citys Archives - Mediarabe

New York City’s New Health Commissioner Is Worried About a Coronavirus Resurgence

October 14, 2020

When Dave A. Chokshi was appointed commissioner in August of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the percentage of New York City residents testing positive for the coronavirus was at one of its lowest points, a promising moment that put the worst days of the pandemic in the rearview mirror.

But only 10 weeks into his tenure, Dr. Chokshi, a primary care physician, has pressing worries.

With a resurgence of cases in Brooklyn and Queens—which have now required new lockdowns in several neighborhoods, including the one where he lives with his wife and toddler daughter—Dr. Chokshi is concerned about controlling hot spots. He is worried that misinformation about herd immunity and the seriousness of the illness, as well as testing, has played a role in the spread of the virus in Brooklyn and Queens.

“I’m worried that what we’re seeing with respect to the increase in

Testing event needed at Fayetteville High School, city’s health board says

October 9, 2020

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| Health Current Events

FAYETTEVILLE — The city’s Board of Health hopes to set up a successful mass testing event at Fayetteville High School after few students took advantage of a free mobile testing event held this week on campus.

Friday’s high school football game between Fayetteville and West High School was canceled this week because of possible exposure to the coronavirus. Fayetteville School District on Sept. 17 announced “several” football players had to quarantine because of potential close contact with covid-19.

A mobile testing crew was set up at the high school Tuesday and Wednesday for athletes and members of the high school band, said Board Member Gary Berner with Community Clinic. Letters went out to parents informing them of the testing availability, and students had to get parental permission, he said.

The clinic expected to do about 185 polymerase chain reaction tests over two days, Berner said. About eight tests were done,

UnitedHealthcare’s Health Plan to Aid Kansas City’s Employers

September 30, 2020

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| Health Plans

UnitedHealth Group Inc.’s UNH business, UnitedHealthcare, recently expanded its relationship with Saint Luke’s Health System and Children’s Mercy Kansas City. Notably, the relation between UnitedHealthcare and Saint Luke’s can be traced back to 2017 when an accountable care organization (ACO) was formed through which UnitedHealthcare continues to facilitate improved level of data and assistance to Saint Luke’s physicians.

The latest collaboration has resulted in the development of a health plan — the Core Essential plan. The plan, likely to be effective from Jan 1 of next year, intends to benefit fully insured and self-funded employers in Johnson and Wyandotte counties situated in Kansas, and, Clay, Jackson and Platte counties situated in Missouri.

It’s worth mentioning that employers can avail the latest health plan, even if they have offices or facilities in other counties across Kansas and Missouri apart from the five specified ones as long as majority of their

Leominster mayor declares public health emergency to get kids back to school during COVID-19 pandemic, argues city’s coronavirus numbers are low

September 29, 2020

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| Community Health

The mayor of Leominster on Monday declared a public health emergency in an effort to get kids back to school amid the coronavirus pandemic, arguing remote learning has had a detrimental impact on children’s learning, news outlets reported.

During an emergency Leominster School Committee meeting Mayor Dean Mazzarella called on Monday, the top city official argued the community has low COVID-19 numbers and that K-12 students learning at home is causing a crisis, WBZ reported.

Mazzarella claimed it is safe for in-person learning to start again in Leominster, according to WHDH’s reporting. State coronavirus metrics have put the Central Massachusetts city in the “green” on the commonwealth’s map that looks at communities’ transmission risks.

Leominster’s infection rate last week stood at 1.8 positive cases per 100,000 residents, according to Massachusetts Department of Public Health data.

As of Sept. 23, the community had reported a total of 774 COVID-19 cases

Brain-eating amoeba found in Texas city’s water supply following investigation of 6-year-old boy’s death

September 29, 2020

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An investigation into a 6-year-old boy’s death led to the detection of a brain-eating amoeba in a Houston-area city’s water supply, health officials confirmed this weekend. CBS affiliate KHOU-TV reported Josiah McIntyre was hospitalized earlier this month after contracting naegleria fowleri at either the Lake Jackson splashpad or a hose at his family’s home.

6-year-old Josiah died on Sept. 8 after being infected with a brain-eating amoeba. His death prompted @LakeJacksonTX to test the water. CDC preliminary results came back yesterday. 3 of 11 samples were positive: a downtown splash pad, his home’s hose bib and a hydrant. #khou11 https://t.co/rggdGw8LDh pic.twitter.com/iylTXpFc3C

— David Gonzalez (@DavidGonzKHOU) September 26, 2020

The investigation into his Sept. 8 death led to the detection of the brain-eating amoeba after heath officials conducted water sample tests, Lake Jackson City Manager Modesto Mundo said in a news release Saturday.

Three of 11 sample tests indicated preliminary positive

‘Brain-eating’ amoeba in Texas city’s water supply kills 6-year-old

September 28, 2020

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| Health Article

A “brain-eating” amoeba has been found in the water supply of a Texas city where a 6-year-old boy recently died from an infection with the organism, according to news reports.

The boy, Josiah McIntyre, who lived in Lake Jackson, a city near Houston, Texas, died on Sept. 8 of a rare infection with the amoeba, known as Naegleria fowleri, according to NBC News. Naegleria fowleri is naturally found in warm freshwater, such as lakes and rivers, and people usually become infected after swimming or diving in bodies of contaminated freshwater, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Infections, which are rare, happen when contaminated water goes up the nose — you cannot become infected from swallowing contaminated water, the CDC says.

Josiah’s family said he may have been exposed to Naegleria fowleri from either their home’s water hose, or a city “splash pad,” where

Disaster declared in Lake Jackson after brain-eating amoeba was found in city’s water supply

September 28, 2020

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Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration on Sunday after a brain-eating amoeba was discovered in the water supply for Lake Jackson, Texas. The disaster declaration extends across Brazoria County where Lake Jackson is situated. While the city of Lake Jackson lifted a “Do-Not-Use” advisory for water customers, a boil order still remains in place.

Josiah McIntyre, 6, died Sept. 8 of a rare brain-eating amoeba.

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Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration on Sunday after a brain-eating amoeba was discovered in the water supply for Lake Jackson, Texas. The disaster declaration extends across Brazoria County where

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Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration on Sunday after a brain-eating amoeba was discovered in the water supply for Lake Jackson, Texas. The disaster declaration extends across Brazoria County where Lake Jackson is situated. While the city of Lake Jackson lifted a “Do-Not-Use” advisory for water customers,

6-year-old boy’s death led to investigation that found brain-eating amoeba in Texas city’s water supply

September 28, 2020

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| Health Article

An investigation into a 6-year-old boy’s death led to the detection of a brain-eating amoeba in a Houston-area city’s water supply, health officials confirmed this weekend. CBS affiliate KHOU-TV reported Josiah McIntyre was hospitalized earlier this month after contracting naegleria fowleri at either the Lake Jackson splashpad or a hose at his family’s home.

6-year-old Josiah died on Sept. 8 after being infected with a brain-eating amoeba. His death prompted @LakeJacksonTX to test the water. CDC preliminary results came back yesterday. 3 of 11 samples were positive: a downtown splash pad, his home’s hose bib and a hydrant. #khou11 https://t.co/rggdGw8LDh pic.twitter.com/iylTXpFc3C

— David Gonzalez (@DavidGonzKHOU) September 26, 2020

The investigation into his Sept. 8 death led to the detection of the brain-eating amoeba after heath officials conducted water sample tests, Lake Jackson City Manager Modesto Mundo said in a news release Saturday.

Three of 11 sample tests indicated preliminary positive