COVID

People who get vaccinated against coronavirus don’t have to wait before donating blood in most cases, according to experts, but there are a few contingencies. “The simple answer is, there is no waiting time between vaccination and donation,” said Kim Cronin, manager of Massachusetts General Hospital’s donor services. This is “wonderful news” for donation centers, Cronin noted, as the...

The Biden administration’s call to lift patent protections on COVID-19 vaccines to help poor parts of the world get more doses has drawn praise from some countries and health advocates

The headlines are devastating: Hundreds of pregnant women have reportedly died in Brazil after contracting COVID-19 as that country grapples with the pandemic. But what does that mean overall in terms of risk for pregnant women, and what do you need to know? We sat down with Dr. Kimberly Keefe Smith from the Center for Infertility and Reproductive Surgery at…

The headlines are devastating: hundreds of pregnant women have died in Brazil after contracting the COVID-19 virus. But, what does that mean overall in terms of risk for pregnant women, and what do you need to know?

New statewide school attendance data show the percentage of students deemed chronically absent was up so far this pandemic-disrupted school year, as compared to the last three academic years, with rates soaring among English learners, economically disadvantaged students, and students with disabilities. Seventeen percent of Massachusetts students have been categorized as chronically absent — meaning they missed 10 percent or…

More COVID-19 vaccination clinics have started taking walk-ins to get a shot without an appointment, according to the Vermont Health Department said. Information about the clinics can be found on the Health Department’s website or by watching its social media feeds at www.healthvermont.gov/media/social. All Vermonters age 16 and older are eligible for vaccines and can make appointments on the...

India topped 400,000 new daily COVID cases Saturday and is quickly approaching a total death toll of 212,000.

New England states have lifted or made changes to their mask mandates and announced further reopening measures as the federal government this week issued new guidance on face coverings. The moves come as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unveiled new guidance on outdoor mask-wearing for unvaccinated people Tuesday and as more residents get vaccinated against COVID-19. Here’s...

Massachusetts is poised to take additional steps toward normalcy under Gov. Charlie Baker’s latest COVID reopening timeline. Baker’s suite of short- and longer-term updates to the state’s reopening plan, released Tuesday, positions Massachusetts to fully reopen by August. It starts with the state’s outdoor mask mandate expiring Friday, followed by other COVID-related business restrictions that relax next month. Starting...

Maine Gov. Janet Mills on Tuesday lifted the state’s requirement that people wear face coverings outside, effective immediately, after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control updated its guidance on masks. In a statement, the Maine Center for Disease Control said masks are no longer required in public, but recommended that people continue to wear them “in outdoor settings where...

Health officials in Massachusetts reported another 812 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus and 12 new deaths on Monday.

Another 1,085 cases of COVID-19 and six new deaths were confirmed by health officials in Massachusetts on Sunday. The state has now had a total of 640,399 confirmed cases, while the death toll rises to 17,199, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. There were no new probable deaths linked to COVID-19 reported Sunday. On Sunday, the seven-day average of…

Health officials in Massachusetts reported another 1,386 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus and 12 new deaths on Saturday. The update puts the total of confirmed cases at 639,314 and the death toll at 17,193, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Another four deaths are considered probably linked to COVID-19. The average number of coronavirus cases, average coronavirus test…

Health officials in Massachusetts reported another 1,452 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus and 13 new deaths on Friday.

Health officials in Massachusetts reported another 1,431 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus and 17 new deaths on Thursday.

Health officials in Massachusetts reported another 1,370 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus and 13 new deaths on Wednesday.

Health officials in Massachusetts reported another 968 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus and three new deaths on Tuesday. The update puts the total of confirmed cases at 633,675 and the death toll at 17,138, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Another 346 deaths are considered probably linked to COVID-19. The average number of coronavirus cases, average coronavirus test…

Health officials in Massachusetts reported another 1,236 cases of the new coronavirus and 18 new deaths on Monday. The update puts the total of confirmed cases at 632,707 and the death toll at 17,135, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Another 346 deaths are considered probably linked to COVID-19. The average number of coronavirus cases, average coronavirus test positivity…

Health officials in Massachusetts reported another 1,265 coronavirus cases and 7 new deaths on Sunday, as the testing positivity rate fell below 2%. The latest update from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health puts the total number of confirmed cases at 631,471 and the death toll at 17,117. Another 345 deaths are considered probably linked to COVID-19. In Massachusetts, the…

Health officials in Massachusetts reported another 1,694 coronavirus cases on Saturday, pushing the state’s total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases over 630,000. Ten new deaths were also reported. The latest update from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health puts the total number of confirmed cases at 630,206 and the death toll at 17,110. Another 345 deaths are considered probably linked…