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Coronavirus

Excess COVID shots discarded due to waning public interest

WHEELING — Officials in Wheeling and Ohio County are urging citizens to resist “hesitancy” and get a COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible so the community can safely return to normalcy. Officials said hesitancy to get vaccinated will only cause the pandemic — and related health and safety restrictions — to continue being part of our lives. In the meantime, health officials say they’ll have to discard expired vaccine doses and business leaders say local shops continue to bear the brunt. Wheeling City Council members passed a resolution Tuesday supporting efforts of the ...

Restrictions easing in U.S. and Europe amid virus disaster in India

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Air travel in the U.S. hit its highest mark since COVID-19 took hold more than 13 months ago, while European Union officials are proposing to ease restrictions on visitors to the continent as the vaccine sends new cases and deaths tumbling in more affluent countries. The improving picture in many places contrasts with the worsening disaster in India. In the U.S., the average number of new cases per day fell below 50,000 for the first time since October. And nearly 1.67 million people were screened at U.S. airport checkpoints on Sunday, according to the ...

Belmont County No. 3 in the state

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Belmont County ranks third in the state in COVID-19 occurrence rate, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Monday. The governor shared data that indicate Belmont County has 220.9 cases per 100,000 residents, with 148 cases among its 67,006 residents. The data is collected over a two-week period, and it was current as of April 28. Of the Ohio’s 88 counties, only Lucas and Cuyahoga have higher occurrence rates, at 270.1 and 229.6 per 100,000, respectively. The news came as the Belmont County Health Department said its COVID-19 vaccination outreach is moving to a new set of ...

Monroe mulls how to spend $2 million

WOODSFIELD — Monroe County is set to receive $2,648,109 in American Rescue Plan funding to offset lost revenue and aid with local infrastructure improvement projects, among other items. Monroe County Treasurer Taylor Abbott said the county will receive the funding in two installments — half of the funds will be distributed this year and the other half next year. He added that there are four stipulations regarding what the county can spend the money on, which include: Responding to the coronavirus health impacts or economic impacts including assistance to households, small ...

St. C. to resume in-person meetings

ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- The city council will once again be meeting face-to-face after nearly a year of teleconference sessions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On Monday, Council President Jim Velas announced the 7:30 May 17 meeting will be in person. “Due to the relaxation of some of the people in the meetings, we will have enough room in our council chambers to accommodate the entire council and the city officials,” Velas said. “They will follow all of the guidelines laid down by the health department … We are in serious hopes that they will relax them even a little bit more, ...

Disneyland reopens as California emerges from virus depths

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Disneyland reopened to excited visitors Friday, marking a dramatic turnaround in a state that was so overwhelmed with coronavirus cases just four months ago that patients were being treated in gymnasiums and outdoor tents. Visitors cheered and screamed with happiness ...