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Obesity Leads to elevated risk of severe COVID-19 disease

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, according to Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security ,the US CDC updated its guidance regarding individuals at elevated risk of severe COVID-19 disease and death due to underlying medical conditions, including more detailed information regarding the risk associated with obesity. The previous iteration of the guidance noted that individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher were at elevated risk of severe COVID-19 disease. The most recent update includes multiple categories: obesity (BMI of greater than 30 but less than 40) and severe obesity (BMI of 40 or greater). Additionally, the guidance notes that individuals “having overweight” (BMI of greater than 25 but less than 30) may also be at elevated risk of severe disease. The expanded risk group could potentially mean that 72% of all Americans are at elevated risk of severe disease based solely on their weight. Notably, BMI does not accurately characterize body fat percentage or overweight/obesity in all individuals, but it provides a simplified metric to help categorize risk associated with these conditions.

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CDC Reconfirms COVID infections are principally spread through “close contact”

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, according to Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, the CDC published new guidance on the potential for airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 earlier this week. The updated guidance distinguishes between droplet and airborne transmission (as well as contact transmission); however, it emphasizes that respiratory droplets exist in a spectrum of sizes, ranging from large droplets “that fall out of the air rapidly” to smaller droplets or particles “that can remain suspended for many minutes to hours and travel far from the source.” The guidance also describes aerosols—referring both to smaller droplets and particles and the “clouds of these respiratory droplets in the air”—and clarifies the public health definition of “airborne transmission”—specifically, transmission via “infectious, pathogen-containing, small droplets and particles suspended in the air over long distances and that persist in the air for long times.”

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CDC : Many Traditional Halloween Activities can be high-risk for Spreading Viruses

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, according to the CDC many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses. There are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween. If you may have COVID-19 or you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters.

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Federal Government Adjusts COVID-19 Entry Strategy for International Air Passengers

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Newark NJ, according to the CDC, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the United States Government (USG) is innovating and taking a new approach to help keep international air passengers healthy. The new, more effective strategy focuses on the continuum of travel and the individual passenger, including pre-departure and post-arrival education, efforts to develop a potential testing framework with international partners, and illness response. This strategy is consistent with the current phase of the pandemic and more effectively protects the health of the American public.

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CDC Walks Back the Mortality Rate Walk Back

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, A number of social media posts, including this blog  including on Facebook and Twitter, are claiming that the CDC “quietly” corrected its COVID-19 mortality data to remove 94% of the reported deaths. Now according to Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security this is factually inaccurate, and we want to provide some quick clarification to correct this misinformation.

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CDC: 94% of All Covid-19 deaths had underlying medical conditions

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the Centers for Disease Control released information showing how many people who died from COVID-19 had underlying medical conditions that attributed to their death.

According to the report, only 6 percent of deaths have COVID-19 as the only cause mentioned, revealing that 94 percent of patients who died from coronavirus also had underlying health conditions.

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CDC UPDATES GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOLS

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

The CDC has published updated guidance regarding school openings. The updated guidance provides additional recommendations for a myriad of topics, including ventilation, food service, and mask use as schools continue to prepare and implement their plans to start the 2020-21 school year. The guidance also expands on previous iterations regarding students with “special healthcare needs and disabilities” with a new section dedicated to these challenges. Schools may need to develop individualized plans for some students and staff, including those with limited mobility, those with visual or hearing impairments, those with underlying health conditions, or those who may have difficulties understanding or adapting to new routines. The information notes that some individuals may struggle with social distancing or isolation or mask use, or they may need additional visual or verbal reminders or assistance implementing the school’s social distancing protocols. The information also links to guidance regarding protections related to service animals.

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CDC Backs off 14 Day Quarantine

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the staff  of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, On August 3, 2020, CDC updated its isolation guidance based on the latest science about COVID-19 showing that people can continue to test positive for up to 3 months after diagnosis and not be infectious to others.  Contrary to media reporting today, this science does not imply a person is immune to reinfection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the 3 months following infection.  The latest data simply suggests that retesting someone in the 3 months following initial infection is not necessary unless that person is exhibiting the symptoms of COVID-19 and the symptoms cannot be associated with another illness.

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CDC : Back to School?

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Many parents, caregivers, and guardians face new and difficult choices about how their child will return to school in the fall, such as deciding between in-person and virtual learning.

According to the CDC, schools play an important role in students’ educational achievement, health, and wellbeing. Working with local health officials and with parents and caregivers, schools also have an important role in slowing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) while protecting students, teachers, and staff and helping ensure students have safe and healthy learning environments.

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CDC: Visiting Parks and Recreational Facilities

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the staff of the Ruidgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, according to the CDC, staying physically active is one of the best ways to keep your mind and body healthy. In many areas, people can visit parks, trails, campgrounds, and open spaces as a way to relieve stress, get some fresh air, and stay active.

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Parents Weigh Return to In Person Classes , Remote Learning and Home Schooling

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, As the US school year rapidly approaches, federal, state, and local government officials are working to develop and implement plans to resume classes. Proposals range from full-time, in-person classes to online/remote classes only, including a myriad of hybrid options in between. Much of the uncertainty and debate revolves around the direct risk to children and the role they play in community transmission. It is generally understood that children are at lower risk for severe COVID-19 disease and death than adults—although, certainly not zero risk—but it is much less clear how easily children transmit the infection to others, including adults or other high-risk individuals at home or in the community.

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CDC: When You Can be Around Others After You Had or Likely Had COVID-19

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the staff of the Ridgeewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the CDC answers questions on when you can safely resume contact with others if you think or know you had COVID-19, and you had symptoms :

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School Districts should have Immunity from COVID-19 Lawsuits

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, When Gov. Phil Murphy closed all the schools in New Jersey due to the coronavirus pandemic, distance learning was implemented to make sure the educational process could continue.  Now that New Jersey has flattened the curve, school districts across the state are working diligently to ensure a safe and healthy reopening in the fall.

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