Month: August 2021

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Health officials said that the current death toll is the highest it has been since vaccines have become widely available, with more than 19 deaths over the past seven days. On Wednesday alone, there were eight COVID deaths. And history tells us it will likely get worse. The peak of infections last year was on Aug. 12. Almost exactly a year later ― on Aug. 11 ― Hawaii had its highest day for cases ever. Shortly afterwards, the death toll spiked. Also concerning is the huge disparity in COVID fatalities among ethnic groups. Pacific Islanders, for example, only make up 4% of the population but 21% of the deaths. According to state Department of Health data, the likelihood of a Pacific Islander dying from COVID is almost four times higher than any other ethnic gro...

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Ivermectin was developed to treat parasites in both humans and animals. It's an FDA-approved drug for that specific purpose at a very specific dose, but for more than a year, Dr. Joseph Varon said he has proudly been using it, off-label, to treat thousands of COVID-19 patients admitted to United Memorial Medical Center. "I have used Ivermectin in a few thousand patients," he said. "I cannot tell you the exact number, but I know that it's been quite a large number of patients and I have not seen a single significant side-effect. Not one," said Varon. He and his colleagues began touting the drug last December, holding a press conference to implore the medical community to use it as part of COVID-19 treatment. But a recent surge on animal feed stores, where the drug...

(WJW) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating two Salmonella outbreaks tied to Italian-styled meats. According to an investigation notice by the CDC, people have reported eating meats from antipasto or charcuterie assortments, including salami and prosciutto, before getting sick. Winking Lizard Tavern temporarily closing downtown location There have been 36 reported illnesses and 12 hospitalizations, according to the CDC. People have reported being sick in 17 states, including three people in Ohio. People have reported being sick between May 9 and July 27, but the CDC says it takes about three to four weeks to determine if someone is part of an outbreak, so there may be more recent cases. Investigators are trying to i...

Charlie Pierce, mayor of Kenai Peninsula Borough. (KPB website) KENAI — An Alaska borough mayor, who says he is not a medical professional, has promoted a debunked treatment for COVID-19 that is intended more for farm animals. Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce has publicly backed the use of ivermectin, an anti-parasitic deworming drug, the Peninsula Clarion reported Wednesday. Livestock supply stores in the borough, south of Anchorage, have received numerous inquiries about the drug in the recent weeks. Pierce has twice defended use of the drug, first at last week’s borough meeting and on Monday during a radio show on KSRM. “What I’m asking for is that the … world view of the various treatments that are being researched and looked at outside of and including vaccinations be loo...

Officials called it, "a necessary step to protect the health of our patients and their colleagues." DANVILLE, Pa. — After 18 months working through the pandemic, Geisinger Health System is now requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated by October 15th. There are some exemptions in place for those who have approved medical or religious reasons. Geisinger said it came to this decision as COVID cases are on the rise and employees are dealing with more hospitalizations and deaths among patients. Dale Linn is a patient at...

A baby died of COVID-19 in Louisiana before even reaching their first birthday, state health officials reported on Wednesday. The Louisiana Department of Health did not disclose the infant’s name, gender or exact age, but said it was the first coronavirus-related death of a child in the state in six months. “Each COVID-19 death in Louisiana has been heart wrenching, but the loss of such a young child, who could not be vaccinated yet, is tragic and a stark reminder of the difficult circumstances we are in throughout Louisiana,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said in a statement. Thirty-one percent of new cases reported by the state on Wednesday were in people younger than 18 years old, with 63 kids hospitalized in health care centers over the last week alone, state healt...