Tag: CDC

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US Life Expectancy Largest Single-year decline Since World War II

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Ridgewood NJ,  the CDC published findings from analysis of US mortality data from January-June 2020, which indicates that the average life expectancy in the US decreased by 1 year compared to estimates from 2019. The analysis was conducted by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, and the researchers evaluated all reported deaths from the first half of 2020*. The researchers estimate the overall life expectancy in the US for the first half of 2020 to be 77.8 years, a decrease from 78.8 years in 2019 and the lowest estimate since 2006. This is the largest single-year decline since World War II. The decrease was slightly greater in males than females—1.2 years compared to 0.9 years. The analysis also evaluated changes in life expectancy by racial and ethnic groups, a major concern due to the disproportionate burden of COVID-19 on racial and ethnic minorities. Life expectancy decreased by 0.8 years for the non-Hispanic White population, 1.9 years for the Hispanic population, and 2.7 years for the non-Hispanic Black population, illustrating “a worsening of racial and ethnic mortality disparities.”

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US Death and New COVID Cases Continue to Decline

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Ridgewood NJ, The WHO COVID-19 Dashboard reports 108.82 million cases and 2.40 million deaths as of 10:30am EST on February 16.
Both the global weekly incidence and mortality continue to decrease steadily. Weekly mortality has decreased by nearly half since the peak reported the week of January 4, 2020. The current weekly incidence is the lowest since mid-October 2020. Weekly mortality decreased for the second consecutive week, down nearly 25% from the high reported the week of January 25, 2021.

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The Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Variants has Provided the Motivation to Rapidly Scale up Genomic Sequencing Capacity

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Ridgewood NJ, according to Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security ,the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants with the potential for increased transmissibility has provided the motivation necessary to rapidly scale up genomic sequencing capacity, in the US and elsewhere. Some members of the scientific community argue that existing capacity is available, at least in terms of having adequate hardware, technicians, and infrastructure; however, there is a lack of funding available to conduct this type of research, particularly on a scale needed to monitor the evolution of a national epidemic. In the global context, the US ranks #36 in terms of the proportion of specimens sequenced (0.36% of confirmed cases), compared to #1 Denmark, which has sequenced more than half.

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Yes, There are More Updated Mask Usage Recommendations

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Ridgewood NJ,  according to Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security on February 10, the US CDC published updated guidance regarding ways to improve the efficacy of facemasks, which supplements existing mask guidance. The recommendations focus on 2 principal factors in how masks provide protection: fit and filtering ability. The CDC continues to recommend wearing a “mask [that] fits snugly against your face” and selecting masks that have multiple layers to filter respiratory droplets. The new guidance includes several additional recommendations and tips for improving both aspects of mask use.

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CDC : Vaccinating Teachers is not a Prerequisite for Resuming in-person Classes

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Ridgewood NJ,  last week, US CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky stated that agency officials are finalizing recommendations regarding school reopening and that official guidance should be published soon. The guidance is expected to play a major role as state and local governments and school systems across the country continue to debate how to safely return students and teachers to the classroom. The issue has been fiercely debated, extending to courtrooms and picket lines.  Joe Biden has indicated that he aims for most K-12 schools to reopen within his first 100 days in office. One of the biggest issues is how to prioritize teachers for vaccination and if or how to resume in-person classes before they can be vaccinated. Dr. Walensky recently stated that vaccinating teachers is not a prerequisite for resuming in-person classes. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) includes teachers in its Tier 1b priority group, but Dr. Walensky indicated that schools can implement measures to mitigate transmission risk in the classroom until teachers can be vaccinated. In addition to teachers, there is also ongoing debate regarding the risk to students, most of whom are too young to be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2.

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CDC Inadvertently Admits the Masks Everyone has Been Wearing are Largely Ineffective

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Ridgewood NJ, the CDC finally recognized that the masks they’ve had everyone wearing for the better part of a year are largely ineffective because aerosols easily go around the top and sides. Time to nail this down, so to speak. Their latest recommendation is “placing a sleeve made of sheer nylon hosiery material around the neck and pulling it up over either a cloth or medical procedure mask” or using knots and tucking to fit a mask closely to the face.

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Ridgewood Health Department : Yes, You Will Get Your Second Dose

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the Village of Ridgewood is making good on second vaccine doses .  Those who received their first COVID19 vaccines at the Ridgewood clinic that they will also receive their second vaccine, on their assigned date, at the Ridgewood clinic. This is because we have been guaranteed that we will receive second doses of the vaccines. Stay well and be safe.

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Reader says, “With regard to expanding the virtual learning and the closing of schools I have three points to make: Science, The Problem, and A Solution”

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“With regard to expanding the virtual learning and the closing of schools I have three points to make: Science, The Problem, and A Solution.”

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New Study Sheds Light into COVID Transmission on Airlines

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Ridgewood NJ, according to Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, a new study published in the US CDC’s Emerging Infectious Diseases journal describes in-flight transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among passengers on a flight from Dubai, UAE, to Auckland, New Zealand—with a stop in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Upon arrival in New Zealand, all passengers were subjected to mandatory 14-day quarantine, with testing conducted at approximately Day 3 and Day 12. Testing identified 7 SARS-CoV-2 infections among the passengers, including 5 that tested negative prior to their departure. Genomic analysis of specimens collected from each passenger found that the viral genome in 6 of the 7 passengers was identical, with 1 mutation present in the seventh passenger. Combined with the timeline of symptoms and positive tests, this suggests that the infection was transmitted among the passengers, rather than from multiple sources prior to travel. While testing negative prior to travel will likely decrease the number of imported cases, by denying travel for those who are already infectious, negative tests only indicate the current state of infection and cannot detect individuals who will be infectious after that point. Travel screening can mitigate the risk of importing cases or transmission during travel, but it cannot prevent them.

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Smokers to get the COVID-19 Vaccine ahead of some other Groups of Essential Workers

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Governor Phil Murphy on Friday pushed back against criticism that the state is allowing smokers to get the COVID-19 vaccine ahead of some other groups of essential workers. Murphy said at his COVID briefing that the state is simply following federal guidelines by including smokers in the vaccine rollout. The CDC states that smokers are high-risk if they contract the coronavirus.

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CDC Offers Tips to Celebrate a Safer Ground Hog Day

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Ridgewood NJ, Groundhog Day falls on February 2 in the United States, coinciding with Candlemas.  Ground hog day coverage is the second most read after Festivus  . It is a part of popular culture among many Americans and it centers on the idea of the groundhog coming out of its home to “predict” the weather. Even though Groundhog Day is not a public holiday. Groundhog Day is a popular observance in many parts of the United States. Although some states have in some cases adopted their own groundhogs, the official groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, lives at Gobbler’s Knob near Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The town has attracted thousands of visitors over the years to experience various Groundhog Day events and activities on February 2.

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CDC updates its COVID-19 quarantine guidance allowing individuals to shorten their 14-day quarantine period

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Ridgewood NJ, according to the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in December 2020, the US CDC updated its COVID-19 quarantine guidance to offer several options that allow individuals to shorten their 14-day quarantine period following a known exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Specifically, individuals who are unable to quarantine for the full 14 days can end their quarantine after 10 days if they exhibit no symptoms or after 7 days if they test negative on Day 5 or later. The CDC’s MMWR published 2 recent studies that provide analysis of the transmission risk associated with shorter quarantine periods.

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CDC emphasizes that individuals who were previously infected and recovered should still get vaccinated 

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Ridgewood NJ , according to the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security ,since the onset of the pandemic, health experts and officials have studied the role of immunity conferred by natural infection. While reports of are relatively rare, the potential for reinfection does exist. In light of this risk, the US CDC emphasizes that individuals who were previously infected and recovered should still get vaccinated due to the “severe health risks” and uncertainty regarding the duration of natural immunity. Additionally, the degree of natural immunity “varies from person to person.” The duration of the immunity conferred by vaccination remains uncertain as well, but research is still ongoing via clinical trials. Depending on the duration of immunity following vaccination, it may be necessary for individuals to receive regular boosters to provide longer-term protection.

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CDC: Improving ventilation (air flow) can help prevent COVID virus particles from accumulating in the air in your home

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Staying home with only members of your household is the best way to keep SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) particles out of your home. However, if a visitor needs to be in your home, the CDC says improving ventilation (air flow) can help prevent virus particles from accumulating in the air in your home. Good ventilation, along with other preventive actions, like staying 6 feet apart and wearing masks, can help prevent you from getting and spreading COVID-19.

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COVID19 Vaccinations Make Slow Progress in New Jersey

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In New Jersey 265,000 doses of COVID19 Vaccine have been delivered and only 62,901 Individuals having been Vaccinated

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Trenton NJ, NJ Commissioner of Health Judith Persichilli  reports on New Jersey’s vaccination efforts  , she spoke at Governor Murphy press conference last Wednesday . “New Jersey continues our journey to vaccinate 70% of the eligible adult population by vaccinating individuals who fall into Phase 1A. New Jersey has been awarded over 400,000 vaccine doses in this month. Of that, approximately 120,000 doses have been reserved for long-term care facilities, residents and employees; 280,000 doses have been allocated to hospitals and our community sites. Of that, approximately 265,000 doses have actually been delivered. The remainder is expected at the end of this week. In New Jersey, we’re expecting an additional 106,000 doses during the first week of January. Of that, 53,000 doses have been reserved for long-term care facilities, and another 53,000 allocated to hospitals and community sites.”

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