It could have been a slam-dunk, but fewer than 3 out of 4 fans at the March Madness basketball tournament wore masks correctly, a new study reports. Mask mandates at sporting events, concerts and other large indoor gatherings play an important role in combating the spread of COVID-19, the researchers pointed out. “With vaccination rates… read on > read on >
Children whose mothers had diabetes during pregnancy are at increased risk for severe forms of common eye problems such as far- and near-sightedness and astigmatism, a long-term study suggests. Collectively, they’re known as refractive errors, conditions in which the eye is unable to properly focus images on the retina. “As many [refractive errors] in young… read on > read on >
Here’s an unexpected silver lining to the pandemic: New research shows there was a decline in overall drinking and binge drinking among U.S. college freshmen during the early months of the new coronavirus’ spread across America. “We found that social factors, like social distancing and reductions in social support from friends, were associated with decreases… read on > read on >
Ten million high-powered magnetic balls and cubes have been recalled in the United States because they pose a risk of serious injury or death if swallowed, a new report shows. “Zen Magnets LLC is aware of two children who ingested Zen Magnets and required surgery to remove the magnets and parts of their intestines and… read on > read on >
There’s strong evidence that the steroid drug dexamethasone can significantly lower hospitalized patients’ risk of dying from COVID-19, but many who might benefit from it the most aren’t getting it. “Dexamethasone is a steroid that is used for the treatment of arthritis, inflammation and allergic reactions,” explained Hemalkumar Mehta, who studied its use in treating… read on > read on >
Twenty seconds. That’s how long you need to wash your hands to remove germs, a new physics study confirms. Typical hand-washing guidelines — including those from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — advise scrubbing your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds. To assess that recommendation, researchers used a mathematical model to… read on > read on >
Masks are now required for all visitors, employees and contractors inside U.S. National Park Service (NPS) facilities and in crowded outdoor spaces, the service said Monday. The mandate applies regardless of people’s vaccination status or community transmission levels, and will be in effect until further notice, Forbes reported. “At a time when visits to America’s… read on > read on >
While the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the United States has been dominating the news, an old viral enemy has been making a quieter comeback. In late spring, U.S. pediatric hospitals began reporting an unexpected rise in serious infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Unlike COVID-19, RSV is a long-established foe that normally emerges… read on > read on >
Infected babies and toddlers are more likely to spread COVID-19 to others in their homes than teens are, a new study indicates. It also found that very young children are less likely than teens to actually bring the virus into their homes, The New York Times reported. Researchers from Public Health Ontario in Canada analyzed… read on > read on >
In just 24 hours, four teachers in Broward County, Fla., died from COVID-19. At least three of the teachers were unvaccinated, CBS News reported. “Within a 24-hour span, we had an assistant teacher pass away, a teacher at her school pass away, an elementary teacher pass away and another teacher at a high school,” Broward… read on > read on >
