Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker on Friday signed a new executive order requiring people arriving from outside the state to fill out a travel form and comply with a 14-day quarantine in order to control the spread of the coronavirus.

The order, which will take effect on August 1, also applies to Northeastern students, faculty, and staff planning to return to the Boston campus from out of state, as well as anybody accompanying them.

The new rules exempt students and other travelers from states where both the average number of new cases and the percentage of positive tests are low. At the time when governor Baker signed the order, those states included New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Hawaii.

The state has said for educational institutions, people can come in and be tested immediately upon arrival, or they have to quarantine until they are tested, said David Luzzi, senior vice provost for research and vice president of Northeasterns Innovation Campus. Because we have a robust testing facility on campus that will be spun up and operating by the time anybody arrives, we will be implementing that approach right away.

The order also exempts people who can provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test based on samples taken no longer than 72 hours prior to their arrival.

Faculty, staff, and students who commute to campus from out of state are exempt from the order, as are family members and other people who are helping students move back to Northeastern in the fall, but who do not stay in Massachusetts overnight.

People who can produce a negative COVID-19 test within the 14-day period after arriving in Massachusetts will be allowed to stop their quarantine.

Northeastern is already requiring all students, faculty, and staff returning to the Boston campus this fall to be tested for the virus. Those tests will be free, and provided on campus.

Northeasterns testing facility is certified by the state, registered with CLIA certification with the Food and Drug Administration, so we have all the certifications, Luzzi said, referring to the federal licensing needed for a laboratory to conduct testing on samples from humans. We are a testing facility that can test anybody for this virus.

Under the new rule, members of the Northeastern community will be able to break their quarantine to receive a COVID-19 test. And if that test result is negative, they will not need to continue quarantining.

The executive order comes in the midst of increased activity of travelers in Massachusetts, Baker said.

Everyone who chooses not to quarantine must be able to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test. And failure to comply with the new order will result in a fine of $500 per day.

Every traveler coming to Massachusetts, no matter where theyre from, has a responsibility to help keep COVID-19 out of the commonwealth, Baker said on Friday at the Massachusetts state house. I have every confidence that if we all work together and keep doing our part, we can continue to fight COVID, and can continue to reopen the commonwealth.

For media inquiries, please contact media@northeastern.edu.

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Massachusetts has announced a new COVID-19 travel order. Here's what it means for college students. - News@Northeastern

DILLON While most locals are familiar with COVID-19 restrictions, policies and guidelines in Summit County, groups and officials as well as individual businesses are working to educate visitors before they arrive.

The Breckenridge Tourism Offices website, GoBreck.com, has a what to know page for visitors who plan to come to Breckenridge this summer. Spokeswoman Austyn Dineen said that the page is frequently updated as new information comes out and that it is the most visited page on the website. Dineen explained that local businesses are now being given the code to plug the page onto their website to take some of the education workload off of local businesses.

(Businesses) dont have to be continually updating information on whats happening with COVID, Dineen said. Well do that on behalf of the businesses. They just have to have it on their pages so that its constantly being updated.

The webpage includes information on local public health orders and includes top things for visitors to know when visiting Breckenridge, such as that masks are required in public and that there is a mandatory mask zone.

To alert anyone in Summit County of mask requirements, the county is sending out emergency phone alerts every Saturday. Summit County Director of Communications Julie Sutor said that the county has information related to COVID-19 and current public health orders posted on the county website, and they have been working through messaging plans with the Summit County Chamber of Commerce and the general business community. Residents may also have noticed message boards on roads throughout the county reminding people of mask and other COVID-19 related requirements and suggestions.

Brian Bovaird, Summit Countys director of emergency management, said that the county relies on two delivery methods when it comes to emergency alerts: Summit County Alert, an opt-in service, and the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, which people will receive an alert from if they have a cell phone and are in the targeted area.

For COVID, we have been using wireless emergency alerts on Saturday mornings, one, because it does fit the parameters of public protective actions and life safety, Bovaird said. The wireless emergency alert is our most effective tool to reach those people that probably otherwise would never sign up for SC Alert and might not be familiar with our orders.

Sutor said that the alerts began over the Fourth of July weekend and that they will continue to be sent out on Saturday mornings through August, when it will be evaluated whether or not the alerts should continue through September.

While Sutor and Bovaird said it is difficult to quantify the effect of individual messaging methods, overall Bovaird said there seems to be an increase in compliance with mask-wearing among visitors since the county first started to reopen. Sutor pointed out that any kind of behavior change will take more than one impression of a message, which is why reinforcement of messaging is important. She added that the county will soon launch a campaign via digital advertising about ways people can prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Since a lodging company is often one of the first points of contact for a visitor planning a trip to Summit County, the local lodging community is also helping to educate those visiting the area on requirements through pre-arrival messaging. Breckenridge Lodging Association President Toby Babich explained that most lodging companies already have setups for pre-arrival communications for guests, and have integrated information about new requirements and expectations at their properties and in the area as a whole.

At Babichs business, Breckenridge Resort Managers, arrival letters that are given to guests have especially pertinent messaging bolded and at the top of the letters. Arrival information also includes documents from the county and state regarding masks and physical distancing, and guests are alerted of rules and regulations in communications prior to their stay.

We try to hit them from all angles and make sure long before they even get in the car or on their plane to come here that theyre fully informed of the new way of operating here at Breckenridge, Babich said.

Babich said that guests have generally been successfully reached with the necessary information about requirements for visiting the area during the pandemic and have been receptive to the changes.

I think it gives people a lot of peace of mind to be able to come to a place like Breckenridge where we are so adamant about keeping people healthy through social distancing, wearing a mask and improved cleaning protocols, Babich said. I think people are happy to see it.

Babich added that the state mask mandate has cleared up some confusion about where masks are required. Looking forward, Babich feels it is important to set the expectation for future fall and winter guests that these restrictions will likely be in place for quite some time.

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County, towns and businesses work to inform visitors of COVID-19 requirements - Summit Daily News

As of 25 July, the number of reported confirmed COVID-19 cases in Yemen had reached 1,678 with 475 associated deaths and 782 recoveries. Men constitute 73 per cent of all reported cases and most COVID-19 cases and deaths are reported among people aged 45 and above. The highest number of confirmed cases continue to be reported in Hadramaut (663 cases, 203 deaths and 182 recoveries), followed by Taizz (288 cases, 80 deaths and 169 recoveries) and Aden (270 cases, 32 deaths and 194 recoveries). Indicators continue to suggest that the virus is spreading rapidly, that the number of confirmed cases and deaths reported fall below actual numbers, and that people who are symptomatic delay seeking treatment for reasons that include stigma, difficulty accessing treatment centres, and the perceived risks of seeking care. Following the recent refresh of the COVID-19 strategy the response has shifted to focus on testing, surveillance and case management, and over 1,000 tests were conducted during the last week. For mild cases, the focus is on home care supported by risk management communication. For moderate and critical cases in COVID-19 treatment centres, the response includes training on infection protection and control, triage and clinical case management. Procuring and distributing oxygen and personal protective equipment (PPE) remains a priority. The ongoing fuel and funding crises continue to threaten the operation of health facilities and the broader COVID-19 and humanitarian responses.

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Yemen COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Snapshot - As of 25 July 2020 [EN/AR] - Yemen - ReliefWeb

Note: The Shawnee Mission Post is making much of its local coverage of the coronavirus pandemic accessible to non-subscribers. (If you value having a news source covering the situation in our community, we hope youll consider subscribing here).

Johnson County public health officials Joseph LeMaster, MD, MPH, and Sanmi Areola, PhD, have joined their counterparts from the neighboring Core 4 jurisdictions in issuing a warning that if current COVID-19 trends continue, another round of shutdowns will be necessary.

In a jointly signed letter, the officials from Johnson County, Wyandotte County, Jackson County and Kansas City, Mo., say that recent data suggest we are now again losing the battle with COVID-19 and that there has been a dramatic increase in the number of new cases across the entire metropolitan area, and our front-line workers are having difficulty keeping up with the vast and increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases.

You can find the full letter here.

The officials note that mask mandates are an extremely important part of our efforts to once again flatten the curve, and that they hope businesses will provide curbside and outdoor service options due to the increased risk of transmission when people are indoors and in close proximity.

If we do not act quickly as a community and region, future shutdowns will be inevitable, said the officials. It may be important in the coming days to limit the interactions of individuals in bars, restaurants, and other indoor shopping venues particularly where masks cannot be worn when eating and drinking.

The letter also highlights the lack of ready access to information about COVID-19 hospitalizations, an issue that was recently the subject of discussion among the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners.

The federal government changed the system for collecting and reporting COVID-19 hospital data in June. Last week, the data on hospital capacity usage that regional officials had been able to access went offline.

Last weekthe hospital data stream became unavailable based on decisions made at the Federal level, said the officials. This decision has hobbled the efforts of local medical officers and front-line workers to track the spread of COVID- 19 and respond accordingly to our regions needs.

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Warning that KC region is 'losing the battle with COVID-19,' health officials stress masks, social distancing - Shawnee Mission Post

"The president has come to areas throughout Wisconsin, and theyve understood that you cant just leave a pocked of the state untouched and hope that they turn out and then think theyre going to carry the state," he said.

Still, Republican candidates and volunteers are out knocking on doors in most of the state, though Jefferson noted it was more of a challenge in urban areas "and we've tried to be respectful of that, too."

In-person events are fewer than in past cycles, Jefferson said, and include both indoor and outdoor gatherings hosted at the county level, with leaders making masks available for those who want them.He added the party is also working to implement an "aggressive social media plan" that was already in the works ahead of the COVID-19 crisis.

"People observe social distancing. They don't want to be in there for hours at a time if they're getting together," he said. "It's different, there's no question about that."

Democrats, though, reiterated their commitment to reaching people virtually, rather than engaging in traditional door-to-door and in-person outreach efforts.

Biden's Wisconsin state director Danielle Melfi said residents "want to have their health and safety be respected."

Though unique from others, this cycle, Melfi said, is similar in the sense that the priority remains the same: "always meeting voters where they are."

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Campaigns in Wisconsin adjust to COVID-19 conditions as they prep for November - Madison.com

DALLAS (NEXSTAR) A new study of COVID-19 from researchers at Londons Kings College found there are six distinct types of the virus with different symptom groups. The data was uncovered using a tracking app following 1,600 patients in the U.K. and United States during March and April.

The researchers behind the study hope the data helps doctors treat people and more accurately predict the type of medical care they might need.

Here are the six clusters of symptoms outlined in the study, according to CBS News:

I think its very, very interesting, Dr. Bob Lahita told CBSN. Among the patients I see, those who recovered, many of them present different ways: some people with fever and some without fever, and some with nausea and vomiting, some people with diarrhea, etc.

The researchers have been able to predict the likelihood patients suffering from each of the symptom clusters might need breathing support. For example, the first type, flu-like with no fever, has a 1.5% chance of needing breathing support such as a ventilator. To contrast, the second type, flu-like with fever, has a 4.4% likelihood.

According to CBS News, the most severe type of COVID-19, severe level three, abdominal and respiratory, carries a 20% chance patients would need breathing support.

The U.K. researchers discovered patients in the severe clusters trended older and often had pre-existing conditions.

Continue reading here:

Study: These are the six COVID-19 symptom clusters to watch for - WANE

Launching today, the COVID-19 Law Lab initiative gathers and shares legal documents from over 190 countries across the world to help states establish and implement strong legal frameworks to manage the pandemic. The goal is to ensure that laws protect the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities and that they adhere to international human rights standards.

The new Lab (at http://www.COVIDLawLab.org) is a joint project of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the ONeill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University.

Well-designed laws can help build strong health systems; evaluate and approve safe and effective drugs and vaccines; and enforce actions to create healthier and safer public spaces and workplaces. Critically, they are key to effective implementation of the WHO International Health Regulations: surveillance; infection prevention and control; management of travel and trade; and implementation of measures to maintain essential health services.

Laws and policies that are grounded in science, evidence and human rights can enable people to access health services, protect themselves from COVID-19 and live free from stigma, discrimination and violence, says Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator. The COVID-19 Law Lab is an important tool for sharing good practices on laws and policies.

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a vast increase in urgent legislative action to control and reduce the pandemic.

Strong legal frameworks are critical for national COVID-19 responses, said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.Laws that impact health often fall outside the health sector. As health is global, legal frameworks should be aligned with international commitments to respond to current and emerging public health risks. A strong foundation of law for health is more important now than ever before.

However, laws that are poorly designed, implemented, or enforced can harm marginalized populations, entrench stigma and discrimination, and hinder efforts to end the pandemic.

Harmful laws can exacerbate stigma and discrimination, infringe on peoples rights and undermine public health responses, according to Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. To ensure responses to the pandemic are effective, humane and sustainable, governments must use the law as a tool to uphold the human rights and dignity of people affected by COVID-19.

The COVID-19 Law Lab is a database of laws that countries have implemented in response to the pandemic. It includes state of emergency declarations, quarantine measures, disease surveillance, legal measures relating to mask-wearing, social distancing, and access to medication and vaccines. The database will continue to grow as more countries and themes are added.

It will also feature research on different legal frameworks for COVID-19. These analyses will focus on the human rights impacts of public health laws and help countries identify best practices to guide their immediate responses to COVID-19 and socioeconomic recovery efforts once the pandemic is under control. It builds off the work of the UHC Legal Solutions Network, which was established to help countries achieve universal health coverage through the implementation of rights-based legal frameworks.

We need to track and evaluate how laws and policies are being used during the Pandemic to understand what works, said Dr. Matthew M. Kavanagh, faculty in Georgetown Universitys Department of International Health. Katie Gottschalk, Executive Director of the ONeill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University Law Center added, We must learn lessons from the early stage of pandemic policies to implement the most effective laws going forward the COVID-19 Law Lab allows us to do just that.

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with ourbroad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.

Learn more atundp.orgor follow at @UNDP.

The World Health Organization provides global leadership in public health within the United Nations system. Founded in 1948, WHO works with194 Member States, across six regions and from more than 150 offices,to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. Our goal for 2019-2023 is to ensure that a billion more people have universal health coverage, to protect a billion more people from health emergencies, and provide a further billion people with better health and wellbeing. For updates on COVID-19 and public health advice to protect yourself from coronavirus, visitwww.who.intand follow WHO onTwitter,Facebook,Instagram,LinkedIn,TikTok,Pinterest,Snapchat,YouTube

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizationsUNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bankand works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more atunaids.organd connect with us onFacebook,Twitter,InstagramandYouTube.

The ONeill Institute, housed at Georgetown University, was established to create innovative solutions to the most pressing national and international health concerns, with the essential vision that the law has been, and will remain, a fundamental tool for solving critical health problems. The Georgetown University Department of International Health is home to scholarship in public health, economics, political science, and medicine. Georgetowns Global Health Initiative serves as a university-wide platform for developing concrete solutions to the health challenges facing families and communities throughout the world. Read more at oneillinstitute.org and connect with us on Twitter and Facebook.

The COVID-19 Law lab is a product of the UHC Legal Solutions Network is a collaboration between the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and the ONeill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University. The initiative aims to support countries to achieve universal health coverage by working with policymakers, civil society groups and other stakeholders to craft laws ensure that all people and communities have the right to access the promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services they need, of sufficient quality to be effective, while also ensuring that the use of these services does not expose the user to financial hardship.

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New COVID-19 Law Lab to provide vital legal information and support for the global COVID-19 response - World Health Organization

Hurricane Hanna is the first hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. NASA/NRL hide caption

Hurricane Hanna is the first hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season.

Updated at 5:15 a.m. ET Sunday

South Texas is braced for flooding after Hurricane Hanna began battering the state. The first hurricane of the season made landfall twice Saturday as a Category 1 storm.

The first landfall happened at around 5 p.m. about 15 miles north of Port Mansfield, which is about 130 miles south of Corpus Christi, according to the National Weather service. The second landfall took place nearby in eastern Kenedy County. The storm arrived with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph.

Forecasters early Sunday downgraded Hanna to a tropical storm. But Chris Birchfield, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Brownsville, told The Associated Press that residents needed to remain alert. Hanna's winds weakened, but the storm's real threat remained heavy rainfall.

"We're not even close to over at this point," Birchfield added. "We're still expecting catastrophic flooding."

The storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall to Texas' southern coast with the potential for "life-threatening flash flooding," according to the National Weather Service.

The center warned of storm surges as high as 5 feet along Texas' southern coast and said the upper coasts of Texas and Louisiana could expect 3-5 inches of rain. Isolated tornadoes could also appear.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said earlier in the week that the Texas Division of Emergency Management was preparing teams to help communities affected by the storm. He urged residents in the region to avoid roads that flood and listen to local warnings.

On Saturday, prior to the storm making landfall, Abbott issued a disaster declaration and said he had requested an emergency declaration from President Trump and FEMA.

"As Hurricane Hanna approaches, the Lone Star State is taking swift action to support the communities in the path of the storm," Abbott said. "We are closely monitoring the situation and working with local officials to help ensure they have the resources they need to keep Texans safe. I urge Texans in the region to take all necessary precautions and follow the guidance of local officials. I ask our fellow Texans to keep these communities in their prayers as they brace for this storm."

The city of Corpus Christi in Nueces County, which is already dealing with a spike in confirmed coronavirus cases, was among the communities bracing on Saturday for Hanna's arrival. On Friday, Nueces County reported 175 new cases of the coronavirus and five deaths. Of the county's 129 COVID-19 deaths, 119 of them have come in July, according to the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.

Ahead of the storm's landfall, the city closed at least one drive-through testing site through Tuesday, according to The Texas Tribune.

As Hurricane Hanna approaches, Corpus Christi Mayor Joe McComb said he felt certain that the region is prepared to handle both the storm and the pandemic.

"Don't feel like since we've been fighting COVID for five months that we're out of energy or we're out of gas. We're not. We can do these two things together and we're going to win both of them. And so, we'll get through this," McComb told The Associated Press.

But McComb's comments also reflected the realities of the pandemic as he urged residents to take masks with them if they have to evacuate and stay with others.

"We don't want to expose anyone during this storm. ... Even when you're in the house, I recommend wearing a mask if you're in crowded conditions" McComb told The Texas Tribune.

To the south of Corpus Christi in Cameron County, Judge Eddie Trevio told the AP that if families are evacuated to shelters, there are plans in place to make sure they are socially distanced from one another.

As the storm continues to make its path in south Texas, two other storms are being watched closely. Hurricane Douglas is in the Pacific and is expected to either pass nearby or over the main Hawaiian islands sometime Sunday. The National Hurricane Center warned of a "triple threat of hazards," including heavy rainfall and flooding, damaging winds and dangerously high surf.

Farther to the east and south of the Gulf of Mexico, Tropical Storm Gonzalo was downgraded to a depression Saturday afternoon. The system brought gusty wind to the southern Windward Islands on Saturday morning. The National Hurricane Center also warned of heavy rainfall with the potential for "life-threatening flash flooding" in the area.

Earlier this year, forecasters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted an above-average hurricane season with at least three to six major hurricanes in 2020.

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Hurricane's Fallout Batters Texas As The Region Confronts A COVID-19 Spike - NPR

1. How COVID-19 is affecting the globe

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have risen to 16.2 million around the world, according to Johns Hopkins University of Medicine. The number of confirmed coronavirus deaths now stands at more than 648,000.

Latin America is the worst-affected region, with almost 27% of worldwide cases, according to Reuters. It surpassed combined infections in the US and Canada for the first time on 26 July.

Morocco has locked down cities including Casablanca, Tangier and Marrakech following a spike in daily cases.

Florida now has more cases of coronavirus than New York, which was an early epicentre of infection in the US. It has more than 423,000, compared to 416,000 in New York.

The first global pandemic in more than 100 years, COVID-19 has spread throughout the world at an unprecedented speed. At the time of writing, 4.5 million cases have been confirmed and more than 300,000 people have died due to the virus.

As countries seek to recover, some of the more long-term economic, business, environmental, societal and technological challenges and opportunities are just beginning to become visible.

To help all stakeholders communities, governments, businesses and individuals understand the emerging risks and follow-on effects generated by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the World Economic Forum, in collaboration with Marsh and McLennan and Zurich Insurance Group, has launched its COVID-19 Risks Outlook: A Preliminary Mapping and its Implications - a companion for decision-makers, building on the Forums annual Global Risks Report.

The report reveals that the economic impact of COVID-19 is dominating companies risks perceptions.

Companies are invited to join the Forums work to help manage the identified emerging risks of COVID-19 across industries to shape a better future. Read the full COVID-19 Risks Outlook: A Preliminary Mapping and its Implications report here, and our impact story with further information.

2. Asia-Pacific returns to lockdown amid second wave of infections

Lockdown measures are coming back into place around Asia, as authorities try to contain a second wave of cases.

In Vietnam, the city of Da Nang has been closed to tourists after four new cases were confirmed - the country's first since April. It is evacuating 80,000 visitors from the city.

From Wednesday 29 July, Hong Kong will make mask-wearing outdoors mandatory, restrict gatherings to no more than two people and ban dining in restaurants. It expects to record another daily total of more than 100 cases, according to the South China Morning Post.

Professor Brett Sutton, Victoria's chief health officer, said: Were at a very challenging stage with this wave. Theres probably not a country in the world that has gone through a second wave that hasnt found it particularly challenging."

Indonesia is expected to pass 100,000 confirmed cases on 27 July, having overtaken China as the country with the highest number of cases in East Asia.

Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases worldwide as of 26 July 2020, by region.

Image: WHO

3. WHO chief: We're all making life and death decisions

Treat the decisions about where you go, what you do and who you meet as a matter of life and death, the Director-General of the World Health Organization has urged.

Speaking at a media briefing, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the pandemic has changed the way we live our lives for good, and finding ways to live them safely will depend on making "good choices".

"It may not be your life, but your choices could be the difference between life and death for someone you love, or for a complete stranger."

Recent outbreaks have been associated with nightclubs and other social gatherings, even in places where transmission had been suppressed, he said, calling on people to not let down their guard against the virus.

"We must remember that most people are still susceptible to this virus. As long as its circulating, everyone is at risk.

"Dont expect someone else to keep you safe. We all have a part to play in protecting ourselves and one another."

Dr Tedros said people needed to understand their situation and how to minimize their exposure.

He urged everyone to ask themselves: Do you know how many cases were reported where you live yesterday? Do you know where to find that information? Are you being careful to keep at least one metre away from others? Are you still cleaning your hands regularly? Are you following the advice of your local authorities?

Catch up with the latest COVID-19 news and interviews via our World Vs Virus podcast:

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What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 27 July - World Economic Forum

An officer from the Lauderhill Police Department has died from coronavirus-related complications Sunday, officials said.

Corey Pendergrass had been a Lauderhill officer since 1997. He died on Sunday morning.

"It is with a heavy heart that the department announces the passing of our Brother, Officer Corey Pendergrass, who died this morning of complications related to COVID-19," officials wrote in a Tweet. "We will miss you tremendously."

Remembered as a "gentle giant," Pendergrass was also described as a mentor who left an indelible impression on those he encountered, Lauderhill Police Chief Constance Stanley said in a statement.

"The men and women of the Lauderhill Police Department and the entire city were very fortunate to have such a wonderful, kind and giving individual, who was always there when you needed him," Stanley said. "Corey never let anything get the best of him and always looked at the positive side of things when faced with adversity."

Pendergrass is survived by his wife and children.

Florida's death toll for residents who have died from COVID-related causes reached 5,854 Sunday, as the state surpassed New York in number of cases.

Link:

Lauderhill Cop Dies of COVID-19 - NBC 6 South Florida

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledged Friday that a significant number of COVID-19 patients do not recover quickly, and instead experience ongoing symptoms, such as fatigue and cough.

As many as a third of patients who were never sick enough to be hospitalized are not back to their usual health up to three weeks after their diagnosis, the report found.

Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

"COVID-19 can result in prolonged illness even among persons with milder outpatient illness, including young adults," the report's authors wrote.

The acknowledgement is welcome news to patients who call themselves "long-haulers" suffering from debilitating symptoms weeks and even months after their initial infection.

"This report is monumental for all of us who have been struggling with fear of the unknown, lack of recognition and many times, a lack of belief and proper care from medical professionals during our prolonged recovery from COVID-19," Kate Porter, who is on day 129 of her recovery, wrote in an email to NBC News.

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Porter, 35, of Beverly, Massachusetts, has had low-grade fevers, fatigue, rapid heart beat, shortness of breath and memory and sleep issues since her diagnosis March 17.

"This gives me hope that we will gain access to more resources throughout our recovery and hopefully, get our lives back to what they once were," Porter wrote.

Download the NBC News app for full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

The CDC report is based on telephone surveys of 274 COVID-19 patients. Ninety-five of those patients, or 35 percent, said they "had not returned to their usual state of health" when they were surveyed, which was at least two to three weeks after their first test.

Many with long-term symptoms are otherwise young and healthy: Among those surveyed between ages 18 and 34, about 20 percent experienced lasting symptoms.

"This report indicates that even among symptomatic adults tested in outpatient settings, it might take weeks for resolution of symptoms and return to usual health," the CDC authors wrote.

The report also pointed out that in contrast, "over 90 percent of outpatients with influenza recover within approximately two weeks" after a positive flu test.

Among the patients who experienced lasting symptoms in the CDC report, 71 percent reported fatigue, 61 percent had lasting cough, and 61 percent reported ongoing headaches.

The CDC added that preventative measures, such as physical distancing, face masks and frequent hand-washing, continue to be important to slow the spread of COVID-19.

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Erika Edwards is a health and medical news writer and reporter for NBC News and "TODAY."

Link:

CDC: One-third of COVID-19 patients who aren't hospitalized have long-term illness - NBC News