New COVID strain B117: What to know about highly contagious variant from United Kingdom that has spread to Massachusetts, other states
Updated Jan 18, 2021;
Posted Jan 18, 2021
This frame from a steaming video shows California Gov. Gavin Newsom, left, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, right, during a conversation, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. Newsom announced the first known case of the new and apparently more contagious variant of the coronavirus in the nation s most populated state. His announcement followed the first reported U.S. case in Colorado.Office of the Governor via AP
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A new highly contagious coronavirus strain that emerged in the United Kingdom and has spread throughout the world was detected in Massachusetts for the first time over the weekend.
The state Department of Public Health updated its immunization requirement guidance on Friday to eliminate a requirement that students in child care programs, preschools, K-12 schools, and higher education receive a flu vaccine to attend their educational programs. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is removing the requirement for flu vaccination for attendance in childcare/preschool, primary, secondary and postsecondary education, DPH spokesperson Kathleen Conti said in a statement. Preliminary data show that this has been a mild flu season to date, presumably as people have received their seasonal flu vaccine and have been adhering to mask-wearing and social distancing due to COVID-19.
Opinion/Letter: Writer wrong on C-10, Seabrook nuclear power plant
Portsmouth Herald
To the Editor:
Regarding the letter of Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, of Mr. Irving Glater, putatively about compressed natural gas and nuclear power as part of our region´s energy strategy:
Notwithstanding the author´s viewpoints on the appropriateness of those two energy sources, which are legitimately arguable, several allegations made by the author are propaganda disguised as facts. As such, they merit addressing.
The author refers to members of citizens within the 10-mile radius, commonly known as C-10 as zealots. Does the author know any members of C-10? Has he attended any of the organization’s meetings? Is he aware that C-10 is the only organization that is carrying out 24/7 monitoring of ionizing radiation from all directions, all sources, in dozens of locations in Seacoast New Hampshire and Essex County Massachusetts, with the scientific data gleaned uploaded to the Massachusetts De
First case of new COVID-19 variant identified in Massachusetts
Josh LaBella
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Cars line up for COVID-19 testing at Taconic High School in Pittsfield, Mass., on Monday, Nov. 23, 2020. With in school learning closed due to a recent surge in cases the school district is testing staff, children and families through a partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. (Ben Garver/The Berkshire Eagle via AP)Ben Garver / Associated Press
MASS. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced that the first case of the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 had been detected in the state on Sunday.
In a release, officials said the variant was the same one initially discovered in the United Kingdom. They said the individual developed symptoms in early January and tested positive for COVID-19.