A majority of Black Americans believe having a mental health condition is a sign of weakness. Biles and other athletes are changing the narrative. Erika D. Smith believes that just as Biles has inspired many in the sports world, she may inspire other Black people to be more proactive about addressing their mental health — and at a time when the need to do so has never been greater.
COVID Today
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The pandemic’s real toll on seniors: Nursing homes got the focus but many more suffered, research shows
The latest research shows that although deaths in nursing homes received enormous attention, far more older adults who perished from COVID lived outside of institutions. People with dementia and other severe neurological conditions, chronic kidney disease and immune deficiencies were hit especially hard.
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Good news, bad news from Newel: SC vax rate doubles, but so does Delta count
Health Officer Gail Newel said Tuesday that while Santa Cruz County officials are discussing whether to follow most of the Bay Area in returning to a mask mandate, the area has a lower case rate and better hospital capacity than neighboring counties. Still, she said that two recent deaths are likely COVID-related, the first such fatalities since March.
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‘The war has changed’: Delta variant is rising. Breakthrough infections, too. How should I protect myself?
The highly contagious Delta variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 is behind the latest surge across California and the U.S., and familiar measures — getting vaccinated, wearing masks, social distancing — are a good start for protection.
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San Lorenzo Valley bar temporarily closes due to positive COVID-19 cases
Joe’s Bar in Boulder Creek has announced it will be temporarily closing for a week due to positive COVID-19 results in both patrons and staff. The announcement came via Joe’s Facebook page.
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How the Delta variant could shake up the 2022 midterm election
Democrats must contend with plunging optimism and frustration with new rules on masking and vaccinations, while Republicans risk being blamed for the large number of vaccine holdouts in their party.
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CDC document paints more dire picture of threat posed by Delta variant
The Delta variant is more formidable than previously believed, due to its ability to infect and be spread by people who are vaccinated, a CDC document says.
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As fears of the Delta variant grow in the San Lorenzo Valley, are vaccine numbers keeping pace?
Vaccination rates in the upper parts of the San Lorenzo Valley, Ben Lomond and Boulder Creek in particular, “are about 10% lower than the rest of the county,” Santa Cruz County spokesperson Jason Hoppin said.
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Unraveling the mysterious mutations that make Delta the most transmissible COVID virus yet
Scientists are trying to piece together why the Delta variant so readily infects unvaccinated Americans, spewing 1,000 times more virus particles.
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With coronavirus surge worsening, California urges wearing masks indoors
The new recommendation appears to be more expansive than the latest guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.