Month: November 2020

DETROIT – Michigan announced 8,516 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, smashing the previous single-day record by more than 1,500 cases. The state also reported 118 new deaths, including 83 from a Vital Records review. A week ago Friday, Michigan reported 3,700 new cases, so the total has more than double. The fast-moving spread of the virus isn’t letting up despite dire warnings from experts and hospital leaders. Experts are urging anyone who will listen to stay home and stay safe, but the message simply doesn’t appear to be getting through to Michigan residents. Dr. Adnan Munkarah, Henry Ford Health top doctor, is worried about the possibility of COVID-19 deaths jumping. “From a national data perspective, we’ve had close to 1,200 deaths in the past 24 hours,” Munkarah said. “In Michigan, we...

With local COVID-19 cases spiking in Eagle County, officials are preparing for the move into the high-risk phase of the state’s COVID-19 dial by 5 p.m. Monday. The transmission of the virus in Eagle County is at its highest point since the onset of the pandemic. In the orange phase of the state’s dial, local restaurants, gyms, retail stores, offices and personal service businesses can only operate at 25% capacity or fewer than 50 people. The same goes for indoor events. Dashboard-Orange-copy A recurring pattern Heath Harmon, Eagle County’s public health director, told community leaders Thursday morning during a call hosted by the Vail Chamber and Business Association that incident rates of COVID-19 transmission currently exceed the county’s two previous spikes in March and July. “We n...

CHICAGO — The Chicago Department of Public Health has discovered a possible exposure to measles at a Chicago airport. Health officials said an unvaccinated 13-month-old traveled through Chicago O’Hare International Airport earlier this month and was later diagnosed with measles. The child and the family were returning from an international trip. The department of public health said travelers who came through O’Hare on the date and times noted below who have received standard childhood vaccines do not need to take action, but those who are unvaccinated should check their records and reach out to their health care provider if they develop symptoms. Date, time, location of possible exposure:Nov. 4, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. O’Hare Airport, Terminal 5Nov. 4, 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. ...

Joseph Fisher demonstrates the ClearMate in his lab with UHN associate scientist Olivia Sobczyk. UHN Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to damaging and even deadly ethanol poisoning in the body. Current treatment options are limited, but researchers may have discovered a new use for a device that treats carbon monoxide poisoning. It essentially allows a person to safely hyperventilate without passing out. The device is the ClearMate from Thornh...

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials are taking a new tack to encourage Americans to wear masks: They’re emphasizing recent research that a mask protects the person who wears it. Previously, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised people to wear masks because of evidence that it stops people who are infected with coronavirus — whether they know it or not — from spreading it to others. But this week the CDC posted a new scientific brief discussing recent studies finding that a wearer gets some protection. The agency’s guidance didn’t change. It continues to advise Americans to wear masks to stop the virus from spreading. “But now we’re saying here’s another reason” to do it, said Dr. John Brooks, chief medical officer for the CDC’s COVID-19 emergency response. Agency offic...

Each week, we answer frequently asked questions about life during the coronavirus crisis. If you have a question you'd like us to consider for a future post, email us at goatsandsoda@npr.org with the subject line: "Weekly Coronavirus Questions." Does putting a reusable mask in the oven for 30 minutes at 165 degrees Fahrenheit kill the virus that causes COVID-19 and other pathogens? If not, how do I clean it? The good news: Yes, baking your cloth or synthetic mask would probably kill the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. Several studies have shown that the virus dies when exposed to 158 degrees Fahrenheit for a length of time somewhere between 2 1/2 minutes and an hour. The bad news: It may also sin...