According to state data, there have been 777,064 positive COVID tests in Connecticut as of Thursday.

Either metric leaves millions of people in Connecticut who, having not tested positive or experienced COVID-like symptoms, might assume they have not yet caught the coronavirus.

Scott Roberts, associate medical director of infection prevention at Yale New Haven Hospital, said about 40 percent of COVID infections are asymptomatic. But in a state of 3 million, that might leave millions in the state who have so far escaped COVID.

Some people like Norwalk’s Joanna Zaner say they haven’t “been seriously or even moderately ill and haven’t been contact-traced back to anyone who has tested positive.”

Zaner said she has been working remotely, has only done limited travel and has tried to avoid “large social gatherings.”

And then there are others who have remained symptom-free and tested negative while also traveling the world.

Bethany Kieley, of Milford, has not only traveled to Iceland, Portugal, Canada and the Netherlands, but she works at a community health center, has eaten in restaurants and gone to cultural events, and even has done some online dating during the pandemic.

She said she “met, started dating and got engaged to the man of my dreams,” then “lived with and shared a bed with my partner as he got through COVID.”

“Basically, I’ve lived normally, but carefully, and I’ve found love and happiness in the process,” she said.

Roberts said asking why one person might have avoided COVID while another may not requires a nuanced answer. Genetics may play a role, and the timing of vaccinations, cross-immunity and other epidemiological aspects.

But behavior may play a role. “A lot of it has to do with activities that increase risk of gettign the virus,” he said.

Ulysses Wu, chief epidemiologist at Hartford HealthCare, said behavior is probably the deciding factor. “People who tend to be more protective” will have a better chance at avoiding the virus, though, though “There are some situations where you cant really help it.”

Adrienne Stepkoski is a registered nurse at Stamford Hospital who has managed to avoid testing positive for COVID, despite being on the front lines of the pandemic.

“I worked throughout the time of limited PPE and prior to the development of the COVID-19 vaccines. I have worked in direct contact with COVID-19-positive patients, as well as providing direct care for family members who tested positive,” she said.

Stepkoski, perhaps not surprisingly, takes mitigation efforts very seriously.

“I have been diligent about practicing infection prevention measures that have shown evidence to work,” she said. “This includes, wearing a properly fitting, medical-grade face mask when indoors and among large crowds, practicing social distancing from others whenever possible, maintaining good hand hygiene with frequent hand washing or use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer, disinfecting commonly shared surface at home, work and in public settings, and receiving the two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, along with the booster vaccine.”

Stamford’s Sue Sweeney said she avoids crowded places, wears a mask most of the time and is “extra careful around vulnerable people to whom I could conceivably spread the disease,” she said.

“I feel like I’m missing a lot that I used to enjoy: Movies, bars, museums, indoor dining, trips to see my New York City friends,” Sweeney said. “However, if I got serious COVID, I’d miss a lot more.”

New Milford’s Paige Dawson said she’s never been tested, despite being “older and immunocompromised.”

“I do not think I have had a cold since 2020,” she said.

Dawson, like Sweeney, has avoided crowded places.

“I live alone, have a small group of friends I see regularly, but they also live alone. I do still wear a mask indoors, depending on the circumstances.”

Cat Logan, of Torrington, said her household has avoided COVID, and though she doesn’t fear the disease, she is concerned about so-called “long-COVID.”

“I read an article where a doctor had said, ‘we all have a date with COVID,’ and that’s how it feels. I expect to someday catch it. I no longer fear it. I’ve definitely got COVID fatigue, so I feel that it’s time to return to normal life and if it happens, it happens,” she said.

Stamford’s Kelli McCourt said she is most concerned about her parents, who are in their 80s.

“At different times, I have felt that it is inevitable that we will get it,” she said. “But I am no longer as fearful of it as I had been in the beginning. And truthfully, even then and throughout, my concern has not been for myself. I am a relatively healthy 60-year-old woman with controlled diabetes. My husband also is healthy.”

Laurie Weigler of Branford has also been very careful, and she’s said she’s “taken a lot of flak for my anxiety in working/socializing around people, but I feel I’m following the science.”

“I do worry that say, my lunch at Panera or bus ride (as I did today) could reverse my good luck,” she said. “I am also resigning myself to probably getting it at some point because I do have to work and live my life.”

When asked if everyone can expect to ultimately contract COVID, Roberts said that it’s difficult to say. The world may change. People may choose to remain masked. The dynamics of the disease might shift.

“It depends on the trajectory of this pandemic,” he said. “My guess is, if this becomes endemic, if you live long enough you will get COVID.”

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Originally Appeared Here

Dear Doctors: When my family tried to visit my parents at their assisted-living facility, we were turned away. I thought COVID-19 was going to be the reason, but it was because of a norovirus outbreak. What is that? Is it really so contagious?

Dear Reader: Norovirus refers to a group of viruses that are the leading cause of gastrointestinal illness in the United States, sickening 21 million people a year and sending more than 100,000 to the hospital.

Each year, these viruses cause 900 deaths, most in adults 65 and older.

Norovirus is shed in an infected person’s feces and is extremely contagious.

If you have it and don’t thoroughly wash your hands after a bowel movement, you can spread it to everything you touch.

Someone can become infected by accidentally ingesting the minuscule particles of feces that are left behind on a surface you touched or through person-to-person contact or consuming food or drink you prepared or handled.

The virus is present in vomit, too, which adds another layer of risk when caring for or living with someone who’s ill.

Some people infected with norovirus don’t become sick but still can spread the virus.

Symptoms begin 12 hours to two days after exposure, often suddenly. The most common include nausea, repeated vomiting, stomach cramps and fatigue. Less often, people experience headache, low-grade fever, muscle aches and chills.

Though a misery-inducing experience, it’s usually not life-threatening. But it can be severe in vulnerable populations, such as infants, young children, older adults and those with a weakened immune system.

Lab tests can detect noroviruses in a stool sample, but diagnosis usually is by the distinctive symptoms.

There’s no cure besides time. The focus is on rest, managing discomfort, staying hydrated and meticulous hygiene to stop the spread. For those with a healthy immune system, recovery usually takes several days.

Norovirus outbreaks are notoriously difficult to control, particularly in group settings such as hospitals, schools, cruise ships, nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.

Once an outbreak takes hold, it takes time and vigilance to eradicate. This includes repeatedly disinfecting every surface that might have been contaminated and ensuring that everyone in the household or facility follows a strict regimen of frequent and thorough handwashing.

Disposable gloves and paper towels should be used to clean up after a sick person, and they should be bagged before going into the trash. Infected people should stay home and avoid contact with others.

Dr. Eve Glazier and Dr. Elizabeth Ko are internists at UCLA Health.

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When the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a widespread shutdown of local businesses and charities two years ago, Liza Riedel worried she would have to permanently close NextStep Orlando, a nonprofit spinal cord injury recovery center she founded that helps paralyzed individuals.

“We were shut down for a while, and our clients were not able to do the therapy and socialize,” she said this week. “They were bedridden. They were begging me to open up. But we couldn’t risk them contracting COVID. [The virus is] a dangerous situation for someone who is paralyzed.”

Her Altamonte Springs-based organization survived, due in part to $25,000 in federal funds NextStep Orlando received through Seminole County from the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA.

“It saved us,” Riedel said, noting the funds will be used to recoup the costs of buying cleaning supplies to disinfect equipment and placing partitions to distance her clients receiving therapies.

Liza Riedel, founder and executive director of NextStep Orlando —a non-profit specializing in activity-based paralysis recovery— talks with client Sabrina Patel as therapist Ryan Fass works with her at the facility in Altamonte Springs, Thursday, May 11, 2022. NextStep Orlando is receiving $25,000 in funding from the American Rescue Plan. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Local governments across Central Florida will pull in about $868 million from ARPA, which can be spent in a broad manner related to the pandemic — including replacing lost revenues due to the economic shutdown; paying for community redevelopment and infrastructure projects; helping small businesses and nonprofits; providing mortgage assistance to individuals struggling financially; and expanding broadband access in rural communities.

The $1.9 trillion federal relief bill was signed into law by President Joe Biden in March 2021. The first half of the money was distributed to local governments last year. The second half is expected to hit government accounts this summer. Orange County is slated to receive about $271 million; Seminole, nearly $92 million; Osceola, nearly $73 million; Lake, $71 million; and the city of Orlando, $58 million. Local governments have until 2024 to allocate the funds.

The spending plans local governments have put together are long and varied — including job training and violence-prevention programs in Orlando, expanding broadband access for underserved areas in Lake County, and building a new stage in Winter Park’s popular Central Park.

In Seminole, for example, county officials directed $10 million in ARPA funds toward stormwater improvements in the Midway community, a low-income, historic Black neighborhood near Sanford where properties often flood after heavy rains because of decades-long neglect by the county.

The $22-million infrastructure project — which is also being paid for with the county’s sales tax revenue — is currently in the design phases and should be completed in three years, officials said.

“It is definitely good news,” said Emory Green Jr., a longtime Midway resident, who along with his neighbors has pleaded with Seminole officials to upgrade Midway’s stormwater system. The county is also using $1 million in ARPA funds to build a trail in Midway.

Commissioner Andria Herr, whose district includes the Midway community, said the federal funds allowed the county to move forward with the infrastructure improvements.

“The fact that ARPA came into play gave us this opportunity to fast-pace projects that we had slated for some time,” she said.

Flooding at the Midway neighborhood in Sanford, on September 20, 2021.
(High-dynamic-range composite image by Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

Seminole’s other ARPA allocations include $9 million for the Sheriff’s Office Holistic Behavioral Health program that helps those affected by a mental health crisis; $4.5 million to fill in gaps in broadband access; $4 million to help individuals financially impacted by the pandemic pay their rent, utilities or mortgages; and $400,000 for nonprofit organizations.

Orange County last summer allocated the first half of its ARPA funds to help small businesses and nonprofits working on homelessness and food scarcity; build a new fire station; and cover costs associated with operating the county’s three COVID-19 testing sites and vaccination efforts at Barnett Park.

Orange officials expect to update a plan with the second half of funding allocations this summer during budgeting, said Kelly Finkelstein, a county spokesperson.

Earlier this year, Osceola announced plans for a more-than-$12-million scholarship program to allow every graduating senior this year to receive free college or technical education at Valencia College or Osceola Technical College. The program, called Osceola Prosper, covers tuition and fees through graduation. Students who have a “significant financial need” can receive an additional $500 stipend, according to the program requirements.

Osceola also committed $1.9 million to Experience Kissimmee, the tourism marketing agency, said Chris Brumbaugh, a county spokesperson.

In Orlando, only a fraction of ARPA funds have been programmed so far, with about $4 million going initiatives to prevent gun violence and a job training program for people unemployed or underemployed due to COVID-19.

While Orlando hasn’t revealed specific programs for the bulk of the funds, Mayor Buddy Dyer said the city plans to commit most of the remaining dollars toward two hard-to-crack issues: housing and homelessness.

“Probably, I’d say the bulk of the money… will be going into those areas,” Dyer said at a roundtable last month promoting the RISE jobs program, which included a deputy secretary of the U.S. Treasury.

Specifics about the housing and homelessness programs aren’t likely to be announced until later this summer, said Samantha Holsten, a city spokesperson.

The RISE program is a partnership with CareerSource Central Florida and provides access to job training programs in industries like advanced manufacturing, construction, health care and IT. Tuition is covered by another federal pot of money and participants also can receive a $125-weekly stipend toward child care, food and housing.

Funding is expected to help about 500 residents, specifically targeting neighborhoods home to high percentages of Black and Hispanic residents in Orlando.

The allocations of funds are receiving federal oversight. Wally Adeyemo, the deputy Treasury secretary, was touring the nation to review how local governments were spending the federal relief dollars. He pointed out that Orlando’s workforce program was unique in how it brought together CareerSource and Valencia College to target communities especially impacted by the pandemic.

“There are so many people in our communities, especially in our most marginalized communities, who are still looking for jobs and need not just the training, but need the wraparound services you’re thinking about doing,” Adeyemo said.

The gun-violence prevention program involves a weekly review of all shootings and uses “neighborhood change agents” to contact those who are considered most likely to be shot or shoot others. The intent is to communicate the risk of retaliation and prevent future crimes, city officials said.

Todd Dixon, director of development and community affairs for Aspire Health Partners, a nonprofit that provides mental-health and substance-abuse treatment, said the $25,000 in ARPA funds from Seminole will “be very helpful to meet the growing needs of a community of our size.”

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Specifically, he said, the funds will help since Florida did not expand Medicaid under Obamacare. His organization is also facing inflation and competition in hiring talented employees.

“Since the pandemic, our crisis services have remained at capacity,” Dixon said. “We’re using the funds to provide crisis stabilization for individuals who are in a mental health crisis… related to COVID. It may be grief over the loss of a loved one. It could be anxiety over contracting the virus. It could be financial anxiety over finances, such as a job loss.”

Bob Kealing, a spokesperson for the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, said skyrocketing cases of addictions, such as opioid abuse, and mental health crises “like never before” have been the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For its Holistic Behavioral Health Program, the agency plans to partner with medical and behavioral health service providers to build a facility — either outpatient or residential — that would help individuals experiencing a mental health crisis to find care. That would help reduce the number of people detained under Florida’s Baker Act, which allows law enforcement to temporarily commit a person who poses a threat to themselves or others because of mental illness.

Like Riedel’s organization, Lighthouse Central Florida — which helps blind and visually-impaired individuals — also had to shut down intermittently during the pandemic. It plans to use the $25,000 in ARPA funds it received from Seminole to pay for cleaning supplies and the classes and consultations it offered clients via Zoom, Skype and other teleconferencing platforms. The organization, with about 800 clients, works with parents and caregivers of people with visual impairments.

“It was truly beneficial, and we can’t calculate the full impact those funds will have because it is immeasurable,” said Kyle Johnson, president and chief executive officer of Lighthouse. “If you are born blind or become visually impaired, we are the only provider [in Central Florida] in rehabilitation and training and education.”

[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

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Originally Appeared Here

ADragan/Shutterstock.com

Most of us clean our bathroom once a week and disinfect all the surfaces, but is there an item we’ve been forgetting?

Disinfecting your toothbrush sounds a bit weird, and it isn’t a necessary step for quality oral care. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t legitimate reasons to incorporate it into your cleaning routine.

First, there’s the phenomenon known as toilet plume. This is, well, the very gross event that happens whenever you flush the toilet with the lid raised. Essentially, bits of fecal matter could float into the air and potentially land on your toothbrush if it’s stored nearby. Ew!

Toothbrush disinfection is also a good idea if you or a family member has recently been sick. For those who store their toothbrushes near one another—think couples or kids who share a stand—germs can spread with just a quick touch of bristles.

To eliminate this, you can disinfect after the illness has ended. Also, if you’re a frequent traveler, it might be a good idea to sanitize after your return.

But how exactly do you disinfect a toothbrush?

There are two simple ways: hydrogen peroxide or antiseptic mouthwash. No matter which you choose, follow these steps:

1. Rinse the toothbrush in clean water.
2. Pour the mouthwash or hydrogen peroxide into a cup and place the toothbrush in it, bristles down.
3. Allow it to soak for 15 minutes.
4. Remove the toothbrush, rinse with clean water again, and you’ve got a disinfected toothbrush.

Now, next time you brush your teeth, you’ll know your toothbrush is qualified for the job.

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Originally Appeared Here

The additional death being reported today include the following:

• A man in his 40s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He expired in an area hospital ED and had underlying high-risk health conditions.

To date, a total of 2,592 cases with SARS-CoV-2 variants have been identified and investigated in residents of Dallas County, including 288 cases of B.1.1.7 (Alpha); 4 cases of B.1.351 (Beta); 1,858 cases of B.1.617.2 (Delta); 31 cases of B.1.427 (Epsilon);  29 cases of P.1 (Gamma);  15 cases of B.1.526 (Iota); 5 cases of C.37 (Lambda); 4 cases of B.1.621 (Mu); 355 cases of B.1.1.529 (Omicron); and 3 cases of P.2 (Zeta). Four hundred and forty-nine cases have been hospitalized and 64 have died. Forty-nine COVID-19 variant cases were reinfections. Seven hundred and thirty-six people were considered fully vaccinated before infection with a COVID-19 variant.

For week 17, area hospital labs have continued to report elevated numbers and proportions of respiratory specimens that are positive for other respiratory viruses by molecular tests: parainfluenza (10.51%), rhinovirus/enterovirus (35.35 %), and RSV (2.79%).

There are currently 15 active long-term care facility outbreaks. A cumulative total of 6,493 residents and 4,365 healthcare workers in long-term facilities in Dallas have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Of these, 1,338 have been hospitalized and 911 have died. About 16% of all deaths reported to date have been associated with long-term care facilities.

There have been 0 outbreaks of COVID-19 in a congregate-living facility (e.g. homeless shelters, group homes, and halfway homes) reported within the past 30 days. A cumulative total of 1,152 residents and staff members (856 residents and 296 staff) in congregate-living facilities in Dallas have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

“We’re still in the green threat level of COVID-19 with a low number of cases and hospitalizations. However, the threat of catching COVID is not over. And the best way to protect yourself and COVID is to be vaccinated. If you’ve already been vaccinated but have not received your booster, now’s a good time to get your booster. You can find a shot near you, still for free at vaccines.gov,” said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins.

All Dallas County COVID-19 Updates and Information can be found here: https://www.dallascounty.org/covid-19/ and all guidance documents can be found here: https://www.dallascounty.org/covid-19/guidance-health.php
Specific Guidance for the Public:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends taking everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

• Avoid close contact outside your home: Put 6 feet of distance between yourself and people who don’t live in your household.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others and continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.
• Stay home when you are sick, except to seek medical care
• Wash your hands often and with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and help young children to do the same. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces daily using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If you do not have a tissue, use your sleeve, not your hands. Immediately wash your hands.
• Monitor your health daily. Be alert for symptoms. Take your temperature and follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.

Additional information is available at the following websites:

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Originally Appeared Here

Ryan Glick and Yuri Vaid used their nose for business to “stop the stink” by launching Hampton Roads Clean Bins.

Childhood friends and graduates of Kempsville High School, Glick, 44, and Vaid, 45, were already successful business owners. Glick is president and owner of Coastal Lightscapes in Virginia Beach and Vaid runs Vaid Associates Sales Agency. But they were looking for another business avenue, as Glick explained, to create passive and reoccurring revenue.

A chance viewing of a YouTube video highlighting the advantages of a bin cleaning business set the wheels in motion. Glick said the business would accomplish their goal and solve a problem for homeowners.

“No one likes thinking about, much less doing the dirty work of cleaning and disinfecting their trash bins … made worse during warmer weather,” Glick said.

Sensing the demand and need, Glick and Vaid contacted Sparkling Bins in Florida, set up a meeting with the manufacturer of the truck and flew down to talk through the business. Glick said they learned the startup process and truck design.

It took the partners about six months to customize a truck and organize other logistical aspects of the business so that, in October 2021, Clean Bins was ready to hit the streets. It’s been full speed ever since. The business offers curbside trash and recycle bin cleaning and disinfecting that takes just a few minutes.

Using a specially outfitted Clean Bins truck, water at more than 200 degrees, high speed 360-degree pressure washing and an eco-friendly cleaning solution, each bin is lifted onto the vehicle where the inside is cleaned in less than 30 seconds. The operator then cleans the exterior of the bin with a disinfecting wash and fresh scent spray. The truck takes away debris and all grey water, leaving no mess behind.

Clean Bins hopes to grow from one truck and three employees to multiple trucks capable of servicing southside Hampton Roads and maybe the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Eventually, Glick said, they would like to clean larger dumpsters like those at apartment complexes and restaurants. Currently, they offer monthly, quarterly and one-time service throughout Virginia Beach.

“We really love the idea of being able to create a healthier, safer and cleaner living environment for our communities, neighborhoods and the place we call home,” Glick said.

For more information on Hampton Roads Clean Bins, visit hamptonroadscleanbins.com.

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Originally Appeared Here

KTVB’s Jim Duthie explains what makes mushrooms grow and what you can do about them.

BOISE, Idaho — It is that time of year when mushrooms start popping in your yard, and you might be wondering if they are harming your grass or causing problems for your children and pets. 

KTVB’s garden master, Jim Duthie, explains what makes mushrooms grow and what you can do about them.

With an increase in temperatures comes an increase in lawn watering; combine that with the recent rain and it makes for perfect mushroom-growing conditions 

Mushrooms, which are actually the fruit of beneficial fungi in the soil, contain seed spores that are carried by wind, animals, and even our shoes and lawnmowers. They thrive on nutrient-rich decaying wood and other organic materials.

When conditions are right, usually a mixture of cool and moist weather, established underground fungi will shoot up its version of a flower full of spores in order to spread.

Mushrooms do not have detrimental effects on grass, however; in fact, they can be beneficial to have in your lawn, as the extensive root systems help hold water, which allows them to break down organic materials and add nutrients to your grass. 

While they can be a little unsightly in the middle of a nice green lawn, most of these mushrooms – or toadstools as they are sometimes referred to – are not the kind you can eat. They are fairly easy to keep under control though, for those concerned about pets or small children being around them.

Mushrooms can be eliminated by knocking over the visible part, or by raking or mowing over them. Be warned, however, that that may spread the spores around causing more mushrooms to grow.

Instead, try pulling the mushrooms up and throwing them into a garbage bag rather than composting to limit the spread of spores. Be sure to wash your hands after handling them as well.

The best way to prevent mushroom growth is to starve them by reducing available water and providing more drainage. Aerating and dethatching the soil will also help. 

Reducing the amount of other organic material that may decompose, like leaves, grass clippings and animal waste, can further prevent mushrooms from growing. Make sure to check for buried pieces of wood or dead roots too. 

Jim Duthie recommends regularly mowing your lawn, as shorter grass dries out faster than tall grass which will keep your lawn from producing the additional moisture needed for mushrooms to grow. Also, make sure to pull up any mushrooms and rake away the pieces before mowing, to ensure the spores are not spread.

Follow that up with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer which will speed up the decomposition of organic material, limiting the amount of available food for mushrooms. 

While commercial fungicides may kill the mushrooms, they do not get down far enough into the soil to kill the fungus that produces the mushrooms. 

Occasionally, a circle of mushrooms may form, also known as a fairy ring. In most cases, removing the mushrooms and digging or aerating the area will control the mushrooms and eliminate the problem.

Recently, some homeowners in Boise’s north end and those living in west Meridian have found a different mushroom variety showing up in their grass, called death cap mushroom. 

They are one of the most poisonous types of mushrooms around and just ingesting a small amount can kill a dog, cat or even a person. This mushroom is not toxic to the touch, but if ingested it will make you extremely sick and can lead to death.

If you find any death cap mushrooms in your yard, carefully remove the heads and the stalks, bag them, and throw them away. Then wash and disinfect your hands, gloves and garden tools. 

Death caps are common in many coastal areas around the world but are now beginning to spread across North America, showing up more frequently in parts of Idaho.

“The bottom line is that mushrooms won’t harm your lawn, they’re just not very pretty to look at,” Jim said. “But a few simple steps to reduce the moisture and organic matter that mushrooms need to grow will help you get rid of them or keep them under control.”

Only about five percent of mushrooms in the wild are edible, and some of those edible varieties grow nearby in the Payette National Forest, including those delicious morel mushrooms that will be showing up soon.

Remember, do not harvest and eat wild mushrooms unless you are experienced at identifying the edible ones. Each year many Idahoans are sickened or poisoned by eating toxic wild mushrooms.

See them all in our YouTube playlist here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries

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Originally Appeared Here

BRISTOL – Ingraham Manor representatives reported Thursday they have contained and are working to prevent the further spread of an outbreak of covid among residents and employees.

According to Ingraham Manor Administrator Ashley Sokya, after Easter there was a transmission of covid within the Bristol Health long-term care and rehabilitation facility.

“Unfortunately, several residents who had visitors later reported that they were covid positive, so we did have some residents who were diagnosed with covid-19,” she said. “Since learning that we’ve had covid positive residents, we’ve enhanced some of our environmental cleaning.”

Twenty-six staff members since April 18 reported having covid. Some of those are thought to have caught the virus while in the community and not necessarily work, but Ingraham Manor leadership has kept an eye on them. In total, 37 residents tested positive with covid. The administrator noted that two residents had died over the course of the outbreak and both had other underlying conditions who chose to not go to the hospital for treatment.

“We believe that at this time, the covid outbreak is contained,” she said. “We currently have seven patients who meet the need for isolation and we only have one staff member who has not returned to work at this time.”

Ingraham Manor’s staff vaccination rate is 96.2% and staff booster rate is 94.9%.

In prevention efforts, the staff utilizes an ultraviolet light producing machine to help disinfecting areas. Ingraham Manor makes use of surveillance testing of staff and residents on a regular basis, regardless of vaccination status, to identify cases prior to symptom display.

“Many residents have no symptoms during their full course of covid or the first few days of being covid positive,” said Sokya. “Once we identify residents who have covid, we move them to a covid isolation area for a minimum of 10 days but that could be extended depending on their immune status and the severity of their symptoms.”

If employees report a positive covid result, they are sent home and follow up with Bristol Health’s occupational health professionals in order to receive clearance to return to work.

Soyka said that the version of covid that had been passing through Ingraham Manor seemed more contagious but that symptoms were not as severe.

“We’re still screening visitors and staff who enter the building every day. We’re still isolating new residents who come from the outside because we know there’s a chance they could have covid, despite their vaccination status,” said the administrator.

She said government oversight has said the facility cannot restrict visitors at this time.

“Sometimes control of the virus moving through the building can be difficult because visitors are still coming in and seeing their loved ones and we saw that after Easter that they can potentially bring covid into the building,” said Soyka. “It’s important for the community to be aware of that and the risk in a congregate setting.”

Bristol Health continues to keep its mask mandate for staff in place and when visitors come to the hospital.

“We continue to take all precautions,” said Johnny Burnham, Bristol Health Public Relations Manager. “This could have gone rampant but the folks at Ingraham responded pretty quickly to get this under control so it didn’t spread throughout the whole facility.”

Bristol Health continues to focus on protecting those it serves and staff, he said, and many long-term care facilities face the same challenges.

Federal health professionals continue to say that covid is a concern and encourage U.S. citizens to take appropriate precautions as medical professionals continue to push vaccination research in order to keep up with the latest strain of covid variants.

Posted in The Bristol Press, Bristol on Thursday, 12 May 2022 14:30. Updated: Thursday, 12 May 2022 14:32.
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Originally Appeared Here

On May 11, South Mountain School Principal Kevin Mason announced that the elementary school is returning an indoor mask mandate for classrooms and bus transportation owing to COVID-19 outbreaks in three classes at the school. The mandate will continue through May 18.

Note that the mask mandate applies to the “big” school only and does not impact the South Mountain Annex school.

South Mountain School joins Clinton Elementary in re-instituting mask mandates recently. Clinton returned to indoor and bus masking last week due to COVID-19 outbreaks in several classrooms. The Clinton temporary mandate runs through May 13.

Village Green has asked South Orange-Maplewood School District administration if there are any other district schools under temporary mask mandates currently and will update the story when we receive a response.

District administration discussed COVID-19 protocols at a recent Board of Education meeting, as did South Orange and Maplewood elected officials at recent township meetings. Read about those discussions here and here.

From South Mountain School:

May 11, 2022
Dear South Mountain School Community:

This letter is to inform you that there has been an uptick in cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-
19), as well as continued outbreaks in three classes at South Mountain Big School. Please note that delivery of instruction will continue as normal; however, the South Orange Department of Health is requiring a return to universal masking INDOORS AND ON THE BUS for all South Mountain Big School students and staff through May 18th. We plan to return to mask optional indoors May 19th.

COVID-19 Dashboard Total number of cases are reported weekly on the District Dashboard (updated
every Friday afternoon).

The District is coordinating closely with public health officials and following Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), state, and local health department guidance in order to assure the health and safety of our community – preventing the transmission and containing the outbreaks of COVID 19. In addition, as a reminder, cleaning and disinfecting of the building (including exposed and frequently
touched areas) is done daily.

As of March 14, 2022 the District is no longer directing quarantine of school close contacts of the
positive individual. If individuals are in the class with the outbreak, they would receive a separate
letter with that specific information.

We understand the level of concern regarding COVID-19; and we encourage parents and students to
continue following the CDC and NJDOH promoted safeguards, such as:
• Getting vaccinated and boosted as eligible;
• Staying home when you are sick;
• Considering wearing a mask while in school and in public settings;
• Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or using hand sanitizer;
• Covering coughs and sneezes and properly disposing of tissues;
• Limiting close contact with people who are sick and not sharing food, drinks and utensils;
• Practicing social distancing to the greatest extent practicable; and
• Continuing to monitor your health for symptoms. Get a laboratory PCR or Rapid test if you
have symptoms, and see Testing information link under the resources tab below.
As always, we appreciate our community’s support and cooperation. Please continue to assist us in
dealing with this health concern. Thank you to all who have been vigilant in notifying the school district

SCHOOL DISTRICT OF SOUTH ORANGE AND MAPLEWOOD – 525 ACADEMY STREET – MAPLEWOOD, NJ 07040

WWW.SOUTHORANGEMAPLEWOOD.ORG

if you have a positive case or exposure and for staying home if you or someone in the household is sick
with COVID-like symptoms.
Should you have any questions about this situation, please feel free to contact Nurse Sharyn Wills at
973-378-5216 x4503 Below are some resources that might be helpful.
RESOURCES
a. NJDOH COVID-19 Information for Communities and the General Public:
https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/covid2019_community.shtml
b. Get the Facts about Coronavirus: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

c. Symptoms of COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-
testing/symptoms.html

d. Testing AND Vaccinations https://covid19.nj.gov/pages/testing and key in your zip code

Essex County COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Locations for mega sites (Newark, WO) open for walk-
ins

• Consult your Health Care Provider; currently, NJDOH suggests that testing is most meaningful on
day 5 after exposure, or if exhibiting signs and symptoms
• Consult your local health department [SO (973) 378-7715 x7710 or MA (973) 762-8120 x4400]
• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
https://www.nj.gov/health/fhs/primarycare/fqhc/ COVID-19 testing is free of charge at FQHCs
regardless if you have insurance or not.
• MediMobile (New name = MediStation) Walk-in Covid Testing site:
• Saturdays at at the Board of Education Building 525 Academy Street in the District Meeting
Room 9:00am to 3:00pm
• Wednesdays at the Board of Education Building 525 Academy Street in the District Meeting
Room 4:00pm to 6:00pm

e. How to Protect Yourself: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/

f. What to Do if You Are Sick: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-
sick.html

g. COVID-19 Dashboard Total number of cases are reported weekly on the District Dashboard (updated
every Friday afternoon).
Sincerely,
Mr. Kevin Mason, Principal

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By Caitlyn Lamm @ISUCaitLamm

Do you consider yourself a lifelong learner?

If you’re nodding your head, then you know that label is a badge of honor for those of us who often find ourselves asking, “Why?” or “How?”

Despite working in agriculture and being part of a family farm, I’m fully willing to admit there’s still so much I don’t know. So, I set my sights on gaining more knowledge about one of our state’s number one ag commodities — pigs.

Equipped with a 110-page book of best practices and a series of online training modules, I decided to become Pork Quality Assurance Plus certified. This educational program keeps pig farmers up to date on the best research and standards related to animal well-being, public health, biosecurity, the environment and more. Through this process, I learned pig farmers are also lifelong learners who continuously improve the sustainability and animal stewardship on their family farms as new research and technology becomes available.

We practice a little biosecurity at home, but pig farmers think about it across the farm.

As I dug into the modules though, I couldn’t help but notice parallels between animal care and my own home life:

1. Pig farmers have a close relationship with veterinarians like I do with my pediatrician.

I’m so lucky to have a great pediatrician. She knows my children, listens to my concerns and is available to take my calls outside of appointments. We work together to come up with a treatment plan when my children get sick, and I trust her guidance.

In pig farming, they call this a veterinarian-client-patient relationship, or VCPR. In fact, this relationship is so crucial, the word “veterinarian” is mentioned more than 100 times in the PQA Plus training guide. VCPR is an agreement between the farmer and vet to work as a team to create a tailored plan to keep a pig herd healthy. It includes follow through of that plan and adhering to regulations pertaining to medical interventions.

2. We practice a little biosecurity at home, but pig farmers think about it across the farm.

Do you take your shoes off at the door when you get home? It’s a practice we enforce at our home where our kids like to crawl around on the floor pretending to be dinosaurs.

Biosecurity is the practice of preventing disease from entering and spreading within an animal herd. Farmers have written biosecurity plans that encompass the entire farm. Farmers often will shower in and out of a facility and have designated clothes and boots they wear when caring for their pigs to make sure they’re not bringing harmful bacteria into a barn.

They also work hard to maintain a clean-living environment for their pigs. This includes keeping a “sterile zone” around the barn free of weeds where disease-carrying rodents may like to hide and keeping animal feed stored in tightly contained bins to protect it from wildlife. Farmers make sure to disinfect equipment regularly, and even disinfect items like cellphones if they are being carried into the barn.

Caitlyn Lamm and her family  
Credit: Caitlyn Lamm   

3. Like my daughter — pigs take a while to warm up to people.

When we’re around new people, it takes a good 30 to 40 minutes of holding my one-year-old daughter before she’s ready to be set down.

Pig farmers walk their barns every day to make sure animals are eating, drinking and maintaining a healthy level of activity. But these walkthroughs also get the pigs used to a human presence. Pigs don’t inherently understand a farmer is coming into their pen to make sure they’re well cared for. But through consistent, positive interactions with a farmer, these animals become more relaxed. This makes them easier to move and handle — a good thing that prevents injury to both the animal and the farmer. And like my daughter, they appreciate a little extra space when they’re feeling fearful and will allow that space to narrow as they become more comfortable over time.

4. Getting a pig onto a semi-truck sounds a lot like trying to get my toddler out the door.

If you’re a parent, you’ve been there. You’re in a hurry to get out the door, and your child keeps finding the most random things to impede your progress.

Turns out, pigs can get distracted by a lot of things as they’re being loaded out, too. If wind blows in their face, a shadow startles them or they see a shiny surface, they may slow down or stop the flow of the other pigs.

Farmers are encouraged to help pigs stay calm by doing their best to minimize distractions and give pigs plenty of time to move. By watching their pigs’ behavior, a farmer can see if they are becoming distressed and “release the pressure” on their space to help soothe them.

While I received my PQA Plus certification card in the mail, I don’t think I’ll be raising pigs anytime soon. However, I am glad I took the time to see how pig farmers are ensuring their animals live a comfortable and healthy life. And how through continued education, they are finding new ways to elevate their top-notch level of compassionate care.

Caitlyn Lamm is Iowa Farm Bureau’s public relations specialist. This column is republished with permission.

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Originally Appeared Here