The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised that fully vaccinated people can be indoors and outdoors without wearing masks except when in health care settings, on public transportation, or in specified areas where masks are required.  Local government mask rules and rules followed by retailers and other establishments will determine how this change is applied locally.  

The CDC advises, if you’ve been fully vaccinated:

• You will still need to follow guidance at your workplace and local businesses.
• If you travel, you should still take steps to protect yourself and others. You will still be required to wear a mask on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States, and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations.  Fully vaccinated international travelers arriving in the United States are still required to get tested 3 days before travel by air into the United States (or show documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months) and should still get tested 3-5 days after their trip.
• You should still watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you’ve been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and stay home and away from others.
• People who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken the immune system, should talk to their healthcare provider to discuss their activities. They may need to keep taking all precautions to prevent COVID-19.

Read the latest guidelines from the CDC here 

Good news – In most cases, there’s no blood donation deferral time if you receive a COVID-19 vaccine. However, knowing the name of the manufacturer is important in determining your eligibility to donate blood.

Individuals who have received a COVID-19 vaccine will need to provide the manufacturer name when they donate. Upon vaccination, individuals will receive a card or printout indicating what COVID-19 vaccine was received, and we encourage vaccinated people to bring that card with them to their next donation. In most cases, there is no deferral time for individuals who received a COVID-19 vaccine as long as they are symptom free and feeling well at the time of donation.  

The following eligibility guidelines apply to each COVID-19 vaccine received, including second doses:

• There is no deferral time for eligible blood donors who have received a COVID-19 vaccine currently authorized in the U.S. including J&J, Moderna and Pfizer.
  
• Eligible blood donors who do not know what type of COVID-19 vaccine they received must wait two weeks before giving blood.
  
• If you have further eligibility questions, please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Read the whole story at Red Cross

CDC announced that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks outdoors in most situations, including; when walking, running, hiking, or biking alone, or with members of their household: or if they attend small outdoor gatherings.  CDC said masks should still be worn by all in large public spaces and in social gatherings where you don't know whether everyone has been vaccinated.  Adults are still cautioned to wear a mask when indoors with individuals who are not members of your household. 

For more information check out the CDC website

During the week of April 4th,  the American Red Cross saw the lowest blood donor turnout since the pandemic began more than a year ago. As the nation transitions to a new, hopeful phase of this devastating pandemic, blood donations remain essential to the health of our communities.

The Red Cross urges eligible individuals who are feeling well to please make an appointment today to give by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 800-RED-CROSS.

Read the full story on RedCross.org

The CDC released a report on March 31, 2021 listing coronavirus as the third leading underlying cause of U.S. deaths in 2020.  The first two leading causes of death were cancer and heart disease.  In 2020, COVID-19 deaths accounted for about 11 percent of U.S. deaths.  In 2020, nearly 3.4 million individuals died in the U.S., and increase of 15.9 percent from 2019.

Read the full report posted on the CDC website.

If you are fully vaccinated, the CDC has said you can travel with low risk to yourself, but should continue with precautions-wear a mask, social distance, and wash your hands frequently.  However,  you need to check the rules at your destination to see if you will need a negative coronavirus test before getting on the plane, and, if you will need to quarantine upon arrival. 

If you travel internationally, you should have a negative coronavirus test before boarding your return flight to the United States.

Check out the CDC Travel guidelines

Read more at the New York Times.

It is one year since the pandemic was declared. Tens of millions of people around the globe have suffered in the wake of COVID-19. The American Red Cross is there  throughout every type of disaster, and the virus is no different.  AccuWeather's Bernie Rayno talks with Great Gustafson of the Red Cross about how the Red Cross is dealing with coronavirus during disaster relief. 

Watch and read more at https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/covid-19s-impact-red-cross-000619525.html

The English National Opera and a London hospital have teamed up to give vocal lessons for people recovering from COVID-19. Breathing is crucial to singing opera, and these lessons are "clinically proven recovery -exercises but reworked by professional singing tutors."  The six-week long program in England is expanding to include up to 1,000 patients with doctor referrals.

Read more at The New York Times. 

 There is a useful Website called  Plan Your Vaccine.com (www.planyourvaccine.com ), through which anyone in the country can identify the vaccine sites near them. The site provides guidance on how to proceed.  Still trying to schedule your COVID-19 vaccine, check out http://www.planyourvaccine.com

• Get on as many COVID-19 vaccination lists as possible
• Try registering at odd time, like the  middle of the night. ur.
• Compare strategies with vaccine successful friends, neighbors or family members
• Contact your Area Agency on Aging or other local organizations that focus on older adults. .
• Sign up through the VA if you're an eligible Veteran.
• Get help from a computer-savvy child, grandchild or neighbor.
• Be flexible and willing to travel a couple of hours to an avaialbe  vaccination location.
• When you get your first shot, make your second appointment.
• Keep Trying. Be patient.

Read more at Next Avenue. Next Avenue brings you reliable stories, special features, videos and resources on issues that matter most as we age.