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COVID vaccines would be required for military under Pentagon plan

WASHINGTON (AP) — Members of the U.S. military will be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine beginning next month under a plan laid out by the Pentagon Monday and endorsed by President Joe Biden. In memos distributed to all troops, top Pentagon leaders said the vaccine is a necessary step to ...

Schools reopen with masks optional in many U.S. classrooms

MCDONOUGH, Ga. (AP) — As Tussahaw Elementary opened this week for a new school year, teary-eyed mothers led in kindergartners dwarfed by backpacks and buses dropped off fifth graders looking forward to ruling their school. The biggest clue to the lingering COVID-19 crisis was the masks worn ...

Shots give COVID-19 survivors big immune boost, studies show

Even people who have recovered from COVID-19 are urged to get vaccinated, especially as the extra-contagious delta variant surges — and a new study shows survivors who ignored that advice were more than twice as likely to get reinfected. Friday’s report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adds to growing laboratory evidence that people who had one bout of COVID-19 get a dramatic boost in virus-fighting immune cells — and a bonus of broader protection against new mutants — when they’re vaccinated. “If you have had COVID-19 before, please still get ...

COVID-19 surge hits hospitals

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Florida hospitals slammed with COVID-19 patients are suspending elective surgeries and putting beds in conference rooms, an auditorium and a cafeteria. As of midweek, Mississippi had just six open intensive care beds in the entire state. Georgia medical ...

Sturgis bike rally revs back bigger, despite virus variant

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Crowds of bikers are rumbling their way towards South Dakota’s Black Hills this week, raising fears that COVID-19 infections will be unleashed among the 700,000 people expected to show up at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The rally, which starts Friday, has become ...

COVID ceases patient transfers at Good Shepherd Nursing Home

WHEELING — A positive COVID-19 diagnosis among staff at Good Shepherd Nursing Home has caused the facility to limit intake and transfer of new patients. Good Shepherd administrator Don Kirsch said the staffer had tested positive Tuesday, and in accordance with guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the facility was closed to visitors until two days with consistently negative tests. Kirsch expected that the facility would be back open to visitors Friday. “We’re just following the guidelines that we’re supposed to follow,” Kirsch said. “We’ve ...