1 in 4 parents lied about their child’s infection status, study finds
About a quarter of parents have lied to others about their child’s COVID-19 positivity status, according to a study published Monday in the medical journal JAMA Network Open. The December 2021 Probability-Free National Online Survey asked parents if they had ever engaged in seven types of misrepresentation and non-compliance behavior regarding COVID-19 public health measures for their children: yes , they had been dishonest about their child’s health or vaccination status, about 1 in 4 people told researchers. And 1 in 5 allowed their child to break quarantine rules at the height of the pandemic.
The findings were based on responses from 580 parents of children under 18 surveyed in late 2021, when cases were rising and schools were moving to remote learning. About 10% of adults said they lied about their child’s vaccination status, 20% avoided having their child tested when they thought they were infected, and 10% lied about their child’s age for the test. get vaccinated. The researchers were from Middlesex Community College in Connecticut, the medical schools of the University of Utah, the University of Colorado and the University of Iowa, the Denver Veterans Information Center and other academic institutions.
Next month, California will drop mask mandates in healthcare and correctional facilities
Next month, California will pause its remaining COVID-19 mask and vaccination requirements for health care facilities, correctional and homeless facilities, emergency and warming and cooling centers, according to the news. state guidelines. As of April 3, healthcare workers, patients and visitors will no longer be required to wear a mask or be vaccinated to work in facilities including hospitals, urgent care centers and dental offices. and medical. And from March 13, people who test positive for COVID-19 can end isolation after five days “if they feel well, have improving symptoms and have no symptoms.” fever for 24 hours, with less emphasis on negative tests”. Learn about changes as states and federal pandemic emergency states come to an end.
SF’s economic crater at the start of the pandemic was one of the worst in the United States
The San Francisco metro area experienced an economic decline early in the pandemic that was one of the most dramatic in the country, according to new analysis from the Brookings Institution. Of 192 U.S. metro areas in the pre-pandemic years of 2011 and 2019, the SF region, which includes East Bay, was ranked fourth overall for “inclusive growth,” based on a dozen indicators, including gross domestic product output, employment growth, average wages and the poverty gap. But the region fell to 109th based on data between 2019 and 2021, reflecting the pandemic’s toll on the job market and new businesses amid some of the country’s toughest health measures and a widespread shift to remote work. Learn more about how San Francisco fared economically during the pandemic, according to Brookings rankings.
Can Paxlovid deter COVID for long?
Research indicating that the antiviral drug Paxlovid, a commonly used treatment for COVID-19, may also reduce the risk of long COVID is raising interest in further research to see if the link is real. The Veterans’ November study of 56,000 people found that the more than 9,000 people who took Paxlovid within the first five days of getting COVID had a 25% lower risk of long-lasting COVID symptoms, including including heart and blood disorders, fatigue, liver and kidney disease, muscle aches, neurocognitive disorders and shortness of breath. Dr. Bob Wachter, chairman of the UCSF chair of medicine, said the results weren’t huge, but showed that Paxlovid can make “a significant difference.” Learn more about Paxlovid and the still inconclusive evidence on its impact on long COVID.
Debate continues around origins of coronavirus, China blamed for obstruction
Lawmakers said on Sunday that it remained impossible to determine the origins of COVID-19 due to continued obstruction by the Chinese government, Politico reports. “We have so few facts because the Chinese regime has obscured it,” Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” The discussion followed reports late last month that the Department of Energy had concluded – though not with solid certainty – that COVID-19 most likely started from an accidental lab leak. in Wuhan, China. The FBI agrees, but other US agencies have favored a theory that it was transmitted by animals. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, said, “There’s no direct evidence, we don’t have China admitting it, we don’t have the Wuhan lab handing these things over.”
Chinese officials see year of growth coming after virus checks end
Chinese economic officials said on Monday they were confident they could meet this year’s growth target of “about 5%” by generating 12 million new jobs and encouraging consumer spending after the end of anti-virus controls that have kept millions of people at home. Cabinet planners announced no details on spending or other initiatives to revive growth that slumped to 3% last year, the second weakest in decades. But they said they were planning a series of measures to meet the targets announced by Premier Li Keqiang on Sunday by boosting revenue and encouraging innovation. Efforts to revive China’s economy have global implications after weak retail, auto and housing sales weighed on import demand. The country is the biggest export market for its Asian neighbors and an important source of income for Western companies.
Unvaccinated tennis player withdraws from tournament after losing bid to enter US
Top-ranked Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the upcoming BNP Paribas Open, after losing his bid to enter the United States unvaccinated to compete in the Southern California event. The tournament announced its withdrawal on Sunday evening. Play in the combined ATP-WTA event begins Wednesday at Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said on Twitter that Homeland Security had denied Djokovic’s request for a vaccine exemption, which would have allowed him to play back-to-back in Indian Wells and Miami, March 19-2 april. The United States is ending its COVID-19 emergency declaration on May 11, which will allow foreign air travelers to enter the county without being vaccinated.