Category Archives: Corona Virus

After getting a first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in San Francisco last year.Credit...Mike Kai Chen for The New York Times

A corporate announcement on Thursday that a small clinical trial showed a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine strengthened the immune response of 140 children aged 5 to 11 comes as new U.S. virus cases are again ticking up.

The upswing has been particularly noticeable in the Northeast, where the Omicron subvariant known as BA.2, now the dominant version of the virus in the United States, first took hold.

Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, President Bidens chief medical adviser, warned in recent days that the United States could see a significant increase in infections over the next several weeks. But he has said the rates of hospitalizations are unlikely to rise in tandem because so many Americans have a degree of immunity, either from vaccines or prior infections.

Several hundred children age 5 to 11 have died of Covid since the pandemic began, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but pediatric shots have been a hard sell for many parents. Only about 28 percent of children in that age group have received two doses and would be eligible for a booster. Roughly 7 percent have received just one dose, according to agency data.

There was an initial rush for shots after they were first offered for that age group in November, but the increase in the vaccination rate then slowed to a crawl. In the past month, for example, it rose by a single percentage point.

Dr. Kathryn M. Edwards, a pediatric vaccine expert at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, said some parents feel that the chances are low that their children will get seriously ill, while the shots are an unknown. She said some research indicates that 45 percent of children who get infected have no symptoms.

The problem is that we cant predict who is going to get sick and who is not, she said. And among those who do, she said, there will be kids that are going to be hospitalized, and there will be a few deaths.

Dr. Sally Goza, a Fayetteville, Ga., pediatrician and former president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said some parents see no reason to act because they view the pandemic as quelled. Ive had parents come into my office and say, Covids over. I dont need to worry about that, she said.

To some extent, she said, parents have also been numbed by surge after surge of infection. People are tired of dealing with it. They are just like, We are just going to take our chances, she said.

The share of children age 5 to 11 with at least one dose varies starkly by region, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation study. Five of the top 10 states with the highest rates were in New England, while eight out of the 10 states with the lowest rates were in the South.

Even though more than 250 million Americans have been safely vaccinated since the pandemic began, pediatric experts say many parents fear unknown consequences for their children. Compared with shots to protect against measles, mumps and other diseases, which have been around for decades, the Covid vaccines are brand-new.

A study done by New York researchers, posted online in late February, found that for children age 5 to 11, the Pfizer vaccines effectiveness against infection fell to 12 percent from 68 percent within 28 to 34 days after the second dose.

That was a steeper decline than for older adolescents and teens who received a much stronger dose. Some experts suggested that the difference in dosage explained the gap in protection, while others blamed the Omicron variant that was prevalent during the study.

Another C.D.C. study stated that two Pfizer doses reduced the risk of Omicron infection by 31 percent among those ages 5 to 11, compared with a 59 percent reduction in risk among those ages 12 to 15.

Pfizers vaccine is so far the only one authorized for those younger than 18.

Read more here:

Covid News: South Korea to End Virtually All Restrictions - The New York Times

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. New confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the borough jumped by more than 50% over the past seven days compared to the preceding week, city Health Department data shows.

At the same time, the death rate on Staten Island attributed to the disease has remained constant, increasing by four in each of the past two weeks.

Meanwhile, coronavirus hospitalizations, which had soared above 300 early in the year, have fluctuated in the low-to-mid-20s since the beginning of the month.

With respect to new COVID cases, ZIP code data on the Health Departments web site depict a surge in certain parts of the city, especially sections of Manhattan and Brooklyn, including Williamsburg and Greenpoint.

On Staten Island, the ZIP codes with the highest positivity rate were 10307 at 8.16% and 10312 at 7.33% for the period of April 6 through 12, according to the most recent data available on the Health Departments web site.

ZIP code 10307 covers Tottenville, while ZIP code 10312 includes Annadale, Arden Heights, Eltingville, Greenridge and Huguenot.

As of Friday afternoon, 144,404 confirmed coronavirus cases have been recorded on Staten Island since the pandemic struck over two years ago, per city Health Department data.

There had been 144,283 cases on Thursday, for a one-day increase of 121.

On Friday, April 8, there were 143,622 confirmed cases, meaning that number rose by 782 over the past week.

That averages to about 112 cases a day, a boost of 53.4% from the 73 new daily cases the borough had averaged between April 1 and April 8.

As recently as the week between Feb. 25 and March 4, Staten Island had averaged just over 38 new COVID cases per day.

All data is preliminary, subject to change and can reflect lags in collection, the Health Department said.

HOSPITALIZATIONS

Despite the spike in new cases, the number of patients with coronavirus in Staten Island hospitals has remained fairly constant over past two weeks, and, in fact, has dropped considerably since the beginning of March.

As of Friday afternoon, 25 in-patients with coronavirus were being treated in Staten Islands two hospital systems. There had been the same number of patients a week earlier.

Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) had 22 patients, up three from April 8, said Jillian OHara, a spokeswoman.

Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton was caring for three patients, a drop from three from April 8, Alex Lutz, a spokesman, said.

Previously, on both Monday and Tuesday, COVID-19 hospitalizations in the borough had dipped to 20 before rising.

Looking back to the beginning of the month, 23 patients with coronavirus had been hospitalized on Staten Island on April 1.

Still, Fridays overall tally is 31 less than the 56 hospitalizations recorded on March 4. That marks a decline of more than 55% over the past six weeks.

COVID-19 hospitalizations in the borough have plummeted after hitting this years peak of 378 on Jan. 11.

Since that time, patient numbers have fallen by 353, or over 93%.

Hospitals must now report the number of patients being treated for coronavirus complications compared to those who test positive for the disease after being admitted for other reasons.

At Richmond University, none of Fridays three in-patients with coronavirus was admitted due to the disease or complications of it, said Lutz. While those patients were COVID-19 positive, the coronavirus was not included as one of the reasons for their admission, he said.

Those patients were hospitalized for various issues, such as emergency care, childbirth, behavioral health, and heart issues and were found to have the coronavirus.

An SIUH spokesman said in-patients there with COVID-19 are being treated primarily for the disease.

DEATHS

Also on Friday, 2,318 Staten Islanders are believed to have died from complications related to the coronavirus, per city Health Department statistics.

The death total had been the same on Thursday and was 2,314 on April 8.

Previously, Staten Island had also recorded four deaths during the one-week period of April 1 through April 8.

The fatalities include borough residents with confirmed coronavirus cases, as well as those whose deaths were considered as the probable result of the disease.

The Health Departments web site does not have a breakdown.

A death is classified as probable if the decedent was a city resident who had no known positive laboratory test for the coronavirus, but the death certificate lists COVID-19 or an equivalent as a cause of death.

The vast majority of confirmed coronavirus deaths in the five boroughs since the outbreak have occurred in individuals with underlying medical issues, which include lung disease, asthma, heart disease, a weakened immune system, obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease and cancer.

Citywide, 1,987,692 confirmed coronavirus cases have been reported as of Friday afternoon.

As for suspected coronavirus deaths across the five boroughs, that total has reached 40,133.

Go here to read the rest:

Staten Island is seeing a rise in coronavirus cases. Here are the neighborhoods with the highest rates. - SILive.com

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said Wednesday that they had tested positive for the coronavirus, the latest in a series of prominent Democrats, lawmakers and Biden administration officials to say they had been infected.

Also Wednesday, Representative Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, the assistant House speaker, and Representative Scott Peters of California announced their own positive tests.

The Justice Department said in a statement that Mr. Garland, 69, asked to be tested after learning that he may have been exposed. Mr. Garland, who is vaccinated and boosted, was not experiencing symptoms and planned to work from home for at least five days, the department said. He will not return to the office before he tests negative at the end of that period.

The announcement about Mr. Garland came just hours after he delivered a news briefing at the Justice Department at 10 a.m., where he stood unmasked next to several other officials, including Christopher A. Wray, the director of the F.B.I. The Justice Departments statement announcing the test result followed several hours later.

Mr. Garland addressed reporters for more than half an hour, often trading places with others at the briefing room podium.

A White House official said President Biden, who has not tested positive for the coronavirus, was not considered a close contact. The official was not authorized to speak publicly and asked for anonymity.

In a news briefing Wednesday afternoon, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said that although cases are increasing among Congress, the press corps and the White House, the administration is not planning on toughening protocols and plans to continue its return to work plan.

But Ms. Psaki, who recently tested positive herself for a second time, added that the president has remained protected from the virus by taking measures that go beyond what the C.D.C. protocols are, like ensuring everyone who sees Mr. Biden is tested in advance and socially distancing in meetings with the president including in the Oval Office.

The president was last tested on Monday and received a negative result, according to the White House.

Ms. Raimondo, 50, tested positive after taking an at-home antigen test, the Commerce Department said in a statement on Wednesday. The secretary, who is fully vaccinated and boosted, was experiencing mild symptoms and would isolate and work at home for five days before taking another test, in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the department said.

Her office said it was conducting contact tracing and was in the process of notifying people with whom she may have been in close contact.

Ms. Clark, 58, said on Twitter on Wednesday morning that she had tested positive for the virus and was experiencing mild symptoms. She said she had been vaccinated and boosted.

I am grateful to our health care professionals and researchers who have given us the tools to manage this deadly virus, she said.

Mr. Peters tweeted that he is feeling fine thanks to being vaccinated and boosted, and will isolate at home while his office remains fully operational.

Jamal Simmons, the vice presidents communications director, also tested positive for the virus on Wednesday, according to a White House statement. He will be isolating and working from home, but Mr. Simmons was in close contact to Vice President Kamala Harris. She will follow consult with her physician and plans to continue with her public schedule.

The officials who announced their test results on Wednesday came the day after three other House Democrats Representatives Joaquin Castro of Texas, Adam Schiff of California and Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida said they had tested positive.

The positive tests are a reminder that, even as top officials seek to pivot away from strict restrictions and encourage Americans to learn to live with the coronavirus, the pandemic continues, driven by the emergence of a new, highly contagious subvariant whose spread is alarming experts.

In March, at least nine House Democrats announced positive tests in a span of five days, with more than half of those cases emerging after lawmakers attended a party retreat in Philadelphia. Two other lawmakers who did not attend the retreat also tested positive during the same time.

Hillary Clinton and Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, also tested positive for the virus in March, as did Ms. Psaki, who tested positive for the second time in five months, one day before she was scheduled to join Mr. Biden on a diplomatic trip to Europe.

Katie Rogers contributed reporting.

Here is the original post:

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Tests Positive for the Coronavirus - The New York Times

The Department of Defense recently released the Consolidated Department of Defense Coronavirus Disease 2019 Force Health Protection (FHP) Guidance to serve as a uniform and consolidated policy for DOD's continued response to COVID- 19, and serve as the DOD COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan required by Executive Order 13991, "Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing," January 20, 2021.

This memorandum consolidates and replaces the listed FHP memoranda, complies with applicable court orders, and is consistent with relevant Presidential directives and Office of Management and Budget and Safer Federal Workforce Task Force guidance.

Specifically, the guidance consolidates, incorporates, and rescinds the following policy and guidance:

As Federal COVID-19 guidance and requirements evolve, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness will revise the affected portions of the document to rapidly update and disseminate targeted FHP guidance to all DOD Components. These updates will be in a form that can replace the pages of the consolidated guidance that the updates supersede. DOD Components may, in tum, issue any necessary supplemental guidance and, most importantly, will rapidly execute actions required to protect the health of the Force and preserve mission readiness.

The Consolidated Department of Defense Coronavirus Disease 2019 Force Health Protection Guidance can be found here.

Continue reading here:

Consolidated Department of Defense Coronavirus Disease 2019 Force Health Protection Guidan - Department of Defense

Catching Covid is associated with a fivefold increase in the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and a 33-fold increase in risk of a potentially fatal blood clot on the lung in the 30 days after becoming infected, data suggests.

The findings, published in the British Medical Journal on Thursday, could help explain a doubling in the incidence of, and deaths from, blood clots in England since the start of the pandemic compared with the same periods in 2018 and 2019.

They also help to put the very small increased risk of blood clots associated with Covid-19 vaccination into context. The degree of complications associated with Covid-19 is much stronger and lasts for much longer than what we might be getting after vaccination, said Dr Frederick Ho, a lecturer in public health at the University of Glasgow, who was not involved in the research.

Even those people with mild symptoms who do not need to be hospitalised might have a small increase in the risk of [blood clots].

Although previous research had suggested that catching Covid was associated with an increased risk of blood clots, it was unclear for how long this risk remained, and whether mild infections also increased peoples risk.

To address these uncertainties, Anne-Marie Fors Connolly at Ume University in Sweden and her colleagues measured the risk of DVT, pulmonary embolism a blood clot on the lung and various types of bleeding, such as gastrointestinal bleeding or a burst blood vessel in the brain, in more than 1 million people with confirmed Covid infections and more than 4 million uninfected individuals.

Overall, they identified a 33-fold increase in the risk of pulmonary embolism, a fivefold increase in the risk of DVT and an almost twofold increase in the risk of bleeding in the 30 days after infection. People remained at increased risk of pulmonary embolism for six months after becoming infected, and for two and three months for bleeding and DVT.

Although the risks were highest in patients with more severe illness, even those with mild Covid had a threefold increased risk of DVT and a sevenfold increased risk of pulmonary embolism. No increased risk of bleeding was found in those who experienced mild infections.

Pulmonary embolism can be fatal, so it is important to be aware [of this risk], said Connolly. If you suddenly find yourself short of breath, and it doesnt pass, [and] youve been infected with the coronavirus, then it might be an idea to seek help, because we find this increased risk for up to six months.

Ho said the results remained relevant even in the Omicron era, since current vaccines were highly effective against severe Covid but breakthrough infections were common, even after a third dose of a vaccine.

Despite the potential for new variants of concern, most governments are removing restrictions and shifting their focus to determining how best to live with Covid. This study reminds us of the need to remain vigilant to the complications associated with even mild Sars-CoV-2 infection, including [blood clots].

See the original post:

Covid linked to 33-fold increase in risk of pulmonary embolism - The Guardian

In his first public appearance since testing positive for the coronavirus last week, Gov. Phil Murphy urged people Wednesday to remember COVID-19 is still here and to be cautious.

The governor spoke in Jersey City at St. Peters Universitys 150th Anniversary Founders Week Celebration. He had been isolated at his home for five days prior.

Allow my experience to be a reminder that even though we may be past the worst of COVID, we are not entirely past COVID, Murphy said. Allow me to be your proof that the virus is still among us and please use me as your example of the need to continue to be smart and safe, and continue to use common sense and common courtesy.

Murphy credited being vaccinated and boosted for being able to make it through COVID with nothing more than mild symptoms.

The 64-year-old governor added he was planning to get his second booster recommended for people over 50 years old around the time he tested positive for the virus.

Murphys office said Friday the governor was experiencing minor symptoms a day after he tested positive. He took a rapid antigen test Thursday afternoon as part of his regularly scheduled testing regime, and it came back positive, his office said. Murphy then took a PCR test, which also came back positive, the office said. PCR tests are more reliable.

Murphy is considered high risk because he had a cancerous tumor removed from his kidney on March 4, 2020, the same day the state reported its first known case of the virus.

New Jerseys COVID-19 numbers plummeted in recent months after a record spike in December and January fueled by the omicron variant. Murphys diagnosis comes as the state is seeing its COVID-19 cases begin to tick up slightly again, though they are still relatively low.

BA.2, also known as the omicron stealth variant, now makes up the majority of cases in North America. Officials have said the strain appears to spread more easily but does not cause more severe illness.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco.

See the original post here:

Allow me to be your proof that the virus is still among us, Murphy says in first post-COVID appearance - NJ.com

NHS chiefs have issued an extraordinary plea for families to help them discharge loved ones even if they are Covid-19 positive as the health service faces a perfect storm fuelled by heavy demand, severe staff shortages and soaring Covid cases.

Hospitals and ambulance services across England are under enormous strain, health leaders have warned, after NHS trusts covering millions of patients declared critical incidents or issued stark warnings to residents.

Dr Layla McCay, director of policy at the NHS Confederation, which represents the whole healthcare system, said the situation had become so serious that all parts of the health service were now becoming weighed down. This will have a direct knock-on effect on the ability of staff to tackle the care backlog, she added, as well as the current provision of urgent and emergency care.

On Wednesday evening, the crisis became so acute in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight that its chief medical officer urged relatives of patients well enough to be discharged to collect them immediately even if they were still testing positive for coronavirus.

Dr Derek Sandeman, of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care System, revealed that almost every hospital in the two counties was full, and said the number of people with Covid-19 being cared for in hospitals across the area was 650 more than 2.5 times higher than in early January. He added that 2,800 staff working for local NHS organisations were off sick, half of which absences were due to Covid-19.

With staff sickness rates well above average, rising cases of Covid-19 and very high numbers of people needing treatment, we face a perfect storm but there are some very specific ways in which people can help the frontline NHS and care teams, said Sandeman.

If you have a loved one who is in hospital, please help staff to help get them home quickly when they are well enough even if they are still testing positive for Covid. That is enormously important to help us make beds available for those in greatest need.

Earlier on Wednesday, a major ambulance trust, South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS), which covers 7 million people across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Sussex and Surrey, declared a critical incident after extreme pressures forced it to prioritise patients with life-threatening illnesses.

At the same time, six hospitals across Yorkshire issued a joint warning for people to stay away from emergency departments except for in genuine, life-threatening situations after a surge in numbers left some patients waiting for up to 12 hours.

With nearly 20,000 people in hospital with coronavirus in England, these latest critical incidents highlight how once again the pressure on our health service is mounting, McCay said. Ambulances, A&E departments and frontline providers of care across all parts of the NHS are weighed down by heavy demand.

Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, said NHS trusts right across England were under enormous strain caused by rising numbers of people with Covid-19 in hospital, a very high number of beds being occupied, staff absences and severe workforce shortages. Trust leaders and everybody in the NHS are keenly aware of the impact of delays and addressing them is an absolute priority, she added.

SCAS declared a critical incident on Wednesday after a huge volume of callouts the previous day and asked people to call 999 only in life-threatening or serious emergencies.

Meanwhile, hospital trusts across West Yorkshire and Harrogate in North Yorkshire an area covering more than 2.5 million people said the current pressures had left them with no choice but to prioritise patients presenting with acute illness or injuries.

West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT) said its most recent emergency department figures showed a 14.2% increase in attendances compared with the same week last year.

Dr Andrew Lockey, emergency medicine consultant with Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, said: Our hospitals are extremely busy, and people are having to wait a long time to be seen.

An NHS England spokesperson said: NHS staff remain under significant pressure on many fronts as they deal with high numbers of ambulance callouts and increasing numbers of people in hospital with Covid-19, while the latest weekly figures also show a spike in the number of staff off sick due to the virus.

Despite this, NHS teams across the country are working hard to deliver as much routine care as possible as well as rolling out the spring booster programme, so if you have a health concern, please come forward for the care you need and if invited, get your vaccine at the earliest opportunity.

Go here to read the rest:

Families asked to take in Covid-positive loved ones as NHS faces perfect storm - The Guardian

MIAMI (AP) (2010s)

The NBA suspends the season ''until further notice'' after Rudy Goebert of the Utah Jazz tests positive for the coronavirus. The move comes hours after the majority of the league's owners were leaning toward playing games without fans in arenas. The stoppage is expected to last a couple weeks. But the NBA does not resume play again until the end of July with a scaled-down version involving 22 teams inside a bubble created at the Disney World complex in Florida. The Associated Press is republishing verbatim the story of the NBA suspending the season March 12, 2020.

---

By TIM REYNOLDS

By AP Basketball Writer

MIAMI - The NBA has suspended its season ''until further notice'' after a Utah Jazz player tested positive Wednesday for the coronavirus, a move that came only hours after the majority of the league's owners were leaning toward playing games without fans in arenas.

Now there will be no games at all, at least for the time being. A person with knowledge of the situation said the Jazz player who tested positive was center Rudy Gobert. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither the league nor the team confirmed the test.

''The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight's schedule of games until further notice,'' the league said in a statement sent shortly after 9:30 p.m. EDT. ''The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.''

The test result, the NBA said, was reported shortly before the scheduled tip-off time for the Utah at Oklahoma City game on Wednesday night was called off. Players were on the floor for warmups and tip-off was moments away when they were told to return to their locker rooms. About 30 minutes later, fans were told the game was postponed ''due to unforeseen circumstances.''

Those circumstances were the league's worst-case scenario for now - a player testing positive. A second person who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity said the league expects the shutdown to last a minimum of two weeks, but cautioned that timeframe is very fluid.

Story continues

''It's a very serious time right now,'' Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. ''I think the league moved appropriately and prudently and we'll all just have to monitor the situation and see where it goes from here.''

The Jazz released a statement saying a player - they did not identify Gobert - tested negative earlier Wednesday for flu, strep throat and an upper respiratory infection. That player's symptoms diminished as the day went along, but the decision was made to test for COVID-19 anyway. That test came back with a preliminary positive result.

''The individual is currently in the care of health officials in Oklahoma City,'' the Jazz said, adding that updates would come as appropriate.

For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, which declared a pandemic on Wednesday, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover. In mainland China, where the virus first exploded, more than 80,000 people have been diagnosed and more than 58,000 have so far recovered.

It has been a worldwide issue for several weeks. And now, it has hit the NBA.

''This is crazy,'' Cleveland forward Tristan Thompson said on Twitter.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said he was stunned when the news came down, adding that ''this is much bigger than basketball.''

''This is a global pandemic where people's lives are at stake,'' Cuban said. ''I'm a lot more worried about my kids, and my mom is 82 years old, and talking to her, and telling her to stay in the house, than I am about when we play our next game.''

Charlotte Hornets coach James Borrego, speaking before his team's game at Miami, said ''these are scary times.''

Rapidly evolving times, as well. Around 7 p.m., a person with knowledge of the situation told AP that owners - who met by teleconference Wednesday - were largely in support of a plan to play games in empty arenas on a short-term basis.

About an hour later, the Thunder-Jazz game was halted before tip-off. And about 90 minutes after that, the season was called off, effective when the last whistle was to blow Wednesday night.

That came even earlier than planned: The last game of the night's six-game slate, New Orleans at Sacramento, was called off as well because one of the referees assigned to work that Pelicans-Kings game, Courtney Kirkland, worked a Utah game on Monday.

''The game was canceled out of an abundance of caution,'' the NBA said.

There are 259 games, roughly 21% of the schedule, left to play this season - and no one knows if, or when, things will resume.

''We believe in the leadership of the league,'' Philadelphia 76ers general manager Elton Brand said.

The shutdown is the latest major development in a season filled with unspeakably hard challenges. The league lost as much as $400 million in revenue after a rift with China was started in October when Houston general manager Daryl Morey tweeted out support of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong. Former NBA Commissioner David Stern died in January, the same month that soon-to-be Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash.

And now, a pandemic - which could also cost the league hundreds of millions in lost revenue, depending on how long it lasts. Cuban said he expected his team to remain in Dallas, rehabbing and working and being ready to return whenever the league re-opens.

''As we've said from the beginning, the health and safety of our fans, employees, players and partners is our top priority and thus we fully support the NBA's decision to postpone games,'' Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins said. ''We will continue to stay in contact with the league, and local, state and federal health experts as we closely monitor this public health crisis.''

If the regular season ends here, it would be the end of Atlanta guard Vince Carter's 22-year playing career. And just in case this was it, the Hawks put Carter in with 19.5 seconds left in overtime in what was already clearly going to be a loss to New York.

Carter took an open 3-pointer and made it - the Knicks, aware of the moment, didn't defend him either - and celebrated with Hawks teammates afterward after what may be the final shot of his career.

''A weird, but cool memory,'' Carter said.

Also shut down: The G League, the NBA's minor league where teams have somewhere between six and nine games left on their 50-game schedules.

The NBA's movement toward empty arenas in the short term came on the same day that the NCAA announced that the men's and women's Division I tournaments would be played without fans - except for a few family members - permitted inside to watch.

''People are clearly taking the measures that they feel they need to take for safety,'' said Heat guard Duncan Robinson, who played in both the Division I and Division III national championship games during his college days at Michigan and Williams.

Robinson added, ''but at the same time the NBA has to protect its players in the league and the fans.''

Things were trending toward games in empty arenas for some time, and it was abundantly clear Wednesday morning when the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told a Congressional committee that he would recommend the NBA not allow fans at games in response to the coronavirus.

Dr. Anthony Fauci was responding to a question asked by Rep. Glenn Grothman, a Wisconsin Republican, ''is the NBA underreacting or is the Ivy League overreacting?'' Grothman was referencing how the Ivy League recently canceled its basketball tournaments, instead of having them without fans or keeping the status quo.

''We would recommend that there not be large crowds,'' Fauci said. ''If that means not having any people in the audience when the NBA plays, so be it. But as a public health official, anything that has crowds is something that would give a risk to spread.''

That was when the concern was about crowds and containment.

By the close of business Wednesday in the NBA, the concern was so much more.

''This is surreal,'' Borrego said. ''This is reality for us now. It's no longer just on TV somewhere. This is now home.''

---

More on the NBA At 75: https://apnews.com/hub/nba-at-75

---

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports

More:

AP Was There: NBA suspends season over coronavirus pandemic - Yahoo Sports

Green tea (Camellia sinensis) is one of the most popular health beverages around the world.

Originating from China, green tea is lauded for many health benefits due to its potential antioxidant, antiviral and immune-boosting properties (1, 2).

Its recently been investigated for a possible role in managing the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes illness from COVID-19. You may have heard that drinking green tea prevents or cures the disease.

In this article, we explain whether green tea affects COVID-19 and offer some immune-boosting tips.

Green tea is rich in health-promoting polyphenols, such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which has anti-viral effects against single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) viruses like Zika, hepatitis C, influenza (flu), dengue, and others (1, 3, 4, 5).

Like these, the SARS-CoV-2 is an ssRNA virus. Thus, green tea extracts continue to be investigated for their potential role in treating the virus and managing the COVID-19 pandemic (1, 2).

Test-tube research shows that green tea extracts may combat the SARS-CoV-2 virus by damaging the spike protein, preventing its entry into human cells and reducing the overall volume of the virus (3, 4, 5, 6).

Treatment of the test tube cells with EGCG was most effective during early stages of infection (3).

However, its important to understand that drinking green tea itself cant prevent or cure COVID-19. Most studies showing an effect used single green tea extracts like EGCG in concentrated amounts much higher than whats found in the natural tea.

Furthermore, EGCG is poorly absorbed when consumed orally from teas (4).

Nonetheless, green tea extracts may have potential to be used for natural treatment of COVID-19 after further human research and testing.

Remember, the best way to prevent serious illness from COVID-19 is by getting vaccinated, maintaining physical distancing, and washing your hands often. You can learn more about COVID-19 vaccines here.

Drinking green tea cannot prevent, treat, or cure the COVID-19 virus, but concentrated extracts like EGCG may have potential to be used for natural treatment after further human research and testing.

A COVID-19 infection can cause inflammation, which is linked to symptoms like fatigue, muscle pain, and achy joints (7).

Green tea may have anti-inflammatory properties. Its shown to reduce damaging inflammation associated with the COVID-19 virus, potentially easing these symptoms (8).

The EGCG found in green tea may also shorten infection periods by suppressing viral activity, although this effect has only been observed in test-tube studies. We need human research before we can draw conclusions (9).

Green tea is also a source of other immune-supportive nutrients like zinc, iron, and selenium albeit in small amounts (10).

Regardless, you may find that sipping on a warm cup of green tea during your COVID-19 infection is simply soothing.

Green tea may reduce damaging inflammation associated with COVID-19, potentially improving negative symptoms induced by the virus, such as muscle pains. Its also a source of immune-supportive nutrients, though theyre present only in small amounts.

Green tea contains small amounts of the following immune-boosting micronutrients (10):

Nutrient deficiencies impair immune health. For instance, research suggests that selenium deficiency may contribute to more severe illness from COVID-19 (11).

Green tea infusions made by steeping dried green tea leaves or a tea bag in hot water contain varying levels of these micronutrients, dependening on the quality of soil it was grown in (10).

Overall, concentrations of micronutrients in green tea appear low.

Green tea contains small amounts of the micronutrients zinc, copper, selenium, and vitamins B2 and B12, all of which are shown to boost immune health.

Green tea contains only small amounts of immune-boosting micronutrients. Enjoy infused green tea along with these tips to better support your overall immune health:

Increase fruit and vegetable intake, exercise regularly, avoid smoking, practice handwashing and hand hygiene, and aim for 7-9 hours per night to boost your immune health.

Green tea is a popular drink often touted as a health beverage. Some claims may hold true: it has proven antiviral effects against single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) viruses like Zika, hepatitis C, influenza, and dengue.

Its potential role in combatting SARS-CoV-2 continues to be investigated, but drinking green tea is not proven to prevent or cure COVID-19.

Increase fruit and vegetable intake, exercise regularly, avoid smoking, practice hand-washing and hand hygiene, and aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night to boost your immune health.

Vaccination against COVID-19, in conjunction with physical distancing and masking when appropriate, remains the best way to protect yourself and others from severe illness.

Originally posted here:

Green Tea and Covid: Is There a Relationship? - Healthline

Republicans are eyeing an attempt to link a Trump-era immigration policy to a coronavirus relief deal that senators are hoping to pass by the end of the week.

GOP senators are pushing for a vote targeting the Biden administrations decision to end Title 42 which allowed migrants at the border to besummarily expelled from the country instead of being processed under regular immigration rules and allowed to exercise their right to claim asylum as part of a debate over a $10 billion coronavirus relief deal announced earlier Monday.

In order to pass the $10 billion coronavirus aid deal before the chamber leaves for a two-week break, Senate leadership is going to need cooperation from all 100 senators. That could give Republicans leverage to push for an amendment vote.

It seems like theres kind of critical mass behind that idea. How the Democrats want to handle that issue may have some bearing on how and when the COVID bill proceeds, said Sen. John Thune (S.D.), the No. 2 Senate Republican.

Thune added that if Democrats want to pass the coronavirus bill this week, they are going to have to negotiate with Republicans to speed things up.

Republicans would need a decision by the Senate parliamentarian but think an amendment related to Title 42 would qualify for getting a simple majority vote if Democrats let it come up.

That could put Democrats in a politically awkward spot. Several Senate Democrats have been critical of the administrations decision to end the Trump-era policy. Because of the 50-50 Senate, Republicans would need only one of those Democrats to vote for their amendment to get it added into a coronavirus relief bill.

In addition to trying to get changes into the coronavirus bill, Republicans are expected to focus on the border heading into November.

The administration onFriday rescinded Title 42, the Trump-era policy that allows for the rapid expulsion of migrants at the border and blocks them from seeking asylum.

The order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lifts Title 42 on May 23.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) called its striking a frightening decision for an administration nowhere near prepared for an influx at the border.

Meanwhile, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), who is up for reelection, called it the wrong decision.

Its unacceptable to end Title 42 without a plan and coordination in place to ensure a secure, orderly, and humane process at the border, Kelly wrote.

More here:

GOP eyes linking Title 42 to coronavirus deal - The Hill