In late-December 2019, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first detected in Wuhan City, China, causing an easily transmissible respiratory illness. By March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared its outbreak a global pandemic. Caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), COVID-19 has infected over 107.48 million people globally. To date, […]
Israel begins exit from third virus lockdown
Israeli barbershops and some other businesses reopened Sunday as the country began easing its third coronavirus lockdown amid an aggressive vaccination campaign. The government had announced Friday it was lifting some restrictions imposed since December, when the country saw a rise in COVID-19 infections. Jerusalem barber Eli Aroas was among those re-opening on Sunday morning, […]
Researchers make discoveries to better understand SARS-CoV-2 virus
An effort led by Lin Li, Ph.D., assistant professor of physics at The University of Texas at El Paso, in collaboration with students and faculty from Howard University, has identified key variants that help explain the differences between the viruses that cause COVID-19 and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). A team comprised of researchers from […]
Three-layer masks can block out at least 90% of virus particles
Wearing three layers of face coverings – such as a surgical mask with an extra layer of fabric – blocks 90% of infectious particles, experts say Some experts, such as Dr Anthony Fauci, have endorsed double- masking to protect against COVID-19 But wearing more than one mask can make it harder to breathe and increases […]
They Work in Several Nursing Homes to Eke Out a Living, Possibly Spreading the Virus
To make ends meet, Martha Tapia works 64 hours a week at two Orange County, California, nursing homes. She is one of thousands of certified nursing assistants who perform the intimate and physical work of bathing, dressing and feeding the nation’s fragile elderly. “We do everything for them. Everything you do for yourself, you have […]
Argentina detects first case of British virus variant
Argentina has detected its first case of a British-identified coronavirus variant that appears to be more infectious, authorities said Saturday. The infection was discovered in a man who arrived from Britain in Argentina in late December without symptoms of the disease. Authorities “detected the variant of SARS-CoV-2 from the United Kingdom in a traveler,” science […]
German agency slams too many ‘exceptions’ to virus rules
Germany’s Robert Koch Institute (RKI) health agency on Thursday called for stronger measures to bring down coronavirus infections, noting many people not doing enough to reduce social contacts. “The measures that we are taking now—for me they are not a complete lockdown, there are still too many exceptions,” RKI head Lothar Wieler told a press […]
Saint Petersburg eyes virus lockdown amid record deaths
Russia’s second city Saint Petersburg registered a record number of virus deaths on Tuesday as authorities warned of an imminent lockdown and shuttered restaurants for the New Year’s holidays. Saint Petersburg—one of Russia’s most popular tourist destinations—is struggling with a major health crisis, with hospitals overwhelmed with coronavirus patients but residents flouting social distancing and […]
As virus slams rural California, many still pan restrictions
Brenda Luntey is openly violating California’s order to close her restaurant to indoor dining. But she wants her customers and critics to know she isn’t typically a rule-breaker. It’s a matter of survival. “This is my first episode of civil disobedience in my entire life. My whole family is in law enforcement. I’m a follow-the-rules […]
Thailand urges calm after four test positive for virus
Thai authorities urged calm on Tuesday as they scramble to trace a potential coronavirus outbreak after at least four women tested positive on returning from neighbouring Myanmar. Since detecting the first case outside of China back in January, Thailand has managed to keep COVID-19 infections low, at just over 4,000 cases, in part by imposing […]