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COVID-19

COVID-19 Q&A: What can be safely done after receiving COVID-19 vaccine

I got the COVID-19 vaccine. What can I safely do? You can enjoy small gatherings again, but should continue wearing a mask and social distancing in public. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says fully vaccinated people can gather maskless with other vaccinated people indoors. It also says you can meet with unvaccinated people from one household at a time, if those people are considered at low risk of severe COVID-19. In other countries, the guidance may vary. In public, the CDC recommends that vaccinated people continue wearing masks, avoid large ...

Zoos, scientists aim to stop virus transmission to animals

SAN DIEGO — The coughing among the western lowland gorillas at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in January was the first warning sign. Soon the fears were confirmed: A troop of gorillas became the first apes known to test positive for the coronavirus. Around the world, many scientists and veterinarians are now racing to protect animals from the coronavirus, often using the same playbook for minimizing disease spread among people: That includes social distancing, health checks and, for some zoo animals, a vaccine. Karen, a 28-year-old orangutan, became the first ape in the world to get ...

Convention center looks to book larger gatherings

Gov. Tom Wolf’s order easing of COVID-19 restrictions, starting April 4, puts the Blair County Convention Center in a position to book larger indoor gatherings, as long as the facility remains below 25% of maximum occupancy and if social distancing is maintained. Wolf’s current order, in place since March 1, has limited indoor gatherings to 15% of capacity. That followed an order which restricted indoor gatherings to no more than 5% percent capacity. For the convention center, the increase to 25% means the facility can soon accommodate up to 1,700 people, based on a capacity of ...

Festival of the Arts goes virtual

The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts board of directors Thursday canceled its July in-person event due to ongoing public health concerns from the COVID-19 pandemic. “This was an even more difficult decision to make this year than it was last year in the early days of the pandemic,” said Renata S. Engel, CPFA board president. “The fact is that as exceptional as our staff and volunteers are, our ability to produce an event of this scale with all of the uncertainty that remains about the pandemic is not possible this year. We have heard from so many of you how important ...

UPMC touts virus therapy

Vaccinations will mean eventual salvation from COVID-19, but until then, there’s a treatment that can keep the disease at bay after high-risk people test positive, if administered soon enough, according to UPMC officials. Monoclonal antibody therapy can save lives, said Dr. David Burwell, ...