Month: July 2021

Only 4,000 more Travis County residents need to come in during the July 4 holiday weekend for a coronavirus vaccination for the community to reach minimum herd immunity, an important step in stopping further mutations of COVID-19, Austin Public Health said Friday. Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County health authority, said it would take 70% to 90% of Travis County residents who are 12 and older receiving at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine to reach herd immunity — a threshold where it would be difficult for the disease to spread because so many people in one community are immune.  COVID Delta variant:New COVID-19 variant and unmasking threaten the unvaccinated Fourth of July:Austin health leaders warn unvaccinated public to take precautions However, reaching the herd immun...

About 70 percent of adults in Oregon have now received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, the state’s health department said Friday.  The Oregon Health Authority announced the milestone in a press release based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), noting that the state now follows behind 17 others that have reached the 70 percent threshold.  While some states have been able to achieve relatively high vaccination rates, the country overall appears unlikely to reach President BidenJoe BidenOregon's COVID-19 vaccination rate hits 70 percent Biden names nominee for US ambassador to Germany Equilibrium/Sustainability — Presented by NextEra Energy — Grasshoppers are winning the heat wave MORE’s goal of having at least 70 percent of U.S. adults with at...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) - One Missouri hospital official is telling anyone making disparaging remarks about the COVID-19 vaccine to “Shut up” as state officials ask for federal help dealing with a surge in cases that has some counties urging new precautions. Deep vaccine resistance has allowed the delta variant, first identified India, to take hold in the state, straining hospitals, particularly in the Springfield area. “If you are making wildly disparaging comments about the vaccine, and have no public health expertise, you may be responsible for someone’s death. Shut up,” tweeted Steve Edwards, who is the CEO of CoxHealth in Springfield. 32% symptomatic pos. rate, very concerning! (From 4%) 4 pediatric Covid inpatients yesterday. Age…a few weeks old to 18 y/o If you are making wildly di...

Veterinarian Belinda Burwell began receiving reports of sick songbirds in Virginia last month. This male blue jay was completely blind and was hopping in circles because of dizziness. He had to be euthanized. Belinda Burwell hide caption toggle caption Belinda Burwell Veterinarian Belinda Burwell began receiving reports of sick songbirds in Virginia last month. This male blue jay was completely blind and was hopping in circles because of dizzines...

On July 2 of 2020, when the initial spring surge of Covid-19 was fading, local elected officials across Southern California ordered virtually every beach shut down from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border. Cities around California cancelled fireworks displays. Governor Gavin Newsom closed bars and mandated masks in public spaces. What officials couldn’t stop, however, were household gatherings and travel over the Fourth of July weekend. The result was a more than 150% increase in new daily cases from 570 on July 1, 2020 to 1,476 on August 2, 2020. Health officials linked the rise to gatherings held across the long weekend. One year later, the beaches and bars are open for the Fourth. Fireworks displays are a go. Masks are no longer mandated in public. And health officials ...