Category Archives: Covid-19

BEREA The Browns have the powerful engine of their offense back.

Running back Nick Chubb was activated Friday from the reserve/COVID-19 list, and the two-time Pro Bowl selection will play when the Browns (5-5) face the Detroit Lions (0-8-1) on Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium.

"It's great to have No. 24 back," Browns All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett said after Friday's practice."I mean, he's the man, one of the best in the league, and a great locker-room guy."

The Browns announced the move involving Chubb onFriday morning along with the activation of rookie running back/wide receiver Demetric Felton from the same list. Like Chubb, Felton will be active against the Lions.

Chubb and Felton each tested positive for a breakthrough case of COVID-19 on Nov. 9 and missed Sunday's 45-7 loss to the New England Patriots. Both players returned to practice Friday.

I didn't really have any symptoms," Chubb said after practice."I felt bad maybe one day, but other than that, I felt great.

"[Last week was] pretty boring. I didn't really do anything. Just hung out at the house."

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Chubb has "fresh legs" and "physically he looks good." Stefanski didn't say he would limit Chubb's plays inhis first game back.

"I think well be mindful of it," Stefanski said,"but I dont have a number in mind at this point.

"His teammates were excited to see him [back]. Nicks very important to what we do and who we are."

Chubb said he feels like himself and is preparedfor a full workload against the Lions.

I'm ready for whatever, he said.

The temperature at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus was 36 degrees during Friday's practice, but Chubb donned shorts without long sleeves under his jersey.

"It's great to see him out here, especially with no sleeves. He doesn't care about this cold," Garrett said.

As Chubb stood at an outdoor interview podium, he admitted the cold bothered him.

"It's killing me now," he said. "I stopped moving now.Now I feel it.

"I like to practice how I play, so I won't have anything on in the game, so that's what I like to have on in practice."

The forecast is calling for cold, rainy weather for Sunday's game.

"This team, they'lltry to run this offense through Chubb," Lions coach Dan Campbell told Detroit reporters Friday. "Hes a special player. If there is such a thing as being underrated, he may be one of these underrated backs in the league. You can argue hes the best or top two or something. Hes a special back. We know theyre going to give him the ball. Hes going to carry a load. Theyre going to commit to it, especially in the conditions were getting ready to face.

"If we dont have population around the football with this guy, or we dont try to wrap up and buy some time for our teammates to get there, this guy will make you look bad. But we understand that, too. Our defense knows that."

Stefanski ruled out the Browns' other star running back, Kareem Hunt, earlier in the week. Hunt remains on injured reserve and will miss his fifth consecutive game Sunday with a calf injury, meaning No. 3 running back D'Ernest Johnson should still have a substantial role against the Lions.

'Smile, smile, smile': Aunt who raised Browns' D'Ernest Johnson still running alongside a Pop Warner fence

Chubb, though,is the Browns' best player on offense. In seven games this season, he has120 carries for 721 yards (6 average) and six touchdowns to go along with eight catches for 69 yards. Like Hunt, Chubb suffered a calf injury earlier this season. Chubb missed two games with the calfinjury and another game due to COVID-19.

A sixth-round pick in this year's draft, Felton is a running back, receiver and return man. He has three carries for 16 yards (5.3 average), 13 catches on 14 targets for 147 yards and a touchdown, 26 punt returns for 218 yards (8.4 average) and four kickoff returns for 65 yards (16.3 average) this season.

"Hes going to be OK to play. Hes also going to catch punts out there, as you cansee, until it gets dark,"Stefanski said of Felton, who caught punts after practice.

The Browns need all the help they can get Sunday because a loss to the winless Lions would be thekiss of death for Cleveland's slim playoff hopes.

Chubb said it was hard to watch the Browns get blown out by the Patriots.

"Seeing my team out there and not having things go our way, it was hard for me to watch," Chubb said. "But it's a new week, a new opportunity. We still have everything ahead of us. We got to come out here, had a great practice and got to keep moving forward.

Cleveland coordinator under fire: Browns DC Joe Woods takes criticism, including from Myles Garrett, in stride, makes changes, looks to rebound

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com.

Originally posted here:

Fresh off COVID-19 list, Browns' Nick Chubb, Demetric Felton will face Lions: 'I'm ready for whatever' - Akron Beacon Journal

News Release

Monday, November 15, 2021

NIH-supported research will track effects of COVID-19 infection on children over three years.

A large, long-term study of the impacts of COVID-19 on children has enrolled its first participant at the National Institutes of Healths Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The study, which is supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, will track up to 1,000 children and young adults who previously tested positive for COVID-19 and evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on their physical and mental health over three years. The study is expected to yield a detailed picture of COVID-19s effects on the overall health of children, their development and immune responses to infection, and their overall quality of life in the years following infection. This work is part of NIHs Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Initiative, to better understand the long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, initial data suggested that children were less likely to suffer from severe cases of COVID-19 than older people. However, among the 6 million reported pediatric COVID-19 cases the United States, many children have experienced significant acute and long-term effects of the disease. Although increasing numbers of children are becoming eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, the lack of vaccine-derived protection for most children has made this age group especially vulnerable to infection. In addition, children can suffer from a suite of inflammatory symptoms, collectively called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), that can affect multiple organs and lead to severe illness. MIS-C can arise even when the child initially appeared to be asymptomatic for COVID.

Although we know that children are vulnerable to COVID-19, we still do not have a clear picture of how COVID-19 affects them in the long term, said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. In adult patients, the long-term sequelae of COVID, including post-acute COVID-19, can significantly affect quality of life. Our investigations into the pediatric population will deepen our understanding of the public health impact that the pandemic has had and will continue to have in the months and years to come.

Study participants will be enrolled with the consent of their parents or guardians. The NIH Clinical Center will recruit children ranging from 3 to 21 years of age, and Childrens National Hospital in Washington, DC, will recruit children ranging in age from birth to 21 years. In addition to tracking the long-term health effects of COVID-19 and attempting to determine risk factors for complications, the study also will evaluate the long-term immune responses to the disease, screen for genetic factors that may affect how children respond to COVID-19 infection, and determine whether immunological factors influence long-term outcomes.

Children may be eligible to be enrolled if they have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past, even if they were asymptomatic. Participants will receive a full physical examination and undergo a complete medical history. Study physicians will collect a variety of baseline samples, including blood, nasal swabs, stool and urine. An optional genetic analysis may be performed to identify potential genetic risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes. Participants also will undergo scans of their hearts and other organs. Members of their households without a history of COVID infection also will be asked to enroll as part of a control cohort. In all, the study may enroll up to 2,000 people, the participants who have tested positive for COVID-19 and their household contacts.

Children and young adults who enroll within 12 weeks of a COVID-19 infection or a positive COVID-19 test will visit a clinic for follow-up at three and six months and then every six months for a total of three years. Those who enroll more than 12 weeks after a positive COVID-19 test will have clinic visits scheduled every six months for three years. At these follow-up visits, participants will undergo additional scans, sample analyses, questionnaires, and other means of tracking their health, development, and overall quality of life, including their mental and social well-being. Any re-infections or adverse events that may be linked to a prior COVID-19 infection will be documented. The researchers anticipate that the study will take approximately six years to complete.

For more information about the study, please visit ClinicalTrials.gov using the study identifier NCT04830852.

NIAID conducts and supports research at NIH, throughout the United States, and worldwide to study the causes of infectious and immune-mediated diseases, and to develop better means of preventing, diagnosing and treating these illnesses. News releases, fact sheets and other NIAID-related materials are available on the NIAID website.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH):NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

NIHTurning Discovery Into Health

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Long-term study of children with COVID-19 begins - National Institutes of Health

Below is the full COVID-19 report for Nov. 12-14.

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) COVID-19 test positivity rates continue to trend up in Nevada and Clark County, a sign that the virus is still spreading in the community.

The state is reporting 7.6%, up from 7.4% on Friday, and the county is now at 6.8%, up from 6.6% on Friday. Those numbers have been on the rise over the past week and a half, but they remain below the states threshhold of 8.0%.

New figures on COVID-19 breakthrough cases show five deaths in the past week, along with 20 new hospitalizations and a total of 430 new cases.

Todays update includes data from Nov. 12-14 as agency reports through the weekend are totaled.

A look at current COVID-19 numbers:

The state is following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on the mask rule. The mandate will remain in place in each county until the following conditions are met:

Test positivity in Clark County is at 6.8% which is up from 6.6% on Friday, Nov. 12, when numbers were last reported.

Nevadas test positivity rate is at 7.6%, up from 7.4%. It fell below 5.0%, the World Health Organizations goal, on May 17 and climbed above it on June 28.

Of the 36 additional COVID-19-related deaths reported in Nevada, 24 were from Clark County. Southern Nevada now accounts for 6,073 of the states 7,844 deaths. The 14-day rolling average is at 4 deaths per day.

As of Nov. 11, the Southern Nevada Health District reports there are 195 breakthrough deaths (+5), 607 breakthrough hospitalizations (+20) and 12,125 breakthrough cases (+430). (Increases are compared to numbers reported on Nov. 4.)

As of yesterday, a total of 5,435,613 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Nevada, with an increase of 22,124 since Fridays report. The number of tests reported has gone up as more employers require employees to be vaccinated or go through weekly testing.

*NOTE: Daily lab data from DHHS and SNHD reports is updated every morning for theprevious day.

The test positivity rate in Clark County has dropped below 8%, which takes the county off the states watch list for elevated transmission risk. If the county can sustain levels for test positivity and testing, state restrictions including mask requirements could be relaxed. A separate measure of the countys case rate currently high at 113.0 cases (per 100,000 population over the past seven days) needs to drop below 50 for two straight weeks before the mask mandate can end.

In todays report, 11 of Nevadas 17 counties are still flagged for high transmission.

Clark Countys case rate (447 per 100,000 over the past 30 days) is flagged in data reported today. Test positivity rate (6.8%) and testing (317 tests per day per 100,000) are within the states acceptable range.

Thestates health department reports3,471,173 dosesof the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Nevada,as of Nov. 14.

As of today, 56.95% of Nevadans currently eligible for the vaccine are fully vaccinated, and 65.36% of the eligible population has initiated vaccinations. Clark County reports that 56.24% of its eligible residents are fully vaccinated.

NOTE: The state is not updating hospitalization dataonweekendsor holidays.

According to the statesDepartment of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the number of hospitalized patients in Nevada was DOWN (-16) from the last report.

The current number of hospitalizations is727 confirmed/suspected cases. Hospitals reported 170 of those patients were in intensive care units, and 100 were on ventilators.To give some perspective, the state set a record high for hospitalized patients on Dec. 13 with 2,025 cases.

The Nevada Hospital Associations most recent report describes a minor-to-moderate resurgence statewide. Hospitalizations are slowly increasing throughout the state causing Nevada to experience a minor-to-moderate COVID-19 resurgence.

Hospitals remain on alert status for staffing, and caution that an outbreak of another all-cause increase in hospitalizations like the flu could overpower steps hospitals have made to maintain staffing.

The report also indicates hospitals expect to see more activity related to vaccination requirements for people with companies with 100 or more employees.

The number of people who have recovered from the virus in Southern Nevada continues to increase. The latest county update estimates a total of 321,808 recovered cases; thats 95.2% of all reported cases in the county, according toSNHDs latest report.

The health district providesa daily map with the number of positive tests in each ZIPcodein Clark County.

Nevadareopened to 100% capacity on June 1and social distancing guidelines lifted, helping the state return to mostly pre-pandemic times, with some exceptions.

The CDC reversed course on July 27, saying fully vaccinated Americans in areas with substantial and high transmission should wear masks indoors when in public as COVID-19 cases rise. Most of Nevada falls into those two risk categories.

Nevada said it would adopt the CDCs guidance with the new mask guidelinethat went into effect at 12:01 a.m. on July 30. Thisoverrides Clark Countys employee mask mandate, which went into effect in mid-July.

On Aug. 16, Gov. Sisolak signed a new directivethat allows fully vaccinated attendees at large gatherings to remove their masks, but only if the venue chooses to require everyone in attendance to provide proof of vaccination. Those who have just one shot and are not fully vaccinated would still be allowed to attend, as would children under 12, but both would need to wear masks.

Masks still must be worn when required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules and regulations, including local businesses and workplace guidance.

State approval for vaccinating children 5-11 years old was given on Nov. 3, with plans by the Southern Nevada Health District to begin vaccinations on Nov. 10. The Pfizer vaccine is the only vaccine approved for children at this time.

SEE ALSO:Previous days report

Read more here:

NEW: COVID-19 test positivity rates climbing; 5 breakthrough deaths in the past week - KLAS - 8 News Now

November 15, 2021

A rare heart condition, myocarditis, may have you wondering, should I get the COVID vaccine? Should I get my child vaccinated?

To help us understand this heart condition and if there is substantial risk from COVID-19 or the vaccine, we connected with cardiologist Brett Sealove, M.D., chief of cardiology at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, and Meghan Tozzi, M.D., a pediatric cardiologist at the Joseph M. Sanzari Childrens Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center who is part of the Pediatric COVID Recovery Center team.

Myocarditis is the inflammation of the heart muscle and pericarditis is inflammation in the outer lining of the heart; both are typically a response to a viral infection.

Yes, you can get myocarditis from the COVID-19 virus.

In a study from the CDC, patients infected with COVID-19 were 16 times more likely to have myocarditis than patients without COVID-19.

The CDC has reported that heart inflammation is a rare side effect that can occur from the mRNA COVID vaccines, Pfizer or Moderna.

Cases reported have been seen more often in young males, after the second dose and within a few days after vaccination.

We have seen myocarditis in older children and young adults as a result of the vaccine, but even in the highest risk group, 16 to 29 year olds, the risk is one in 40,000, thats .003%, explains Dr. Tozzi.

The risk of getting myocarditis from getting vaccinated is markedly lower than getting myocarditis (or significantly ill) from the COVID virus itself, explains Dr. Sealove. The answer is, you want to prevent COVID infection in your body, including COVID potentially impacting your heart.

For children, the symptoms can be a bit unclear, as it can present in a similar way to things like a cold or other viruses, adds Dr. Tozzi. If your child has COVID-19 or recently received the vaccine, keep an eye on their symptoms and contact their doctor if you have any concerns.

Its usually fairly conservative watch, wait and have them recover on their own. Theres really no great remedy for treatment of myocarditis other than supportive care, explains Dr. Sealove. The vast majority of these cases recover on their own.

It is a rather mild version of myocarditis that develops after vaccination. Children tend to bounce back quickly, get better on their own and return to school in a few days, adds Dr. Tozzi. And again, the risk for myocarditis from the vaccine is very small, and expected to be an even lower risk in the five to 11 year old age group.

I would argue that getting vaccinated and vaccinating your children is the number one priority, rather than concern about a relatively low risk, reversible complication of vaccination, adds Dr. Sealove.

The benefit of being vaccinated, across the spectrum of the ages, appears to far outweigh the risk of myocarditis, concludes Dr. Sealove.

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.

View original post here:

Myocarditis, COVID-19 & the Vaccine - Articles and Videos, Cardiac / Heart Health, COVID-19, Featured, Health Topics - Hackensack Meridian Health

I was under the mistaken impression that when it comes to Covid-19 vaccines, the population could effectively be divided into three categories: Those who've taken advantage of the free, safe, and effective vaccines, those who've refused, and those who want the shots but can't get them for health reasons.

What didn't occur to me is that there might be a fourth category: People who've been vaccinated, but who then pursue misguided efforts to undo it.

NBC News reported noted a TikTok video which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views in which someone created a process through which people could bathe in a concoction in order to "detox the vaxx."

Not surprisingly, the concoction doesn't work. It doesn't even make any sense. But what is surprising is the fact that such instructional efforts exist for people who want to de-vaccinated themselves after having gotten the shots. From the NBC News piece:

The video is one of several methods anti-vaccine influencers and communities on social media have in recent weeks suggested to their many followers who have capitulated and received the Covid shot. Anti-vaccine message boards are now littered with users caving to societal pressure or work mandates and receiving a coronavirus vaccination.

That last point was of particular interest, because it explains the motivations behind these strange instructions. There are apparently significant groups of Americans who, for whatever reason, didn't want to be vaccinated, but they grudgingly did the right thing anyway in order to keep their jobs.

In related news, vaccine requirements continue to be effective.

But some of these same folks, who apparently don't want the potentially lifesaving protections the vaccines make possible, believe the process can be undone.

Putting aside the fact that no one should want to de-vaccinate themselves, it's also true that these efforts don't work.

Dr. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist and adjunct professor at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, told NBC News, "Once you're injected, the lifesaving vaccination process has already begun. You can't unring a bell. It's just not physically possible."

She added, "The transaction process for the mRNA vaccine is fairly quick. Basically, by the time you get out to your car, sorry, the magic has already started."

If the doctor had to add "sorry" to her comments that would be an unfortunate sign of the times. I am assured by a Canadian friend that north of the border it ironically meant "too bad."

Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MSNBC political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "The Impostors: How Republicans Quit Governing and Seized American Politics."

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Why would anyone try to undo vaccinations after getting Covid-19 shots? - MSNBC

Health providersin California cannot turn away adults 18 and olderseeking a COVID-19 booster shot, according to a letter dated Nov. 9fromDr. Toms J. Aragn, the states public health director, expanding eligibility past older individuals and others with high risks.

The letter states that while providers should proactively outreach to patients who are 65 and older, have underlying health conditions, and received the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine, they should also allow patients to "self-determine their risk of exposure."That mayinclude their work, location,household members or social inequity.

"Do not turn a patient away who is requesting a booster if the patient is 18 or over and has met the 6-month original vaccination series time period for the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or it has been at least 2 months since their J&J vaccine,"Aragn writes in the letter.

Related:Coachella Valley youngsters get their COVID-19 vaccines

More:California parents can schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments for children ages 5-11

More than 179,800 additional/booster doses have been administered in Riverside County, according to county data.

California's booster eligibility goes beyondthe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidance, which endorsed boosters in October for individuals who: received their initial Pfizer or Moderna vaccine series at least six months ago; are 65 and older; 18 and older and live in long-term care settings, have underlying medical conditions orwork or live in high-risk settings; or received their Johnson & Johnson shot at least two months ago.

Colorado and New Mexico have also expanded booster eligibility to all adults.

Pfizer and BioNTechasked the U.S. Food and Drug Administrationto authorize theirbooster shotfor adults 18 and older on Nov. 9, but no decision has been made as of Monday.

Ema Sasic covers health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.

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COVID-19 booster eligibility expanded to all adults in California - Desert Sun

Covid-19 cases are starting to climb again in select regions across the U.S. after stabilizing at a high level following this summer's delta surge, White House chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said Monday.

Fauci's comments came just a day after the country reported a seven-day average of more than 82,000 new cases, up 11% from the week before, according to a CNBC analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University. Nationwide cases were down 57% last week from the delta wave's peak this summer, but a jump in Covid patients in the Midwest and Northeast is fueling the sudden increase.

"The only thing that's a little bit disconcerting is that we're beginning to plateau," Fauci said during an interview hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center. "In other words, the deceleration of cases is now plateaued, and in some areas of the country, we're starting to see a bit of an uptick."

Infections had been on the decline for weeks after hitting a delta wave peak of 172,500 new cases per day on Sept. 13. They flattened out at a high level, bouncing between 70,000 and 75,000 new cases a day for nearly three weeks through most of last week, and are now once again increasing.

Average daily cases have jumped by 19% and 37% in the Midwest and Northeast over the last week, respectively, according to Johns Hopkins data. Hospitalizations, which lag an increase in infections, are up 11% over that same period in the Midwest, while the number of currently hospitalized patients with Covid is flat in the Northeast.

Cases and hospitalizations have fallen sharply in the South, where the delta wave hit earliest and hardest over the summer.

About 47,000 patients with the virus are currently hospitalized nationwide, according to a seven-day average of data from the Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. is reporting an average of roughly 1,150 Covid fatalities per day, according to Johns Hopkins data. Both figures are flat over the past week.

Besides the plateauing cases, Fauci, also director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the U.S. must focus on vaccinating the roughly 60 million people nationwide who have not yet been immunized. That excludes 28 million children ages 5 to 11 who became eligible to receive Pfizer's two-dose Covid vaccine earlier this month, he noted.

"There's a lot of good news, but some challenging news that we really need to address as we go into the winter months," Fauci said.

Fauci added that those who've been fully vaccinated for Covid can gather for the holiday season without concern. But he recommended wearing a mask in indoor congregate settings with cases still hovering at a high level nationwide.

"When you're with your family at home, goodness, enjoy it with your parents, your children, your grandparents," he said. "There's no reason not to do that."

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Dr. Fauci says Covid cases are starting to climb in some areas of the U.S. - CNBC

Pediatric health leaders are sounding the alarm overa growing number of mental health crises in children as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, theAmerican Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatryand the Childrens Hospital Association jointly declared a national emergency in children's mental healthin October.

The groupspointed to an increasing number of childhood mental health crises and suicide rates from 2010 to 2018. The pandemicintensified those issues and worsened inequities, especially in communities of color, a news release from the groups stated.

"Children and families across our country have experienced enormous adversity and disruption," the release said."We are caring for young people with soaring rates of depression, anxiety, trauma, loneliness and suicidality that will have lasting impacts on them, their families and their communities."

Between March and October 2020,emergency department visits for children with mental health emergencies rose by 24% among kids age5-11 and 31% for kids age 12-17, compared with2019 levels, according to CHA.There was more than a 50 percent increase insuspected suicide attempts among girls age 12-17 who madeemergency department visitsin early 2021, compared withthe same periodin 2019.

Many young people have experienced the loss of a loved one from the coronavirus during the pandemic. RecentAAP data showsmore than 140,000 children in the U.S. experienced the death of a primary or secondary caregiver during the pandemic,with children of color disproportionately impacted.

The children's healthgroups released a long list of recommendations to address the crisis, including increased federal funding for access to mental health resources, moreaccess to telemedicine,andthe expansion of short-stay units to ease a shortage of beds for children and adolescents experiencing mental health issues.

Mental health on the frontline: COVID-19 has highlighted the mental toll nurses face. Organizations must create a better system | Opinion

As the delta variantdrove the latestCOVID-19 surge, along with a record number of cases and hospitalizations among children, Dr. Meg Rush called it a "parallel epidemic" to the youth mental health crisis.

Rush, who leadsMonroe Carrell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, testified before Congress in September about the effects of COVID-19 on children.

"Children and families across the country face substantial disruptions to their daily lives due to COVID-19," Rush said. "I have consistently had equally, if not more, numbers of children admitted to my hospital in the last six weeks with a behavioral health primary diagnosis as I have (for) COVID."

Dr. Heather Kreth, a psychologist who helps leadpediatric behavioral health at Vanderbilt, cares forpatients at the children's hospital awaiting beds in the psychiatric hospital.

She said while the uptick in mental health crises among youth is recent, the shortage of beds for them and the lack of access to proper care was decades in the making.

"On any given day, I can have between five and 35 children and adolescents who are here waiting for psychiatrictreatment," she said. "At Vanderbilt and at hospitals across the country, this has been a growing problem year-over-year."

She said they are on track this year to have the most behavioral health admissions at the children's hospital than ever before. She said that is consistent with what other hospitals are experiencing.

While she fully supportsCOVID-19 mitigation strategies includinglockdowns, virtual schooling, masks and vaccinations, she is concerned about isolation and disruption during the pandemic especially for at-risk youth.

"The pandemic poured salt in the wound, but the wound was already gushing blood," Kreth said.

'Protect your mental': Tennessee Titans WR A.J. Brown reveals battle with depression, wants others to 'protect your mental'

Even as COVID-19 cases decline, restrictions easeand vaccines are made available for more children, the wide-ranging mental health effectsof the pandemic could last for years.

For the Dembowczyk family, navigating the needs of their three school-age children brought mental health to the forefront of their conversations.Their oldest two are16 and 13 and attend school in person in Murfreesboro. But their youngest, who is 9, has a weakened immune system. Theyultimatelydecided to homeschool him full-time during the pandemic to keep him safe.

As mask mandatesand COVID-19 safety measures becametopics of national debate and the virus surged repeatedly,the Dembowczykssaid their older children were anxious about catching COVID-19 or spreading it to others especially their younger brother.

Brian Dembowczyk said their youngest has struggledwith loneliness and missing out on school and social events. He also watched his son grow frustrated when others around them didn't take COVID-19 seriously.

TaraDembowczyk said theycheck in with their kids during family dinners, making space to discuss everything from their experiences at school to the larger issues driven by the pandemic worldwide. She and her husband also take to time to ask each kid privately to rate their anxiety on a scale of oneto 10, with 10 being the most intense.

"These questions spur deeper conversations and provide opportunities to discuss coping techniques," TaraDembowczyk said. "Having those check-ins is vital to loving them through their difficult times."

TheDembowczyks said their family has adapted well. More than anything, they hope heightened mental health awareness inspires others to seek help when they need it.

"They have to bear such weight on their minds and hearts," Brian Dembowczyk said."We're in a community, and you can't shield yourself entirely. What we do affects others, and we need to remember that."

Experts have learned that the virus itself can have wide-ranging physical, neurological and mental health effects on people.

The long-term effects of COVID-19 on adults and childrencan include physical symptoms includingfatigue, chronic pain, inflammation and heart palpitations. Some struggle with depression and difficulty concentrating.Multisystem inflammatory syndrome, knownin children asMIS-C,also is linked to COVID-19.

A study published in March spanning61 hospitalsand 31 statesdelved deeper into the neurologicaleffects of COVID-19 in young people.

The study, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,included 1,695 patients under age 21 who werehospitalized with acute COVID-19 or multisystem inflammatory syndrome between March and December 2020. Itfound hundreds experienced neurological symptoms ranging from altered awareness, seizures anddifficulty walking or crawling to anxiety, depression andpsychosis.

Of the patients, 22% had neurologic involvement, which I think surprised us all quite a bit," said Dr. Elizabeth Mack, who contributed to the study and oversees critical pediatric care at the Medical University of South Carolina. "Of those cases, 88% experienced only temporary symptoms, which is certainly reassuring, but the other 12% did not bounce back and some did not survive, which are big numbers when youre looking at over 1,000 patients.

One 10-year-old boy in Middle Tennessee, who The Tennessean has chosen not to name to protect his identity, developed severe anxiety, depression and frequent seizures after having COVID-19 in September 2020.

Some days, the seizures come four at a time. They usuallylast for about a minute andleavehim exhausted and confused. It takes him an hour or two to recover.

After a slew of hospital stays, appointmentsand tests,doctors diagnosed with the boy withnonepileptic seizures, generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. Nonepleptic seizures are often associated with psychological issues, according to the National Institute of Health.

He's now on medications to help regulate his mood, sleep, depression and anxiety and is in special education at his school. Sometimes he goes days without seizures, but his mental health isfaltering.

While his case is still a mystery, his mom is convinced it's linked to COVID-19.

Though he was nothospitalized and did not develop MIS-C, his mom saidthe findings of the study echo what has happened to her son after the virus ran its course.

Mack said there is much to learn when it comes to how COVID-19 affects children long-term, bothphysically and neurologically. While the study focused on children who were hospitalized, Mackhopes to see moreresearch on the long-term effects of the virus on children inbothinpatient and outpatient settings.

"We're on the cusp of figuring out what all can happen," she said.

Find reporter Rachel Wegner at rawegner@tennessean.com or on Twitter @rachelannwegner.

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'Salt in the wound': Tennessee kids grapple with mental health effects of COVID-19 pandemic - Tennessean

As announced two weeks ago, less-stringent COVID-19 protocols will go into effect starting Monday night for fans at Mavericks games in American Airlines Center. On Monday morning, the franchise issued a news release updating the details of the protocols.

The franchise also announced that pediatric vaccine doses will be available for children 5-to-11 years old starting at Monday nights game against Denver, which tips off at 7 p.m.

With the Mavericks citing a reduction in COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rates in North Texas, the updated protocols include:

-- Fans seated within 15 feet of the court still must submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination, or a negative COVID-19 test administered within 48 hours of entry. All other fans, however, no longer are required to submit proof of vaccine or a negative test result.

-- Facemasks still are required for all employees and AAC guests over the age of 2.

-- The Mavericks will continue to offer Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and boosters, administered by MD Labs, in the Old No. 7 Club beginning three hours before tip-off until halftime. But starting Monday, pediatric doses will be available for children aged 5-to-11.

The Mavericks will continue their season-long COVID-19 safety measures in American Airlines Center, including: Electrostatic sanitizing of the arena bowl and seats after each event; sanitizing of all high-touch areas multiple times throughout games; plexiglass partitions at all concession stands and food service stations; offer 200 hand-sanitizing stations throughout the arena; cashless venue points of sale; suites dedicated to immunocompromised fans; and all gameday staff still will be vaccinated.

With our season off to a great start on the court, we strive to maintain that same positive energy off the court, Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall said in the news release.

The safety and well-being of our fans will always be our top priority.

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Dallas Mavericks announce updated COVID-19 fan protocols that go into effect Monday night - The Dallas Morning News

Since testing positive, 78 residents and staff have recovered.

November 15, 2021, 10:28 PM

4 min read

A nursing home in Connecticut is recovering from a significant coronavirus outbreak, after 89 residents and staff tested positive for the virus, facility leadership reported Monday.

The outbreak at Geer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in North Canaan, Connecticut, began in late September. Eight residents with "serious underlying health issues" died as a result of the outbreak, nursing home leadership said in a statement.

They said 78 residents and staff have since recovered since testing positive, and there are now only three active cases within the community of individuals living within the nursing home.

"We are encouraged to see only 3 active cases of covid-19 remaining within our nursing home. Of the total 67 residents affected over the course of this outbreak, 56 are fully recovered and off isolation. Sadly, we have lost 8 individuals with serious underlying health issues to Covid," Kevin O'Connell, the Geer Village Senior Community CEO, wrote.

Facility leaders said 87 of the 89 infected residents and staff were fully vaccinated, so leaders are "obviously concerned we experienced some level of waning immunity."

The outbreak occurred prior to boosters being made available, O'Connell told ABC News.

"We had it scheduled for Nov. 2, and then that got put aside because of the pandemic," O'Connell said, stressing that officials from the nursing home reached out to Walgreens "right away," when they were told that the booster was made available to residents.

However, O'Connell said that scheduling booster shots can be logistically complicated, because it entails coordinating it for all the staff and residents. "It takes a while to get that all set up," he said.

Booster shots will be made available to all eligible staff and residents when there are no new positive cases for two full weeks.

"We're following the guidance of the Department of Health," said O'Connell, "and they do not recommend providing booster to anybody with active infections for 14 days after the outbreak."

The CDC currently recommends that all individuals, 18 and older, who live in long-term care facilities, receive a COVID-19 booster shot, given the fact that residents are likely to live closely together, and are often older adults with underlying medical conditions, which cause them to be at "increased risk of infection and severe illness from COVID-19."

"We continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates for residents, staff, families and community stakeholders as the situation changes," officials from the home said over the weekend.

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Connecticut nursing home COVID-19 outbreak results in 89 infected, 8 dead - ABC News