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COVID-19

2020 deadliest year in US history with 3 million lost

NEW YORK — This is the deadliest year in U.S. history, with deaths expected to top 3 million for the first time — due mainly to the coronavirus pandemic. Final mortality data for this year will not be available for months. But preliminary numbers suggest that the United States is on track to see more than 3.2 million deaths this year, or at least 400,000 more than in 2019. U.S. deaths increase most years, so some annual rise in fatalities is expected. But the 2020 numbers amount to a jump of about 15%, and could go higher once all the deaths from this month are counted. ...

Blair safety director says patience required

HOLLIDAYSBURG — Blair County’s public safety director is urging people to be patient while awaiting information on the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. In a presentation Tuesday for county commissioners, Director of Public Safety Mark Taylor referenced vaccination efforts that began last week and continue to evolve. As for the future, Taylor said he reached out to some of his state-level contacts for more information, but didn’t learn anything new. “Understand this is a huge process and a lot of plans are changing daily,” Taylor said. The state Department of Health last ...

Vaccine recipients still must take care

People who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 can still be infectious — which is one of the reasons they’ll need to keep following mitigation practices for now, state Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said at a virtual news conference Monday. Mitigations like wearing masks, distancing, avoidance of gatherings and washing hands are more important than ever, especially during the holidays, when people should limit in-person celebrations to members of their own households, according to Levine. Those who’ve been vaccinated — 17,000 front line health care workers so far in ...

House passes $900B virus relief measure

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House easily passed a $900 billion pandemic relief package Monday night that would finally deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and resources to vaccinate a nation confronting a frightening surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths. Lawmakers tacked on a $1.4 trillion catchall spending bill and thousands of pages of other end-of-session business in a massive bundle of bipartisan legislation as Capitol Hill prepared to close the books on the year. The lopsided 359-53 vote was a bipartisan coda to months of partisanship and politicking as lawmakers ...

Van Zandt VA center to get doses of vaccine

U.S. Rep. John Joyce, R-13th District, has announced that the Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Altoona will receive doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine this week. “With the arrival of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine to the Van Zandt VA Medical Center, Pennsylvania veterans and their health care providers will be better protected against the threat of this virus,” Joyce said in a statement. “Defeating COVID-19 will yield immeasurable physical and mental health benefits for our veterans. I commend the VA’s collaboration with Operation Warp Speed to begin the vaccination ...

Two courthouse offices close

From Mirror staff reports HOLLIDAYSBURG — The Blair County Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds offices at the Blair County Courthouse will remain closed until Wednesday because of COVID-19. The offices were closed at noon Monday. Limited operations and recordings will be conducted, although they might be delayed during the quarantine period, according to a news release from Anita L. Terchanik, Register and Recorder. The Recorder of Deeds office will process documents using e-recordings, United States Postal Service, UPS and Federal Express. Terchanik has directed people to ...