Tag: US CDC

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CDC Views Wastewater Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA an early warning signal

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the US CDC has added wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA to its COVID Data Tracker, as virus levels in sewage water may be capable of providing an early warning signal for transmission surges. The tool comprises data from more than 400 testing sites in 37 states, with more than 34,000 samples representing 53 million US residents collected so far. Hundreds of additional testing sites are expected to begin submitting data to the system in coming weeks. The CDC initiated the National Wastewater Surveillance System with a fitting acronym (NEWS) in September 2020, and it has become a critical tool for public health officials since it can show where viral loads are changing, which communities are at risk of a surge in cases, and where medical supplies should be deployed.

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White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci acknowledged that additional clarification on the new Mask guidance likely

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to mask or not to mask that is the question ?
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, following the US CDC’s announcement of updated mask guidance on May 14, federal health officials have spent the past several days “defending” the updated guidance. Numerous accounts describe the new guidance that eliminated recommendations for mask use and physical distancing for fully vaccinated individuals in most situations as “surprising” or “startling.” Reportedly, the CDC did not brief state and local health officials on the changes prior to the announcement, which resulted in many being caught off guard by the new guidance. Numerous states and businesses removed or relaxed mask mandates in response to the change, some with little or no advance notice. The sudden change has caused confusion among the public, state and local health and elected officials, and schools and businesses, particularly regarding whether (and how) to maintain mandates for unvaccinated individuals while allowing vaccinated individuals to go maskless.

Continue reading White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci acknowledged that additional clarification on the new Mask guidance likely