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Coronavirus

Cleveland State to require COVID vaccinations despite law

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Cleveland State University said Thursday it will continue to require that students living on campus be vaccinated against the coronavirus despite a new law prohibiting public schools and colleges in Ohio from mandating the vaccine. The school, the only public university in the state with such a requirement, said the mandate will continue since the fall term begins Aug. 21 and the law doesn’t take effect until October. “Over the last three semesters, our students, faculty, and staff have worked hard to keep our community safe,” said spokesperson Allison ...

COVID-19 caution urged at festivals

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — COVID-19 cases are increasing by small increments in Eastern Ohio, and the public is reminded to take care when attending festivals that had to be canceled in 2020. Belmont County Deputy Health Commissioner Robert Sproul said there have been no cases of the more ...

Surgeon general urges U.S. fight against COVID misinformation

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on Thursday called for a national effort to fight misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines, urging tech companies, health care workers, journalists and everyday Americans to do more to address an “urgent threat” to public health. In a 22-page advisory, ...

As COVID rises, a vexing hunt for nursing home vaccine stats

WASHINGTON (AP) — With COVID-19 on the rise again and many nursing home staffers unvaccinated, families still lack easy access to crucial Medicare immunization data that will help them pick the right facility for their loved one. Medicare has a “Care Compare” website for consumers it ...

Ohio to unveil 2nd COVID vaccine incentive

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio will announce a second coronavirus vaccine incentive program within the next few days in a new attempt to boost the state’s vaccination rate, Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday. DeWine did not provide details but hinted it could include smaller amounts of money meant to spread out the odds so more people win. He said he’s concerned about the continued spread of the so-called delta variant of COVID-19, as well as the fact that some parts of Ohio still have low vaccination rates. The highly contagious delta variant, first identified in India and now ...

Vaccinated teachers and students don’t need masks

NEW YORK (AP) — Vaccinated teachers and students don’t need to wear masks inside school buildings, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday in relaxing its COVID-19 guidelines. The changes come amid a national vaccination campaign in which children as young as 12 are eligible to get shots, as well as a general decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths. “We’re at a new point in the pandemic that we’re all really excited about,” and so it’s time to update the guidance, said Erin Sauber-Schatz, who leads the CDC task force that prepares ...