Blood type may affect chances of infections
Good news for people with O-type blood: Two studies published in the journal Blood Advances suggest that they may have a lower chance of contracting COVID-19 – and have less severe symptoms.
A study out of Denmark using health registry data from over 2 million people found that people with other blood types more frequently contracted COVID-19 than people with blood type O.
Meanwhile, a study from Canada found that those with blood types O and B who tested positive for COVID-19 fared better than those with A or AB blood types, who needed mechanical ventilation and dialysis at a higher rate.
The U.S. has reported more than 7.9 million cases and 216,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins data. There have been more than 38.5 million confirmed cases around the world and 1 million deaths.
France imposes curfew, state of emergency
President Emmanuel Macron announced that 18 million French citizens in nine regions, including in Paris, will have a curfew starting Saturday through Dec. 1.
He also reinstated the state of health emergency for the country, which ended three months ago. The 9 p.m. curfew is aimed at limiting the resurgent coronavirus amid second wave.
“Our goal is to curb the virus,” Macron said. “We must reduce the number of cases per day to 3,000 or 4,000. Our goal is to reduce private contacts. What is called the curfew is a measure that is appropriate.”
2 with ties to Harris campaign test positive
Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris canceled campaign trips to key battleground states through Sunday after two people associated with the campaign tested positive for COVID-19.
A flight crew member, who doesn’t work for the campaign, and the senator’s communications director, Liz Allen, tested positive, according to Joe Biden campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon. Harris wasn’t in close contact with either person within two days of the tests and faces no obligation to quarantine, Dillon said.
“Regardless, out of an abundance of caution and in line with our campaign’s commitment to the highest levels of precaution, we are canceling Sen. Harris’s travel through Sunday, Oct. 18,” Dillon said.
NY venue fined for hosting Sweet 16 party
A Sweet 16 celebration held at a Long Island venue on Sept. 25 became a super-spreader event after 29 guests contracted COVID-19. The number of cases connected to the party, held at the Miller Place Inn, eventually ballooned to 37 cases total, counting household and other close contacts.
More than 80 guests were in attendance, in effect breaking New York state rules that specify that indoor social gatherings must be capped at 50 people maximum.
The venue was charged $12,000 by Suffolk County Department of Health Services for violating this mandate, and for “operating a food establishment in an unsanitary condition,” per a release from the county.
Anti-mask parents raise $11,000 for lawsuit against Florida schools
Parents in Florida have raised more than $11,000 to hire an attorney as the group’s organizers prepare to sue the Sarasota County School Board’s mask policy.
“We are taking action to have the mask mandate decision reversed immediately for the physical, emotional and social well-being of our children. The decisions made by the board are not in the best interest of the people they serve,” the petition accompanying the fundraiser states.
The petition sponsors did not respond to a request for further comment on Tuesday, and their legal strategy is not clear, although a post from an organizer said a lawsuit should be filed by Friday.
The School Board’s current policy generally requires all students and staff to wear masks throughout the school day, with a handful of exceptions. Students are not required to wear the face coverings while exercising or eating, and as long as they are socially distanced from their classmates, they may take brief mask breaks during class.
Barron Trump tested positive for COVID-19
Melania Trump said that after an initial negative test, 14-year-old Barron Trump tested positive.
“It was two weeks ago when I received the diagnosis that so many Americans across our country and the world had already received – I tested positive for COVID-19,” the first lady said in a statement. “To make matters worse, my husband, and our nation’s Commander-in-Chief, received the same news.”
She continued: “Naturally my mind went immediately to our son. To our great relief he tested negative, but again, as so many parents have thought over the past several months, I couldn’t help but think ‘what about tomorrow or the next day?’ ”
“Luckily he is a strong teenager and exhibited no symptoms. In one way I was glad the three of us went through this at the same time so we could take care of one another and spend time together. He has since tested negative.”