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CORONAVIRUS

COVID-19 cases prompt mask mandate at Denali National Park

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Masks will be required for people using federal buildings or riding buses inside Denali National Park and Preserve because of high COVID-19 levels in the broader community, officials said Thursday. The mask mandate takes effect Friday, a statement from the park said. The park is instituting the mandate per U.S. Interior Department guidelines, which require masks when COVID-19 community levels reach the high status in the surrounding area. Both the Denali Borough north of park and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough south of Denali reported their status as high in ...

Sharp rise in syphilis cases draws concern

Syphilis cases rose sharply in Minnesota in 2021, bringing them to concerning levels, according to an annual report of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV data from the Minnesota Department of Health. The increase in syphilis cases in the state mirrors a disturbing national trend of starkly rising syphilis cases, affecting all communities, health officials said. They renewed their call for regular testing and prompt treatment to help stem the tide. While the syphilis increase was clear, comparing STD rates generally from one year to the next may be difficult, health officials ...

Despite potential, Midwestern farms struggle to market fish

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — When drastic increases in food costs spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic left Andrew Caplinger struggling to find fresh catfish for his restaurants, he decided to try "an experimental" solution — growing his own. In the coming months, the Indianapolis restaurant chain Caplinger's Fresh Catch Seafood will begin sourcing its second most popular menu item from fish ponds at his 28-acre farm in southern Indiana. The goal is to produce up to half of the 800 to 1,000 pounds of catfish fillets served at the restaurants each week. "I've never done anything like this — ...

CDC recommends 6 Washington counties should wear masks again

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — People in six Washington counties should begin wearing masks indoors in public and on public transportation again, according to recommendations from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The latest information from the CDC shows that Lewis County, Pacific County, Thurston County, Grays Harbor County, Garfield County and Spokane County all have COVID-19 community levels rated "high," meaning they have had 200 or more new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days, or they've had more than 20 new COVID-19 hospital admissions per ...

COVID cases up by more than 30% in Britain last week

LONDON (AP) — The number of new coronavirus cases across Britain has surged by more than 30% in the last week, new data showed Friday, with cases largely driven by the super infectious omicron variants. Data released by Britain's Office for National Statistics showed that more than 3 million people in the U.K. had COVID-19 last week, although there has not been an equivalent spike in hospitalizations. The number of COVID-19 deaths also fell slightly in the last week. "COVID-19 has not gone away," said Dr. Mary Ramsay, of the Health Security Agency. "It is also sensible to wear a ...

Test-to-treat sites have COVID meds available

ST. PAUL – Patients who test positive for COVID-19 at test sites will have immediate access to the treatment drug Paxlovid at those sites, Gov. Tim Walz announced Wednesday. The addition of the pharmaceuticals to these state-run sites further streamlines the process for Minnesotans seeking treatment for COVID-19. The testing, evaluation by a clinician and prescriptions themselves will continue to come at no cost to Minnesotans. The prescription medications will be available at the St. Paul-Midway community testing site, and at test-to-treat sites in Moorhead, Brooklyn Park, Duluth ...