Month: May 2021

The principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Anne Schuchat, is retiring from the agency. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky announced the news Monday, saying Schuchat would be leaving the agency over the summer. The news was first reported by Politico. “I have enormous gratitude for Dr. Schuchat’s leadership and contributions over three decades, and during this very challenging period for our country. I am especially thankful for her invaluable counsel, assistance and support in my transition into this role,” Walensky said in a statement. “I will remain forever grateful that our paths crossed, even for just a short while.” advertisement Schuchat is the second high-profile official to leave the CDC this month; on May 7, the agency announced Nancy Messon...

State's daily case count is lowest in over a month PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- There are three new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, including Deschutes County's 75th death, raising the state’s death toll to 2,590, the Oregon Health Authority reported Monday. OHA also reported 310 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Monday, bringing the state's total to 195,882. New dashboard to track Governor’s vaccination goals On Monday, the Oregon Health Authority launched a new dashboard to track statewide and county progress towards the Governor’s newly announced vaccination goals. On May 11, Governor Kate Brown announced a framework for reopening based on county and statewide vaccinations. Most COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted sta...

A study in the United Kingdom led by the University of Birmingham in collaboration with Public Health England reported that waiting months between doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine produces much stronger protection against COVID-19. MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY FACE CALLS TO GIVE UP ROYAL TITLES FOLLOWING PODCAST APPEARANCE: REPORT Dr. Helen Parry, a senior author on the study at Birmingham, said: "We’ve shown that peak antibody responses after the second Pfizer vaccination are really strongly boosted in older people when this is delayed to 11 to 12 weeks. There is a marked difference between these two schedules in terms of antibody responses we see." Britain has a policy of delaying the second dose by up to 12 weeks to free up vaccines for more people. Britain announced Sunday that...

The Oregon Health Authority has a long list of exceptions for its mask requirements, especially for the fully vaccinated, ranging from “most outdoor settings” to being in “an uncrowded private or public space.” It also includes exceptions to the exceptions, such as: “These exceptions to the mask, face covering, or face shield requirement ARE NOT applicable to workplaces.” Confused? If so, you’re definitely not the only one. The main takeaway from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s surprise announcement last week is that the fully vaccinated can now begin getting back to normal activities without face coverings, in many indoor environments as well as most outdoor ones. There is a big caveat, however. Private businesses in Oregon -- meaning any non-governmental organizat...

Indian Covid victim, 76, wakes up on her funeral bier moments before she is due to be cremated because family thought she was dead Shakuntala Gaikwad tested positive for Covid last week and taken to hospital She was turned away as wards were full and she fell unconscious on way home  Her family believed she was dead and prepared funeral bier, when she woke up  By Antony Thrower For Mailonline Published: 17:37 EDT, 17 May 2021 | Updated: 18:35 EDT, 17 May 2021 An elderly woman in India narrowly avoided being burned alive after her family mistakenly thought she was dead and prepared her for cremation. The woman, identified as Shakuntala Gaikwad, tested positive for Covid last week. Yahoo reported her family took her to Silver Jubilee Hospital in Baramati but...