Month: December 2020

New Jersey on Wednesday reported 4,350 new cases of the coronavirus and another 56 deaths as hospitalizations across the state continue to climb. There were 3,287 people being treated throughout the state’s 71 hospitals as of Tuesday night, the most since May 20. And as of Wednesday morning, five hospitals in the state were on divert status citing patient volume. A sixth hospital was on divert for critical care, also citing patient volume. And though the rate of transmission of the virus has ticked down slightly, the virus continues to spread in the state. New Jersey’s current statewide transmission is 1.08, down from 1.1 on Tuesday. The positivity rate for all of Sunday’s tests was 13.68%. The 7-day average is 4,093, about the same as a week ago and up 151% from a month ago. Gov. Phil...

The move reflects the agency’s recognition that the two-week quarantine rule is onerous for many people and that most of the public health benefit from quarantining people exposed to the virus can be gained with a more flexible approach. The CDC acknowledges that this new guidance involves a trade-off. The existing 14-day recommendation reflects the ability of the virus to incubate for a long period before symptoms appear. But lack of compliance — for example, among people who are reluctant to talk to contact tracers because they fear they or their friends or family members could lose a job or two weeks of income — can undermine the public health benefit from that standard. “We are accepting some risk in exchange for reduction in burden that will allow us to better control this epidemi...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday announced shorter coronavirus-related quarantine periods ahead of anticipated holiday travel.  The CDC announced two acceptable quarantine periods, though noted that the previously-established 14 days of quarantine is the best way to reduce risk of virus spread. Officials said quarantine can now end after 10 days without a COVID-19 test, if the person reports no symptoms, or after seven days with a negative test result if the person reports no symptoms. LIVE UPDATES: Today's latest COVID-19 headlines The agency advised people should still watch for symptoms for COVID-19 14 days after exposure. The announcement arises from analysis of new research and modeling data. The shorter length of quarantine is hoped to reduce eco...

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued an update to coronavirus mask-wearing guidance for the first time in nearly six months. In the update, the health agency advises wearing a mask as part of “a comprehensive package of prevention and control measures” to limit the spread of COVID-19. “A mask alone, even when used correctly, is insufficient to provide adequate protection or source control,” the Dec. 1 guidelines said. “Other infection prevention and control (IPC) measures include hand hygiene, physical distancing of at least 1 metre, avoidance of touching one’s face, respiratory etiquette, adequate ventilation in indoor settings, testing, contact tracing, quarantine and isolation.” A meter is equivalent to about 3 feet. The agency further stated that depending on the type of mas...