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A new report published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday suggests that Pfizer-BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine can protect people against concerning new coronavirus variants, including one first seen in South Africa called B.1.351. For the study, researchers at Pfizer and the University of Texas Medical Branch genetically engineered versions of the virus to
Continue ReadingPeople who survive a bout of Covid-19 with mild symptoms or even no symptoms may be able to thank their Neanderthal ancestors, a new study suggests. Researchers found a genetic mutation that reduces the risk of severe Covid-19 infection by about 22%. It was found in all the samples they took of Neanderthal DNA, and
Continue ReadingPeople with mental disorders have been found to be at higher risk of developing age-related diseases, but not necessarily at greater risk of aging faster — until now. Experiencing mental disorders early in life may lead to poorer physical health and accelerated aging in adulthood, found a study published Wednesday in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.
Continue ReadingNew coronavirus variants could lead to a rapid rise in Covid-19 cases, and can “dangerously accelerate the trajectory of the pandemic,” US health officials warned Wednesday. “I know these variants are concerning, especially as we’re seeing signs of progress,” US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a White House
Continue ReadingThe world’s first Covid-19 human challenge study will begin within a month in the UK, deliberately exposing up to 90 healthy young people to the coronavirus. The study received ethics approval this week, the country’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said Wednesday in a statement. During the trial, up to 90 volunteers
Continue ReadingFully vaccinated people can now skip quarantine even if they’ve been exposed to Covid-19, according to new guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But at the same time, the agency also acknowledges there’s a lot researchers don’t know about how vaccines impact transmission. The new guidance only applies if it has
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While many Americans were dealing with how to stay warm Tuesday, some vaccine providers were dealing with the news that some shipments were running behind. About 105 million Americans throughout the county remain under a winter storm warning or watch as many deal with frustrating power outages and stinging cold temperatures. “Significant snow, sleet, and
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Dr. Anthony Fauci said vaccines won’t be available to the “general public” before mid- to late May or early June, he told CNN’s Jim Sciutto on Tuesday. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, acknowledged that previous estimates had placed vaccine availability for the general public — or nonessential workers under
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Going back more than a hundred years, New York has held the dubious distinction of being a corruption leader among US states and has struggled to ensure integrity in state government. In recent years, high-profile bribery cases have ensnared the leaders of both legislative bodies and Governor Andrew Cuomo’s former right-hand man. Now, a different
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President Joe Biden took part in his first town hall since entering the White House last month, answering questions from CNN’s Anderson Cooper (and audience members) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I watched, took notes and have some thoughts about what mattered most — and why. My takeaways are below. 1. A hard deadline on vaccinations: Less
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Vaccine distribution slowed in many areas because of winter storms engulfing much of the country Monday and Tuesday. Here are the localities and states that have delayed or postponed distribution so far: Alabama Some county health departments closed their vaccination clinics Tuesday, the Alabama Department of Public Health said. Colorado Colorado is among the states
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About 105 million Americans throughout the county remain under a winter storm warning or watch as many deal with frustrating power outages and stinging cold temperatures. “Significant snow, sleet, and freezing rain accumulations will spread across most of the Mid-South Wednesday and Thursday,” the National Weather Service said. Winter storm warnings are in effect in
Continue ReadingThe US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday released guidelines for reopening schools that focus on five key Covid-19 mitigation strategies: the universal and correct wearing of masks; physical distancing; washing hands; cleaning facilities and improving ventilation; and contact tracing, isolation and quarantine. Vaccines and testing are not among the “key” strategies the
Continue ReadingThe Covid-19 vaccine rollout started as a trickle. But the pace has steadily picked up each week, more than tripling in the first month under the Trump administration and reaching President Joe Biden’s goal of 1.5 million shots per day just about three weeks into his term. But some aspects of the federal rollout plan
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Millions of Americans reeling from a deadly storm and massive power outages are about to get walloped by more winter weather. Already, about 2,000 records for low temperatures have been shattered this past week, CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen said. On Tuesday alone, at least 20 cities suffered their coldest weather in history. Many more new
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The US on Monday reported more than 53,800 new Covid-19 infections: its lowest daily case count since October and a vastly different number from those plaguing the country just last month, when infections were topping 200,000 a day. Statistics across the US are now reflecting more encouraging trends. California, one of the states hit hardest
Continue ReadingA genetic test used to detect common traits many people share is not reliable in identifying rare disease-causing variations, such as those that can predict breast and ovarian cancer, a new study has found. The SNP test, which stands for “single nucleotide polymorphism,” is used by direct-to-consumer DNA and ancestry companies to identify common traits
Continue ReadingAdella Bond fired her revolver outside her window into the South Philadelphia air, hoping to attract police as a mob of Irish American people gathered around her home to tell her she wasn’t welcome. Bond, a Black woman who was a municipal court probation officer, knew that racial conflicts unfolded in neighborhoods that had once
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Vaccine distribution in states and cities across the US are slowing down because of winter storms that have left more than a third of the continental US with below-zero temperatures Monday. The severe winter weather sparked emergency declarations in at least seven states, including Alabama, Oregon, Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi and Texas. Here are the
Continue ReadingIs it possible to make bars safe in a pandemic? One experiment in Scotland last summer went flat, according to new research published Monday in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. Despite guidance from the government and efforts on the part of bar owners to implement safety measures, customers and staff alike failed
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