#complete mandatory self report of potential covid symptoms

[robotapotheosis]

Eternally frustrated some of us rightfully pointed out the "learn to live with the virus" tning did not mean actually trying to control the spread, and we were right.

We said they were going to keep forcing us to work, let us get reinfected over and over, act like the pandemic was behind us, and sacrifice the disabled elderly and poor. They said no! Learning to live with the virus meant improved air ventilation, sanitization measures, and mandatory masking periods! Surely no one will be sacrificed for the sake of the economy!

I don't think some or most of the doctors saying learning-to-live with the virus were lying about where things would go but i do think they were extraordinarily naive. And if they realized they were wrong i dont know if I've heard any of them say so.

Every day customers and coworkers come in coughing unmasked, on surfaces, or on product, sometimes into their hands before they touch products. Children sit in carts with wet hacking coughs and chewing on merchandise. My coworkers don't wash their hands. My bosses come in sick. I'm one of the few people who masks and wash my hands before/after getting on the salesfloor.

And you can't complain. You can't ask people to keep their distance, or not to come near you when they're sick, or to wear a mask, or whatever, because somehow asking people not to cough into the open air is now considered rude, despite covid, you know, potentially causing irreparable neurological damage to your body, especially with repeat infections. So its completely on you to keep Yourself Safe.

Covid tests dont fucking work. My infection would not appear on anything but the hospital tests. Other people have been reporting only saliva tests are reliable. The nose sticks are basically garbage, the saliva tests are expensive.

It's very likely i have POTS. I still need to see a doctor about it but I would not be surprised if that ended up on my chart. I've had the symptoms my entire life, and I'm going to keep having them. I don't know what will happen if I get covid again. I don't know if ill have another lucky roll and just feel a little weak for a month and a half afterwards or end up with CFS or a tube down my throat. I don't know.

I don't know how long we're all going to put up with this. I dont know why IM putting up with it. I'm basically repressing my self preservation instincts at all times. Because polite society has deemed it Mean and Invasive to ask people to stay the hell away from you if they are sick.

This country fucking treats homelesness like its a moral failing on part of the person but if you get fucking infected with this thing and it fucks up your body and you end up on the street because you dont have family or friends to fall back on, you still get blamed!

Its incredible. This is what learning to live with the virus has amounted to. Society failing everyone but especially the most vulnerable. For a while I was waiting for people to wake up to this. That we cant ignore our way out of this fucking pandemic. But the people who i wanted to wake up wont. The naive doctors and politicians who are supposed to be on our side but have ingested the same flavor of denial.

They will not do their jobs unless we make them, and we can't make them until we start talking fucking frankly and openly about this.

[birdmanofficial]

the circle of stupidity is complete

[fastworldnews1]

Pakistan bans entry from six southern African countries, Hong Kong over Omicron fears

Pakistan on Saturday announced a ban on entry from six southern African countries as well as Hong Kong "due to threat" from the new COVID-19 variant Omicron.

A statement by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) said that a ban on direct or indirect inbound travel from South Africa, Hong Kong, Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, and Eswatini has been imposed, with the countries placed in Category C "with immediate effect".

NCOC said Pakistani passengers travelling from these countries on "extreme emergency" will only be allowed after obtaining exemptions and ensuring the following protocols:

Vaccination certificate;

Max 72-hour-old negative PCR report before boarding;

Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) on arrival at the airport;

RAT negative cases will undergo 3 days mandatory home quarantine and re-RAT will be conducted on third day;

RAT positive cases will undergo 10 days mandatory quarantine at government or self-paid facilities;

Their PCR test will be conducted on the 10th day in quarantine.

However, to facilitate stranded Pakistanis, travel from these countries will be allowed till December 5, 2021, without exemption, but the aforementioned protocols will be applicable, the NCOC said.

In the statement, the NCOC also directed Aviation Division, airport management, and the Airport Security Force to devise a mechanism for screening passengers traveling from the above-mentioned countries through indirect flights and share it with all the concerned authorities by November 29.

NCOC urged people to take coronavirus safety precautions "seriously" in view of the new variant.

"Please ensure that your vaccination is complete, wear a mask and isolate yourself or get tested in case of any symptoms! Stay safe!!!" it wrote.

Earlier, Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives and NCOC chief Asad Umar had said travel curbs were imposed on six southern African countries and Hong Kong.

"The emergence of new variant makes it even more urgent to vaccinate all eligible citizens 12 years and older," the federal minister said.

UK detects two cases, others suspect infections

The discovery of the new Omicron coronavirus has variant sparked global concern and triggered a sell-off on financial markets. But indicating that such curbs may not stem the spread of the variant, Britain said on Saturday it had detected two cases, and authorities in Germany and the Czech Republic also said they had suspected cases.

Although epidemiologists say travel curbs may be too late to stop Omicron from circulating globally, many countries around the world — including the United States, Brazil, Canada, and European Union nations — announced travel bans or restrictions on southern Africa on Friday.

On Saturday, Australia said it would ban non-citizens who have been in nine southern African countries from entering and will require supervised 14-day quarantines for Australian citizens and their dependents returning from there.

Japan said it would extend its tightened border controls to three more African countries after imposing curbs on travel from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Lesotho on Friday.

Omicron, dubbed a "variant of concern" by the World Health Organisation, is potentially more contagious than previous variants of the disease, although experts do not know yet if it will cause more or less severe COVID-19 compared to other coronavirus strains.

The variant was first discovered in South Africa and had also since been detected in Belgium, Botswana, Israel, and Hong Kong.

Dutch authorities said that 61 out of around 600 people who arrived in Amsterdam on two flights from South Africa on Friday had tested positive for the coronavirus. Health authorities were carrying out further tests to see if those cases involved the new variant.

Financial markets plunged on Friday, especially stocks of airlines and others in the travel sector, as investors worried the variant could cause another surge in the pandemic and stall a global recovery. Oil prices tumbled by about $10 a barrel.

The new variant has also thrown a spotlight on disparities in how far the world's population is vaccinated. Even as many developed countries are giving third-dose boosters, less than 7% of people in low-income countries have received their first COVID-19 shot, according to medical and human rights groups.

https://ift.tt/3FWIUeD

[maxihealth]

Digital health in Europe: Before and after COVID

An interesting report from the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies examined the “Use of digital health tools in Europe: before, during and after COVID-19“. Digital health is important not only because the technologies facilitate communication and disease monitoring, but also the technologies facilitate the creation of data that can be used to better improve health. Examples of digital health technologies include:

Electronic medical records

E-prescribing

Telehealth

Unique identifiers for patients, physicians, and other stakeholders

Creation of eHealth standards to facilitate communication across organizations and platforms

mHealth such as apps on mobile phones to support clinical decisionmaking, adherence, and patient education

Digital therapeutics for treating disease

Use of big data and machine learning to inform

One key item of note was that use of digital health technologies prior to COVID-19 was highly heterogeneous across European countries.

While countries such as Estonia, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden were relatively advanced in terms of having implemented many digital health tools as well as having appropriate financial, legal and regulatory, and institutional frameworks for digital health in place, others, such as Poland, Germany and France, had lagged behind. Much unrealized potential for digital health remains in all European countries

The figure below highlights the variability in uptake of digital health prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Note that many of the obstacles related to implementing digital health solutions were not technical, but rather systems based. Largely these barriers are legal and financial.

While some of the digital health tools used were novel (in particular contact-tracing apps), much of the underpinning technology that has been used during the pandemic already existed. At the system level, most actions to support the use of digital health tools during the pandemic have concerned the relaxation of limiting mechanisms, in particular the opening up of financing and reimbursement for these services where that was not already the case, and increased direct investment in digital health tools and the infrastructure to support them. How far regulatory limits have been addressed is less straightforward, with relatively little formal adaptation of regulatory frameworks for digital health tools.

Gaps in the current digital health regulatory framework are found across European countries:

Only 43% of reporting countries had policies or legislation defining medical jurisdiction, liability or reimbursement of eHealth services, 53% had no legislation allowing individuals to access their electronic health records, and just 13% had policies on regulating the use of big data in the health sector

Provider training on the use of digital health tools is also important, but the degree to which providers have been trained in the use of digital health tools is also highly heterogeneous across countries. While digital health is often beneficial to the average patient, its impact on health disparities is unclear.

Although digital health tools may help to address some kinds of inequality (such as enabling access for those who have difficulty in accessing local services), they can also create or exacerbate other inequalities (such as disparities in resources or skills to make use of new technologies).

Digital health was used during COVID-19 in a variety of ways. Most know that digital health was used for telemedicine, appointment scheduling, contact tracing, symptom reporting, vaccine adverse event monitoring, immunity certification (i.e., vaccine passports), hospital capacity management and in many other ways. However, few may be aware that digital technologies were also used in Ukraine to enforce quarantine at home mandates.

During the COVID-19 crisis, certain travellers arriving in Ukraine from abroad have been subjected to mandatory self-isolation (quarantine) for two weeks. The Ministry for Digital Transformation of Ukraine developed an app (‘Diy Vdoma’ – ‘Act at Home’) early in the pandemic in order to give people the option of isolating at home rather than undergoing a 14-day observation in a government-selected quarantine facility. To use the app, travellers must have a Ukrainian SIM card and have downloaded the app before passport control. At the border, guards send a code to the traveller’s phone to activate the app and link that individual to the phone number on the SIM card. The user then has 24 hours to reach their end destination and upon arrival there must enter their full name and address to confirm this as their place of self-isolation for the next 14 days. Every day, at random, users’ phones receive around 10 notifications asking for a selfie, over 14 consecutive days; no notifications are sent at night. The selfie image is compared to the photograph taken at the border using facial recognition software, and the location where the selfie was taken is used to ensure that the user is still in quarantine.

Despite the progress made to date, future research is needed to more completely capture evidence on digital health’s cost and benefits of to society.

Digital health in Europe: Before and after COVID posted first on https://carilloncitydental.blogspot.com

[covid19updater]

COVID19 Updates: 07/24/2021

US:  Breaking: The newest and most requested Tat in the United States is the Covid Spike Protein. This has been confirmed by the CDC and the United States Association of Tatoo Artists.

World: OP/ED:  In fall/winter it will be "determined" Covid is a bioweapon to take the drug companies out of the line of fire for the poop vaccines that don't work (and the Biden admin for total failure). Then things get hot in the US-China relationship. After the bioweapons thing is communicated, Pfizer & Co. has developed updated boosters that are then supposed to work against the new variants. Then comes mandatory vaccination for ALL (as we are now dealing "with a new threat level" that was not clear before).

UK:  Truly alarming news that Government is dismantling yet more of our defences against new #Covid variants Just 3% of positive tests from amber list arrivals are being checked - why boast of our “expertise” in genome sequencing if we’re not even using it? LINK

Malta:  COVID rules sceptics and anti-vaxxers march through Valletta LINK

Malaysia:  Malaysia reports 15,902 new coronavirus cases, the biggest one-day increase on record, and 184 new deaths

UK:  Politicians and scientists in the UK are concerned that people are deleting the official COVID-19 mobile phone app, or at least switching off its tracing function, to avoid having to self-isolate

Lebanon:  Lebanon’s deepening economic crisis has piled pressure on hospitals, leaving them ill-equipped to face any new wave of the coronavirus, a top hospital director has warned;

Indonesia:  Indonesian island of Bali is running out of oxygen for its COVID-19 patients  as infections surge, the chief of its health agency said, as Southeast Asia’s biggest country struggles with region’s worst COVID epidemic;

World:  NEW - Dr. Fauci: "People are sort of raising their eyebrows a bit,” by the apparent steep falloff in the Pfizer vaccine’s effectiveness that the Israeli data seems to suggest (NYT) (Thank you Captain Obvious)

Missouri:  #BREAKING: @HealthyLivingMo reports #COVID19Missouri hospitalizations hit 1,700 Wednesday, highest inpatient total since 1/30, +39/day over past 7 days; #DeltaVariant surge hits new full week peak of 16,518 cases reported, avg 2,359.71/day, highest full wk since 1/17-1/23

US:  Hospitalizations rising in 45 states

France:  Breaking: Protests against COVID restrictions have turned violent in Paris, France.

New York:  New hospital admissions in New York due to COVID-19 are up +43.0% from a week ago.

Georgia:  New hospital admissions in Georgia due to COVID-19 are up +35.3% from a week ago.

Missouri:  New hospital admissions in Missouri due to COVID-19 are up another +13.9% from a week ago, and have bounced back to more than half their previous peak.

Louisiana:  New hospital admissions in Louisiana due to COVID-19 are up +68.7% from a week ago, more than halfway back to their previous peak.

Texas:  New hospital admissions in Texas due to COVID-19 are up +47.2% from a week ago.

California:  New hospital admissions in California due to COVID-19 are up +44.9% from a week ago.

Florida:  New hospital admissions in Florida are up +54.2% from a week ago, down just -26.3% from their peak.

UK:  Piers Morgan reveals he caught Covid at Euro 2020 final despite being double jabbed LINK

World:  Severity of SARS-CoV-2 reinfections in second wave determines likelihood of mild endemicity LINK

Iceland:  Iceland lifted all domestic restrictions on June 26 after a majority of the population had been vaccinated. The country's Chief Epidemiologist now says that vaccinations are not proving as effective against the Delta variant as was hoped. LINK

California:  Anti-mask protester punches breast cancer patient in her surgery scar and rips off her face covering after demonstrators gathered outside LA clinic which is enforcing the county's mandate LINK

Florida:  BREAKING: Florida reports 14,258 new coronavirus cases, the biggest one-day increase since January, as hospitalizations continue to rise

US:  NEW: Number of Americans hospitalized with COVID-19 tops 33,000, highest since May

US:  After a string of COVID-19 infections were reportedly traced back to travelers returning from Las Vegas, one county in Hawaii is sounding the alarm on travel to the Sin City. LINK

RUMINT (US):  Dropped my car off at the Honda dealership for service and they are completely out of cars to sell. I asked the service tech and he said they have a few at the port, but they can't get chips needed to make more cars. Crazy.

Tennessee: ‘Heart-wrenching’: inside a hospital grappling with Delta and vaccine hesitancy LINK

RUMINT (World):  Folks. Sit down. Get a stiff drink. And listen in. This is an extinction level event. This is no joke nor drill. Nor am I trying to paint a grimmer picture than it already is. We are in the final years of a cohesive civilization. Why? Fungus. Prokaryotes (bacteria) differentiate quite a lot form eukaryotic organisms such as fungi and I have a hard time seeing that bacteriophages would be able to infect eukaryotic cells. In essence we are exposed to a huge amount of viruses in our daily lives, but our cells are either non permissive (can’t replicate in our cells) or non susceptible (can’t bind to and enter our cells) to almost all of them. ^^ This got the wife thinking. The this from her days of old about 9 years ago now.*****Bat immunity may hold clues for HIV***** But then it gets terrifying. Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome is a condition seen in some cases of AIDS or immunosuppression, in which the immune system begins to recover, but then responds to a previously acquired opportunistic infection with an overwhelming inflammatory response that paradoxically makes the symptoms of infection worse. Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is a state of hyperinflammatory response that usually occurs in the first six months of treatment of HIV/AIDS patients. It is a potential complication of the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The overall incidence of IRIS is still unknown. However, some studies report that up to 25 to 30% of HIV patients who are on antiretroviral therapy have IRIS. This activity outlines the risk factors, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and the role of the interprofessional team in the management of immune reconstitution syndrome. A PREVIOUSLY unknown immune response in bats to a deadly fungal disease may hold the key to future treatments of AIDS, world-first research has found. Starting to sink in? The vaccine is not a fucking vaccine. It is a bioweapon opening us up to a secondary payload WHICH IS FUNGAL!!

Massachusetts:  Cases tied to Provincetown COVID-19 cluster rise from 256 to 430, town manager says LINK

US: NEAR VERTICAL—The South is now seeing #DeltaVariant in its true vertical exponential form. So many not vaxxed. Short of lockdowns, it now all comes down to masks, ventilation & air disinfection—but if Delta has R0=6, it’s hard to bend curve; if R0=8, it’s almost impossible.

[atlanticcanada]

Public health confirms one Miramichi case was B.1.1.7 variant; reports five new infections of COVID-19

New Brunswick Public Health said on Thursday that one recently reported presumptive case of a variant in Zone 7 (Miramichi region) has been confirmed by Winnipeg’s National Microbiology Laboratory as a COVID-19 variant first found in the United Kingdom.

Public health also reported five new cases of COVID-19, which are as follows:

three of the cases are in Zone 4 (the Edmundston region) and involve two people in their 20s and one person in their 70s.

one case is in Zone 1 (the Moncton region) which is travel-related and involves a person in their 20s.

one case is in Zone 7 (the Miramichi region) and is a person in their 20s.

All cases are self-isolating.

This raises the number of confirmed cases in New Brunswick since the pandemic began to 1,443. Six people have recovered from the novel coronavirus, lowering the number of active cases to 36. Three people are in hospital, including two in intensive care.

There have been 28 deaths since the pandemic began. On Wednesday, public health staff conducted 767 tests, raising the overall total to 231,307 tests completed.

COVID-19 TESTING IN ZONE 7

Concern over the number of cases in the Miramichi region – along with the confirmed case of B.1.1.7, a COVID-19 variant first discovered in the U.K. -- New Brunswick public health has set up mass-testing clinics in Zone 7 to see if there is any "further spread" in the area, the province said in a news release. The testing is available for people who do not have any symptoms of COVID-19 but want to be tested.

Testing is being held Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the gymnasium of the Dr. Losier Middle School, 124 Henderson St., Miramichi. No appointment is necessary. Screening tests will be done on a first-come, first-served basis. Asymptomatic people do not need to self-isolate while awaiting results, unless advised to do so by Public Health.

People with symptoms are asked to request a test online or call 811 to get an appointment at the nearest screening centre.

EXPOSURE NOTIFICATION

Public Health has identified a positive case in a traveller who may have been infectious on Feb. 20 while on the following flight:

Flight Air Canada 8906

From Montreal to Moncton, departing at 7:10 p.m.

Symptoms may develop up to, and including, March 6

Individuals who travelled on this flight should self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days after the flight. Should any COVID-19 symptoms develop, they are directed to self-isolate and take the self-assessment online or to call 811 to get tested.

Public Health also reminded residents of the Miramichi region about a series of potential exposures at various locations in the community between Feb. 14 and 28. A list of all potential public exposures is available online.

Reminder of Orange level

All zones remain in the Orange level under the province’s mandatory order.

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/3sUrCZp

[highvoltagearea]

Where U.S. Citizens Can Travel to During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Even as many countries continue to bar travelers from the United States amid pandemic fears, the U.S. State Department revoked its global “Do Not Travel” warning, saying it was returning to country-specific advisories so that Americans could make informed travel decisions.

For guidance about the risk of Covid-19 and other threats, people can go to the State Department website where countries are ranked on a four-tier system. Or, they can go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention site, which uses three levels to give coronavirus information for travelers.

Unfortunately, the two federal agencies have some discrepancies that can be confusing. The British Virgin Islands, for instance, was given a Level 3 travel alert by the State Department. “Reconsider travel to the British Virgin Islands due to health and safety measures and COVID related conditions,” the State Department said on its website.

The C.D.C., meanwhile, listed the British Virgin Islands with such a “very low” risk for transmission of the potentially deadly virus that it didn’t even warrant a travel health notice.

For now, Americans don’t need to worry about making sense of the apparent contradiction, as the British Virgin Islands is closed to visitors from the United States.

The government’s Aug. 6 decision to rescind its four-month-old recommendation not to travel came despite the World Health Organization announcing during the first week of August that more than 18.5 million coronavirus cases had been reported worldwide and 700,000 people had died.

Would-be vacationers to countries that have started to welcome visitors from the United States may face quarantine and testing requirements, curfews, curtailed activities and services, and reduced flights. Passengers returning from foreign destinations are only allowed to land at certain airports in the United States where they will undergo enhanced screening. In addition, the C.D.C. advises Americans to avoid contact with others for 14 days after they return from international travel.

Here is a list of countries, in alphabetical order, that, as of Aug. 12, were open to U.S. citizens, or were expected to open soon.

ALBANIA

Americans are allowed to enter. No coronavirus test is needed and there are no quarantine requirements, according to the U.S. Embassy in Albania.

ANGUILLA

Anguilla is allowing limited entry to some travelers after extensive screening, but since the United States is generally considered a high-risk country, Americans will be far down in the queue. In addition to favoring those from lower-risk countries, priority will be given to visitors planning longer stays and to those with investments in the country. For now, people may apply to enter until Oct. 31. A new round of applications will begin at the end of September.

All visitors must have a negative PCR test taken three to five days before arrival. Another test will be given on arrival, on day 10 and — for those coming from higher-risk countries — on day 14. While not a full quarantine, visitors will have limited contact with locals during the testing period. Fees for the application start at $1,000 for two people and go up from there.

ANTIGUA and BARBUDA

Air travelers over age 12 must complete a Health Declaration Form, a traveler accommodation form, and must provide a certificate of a negative coronavirus test taken within seven days of arrival. There may be further screening on arrival, and passengers must pay $100 for an additional test if health authorities decide one is needed. Visitors should self-monitor for Covid-19 symptoms for up to 14 days.

Passengers arriving by sea are subject to quarantine, usually for 14 days unless a negative test result is obtained.

ARUBA

Residents from nearly half of the states are considered to be at higher risk of Covid-19, and must upload proof of a negative PCR test taken between 12 and 72 hours before flying or they won’t be allowed to board their flight. Residents of the other states have the option of uploading a test or having one taken at the airport for $75. Travelers must quarantine at their lodging for up to 24 hours while awaiting results. All visitors must complete an Embarkation/Disembarkation card.

Island guests must also purchase mandatory Aruba Visitors Insurance to cover up to $75,000 in expenses should they test positive for Covid-19 during their stay. According to an online calculator, the premium for most visitors over age 15 who are staying for a week would be just over $100, and about $10 for those under 15.

BARBADOS

All visitors must complete an online immigration and customs form within 24 hours of travel, and it is recommended that travelers have proof of a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival.

Those arriving from the United States, considered to be a high-risk country, will be tested at the airport free of charge, but will be required to remain at the airport or a government-approved facility pending the results. If the test is negative, the visitor must still quarantine at an approved hotel or villa at their own expense, or at a government facility free of charge. The quarantine is generally for 14 days, but may be shortened to seven days if a second test taken five to seven days after arrival is negative.

In-transit passengers must have proof of a negative coronavirus test before landing.

BELARUS

Americans are allowed to enter. No coronavirus test is needed and there are no quarantine requirements, according to the U.S. Embassy in Belarus.

BERMUDA

Bermuda has an extensive screening process in place and requires anyone age 10 and older to pay a $75 fee to cover the cost of mandatory in-country Covid-19 tests given at the airport, and again on days three, seven and 14 of a traveler’s stay. Visitors are also asked to bring a thermometer and a face mask.

In addition to being tested at the airport, travelers age 10 and older are asked to provide proof of negative coronavirus tests taken within three days of their flights to Bermuda (although tests taken within five days will be accepted). Those with proof of a negative test still must quarantine at their hotel for about eight hours pending the results of the airport test. Those arriving without proof of a negative test are confined to their accommodations for three days.

All travelers must complete an online travel authorization form within 48 hours of their flight, then take and record their temperature twice a day for the first 14 days of their visit. Children age 9 and younger don’t have to take virus tests, but pay a $30 fee.

BRAZIL

Brazil is allowing people to arrive by air for visits of up to 90 days as long as they can show proof of health insurance that includes coronavirus coverage before boarding their flights.

COSTA RICA

As of Sept. 1, Costa Rica will allow entry to residents of New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Connecticut with a negative test taken within 72 hours of arrival. Plans call for visitors from Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Colorado to be admitted as of Sept. 15, according to the country’s tourism board. A driver’s license is required to prove residency. Passengers on private flights will be allowed on a case-by-case basis. Visitors are required to have proof of medical insurance that covers up to $50,000 in coronavirus expenses, and $2,000 in hotel costs.

CROATIA

American tourists may visit only with proof of paid accommodation. Travelers must present a negative result for a Covid-19 PCR test taken within the previous 48 hours. If they have an older test result, the person can enter, but must self-quarantine until they can show another negative test, which would be taken at their own expense. Those without negative results must self-quarantine for 14 days.

DOMINICA

Travelers need to fill out an online health questionnaire and must show proof of a negative PCR test result taken 24 to 72 hours before arrival.

Additional screening at the airport may mean that some travelers are required to take another test, and need to quarantine at their hotel while awaiting the results.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

All passengers over age 5 must show proof of a negative PCR test result, no older than five days before their arrival date. If no proof of testing is available, a quick test will be performed at no charge.

Curfews are in effect, however international visitors may be transported to their hotel during those hours.

ECUADOR

Americans are allowed to enter with proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken no more than 10 days before entry. Travelers without the test may take one at their own expense upon arrival. They must quarantine at their accommodation pending a negative test result, according to the U.S. Embassy in Ecuador.

EGYPT

Americans are allowed to enter with proof (on paper) of a negative Covid-19 test. Currently, the test must be taken within 72 hours of arrival, but on Sept. 1, that will be shortened to no more than 48 hours, and applies to everyone over age 6. Tourists traveling to the Red Sea, South Sinai and Matrouh are exempt, but will not be allowed to travel to other areas without a negative test result. Proof of health insurance is required, according to the U.S. Embassy in Egypt.

FRENCH WEST INDIES

St. Barts requires visitors age 11 and older to show a negative test taken within 72 hours of arrival. Those staying longer than a week must take an additional test at their own expense on the eighth day of their trips. Those who didn’t take the pre-arrival test, or those who test positive on the island, must self-quarantine for 14 days or until they get a negative re-test. Guadeloupe, Martinique and French St. Martin are not allowing visitors from the United States until at least Sept. 4.

FRENCH POLYNESIA

Travelers to French Polynesia, including the islands of Tahiti and Bora Bora, must show proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within the previous 72 hours in order to board their flights. Those arriving at the airport will be given a test kit for the virus that contains an oral and nasal swab, and on the fourth day in the islands, the visitor must complete the self-test. Tourists must also complete an electronic entry form attesting that they have travel insurance that would cover coronavirus expenses, or agreeing to personally assume all costs.

GRENADA

For now, only chartered flights are allowed from the United States, and the passengers who arrive must quarantine for up to two weeks.

Proof of a negative virus test taken within seven days of visiting is required before entering the country, and visitors need to take another test at the airport or within 48 hours of landing. Travelers must also download and adhere to the requirements outlined on a Covid-19 tracing app, or face a possible $1,000 fine and up to a year in prison.

IRELAND

Authorities are asking nonessential travelers not to visit the Republic of Ireland, but those who do are asked to self-quarantine for 14 days.

JAMAICA

Tourists age 12 and older arriving from the United States must upload a negative Covid-19 test that was taken within 10 days of their arrival date. All passengers must complete a Travel Authorization screening form within 72 hours of their trip and present it at the airport or they will not be allowed to board the airplane.

Arriving passengers may be required to take a test. If so, the individual must quarantine at their accommodation or at a government facility until the results are available, generally within 48 hours. Those who aren’t staying within the “resilient corridor,” where operators have been trained in Covid-19 protocols, will be electronically monitored during this time.

If the test is negative, people staying at a hotel or resort within the corridor must stay on the property unless they are visiting select attractions within the corridor via approved transportation providers. Those not staying in the corridor must quarantine for 14 days from the date they entered Jamaica, leaving only once per day to get necessities.

KENYA

Asymptomatic visitors to Kenya from the United States who have proof of a negative Covid-19 test within the previous four days do not need to quarantine for 14 days unless they are from California, Florida or Texas.

KOSOVO

Americans are allowed to enter. No coronavirus test is needed and there are no quarantine requirements, according to the U.S. Embassy in Kosovo.

MALDIVES

Visitors must have a confirmed booking at a tourist facility and the entire vacation needs to be at the same hotel, except when transiting.

Screenings will be done at the airport and those with symptoms, or those traveling with someone with symptoms, must pay for and get a coronavirus test. The government may also conduct random screenings at its own expense. Tourists requiring testing at the airport will stay in a transit facility until their results are available.

Visitors must be met by a representative of tourist facility, and airport transportation must be prebooked.

The Coronavirus Outbreak ›

Frequently Asked Questions

Updated August 27, 2020

What should I consider when choosing a mask?

There are a few basic things to consider. Does it have at least two layers? Good. If you hold it up to the light, can you see through it? Bad. Can you blow a candle out through your mask? Bad. Do you feel mostly OK wearing it for hours at a time? Good. The most important thing, after finding a mask that fits well without gapping, is to find a mask that you will wear. Spend some time picking out your mask, and find something that works with your personal style. You should be wearing it whenever you’re out in public for the foreseeable future. Read more: What’s the Best Material for a Mask?

What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

In the beginning, the coronavirus seemed like it was primarily a respiratory illness — many patients had fever and chills, were weak and tired, and coughed a lot, though some people don’t show many symptoms at all. Those who seemed sickest had pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome and received supplemental oxygen. By now, doctors have identified many more symptoms and syndromes. In April, the C.D.C. added to the list of early signs sore throat, fever, chills and muscle aches. Gastrointestinal upset, such as diarrhea and nausea, has also been observed. Another telltale sign of infection may be a sudden, profound diminution of one’s sense of smell and taste. Teenagers and young adults in some cases have developed painful red and purple lesions on their fingers and toes — nicknamed “Covid toe” — but few other serious symptoms.

Why does standing six feet away from others help?

The coronavirus spreads primarily through droplets from your mouth and nose, especially when you cough or sneeze. The C.D.C., one of the organizations using that measure, bases its recommendation of six feet on the idea that most large droplets that people expel when they cough or sneeze will fall to the ground within six feet. But six feet has never been a magic number that guarantees complete protection. Sneezes, for instance, can launch droplets a lot farther than six feet, according to a recent study. It’s a rule of thumb: You should be safest standing six feet apart outside, especially when it’s windy. But keep a mask on at all times, even when you think you’re far enough apart.

I have antibodies. Am I now immune?

As of right now, that seems likely, for at least several months. There have been frightening accounts of people suffering what seems to be a second bout of Covid-19. But experts say these patients may have a drawn-out course of infection, with the virus taking a slow toll weeks to months after initial exposure. People infected with the coronavirus typically produce immune molecules called antibodies, which are protective proteins made in response to an infection. These antibodies may last in the body only two to three months, which may seem worrisome, but that’s perfectly normal after an acute infection subsides, said Dr. Michael Mina, an immunologist at Harvard University. It may be possible to get the coronavirus again, but it’s highly unlikely that it would be possible in a short window of time from initial infection or make people sicker the second time.

I’m a small-business owner. Can I get relief?

The stimulus bills enacted in March offer help for the millions of American small businesses. Those eligible for aid are businesses and nonprofit organizations with fewer than 500 workers, including sole proprietorships, independent contractors and freelancers. Some larger companies in some industries are also eligible. The help being offered, which is being managed by the Small Business Administration, includes the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. But lots of folks have not yet seen payouts. Even those who have received help are confused: The rules are draconian, and some are stuck sitting on money they don’t know how to use. Many small-business owners are getting less than they expected or not hearing anything at all.

What are my rights if I am worried about going back to work?

MALTA

The United States is not on the list of green countries for travel to Malta, however, anyone can enter the country if they first spend 14 days in an approved country. That means that American can travel to Croatia or the United Arab Emirates, for instance, and after spending 14 days there, travel to Malta.

MEXICO

Land crossings between the United States and Mexico remain closed until at least late August, but U.S. visitors can arrive by plane. Tourists may be subject to temperature checks and other health screenings, and those showing symptoms may be asked to quarantine voluntarily.

Many Mexican states are open only for essential services, while others are allowed to operate at reduced capacity. However, some local authorities have also imposed their own restrictions, so would-be travelers should check with local sources for the latest updates.

American citizens might be blocked from returning to the United States under a proposal being considered by President Trump that would allow border officials to temporarily refuse entry to a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident if the employee suspects the traveler might have Covid-19.

NORTH MACEDONIA

North Macedonia is open to Americans with no testing or quarantine restrictions.

.

ST. LUCIA

Americans must have a completed travel registration and proof of a negative test taken within the past seven days. They also need confirmed reservations at a coronavirus-certified accommodation provider.

Screenings will be conducted at the airport. Those without symptoms must take a certified taxi to their accommodations, and are required to remain on the grounds during their stay except to participate in water-based excursions arranged by the hotel.

ST. MAARTEN

Those over age 10 arriving from the United States must have a completed health declaration form and have proof of a negative test taken within 72 hours of travel.

Travelers are asked to bring a thermometer, mask and hand sanitizer, and Americans must upload daily information about their body temperature and any flu-like symptoms for 14 days. Travel insurance is required and it’s recommended that it include coverage for coronavirus-related expenses.

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

Visitors from the United States must have a pre-arrival travel form completed and show a negative test for the virus taken within the previous seven days. Another test will be given upon arrival.

Travelers also must have proof of five nights of paid accommodation at an approved hotel, and must quarantine there for five days, then receive another virus test before being allowed to leave the hotel. At the discretion of health officials, visitors may be required to quarantine for a total of 14 to 21 days at a facility or a home.

All travelers must monitor their temperature for two weeks and report any changes to health authorities.

In-transit passengers must have proof a negative test taken five days before travel and must stay at the airport or at a government approved hotel while awaiting their connection.

SERBIA

All coronavirus-related entry restrictions have been lifted for Serbia, though the country continues to have high rates of infection.

TANZANIA

Passengers arriving on an international flight to Tanzania must complete a Health Surveillance Form and undergo screening, including a possible Covid-19 test.

TURKEY

The country is open to Americans with no travel restrictions. Health screening and possible testing may be conducted at the airport.

TURKS AND CAICOS

The Turks and Caicos Islands is requiring a negative test result taken within five days of travel for anyone over age 10. Visitors also must have insurance that covers any Covid-19 related medical costs. A Travel Authorization Form that will ask health questions must be completed by all passengers before boarding a plane to the islands.

UKRAINE

Ukraine currently classifies the United States as a country with a high incidence of coronavirus, which means that U.S. travelers should be prepared to take a virus test upon arrival or self-quarantine for two weeks at their own expense. Test results are emailed within 24 hours, and passengers should self-quarantine until the results are sent to health authorities.

The government is using a four-color scale (green, yellow, orange and red) to identify the virus risk in each region, and quarantine orders may differ by color.

U.S. citizen must have medical insurance covering all expenses related to possible Covid-19 treatment.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Travelers must have proof of a negative PCR test taken within 96 hours of their flight in order to board a commercial aircraft to the country. Many passengers are also tested upon arrival, and some may need to self quarantine or may be sent to a quarantine facility. The U.S. embassy says all people arriving in the U.A.E. are urged to self quarantine for 14 days. International health insurance is also required.

While Dubai is open, those wanting to enter Abu Dhabi must show proof of a test conducted in the previous 48 hours, or schedule an appointment for a blood test.

Fines for violators can range from $250 to more than $27,000.

UNITED KINGDOM

Anyone arriving from the United States must be prepared to isolate for 14 days, or face a penalty of up to $1,250. Passengers transiting in an airport are exempt, as are those going directly from one port to another; for instance, from Heathrow to Eurostar.

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[womenofcolor15]

Players Testing Positive, Opting Out Of The Season – Here’s What It’s Going To Be Like In The Orlando Bubble When The NBA Returns

The NBA has released its schedule to resume professional basketball and has shared deets on what life will be like inside the league’s bubble in Orlando. Find out all the deets on what life will be like for the NBA inside…

On March 11th, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver suspended the 2019-2020 NBA season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Utah Jazz players Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell were the first players confirmed to have tested positive for the virus. In an effort to slow down the spread, the season was put on hold with the quickness and fans have been patiently waiting to see when/if the season would return.

After months of planning, the NBA is now ready to make a comeback.

Full NBA Schedule release.

Opening day featuring Jazz/Pelicans & Clippers/Lakers pic.twitter.com/3JLO3sXIjt

— Backcourt Violation (@backcourtv) June 26, 2020

The NBA Comeback begins on Thursday, July 30th at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida. And it’s a #WholeNewGame. The league has created its own "bubble" in Orlando so players can finish out the remaining for the season.

The NBA just released its complete game schedule and national television schedules for TNT, ESPN, ABC and NBA TV for the “seeding games,” which will be played July 30th – August 14th to tip off the resumption of the 2019-20 season. The 22 teams participating in the season restart will play eight seeding games each at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The team-by-team schedules for the seeding games are below:

Full NBA Schedule Release

How many games is your team winning? pic.twitter.com/xomU3WqAfz

— ContentNBA (@ContentNBA) June 26, 2020

You can check out the full schedule here.  There are eight teams who didn't make it to the playoffs, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets, and Golden State Warriors. They will not be playing in Orlando.

Below is a thread of the full breakdown of how the remaining of the 2019-2020 season will go:

The NBA Comeback begins on Thursday, July 30th at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida. Learn more about the competitive format. #WholeNewGame

FOLLOW THREAD pic.twitter.com/YaGbctnQdE

— NBA (@NBA) June 26, 2020

The NBA created a 108-page “health and safety protocols for the resumption of the 2019-20 NBA season” document that extensively details the rules, regulations and requirements. 

The health and safety protocols are divided into six phases (via USA Today):

Highlights of phase 1 (June 12-22)

• Players outside of the country should have returned to their home market by Monday and all other players must report to their home market by June 22.

• Once in their home market, players are expected to stay at home and only leave the house for training, treatment or essential activities.

• Players are “strongly recommended to take coronavirus testing” if offered by the team.

• Players should wear masks or cloth face coverings at all times when not at home, except while working out at the team facility.

• Staffers should remain at least 12 feet away from players when possible.

Highlights of phase 2 (June 23-30)

• Teams will begin mandatory COVID-19 testing for players and staff. The long nasal swab will not be used for testing. Instead, testing will “consist of a shallow nasal swab and oral swab (COVID-19 PCR test) and a blood draw (serology/antibody test),” the NBPA memo said.

• “If any PCR or antibody tests return positive, then the player will be contacted by his team immediately and required to self-isolate and follow guidance provided by the team doctor, which may include additional tests and screening. If a household member tests positive, the player may be required to quarantine as well to be monitored for symptoms and undergo additional testing.”

• Teams will name the 36 individuals it will bring to the NBA campus. Highlights of phase 3 (July 1-9)

• Individual workouts are now mandatory, but no more than eight players will be permitted and group workouts are not allowed.

• Health and safety measures, and mask and distancing protocols remains the same.

Highlights of phase 4A (July 7-11)

• Teams will arrive in Orlando, and for players to travel, they must not have tested positive for COVID-19, or if they have, “satisfied the criteria for the discontinuation of quarantine.”

• Upon arrival, players and staff will isolate in their rooms until they return two negative tests at least 24 hours apart. If both tests are negative, the player will no longer have to isolate.

• Players will have the option of wearing, “proximity alarm that will notify a player if he spends more than 5 seconds within 6 feet of another person on campus who is also wearing an alarm. All team and league staff (potentially excluding referees) must wear the alarm; it is optional for players. Players will also have the option of wearing an Oura smart ring that may help with the early detection of the coronavirus and will track temperature, respiratory and heart rate, and other measures.”

• Beginning July 7, anti-drug testing will resume but only for performance-enhancing drugs and diuretics. There will be no testing for recreational substances.

Highlights of phase 4B (July 9-July 21)

• COVID-19 testing continues.

• Players may eat meals and socialize only with individuals staying at their hotel as long as they maintain social distancing.

• Players are not allowed to enter each other’s hotel rooms.

• Disney chefs will provide daily meals and room service will be available.

• Players are expected to remain on campus but they are not prevented from leaving. If a player leaves without approval, he will be subjected to deep nasal swab testing, 10-14 day quarantine and reduction in pay.

• "At all times on the court, players must avoid spitting or clearing their nose, wiping the ball with their jersey, licking their hands, and unnecessarily touching their mouthguard," according to the memo.

Highlights of phase 5 (July 22-29)

• Teams will play three scrimmages.

• Players are allowed to socialize with players and team staffers staying at other hotels.

Highlights of phase 6 (July 30-Oct. 13)

• Basketball resumes with conclusion of regular season and playoffs.

• Once a team’s season ends, a player must have a negative COVID-19 test within 24 hours of scheduled departure.

• Each team that plays beyond the first round can reserve up to 17 rooms for guests of players. Players are responsible for the cost and all guests must undergo three days of self-quarantine in a house or hotel in team’s home market and then four days of self-quarantine at the NBA campus as long as the person does not have a positive COVID-19 test.

  The NBA and NBPA have announced the following: pic.twitter.com/W3ItTJP5du

— NBA (@NBA) June 26, 2020

On Friday, the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association revealed 16 players have tested positive for the Coronavirus in the first wave of mandatory tests completed to prep for the restart of the season. 302 players in total were tested during the first wave, which means about 5.3% rate of positive tests leaguewide.

These players will self-isolate until they’re cleared by a physician. Their names have not been disclosed, but some players – including Malcolm Brogdon, Jabari Parker and Alex Len – revealed they tested positive recently.  Players do not have to participate in the restart if they do not want to.

“Any player who exercises this right will not be disciplined,” the NBPA memo said. “To respect the decision of those who do return to play, it has been agreed that any player who chooses not to participate will have his compensation reduced by 1/92.6 for each game missed up to a cap of 14 games even his team plays more than 14 games in Orlando. There will be no other reductions of pay assessed (e.g., fines for missed practices) for a player’s decision not to return to play. Any player that wishes to exercise this right should notify his team of this election by June 24.”

Kyrie Irving said he doesn’t “support going into Orlando,” during a conference call earlier this month.

"I'm not with the systematic racism and the bullshit. … Something smells a little fishy. Whether we want to admit it or not, we are targeted as black men every day we wake up,” he reportedly said.

No official word yet on if he's returning for the restart of the season. But we do know Lakers' guard Avery Bradley announced that he has opted out of the NBA's return to play on July 30. His teammate Dwight Howard also said it wouldn't be a good time to resume the game, but he likely will be in Orlando.

While Bradley's decision could cost him over $650,000 in remaining salary for choosing to sit out the remainder of the season, he says hes doing so due to the health of his 6-year-old son, Liam, and his family. 

"As committed to my Lakers teammates and the organization as I am, I ultimately play basketball for my family," said Bradley in a statement to ESPN. "And so, at a time like this, I can't imagine making any decision that might put my family's health and well-being at even the slightest risk. As promised also, I will use this time away to focus on the formation of projects to help strengthen my communities."

NBC Los Angeles reports:

Liam reportedly has a history of respiratory illness and could be considered among the many high-risk individuals for contracting a severe illness like COVID-19. Additionally, under the current NBA guidelines for the resumption of the season, Bradley would be away from his family for at least the first two rounds of the NBA playoffs before his family could even join him in the NBA bubble at Disney World. However, with Liam's history of respiratory illness, he would likely not be allowed to enter the bubble at all.

Also…

The Truth Is #BlackLivesMatter. pic.twitter.com/plLecrOqtu

— NBA (@NBA) June 26, 2020

When the league returns, players will have the option to wear customized jerseys that feature personalized social justice, social cause or charity messages on the backs instead of their last names. Chris Paul - Oklahoma City Thunder guard/President of the National Basketball Players Association – said the players are excited about giving a voice to the voiceless.

“We’re just trying to continue to shed light on the different social justice issues that guys around our league continue to talk about day in and day out,” Chris Paul told The Undefeated. “People are saying that social justice will be off of everybody’s mind in Orlando. With these jerseys, it doesn’t go away.”

“The guys I talked to were definitely excited,” Paul said. “The reason I’m passionate and excited about it is that it gives a voice to the voiceless. It also gives guys a chance to shine a light on something they are passionate about. Otherwise, they may not have been given a chance to express themselves.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver feels confident that the league has created a safe environment to finish out the 2019-20 season:

“We believe we’ve developed a safe and responsible way to restart the season, We are left with no choice but to learn to live with this virus. No options are risk-free right now. We can’t sit on the sidelines indefinitely. We must adapt. We’re coming back because sports matter in a society. They bring people together when we need it the most,” he said during a conference call on Friday.

”We haven’t worked through every scenario … [but] if we were to have a significant spread of coronavirus throughout the community, that ultimately might lead us to stop it. We’re not saying full steam ahead no matter what happens … but we feel very comfortable right now with where we are. Of course, we designed our campus, in essence, to isolate ourselves from whatever the levels are in the surrounding community. “It’s on the rise in the majority of states right now and our ultimate conclusion was we can’t outrun the virus, which is why we designed the campus the way we did. It’s a closed network. While it’s not impermeable, we’re at least protected from what’s around us.” 

Basketball fans, are you ready? First tip off is July 30th, with a TNT doubleheader as the Utah Jazz faces the New Orleans Pelicans (6:30 p.m. ET) and the LA Clippers meet the Los Angeles Lakers (9 p.m. ET).

  Photo: Getty

[Read More ...] source http://theybf.com/2020/06/28/here%E2%80%99s-what-it%E2%80%99s-going-to-be-like-in-the-orlando-bubble-when-the-nba-returns

[westernmanews]

LAS VEGAS — MGM Resorts International released a report outlining the comprehensive health and safety protocols the company is implementing prior to reopening its domestic properties and resorts that were temporarily closed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including MGM Springfield.

The report details MGM Resorts’ “Seven-Point Safety Plan,” a multi-layered set of protocols and procedures designed in conjunction with medical and scientific experts to deter the spread of the virus, protect customers and employees, and rapidly respond to potential new cases.

“Preparing for the moment we can reopen our doors, MGM Resorts focused on developing a plan that puts health and safety at the center of everything we do. Our ‘Seven-Point Safety Plan’ is the result of months of consultations with public-health experts and outlines our comprehensive approach to welcoming guests back safely,” said Bill Hornbuckle, acting president and CEO of MGM Resorts. “Our properties will not look the way they used to for a while, and that’s not only okay, it’s critically important. We will continue providing the hospitality experiences we are known for, but we must do so safely. We will continue working with experts and following guidance from the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and government officials and regulators as we evolve these protocols based on the latest information.”

MGM Resorts is working with Dr. Shannon Magari as its lead health and safety advisor for this process. Magari is vice president of Health Sciences for Colden Corp., an occupational health, safety, and environmental firm. The plan’s seven points are as follows:

• Screening, Temperature Checks, and Employee Training. MGM Resorts has implemented employee-screening measures to assess signs and symptoms of infection and whether the employee resides or cares for someone who has recently been diagnosed with the virus. Employees will continue to go through temperature checks before entering properties.

Guests will be asked to abide by a similar self-screening protocol prior to arriving and during their stay. Guests who have reason to believe they may have been exposed to the virus are strongly urged to follow CDC guidelines for self-quarantine and not travel until the self-quarantine period is complete.

• Mandatory Masks and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). All MGM Resorts employees will be provided and required to wear an approved mask when on the property. MGM will also strongly encourage guests to wear masks in public areas and offer masks to any guests who need one, free of charge. Gloves will continue to be worn by employees who require them to do their jobs, such as food handlers and employees who clean public areas. Additional categories of employees required to wear PPE will be identified by medical experts. 

MGM will ask guests to minimize the amount of time masks are removed when drinking on the casino floor, and will ask guests to refrain from eating on the casino floor to minimize the amount of time masks are removed.

• Physical Distancing. A six-foot physical-distancing policy will be in place, wherever feasible, with floor guides serving as reminders throughout MGM Resorts properties. From time to time, six-foot distancing will be challenging, and in those cases, reasonable mitigating protocols will be implemented, such as plexiglass barriers or eye protection for employees. Plexiglass barriers will be installed in areas throughout casinos and lobbies, where appropriate, for the safety of guests and employees. Signage will be installed throughout properties to guide employees and guests on how to safely practice physical distancing.

• Handwashing and Enhanced Sanitization. Prior to property closures in March, MGM Resorts implemented increased and enhanced routine cleaning, based on CDC guidelines, with a focus on high-touch surfaces in common areas. It will continue using proven cleaning products in accordance with EPA guidelines for coronaviruses, bacteria, and other infectious pathogens. Electrostatic sprayers will be used in many large areas to apply disinfectant more efficiently.

In addition, custom-built handwashing stations with soap and water, along with hand-sanitizing stations, will be readily available in high-traffic areas. Signage will be installed to remind employees and guests of the importance of proper handwashing protocols.

• HVAC Controls and Air Quality. MGM Resorts has always placed a high priority on air quality for guests and has reviewed the operation of HVAC systems to identify additional opportunities to enhance their effectiveness. Rigorous measures in accordance with established guidelines to help mitigate the risk of virus transmission have been taken throughout the properties.  

As scientific information becomes available about the virus, and as additional guidance from state and local authorities and medical experts evolve, MGM will continue to review and adjust the operation of its HVAC systems, fully recognizing the important role they have in keeping employees and guests healthy and safe. 

• Incident-response Protocols. MGM Resorts has protocols in place aimed at reducing the chance infection will spread. In the unfortunate event a guest or employee tests positive for the virus, MGM will activate incident-response protocols to ensure the infected individual has access to medical treatment, exposed areas are thoroughly sanitized, and, when possible, those who may have come in close, prolonged contact with the infected individual are notified. MGM Resorts has medical and security personnel on staff to respond quickly in the event of an incident.

• Digital Innovations. MGM Resorts is reimagining several aspects of the guest experience through technology to transition current processes into contactless options for guests that eliminates or reduces the need for waiting in line.

Guests will have the ability to complete the check-in process entirely themselves through the MGM Resorts mobile app. This includes the ability to process payment, verify identification, and obtain a digital room key, all through a mobile device. If preferred, physical keys will be available through self-serve key encoders. Employees will be available for guests who prefer check-in without using their mobile device, while still maintaining a line-reduced environment.

Digital food and beverage menus will be available to view on personal mobile devices via QR code. Virtual queues will be in place for guests when immediate seating is unavailable. Guests will receive a text-message notification when their table is ready.

The post MGM Resorts Releases Health And Safety Plan for Reopening Properties appeared first on BusinessWest.

[dailykhaleej]

COVID-19: UAE announces 549 new coronavirus instances, 9 deaths and 148 recoveries

Medical employees sporting protecting gear consumption sufferers to be examined at a clinic in UAE. Picture Credit score: DailyKhaleej

Abu Dhabi: A complete of 549 individuals have examined optimistic for coronavirus within the UAE, elevating the whole variety of COVID-19 infections to 11,929, the Ministry of Well being and Prevention introduced on Wednesday.

9 extra deaths have additionally been reported, taking the nation’s loss of life toll to 98, Dr. Amna Al Dhahak Al Shamsi, the official spokesperson for the UAE authorities, stated in the course of the media briefing.

The UAE on Wednesday that 148 sufferers had totally recovered from COVID-19 after receiving the mandatory medical care, bringing the whole variety of recoveries to 2,329.

The announcement was made in the course of the common media briefing held in Abu Dhabi, whereby Dr Amna Al Dahak Al Shamsi, official spokesperson of the UAE Authorities, and Dr. Farida Al Hosani, official spokesperson of the UAE well being sector, supplied an replace on coronavirus-related developments and measures taken to mitigate its influence.

Dr Al Shamsi famous that recovered instances represent 20 per cent of all infections within the nation.

”We’re optimistic that with the dedication of frontline docs and paramedics who use probably the most superior strategies of remedy, we’ll quickly have extra recovered sufferers,” she affirmed.

26,195 further assessments performed

She stated a further 26,195 COVID-19 assessments had been carried out, resulting in the detection of 549 new instances amongst numerous nationalities, bringing the whole variety of instances within the nation to 11,929, together with instances receiving remedy, recoveries, and deaths. 9,502 sufferers are nonetheless receiving remedy.

In keeping with Dr Al Shamsi, the speed of an infection doesn’t exceed 0.12 per cent of the inhabitants of the UAE. ”We reassure most people that we’ll spare no effort to deal with this disaster and curb the unfold of the virus,” she famous.

9 deaths, bringing toll to 98

Dr Al Shamsi additionally introduced that 9 individuals from numerous nationalities who examined optimistic for COVID-19 died as a consequence of problems, bringing the whole loss of life toll to 98. In her remarks, she supplied honest condolences to the households of the deceased.

Talking in regards to the long-term unwanted side effects of the virus after restoration, Dr Farida Al Hosani, defined that some research present COVID-19 has lasting results on recovered sufferers. Nonetheless, she famous, only a few instances had been in a important situation and positioned in intensive care.

”COVID-19 unwanted side effects may harm the lungs. Some recovered sufferers have skilled pulmonary dysfunction and couldn’t carry out typical actions, akin to strolling for lengthy distances, and have shortness of breath,” she stated.

TOTAL NUMBERS FOR WEDNESDAY 29 APRIL

New instances: 549 Whole instances: 11,929

New deaths: 9 Whole deaths: 98

New recoveries: 148 Whole recoveries: 2,329

Precautions

Dr Al Hosani suggested recovered sufferers to carry out train like swimming to stimulate the cardiovascular system and undertake a wholesome way of life by sustaining a nutritious weight loss plan and refraining from smoking.

Reinfection?

Concerning the potential of reinfection after restoration, Dr Al Hosani affirmed that there have been no research on the matter, and analysis is ongoing.

”The UAE didn’t document any such case, however there have been some instances in different international locations as a result of such instances might not have recovered utterly or weren’t topic to thorough testing earlier than leaving the hospital to make sure they had been asymptomatic,” she remarked.

Normally, she continued, the consequences of an infection might fluctuate case-by-case relying on the energy of 1’s immune system and way of life.

Minor and important instances

Discussing minor and important instances, Dr Al Hosani stated that almost all of instances don’t exhibit signs, noting that some might have a slight fever, cough, or sore throat, whereas others may briefly lose their sense of odor and style.

Dr Al Hosani defined the assorted phases of an infection, stating, “The first stage is the incubation period, when the virus enters the cells of certain parts of the body, such as the throat, trachea, and lungs. This is the period between infection and the onset of symptoms. During this period, a person does not feel sick and may not develop any symptoms at all. The incubation period varies from person to person but ranges from one to 14 days, with an average of five days.”

Following this stage, a minor sickness may develop, which can be accompanied by the aforementioned signs that may be handled by bedrest and a excessive liquid consumption. The affected person doesn’t want hospital care right now, she added.

Small share of individuals develop extreme signs

Dr. Al Hosani stated {that a} small share of individuals develop extreme signs, together with irritation of the lungs, shortness of breath, and respiratory difficulties, including that in this stage, some sufferers require medical intervention on a ventilator, particularly these affected by power illnesses or those that are people who smoke or aged, with a couple of creating different problems.

No signs

Dr. Al Hosani additionally affirmed that whereas many contaminated individuals might not present any signs and their situation won’t require hospitalisation, they will unfold the an infection to others.

“Therefore, we constantly stress the necessity of following all preventative measures, as well as the importance of self-quarantine and wearing face masks. Although restrictions have been relaxed and we can go outside if necessary, this does not mean that we can be negligent because prevention is mandatory for every individual to protect themselves and those around them. With awareness and a commitment to responsibly following instructions, we can all succeed,” she added.

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[racheltaylor040]

COVID-19 Alert

We at Revitalizing Smiles are taking every precaution and recommendation from the CDC to ensure our dental practice remains healthy.

In response to the rapidly evolving news surrounding coronavirus, we are taking the following actions recommended by the Connecticut State Dental Association to combat the spread and reduce the risk of infection.

Coronavirus Response

Dear valued member,

The situation around the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is rapidly evolving and the number of cases in Connecticut is growing daily. Governor Ned Lamont declared a state of emergency on March 12, 2020, and subsequently has taken many steps to limit the transmission of the disease in our state.

Like all of you, the Connecticut State Dental Association (CSDA) Board of Governors has been closely monitoring the spread of the coronavirus. As of the writing of this notice on Monday, March 16, 2020 there are no mandatory restrictions specific to dentistry in Connecticut.

That said, the Board of Governors recognizes that many routine dental procedures have the potential to transmit the virus via aerosolization of fluids. As a trusted healthcare profession, we are responsible for ensuring the safety of our citizens and for our dental teams. We all have a role to play in slowing the spread of the coronavirus and “flattening the curve,” by following sound scientific and public health advice, in order to help limit infections and slow the spread of the virus.

For this reason, the CSDA Board of Governors convened an emergency conference call this afternoon, and approved the following resolution:

The CSDA Board of Governors recommends that Connecticut dentists consider postponing elective and routine care for two weeks starting March 18, 2020.

At this point, this is a recommendation from the CSDA, not a mandate. It is up to individual practices to determine whether to continue appointments beyond those that are emergencies or are medically necessary, based on your discretion. Practices are encouraged to exceed standard infection control procedures and implement policies to minimize patients’ time and possible contact in the waiting room.

We expect that these two weeks will give the CDC and ADA time to establish additional safety measures above and beyond our already comprehensive universal standards of infection control. In addition, we anticipate that pausing routine care will allow time to update very specific guidelines as they relate to social distancing, procedural modifications to control aerosolization, and others.

The CSDA leadership took this very difficult decision seriously, and came to our decision out of an abundance of caution. We expect the number of COVID-19 positive cases will grow in the coming weeks, and taking responsible action right now is the best thing we can do at this time for our patients, for our office teams and for our health care system.

We also recognize that as small business owners, we have families and employees who rely on us. We want to minimize the long-term impact on our offices as this virus ripples through the country. The ADA continues to advocate for relief for dental offices at the federal level, and we will continue to do the same for our members in Hartford.

We thank you for your commitment to providing the highest level of care to Connecticut’s patients, and to the dental profession. As we learn more, our recommendations could change as new information is brought forward. The CSDA will continue to share updates and communications with our members. Please continue to monitor our website, CSDA.com, ADA.org and CDC.gov, as well as our social media platforms on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. 

Very truly yours,

Albert Natelli, DDS CSDA President

Coronavirus Dental Practice Updates

Reports in the media about the coronavirus can be overwhelming, and the information is changing on a daily basis. The CSDA continues to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on Connecticut dentists and their patients, and is providing this update with information and reminders compiled from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH).

Protect your staff and other patients! We now have confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the State of Connecticut, in addition to individuals in our state who are self-isolating as a precautionary measure. These practices can help safeguard you and your staff, as well as your patients:

Reschedule patients if necessary. Remind patients who are feeling ill, or believe they were exposed to one of the many viruses/illnesses that are going around (including COVID-19 or the flu), that they should reschedule their routine appointments for 14 to 21 days out. However, every effort should be made to see a patient who is in pain, or who has an urgent dental issue.

Ensure proper use of personal protection equipment (PPE). Healthcare personnel who come in close contact with patients who may be been exposed to COVID-19 should wear the appropriate personal protective equipment.

Remember your respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette infection control measures, such as performing hand hygiene, providing tissues and no-touch receptacles to throw away used tissues, and offering face masks to patients who are coughing. Go to (link: www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/resphygiene.htm) for more information.

Encourage sick employees to stay home. Personnel who develop respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) should be instructed not to report to work.

Preparation is key! Authorities agree that the number of confirmed cases and people in isolation will continue to increase, so it is important to prepare for potential impact to your practice.

Have a plan. It is a good idea to have a plan and protocols in place should it become necessary to close your office due to staff illness, or for precautionary measures. Share the plan and protocols with your staff so that everyone knows what to expect. Be sure to understand your business insurance policy, as ‘communicable diseases’ are not considered a covered event for the vast majority of insurance carriers.

Understand the criteria for determining who should get tested for COVID-19. The CDC has updated guidance on deciding when a patient should be referred for testing which includes “any persons, including healthcare workers, who have had close contact with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patient within 14 days of symptom onset, or a history of travel from affected geographic areas within 14 days of symptom onset.” Go to, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/hcp/clinical-criteria.html for complete information.

Know where to go. Health care providers should contact their local/state health department immediately to notify them of patients with fever and lower respiratory illness who have recently traveled to an affected area with sustained transmission or have been in close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient. The health department will determine which patients should be tested, and will refer the patient to an appropriate facility for testing.

Updated resources are available to help you! The American Dental Association has released an informational handout for dentists on COVID-19. The ADA handout covers strategies for helping prevent the transmission of suspected respiratory disease in the dental health care setting and answers frequently asked questions related to the virus, based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Connecticut Department of Public Health has also updated its website ct.gov/coronavirus with information on the state’s response to coronavirus, as well as resources for Connecticut healthcare practitioners, residents, and others.

from Revitalizing Smile https://revitalizingsmiles.com/health/covid-19-alert/ from Revitalizing Smiles https://revitalizesmile.tumblr.com/post/612950559969902592

[atlanticcanada]

Nova Scotia reports 10 new COVID-19 cases Friday; most in the Central zone

Health officials in Nova Scotia are reporting ten new cases of COVID-19 on Friday.

Nine of the cases are in the Central zone. Five of them are close contacts of previously reported cases, three remain under investigation, while one is related to travel outside Atlantic Canada. That person is self-isolating, as required.

The 10th case is in the province's Eastern zone, and is related to travel outside Atlantic Canada. That person is self-isolating, as required.

Due to a technical issue with the province's online dashboard, the number of active cases, resolved cases, and immunization data is not available at this time. The province says that information will be available once “complete data is available.”

POTENTIAL COVID-19 EXPOSURE

Nova Scotia announced a potential COVID-19 exposure on Friday connected to a restaurant in downtown Halifax.

Mandatory testing required

Anyone who visited or worked at the following locations on the specified date and time should immediately self-isolate, and take an online self-assessment COVID-19 test to arrange for testing, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms. These people are required to self-isolate before their test and while waiting for the results.

3 Doors Down Food & Wine (1533 Barrington St, Halifax)on Feb. 20

Between 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

Symptoms may develop up to, and including, March 6

N.S. CASE DATA

The Nova Scotia Health Authority’s labs completed 2,797 tests on Thursday.

Since Oct. 1, Nova Scotia has completed 202,939 COVID-19 tests. There have been 545 positive cases, and no deaths.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 1,624 cumulative COVID-19 cases in Nova Scotia. Of those, 1,532 cases have recovered and 65 people have died.

There is one person in hospital because of COVID-19 and they are in the intensive care unit.

The provincial state of emergency, which was first declared on March 22, 2020, has been extended to March 7, 2021.

UPCOMING RAPID TESTING SITES

Nova Scotialists the locations for their COVID-19 rapid pop-up testing sites on their website.

Rapid testing in Nova Scotia is offered to people who:

Are over 16

do not have symptoms

have not travelledout of province

have not visited a potential exposure location

have not been in contact with someone who has tested positive

Upcoming rapid testing sitesinclude:

Friday, Feb. 26at the Eastern Passage Cow Bays Lion Club 65 Hornes Rd. from noon to 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 26at the Halifax Convention Centre, Argyle St. entrance 3:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 27at the Halifax Convention Centre, Argyle St. entrance 3:30 to 9:30 p.m.

NOVA SCOTIANS ENCOURAGED TO SEEK ASYMPTOMATIC TESTING

Public health is strongly encouraging Nova Scotians to seek asymptomatic COVID-19 testing, particularly if they have attended several social interactions, even with their own social circle.

COVID-19 tests can be booked through the provinces online self-assessment COVID-19 tool, or by calling 811.

People can also visit one of Nova Scotia’s many rapid pop-up testing sites that continue to operate throughout the province.

COVID ALERT APP

Canada’s COVID-19 Alert app is available in Nova Scotia.

The app, which can be downloaded through the Apple App Store or Google Play, notifies users if they may have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

LIST OF SYMPTOMS

Anyone who experiences a fever or new or worsening cough, or two or more of the following new or worsening symptoms, is encouraged to take an online test or call 811 to determine if they need to be tested for COVID-19:

Sore throat

Headache

Shortness of breath

Runny nose/nasal congestion

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/3uydiHv

[markrobert06]

COVID-19 Alert

We at Revitalizing Smiles are taking every precaution and recommendation from the CDC to ensure our dental practice remains healthy.

In response to the rapidly evolving news surrounding coronavirus, we are taking the following actions recommended by the Connecticut State Dental Association to combat the spread and reduce the risk of infection.

Coronavirus Response

Dear valued member,

The situation around the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is rapidly evolving and the number of cases in Connecticut is growing daily. Governor Ned Lamont declared a state of emergency on March 12, 2020, and subsequently has taken many steps to limit the transmission of the disease in our state.

Like all of you, the Connecticut State Dental Association (CSDA) Board of Governors has been closely monitoring the spread of the coronavirus. As of the writing of this notice on Monday, March 16, 2020 there are no mandatory restrictions specific to dentistry in Connecticut.

That said, the Board of Governors recognizes that many routine dental procedures have the potential to transmit the virus via aerosolization of fluids. As a trusted healthcare profession, we are responsible for ensuring the safety of our citizens and for our dental teams. We all have a role to play in slowing the spread of the coronavirus and “flattening the curve,” by following sound scientific and public health advice, in order to help limit infections and slow the spread of the virus.

For this reason, the CSDA Board of Governors convened an emergency conference call this afternoon, and approved the following resolution:

The CSDA Board of Governors recommends that Connecticut dentists consider postponing elective and routine care for two weeks starting March 18, 2020.

At this point, this is a recommendation from the CSDA, not a mandate. It is up to individual practices to determine whether to continue appointments beyond those that are emergencies or are medically necessary, based on your discretion. Practices are encouraged to exceed standard infection control procedures and implement policies to minimize patients’ time and possible contact in the waiting room.

We expect that these two weeks will give the CDC and ADA time to establish additional safety measures above and beyond our already comprehensive universal standards of infection control. In addition, we anticipate that pausing routine care will allow time to update very specific guidelines as they relate to social distancing, procedural modifications to control aerosolization, and others.

The CSDA leadership took this very difficult decision seriously, and came to our decision out of an abundance of caution. We expect the number of COVID-19 positive cases will grow in the coming weeks, and taking responsible action right now is the best thing we can do at this time for our patients, for our office teams and for our health care system.

We also recognize that as small business owners, we have families and employees who rely on us. We want to minimize the long-term impact on our offices as this virus ripples through the country. The ADA continues to advocate for relief for dental offices at the federal level, and we will continue to do the same for our members in Hartford.

We thank you for your commitment to providing the highest level of care to Connecticut’s patients, and to the dental profession. As we learn more, our recommendations could change as new information is brought forward. The CSDA will continue to share updates and communications with our members. Please continue to monitor our website, CSDA.com, ADA.org and CDC.gov, as well as our social media platforms on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. 

Very truly yours,

Albert Natelli, DDS CSDA President

Coronavirus Dental Practice Updates

Reports in the media about the coronavirus can be overwhelming, and the information is changing on a daily basis. The CSDA continues to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on Connecticut dentists and their patients, and is providing this update with information and reminders compiled from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH).

Protect your staff and other patients! We now have confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the State of Connecticut, in addition to individuals in our state who are self-isolating as a precautionary measure. These practices can help safeguard you and your staff, as well as your patients:

Reschedule patients if necessary. Remind patients who are feeling ill, or believe they were exposed to one of the many viruses/illnesses that are going around (including COVID-19 or the flu), that they should reschedule their routine appointments for 14 to 21 days out. However, every effort should be made to see a patient who is in pain, or who has an urgent dental issue.

Ensure proper use of personal protection equipment (PPE). Healthcare personnel who come in close contact with patients who may be been exposed to COVID-19 should wear the appropriate personal protective equipment.

Remember your respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette infection control measures, such as performing hand hygiene, providing tissues and no-touch receptacles to throw away used tissues, and offering face masks to patients who are coughing. Go to (link: www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/resphygiene.htm) for more information.

Encourage sick employees to stay home. Personnel who develop respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) should be instructed not to report to work.

Preparation is key! Authorities agree that the number of confirmed cases and people in isolation will continue to increase, so it is important to prepare for potential impact to your practice.

Have a plan. It is a good idea to have a plan and protocols in place should it become necessary to close your office due to staff illness, or for precautionary measures. Share the plan and protocols with your staff so that everyone knows what to expect. Be sure to understand your business insurance policy, as ‘communicable diseases’ are not considered a covered event for the vast majority of insurance carriers.

Understand the criteria for determining who should get tested for COVID-19. The CDC has updated guidance on deciding when a patient should be referred for testing which includes “any persons, including healthcare workers, who have had close contact with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patient within 14 days of symptom onset, or a history of travel from affected geographic areas within 14 days of symptom onset.” Go to, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/hcp/clinical-criteria.html for complete information.

Know where to go. Health care providers should contact their local/state health department immediately to notify them of patients with fever and lower respiratory illness who have recently traveled to an affected area with sustained transmission or have been in close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient. The health department will determine which patients should be tested, and will refer the patient to an appropriate facility for testing.

Updated resources are available to help you! The American Dental Association has released an informational handout for dentists on COVID-19. The ADA handout covers strategies for helping prevent the transmission of suspected respiratory disease in the dental health care setting and answers frequently asked questions related to the virus, based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Connecticut Department of Public Health has also updated its website ct.gov/coronavirus with information on the state’s response to coronavirus, as well as resources for Connecticut healthcare practitioners, residents, and others.

from https://revitalizingsmiles.com/health/covid-19-alert/

from Revitalizing Smiles - BLOG https://revitalizesmile.weebly.com/blog/covid-19-alert

[atlanticcanada]

N.S. reports 2 new cases of COVID-19; active cases rise to 29

Nova Scotia reported two new cases of COVID-19 on Friday. With one previously-reported cases now considered recovered, the number of active cases in the province has increased to 29.

One cases is in the province's Central Zone and the other case is in the Eastern Zone. Both cases are related to travel outside of Atlantic Canada and the individuals are self-isolating.

N.S. Premier Stephen McNeil and Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer of health are scheduled to provide an update on the province's COVID-19 situation on Friday at 3 p.m. Atlantic.

The Nova Scotia Health Authority's labs completed 1,831 Nova Scotia tests on Thursday.

There were 558 tests administered between Jan 3 and 7 at the rapid-testing pop-up sites in Halifax.

CASE BREAKDOWN

Since Oct. 1, Nova Scotia has completed 124,483 COVID-19 tests and confirmed 437 positive COVID-19 cases. Of those, 408 cases are now considered resolved, leaving 28 active cases.

No one has died during the second wave.

There is no one in hospital as a result of COVID-19.

Since the start of the pandemic, Nova Scotia has completed 247,661 tests, and reported a total of 1,526 cases of COVID-19. Of those, 1,432 cases are now considered resolved and 65 people have died as a result of the novel coronavirus.

The province's confirmed cases range in age from under 10 to over 90.

Fifty-five per cent of cases are female and 45 per cent are male.

There are cases confirmed across the province, but most have been identified in the Central Zone, which contains the Halifax Regional Municipality.

The provincial government says cumulative cases by zone may change as data is updated in Panorama, the province’s electronic information system.

The numbers reflect where a person lives and not where their sample was collected.

Western Zone: 87 cases

Central Zone: 1,256 cases

Northern Zone: 112 cases

Eastern Zone: 71 cases

The provincial state of emergency, which was first declared on March 22, has been extended to Jan. 24.

POTENTIAL EXPOSURE NOTIFICATION

Anyone present at the following location on the specified date and time is asked to go online or call 811 to book a COVID-19 test regardless of whether or not they have COVID-19 symptoms.

Starbucks Windmill Road (11 Cuddy Ln, Dartmouth)

Jan. 3 between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

May develop symptoms up to, and including, Jan. 17, 2021.

COVID ALERT APP

Canada’s COVID-19 Alert app is available in Nova Scotia.

The app, which can be downloaded through the Apple App Store or Google Play, notifies users if they may have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

LIST OF SYMPTOMS

Anyone who experiences a fever or new or worsening cough, or two or more of the following new or worsening symptoms, is encouraged to take an online test or call 811 to determine if they need to be tested for COVID-19:

Sore throat

Headache

Shortness of breath

Runny nose/nasal congestion

SELF-ISOLATION AND MANDATORY MASKS

Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 is required to self-isolate at home, away from the public, for 14 days.

Anyone who travels to Nova Scotia from outside the Atlantic region for non-essential reasons is required to self-isolate for 14 days and must fill out a self-declaration form before coming to the province. Travellers must self-isolate alone, away from others. If they cannot self-isolate alone, their entire household must also self-isolate for 14 days.

Residents of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador are not required to self-isolate when travelling to Nova Scotia, but they must be prepared to provide proof of their place of residency at provincial borders.

Visitors from outside the Atlantic region who have already self-isolated in another Atlantic province for 14 days may travel to Nova Scotia without having to self-isolate again.

It is mandatory to wear a face mask in indoor public spaces in Nova Scotia.

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/3onv24S

[atlanticcanada]

N.S. reports 4 new cases of COVID-19; active cases drop to 28

Nova Scotia reported four new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday. With five previously-reported cases now considered recovered, the number of active cases in the province has dropped to 28.

The Nova Scotia Health Authority's labs completed 1,467 Nova Scotia tests on Wednesday.

Two cases are in Central Zone and are close contacts of previously-reported cases.

One case is in Eastern Zone and is a close contact of a previously-reported case.

One case is in Northern Zone and is related to travel outside Atlantic Canada.

"While the case numbers in our province are encouraging, we are closely monitoring the rise in cases in New Brunswick," said Premier Stephen McNeil in a news release. "The situation there is a reminder of how quickly the virus can spread, and also reminds us of the importance of following all the public health protocols."

On Wednesday, the province reported 12 new cases of COVID-19, including cases at a pair of N.S. universities.

Nova Scotia health officials are strongly encouraging all post-secondary students returning to Nova Scotia from outside Atlantic Canada to book a COVID-19 test for Day 6, 7 or 8 of their 14-day self-isolation period.

"As we continue to see new COVID-19 cases every day, it is apparent that the virus is still in our communities," said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, in a news release. "We must remain vigilant and do our part by continuing to follow public health guidelines and orders."

CASE BREAKDOWN

Since Oct. 1, Nova Scotia has completed 122,652 COVID-19 tests and confirmed 435 positive COVID-19 cases. Of those, 407 cases are now considered resolved, leaving 28 active cases.

No one has died during the second wave.

There is no longer anyone in hospital as a result of COVID-19.

Since the start of the pandemic, Nova Scotia has completed 245,830 tests, and reported a total of 1,524 cases of COVID-19. Of those, 1,431 cases are now considered resolved and 65 people have died as a result of the novel coronavirus.

The province's confirmed cases range in age from under 10 to over 90.

Fifty-five per cent of cases are female and 45 per cent are male.

There are cases confirmed across the province, but most have been identified in the Central Zone, which contains the Halifax Regional Municipality.

The provincial government says cumulative cases by zone may change as data is updated in Panorama, the province’s electronic information system.

The numbers reflect where a person lives and not where their sample was collected.

Western Zone: 87 cases

Central Zone: 1,255 cases

Northern Zone: 112 cases

Eastern Zone: 70 cases

The provincial state of emergency, which was first declared on March 22, has been extended to Jan. 10.

POTENTIAL EXPOSURE NOTIFICATION

Anyone present at the following location on the specified date and time is asked to go online or call 811 to book a COVID-19 test regardless of whether or not they have COVID-19 symptoms.

Superstore North Sydney (125 King St., North Sydney)

Jan. 2 between 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

May develop symptoms up to, and including, Jan. 16, 2021.

Fabricville (356 Welton St., Sydney)

Jan. 2 between 9 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.

May develop symptoms up to, and including, Jan. 16, 2021.

COVID ALERT APP

Canada’s COVID-19 Alert app is available in Nova Scotia.

The app, which can be downloaded through the Apple App Store or Google Play, notifies users if they may have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

LIST OF SYMPTOMS

Anyone who experiences a fever or new or worsening cough, or two or more of the following new or worsening symptoms, is encouraged to take an online test or call 811 to determine if they need to be tested for COVID-19:

Sore throat

Headache

Shortness of breath

Runny nose/nasal congestion

SELF-ISOLATION AND MANDATORY MASKS

Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 is required to self-isolate at home, away from the public, for 14 days.

Anyone who travels to Nova Scotia from outside the Atlantic region for non-essential reasons is required to self-isolate for 14 days and must fill out a self-declaration form before coming to the province. Travellers must self-isolate alone, away from others. If they cannot self-isolate alone, their entire household must also self-isolate for 14 days.

Residents of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador are not required to self-isolate when travelling to Nova Scotia, but they must be prepared to provide proof of their place of residency at provincial borders.

Visitors from outside the Atlantic region who have already self-isolated in another Atlantic province for 14 days may travel to Nova Scotia without having to self-isolate again.

It is mandatory to wear a face mask in indoor public spaces in Nova Scotia.

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/3pYXQku

[atlanticcanada]

Nova Scotia reports 1 new case of COVID-19, 23 active cases

Health officials in Nova Scotia reported one new COVID-19 case on Thursday. Two previously reported cases are now considered resolved, dropping the total number of active cases in the province to 23.

Public health says the new case is in the Central Zone, which includes the Halifax area, and is currently under investigation.

Since the beginning of November, there have been 46 cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Nova Scotia.

CASE BREAKDOWN

The Nova Scotia Health Authority’s labs completed 1,314 Nova Scotia tests on Wednesday.

To date, Nova Scotia has had 125,434 negative test results and 1,155 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of those, 1,067 cases are now considered resolved and 65 people have died as a result of the novel coronavirus, leaving 23 active cases in the province.

There is one person in hospital due to COVID-19.

The province's confirmed cases range in age from under 10 to over 90.

Sixty per cent of cases are female and 40 per cent are male.

There are cases confirmed across the province, but most have been identified in the Central Zone, which contains the Halifax Regional Municipality.

The provincial government says cumulative cases by zone may change as data is updated in Panorama, the province’s electronic information system.

The numbers reflect where a person lives and not where their sample was collected.

Western Zone: 58 cases

Central Zone: 965 cases

Northern Zone: 77 cases

Eastern Zone: 55 cases

The provincial state of emergency, which was first declared on March 22, has been extended to Nov. 29.

POTENTIAL EXPOSURE AT HALIFAX RESTAURANT, STORE

On Wednesday. Nova Scotia Public Health warned of two potential COVID-19 exposures in Bayers Lake, N.S., a shopping district in Halifax.

Public health says anyone who visited East Side Mario’s at 186 Chain Lake Drive on Nov. 14 between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., and on Nov 16. between noon and 7 p.m. may have been exposed to the novel coronavirus.

Health officials are also warning of a possible exposure at Sport Chek at 215 Chain Lake Drive on Nov. 15 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Nova Scotia health says anyone who was at the two locations on the dates and times listed above should self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days, following the day of exposure.

Should any COVID-19 symptoms develop, they are directed to self-isolate and take the online self-assessment or call 811 to get tested.

COVID ALERT APP

Canada’s COVID-19 Alert app is available in Nova Scotia.

The app, which can be downloaded through the Apple App Store or Google Play, notifies users if they may have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

LIST OF SYMPTOMS

Anyone who experiences a fever or new or worsening cough, or two or more of the following new or worsening symptoms, is encouraged to take an online test or call 811 to determine if they need to be tested for COVID-19:

Sore throat

Headache

Shortness of breath

Runny nose/nasal congestion

SELF-ISOLATION AND MANDATORY MASKS

Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 is required to self-isolate at home, away from the public, for 14 days.

Anyone who travels to Nova Scotia from outside the Atlantic region for non-essential reasons is required to self-isolate for 14 days and must fill out a self-declaration form before coming to the province. Travellers must self-isolate alone, away from others. If they cannot self-isolate alone, their entire household must also self-isolate for 14 days.

Residents of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador are not required to self-isolate when travelling to Nova Scotia, but they must be prepared to provide proof of their place of residency at provincial borders.

Visitors from outside the Atlantic region who have already self-isolated in another Atlantic province for 14 days may travel to Nova Scotia without having to self-isolate again.

It is mandatory to wear a face mask in indoor public spaces in Nova Scotia. 

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/2UK0hd7