore Research Center in Jacksonville.

I met with a doctor who checked to make sure I was healthy, Durand said. And they took a blood sample to show I didnt have any antibodies in my system.

Because it is a blind test, Durand would not know in advance if she was receiving the vaccine or a placebo, she said. Even the folks at Encore Research did not know whether the shots were placebo or vaccine, she said.

Durand received her first shot in early September. She immediately developed a mild fever which, she said, is a strong indication of receiving the vaccine and not the placebo. The fever cleared the next day.

Im not one who sits around and waits for everybody else to do something, Durand said. I want us to get through this, and the only way to get through this is to all work together and do our part.

Durand is the mother and mother-in-law to Amanda and Palmer Fortune, proprietors of the popular Pier Village bistro, Palmers, as well as partners in The Porch restaurant nearby on the island. Social distancing and other preventive practices against the pandemic have caused financial strains for dining establishments and other service industry sectors.

Durand also has two young grandsons on St. Simons Island and a pair of young granddaughters in Tennessee. She would very much like to see a safe return to normalcy in society while they are all still young.

She said the facts and the science point to an effective vaccine against COVID-19 as the most direct path back to normalcy in society. But the vaccine will not work without the publics trust in it, she said.

People should not be afraid, she said. They should step up because a vaccine is only as good as the people who take it. If everybody doesnt take it, then were not going to get through this pandemic.

Durand received her second vaccine shot in October. She experienced no noticeable side effects other than the quickly subsiding fever.

I had an elevated temperature after each shot, she said.

Trial moderators took blood samples from Durand after she received each vaccine shot. Shortly after her participation in the trials, Durand had a blood sample drawn at a local clinic. The blood showed positive for antibodies, she said, proof that she received the vaccine rather than placebo.

Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech reported last month that the vaccine proved more than 90 percent effective in stopping COVID-19 during the trials.

The European Union said this week it hopes to approve the vaccine before the end of the year. In America, Pfizer hopes to hear from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as early as Dec. 10 on its request to authorize the vaccine in emergency cases.

Vaccines traditionally employ inactivated doses of the offending virus to teach the bodys immune system to recognize and defend against the threat.

This new vaccine employs genetic strands called mRNA to produce proteins endemic to the virus, which in turn triggers the bodys immune system to defend against the virus, according to the CDC.

I wanted to be part of the solution, Durand said. Also I wanted to know what was really going on. Im tired of the misinformation and people being afraid. This process takes all of us working together. I had a very small part in this. But I had a part.

Go here to see the original:

St. Simons Grandmother Takes A Shot In COVID-19 Fight | 90.1 FM WABE - WABE 90.1 FM

Ford delays Bronco SUV to summer 2021 due to Covid-related supply chain issues

Ford's new 2021 Bronco lineup -- four- and two-door Bronco models and the Bronco Sport (left to right) -- displayed at an off-road course on Aug. 11, 2020 in Michigan.

Michael Wayland / CNBC

Ford Motoris delaying the launch of its upcoming Bronco SUV to the summer of next year due to coronavirus-related problems in its supply chain, reports CNBC's Michael Wayland.

Customers who had reserved vehicles were expected to begin the ordering process Monday. That has now been delayed until mid-January, Ford spokesman Jiyan Cadiz told CNBC.

The postponement is a troubling sign for Ford as the 2021 Bronco is one of its most highly anticipated vehicles in years. As part of the delay, customers will now have until March 19 to place their order and agree to a final price, Cadiz said. Also, a highly anticipated "Sasquatch package" with manual transmission has been pushed back to the 2022 model year.

Supplier problems have not impacted the Bronco Sport, a vehicle currently arriving in dealerships that's part of Ford's new "Bronco family" of vehicles.

Melodie Warner

Fri, Dec 4 20205:17 PM EST

The New York Young Republican club hosted a large indoor gala in Jersey City, NJ, Thursday night with almost no mask-wearing or social distancing. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy blasted the group on Twitter, saying, "It is beyond the pale that anyone would willingly endanger people in another state."

New Jersey allows indoor gatherings of up to 150 people for religious and political activities protected by the First Amendment but requires attendees at indoor events to wear face coverings and stay six feet part. Photos and videos from the event posted on social media showed that gala attendees did not follow state guidelines for mask-wearing or social distancing.

Gov. Murphy said, "Jersey City law enforcement is investigating this matter." The Jersey City Police Department did not respond to requests for comment.

The event was first slated to take place in Manhattan, drawing criticism from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City councilmembers.

Hannah Miao

Fri, Dec 4 20205:13 PM EST

President-elect Joe Biden said another round of coronavirus stimulus checks for U.S. families "may be still in play."

"I think it would be better if they had the $1,200 [payments to families]," Biden said when asked at a press conference to respond to criticism about a new Covid relief plan revealed this week as a starting point for the latest round of negotiations on Capitol Hill.

Biden added: "And I understand that may be still in play."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have backed a bipartisan $908 billion relief plan as a basis for talks with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. The proposal does not include a second $1,200 direct payment to most Americans.

Biden has endorsed the plan as a "good start," but he has promised to push for more aid when his administration takes charge. At the press conference, Biden would not say if he has spoken to McConnell.

On Friday, Pelosi told reporters "there is momentum" toward lawmakers striking a deal.

Kevin Breuninger and Jacob Pramuk

Fri, Dec 4 20204:41 PM EST

The U.S. State Department drew criticism from the American Foreign Service Association surrounding large indoor holiday events scheduled at the agency. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cautions against indoor gatherings, as they have a greater risk for Covid-19 spread than outdoor events.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other State Department officials have planned several indoor holiday parties, including one with at least 900 guests invited,The Washington Post reported. A week prior, State Department leaders told employees to avoid hosting in person gatherings and opt for virtual events.

"We urge the Department to reverse course and model responsible behavior in accordance with its own guidelines," AFSA said.

A spokesperson for the State Department said the events will follow health precautions including requiring masks, social distancing and temperature checks. The spokesperson did not provide guidance on how the agency would enforce mask-wearing while food and beverages are provided at the events.

The White House also plans to host at least 20 indoor holiday parties, according toNBC News. Several events at the White House, including an election night celebration and President Donald Trump's nomination of Justice Amy Coney Barrett, have led to dozens of coronavirus cases.

Hannah Miao

Fri, Dec 4 20204:33 PM EST

A stay-at-home order has been issued by heath officials in the San Francisco Bay Area, ahead of Gov. Gavin Newsom's statewide mandate. The six jurisdictions will all implement the order starting between Dec. 6 and Dec. 8 and lasting until Jan. 4.

Newsom on Thursday announced a regional, tier system though which areas would enter strict stay-at-home measures once ICU bed availability fell below 15%. San Francisco Mayor London Breed and the neighboring counties said Friday they wouldn't wait to hit that capacity threshold.

"If we wait, we are just delaying the inevitable," Breed said at a news conference. "If we wait one or two more weeks to have these restrictions placed on us, it will just mean our numbers will be higher and harder to bring down."

Under the order, outdoor dining, hair and nail salons, playgrounds, bars, theaters, museums, zoos will all close. Retail will remain open but will be capped at 20% capacity, and restaurants are permitted to offer takeout and delivery only.

Sara Salinas

Fri, Dec 4 20203:51 PM EST

A small child wearing a mask sits on her fathers shoulders outside of the Lenox Health Greenwich Village hospital during the nightly 'Clap Because We Care' cheer for medical staff and essential workers on May 29, 2020 in New York City.

Alexi Rosenfeld

Children and young teens could get a Covid-19 vaccine in the second half of next year, according to a CDC advisor.

"I don't think we're going to see it in the first half of this coming year," said Dr. Jose Romero, the chair of the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices, an outside group of medical experts that advises the CDC. "We need to see how the studies progress. We need to see that data in order to make sure that it is safe and effective in children."

Vaccines can not be distributed to children until it's been rigorously tested in them in clinical trials.

Pfizer is already testing its vaccine on kids 12 and older. Moderna is preparing to test at least 3,000 children as young as 12, according to a posting on clinicaltrials.gov. Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel told CNBC on Monday that testing on very young children wouldn't begin until sometime next year.

"For younger children, you have to go down in age very slowly and you have to start at a lower dose to make sure it is safe," he said during an interview on "Squawk Box."

Berkeley Lovelace Jr.

Fri, Dec 4 20202:34 PM EST

Congress is trying to scrape together a coronavirus stimulus plan and government funding bill in the next week as the job market weakens and financial lifelines are set to expire.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said "there is momentum" toward a relief agreement. She spoke to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for the first time in at least a month, and both leaders want to attach aid provisions to a funding bill Congress needs to pass by Dec. 11.

At the same time, Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and President-elect Joe Biden all said a weaker-than-expected November jobs report increases the urgency to send more help to Americans.

Congressional leaders still have multiple issues to resolve in order to pass both an aid bill and a funding plan. Relief sticking points include unemployment insurance, state and local government aid and liability protections for businesses.

About 12 million people will lose jobless benefits at the end of the month.

Jacob Pramuk

Fri, Dec 4 20202:10 PM EST

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention quietly revised its estimates for the disproportionately deadly toll that Covid-19 is taking on communities of color, now reflecting a much higher burden than previously acknowledged.

After adjusting for age, which is a standard means of measuring disease impact, Hispanic and Black Americans are shown to die at a rate of almost three times that of White Americans, the CDC now says. The agency previously said Hispanic and Black Americans were dying at a rate of about one and two times higher than Caucasians, respectively.

Dr. Leana Wen, formerBaltimore health commissioner, said it's important that people understand it's not that the virus is discriminating against communities of color.

"I hope that people will see that it's not the virus that's doing the discriminating," she said in a phone interview. "It's our systems."

Will Feuer

Fri, Dec 4 20201:50 PM EST

Recent data suggests people who were once infected with the coronavirus could be infected again as their antibody response wanes, Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization's health emergencies program, said during a press briefing.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some Covid-19 reinfections are expected based on the agency's prior experience with similar viruses. In late August, researchers in Hong Kong reported what appeared to be the first confirmed case of Covid reinfection. While rare, the WHO said at the time that reinfection could be possible.

Maria Van Kerkhove, head of the WHO's emerging diseases and zoonosis unit, said that researchers are still trying to determine how long an antibody response lasts after someone is naturally infected with the virus.

"In some people, it may wane after a few months but we do get a good indication that natural infection immune response is lasting for some months," Van Kerkhove said.

Noah Higgins-Dunn

Fri, Dec 4 20201:35 PM EST

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden speaks during an event to name his economic team at the Queen Theater December 1, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware.

Alex Wong | Getty Images

President-elect Joe Biden said Friday's underwhelming jobs report foreshadows a "dark winter" that demands "urgent action" from President Donald Trump and Congress.

Biden's statement on the latest report on the U.S. labor market came as Covid spreads out of control across the U.S. and Americans face benefit cuts if Congress does not pass stimulus legislation.

"This is a grim jobs report. It shows an economy that is stalling," Biden said.

Jobs increased by 245,000 in November, well below the 440,000 expected by economists and a sharp drop from the 610,000 reported in October.

The statement noted that the "dire jobs report" only offered a snapshot of the situation in November, "before the surge in COVID cases and deaths in December as we head into a dark winter."

Still, Biden said he was "encouraged" by progress being made on Capitol Hill, where congressional leaders are signaling "momentum" in the protracted negotiations over an additional pandemic relief bill.

Kevin Breuninger

Fri, Dec 4 20201:06 PM EST

Workers assists guests at check-in during the reopening of Bellagio hotel-casino on June 4, 2020, in Las Vegas.

Ronda Churchill | AFP via Getty Images

Friday's jobs report showed a weakening U.S. labor market, and for the hard-hit hospitality industry, job growth was relatively flat. The sector, which faced the steepest losses in the spring, remains down by 3.4 million jobs compared to February levels.

Wendy Edelberg, an economist with the Brookings Institution, said that without extensions to government aid that expires at the end of the year, there's a good chance consumer spending will drop and more small businesses like restaurants and bars will close, which could lead to fewer hospitality jobs being available.

Real-time data from restaurant reservations serviceOpenTable show bookings at their lowest levels since August, and job search site ZipRecruiter has seen a significant decline in restaurant and hotel job postings in recent days. That could indicate that more hospitality job losses are on the horizon in the winter months ahead as the coronavirus outbreak intensifies.

Fri, Dec 4 202012:52 PM EST

The restaurant industry lost 17,400 jobs in November, marking the first month since April that food and drinking places have seen employment shrink.

States and municipalities began placing restrictions on eateries and bars once again in October and November as the number of new Covid-19 cases surged. The overall unemployment rate for the industry was 13.8% in November.

In addition to job losses, November also saw the restaurant industry's same-store sales fall to 10.3%, its biggest drop since August, according to data from Black Box Intelligence.

Amelia Lucas

Fri, Dec 4 202011:26 AM EST

Former New York Stock Exchange President Tom Farley told CNBC he had a "nasty case" of Covid-19 in March during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

"I had a 102 to 103.5 [degree] fever for 15 days straight, and then I couldn't get out of bed for another week. I lost about 25 pounds," Farley said on "Squawk Box," adding that he "cracked a tooth from chattering."

His illness came as his blank-check company was in the process of finalizing an acquisition with Global Blue, a Swiss fintech firm.

"My brain wasn't firing. I was physically exhausted. It was not a good period in my life," said Farley, whose second special purpose acquisition company began trading on the NYSE this week. "On that 23rd day, I woke up and, yes, I was weak but I felt better and I felt hopeful and optimistic, and I started getting into a workout routine."

Farley also acknowledged he was fortunate to have recovered from the disease. "I almost feel guilty talking about this, given how many people have died," he said.

Kevin Stankiewicz

Fri, Dec 4 202010:41 AM EST

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesdayunveiled new quarantine guidancethat allows some people to restrict their contact with others for less than the recommended 14-day period under certain circumstances.

The new advice was created to try to boost compliance with the quarantine guidelines, but some public health experts say the nation's premier health agency was trying to solve the wrong problem. Instead of focusing on why people aren't adhering to the guidelines, the agency focused on the rules themselves, which undermined the risk of exiting quarantine before 14 days, epidemiologists said.

"I think the recommendations are based on an idea that there are people who see 14 [days] as the rule and say, 'I can't do 14,' so I'm not going to do any at all, and [the CDC] wants those people to know that seven [days] would be better than nothing," Ellie Murray, an epidemiologist at Boston University, said. "But I don't think that's how the message is getting out."

Will Feuer

Fri, Dec 4 202010:13 AM EST

A host greets a diner at a Cheesecake Factory Inc. restaurant in the Canoga Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

Patrick T. Fallon | Bloomberg | Getty Images

The Cheesecake Factory is the first company to be charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission for misleading investors about the financial impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

Link:

Covid live updates: San Francisco Bay Area sets stay-at-home order; CDC says some reinfection is expected - CNBC

News of a good immune response in animals bodes well for testing future COVID-19 vaccines. CMB/Getty Images hide caption

News of a good immune response in animals bodes well for testing future COVID-19 vaccines.

News today from Harvard's Center for Virology and Vaccine Research may help solve a problem that future COVID-19 manufacturers are sure to face: how to make sure that new and potentially better vaccines actually work without doing extremely large and expensive studies.

Writing in the journal Nature, the researchers show that a certain class of antibodies in a monkey's blood predicted protection from COVID-19. If that hold true for humans, a relative simple blood test may show whether an experimental vaccine is working.

Here's the dilemma: Once a vaccine is approved, it's unethical to test it against a placebo. Approving new vaccine would require researchers to compare two vaccines against each other, instead of having a vaccine and a placebo--which would take a lot more people than the 30,000 for the initial trials.

Most researchers agree the key to solving this problem is finding something known as correlates of immunity.

"Correlates of immunity are very important because they give us insight into how vaccines work, says Dan H. Barouch, M.D., Ph.D., Principal Investigator at the Harvard vaccine center.

The idea is if you could measure something in a people's blood that would show whether a vaccine works or not, you could then focus more on whether the vaccine was safe--because researchers would already know it's likely effective.

"So it would be much more convenient for future testing of 19 vaccines to have a well-established correlate of protection," Barouch says.

This approach is already used in approving the annual flu vaccine. "There's a new influenza vaccine that's licensed every year," he says, because of genetic changes in the influenza virus.

"It would not be possible to do a large-scale clinical efficacy trial of an influenza vaccine candidate every single year," says Barouch, so regulators rely on correlates of protection.

The correlate of protection for the coronavirus vaccine, Barouch and his colleagues found, was neutralizing antibodies. These are antibodies that can prevent a virus from infecting cells. It's possible to test for the presence of these antibodies in people's blood.

It's been assumed all along that neutralizing antibodies were necessary for a vaccine to induce to be effective, but no one know for sure if neutralizing antibodies alone were enough.

The new research conducted with rhesus macaque monkeys suggests they are.

Researchers took blood from monkeys that had been infected with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, and then recovered. That blood contained neutralizing antibodies to the coronavirus that helped the monkeys fight off the infection.

"We isolated [those antibodies], we purified them and then we transfer them alone into nave animals," Barouch says. Nave animals are ones who had never been sick.

They then exposed the monkeys to the coronavirus. Most showed no signs of infection, and of those receiving a higher amount of antibodies, none showed signs of infection.

The implication is if a vaccine can induce someone's immune system to make those antibodies, that alone might be sufficient to believe the vaccine will work. Some scientists have argued that vaccines must provoke other kinds of immune responses known a cellular immunity. This research suggests that might not be the case.

There are some caveats. The study was done in a small number of monkeys. Also, it's possible that human neutralizing antibodies won't work as well as the monkey neutralizing antibodies did.

Nonetheless, Barouch is bullish about the implications of this research. "This is good news for vaccines because this level of neutralizing antibodies should be readily achievable by a variety of different vaccine candidates," says Barouch.

More here:

Blood Tests Of Immune Response May Be Key To Future COVID-19 Vaccine Development : Shots - Health News - NPR

We asked you to tell us your biggest questions about the COVID-19 vaccines. Here are some answers. USA TODAY

Choose to keep chairs empty at the holidaysthis year or risk having them empty for yearsto come. That's the message being delivered in various forms by public health experts and politicians as COVID-19 continues to spread at a devastating pace.

The promise of an effective vaccine being widely available in 2021 means holidaygatherings are expected to beless risky next yearand beyond,a hopeful future that could provide a pandemic-weary nation the resolve to scale down their celebrations this year.

Your actions today are going to protect Christmas next year ... you dont want to have empty seats where grandma (and other relatives) used to be," Gleb Tsipursky, who holds a Ph.D. in the history of behavioral science, told USA TODAY.

But even with the nation's hospitals filling up, many Americans are primed to make risky decisions this December they will regret for years to come, saidTsipursky,CEO of Disaster Avoidance Experts and author of a book about adapting to"the new abnormal" of COVID-19.

It doesn't have to be that way especially if Americans make an effort to adjust their thinking and expectations, experts told USA TODAY.

Part of the problem, as Tsipursky sees it: Good news surrounding a vaccine hascreated a disorienting mix of long-term hope amid increasing short-term danger all at the moment Americans facepressure to gather with loved ones this holiday season.

That jumble of information tends to confuse people and can lead many to make bad decisions,Tsipursky said. In situations like this, humans tend to throw out the bad news and focus on short-term joy.

Compounding the problem: Pandemic-weary Americans are starved for pleasure,MelanieGreenberg, a clinical psychologistand author of "The Stress-Proof Brain,"told USA TODAY. That can lead people to over-value it,making comfortingholiday rituals seem more appealing than ever, despite their danger this year.

COVID hospitalizations pass 100,000: Experts fear weary staff will be 'overrun' by patients

The long-term outlook for the course of the pandemic has rapidly improved in recent weeks, giving Americans a luxury they haven't had for months: Confidence that things will soonget better.

Just weeks ago,Tsipursky told USA TODAY he expected the pandemic to only slowly improve over the course of years. But surprisingly effective results from vaccine candidates since then have improved his predictions.

With that good news, Tsipursky encouraged Americans to indulge in planning for an amazing holiday season next year.

Make Christmas 2021 the best youve ever had," he said. Its going to be so much better. COVID is going to be behind us."

That's the model followed by Dr. Anthony Fauci, who said said hes most likely scrapping Christmas plans this year as he didfor Thanksgiving.

For my own family, Im saying we had a really great Thanksgiving and Christmas last year. Were looking forward to a really great Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2021, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases previously told USA TODAY.

But a happy holiday season next year hinges on family members staying healthy a joyfulfuture that should motivate millions of Americans to stay safe this holiday season,Greenberg suggested.

What would next Christmas be like if someone got sick?Greenberg asked. She encouraged having that possibility to mind when making decisions this holiday season.

Nov. 24: After months of following COVID-19 guidelines, a Texas family 'let their guard down' for a day. All 12 of them got sick.

InBelgium, one of the hardest-hit nations in the world,the country's prime minister also invoked the dark "empty chair" example, asking the nation toleave a chair empty atChristmas dinneror face the possibility of having that chair empty forever.

Greenberg suggested that physical reminders can be powerful motivators for people trying to avoid risky behavior in the holiday season and beyond.

One idea: Have a physical reminder of future plans.Plan travel for late in 2021and print out the tickets. Keep a picture of vulnerable family members around and imagine a happy, healthy holiday season next year.

A safe holiday season doesn't mean totally depriving yourself of joy,Greenberg said. Everyone shouldthink about the level of risk they are willing to take how much short-term pleasure is worth the possibility of long-term consequences.

There are ways of minimizing risk if families choose to gather, although some areas of the country may have more strict regulations. In general,health experts are recommendingholding events outdoors, limiting their size, having participants wear masks and maintaining social distance as strategies to minimize risk this year.

But such sacrifices are not easy,Greenberg acknowledged: You have to keep two concepts in your mind a the same time: the present and the future.

Contributing:Michael Collins, Maria Puente,Adrianna Rodriguez and Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

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A full table at Christmas this year may mean an empty one in the years ahead, experts warn - USA TODAY

SALT LAKE CITY There are 3,674 new test-confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 14 new deaths from the disease Saturday in Utah, according to statistics released by the Utah Department of Health.

The health department also reports that 603 Utahns are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19, 212 of them in intensive care units, and that 14,838 more people were tested for the virus.

Overall, the updated numbers bring Utah to 212,844 confirmed cases, 939 reported deaths and 8,765 coronavirus-related hospitalizations since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

In an email, the health department said the 14 reported deaths included 10 women:

They also included four men, all of whom were residents of a long-term care facility:

Of the state's 939 deaths, 330 of them about 35% have been long-term care facility residents. Salt Lake County and Utah County together account for 62% of the state's COVID-19 related deaths.

Over the past week, the state has averaged 2,958 new reported cases per day and a positive test rate of 25.5%.

There is no COVID-19 news conference from state leaders scheduled for this weekend; Gov. Gary Herbert and health officials addressed the public during a news conference on Thursday. During the conference, Herbert anticipated a Thanksgiving-related uptick in coronavirus cases but hoped the number wouldn't increase "too dramatically."

State epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn also provided new guidelines on how to quarantine after possible exposure to the virus. The state now recommends Utahns quarantine for 10 days instead of 14, or potentially as few as seven days if they are tested that day, receive a negative result and aren't showing symptoms. The new guidelines match ones recently unveiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Test results now include data from PCR tests and antigen tests. Positive COVID-19 test results are reported to the health department immediately after they are confirmed, but negative test results may not be reported for 24 to 72 hours.

The total number of cases reported by the Utah Department of Health each day includes all cases of COVID-19 since Utah's outbreak began, including those who are currently infected, those who have recovered from the disease, and those who have died.

Recovered cases are defined as anyone who was diagnosed with COVID-19 three or more weeks ago and has not died.

Deaths reported by the state typically occurred two to seven days prior to when they are reported, according to the health department. Some deaths may be from even further back, especially if the person is from Utah but has died in another state.

The health department reports both confirmed and probable COVID-19 case deaths per the case definition outlined by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. The death counts are subject to change as case investigations are completed.

For deaths that are reported as COVID-19 deaths, the person would not have died if they did not have COVID-19, according to the health department.

Data included in this story primarily reflects the state of Utah as a whole. For more localized data, visit your local health district's website.

More information about Utah's health guidance levels is available at coronavirus.utah.gov/utah-health-guidance-levels.

Information is from the Utah Department of Health and coronavirus.utah.gov/case-counts. For more information on how the Utah Department of Health compiles and reports COVID-19 data, visit coronavirus.utah.gov/case-counts and scroll down to the "Data Notes" section at the bottom of the page.

Originally posted here:

3674 new COVID-19 cases and 14 deaths reported by Utah health department Saturday - KSL.com

It's also made for the wildest season yet of fantasy football, and this billion-dollar business and its legions of devotees have had to get creative to make it work.

It can feel like a frivolous pursuit at a time when the pandemic is claiming so many lives, but to enthusiasts fantasy football is a welcome distraction from the sobering realities of 2020.

For those who don't play, it works like this: You draft football players from across the NFL to play on your own virtual team. The better they play in real NFL games, the more points they score for your fantasy team in head-to-head matchups with other teams in your league.

This means that every fantasy football team "owner" needs to keep up with stats, schedules and injuries in order to do well.

During a normal season, that's a complex task. This season, it's an all-out scramble.

The NFL has postponed games, fantasy leagues have added new contingencies and fantasy managers have been forced to juggle lineups to replace players who've tested positive for Covid-19.

Coronavirus is throwing football season into chaos

Take the last few weeks of the NFL alone:

Experts say it's made fantasy football more challenging

With so many things muddling up the season right now, you'd think fantasy football fans would be throwing in the towel. But one expert thinks it's just created exciting new challenges.

"Nothing is simple in 2020, broadly speaking. This has been a year that has impossible to plan ahead for anything, and that piece has forced us to really live in the moment in so many ways." she says.

"But this has presented an opportunity to fantasy football enthusiasts and diehards to really challenge themselves. If they win this year, they can say to themselves, 'I've really done some mental and strategic gymnastics, and I've earned this.'"

Fantasy football is the kind of niche passion that can either inspire intense 45-minute conversations or make people's eyes glaze over at the first mention of a roster deadline. But anyone who's had to adjust plans on the fly or fight for little joys during this stressful year will recognize the struggles and triumphs of fantasy football devotees.

"This hobby, in a time where not much else is happening, is a brilliant distraction," Loza says. That's one of the reasons she thinks there's been a spike in interest in fantasy sports. "This fall and winter, you're probably going to be staring at the ceiling at 3 a.m. a lot," she says, "and you might as well be doing it while thinking about your fantasy roster."

The fantasy football industry has been forced to adapt

Like the NFL, these sites have been scrambling to adjust.

On Yahoo's popular show "Fantasy Football Live," of which Loza is a part, cast members have had to get used to a new virtual set. Analysts have created new statistics to help fans create plans for their fantasy teams, and team owners have had to make contingency plans to keep their lineups from imploding when games are postponed or players are quarantined.

And, danger and disappointments aside, this unprecedented football season may be leading people to appreciate sports in a way they may not have before.

"The things that I love most about sports regardless of gender, age, race, creed, is we love the stories -- we love something we learned about the human condition," Loza says.

And as long as games keep being played and players stay safe, fantasy football team owners will be along for the ride -- no matter how bumpy it may get.

See more here:

Fantasy football is a billion-dollar pastime. Covid-19 is wreaking havoc with it - CNN