Category Archives: Covid-19

SPRINGFIELD, Mass (WWLP) The city of Springfield has announced plans to honor more than 400 people who have died from covid since the start of the pandemic.

A candlelight remembrance ceremony is to be held on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. on the front steps of city hall. Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris are to join city officials at the ceremony.

The Department of Health and Human Services is to give a paper bag and a marker for people in attendance to document the names of loved ones lost during the pandemic. A flameless candle will be placed inside each bag and then place on the steps of the city hall.

Mayor Sarno states, It is important that we all take a moment to pause and reflect on the past two years and the toll thisCOVID-19 pandemic has taken on all of us, especially to those who have experienced the loss of a loved one, a friend, co-worker or someone special. This pandemic has affected us all and we want to hold this special candlelightremembranceceremony to honor the loved ones we have lost and support each other with love, kindness and compassion.

HHS Commissioner Caulton-Harris stated, Public Health Month gives us the opportunity to pause and reflect on the human toll theCOVID-19 pandemic has taken on the City ofSpringfield, Commonwealth, Nation and World. During our vigil, we pause to remember, reflect, as a city we grieve with their loved ones and vow not to forget their lives and we honor their legacy.

There will also be a COVID-19 vaccination clinic sponsored by BHN.

See the rest here:

Springfield to honor over 400 people that died from covid-19 - WWLP.com

NEWS RELEASE

JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA

April 19, 2022FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALARIO CENTER COVID-19 TESTING/VACCINATION SITE WILL MOVE TOHAROLD MCDONALD SR. PARK DUE TO ZURICH CLASSIC

JEFFERSON, LA The Alario Center COVID-19 testing/vaccination site will be moved to the Harold McDonald Sr. Park (900 Drake Ave., Westwego, LA 70094) on Wednesday, Apr. 20, 2022 due to the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Testing/vaccinations will be available at this location from 8 a.m. 4 p.m. every day through Friday, Apr. 22, 2022. The Alario Center (2000 Segnette Blvd., Westwego, LA 70094) will reopen for testing/vaccinations on Monday, Apr. 25, 2022 at 12:00 p.m.

Testing is available to individuals five years and older who want to know their COVID-19 status. All 16 years old and younger must have a parent or legal guardian present to consent to testing. This site is operated by the Louisiana National Guard and Quest Diagnostics; no pre-registration is required and the turnaround for results is approximately 2-3 days.

All COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots are available at this location. To find a vaccination site, schedule a homebound vaccination or for local questions about the vaccines, please contact the Jefferson Parish COVID-19 Hotline at 504-518-4020.

Visit COVID.JeffParish.net to stay updated on COVID-19 in Jefferson Parish, including available resources, weekly vaccine sites, local dashboard and more. Additional vaccination information, along with a list of local vaccine providers, is also available on the Louisiana Department of Health website at http://www.LDH.la.gov/covidvaccine.

For more information about Jefferson Parish, visit http://www.jeffparish.net. Residents can also recieve regular updates by following the Parish on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@JeffParishGov) or by texting JPALERT or JPNOTICIAS to 888-777.

###

Jefferson Parish Public Information Office

1221 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Suite 1002

Jefferson, LA 70123

JPALERT SIGN UP TO RECEIVE EMERGENCY ALERTS

Gretchen Hirt Gendron, PIO

See the article here:

ALARIO CENTER COVID-19 TESTING/VACCINATION SITE WILL MOVE TO HAROLD MCDONALD SR. PARK DUE TO ZURICH CLASSIC - 04-19-YYYY - Jefferson Parish

The first weekend of the annual music and arts festival Coachella has come and gone, and just as the dust begins to settle, everyone will be back for another weekend of music, fashion and fun.

After two years of being canceled, celebrities and people alike came from around the nation to California in colorful and flamboyant outfits to enjoy the festival this year.

With a long-awaited return, the first night of Coachella was one to remember. Featured artist Harry Styles thrilled fans with his memorable performance, including the live debut of his new hit song As It Was and a new music tease.

Taking the audience by surprise, Styles introduced country singer Shania Twain later in his performance for a duet between the two singers. This wasnt the only surprise of the night the band Arcade Fire appeared as a surprise addition to the setlist, Daniel Caesar brought out Justin Bieber on stage to perform his song Peaches and Anitta enlisted Snoop Dogg to introduce her set.

For first time in three years, Wisconsin Film Festival returns to in-person showingsBeginning April 7 and ending April 14, the Wisconsin Film Festival, hosted by the University of Wisconsin, is showcasing over Read

The first night back to Coachella after a two-year break no doubt soared past expectations. With a successful return after COVID-19, ticket holders waited eagerly for the next day of performances.

Though night two didnt contain as many surprises, it was a night that made history. Argentine trap singer Nicki Nicole performed for the first time in America, emotionally confessing to her audience that she did not expect many people to watch her first show in the U.S.

This was also the first time record label 88rising joined the Coachella line-up, and Brazilian star Pabllo Vittar became the first drag queen to grace Coachellas stage.

On top of all of that, headliner of the night Billie Eilish became the youngest headliner in Coachella history. On this groundbreaking night, Eilish gave an electric performance, and the way she humbly addressed her audience while performing made her performance just a little more special.

Only one question comes to mind after two incredible nights how will the third night live up to the rest?

The final night of Coachella tied up a memorable weekend. Singer Finneas gave a 4*Town tribute with the live debut of the hit song of the movie Nobody Like You.

Mix of energetic, mellow vibes meet in Wilderado High Noon performanceMaking a stop as part of their 2022 tour, Wilderado visited Madison to perform for a sold-out crowd at High Read

Though not a headliner for the night, pop star Doja Cat gave a much-anticipated performance. The performance included elaborate stage decorations including a winding staircase and a giant blow-up of a silhouette that resembled the visuals for her album Planet Her. Doja Cat performed energetically with fun choreography between bars her weeks of rehearsal in preparation definitely paid off.

Headlining for the night was the unexpected but dynamic pairing of The Weeknd and Swedish House Mafia. They closed the festival with a bang by including some of The Weeknds greatest hits, which left the audience satisfied with the end of the weekend.

Coachellas glorious return after COVID-19 was an unforgettable weekend for the music world filled with captivating performances, artists making history and overall great music.

More here:

Coachella returns form COVID-19 hiatus with bang The Badger Herald - The Badger Herald

After Leona Cheng tested positive for the coronavirus late last month, she was told to pack her bags for a hospital stay. When the ambulance came to her apartment in central Shanghai to pick her up two days later, no one said otherwise.

So Ms. Cheng was surprised when the car pulled up not to a hospital but to a sprawling convention center. Inside, empty halls had been divided into living areas with thousands of makeshift beds. And on exhibition stall partitions, purple signs bore numbers demarcating quarantine zones.

Ms. Cheng, who stayed at the center for 13 days, was among the first of hundreds of thousands of Shanghai residents to be sent to government quarantine and isolation facilities, as the city deals with a surge in coronavirus cases for the first time in the pandemic. The facilities are a key part of Chinas playbook of tracking, tracing and eliminating the virus, one that has been met with unusual public resistance in recent weeks.

Footage circulating on Chinese social media on Thursday showed members of one Shanghai community protesting the use of apartment buildings in their complex for isolating people who test positive for the virus. Police officers in white hazmat suits could be seen physically beating back angry residents, some of whom pleaded with them to stop.

Chinas leaders have said that the country, unlike most of the rest of the world, cannot afford to live with the virus because it has a large and vulnerable aging population. But Chinas zero-tolerance policy in which anyone who tests positive is sent to a hospital or isolation facility, and close contacts are placed in quarantine hotels is becoming both a logistical and political challenge as officials face more than 350,000 cases since the start of the current outbreak in March.

As of April 9, Shanghai had converted more than 100 public venues, including public schools and newly built high-rise office buildings, into temporary facilities called fangcang, or square cabin, hospitals. They are intended to house more than 160,000 people who have tested positive for the virus, officials said last week.

The protests on Thursday, at the Zhangjiang Nashi International apartment complex in Shanghais Pudong district, broke out after the developer notified 39 households that they would have to relocate because officials would turn nine buildings into isolation facilities, the developer said in a statement.

When Ms. Cheng first arrived at the exhibition center, it felt vast, cold and empty, she said in a phone interview. Ms. Cheng, who is a student in her early 20s, also wrote about her experience on Chinese social media.

The fluorescent lights were glaring but she tried to get some rest. She woke up the next morning to find her hall suddenly crammed with people.

There was no tap for running water and no showers, Ms. Cheng said, so each day she and others would crowd around several fresh water machines, waiting to fill up the pink plastic wash basins they had been given. The portable toilet stalls soon filled with so much human waste that Ms. Cheng said she stopped drinking water for several days so she wouldnt have to use them as frequently.

Even if someone had figured out how to turn off the floodlights, Ms. Cheng said, it would still have been hard to sleep at night. That was when people would shout out their complaints and let off steam.

Lots of people complained, and some people shouted out that it was too smelly to sleep, she said.

Worried about upsetting her mother, Ms. Cheng didnt tell her that she was in a fangcang. She said instead that she could not do video calls, giving her mother vague answers about daily life in quarantine. A woman sleeping in a nearby bed took a similar approach when speaking with her daughter. The two women shared a smile when they discovered they had the same secret.

Ms. Cheng said she struggled to come to terms with a quarantine system that reduced her to a number. If she wanted something, she had to find a nurse or doctor who was assigned to her zone. But the nurses and doctors were so busy that it was hard to get any help, she said.

Ms. Cheng said she had once admired the governments goal of keeping the virus out of China. It meant that for more than two years, she could live a normal life, even as cities and countries around the world had to lock down.

Now, shes not so sure.

This time I feel it is out of control and its not worth controlling the cases because it is not so dangerous or deadly, she said, referring to the highly contagious Omicron variant. Its not worth sacrificing so many resources and our freedom.

Joy Dong and Li You contributed research.

Read more from the original source:

Covid Live Updates: Many Broadway Theaters Will Drop Vaccine Checks, but Keep Masks - The New York Times

As allergy season collides with yet another rise in COVID-19 cases nationwide, deciphering the difference between symptoms of the coronavirus and allergies can be tricky. So how can you tell the difference between the two?

"The pollen counts are up throughout the country, and the symptoms can be quite similar," board certified allergist, pediatrician and immunologist Dr. Anjuli Mehrotra told CBS News' Vladimir Duthiers and Nancy Chen Thursday.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, common symptoms between seasonal allergies and COVID can include cough, headache and tiredness.

Seasonal allergies do not usually cause shortness of breath, which is a symptom consistent with COVID, unless the person has a respiratory condition like asthma. Allergies also do not typically cause a fever, chills, body aches or a loss of taste or smell, which are all common symptoms of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, COVID does not usually cause sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, a runny or stuffy nose, or sore throat, which are common allergies symptoms, the CDC says.

Despite the differences in symptoms, Mehrotra urges those who are unsure to err on the side of caution.

"It's actually best to consider it COVID until proven otherwise," she said. "If you're having symptoms, I would not hesitate to take an at home COVID-19 test, specifically a rapid antigen test could be really useful in this scenario."

Mehrotra said those who have seasonal allergies are not at a higher risk for contracting COVID-19, or for experiencing more severe symptoms with the virus. But she warned that those with moderate to severe asthma could be at increased risk of hospitalization with COVID.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, more than 50 million Americans experience various types of allergies every year. Allergies are caused by the immune system reacting to a foreign substance such as pollen or animal dander.

Trending News

Tori B. Powell is a breaking news reporter at CBS News. Reach her at tori.powell@viacomcbs.com

Read this article:

How to tell the difference between seasonal allergies and COVID-19 - CBS News

Theeleventh meeting of the Emergency Committee convened by the WHO Director-General under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) regarding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic took place on Monday 11 April 2022 from 12:00to16:30 Geneva time (CEST).

Members and Advisors of the Emergency Committeewere convened by videoconference.

The Director-General welcomed the Committee members and advisers. The Director-General explained that the world has tools to limit transmission, save lives, and protect health systems. He expressed hope in the current epidemiological situation, noting that the world is currently experiencing the lowest number of reported deaths in two years. However, the unpredictable behavior of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and insufficient national responses are contributing to the continued global pandemic context. The Director-General emphasized the importance of States Parties using available medical countermeasures and public health and social measures (PHSM). He highlighted the publication of the updated Strategic Preparedness, Readiness, and Response Plan which provides a roadmap for how the world can end the COVID-19 emergency in 2022 and prepare for future events.

Representatives of the Office of Legal Counsel (LEG) and the Department of Compliance, Risk Management, and Ethics (CRE) briefed the members on their roles and responsibilities. The Ethics Officer from CRE provided the members and advisers with an overview of the WHO Declaration of Interests process. The members and advisers were made aware of their individual responsibility to disclose to WHO, in a timely manner, any interests of a personal, professional, financial, intellectual or commercial nature that may give rise to a perceived or direct conflict of interest. They were additionally reminded of their duty to maintain the confidentiality of the meeting discussions and the work of the Committee. Each member who was present was surveyed. No conflicts of interest were identified.

The Secretariat turned the meeting over to the Chair, Professor Didier Houssin, who reviewed the objectives and agenda of the meeting.

The Secretariat presented on the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic and a vision for how to optimize the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic for 2022. The presentation focused on:

The Committee discussed key issues including SARS-CoV-2 variants; use and equitable access to antivirals; vaccine protection and global shifts in the supply and demand for COVID-19 vaccines; hybrid immunity; potential future scenarios for SARS-CoV-2 transmission and challenges posed by concurrent health emergencies; and how Member States are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee also noted with concern the growing fatigue among communities worldwide in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and challenges posed by the lack of trust in scientific guidance and governments.

The Committee recognized that SARS-CoV-2 is a novel respiratory pathogen that has not yet established its ecological niche. SARS-CoV-2 continues to have unpredictable viral evolution, which is compounded by its wide-spread circulation and intense transmission in humans, as well as widespread introduction of infection to a range of animal species with potential for animal reservoirs to be established. SARS-COV-2 is continuing to cause high levels of morbidity and mortality, particularly among vulnerable human populations. In this context, the Committee raised concerns that the inappropriate use of antivirals may lead to the emergence of drug-resistant variants. In addition, Committee members acknowledged national, regional, and global capacities to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic context, but noted with concern that some States Parties have relaxed PHSM and reduced testing, impacting thus the global ability to monitor evolution of the virus. The Committee also noted with concern the inconsistency of global COVID-19 requirements for international travel and the negative impact that inappropriate measures may have on all forms of international travel. In this context, the Committee noted that offering vaccination to high-risk groups of international travelers on arrival could be considered a means to mitigate the risk of severe disease or death due to COVID-19 among these individuals.

The Committee stressed the importance of maintaining PHSM to protect vulnerable populations, and maintaining the capacity to scale up PHSM if the epidemiological situation changes. States Parties are advised to regularly adjust their response strategies by monitoring their epidemiological situation (including through use of rapid tests), assessing their health system capacity, and considering the adherence to and attributable impact of individual and combined PHSM.

In addition, the Committee reinforced the continued need for international cooperation and coordination for surveillance, as well as for robust and timely reporting to global systems (such as the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System) to inform national, regional, and global response efforts. Surveillance activities require coordination between the human and animal sectors and more global attention on the detection of animal infections and possible reservoirs among domestic and wild animals. Timely and systematic monitoring and data sharing on SARS-CoV-2 infection, transmission and evolution in humans and animals will assist global understanding of the virus epidemiology and ecology, the emergence of new variants, their timely identification, and assessment of their public health risks. Continued provision of technical support and guidance from all three levels of the WHO can enable States Parties adjustment of COVID-19 surveillance and its integration into respiratory pathogen surveillance systems.

The Committee acknowledged that COVID-19 vaccination is a key tool to reduce morbidity and mortality and reinforced the importance of vaccination (primary series and booster doses, including through heterologous vaccine schedules). The Committee expressed appreciation for WHO and partners work to enhance global vaccine supply and distribution. Committee members highlighted the challenges posed by limited vaccination protection, particularly in low-income countries, as well as by waning population-level immunity. As outlined in the SAGE roadmap, vaccination should be prioritized for high-risk groups such as health workers, older adults, and immune-compromised populations, refugees, and migrants. To enhance vaccine uptake, States Parties are encouraged to address national and sub-national barriers for vaccine deployment and to ensure COVID-19 response measures align with and strengthen immunization activities and primary health services.

In addition, the Committee noted the continued importance of WHOs provision of guidance, training, and tools to support States Parties recovery planning process from the COVID-19 pandemic and future respiratory pathogen pandemic preparedness planning.

The Committee unanimously agreed that the COVID-19 pandemic still constitutes an extraordinary event that continues to adversely affect the health of populations around the world, poses an ongoing risk of international spread and interference with international traffic, and requires a coordinated international response. The Committee stressed the importance for States Parties to prepare for future scenarios with the assistance of WHO and to continue robust use of the essential tools (e.g. vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics). The Committee concurred that the COVID-19 pandemic remains a PHEIC and offered its advice to the Director-General.

The Director-General determined that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to constitute a PHEIC. He accepted the advice of the Committee and issued the Committees advice to States Parties as Temporary Recommendations under the IHR.

The Emergency Committee will be reconvened within three months or earlier,at the discretion of the Director-General.The Director-General thanked the Committee for its work.

Temporary Recommendations to States Parties

The Committee identified the following actions as critical for all countries:

See the article here:

Statement on the eleventh meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)...

With the omicron surge in our rearview mirror, there are some signs that the COVID-19 pandemic may finally be loosening its grip on the globe. But while case rates are lower here in the United States, theyre still elevated in other parts of the world, and certain members of the population might need a second booster.

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services.Policy

There are a lot of mixed messages to interpret, and that can cause a lot of anxiety and stress as we shift to this next stage, one in which mandates are rolled back and more pre-pandemic behaviors like in-office work and no mask requirements return. To get an idea of how we can handle this transition, we spoke to psychologist Matthew Sacco, PhD.

First and foremost, its important to remember that COVID-19 hasnt gone away. Its OK to still feel anxious about infection, and itll take time for some to adjust to feeling safe out in public after two years of isolation and surges.

Were creatures of habit, says Dr. Sacco. Just as some of us had issues adjusting to new behavior at the beginning of the pandemic, some of us are going to need extra time to adjust to life as we transition out of the pandemic.

Additionally, many people developed new routines during the pandemic, settling into different work and school environments and adjusting to those new ways of life. Now, routines are shifting again for many of us, even if were not returning to exactly how we were before COVID-19. And that means more stress adjusting to yet another new routine.

Dr. Sacco also says we shouldnt discount being over-stimulated in returning to a pre-pandemic routine and setting. If youve been working or staying at home, you can mostly control that environment. But when youre back at the office or out in the world, theres more to the environment including new sights, sounds and smells that can be over-stimulating.

As youre readjusting to this setting that youve been away from for two years, your brain has to work overtime to process everything. When youre already removed from your comfort zone, this over-stimulation can cause your anxiety to spike.

Most of us have never been through a pandemic, so we dont know the process of reintegrating to normalcy after one. Everything that a person might be feeling should be considered a normal range of reaction to a very abnormal event, says Dr. Sacco.

Knowing yourself and your emotional tendencies is key to dealing with everything you feel during this surreal time. The measuring stick should be how much difficulty your emotional adjustment is causing you day to day, notes Dr. Sacco. If youre able to manage it and you feel youre moving forward in a positive way, just maintain some self-care exercises.

If your emotions rise to the point where they feel overwhelming, though, consider reaching out to a professional therapist for help. When its interfering with your ability to get through the day, thats when you need that extra help.

Control whats yours to control and trust that what youre doing is part of the process, he continues. Make sure youve received both your flu shot and your COVID-19 vaccine and boosters. And remember that everything is not going to be OK just because you say. It takes time and can sometimes be slow. Take care of yourself and be confident in what youre doing to take care of yourself.

Masks and standing six feet from one another have been two of the most consistent parameters of protecting ourselves from spreading COVID-19. But states and cities are now rolling back mask mandates and social distancing is slowly becoming a thing of the past.

Its important to remember that its taken us two long years just to get to this point, says Dr. Sacco. You need to cut yourself some slack because this is still going to take a little time to see what this is all going to look like.

He adds, While we go through this experience to see what were calling the new normal looks like, you should work at your own pace. In other words, if you find yourself out and about and seeing people not wearing masks in crowded areas, that doesnt mean you have to follow suit. Its all about doing whats best for you and your family.

For many, the pandemic ushered in a new era of working from home. But as case rates stabilize across the country and vaccination rates increase, some are returning to in-person work for the first time in two years. With the virus still circulating and another round of adjustment on deck, some are experiencing a rise in anxiety.

Dr. Sacco recommends looking for flexibility in your work schedule to see if you can make a slower return to the office. Talk to your supervisor and see if you can start by maybe returning to the office for a day or two a week to start, he suggests. Some places are adopting that hybrid home-and-office model and that may be easier to handle.

If youre not able to slow your roll back into the office, though, its best to take time to plan and make sure youre as comfortable as possible. Make sure youre controlling what you can, Dr. Sacco advises. If youre anxious about exposure, wear your mask, wash your hands often and do your best to keep your distance as much as you can.

Again, Dr. Sacco says to be kind to yourself. Give yourself some grace and patience for getting back into the routine completely. And dont expect to go right back to how it was two years ago.

Here are a few ways you can find calm when your anxiety starts to spike in the moment:

Again, its all about focusing on what you can control and setting expectations. If youre experiencing a lot of anxiety about getting back into crowds, maybe your first foray back shouldnt be a large sporting event, says Dr. Sacco.

Instead, focus on small, consistent steps of accomplishment, understanding that there may be some setbacks along the way. In the end, its about being kind to yourself and putting yourself in situations in which you feel the most comfortable before taking the next step.

See the original post:

How To Ease Back Into Life After Two Years of the COVID-19 Pandemic - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

PLEASANTVILLE Kevin Horn and his brother Tim havebeen farming since the 1980s, experiencing one of the biggest, most recent farming market crashes.

Even though the market can be unpredeictable, Horn said he's worried a crash is inevitable as the logistical challenges, fertilizer price hikes and the conflict in Ukraine have all exacerbated the state of affairs that have been growing since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Horn and his family farm aren't alone: Marshall Grain Co in Amanda has experienced shortages with supplies while helping farmers get their grains to market.

USA Today reported inflation began in 2021, largely because of the coronavirus pandemic. Prices spiked this year after Russia invaded Ukraine, due to oil production disruption, as well as disruptions in the agriculture production and supply chain.

Russia and Ukraine are among the top 10 wheat suppliers in the world: Russia exported 19.6% of the global supply of wheat in 2020, with Ukraine providing 9.1%. The war would prevent Ukrainian farmers from planting, and destroyed ports and railroad terminals would make exporting near impossible.

The Food and Agricultural Organization, a United Nations food agency, reported food prices were the highest since 2011, with the cost traced to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For both suppliers and producers, the market does not care, and as Horn said, you have to do what you can to get by.

Horn said policy choices made by the Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz in the 1970s hurt farmers, and that it's important to know what you have "in the market."

"I remember we were selling corn for $1.64 a bushel in the 1980s, you have to do what you need to to pay the bills. We were lucky, we didn't have a lot of debt at the time. But history can repeat itself, and we're heading towards a recession if we can't get things under control," he said.

Horn said the price per bushel for corn and beans hasgrown exponentially since last year. He said he's seen wheat bushel prices climb from $2.25 last year to around $10. But even with higher prices of grain at the market, farmers aren't likely to see an increase in profits.

Barry Marshall, the owner of Marshall Grain Co., explained high market prices don't always reflect high profits for farmers. He and his daughter, Mallory Mathias, run the supply store, which also provides storage services, and produces livestock feed.

"It goes back to the cost of input, what it takes to get the product in the first place. For instance, nitrogen, which is extremely important for corn production, climbed from $350 a ton in 2020 to about $920 in 2022. That triple input cost is huge, so farmers are looking at alternatives, like potash," Marshall said.

But there's a higher demand for potash, as well, and fewer producers in the United States than there were previously to keep up with demand on a global scale or even nationally.

"There are more people to feed globally, so that means more farming needs to happen. Everyone is trying to source the chemicals and fertilizers they need for production, but there are hold ups everywhere, and some sources are just not exporting at the moment," Marshall said. "But there's also a logistics issue when it comes to transporting goods. Whether it's finding the train cars to haul grain, to finding people to unload those cargo ships, or even finding truckers willing to transport, there's just an issue of getting products moved."

He explained, like other markets, the grain and agriculture market is demand-driven: if the prices per bushel are high, farmers are likely to push to sell.

The challenge comes from finding ways to get stored grain to the buyer. Farmers also need to be wary of flooding the market: too much supply makes demand drop.

"Farming is really a bigger gamble than the stock market sometimes. You need to make sure you can get to the market, and that you'll get the most for what you offer. Some farmers can contract some of their harvest, to lock in prices, but they could miss out on higher prices," Marshall said. "Farmers have to be smart with what they've got, but they'll get through this, like they always have."

He said shortages and demand problems started during the pandemic and were aggravated by Russia's invasion. There isn't an easy fix to any of the problems, he said, but it will take time to get more people to address shipping and transport problems, which could help inflation drop.

"On a local scale, especially when supplies are scarce, we see when people will try to buy up as much of one product as we can. We have an advantage, as a smaller supplier, to ask them nicely to not buy a lot and hoard it. It's like when people were scooping up lots of toilet paper at the start of the pandemic: it created false scarcity," Mathias said. "Sometimes, we also have to look at alternate feed sources for some of our local buyers, because we could be waiting on a shipment. Or we may not get enough: I could order 40 cases and they might drop off 12 one week."

"It will get better, but it will just take time."

Her dad agreed, adding that farmers are resourceful: if they don't know what they're doing, they won't stay farming for long.

"It's what we saw in the 1980s, too. A lot of farms folded because interest rates were too high, so farmers became tradesmen," Marshall said. "This is the only industry without control of the input or market costs."

Kevin Horn and his family usually take their harvested grains to Circleville, using their farm's trucks. He said before selling stored grain, he studies the market to determine how much to take.

"We usually take about 900 bushels per truck, and really just try to take enough to make a profit for the month. We aren't running to the market every time we see a big jump, we know we may need to go through some lean months," Horn said. "Plus, my parents lived through the Great Depression, and they beat it into our heads that once the price for something goes up, it doesn't seem to come back down."

"If it keeps up, soon consumers won't be able to keep up with that, but the market doesn't care whether you survive it or not. Sometimes you have to just live within your means."

Despite the uncertainties of farming and market fluctuations, Horn said he's stuck with farming since he was in high school because he loves the challenge.

"Every day is different. You have to be good at it to stick around this long, and I think we've done a fair job with what we were given by our parents and grandparents. We also want to make sure we can help our children and grandchildren succeed, so we're working to help them," Horn said. "Do I know what the market is going to do next week? If I did, I wouldn't be farming. You just have to take it a little at a time."

Barrett Lawlis is a reporter with the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, part of the USA Today Network. You can share story ideas or comments with him at 740-681-4342 or send an e-mail toblawlis@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter@BarrettLawlis

See the original post:

War in Ukraine drives inflation, already stirred by coronavirus pandemic - Lancaster Eagle Gazette

Syncope is the medical term for fainting. Its a potential side effect of any vaccine, including those used to prevent COVID-19. Fainting is when you pass out due to a lack of oxygen to your brain. Its most commonly a vaccine side effect among younger adults and teenagers, according to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, but it can affect anybody.

In most cases, the stress and anxiety of getting a vaccine cause fainting, not the vaccine itself. In very rare cases, a severe allergic reaction to one of the ingredients can cause a drop in blood pressure that leads to loss of consciousness.

Read on to learn more about why some people faint after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine and what factors cause people to faint.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fainting is a reported side effect of almost every vaccine. Its most common after vaccines against:

In most cases, fainting is caused by the stress and anxiety of receiving a vaccine. These emotions can trigger a condition called vasovagal syncope. Vasovagal syncope is the most common cause of fainting in general.

Nerves send messages from your brain to your heart and blood vessels to control your heart rate and blood pressure. Vasovagal syncope occurs when these nerves dont send an appropriate signal, causing a drop in blood pressure and inadequate blood flow to your brain.

Strong emotions, like the fear of receiving a vaccine, and other factors like dehydration or pain can trigger vasovagal syncope.

In a May 2021 report published by the CDC, the reported frequency of fainting from Janssen COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots was 8.2 and 0.05 per 100,000 people, respectively, between 2019 and 2021.

Of the people who fainted, 62 percent were ages 11 to 18. And 25 percent were ages 19 to 49.

Nearly a quarter of people who experienced fainting or other anxiety-related side effects after receiving the Janssen vaccine reported a history of similar anxiety-related events from other vaccines.

In fewer than 1 in 1 million people, vaccination can trigger a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be fatal if not quickly treated. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it usually develops 5 to 30 minutes after injections.

Symptoms of anaphylaxis can include:

Fear of medical procedures involving needles is called trypanophobia. Its an extremely common fear. In a 2018 review, researchers estimated the prevalence to be 20 to 50 percent in adolescents and 20 to 30 percent in young adults.

The development of phobias is complex and can be caused by a combination of social, psychological, and physiological causes.

According to the WHO, the development of a vaccine phobia may be explained by physiological factors, like:

Vaccine phobia is also influenced by psychological factors, including:

Social factors also play a role, such as:

In the same May 2021 report published by the CDC, the most reported anxiety-related symptoms were:

More than 98 percent of fainting episodes occur within 30 minutes of injection, according to a 2021 review. After your vaccine, the person who administered the shot will likely tell you to wait around for at least 15 minutes for monitoring.

If youre with a person who faints, lay the person down with their legs in a raised position until the person is feeling better.

If you develop anxiety-related symptoms after vaccination, you can try taking slow, deep breaths to calm your heart rate. Staying hydrated and having a snack available may also help you ease symptoms such as faintness or lightheadedness.

Many people find it helpful to distract themselves with something such as listening to music, playing a game, or talking.

In two 2018 studies, researchers found that short bouts of exercise before vaccination lowered the number of side effects.

The WHO recommends administering vaccines in a calm, planned, and private environment when possible.

If your child is nervous about vaccines, you may be able to lower their stress by:

Its common to experience mild side effects after getting a vaccine. If side effects appear, they usually go away after 1 or 2 days.

According to the CDC, the most common side effects are:

Rarely, some people may experience more serious reactions. These can include:

Many people find getting a vaccine stressful. This stress can lead to anxiety-related side effects such as fainting, dizziness, or nausea. In very rare cases, vaccines can cause a severe allergic reaction that causes fainting.

For the vast majority of people, vaccines cause no or mild side effects. If you have a history of vaccine-related anxiety, talk with your doctor about ways to manage your anxiety before a vaccine to lower your chances of side effects.

Continued here:

COVID-19 Vaccine and Fainting: Does One Cause the Other? - Healthline

The state Department of Health reported 403 new COVID-19 infections on Sunday, the 10th consecutive day with fewer than 1,000 and the 16th time in 17 days the state hit that mark.

There were three new infections in the four Valley counties for the second consecutive day. It was the fifth time in eight days the number was three or fewer.

All three new cases were in Northumberland County.

There was only one new death reported statewide. Sunday ended a streak of five consecutive days with at least one new death in the Valley.

Fifty-nine of Pennsylvanias 67 counties were seeing low levels of COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) latest updates. Eight counties, including all four in the Valley, were at the medium level. For the third week in a row, there were no counties in Pennsylvania registering high levels of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 community level is determined by the higher of the new admissions and inpatient beds metrics, based on the current level of new cases per 100,000 population in the past 7 days. The reports are updated weekly.

According to data from the CDC and Johns Hopkins University, across the nation, new cases were down 7 percent over the past week, hospitalizations were down 13 percent and deaths linked to COVID-19 were down 31 percent. In Pennsylvania, the number of new COVID cases was down 19 percent over the last week, deaths were down 23 percent and hospitalizations were down 18 percent.

The CDC reported 77 percent of Pennsylvanians 18 and older were fully vaccinated, while 67.5 percent of all residents were fully vaccinated.

As of noon Sunday, there were 503 hospitalizations statewide, down 16 from Saturday. It was the 20th consecutive day hospitalizations have dropped statewide. It was the fewest COVID hospitalizations statewide since Aug. 2, 2021.

Statewide, there were 75 in intensive care units (ICUs), down eight from Saturday's report, and 51 were breathing using ventilators, the same figure as reported Saturday.

There were 30 patients hospitalized locally for the third consecutive day. There were 23 patients at Geisinger in Danville, five at Evangelical Community Hospital in Lewisburg and two at Geisinger Shamokin.

Geisingers main campus in Danville had seven patients in the ICU and three on a ventilator. Both of Geisinger Shamokins COVID patients are being treated in the ICU.

At Evangelical, the only patient in the ICU was on a ventilator.

As of midday Sunday, there were fewer than five active cases among those receiving services and no staff cases at the Selinsgrove Center. The state Department of Human Services (DHS) does not report specific numbers if they are fewer than five to avoid identifying individuals.

At Danville State Hospital, there were no active infections among those receiving services and fewer than five cases among staff members, the same reports since late last week. At the North Central Secure Treatment Unit, there were no reported cases among youth or staff at the boys or girls facilities.

There were no active cases among staffers or inmates at the State Correctional Institution in Coal Township, according to the state Department of Corrections (DOC). Statewide, there were 19 inmate cases and another 29 staff cases both the same figures as reported Saturday. Eight prisons statewide have inmate cases as of Sunday morning, while 16 prisons have staff infections.

Federal prisons in Lewisburg and Allenwood were at Level 1 operational levels of COVID mitigation, the lowest level of modifications in the federal Bureau of Prisons mitigation plans. It means prisons have resumed normal operations while inmates and staffers wear masks indoors. No cases were reported among prisoners or staff at either facility.

As of Sunday morning, there were 49 federal prisons nationally at Level 1 (the lowest), 30 were at Level 2 and 19 were at Level 3.

Institution operational levels (Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3) are based on the facilities COVID-19 medical isolation rate, combined percentage of staff and inmate completed vaccinations series and their respective county transmission rates. At each level, an infection prevention procedure or modification to operations such as inmate programming and services may be made to mitigate the risk and spread of COVID-19 in accordance with BOP pandemic guidance.

Read the original post:

Pennsylvania records 10th straight day with fewer than 1,000 new COVID-19 infections; 3 reported in Valley - Sunbury Daily Item