COVID-19 – Page 6

Here’s how to stay safe while buying groceries amid the coronavirus pandemic

2Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

COVID-19, VIDEO REELS

Here’s how to stay safe while buying groceries amid the coronavirus pandemic

Wear a mask, but skip the gloves. Don’t sanitize the apples. And if you are older than 65, it’s probably best to still order your groceries online. As a food virologist, I hear a lot of questions from people about the coronavirus risks in grocery stores and how to stay safe while shopping for food amid the pandemic. Here are answers to some of the common questions. Can I touch the tomatoes? What you touch on the grocery shelves is less of a concern than who breathes on you and other surfaces you might come in contact with in a store. In fact, there is currently no evidence of the virus being transmitted by food or food packaging. You may have heard about studies showing that the virus can remain infectious for up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to 72 hours on plastic or stainless steel. ...

6Feb

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

COVID-19

Making Black Lives Matter During COVID

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unveil the deficiencies in all of our systems, racial disparities—particularly the disproportionate number of Black people dying—top the list. The staggering statistics keep pouring in, dispelling an earlier rumor among some in Black communities that Black people are somehow immune to contracting the disease. But more importantly, the high numbers highlight the health care inequities in the United States. “Inequities have existed for generations, and it’s something we cannot ignore,” Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist says. “The disparity and mortality rate with COVID-19 are more urgent because people [can] die within a month of contracting the virus.” In Michigan, Gilchrist’s home state, the African American population is 14%. Yet, as of mid-April, ...

The Science You Need To Understand: Viral Mutation, Coronavirus Variants And COVID-19 Vaccines

3Feb

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

COVID-19

The Science You Need To Understand: Viral Mutation, Coronavirus Variants And COVID-19 Vaccines

The SARS-CoV-2 virus mutates fast. That’s a concern because these more transmissible variants of SARS-CoV-2 are now present in the U.S., U.K. and South Africa and other countries, and many people are wondering whether the current vaccines will protect the recipients from the virus. Furthermore, many question whether we will we be able to keep ahead of future variants of SARS-CoV-2, which will certainly arise. In my laboratory I study the molecular structure of RNA viruses – like the one that causes COVID-19 – and how they replicate and multiply in the host. As the virus infects more people and the pandemic spreads, SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve. This process of evolution is constant and it allows the virus to sample its environment and select changes that make it grow more efficiently. T...

Persuading People To Get Vaccinated Will Be The Next Major Hurdle To Ending The Pandemic

29Jan

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

COVID-19

Persuading People To Get Vaccinated Will Be The Next Major Hurdle To Ending The Pandemic

Today, more Americans hope to receive a COVID-19 vaccine than current vaccine supply will allow. Consequently, although President Joe Biden’s initial promise to dole out 100 million vaccine doses in 100 days would require a ramp-up in vaccine allocation, some consider the promise to be insufficient to meet current levels of demand and put the pandemic’s spread into decline. The current mismatch between vaccine demand and supply, however, may be short-lived. Despite concerns about lagging vaccine allocation for front-line health care workers and other vulnerable groups, health experts are optimistic that public demand for a COVID-19 vaccine will remain high in coming months as more vaccine doses become available. While it is clear that many political leaders expect public demand for a cor...

25Jan

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

BUSINESS, COVID-19

COVID-19 Won’t Kill Cities – Why?

For those of you who live in cities, ask yourself: What it is about your urban lifestyle that makes it worth it despite the pollution, the noise and the traffic? Perhaps it’s the hundreds of unique restaurants that you like to dine at. Or the density that fosters a vibrant night life and cosmopolitan cultural scene. Maybe it’s the parks, the museums, the tall buildings, the mass transit. What if much of that went away? Would you still want to live there? That possibility is worrying many as the pandemic chips away at the foundations of much of what makes cities special. Restaurants, small businesses and even big brand-name retail chains are closing in record numbers. Mass transit systems, like New York City’s, are warning of severe cuts in service if they don’t get aid soon as state and ...

With A New Fast-Spreading Coronavirus Variant On The Loose – How To Stay Safe

3Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

COVID-19, VIDEO REELS

With A New Fast-Spreading Coronavirus Variant On The Loose – How To Stay Safe

A fast-spreading variant of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has been found in at least 10 states, and people are wondering: How do I protect myself now? We saw what the new variant, known as B.1.1.7, can do as it spread quickly through southeastern England in December, causing case numbers to spike and triggering stricter lockdown measures. The new variant has been estimated to be 50% more easily transmitted than common variants, though it appears to affect people’s health in the same way. The increased transmissibility is believed to arise from a change in the virus’s spike protein that can allow the virus to more easily enter cells. These and other studies on the new variant were released before peer review to share their findings quickly. Additionally, there is some evidence tha...

New COVID-19 Variants What You Need To Know

3Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

COVID-19, VIDEO REELS

New COVID-19 Variants What You Need To Know

Two new strains of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 called B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 have been found in the U.K. and South Africa and are thought to be more transmissible. In this interview, David Kennedy, a biologist who studies the evolution of infectious diseases at Penn State, explains how these new strains are different, what “more transmissible” means, what that means for the public and whether the vaccines will be effective against them. David Kennedy explains the two new COVID-19 strains B117 and B1351, which were detected in December. What are the two new variants of the SARS CoV-2 virus? There are actually a few different variants that are emerging that you’ve probably been hearing about recently. Two of the most common ones that people are talking about and are most concerned abou...

In Order To Stop The Coronavirus How Many People Need To Get COVID-19 Vaccine?

4Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

COVID-19, HEALTH & WELLNESS

In Order To Stop The Coronavirus How Many People Need To Get COVID-19 Vaccine?

It has been clear for a while that, at least in the U.S., the only way out of the coronavirus pandemic will be through vaccination. The rapid deployment of coronavirus vaccines is underway, but how many people need to be vaccinated in order to control this pandemic? I am a computational biologist who uses data and computer models to answer biological question at the University of Connecticut. I have been tracking my state’s COVID-19 epidemic with a computer model to help forecast the number of hospitalizations at the University of Connecticut’s John Dempsey Hospital. This type of computer model and the underlying theory can also be used to calculate the vaccination rates needed to break the chain of transmission of the coronavirus. My estimate is that for the entire U.S., roughly 70% of ...

In 2021 Outsmart Your COVID-19 Fears And Boost Your Mood

3Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

COVID-19

In 2021 Outsmart Your COVID-19 Fears And Boost Your Mood

After a year of toxic stress ignited by so much fear and uncertainty, now is a good time to reset, pay attention to your mental health and develop some healthy ways to manage the pressures going forward. It’s all about emotion. Charles Postiaux/Unsplash, CC BY-ND Brain science has led to some drug-free techniques that you can put to use right now. I am health psychologist who developed a method that harnesses our rip-roaring emotions to rapidly switch off stress and activate positive emotions instead. This technique from emotional brain training is not perfect for everyone, but it can help many people break free of stress when they get stuck on negative thoughts. Why the stress response is so hard to turn off Three key things make it hard to turn off stress-activated negative emotions: ...

A Doctor Answers Readers Questions – Why Should I Trust The Coronavirus Vaccine When It Was Developed So Fast?

23Dec

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

COVID-19

A Doctor Answers Readers Questions – Why Should I Trust The Coronavirus Vaccine When It Was Developed So Fast?

With a coronavirus vaccination effort now underway, you might have questions about what this means for you and your family. If you do, send them to The Conversation, and we will find a physician or researcher to answer them. Here, Dr. Lana Dbeibo, a clinical assistant professor of medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine, answers reader questions about the vaccine and compromised immune systems and whether to get the vaccine if a person has had previous adverse reactions to a vaccine. I fully support the use of vaccines, but I worry about possible long-term side effects with the new vaccines. How can anyone say with any confidence there will be no long-term consequences with vaccines that have been developed so rapidly? There are reasons the vaccines were developed rapidly: Firs...