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  • 04/19/2022 11:31 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    On Monday, April 18, 2022, the federal government stated that passengers traveling on airplanes and other public transportation will not be required to wear a face mask.  A federal judge in Florida voided the extension of the federal mask mandate saying that the mandate exceeded the authority of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.  The Transportation Security Administration-TSA, said it would no longer enforce the federal mask mandate rule, and large U.S. airlines and transportation companies announced that masks were now optional.  Before you leave your mask at home, check with local authorities for mask rules for local transportation.

    The mask mandate was set to expire on April 18, 2022, but the CDC had announced that it would extend the federal mask mandate 15 days due to the BA.2 omicron subvariant of the coronavirus currently responsible for the majority of positive COVID cases.

    Read more at  USA Today.

    Read more at CNN

    Read more at the Washington Post

  • 04/15/2022 1:58 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    What You Need to Know

    • Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required in indoor areas of public transportation (including airplanes, trains, buses) and indoors in U.S. transportation hubs (including airports, train and bus stations)
    • Delay travel until you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines.
    • Check your destination’s COVID-19 situation before traveling. State, tribal, local, and territorial governments may have travel restrictions in place.
    • Do not travel if you are sick, tested positive for COVID-19 and haven’t ended isolation, had close contact with a person with COVID-19 and haven’t ended quarantine, or are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test.
    • If you are not up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines and must travel, get tested both before and after your trip.

    Read more at CDC

  • 04/03/2022 9:12 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    On  March 29, 2022, the CDC expanded eligibility for an additional booster dose for certain individuals who may be at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19. Boosters are safe, and people over the age of 50 can now get an additional booster 4 months after their prior dose to increase their protection further. This is especially important for those 65 and older and those 50 and older with underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for severe disease from COVID-19 as they are the most likely to benefit from receiving an additional booster dose at this time.

    Read more at CDC

  • 03/20/2022 8:35 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    As reported at redcross.org

    It’s been two years since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, acknowledging the virus would likely spread to all countries around the globe. Since then, more than 220 countries and territories around the world have reported almost 447 million confirmed cases of the virus and more than 6 million have died. The U.S. has seen more than 79 million cases of coronavirus as of March 7 and more than 960,000 deaths due to the virus.

    THE BEGINNING On January 19, 2020, the first person in the U.S. diagnosed with COVID-19 was a resident of Washington state who had recently returned from a trip to China. In February 2020, the U.S. declared COVID-19 a public health emergency, followed by a national emergency declaration on March 13, 2020.

    VACCINES DEVELOPED In 2020 as the virus spread around the world, scientists began working to produce safe and effective coronavirus vaccines. Since December 2020 ,  more than 4.99 billion people worldwide have received a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine or about 65% of the world population. In the U.S., more than 553 million vaccine doses have been administered and 65% of the entire population is fully vaccinated.

    PRESENT STATEAll 50 states have done away with mandates on wearing masks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports more than 90% of the U.S. population now reside in areas where masks are not necessary indoors.

    RED CROSS ROLE COVID-19 has not changed the American Red Cross mission — we provided the same support throughout the first two years of the pandemic as we always have. While the pandemic has weighed heavily on the nation and throughout the world, the Red Cross continues to offer support and care during a difficult time, bringing comfort, hope and light when individuals and families needed it most. A Virtual Family Assistance Center is available to assist anyone who has lost a loved one. 

    BIOMEDICAL SERVICES For a limited time, the Red Cross has resumed testing all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. With the surge of new variants, hospitals began to seek out more treatments for their most vulnerable patients, and new clinical trial data has shown that convalescent plasma may benefit immunocompromised patients. The Red Cross is resuming this program to ensure doctors have every tool available to support treatment. 

    DISASTER RELIEF During two very active disaster years, the Red Cross provided the same types of support we always do after emergencies.To help keep our workforce and the people we serve safe, we are used strong safety precautions including masks, health screenings, enhanced cleaning procedures and encouraging social distancing regardless of vaccine status. In addition, many Red Cross volunteers worked closely with partners to help support vaccination efforts in communities across the country during 2021. 

    TRAINING SERVICES The Red Cross continues to provide lifesaving training as the pandemic continues. Essential courses have been modified to include social distancing, face masks, virtual training and certification extensions. Online courses include new COVID-19 ones for safe work practices and psychological first aid. We’ve also provided responder guidance for companies and hospitals to adjust their training during COVID-19 to maintain their ability to save lives.

    SERVICE TO THE ARMED FORCES (SAF) While some services are now virtual, the Red Cross Hero Care Network  offers confidential assistance to veterans and their families by connecting them with local, state and national resources worldwide. The Red Cross Military Veteran Caregiver Network (MCVN) is also available for veterans and their caregivers to offer support for the country’s approximately 5.5 million caregivers of military and veteran wounded, ill or injured.

    INTERNATIONAL SERVICES COVID-19 knows no borders, and while each Red Cross society’s response to this pandemic has been different, coordinated efforts by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have largely supported community-based health and hygiene promotion, access to basic services, support for containment and treatment, and fighting rumors and stigma with accurate information.  The American Red Cross has “virtually deployed” specialists with skills in mental health, communications, information management, assessment and planning and helped fund health and hygiene promotion, case detection, surveillance and contact tracing in the global fight against the coronavirus.

    Click here to read more at redcross.org

  • 03/07/2022 10:36 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The CDC is dropping its guidance for universal indoor masking, instead recommending masking pegged to local conditions where spread of the virus is considered high risk.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now says most people in the U.S. can stop wearing masks indoors if they live in a community where COVID isn't causing a strain on the hospital system. 

    Read more at NPR https://www.npr.org/2022/02/26/1083283280/cdc-drops-guidance-for-universal-indoor-masking

  • 03/07/2022 10:26 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    On Sunday, March 6,  Dr. Jon LaPook reported from the CDC that there is no indication that a new Covid-19 variant is lurking at this time. He interviewed CDC Director  Rochelle Walensky. m the CDC, where scientists say "there's noth

    Click here to see this CBS news report https://www.cbsnews.com/video/cdc-no-new-coronavirus-variants-of-concern-right-now/

  • 02/11/2022 3:58 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The CDC published new data  on Friday, February 10th,  showing that COVID booster shots lose protection effectiveness  after about four months.  This increases the probability that Americans with high risk complications may need a forth shot.  The data was evidence of the mRNA shots’ waning power against moderate to severe illness.  Similar research from Israel and Britain showed that protection from booster doses declines within a few months. 

    The analysis did not include a breakdown by age and focused on people who sought medical care for symptoms of COVID.

    Read more at The New York Times

    Get COVID updates and tracking numbers at The New York Times


  • 02/06/2022 2:59 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The New York Times reports that many health experts are 
    noting worsening physical conditioning and mobility among older adults as a result of COVID-19 changing their regular physical activity. Those who had mild COVID infections, as well as those who avoided infection, maybe suffering functional declines. A University of Michigan survey of some 2,000 Americans, aged 50 to 80 in early 2021, found that 40 percent of those over 65 reported reduced physical activity and less time spent on their feet since March 2020, the start of the pandemic.  This representative national sample indicated worsened physical conditioning and mobility among older Americans.

    Pandemic related restrictions may have led to the decline. Gyms, yoga studios, pools, adult day programs, community and senior centers all close for extended periods; and older people  undertook fewer ordinary chores and errands and may have skipped recreational pastimes.  

    Read more at The New York Times


  • 02/04/2022 11:05 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Medicare will start paying for home Covid-19 tests beginning this spring. Last month, the Biden administration began requiring health insurers to cover the cost of home tests.Some 36 million senior citizens and Americans with disabilities in the traditional Medicare program will be able to get reimbursed for tests purchased at participating pharmacies and retailers. .

    Read more here at CNN.

  • 02/03/2022 4:24 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The requirements of international entry for US travelers are confusing and change regularly.  You don't have to only worry about getting into your destination, but you have to worry about securing a negative PCR test to get back into the US.  Many travel experts are recommending that international travelers wear a well-fitting mask (N95 or KN95) in public areas and take extras with you, take a coronavirus test before you go, know the rate of infection and vaccination at your destination, and take a couple of rapid tests to use if you feel sick while traveling.  Check multiple sources to get the best list of requirements in addition to the information provided by your airline or travel agent.  Take multiple copies of every document in case you have to submit one, you will have other copies.

    Read more at the Washington Post

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