Aug 21 Hit by virus surge, Hong Kong offers free tests to everyone By Zen Soo, Associated Press Leader Carrie Lam says the testing program, which will last up to two weeks, will allow residents to be tested on a voluntary basis. The testing is aimed at identifying people who are infected with the coronavirus but have exhibited… Continue reading
Aug 21 South Korea reports 324 new infections in a day, most since March By Associated Press Most of the new cases are in the densely populated Seoul region, where health workers are scrambling to track transmissions from sources including churches, restaurants, schools and workers. Continue reading
Aug 20 1 in 5 nursing homes short on PPE and staff in virus rebound By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press One in five U.S. nursing homes faced severe shortages of protective gear like N95 masks this summer even as the Trump administration pledged to help, according to a study released Thursday that finds facilities in areas hard-hit by COVID-19 also… Continue reading
Aug 20 Sen. Cassidy tests positive for virus, has COVID-19 symptoms By Associated Press The Republican senator made the announcement Thursday and said he is quarantining in Louisiana. His spokesman says Cassidy is experiencing "mild symptoms that began this morning" of COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. Continue reading
Aug 20 France sticks to school openings despite jump in infections By Associated Press France's president insisted that the country will send millions of students back to school starting Sept. 1 despite seeing the biggest weekly spike in confirmed coronavirus cases since the height of its outbreak in the spring. Continue reading
Aug 20 COVID plans put to test as firefighters crowd camps for peak wildfire season By Matt Volz, Kaiser Health News Thousands of firefighters from across the U.S. have converged on the West as the wildfire season enters its peak. Continue reading
Aug 20 Pandemic pushes expansion of ‘hospital-at-home’ treatment By Linda A. Johnson, Associated PRess Communications technology, portable medical equipment and teams of doctors, nurses, X-ray techs and paramedics make this possible. Like telemedicine, the concept stands to become more popular with consumers hooked on home delivery and other Internet-connected conveniences. Continue reading
Aug 20 Working families enlist grandparents to help with the kids By Leanne Italie, Associated Press As the school year gets under way for many kids with working parents, more grandparents have jumped into daily caregiver roles. Many are happily working without pay, for the love of family. Others have accepted offers of money from their… Continue reading
Aug 20 U.S. jobless claims rise to 1.1 million amid COVID-19 By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press The latest figures suggest that more than five months after the viral outbreak erupted the economy is still weak, despite recent gains as some businesses reopen and some sectors like housing and manufacturing have rebounded. Continue reading
Aug 19 Pharmacists can give childhood shots, U.S. officials say By Mike Stobbe, Associated Press Public health officials have been worried that vaccination rates would fall because doctors' offices were closed by the pandemic. The authorization allows state-licensed pharmacies to administer childhood vaccines without a doctor's prescription. Continue reading