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COVID-19

Half of US adults have received at least one shot

WASHINGTON — Half of all adults in the U.S. have received at least one COVID-19 shot, the government announced Sunday, marking another milestone in the nation’s largest-ever vaccination campaign but leaving more work to do to convince skeptical Americans to roll up their sleeves. Almost 130 million people 18 or older have received at least one dose of a vaccine, or 50.4% of the total adult population, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. Almost 84 million adults, or about 32.5% of the population, have been fully vaccinated. The U.S. cleared the 50% mark just a ...

Railroaders Museum, Historic Curve reopen

After a year of being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a brighter, enlivened Railroaders Memorial Museum is ready to receive visitors at its 1200 Ninth Ave. location and at the world famous Horseshoe Curve. Local residents are encouraged to visit both locations to see what’s new, ...

State sounds alarm on hesitancy over vaccinations

A growing number of unfilled appointments and low uptake among nursing home workers are early signs that vaccine hesitancy is becoming an issue in Pennsylvania, prompting state officials to sound the alarm Friday and urge residents to get their COVID-19 shots as quickly as possible. After months of demand outstripping supply, vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are more readily available, and the Wolf administration said the challenge now is to assuage the concerns of people who are reluctant to get it. Gov. Tom Wolf and state health officials on Friday toured a community vaccination ...

Surge in virus cases prompts school closures

CRESSON — Area schools are continuing to combat recent surges of COVID-19. With positive cases districtwide, the Penn Cambria and Hollidaysburg Area School Districts both have enacted closures today. “We’re keeping a close eye on the situation,” Penn Cambria Superintendent Bill Marshall said. “We are aware of the current climate, and we’re just continuing to monitor the situation.” Penn Cambria has witnessed several positive cases for COVID-19 this past week, and the primary school closed Thursday after two positive cases. The high school reached five positive cases ...

Blair County’s director of public safety told the county commissioners Tuesday that he was a “little disappointed” in the recent increase of coronavirus cases and expressed concern that area residents may be resistant to taking the vaccine. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mark Taylor has been providing commissioners Bruce R. Erb, Amy E. Webster and Laura O. Burke with weekly statistical updates on the numbers of new cases. He said within the past week another 250 local residents have come down with the virus, bringing the total who have contracted the disease to 11,573. The number ...

City mulls expected $41M windfall

Altoona expects to receive about $41 million through the recently passed American Rescue Plan, and it should begin trying to figure out how best to spend the money, City Council members said Monday. “It would be wise to form a committee of internal and external stakeholders,” said Mayor Matt Pacifico. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” The official numbers haven’t been released, but the House Oversight Committee has provided estimates, Pacifico said. Half the money is slated to come this year and half next year, he said. Some of it could go toward renewing ...