Month: August 2020

The rate of positive COVID-19 tests in Minnesota inched back above 5 percent on Sunday, as the state reported eight more deaths from the disease. The percentage of positive tests — 5.3 percent in Sunday's report from the state Department of Health — is one of the key metrics officials are monitoring as they track the spread of the coronavirus in Minnesota. It's been relatively stable over the past week, just below or above the 5 percent mark. That's up from a month ago, but still far below the peak seen in early May. The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 dropped in the latest report, from 317 on Saturday to 302 on Sunday. But the number remains higher than a week ago, and has trended upward over the course of several weeks. The number of those patients being treated in ICUs w...

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported 21 new cases of coronavirus and no new deaths on Sunday.The 21 new cases reported, brings the total in Maine to 3,958 since the outbreak began.No new deaths have been reported since Friday. The total number of Mainers with COVID-19 who have died remains at 123.A total of 3,387 Mainers have recovered from the virus, which is an increase of 10 over the past 24 hours.Slow the spread: CLICK HERE to read the CDC guidelines on coronavirusMAINE CORONAVIRUS DATA: Deaths: 123 Total cases: 3,958 Confirmed cases: 3,535 Probable cases: 423 Cumulative positivity rate: 2.72% 14-day positivity rate: 0.9% Patients recovered: 3,387 Active cases: 448 Currently hospitaliz...

Congressional leaders and White House officials bickered over details of a proposed $1 trillion package Sunday with stimulus checks, jobless benefit bonuses and relief for small businesses hanging in the balance. All combatants agree that some progress was made in talks Saturday, but no one spoke optimistically about a deal coming soon. Among major sticking points – what will replace the $600 weekly unemployment benefit bonus that expired last week. The bonus more than doubled unemployment checks issued to tens of millions of Americans left jobless by months of pandemic-driven recession. "We have to balance,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Sunday on ABC's "This Week." "There’s obviously a need to support workers, support the economy … on the other hand, we have to be careful a...

California has become the first state to pass 500,000 coronavirus cases as the death toll in the US tops 1,000 for the fifth day in a row.  The state of California has set multiple milestones amid the pandemic throughout the month of July.  As of Saturday, California has recorded 500,130 cases. The state's health department also reported an additional 219 deaths, which set a new record for the number of deaths reported in a single day.  That record was last broken on Wednesday when California recorded 176 deaths. The state has a total of 9,224 deaths.  California (testing site in Los Angeles) has become the first state to pass 500,000 coronavirus cases Meanwhile, deaths from the coronavirus in the US have topped 1,000 for the fifth day in a row  ...

A Georgia sleepaway camp that required masks for counselors was forced to close in June after more than 260 attendees contracted coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control said. Out of 344 campers and staff tested for the COVID-19 virus, 260 came back positive in the weeks after the camp closed, according to the CDC’s analysis, which was released on Friday. The camp — identified as YMCA Camp High Harbour by local outlet WSB-TV — opened its doors to overnight campers on June 21, only to shut down for good six days later. In that short time, dozens of campers managed to get sick: 51 of the camp’s 100 kids aged 6 to 10 tested positive, according to the CDC. Children accounted for 168 of the 260 positive cases, though older counselors were more likely to contract the disease. ...