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 >
The largest permanent increase in the history of the United States’ food stamp program and changes to its nutrition standards will be announced Monday. Supporters say the changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program that benefits 42 million Americans will better reflect how people eat and will help improve nutrition, reduce hunger and… read on > read on >
Want to see a temperamental tween or teen act happier? The formula is simple, a large international study suggests. “Screen time should be replaced by ‘green time’ for optimizing the well-being of our kids,” said study author Asad Khan, an associate professor in biostatistics and epidemiology at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. That… read on > read on >
COVID-19 vaccination triggers a strong immune response in people with HIV, meaning they’re likely protected against the coronavirus, a new, small study shows. “Previous research has suggested a suboptimal response to COVID-19 vaccines in people living with HIV; however, these studies did not fully characterize and define that response, both for cellular [where the immune… read on > read on >
After a year of learning online in their pajamas at home, many kids may struggle to wake up early for class as schools reopen this fall, an expert says. “I think the biggest concern is that the virtual environment of last year led to some unstructured schedules since it did not need a full morning… read on > read on >
