Did you lose a loved one to COVID-19? This is your chance to share that person’s story with the world
Maybe it was when the pandemic first arrived in the United States, or perhaps it only happened in recent weeks or months. But if you lost a friend or family member to COVID-19, and you’d like to memorialize that person’s legacy, we invite you to share more.
7 diseases that vaccines have all but eliminated in the U.S.
First- and second-graders line up for Salk Polio vaccine shots on April 23, 1955. Regardless of where anyone stands on the matter, we know that vaccinations have been protecting us from diseases for decades. In 1921, the United States recorded 206,000 cases, which resulted in 15,520 deaths, according to the History of Vaccines website. According to the CDC, polio was once one of the most feared diseases in the U.S. Since 1979, there have been no polio cases that originated in the U.S.
What’s at the top of your post-pandemic bucket list? Fill us in
To think of a world in which there’s no longer a COVID-19 pandemic. With vaccines now rolling out all over the country, as well as becoming available to more and more people, some have begun to talk about a post-pandemic life -- words we couldn’t imagine uttering (much less living) just a few months ago. Shall we go so far as to say there’s light at the end of the tunnel? So now we ask: What is at the top of your bucket list, if you will, post-pandemic? Maybe you’re dying to get back to work in person with your colleagues or classmates.
Community responds to CDC guidance for fully vaccinated individuals
Ashby is fully vaccinated, which means it has been at least two weeks since her final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. She said she is planning to meet up with other friends who’ve been fully vaccinated too. Grandparents who’ve been fully vaccinated can now visit their kids and grandkids from a single household, as long as they’re low risk. That’s why the CDC said everyone, including fully vaccinated people, need to to be careful in public. Fully vaccinated individuals also do not need to quarantine or get tested after a known COVID-19 exposure as long as they are asymptomatic.
105-year-old Indiana woman who lived through 1917 Spanish flu survives second pandemic
– Nellie Yoder never thought receiving a vaccine would feel so good. The 105-year-old Elkhart, Indiana resident received her second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday, just days before her 106th birthday. “Whatever they say, if it takes two shots or three I will take them,” she says. She also experienced the 1917 Spanish flu. I almost got lost when I was 3-years-old with the flu,” she says.
Did you lose a loved one to COVID-19? Share their story and spirit with us
It almost seems impossible, but we’ve been living with COVID-19 in our lives for almost a year, and tragically, some of us have lost grandparents, parents, siblings and friends due to this unforgiving virus. As the United States is approaching 500,000 deaths since early 2020, it seems that many of us have experienced a COVID-related loss. So, in honor of your loved one’s memory, we’re asking that you share a photo of them and tell us their story. We’ve all dealt with grief in our lives, but losing a loved one to the COVID-19 pandemic is especially hard, since we all can’t celebrate their lives like we normally would. Hopefully sharing your loved ones with others virtually can bring you the tiniest bit of comfort in these uncertain times.
Local churches prepare for Christmas services amid pandemic
LYNCHBURG, Va. – It will mainly be a silent night this Christmas Eve, as local churches of different denominations put similar COVID-19 guidelines into place. Churches are relying on live streaming services for this year’s celebrations. Governor Ralph Northam’s curfew is also cutting services at Main Street United Methodist Church in Bedford. Reverend Doctor Dawn Compton says they had to cancel an 11 p.m. service while leaving enough time between other services to clean the church. Reverend doctor Martha Kearse tells 10 News the doors will be locked because they’re prerecording services.
‘Pandemic’ picked as 2020 word of the year by Dictionary.com
Over time, we were pandemic baking and pandemic dating and rescuing pandemic puppies from shelters. All of which led Dictionary.com on Monday to declare “pandemic” its 2020 word of the year. For about half the year, it was in the top 10% of all our lookups.”Another dictionary, Merriam-Webster, also selected pandemic as its word of the year earlier Monday. Kelly said pandemic beat out routine lookups usually intended to sort more mundane matters, such as the differences between “to, two and too.”“That's significant,” Kelly emphasized. The pandemic as an event created a new language for a new normal.”Lexicographers often factor out routine lookups when evaluating word trends.
Much of US experiencing ‘severe’ virus outbreaks amid ‘third COVID wave,’ researchers say
Covid Act Now has even labeled this virus surge as the country’s “third wave” of the coronavirus. Virginia is currently labeled as experiencing an active or imminent outbreak, which is considered the critical level. Vermont and Maine are the only two states that are “at risk of an outbreak,” which is considered the high risk level. Hawaii is the only state experiencing “slow disease growth,” a medium risk level, as of Saturday. There are currently no states labeled at low risk for a coronavirus outbreak by the group.
6 ways to make virtual Thanksgiving entertaining for everyone
With many medical experts urging Americans to make this year’s Thanksgiving scaled down, many of us will probably only see people in our “bubble,” so holiday is going to feel a little bit different. Thanks to technology, you can still gather with your extended family.
I survived COVID-19, but my sense of smell didn’t. This is what it’s been like.
If you have survived COVID-19 and you’ve managed to keep your sense of smell (or quickly get it back), so happy for you, too -- truly. Getting sickWhat’s strange is that I didn’t notice my sense of smell was gone until I had already gotten over being sick. Losing my sense of smellWhat’s kind of funny is that I didn’t realize I had lost my sense of smell until I was cleaning my house one night. In this group, I learned of people who had become infected with COVID-19 in the earlier part of the year who still haven’t regained their sense of smell. Did you survive COVID-19 and still haven’t regained your sense of smell?
Did you meet your significant other and fall in love during the pandemic? We want to hear your story
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: It’s ... been quite a year. But we all know, too, that there has been plenty of good that’s come out of this year. That includes all the people who have found love. Author’s note: As someone who is married, the dating scene doesn’t cross my mind a lot, but I’ve wondered: How do people meet others, romantically, during such a strange time? If you’ve gone through this during a pandemic, I’d love to hear your story, if you’re willing to share.
11 times we were reminded there is good, despite the dud of a year we’ve had
Despite the fact that the entire world has been living through a pandemic, there has been a lot of good happening, and we have managed to find quite a bit of it. There are so many people doing good things, but we’ll start by sharing these 11 stories with you. It was some time before the two were reunited, but when they did, “they were laughing like teenagers.”Want to read more? Community raises $300K for injured, retired Army veteran’s new smart home: ‘Pam will never be alone’U.S. Army Sgt. “And I didn’t want to put anyone in danger.”Then, Knowles found out about some special face coverings for the deaf.
With no sense of smell post-COVID-19, this woman believes a ‘guardian angel’ alerted her to a gas leak in her home
Linda Mcgrath said missing sense of smell nearly cost her her life after a gas leak sprung in her Livonia, Michigan, home, about five months after her coronavirus diagnosis. She reached out to us in response to an article we previously published about COVID-19-related smell loss. “I had a guardian angel a couple of weeks ago when I heard a hissing noise and realized I had a gas leak." When her son arrived, it was clear Mcgrath didn’t know the extent of the leak, because she never smelled a thing. A few days later, the woman said, a house nearby in Livonia blew up from a gas leak, confirming how dangerous Mcgrath’s situation could have been.
RIP pre-COVID-19 normal: Dad recreates ‘outings’ for daughter, and it’s the sweetest
In the first video Finney posted of these “outings,” she starts by saying, “Since we can’t go to the movie theater right now, my dad decided to bring the movie theater to us. (more on instagram @wheres_mia) ♬ original sound - miafinneyFollow “Something Good” on Facebook and YouTube! People who commented seem to really admire Finney’s dad, and the lengths he went to reinvent going to the movie theater for her. The video got comments like:“Your dad is the sweetest man in the world.”“I’m allergic to kindness. In another video, Finney had been craving some Cold Stone Creamery ice cream, so you know they had to recreate it.
Report: There will be no Halloween or Christmas Peeps this year
According to a news report from Delish, we won’t be able to enjoy Halloween or Christmas Peeps this year due to the impact the pandemic has had on Just Born’s operations, the company behind Peeps. Back in late March, the marshmallow treats were still released in time for Easter, but production was halted for several weeks. Just Born issued this statement to Delish on why the seasonal Peeps won’t be available this year for the Halloween and Christmas holidays. This situation resulted in us having to make the difficult decision to forego production of our seasonal candies for Halloween, Christmas and Valentine’s Day in order to focus on meeting the expected overwhelming demand for PEEPS® for next Easter season, as well as our everyday candies.”Seasonal Peeps will return to stores in 2021 after Valentine’s Day, according to Delish’s report. This will allow the company to get an early start on Easter production as well.
Wearing a creative or fun face mask? We want to see
This time last year, we were beginning to talk about what kinds of fun costumes and masks we might wear for Halloween. Nowadays, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, masks are an every day, everywhere kind of thing. In an effort to fight the spread of the coronavirus, masks have been mandated for wear in plenty of places, so perhaps your mask has become second nature. That not only makes it a little more fun for those wearing the masks, but for us who are out people-watching (and unable to actually see people’s faces). And perhaps you just might give some others some fun ideas to work with.
Longing for a luau? Hawaii now requires travelers to fill out a digital health application before arriving
The state of Hawaii recently launched the digital app so that travelers could provide their required health information before they arrive at the airport, speeding up the process. Travelers previously were required to fill out the same forms, but on paper, when they arrived in Hawaii. Now, the state has two different types of digital forms: One each for inter-island travel and trans-pacific travel. Upon providing health information at least one day before departure, travelers will receive a QR code that an airport screener will scan when they arrive. For the time being, travelers must check into the Safe Travels Hawaii website each day for health check-ins for the duration of their quarantine.
Are your kids doing school virtually? We want to see what your home classroom looks like
Whether your children have already begun their school year or you’re still preparing, due to delays, there are many who are choosing to keep their kids home to learn as the coronavirus pandemic rages on. Parents are doing their best to adapt, and we applaud every parent for the decision they’re making -- regardless of what that is. But for those who are keeping kids home for virtual learning, we want to see exactly how you’re adapting. What does the “classroom” you’ve created look like? We’d love to see what kinds of ideas parents have come up with, and we have a feeling other parents might appreciate some good ideas, too.
Never golfed, and not sure where to start? 11 notes that will make you feel more at ease
Are you ever flipping around on TV and you come across some sort of golf tournament? Golf looks pretty fun, and somewhat less strenuous than some of the other professional sports. Plus, golfing seems like an enjoyable group activity or a bucket-list item for a scenic vacation.
Survived COVID-19? Here’s what it’s like to donate plasma, and why it’s so crucial
Health experts have identified that plasma received from someone who has survived COVID-19 can be extremely beneficial to others who may contract the virus. Convalescent plasma is the liquid part of blood that is collected from patients who have recovered from COVID-19, according to the FDA. By taking your weight, they will know how much plasma you are eligible to donate. Donating without COVID-19 diagnosisPerhaps you haven’t been diagnosed with COVID-19, but you still want to help donate blood or plasma. Click here to learn more about plasma donation.
This time can be HARD. So tell us: Do you feel like you’re cracking?
Sure, some things have returned to a state of “normal,” or at least, as normal as can be expected. As the author of this story, and someone who writes/edits from home full-time while juggling toddlers and a recent out-of-state move, I usually just tell people I’m fine, when they ask. Tell us what you’re feeling. Loading…One final thing: It might feel good to fill out our form and vent a little bit (please -- I hope you do! ), but if you’re struggling or dealing with anything related to your mental health, or you’re feeling more than just “not OK,” please reach out to a trusted friend, family member or therapist.
Airline CEO: If you insist on not wearing a mask, we’ll insist you not fly with us -- from here on out
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian has put out what some are calling an aggressive enforcement of mask-wearing on the company’s flights. ”If you board the plane and you insist on not wearing your mask, we will insist that you don’t fly Delta into the future,” Bastian told Today in an interview Wednesday. The CEO said the stance is one he’s taking in order to keep crew and passengers safe during the pandemic. As the coronavirus pandemic continues, Delta flights have been booked to 60% of their capacity, Today reported after speaking with Bastian. “We’ve had some customers indicate that they have (an) underlying condition that makes wearing a mask dangerous for them,” Bastian said.
This mom says virtual learning is not working for her son with Down syndrome. She has some ideas on how to flip the system.
She explained that distance learning for her son Julian, who recently finished fourth grade at a public school in Maryland, was a disaster. At Julian’s school, he received the Individualized Education Program, which is federally mandated for students with special needs. Wohl suggests new distance learning is presenting an opportunity to shift norms to benefit students with disabilities, specifically those who have communication difficulties or are nonspeaking. In-person classrooms have grown to be rather large in recent years, but that can leave students with disabilities feeling overwhelmed. Wohl suggests that smaller groups can give students better access to their curriculum at their own pace, as well as social inclusion.
Florida woman took dishwashing job so she could visit husband with Alzheimers during pandemic
CNN Mary Daniel visited her husband Steve every day at his Florida memory care center until they stopped allowing visitors in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. Daniel said the isolation took a toll on her 66-year-old husband, who has Alzheimer's. So when the facility offered her a part-time dishwashing job, she jumped at the opportunity. I walked into his room and he said my name, he said Mary, which was also a relief, she said. DeSantis to adjust the restrictions and has started a Facebook group with other families to try to find other options.
Eminem wants you to wear a mask in new quarantine single alongside Kid Cudi
Both of the rappers are billed on this song, but after a listen, it seems like Eminem is the one being featured on a Kid Cudi song. Eminem, at one point, goes off about people not wearing masks in public:“Half of us walking around like a zombie apocalypse. Other half are just p----- off, and don’t wanna wear a mask and they’re just scoffing. 1 rapper advocating for public health in the middle of a pandemic. We didn’t expect to see Eminem becoming a public health advocate on our 2020 bingo card, but we are here for it.
This interactive map shows where travel is restricted around the world amid pandemic
Where is travel restricted? The International Air Transport Association -- the trade association for the world’s airlines, representing nearly 82% of total air traffic -- has created an interactive map that shows where in the world travel is restricted. There are four ways -- shown by color -- in which the map shows how restrictive the travel is in each area:Totally restrictivePartially restrictiveNot restrictiveLatest updates currently under reviewWhat information does the map actually give you? Are you interested in traveling out of the country sometime soon -- or at any point in the future, amid the coronavirus pandemic? While this map is a helpful tool for future travelers, regulations around the world change quickly, so it’s important to visit local government websites of the areas you plan on visiting before booking travel.
28 things you probably forgot happened in the whirlwind that 2020 has been
So let’s take a look at all of the wild things that happened so far this year that you probably already forgot about, shall we? (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)Jan. 3: Iranian general Qasem Soleimani was killed in a drone strike by the U.S. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)Feb. 5: After months of investigations, hearings and lots of tweets from Trump, the president was acquitted by the Senate on both articles of impeachment. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)And now we’re in June. It’s hard to believe that all of those things happened during a pandemic, so who knows what else is next?
Go the distance: Virtual interstate challenge benefits local food banks
ROANOKE, Va. Blue Ridge Racing is challenging you to run 325 miles within the next few months to help fill local food banks. Its part of the new virtual interstate challenge. The challenge lasts a total of 81 days, but if you start today you need to play catch up. A portion of registration proceeds and separate donations will go to Feeding Southwest Virginia and Blue Ridge Area Food Banks to disperse to smaller organizations. Blue Ridge Racing told 10 News there are participants from across the country, Canada and the UK.
Is quarantine bringing back old board game memories? Test your knowledge of timeless classics
In the midst of all the stay-at-home orders that have caused people to have too much free time, it’s a good bet that some families have blown the dust off old board games stashed away in a cabinet somewhere. For those already into board games, it’s just been more of an opportunity to play them -- and to see who can win a best-of-seven battle in Chutes and Ladders or be the best settler in Catan. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, families are turning to board games for entertainment and some fun, both rehashing old memories and perfecting skills. But how much do enthusiasts out there really know about board games? Check out the quiz below to learn some fun facts and see if you can be as good at answering these questions as you are at getting all the pieces of the pie in Trivial Pursuit, or amassing triple-word scores in Scrabble.
Celebrity chef Ina Garten has the perfect cocktail recipe for quarantine
We’re all coping with the coronavirus outbreak in our own ways, and for some, that’s pretending that every hour of the day is happy hour. If you fall into that category, celebrity chef and all-around national treasure Ina Garten, also known as the Barefoot Contessa, has the perfect cocktail recipe for you. All you need is “good” vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry juice, lime juice and a giant martini glass. And no, we’re not kidding when we say a giant martini glass -- just check out the video of Garten making the drink on her Instagram, below. And as Garten always says, “How easy was that?”