COVID-19: Here's What To Know About New XEC Strain That's Arrived In US From Europe COVID-19: Here's What To Know About New XEC Strain That's Arrived In US From Europe
Covid-19: Here's What To Know About New XEC Strain That's Arrived In US From Europe A new highly transmissible COVID-19 strain that first appeared in Europe is now beginning to spread in the United States. Called XEC, the offshoot of the Omicron strain was initially identified in Germany early this past summer before quickly spreading throughout Europe. It is not causing more serious symptoms than other COVID strains, but it is causing concern. “The rate of infections from XEC they're seeing in some countries rose pretty quickly compared to previous variants in those same places," Dr. Scott Roberts, a Yale Medicine infectious diseases specialist said in YaleMedicine.…
COVID-19: KP.3.1.1 Strain Now Makes Up About 60 Percent Of US Cases; Here Are Symptoms COVID-19: KP.3.1.1 Strain Now Makes Up About 60 Percent Of US Cases; Here Are Symptoms
Covid-19: KP.3.1.1 Strain Now Makes Up About 60 Percent Of US Cases; Here Are Symptoms A highly contagious COVID-19 variant known as KP.3.1.1 now accounts for nearly 60 percent of infections in the United States. Data from the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that in a two-week period ending Saturday, Sept. 28, the strain made up 58.7 percent of cases nationally, with the KP.2.3 variant second at 9.4 percent. Both KP.3 and KP.2 are offshoots of the highly contagious Omicron variant and are members of a newly identified group of variants known as  “FLiRT.” Neither is causing more serious symptoms than other COVID strains, according to experts.…
Elizabeth Man Submitted Phony Applications To Obtain $100,000+ In Covid Funds: Feds Elizabeth Man Submitted Phony Applications To Obtain $100,000+ In Covid Funds: Feds
Elizabeth Man Submitted Phony Applications To Obtain $100,000+ In Covid Funds: Feds A 53-year-old Elizabeth man recently admitted to his role in a fraud scheme involving COVID funds, phony tax filings and a fake loan application, authorities said. In June 2020, Richard Fadraga submitted a  fraudulent application for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), which resulted in him getting $110,000 from the Small Business Administration in COVID-19 relate proceeds, US Attorney Phillip Sellinger said. The next month, Fadraga submitted another fraudulent application and received a $131,000 loan, Sellinger said. That application was submitted under another person's name to c…
COVID-19: Free At-Home Tests Are Now Available To Order Online While Supplies Last COVID-19: Free At-Home Tests Are Now Available To Order Online While Supplies Last
Covid-19: Free At-Home Tests Are Now Available To Order Online While Supplies Last Free rapid tests for COVID-19 are now available to order online. As of Friday, Sept. 27, every American household may order four nasal swab tests through the Department of Health and Human Services program by visiting covid.gov/tests or covidtests.gov while supplies last. After orders are placed, a confirmation email will be sent to the household, with free shipping scheduled to start the week of Monday, Sept. 30, and email delivery updates available if requested. New COVID booster vaccines that became available at the start of September have been updated with a formula…
COVID-19: John Gotti's Smithtown Grandson Admits To $1M Relief Fraud COVID-19: John Gotti's Smithtown Grandson Admits To $1M Relief Fraud
Covid-19: John Gotti's Smithtown Grandson Admits To $1M Relief Fraud A New York man with ties to the Mafia formally confessed to a million-dollar COVID-19 relief fraud scheme. Long Island resident Carmine Agnello, age 38, of Smithtown, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in Central Islip federal court on Thursday, Sept. 26. Agnello is the grandson of the late John Gotti, former boss of the Gambino organized crime family. According to prosecutors, between April 2020 and November 2021, he fraudulently applied for, and received, at least three small business loans under the US Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDLP). The program…
Free COVID-19 At-Home Tests Will Soon Become Available Online Free COVID-19 At-Home Tests Will Soon Become Available Online
Free Covid-19 At-Home Tests Will Soon Become Available Online The Department of Health and Human Services will soon restart its program of offering free rapid tests for the virus through the mail. Every American household may order four nasal swab tests starting by the end of September by visiting covid.gov/tests or covidtests.gov. Both standard and more accessible COVID-19 tests will be available, while supplies last. The department did not announce what specific day and date requests will start to be processed. New COVID booster vaccines that became available at the start of September have been updated with a formula to more closely target cu…
Rutgers President To Resign At End Of School Year After Historic, Turbulent Tenure Rutgers President To Resign At End Of School Year After Historic, Turbulent Tenure
Rutgers President To Resign At End Of School Year After Historic, Turbulent Tenure Jonathan Holloway will resign as president of Rutgers University at the end of the 2024-25 academic year, the school announced. The university's 21st president will step down after finishing his fifth year in office on Monday, June 30, 2025, Rutgers said in a news release on Tuesday, Sept. 17. The U.S. historian plans to take a sabbatical during the 2025-26 year for research projects before joining the Rutgers faculty full time. In a letter to the Rutgers community, Holloway said he made the decision to resign on his own and believes it's how he can best help the university. "Serving as th…
Harris, Trump Come Out Swinging In Presidential Debate In Philadelphia Harris, Trump Come Out Swinging In Presidential Debate In Philadelphia
Harris, Trump Come Out Swinging In Presidential Debate In Philadelphia Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald J. Trump came out swinging at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Sept. 10 in their first and possibly only presidential debate before the Tuesday, Nov. 5 election. Harris made the first move by shaking Trump's hand on stage — in their first face-to-face encounter. Political observers noted how Harris "baited" the former president, prompting him to look increasingly angry. But Trump entered the "spin room" less than an hour after the debate, saying, "I think it was the best debate, personally, that I've ever …
Bruce Springsteen's Wife, Bandmate Reveals Cancer Diagnosis: 'Touring Has Become A Challenge' Bruce Springsteen's Wife, Bandmate Reveals Cancer Diagnosis: 'Touring Has Become A Challenge'
Bruce Springsteen's Wife, Bandmate Reveals Cancer Diagnosis: 'Touring Has Become A Challenge' Patti Scialfa, the wife of Bruce Springsteen and a member of his E Street Band, has revealed her battle with a form of blood cancer. Scialfa spoke publicly for the first time about her 2018 multiple myeloma diagnosis in the new documentary "Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band". The movie premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, Sept. 8, People magazine reported. The Deal native said the cancer has forced her to perform less with her husband and the E Street Band. "This affects my immune system so I just have to be careful what I choose to do and …
COVID-19: New XEC Strain 'Just Getting Started' Sparks Concern Amid Summer Wave Of US Cases COVID-19: New XEC Strain 'Just Getting Started' Sparks Concern Amid Summer Wave Of US Cases
Covid-19: New XEC Strain 'Just Getting Started' Sparks Concern Amid Summer Wave Of US Cases A newly discovered more contagious COVID-19 strain spreading rapidly through Europe is sparking concerns among health authorities around the globe as the United States is experiencing its largest wave of cases in over two years. XEC, which was first identified in Germany, may eventually overtake the current dominant subvariant, KP.3.1.1, which is currently most common in the United States, accounting for about 42 percent of cases nationally according to data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released on Saturday, Aug. 31. XEC make take weeks or even months before it s…
Sean Higgins Worked At Substance Abuse Center, Was Member Of NJ National Guard: Reports Sean Higgins Worked At Substance Abuse Center, Was Member Of NJ National Guard: Reports
Sean Higgins Worked At Substance Abuse Center, Was Member Of NJ National Guard: Reports More information about Sean Higgins, the suspected DUI driver who killed Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau last week, is coming to light. The 43-year-old Woodstown resident who police say struck 31-year-old Johnny and 29-year-old Matthew in Oldmans Township last week, was a New Jersey National Guardsman who worked at a substance abuse treatment center. Photos on the Department of Defense website show Higgins receiving a COVID-19 vaccination in January 2021, and embracing a child in Kosovo in 2019. A state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs spokesperson confirmed Higgins is a f…
Hillsborough Dad, Flight Nurse Jay McChesney Dies, 55: 'All American Hero' Hillsborough Dad, Flight Nurse Jay McChesney Dies, 55: 'All American Hero'
Hillsborough Dad, Flight Nurse Jay McChesney Dies, 55: 'All American Hero' Medical professionals across New Jersey are mourning the loss of Jay McChesney, a longtime nurse being remembered for his humility and genuine concern. Jay, whose birth name was James Paul, died on Friday, Aug. 30, according to his obituary on the Hillsborough Funeral Home website. He was 55 years old. A GoFundMe launched for Jay's family had raised more than $8,000 as of press time. Known affectionately by loved ones as the "All American Hero," Jay grew up in West Orange and went on to work at the Parsippany Pathmark, where he met his wife, Jenette Reilling, with whom he shared three chil…