upi--2020-10-09--Stay-at-home orders cut noise exposure almost in half

Oct. 9 ( UPI ) -- Sometimes , living the quiet life is a choice .
Other times , it 's the reality of a global pandemic .
New research suggests lockdowns and stay-at-home orders led to a dramatic reduction in noise exposure .
For the study , published Friday in the journal Environmental Research Letters , scientists at the University of Michigan collected noise exposure data from volunteer Apple Watch wearers in Florida , New York , California and Texas .
`` Volunteer participants opted to share environmental sound data from their Apple Watch and headphone sound data from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Participants for this analysis were chosen from four states which exhibited diverse responses to COVID-19 . ''
Scientists analyzed more than half-a-million sound exposure measurements from before and during the pandemic .
In locations where governments issued social distancing recommendations and stay-at-home orders , average sound exposure dropped three decibels during March and April compared to January and February .
`` That is a huge reduction in terms of exposure and it could have a great effect on people 's overall health outcomes over time , '' study co-author Rick Neitzel said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analysis demonstrates the utility of everyday use of digital devices in evaluating daily behaviors and exposures , '' said Neitzel , associate professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health .
The sound exposure reductions identified by researchers reflected the different pandemic responses in each of the four states .
Sound exposure reductions in California and New York were greater and occurred earlier than reductions in Florida and Texas .
Before the pandemic , the largest drop in environmental sound exposure occurred on weekends , but after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the country , the pattern was disrupted .
Researchers said they hope ongoing analysis of sound exposure data from volunteer Apple Watch wearers will continue to offer insights into the ways different people experience the world sonically .
The idea , they said , is to identify sound exposure differences between people of different ages and people in different states , as well as people with and without hearing loss .
`` These are questions we 've had for years and now we 're starting to have data that will allow us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We 're thankful to the participants who contributed unprecedented amounts of data .
This is data that never existed or was even possible before . ''

Researchers analyzed sound exposure data from hundreds of volunteer Apple Watch wearers, finding pandemic shutdowns had a drastic effect. Photo by University of Michigan
Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Sometimes, living the quiet life is a choice. Other times, it's the reality of a global pandemic. New research suggests lockdowns and stay-at-home orders led to a dramatic reduction in noise exposure. For the study, published Friday in the journal Environmental Research Letters, scientists at the University of Michigan collected noise exposure data from volunteer Apple Watch wearers in Florida, New York, California and Texas. Advertisement
"Volunteer participants opted to share environmental sound data from their Apple Watch and headphone sound data from their iPhone," researchers wrote. "Participants for this analysis were chosen from four states which exhibited diverse responses to COVID-19."
Scientists analyzed more than half-a-million sound exposure measurements from before and during the pandemic.
In locations where governments issued social distancing recommendations and stay-at-home orders, average sound exposure dropped three decibels during March and April compared to January and February.
"That is a huge reduction in terms of exposure and it could have a great effect on people's overall health outcomes over time," study co-author Rick Neitzel said in a press release.
"The analysis demonstrates the utility of everyday use of digital devices in evaluating daily behaviors and exposures," said Neitzel, associate professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
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The sound exposure reductions identified by researchers reflected the different pandemic responses in each of the four states. Sound exposure reductions in California and New York were greater and occurred earlier than reductions in Florida and Texas.
Before the pandemic, the largest drop in environmental sound exposure occurred on weekends, but after lock-down orders were issued in many parts of the country, the pattern was disrupted.
Researchers said they hope ongoing analysis of sound exposure data from volunteer Apple Watch wearers will continue to offer insights into the ways different people experience the world sonically.
The idea, they said, is to identify sound exposure differences between people of different ages and people in different states, as well as people with and without hearing loss.
"These are questions we've had for years and now we're starting to have data that will allow us to answer them," Neitzel said. "We're thankful to the participants who contributed unprecedented amounts of data. This is data that never existed or was even possible before."


upi--2020-10-09--Family wins $6.4M after using same lottery numbers for 25 years

Oct. 9 ( UPI ) -- An Irish family who have been playing the lottery together for 25 years using the same set of numbers are celebrating after winning a jackpot of nearly $ 6.4 million .
The Kilkenny father who manages his family 's lottery syndicate told National Lottery officials he was glancing at a newspaper in a local store when he spotted some familiar numbers in the Lotto drawing announcement .
`` We have been playing the exact same Lotto numbers for over 25 years so I could spot them from a mile off , '' the man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the shop when I spotted them out of the corner of my eye on the top of one of the newspapers .
It was that exact moment , I instantly knew that we had won over 5 million without even having to check the ticket ! ''
The man said he rushed home and called a family meeting to inform his relatives they had won $ 6,379,856.66 The father said the windfall will come as a relief to the entire family , who have all recently faced financial hardships .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending sprees with new cars or any of that but the one thing we have all been looking forward to is visiting our own individual banks to pay off our mortgages .
There really is no better feeling than that , '' he said .
The winning ticket was bought from DeLoughry 's Gala store on the outskirts of Kilkenny .

A Kilkenny, Ireland, family won a $6.4 million jackpot from the National Lottery's Lotto drawing after 25 years of playing the same set of numbers. Photo courtesy of the National Lottery
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Oct. 9 (UPI) -- An Irish family who have been playing the lottery together for 25 years using the same set of numbers are celebrating after winning a jackpot of nearly $6.4 million. The Kilkenny father who manages his family's lottery syndicate told National Lottery officials he was glancing at a newspaper in a local store when he spotted some familiar numbers in the Lotto drawing announcement. Advertisement
"We have been playing the exact same Lotto numbers for over 25 years so I could spot them from a mile off," the man said. "I was queuing up in the shop when I spotted them out of the corner of my eye on the top of one of the newspapers. It was that exact moment, I instantly knew that we had won over 5 million without even having to check the ticket!"
The man said he rushed home and called a family meeting to inform his relatives they had won $6,379,856.66
The father said the windfall will come as a relief to the entire family, who have all recently faced financial hardships.
"We won't be rushing into any silly spending sprees with new cars or any of that but the one thing we have all been looking forward to is visiting our own individual banks to pay off our mortgages. There really is no better feeling than that," he said.
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The winning ticket was bought from DeLoughry's Gala store on the outskirts of Kilkenny.


upi--2020-10-09--French couple trying to buy Savannah cat get tiger cub, instead

Oct. 9 ( UPI ) -- A French couple who purchased what they thought was an exotic Savannah cat from @ @ @ @ @ turning the feline over to authorities when it turned out to be a tiger cub @ @ @ @ @ said the couple encountered an online ad in 2018 offering a baby Savannah cat , @ @ @ @ @ cat and an African serval , for sale .
The couple paid about $ 7,000 @ @ @ @ @ after about a week in their care , the couple suspected the feline was not @ @ @ @ @ is legal to keep as a pet in France , but a Sumatran tiger , @ @ @ @ @ Indonesia .
The prosecutors said the incident sparked a two-year investigation that culminated this week @ @ @ @ @ .
The couple who purchased the cat were among those arrested , but were later @ @ @ @ @ said animal trafficking charges are being sought in the case .
The tiger cub now @ @ @ @ @ the French Biodiversity Office .

Prosecutors in France said a couple paid $7,000 to buy a Savannah cat, a mix between an African serval and a domestic cat, from an online ad, but ended up surrendering the animal when it turned out to be a Sumatran tiger cub. File Photo by Joe Marino-Bill Cantrell/UPI | License Photo
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Oct. 9 (UPI) -- A French couple who purchased what they thought was an exotic Savannah cat from an online ad ended up turning the feline over to authorities when it turned out to be a tiger cub. Prosecutors in La Havre said the couple encountered an online ad in 2018 offering a baby Savannah cat, a cross between a domestic cat and an African serval, for sale. Advertisement
The couple paid about $7,000 for the kitten, but after about a week in their care, the couple suspected the feline was not a Savannah cat, which is legal to keep as a pet in France, but a Sumatran tiger, an endangered species native to Indonesia.
The prosecutors said the incident sparked a two-year investigation that culminated this week with nine people being arrested. The couple who purchased the cat were among those arrested, but were later released by police.
Authorities said animal trafficking charges are being sought in the case.
The tiger cub now is in the care of the French Biodiversity Office.


upi--2020-10-09--Defense Dept. awards $600M in contracts for 5G testing at five bases

Oct. 9 ( UPI ) -- The Defense Department announced it has awarded $ 600 million in contracts to several companies for testing of 5G communications technology at five U.S. military sites .
The testing will be performed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord , Wash. ; Naval Base San Diego , Calif. ; Marine Corps Logistics Base , Albany , Ga. ; Nellis Air Force Base , Nev. , and Hill Air Force Base , Utah , the Pentagon said on Thursday .
The Defense Department will include in the testing a pilot of 5G-enabled augmented and virtual reality for mission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smart warehouses , '' and evaluating 5G technologies to enhanced distributed command and control .
5G is the fifth generation technology standard for broadband cellular networks , and the project is designed to explore potential military applications of the system .
The contracts announced on Thursday are the first tranche of payments for development of the `` 5G Strategy , '' the Defense Department plan announced in May 2020 to incorporate 5G technologies into warfighting planning .
Companies involved include GBL System Corp. , AT & T , Oceus Networks and Booz-Allen Hamilton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ T , GE Research , Vectrus Mission Solutions Corp. and Deloitte Consulting at Naval Base San Diego ; GE Research , KPMG , Scientific Research Corp. and Federated Wireless at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany ; AT & T at Nellis Air Force Base , and Nokia , General Dynamics , Booz-Allen Hamilton , Key Bridge Wireless and Shared Spectrum Co. at Hill Air Force Base .
`` The Department of Defense is at the forefront of cutting-edge 5G testing and experimentation , which will strengthen our nation 's warfighting capabilities as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ field , '' Michael Kratsios , acting under secretary of defense for research and engineering , said in a statement .
`` Through these test sites , the Department is leveraging its unique authorities to pursue bold innovation at a scale and scope unmatched anywhere else in the world , '' Kratsios said .

A "Cell on Wings" drone using 5G connectivity to is assembled at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., on August 27, 2020. On Thursday, the Defense Department announced contracts to test 5G capability at five military bases. Photo by SSgt. Charlye Alonso/U.S. Air Force
Oct. 9 (UPI) -- The Defense Department announced it has awarded $600 million in contracts to several companies for testing of 5G communications technology at five U.S. military sites. The testing will be performed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; Naval Base San Diego, Calif.; Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany, Ga.; Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., and Hill Air Force Base, Utah, the Pentagon said on Thursday. Advertisement
The Defense Department will include in the testing a pilot of 5G-enabled augmented and virtual reality for mission planning and training, testing 5G-enabled "smart warehouses," and evaluating 5G technologies to enhanced distributed command and control.
5G is the fifth generation technology standard for broadband cellular networks, and the project is designed to explore potential military applications of the system.
The contracts announced on Thursday are the first tranche of payments for development of the "5G Strategy," the Defense Department plan announced in May 2020 to incorporate 5G technologies into warfighting planning.
Companies involved include GBL System Corp., AT&T, Oceus Networks and Booz-Allen Hamilton at Joint Base Lewis-McChord; AT&T, GE Research, Vectrus Mission Solutions Corp. and Deloitte Consulting at Naval Base San Diego; GE Research, KPMG, Scientific Research Corp. and Federated Wireless at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany; AT&T at Nellis Air Force Base, and Nokia, General Dynamics, Booz-Allen Hamilton, Key Bridge Wireless and Shared Spectrum Co. at Hill Air Force Base.
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"The Department of Defense is at the forefront of cutting-edge 5G testing and experimentation, which will strengthen our nation's warfighting capabilities as well as U.S. economic competitiveness in this critical field," Michael Kratsios, acting under secretary of defense for research and engineering, said in a statement.
"Through these test sites, the Department is leveraging its unique authorities to pursue bold innovation at a scale and scope unmatched anywhere else in the world," Kratsios said.


upi--2020-10-09--Survey reinforces Americans' apprehension about rushed COVID-19 vaccine

Oct. 9 ( UPI ) -- Nearly 40 % of Americans say they wo n't get vaccinated against COVID-19 even if a shot becomes available , according to a survey released Friday by consulting firm Children 's Health Defense .
In the survey of more than 1,000 `` likely voters , '' just over half said they planned to receive the vaccine , while the rest remain undecided .
Just under 30 % of respondents said they had concerns regarding the safety of any new vaccine against the coronavirus , with most suggesting the research and development process may have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine `` needs more testing , '' the organization said .
`` The growing skepticism about the COVID vaccine is the rational response of a public now paying more attention to how this sausage is getting made , '' Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , founder and chairman of Children 's Health Defense , said in a statement .
Children 's Health Defense , which is known for it 's anti-vaccine activism , commissioned John Zogby Strategies to conduct the survey .
The firm specializes in research for private companies , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential vaccines against COVID-19 are ongoing , and Trump administration officials have said they expect initial doses to be available before the end of the year .
However , the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said earlier this week that it wo n't approve a vaccine until sufficient safety data exists , which may impact that timeline .
The Children 's Health Defense survey included 1,006 respondents , all age 18 years and older and registered voters , the organization said .
The survey was launched hours after President Donald Trump was admitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for COVID-19 treatment , Kennedy said .
Although 51 % of respondents said they planned to get the vaccine after it 's introduced , 36 % said they would n't , while the rest were undecided , the data showed .
Although Children 's Health Defense is known primarily for its anti-vaccine stance , other surveys of Americans ' interest in receiving inoculations against COVID-19 have had similar findings .
In August , a Gallup poll found that 35 % of Americans would refuse the vaccine , with those who identify as Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 65 % of respondents in that survey said they would obtain the vaccine , the data showed .
A separate survey conducted earlier this year by the University of Minnesota and Johns Hopkins University found that most Americans believe front-line health workers and other at-risk groups should be given priority when or if a vaccine is made available .

Nearly 40% of Americans say they won't get a vaccine against COVID-19, a new survey finds. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Nearly 40% of Americans say they won't get vaccinated against COVID-19 even if a shot becomes available, according to a survey released Friday by consulting firm Children's Health Defense. In the survey of more than 1,000 "likely voters," just over half said they planned to receive the vaccine, while the rest remain undecided. Advertisement
Just under 30% of respondents said they had concerns regarding the safety of any new vaccine against the coronavirus, with most suggesting the research and development process may have been "rushed" or that the vaccine "needs more testing," the organization said.
"The growing skepticism about the COVID vaccine is the rational response of a public now paying more attention to how this sausage is getting made," Robert F. Kennedy Jr., founder and chairman of Children's Health Defense, said in a statement.
Children's Health Defense, which is known for it's anti-vaccine activism, commissioned John Zogby Strategies to conduct the survey. The firm specializes in research for private companies, as well as U.S. government agencies.
Trials of several potential vaccines against COVID-19 are ongoing, and Trump administration officials have said they expect initial doses to be available before the end of the year.
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However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said earlier this week that it won't approve a vaccine until sufficient safety data exists, which may impact that timeline.
The Children's Health Defense survey included 1,006 respondents, all age 18 years and older and registered voters, the organization said.
The survey was launched hours after President Donald Trump was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for COVID-19 treatment, Kennedy said.
Although 51% of respondents said they planned to get the vaccine after it's introduced, 36% said they wouldn't, while the rest were undecided, the data showed.
Although Children's Health Defense is known primarily for its anti-vaccine stance, other surveys of Americans' interest in receiving inoculations against COVID-19 have had similar findings.
In August, a Gallup poll found that 35% of Americans would refuse the vaccine, with those who identify as Republicans most skeptical.
Still, more than 65% of respondents in that survey said they would obtain the vaccine, the data showed.
A separate survey conducted earlier this year by the University of Minnesota and Johns Hopkins University found that most Americans believe front-line health workers and other at-risk groups should be given priority when or if a vaccine is made available.


upi--2020-10-09--U.S. Army hits its recruiting, retention goal for FY 2020

Oct. 9 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Army reached its recruiting and retention goals for fiscal year 2020 , but officials said additional diversity in the ranks must be encouraged .
The Army saw the enlistment of 62,150 new soldiers in the year ending Sept. 30 , bringing its total enlistment , mandated by Congress , to its goal of 485,383 .
It was achieved despite recruiting limitations brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic , largely though retention of soldiers through short-term re-enlistment options .
Over 1,600 soldiers signed three- to 11-month contract extensions , with 139 then re-enlisting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into fiscal year 2021 .
The retention increase allowed the Army to lower its recruitment expectation of 68,000 to about 62,000 .
`` COVID-19 caused a change to retention and attrition that was not predicted .
More people wanted to stay in the Army , which meant we needed fewer people to enlist than we initially expected , '' said Lt. Gen. Kevin Vereen , commanding general of U.S. Army Recruiting Command .
All 14,000 Army recruiting stations closed for several months , beginning on Mar .
18 , because of the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For two months beginning in April , no recruits entered Army basic training .
`` We made a lot of changes in a short period of time , '' Vereen said .
`` We have seen how valuable these changes are for our personnel , and we will continue to use them when the pandemic is over as well as work to do even more to streamline the process . ''
With an expressed goal of welcoming more minorities and women into the service , the Army made slight improvements in diversity during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 47 % of the 2020 total , up from about 45 % in 2018 and 2019 .
About 18 % were female , an incremental improvement .

Members of the Tampa, Fla., Recruiting Battalion of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command strike a pose. The Army announced on Friday that it met its recruitment and retention goals for Fiscal Year 2020. Photo courtesy of U.S. Army
Oct. 9 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army reached its recruiting and retention goals for fiscal year 2020, but officials said additional diversity in the ranks must be encouraged. The Army saw the enlistment of 62,150 new soldiers in the year ending Sept. 30, bringing its total enlistment, mandated by Congress, to its goal of 485,383. It was achieved despite recruiting limitations brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, largely though retention of soldiers through short-term re-enlistment options. Advertisement
Over 1,600 soldiers signed three- to 11-month contract extensions, with 139 then re-enlisting again. Another 1,000 extended their commitments into fiscal year 2021. The retention increase allowed the Army to lower its recruitment expectation of 68,000 to about 62,000.
"COVID-19 caused a change to retention and attrition that was not predicted. More people wanted to stay in the Army, which meant we needed fewer people to enlist than we initially expected," said Lt. Gen. Kevin Vereen, commanding general of U.S. Army Recruiting Command.
All 14,000 Army recruiting stations closed for several months, beginning on Mar. 18, because of the pandemic, and shifted to all-virtual operations. For two months beginning in April, no recruits entered Army basic training.
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"We made a lot of changes in a short period of time," Vereen said. "We have seen how valuable these changes are for our personnel, and we will continue to use them when the pandemic is over as well as work to do even more to streamline the process."
With an expressed goal of welcoming more minorities and women into the service, the Army made slight improvements in diversity during Fiscal Year 2020. Non-white recruits composed 47% of the 2020 total, up from about 45% in 2018 and 2019. About 18% were female, an incremental improvement.


upi--2020-10-09--Citing 'safety concerns' judge allows Derek Chauvin to live out of state

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is scheduled to go on trial March 8. File Photo courtesy Ramsey County Sheriff's Office | License Photo
Oct. 9 (UPI) -- The former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder in the death of George Floyd in May, Derek Chauvin, is allowed to live out of state due to "safety concerns," a judge ordered this week. Chauvin posted a $1 million bond Wednesday and left prison to await trial, which begins March 8. He was incarcerated at a state prison in Oak Park Heights, Minn., since May 31, less than a week after Floyd's death. Advertisement
He faces second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges.
Under his original bond conditions, Chauvin wasn't allowed to leave Minnesota, but the state Department of Corrections said they had evidence supporting their concerns about his safety.
Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill said Thursday that Chauvin can establish residence anywhere in Minnesota or a contiguous state -- Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota or South Dakota. The judge also ordered that Chauvin's address be kept confidential except from agencies involved in his case.
The judge ordered Chauvin to surrender his passport and obtain a cellphone to keep on his person at all times.
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The Minneapolis Police Department fired and arrested Chauvin after he was captured on video kneeling on Floyd's neck for more than 8 minutes on May 25. Floyd died after repeatedly calling for help, saying he couldn't breathe.
Chauvin's attorneys said officers were following protocol when they arrested and subdued Floyd. He was arrested on allegations he attempted to use a counterfeit $20 at a nearby food store. Police said he struggled during arrest, leading Chauvin to handcuff him face-down and kneel on his neck.
Fellow Minneapolis police officers Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Keung and Tou Thao, who were involved in the arrest, were also fired and charged with aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter.
Protesters demand justice in police killing of George Floyd


upi--2020-10-09--Watch: Bison escape for a second time in Washington state

Oct. 9 ( UPI ) -- Residents of a Washington state city said a pair of bison escaped from their @ @ @ @ @ wandering through neighborhoods for the second time in three months .
The Spokane Police Department @ @ @ @ @ about 8:45 a.m. Thursday reporting a pair of bison were wandering loose through residential areas @ @ @ @ @ of the bison , who was known to authorities after the same two animals , @ @ @ @ @ escaped in July and wandered through 3 miles of neighborhoods before being recaptured .
Witnesses @ @ @ @ @ the bison on their Thursday adventure .
The witnesses said the owners arrived on the @ @ @ @ @ home .

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Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Residents of a Washington state city said a pair of bison escaped from their owner's home and went wandering through neighborhoods for the second time in three months.
The Spokane Police Department said it received a call about 8:45 a.m. Thursday reporting a pair of bison were wandering loose through residential areas.
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Police contacted the owner of the bison, who was known to authorities after the same two animals, named Hazel and Baxter, escaped in July and wandered through 3 miles of neighborhoods before being recaptured.
Witnesses captured photos and videos of the bison on their Thursday adventure. The witnesses said the owners arrived on the scene and took the bison home.


upi--2020-10-09--Watch: Crane moving shed falls through roof of Florida home

Oct. 9 ( UPI ) -- Firefighters in Florida said no one was inside a Fort Lauderdale home when a @ @ @ @ @ a neighbor 's yard collapsed and fell through the roof .
Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue @ @ @ @ @ a shed into a neighbor 's back yard when it toppled over for unknown reasons @ @ @ @ @ Battalion Chief Stephen Gollan said the family who lives in the home was away on @ @ @ @ @ the incident and firefighters rescued dogs and cats from inside the house .
`` In @ @ @ @ @ -- the kitchen , living room and dining room -- the roof just completely collapsed @ @ @ @ @ You know , we 're so very fortunate that nobody was inside this residence when @ @ @ @ @ Gollan told WPLG-TV .
The crane operator was treated for a minor scrape to his @ @ @ @ @ cause of the crane collapse is under investigation .

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Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Florida said no one was inside a Fort Lauderdale home when a crane moving a shed into a neighbor's yard collapsed and fell through the roof.
Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue said the crane was moving a shed into a neighbor's back yard when it toppled over for unknown reasons just before noon Friday.
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Battalion Chief Stephen Gollan said the family who lives in the home was away on vacation at the time of the incident and firefighters rescued dogs and cats from inside the house.
"In most of the living area -- the kitchen, living room and dining room -- the roof just completely collapsed into the living space. You know, we're so very fortunate that nobody was inside this residence when it took place," Gollan told WPLG-TV.
The crane operator was treated for a minor scrape to his arm.
Authorities said the cause of the crane collapse is under investigation.


upi--2020-10-09--In photos: Notable deaths of 2020

In photos: Notable deaths of 2020

National Baseball Hall of Fame member Whitey Ford enters the Hall of Fame for a party in Cooperstown , N.Y. @ @ @ @ @ .
The former New York Yankee , known for winning more games than any other @ @ @ @ @ 9 at the age of 91 .
Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

Dawn Wells
Dawn Wells poses with the original, fully restored S.S. Minnow from "Gilligan's Island" to meet and greet fans and visitors at the Vancouver International Boat Show in Vancouver on January 23, 2014. Best known for her role as Mary Ann from "Gilligan's Island," Wells died of COVID-19 on December 30 at the age of 82. Photo by Heinz Ruckemann/UPI


upi--2020-10-09--Submarine USS Wyoming returns after 27-month overhaul

Oct. 9 ( UPI ) -- The ballistic missile submarine USS Wyoming returned to the fleet after a 27-month overhaul @ @ @ @ @ the Naval Sea Systems Command announced on Friday .
The Ohio-class , nuclear-powered submarine was @ @ @ @ @ normally homeported at Kings Bay , Ga .
It underwent an engineered refueling overhaul , @ @ @ @ @ for midlife vessels .
The overhaul at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard involved the replacement of @ @ @ @ @ fuel and a general maintenance renovation , including technological improvements and new berthing spaces for @ @ @ @ @ included missile operational sequence testing , involving simulation of built-in tests , performed in a @ @ @ @ @ Naval Sea Systems Command said in a statement .
The overhaul on the USS Wyoming @ @ @ @ @ ' last in a series that began in 2003 with the USS Florida .
The @ @ @ @ @ series of ballistic submarines to replace the Ohio-class vessels .
`` I think we 've @ @ @ @ @ availabilities on a good note , '' project superintendent Brian Slivinski said .

The U.S. Navy submarine USS Wyoming returned to the sea on Friday in Norfolk, Va., after a 27-month overhaul. Photo by Danny De Angelis/Norfolk Naval Shipyard/Naval Sea Systems Command
Oct. 9 (UPI) -- The ballistic missile submarine USS Wyoming returned to the fleet after a 27-month overhaul in Norfolk, Va., the Naval Sea Systems Command announced on Friday. The Ohio-class, nuclear-powered submarine was commissioned in 1996 and is normally homeported at Kings Bay, Ga. It underwent an engineered refueling overhaul, a standard Navy refurbishment program for midlife vessels. Advertisement
The overhaul at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard involved the replacement of expended nuclear fuel with new fuel and a general maintenance renovation, including technological improvements and new berthing spaces for enlisted women.
The upgrade included missile operational sequence testing, involving simulation of built-in tests, performed in a record eight weeks, the Naval Sea Systems Command said in a statement.
The overhaul on the USS Wyoming was the Norfolk Naval Shipyards' last in a series that began in 2003 with the USS Florida. The Navy is planning a new series of ballistic submarines to replace the Ohio-class vessels.
"I think we've wrapped up this series of availabilities on a good note," project superintendent Brian Slivinski said.


upi--2020-10-09--Watch: Bull's 8.6-foot horn spread earns Guinness World Record

Oct. 9 ( UPI ) -- An Texas longhorn bull name Cowboy Tuff Chex is now a Guinness World Record @ @ @ @ @ span of horns .
Cowboy Tuff Chex , originally bred by Bob Loomis in Overbrook @ @ @ @ @ purchased in 2017 by Richard and Jeanne Filip of Fayetteville , had his horns officially @ @ @ @ @ Breeders Association 's annual Horn Showcase and was declared a Guinness World Record holder .
@ @ @ @ @ certificate for the longest horn spread on a living bull .
The Filips said Cowboy @ @ @ @ @ was already so wide when they purchased him that they had to buy a special @ @ @ @ @ he would fit .
They said the bull 's popularity had led to a spike @ @ @ @ @ their ranch .

Cowboy Tuff Chex, a bull belonging to Texas ranchers Richard and Jeanne Filip, was declared by Guinness World Records to have the longest horn spread on a living bull. Photo courtesy of Guinness World Records
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Oct. 9 (UPI) -- An Texas longhorn bull name Cowboy Tuff Chex is now a Guinness World Record holder thanks to his 8.6-foot span of horns. Cowboy Tuff Chex, originally bred by Bob Loomis in Overbrook, Okla., before being purchased in 2017 by Richard and Jeanne Filip of Fayetteville, had his horns officially measured at the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association's annual Horn Showcase and was declared a Guinness World Record holder. Advertisement
The bovine was issued a certificate for the longest horn spread on a living bull.
The Filips said Cowboy Tuff Chex's horn spread was already so wide when they purchased him that they had to buy a special trailer just to make sure he would fit. They said the bull's popularity had led to a spike in requests for tours of their ranch.


upi--2020-10-09--Former New York Yankees pitcher Edward 'Whitey' Ford dies at 91

Oct. 9 ( UPI ) -- Edward `` Whitey '' Ford , a pitcher who spent all 16 years of his career with the New York Yankees and led the franchise to six World Series championships , has died , the club announced Friday .
He was 91 .
Ford died Thursday at his home in Lake Success , N.Y. , on Long Island , The New York Times reported .
The Chairman of the Board -- so called because of his calm demeanor -- was the second-oldest living member of the Baseball Hall of Fame at the time of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's death was n't announced .
`` Today all of Major League Baseball mourns the loss of Whitey Ford , a New York City native who became a legend for his hometown team , '' Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said .
`` Whitey earned his status as the ace of some of the most memorable teams in our sport 's rich history .
Beyond the Chairman of the Board 's excellence on the mound , he was a distinguished ambassador for our national pastime throughout his life .
I extend my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his friends and admirers throughout our game , and all fans of the Yankees . ''
Ford compiled a record of 236-106 in his 16 years with the Yankees with a 2.75 ERA .
His .690 winning percentage is the highest of any pitcher with at least 150 wins in the modern era of the game .
He won the Cy Young Award in 1961 and was inducted into the hall of fame in 1974 , his second year of eligibility .
`` The Yankees are incredibly saddened to learn of the passing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the team said in a statement .
`` Whitey spent his entire 16-year career as a Yankee .
A 6x WS Champion and 10x All-Star , The Chairman of the Board was one of the best lefties to ever toe the rubber .
He will be deeply missed . ''
The Yankees signed Ford fresh out of high school in 1947 and he joined the team in 1950 .
He retired in the middle of the 1967 season after experiencing a circulation problem in his pitching arm .
He missed two seasons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serve in the Army during the Korean War .
`` I grew up on Long Island , not too far from Yankee Stadium , '' Ford said during his hall of fame induction .
`` I was a Yankee fan since I was five or six years old .
To think when I was 21 years old I 'd be playing with [ Joe ] DiMaggio and [ Yogi ] Berra against guys like Stan Musial and Roy Campanella , it 's just something I ca n't fathom .
It 's just been @ @ @

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Former Yankees pitcher Whitey Ford is introduced on Old Timers Day before a game at Yankee Stadium in New York City on July 17, 2010. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Edward "Whitey" Ford, a pitcher who spent all 16 years of his career with the New York Yankees and led the franchise to six World Series championships, has died, the club announced Friday. He was 91. Ford died Thursday at his home in Lake Success, N.Y., on Long Island, The New York Times reported. The Chairman of the Board -- so called because of his calm demeanor -- was the second-oldest living member of the Baseball Hall of Fame at the time of his death. Advertisement
The cause of Ford's death wasn't announced.
"Today all of Major League Baseball mourns the loss of Whitey Ford, a New York City native who became a legend for his hometown team," Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said.
"Whitey earned his status as the ace of some of the most memorable teams in our sport's rich history. Beyond the Chairman of the Board's excellence on the mound, he was a distinguished ambassador for our national pastime throughout his life. I extend my deepest condolences to Whitey's family, his friends and admirers throughout our game, and all fans of the Yankees."
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Ford compiled a record of 236-106 in his 16 years with the Yankees with a 2.75 ERA. His .690 winning percentage is the highest of any pitcher with at least 150 wins in the modern era of the game. He won the Cy Young Award in 1961 and was inducted into the hall of fame in 1974, his second year of eligibility.
"The Yankees are incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of Hall of Famer Whitey Ford," the team said in a statement. "Whitey spent his entire 16-year career as a Yankee. A 6x WS Champion and 10x All-Star, The Chairman of the Board was one of the best lefties to ever toe the rubber. He will be deeply missed."
The Yankees signed Ford fresh out of high school in 1947 and he joined the team in 1950. He retired in the middle of the 1967 season after experiencing a circulation problem in his pitching arm. He missed two seasons of play in the early 1950s to serve in the Army during the Korean War.
"I grew up on Long Island, not too far from Yankee Stadium," Ford said during his hall of fame induction. "I was a Yankee fan since I was five or six years old. To think when I was 21 years old I'd be playing with [Joe] DiMaggio and [Yogi] Berra against guys like Stan Musial and Roy Campanella, it's just something I can't fathom. It's just been great."
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Notable deaths of 2020


upi--2020-10-09--What to stream this weekend: 'The Haunting of Bly Manor,' 'The Right Stuff'

Oct. 9 ( UPI ) -- The Haunting of Bly Manor brings more horror to Netflix , The Right Stuff about NASA 's first manned space program premieres on Disney+ and Fear the Walking Dead returns for Season 6 on AMC this weekend .
In addition , WWE holds their annual draft between Raw and SmackDown , Radha Blank wants to move from theater to being a rapper in The Forty-Year-Old Version and The Graham Norton Show is back with in-studio episodes on BBC America .
Here 's a rundown of some of the films , TV shows and concerts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Radha Blank directed , wrote , produced and stars in comedy The Forty-Year-Old Version , which comes to Netflix on Friday .
Blank is a down-on-her-luck playwright who wants to reinvent herself as a rapper .
Ginny ( Yami Gautam ) is set up with Sunny ( Vikrant Massey ) by her matchmaker mother , but turns him in down in this romantic comedy that comes to Netflix on Friday .
Sunny then teams up with Ginny 's mother to win her over .
Adam Sandler is a community volunteer who must convince @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and save Halloween in Hubie Halloween , now available on Netflix .
Kevin James , Kenan Thompson , Julie Bowen , Ray Liotta , Rob Schneider , Steve Buscemi and Maya Rudolph also star .
Netflix 's Haunting of ... anthology series continues Friday with the release of The Hunting of Bly Manor on Friday .
Victoria Pedretti is hired as a new governess at a British country estate in 1987 .
She soon realizes that something is terrifyingly wrong with the kids .
Henry Thomas , Oliver Jackson-Cohen , T'Nia Miller , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bea Smith and Benjamin Evan Ainsowrth star .
Deaf U , a documentary series premiering on Netflix Friday , follows a group of students as they attend Gallaudet University , a private college for the deaf and hard of hearing .
Model , actor and deaf activist Nyle DiMarco serves as executive producer .
Disney+ is releasing on Friday a new adaptation of The Right Stuff from National Geographic about NASA 's first manned space program .
Patrick J. Adams , Jake McDorman and Colin O'Donoghue start as three test pilots who made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A new season of The Graham Norton Show will premiere with in-studio episodes Friday on BBC America at 11 p.m. EDT .
The new season will have a mix of in-studio and virtual guests .
Dolly Parton and Riz Ahmed will appear remotely Friday , while Rupert Everett , Sara Pascoe and Roisín Murphy appear in studio .
The spy racers return for a new mission in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil , in Fast & Furious : Spy Racers Season 2 , which hits Netflix on Friday .
The spy racers crew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mods and undercover identities as they speed through Brazil .
WWE presents the first night of their annual draft between Raw and SmackDown Friday on Fox at 8 p.m. EDT .
Bayley will defend her SmackDown Women 's Championship against former best friend Sasha Banks and The Fiend Bray Wyatt will emerge to take on Kevin Owens .
The second half of Starz 's historical drama The Spanish Princess premieres Sunday at 8 p.m. EDT .
Queen Catherine ( Charlotte Hope ) and Henry VIII ( Ruairi O'Connor ) are successfully ruling over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being unable to produce an heir .
Fear the Walking Dead Season 6 kicks off Sunday at 9 p.m. EDT .
Morgan ( Lennie James ) is still alive , but in rough shape in the season premiere and must decide whether to help a desperate stranger .

Oct. 9 (UPI) -- The Haunting of Bly Manor brings more horror to Netflix, The Right Stuff about NASA's first manned space program premieres on Disney+ and Fear the Walking Dead returns for Season 6 on AMC this weekend.
In addition, WWE holds their annual draft between Raw and SmackDown, Radha Blank wants to move from theater to being a rapper in The Forty-Year-Old Version and The Graham Norton Show is back with in-studio episodes on BBC America.
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Here's a rundown of some of the films, TV shows and concerts that will be released this weekend.
Films
'The Forty-Year-Old Version' -- Netflix
Radha Blank directed, wrote, produced and stars in comedy The Forty-Year-Old Version, which comes to Netflix on Friday. Blank is a down-on-her-luck playwright who wants to reinvent herself as a rapper.
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'Ginny Weds Sunny' -- Netflix
Ginny (Yami Gautam) is set up with Sunny (Vikrant Massey) by her matchmaker mother, but turns him in down in this romantic comedy that comes to Netflix on Friday. Sunny then teams up with Ginny's mother to win her over.
'Hubie Halloween' -- Netflix
Adam Sandler is a community volunteer who must convince police and townsfolk that monsters are real and save Halloween in Hubie Halloween, now available on Netflix. Kevin James, Kenan Thompson, Julie Bowen, Ray Liotta, Rob Schneider, Steve Buscemi and Maya Rudolph also star.
TV
'The Haunting of Bly Manor' -- Netflix
Netflix's Haunting of ... anthology series continues Friday with the release of The Hunting of Bly Manor on Friday. Victoria Pedretti is hired as a new governess at a British country estate in 1987. She soon realizes that something is terrifyingly wrong with the kids. Henry Thomas, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, T'Nia Miller, Rahul Kohli, Amelia Eve, Amelia Bea Smith and Benjamin Evan Ainsowrth star.
Advertisement
'Deaf U' -- Netflix
Deaf U, a documentary series premiering on Netflix Friday, follows a group of students as they attend Gallaudet University, a private college for the deaf and hard of hearing. Model, actor and deaf activist Nyle DiMarco serves as executive producer.
'The Right Stuff' -- Disney+
Disney+ is releasing on Friday a new adaptation of The Right Stuff from National Geographic about NASA's first manned space program. Patrick J. Adams, Jake McDorman and Colin O'Donoghue start as three test pilots who made up astronaut team the Mercury 7.
'The Graham Norton Show' -- BBC America
A new season of The Graham Norton Show will premiere with in-studio episodes Friday on BBC America at 11 p.m. EDT. The new season will have a mix of in-studio and virtual guests. Dolly Parton and Riz Ahmed will appear remotely Friday, while Rupert Everett, Sara Pascoe and Roisín Murphy appear in studio.
'Fast & Furious: Spy Racers' Season 2 -- Netflix
The spy racers return for a new mission in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in Fast & Furious: Spy Racers Season 2, which hits Netflix on Friday. The spy racers crew will be outfitted with new stealth car mods and undercover identities as they speed through Brazil.
Advertisement
'WWE 2020 Draft on SmackDown' -- Fox
WWE presents the first night of their annual draft between Raw and SmackDown Friday on Fox at 8 p.m. EDT. Bayley will defend her SmackDown Women's Championship against former best friend Sasha Banks and The Fiend Bray Wyatt will emerge to take on Kevin Owens.
'The Spanish Princess Part Two' -- Starz
The second half of Starz's historical drama The Spanish Princess premieres Sunday at 8 p.m. EDT. Queen Catherine (Charlotte Hope) and Henry VIII (Ruairi O'Connor) are successfully ruling over England until her position is threatened by being unable to produce an heir.
'Fear the Walking Dead' Season 6 -- AMC
Fear the Walking Dead Season 6 kicks off Sunday at 9 p.m. EDT. Morgan (Lennie James) is still alive, but in rough shape in the season premiere and must decide whether to help a desperate stranger.


upi--2020-10-09--Nancy Pelosi introduces bill to set up comission on presidential capacity

Oct. 9 ( UPI ) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduced legislation Friday to create a bipartisan commission to determine if a sitting president is capable of carrying out the office 's duties .
She said the legislation is not aimed at President Donald Trump .
Pelosi appeared at a news conference with the author of the legislation , Rep. Jamie Raskin , D-Md.
, to push for the legislation calling for a commission with 16 members split evenly between Democrats and Republicans who are medical experts or former high-ranking executive branch officials .
The 25th Amendment addresses procedures on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president in case of a president 's death , incapacitation , removal or resignation , ratified after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy .
An independent commission meant to help with that transition was never created , though .
`` This is not about President Trump , '' Pelosi said .
`` He will face the judgment of the voters , but he shows the need for us to create a process for future presidents .
This legislation applies to future presidents , but we are reminded of the necessity of action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
While Pelosi suggested the legislation was pushed by policy and not the person currently in office , Trump responded on Twitter , attacking Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
`` Crazy Nancy Pelosi is looking at the 25th Amendment in order to replace Joe Biden with Kamala Harris , '' Trump said .
`` The Dems want that to happen fast because Sleepy Joe is out of it . ''
Trump 's health has been a concern since he was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus .
The president 's doctors said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for the virus .
He was then given a mix of treatments to help fight the virus , including an experimental antibody treatment not available to the public and steroids .
`` In the age of COVID-19 , where a lot of government actors have been afflicted by it , we need to act , '' Raskin said .

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., hold a press conference on a proposed bill to alter the 25th Amendment, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Friday. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 9 (UPI) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduced legislation Friday to create a bipartisan commission to determine if a sitting president is capable of carrying out the office's duties. She said the legislation is not aimed at President Donald Trump. Advertisement
Pelosi appeared at a news conference with the author of the legislation, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., to push for the legislation calling for a commission with 16 members split evenly between Democrats and Republicans who are medical experts or former high-ranking executive branch officials.
The 25th Amendment addresses procedures on a transfer of power to the vice president in case of a president's death, incapacitation, removal or resignation, ratified after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
An independent commission meant to help with that transition was never created, though.
"This is not about President Trump," Pelosi said. "He will face the judgment of the voters, but he shows the need for us to create a process for future presidents. This legislation applies to future presidents, but we are reminded of the necessity of action by the health of the current president."
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While Pelosi suggested the legislation was pushed by policy and not the person currently in office, Trump responded on Twitter, attacking Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
"Crazy Nancy Pelosi is looking at the 25th Amendment in order to replace Joe Biden with Kamala Harris," Trump said. "The Dems want that to happen fast because Sleepy Joe is out of it."
Trump's health has been a concern since he was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus. The president's doctors said Trump needed supplemental oxygen after he initially tested positive for the virus.
He was then given a mix of treatments to help fight the virus, including an experimental antibody treatment not available to the public and steroids.
"In the age of COVID-19, where a lot of government actors have been afflicted by it, we need to act," Raskin said.


upi--2020-10-09--Scientists warn of human-to-wildlife COVID-19 transmission risk

Oct. 9 ( UPI ) -- The risk of human-to-wildlife COVID-19 transmission is real and significant , scientists warn in a paper published this week in the journal Mammal Review .
Although the exact origins of the COVID-19 pandemic are n't clear , most researchers estimate the virus made the jump from bats to pangolins before infecting humans .
Now , scientists worry the virus could make the jump from humans back into wild animal populations .
If COVID-19 managed to infect and spread among wild animals , it could pose a threat to endangered species .
As well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reservoir for further virus evolution and a source of future human outbreaks .
So far , scientists have documented human-to-animal coronavirus spread on a mink farm and at the zoo , where several tigers and lions were infected .
At home , humans have transmitted the virus to domestic cats and dogs .
Some semi-feral cats in Wuhan and the Netherlands have also tested positive for antibodies triggered by a coronavirus infection .
`` There have not been any reports yet of actual wildlife being infected with [ the coronavirus ] , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an email .
`` We hope this is because it has actually not happened yet , but then again , there is not much surveillance going on of healthy wildlife for [ coronavirus ] infections , so if it had happened already , we might not know about it , '' said Gryseels , a biologist at the University of Antwerp in Belgium .
As well , infected animals have exhibited only mild symptoms , but Gryseels said it 's possible the disease takes a more serious course among other animal species @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grave consequences for animal populations , Gryseels suggests the threat of human-to-animal transmission is real and significant .
`` We know of several mammal species that are about as susceptible to [ the coronavirus ] as humans are , like ferrets , mink , hamsters , North American deer mice , tigers and macaques and a few other species , '' she said .
`` When they are experimentally inoculated with [ the coronavirus ] , or in some cases accidentally infected by human caretakers , the infection takes off easily , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ co-housed animals . ''
Gryseels and her colleagues hope their paper will inspire caretakers , scientists and others who interact with wild and captive animals to take extra precautions .
Researchers suggest the same safety precautions that can help slow human transmission -- hand washing , mask wearing and social distancing -- can help prevent human-to-animal transmission .
For most people , the risk of human-to-animal COVID-19 transmission is minimal .
`` Luckily for us the mammal species that humans probably have the most interactions with in total in global terms , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to catch the virus if they were biologically susceptible , are house mice and brown and black rats -- who luckily do n't seem to be susceptible , '' Gryseels said .
While researchers expect humans to eventually develop herd immunity against COVID-19 , via a combination of infection-triggered immunity and vaccination , other animal species might not be so lucky .
The combination of susceptibility and short lifespan could leave some species especially vulnerable to COVID-19 , including the North American deer mouse , the bank vole in Europe , macaques in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world .
`` The main worry then is that , like in human populations , the virus could just continue to spread without stop , '' Gryseels said .
`` Especially in populations where animals have a short life span and high reproductive rate , such as in rodents , we worry that the virus can persist for a long time , as there are continuously new , susceptible animals being born that are naive for the virus . ''

Researchers suggest people use masks and PPE around animals because the new coronavirus is believed to be spreadable among animals, such as the North American deer mouse, and could be difficult to stop. Photo by Seney Natural History Association /Wikimedia
Oct. 9 (UPI) -- The risk of human-to-wildlife COVID-19 transmission is real and significant, scientists warn in a paper published this week in the journal Mammal Review. Although the exact origins of the COVID-19 pandemic aren't clear, most researchers estimate the virus made the jump from bats to pangolins before infecting humans. Now, scientists worry the virus could make the jump from humans back into wild animal populations. Advertisement
If COVID-19 managed to infect and spread among wild animals, it could pose a threat to endangered species. As well, wild animal populations could serve as a reservoir for further virus evolution and a source of future human outbreaks.
So far, scientists have documented human-to-animal coronavirus spread on a mink farm and at the zoo, where several tigers and lions were infected.
At home, humans have transmitted the virus to domestic cats and dogs. Some semi-feral cats in Wuhan and the Netherlands have also tested positive for antibodies triggered by a coronavirus infection.
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"There have not been any reports yet of actual wildlife being infected with [the coronavirus]," lead study author Sophie Gryseels told UPI in an email.
"We hope this is because it has actually not happened yet, but then again, there is not much surveillance going on of healthy wildlife for [coronavirus] infections, so if it had happened already, we might not know about it," said Gryseels, a biologist at the University of Antwerp in Belgium.
As well, infected animals have exhibited only mild symptoms, but Gryseels said it's possible the disease takes a more serious course among other animal species.
Though COVID-19 has yet to have grave consequences for animal populations, Gryseels suggests the threat of human-to-animal transmission is real and significant.
"We know of several mammal species that are about as susceptible to [the coronavirus] as humans are, like ferrets, mink, hamsters, North American deer mice, tigers and macaques and a few other species," she said. "When they are experimentally inoculated with [the coronavirus], or in some cases accidentally infected by human caretakers, the infection takes off easily, and they can further transmit the virus to co-housed animals."
Gryseels and her colleagues hope their paper will inspire caretakers, scientists and others who interact with wild and captive animals to take extra precautions.
Advertisement
Researchers suggest the same safety precautions that can help slow human transmission -- hand washing, mask wearing and social distancing -- can help prevent human-to-animal transmission.
For most people, the risk of human-to-animal COVID-19 transmission is minimal.
"Luckily for us the mammal species that humans probably have the most interactions with in total in global terms, and would thus seem to be most likely to catch the virus if they were biologically susceptible, are house mice and brown and black rats -- who luckily don't seem to be susceptible," Gryseels said.
While researchers expect humans to eventually develop herd immunity against COVID-19, via a combination of infection-triggered immunity and vaccination, other animal species might not be so lucky.
The combination of susceptibility and short lifespan could leave some species especially vulnerable to COVID-19, including the North American deer mouse, the bank vole in Europe, macaques in Asia and stray cat populations all over the world.
"The main worry then is that, like in human populations, the virus could just continue to spread without stop," Gryseels said. "Especially in populations where animals have a short life span and high reproductive rate, such as in rodents, we worry that the virus can persist for a long time, as there are continuously new, susceptible animals being born that are naive for the virus."


upi--2020-10-09--Watch: Pennsylvania man gets high school diploma before 100th birthday

Oct. 9 ( UPI ) -- A Pennsylvania man was presented with a high school diploma at his residential facility just weeks before his 100th birthday .
Albert Montella was presented with a diploma by the Rose Tree Media School District Superintendent Eleanor DiMarino-Linnen at Sunrise of Granite Run Senior Living in Media .
`` It 's exciting because I never expected it , I really never did .
This is a far dream of this ever happening to me , '' Montella told WPVI-TV .
Montella said he left high school prematurely in 1938 to help support his family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to serve in World War II .
`` He served our country , he 's supported and helped his community and all of that without asking little in return .
So at the age of 100 , we get to finally honor him in some small way , '' DiMarino-Linnen said .
The ceremony was attended by family , friends and well-wishers -- including a crew from the Brookhaven Fire Company , where Montella 's grandson , Rob , serves as chief .
Another grandson , Dave , is an engineer with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is a lieutenant .
`` My grandfather made many sacrifices .
Leaving school to help raise our family and here he is almost 100 , so we 're very thrilled , '' granddaughter Michelle Archie said .

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Oct. 9 (UPI) -- A Pennsylvania man was presented with a high school diploma at his residential facility just weeks before his 100th birthday.
Albert Montella was presented with a diploma by the Rose Tree Media School District Superintendent Eleanor DiMarino-Linnen at Sunrise of Granite Run Senior Living in Media.
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"It's exciting because I never expected it, I really never did. This is a far dream of this ever happening to me," Montella told WPVI-TV.
Montella said he left high school prematurely in 1938 to help support his family and he ended up enlisting the Navy to serve in World War II.
"He served our country, he's supported and helped his community and all of that without asking little in return. So at the age of 100, we get to finally honor him in some small way," DiMarino-Linnen said.
The ceremony was attended by family, friends and well-wishers -- including a crew from the Brookhaven Fire Company, where Montella's grandson, Rob, serves as chief. Another grandson, Dave, is an engineer with the department, and a great-grandson, RW, is a lieutenant.
"My grandfather made many sacrifices. Leaving school to help raise our family and here he is almost 100, so we're very thrilled," granddaughter Michelle Archie said.


upi--2020-10-10--Hurricane Delta: Power outages, flash floods plague Louisiana

Oct. 10 ( UPI ) -- Hurricane Delta pounded southwestern Louisiana with nearly a foot and a half of rainfall that caused flash floods and heavy winds that cut power to hundreds of thousands Saturday .
The flooding seeped into homes and stranded cars in the Lake Charles metropolitan area , including the towns of Iowa and Sulphur in Calcasieu Parish , and as far north as Alexandria , resulting in numerous reports of flash flooding in the region , NOLA reported .
More than 17 inches of rain fell in Iowa , and by 9:30 p.m. Friday , Lake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of rainfall .
The area was still recovering from the Category 4 Hurricane Laura , which made landfall six weeks ago , less than 12 miles west of where Delta came ashore .
Delta , which made landfall with 100 mph winds , began to lose strength as it moved inland .
As of Saturday morning , it weakened to tropical storm strength .
During the evening , gusts of wind knocked out power across the western half of the state 's coastline as power poles and trees fell .
Statewide , 595,963 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outages in Calcasieu Parish alone , according to poweroutage.us .
As the storm moved further inland Saturday morning , power was also cut in Texas and Mississippi .
In Texas , there were 104,389 power outages , and in Mississippi there were 80,319 power outages .

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Tropical Depression Delta could cause flooding and tornadoes the National Hurricane Center said Saturday. Photo courtesy of the National Hurricane Center
Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Tropical Depression Delta drenched southwestern Louisiana with nearly a foot and a half of rainfall causing flash floods and heavy winds that cut power to hundreds of thousands Saturday. At 4 p.m. the National Hurricane Center had downgraded the Category 2 hurricane to a tropical storm with 30 mph. winds moving about 12 miles per hour about 80 miles west-southwest of Tupelo, Miss. Advertisement
River flooding is expected to continue through much of next week across the Calcasieu and Vermilion river basins in Louisiana, the weather agency said.
The storm may also lead to tornadoes across parts of Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, and western Georgia through early tonight, the agency said.
Heavy rains seeped into homes and stranded cars in the Lake Charles metropolitan area, including the towns of Iowa and Sulphur in Calcasieu Parish, and as far north as Alexandria, resulting in numerous reports of flash flooding in the region, NOLA reported.
More than 17 inches of rain fell in Iowa, and by 9:30 p.m. Friday, Lake Charles also saw more than 16 inches of rainfall.
The area was still recovering from the Category 4 Hurricane Laura, which made landfall six weeks ago, less than 12 miles west of where Delta came ashore.
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Delta, which made landfall Friday with 100 mph winds, began to lose strength as it moved inland.
During the evening, gusts of wind knocked out power across the western half of the state's coastline as power poles and trees fell.
Statewide, 595,963 customers reported outages, including over 75,000 outages in Calcasieu Parish alone, according to poweroutage.us.
As the storm moved further inland Saturday morning, power was also cut in Texas and Mississippi. In Texas, there were 104,389 power outages, and in Mississippi there were 80,319 power outages.


upi--2020-10-10--Machine Gun Kelly's 'Tickets to My Downfall' tops U.S. album chart

Oct. 10 ( UPI ) -- Machine Gun Kelly 's Tickets to My Downfall is the No .
1 album @ @ @ @ @ Coming in at No .
2 is SuperM 's Super One : The 1st Album @ @ @ @ @ Nectar at No .
3 , Pop Smoke 's Shoot For the Stars Aim For @ @ @ @ @ 4 and Deftones ' Ohms at No .
5 .
Rounding out the top tier @ @ @ @ @ Never Die at No .
6 , Taylor Swift 's Folklore at No .
7 @ @ @ @ @ Gift at No .
8 , YoungBoy Never Broke Again 's Top at No .
@ @ @ @ @ Daystar at No .
10 .

Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Machine Gun Kelly's Tickets to My Downfall is the No. 1 album in the United States.
Coming in at No. 2 is SuperM's Super One: The 1st Album, followed by Joji's Nectar at No. 3, Pop Smoke's Shoot For the Stars Aim For the Moon at No. 4 and Deftones' Ohms at No. 5.


upi--2020-10-10--Delta weakens to tropical storm, nears Mississippi

Oct. 9 ( UPI ) -- Delta weakened to a tropical storm as it pushed through Louisiana on Saturday , forecasters said .
In its 7 a.m. CDT update , the National Hurricane Center said the hurricane had 40 mph maximum sustained winds .
The eye was located 45 miles east of Monroe , La.
, and was moving north-northeast at 16 mph .
The eye of the storm was hours from passing into Mississippi , where it 's expected to weaken to a tropical depression .
`` On the forecast track , the center of Delta should move across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northern Mississippi and into the Tennessee Valley later today and Sunday , '' the NHC said in its advisory .
Delta had previously been projected to make landfall somewhere between far eastern Texas and western Mississippi , a region that has been threatened twice this year by hurricanes -- Laura and Sally , both in September .
The track narrowed late Thursday and early Friday as Delta neared the U.S. Gulf Coast .
The storm made landfall in Creole , La.
, around 6 p.m. Friday .
Delta exploded into a Category 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Tuesday , its intensification was the most extreme in 15 years for an October hurricane .
Delta also set a speed record for strengthening from a depression to a Category 4 hurricane , just over 36 hours , surpassing Keith from 2000 -- and strengthened into the second-most intense hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season on Tuesday .
The only storm to become stronger this season was Hurricane Laura , which packed peak winds of 150 mph .

Delta was expected to remain a tropical depression through Monday morning. Photo courtesy of NOAA
Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Delta weakened to a tropical depression as it pushed into Mississippi on Saturday, forecasters said. In its 10 a.m. CDT update, the National Hurricane Center said the hurricane had 35 mph maximum sustained winds. The eye was located 65 miles north-northwest of Jackson, Miss., and was moving northeast at 16 mph. Advertisement
The eye of the storm was close to Mississippi's border with Louisiana and Arkansas.
"On the forecast track, the center of Delta should move across western and northern Mississippi today and into the Tennessee Valley tonight and Sunday," the NHC said in its advisory.
It's expected to remain a depression through Monday morning, when it'll be situated over Ohio.
Delta had previously been projected to make landfall somewhere between far eastern Texas and western Mississippi, a region that has been threatened twice this year by hurricanes -- Laura and Sally, both in September.
The track narrowed late Thursday and early Friday as Delta neared the U.S. Gulf Coast. The storm made landfall in Creole, La., around 6 p.m. Friday.
Delta exploded into a Category 4 hurricane on Monday before gradually weakening. On Tuesday, its intensification was the most extreme in 15 years for an October hurricane.
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Delta also set a speed record for strengthening from a depression to a Category 4 hurricane, just over 36 hours, surpassing Keith from 2000 -- and strengthened into the second-most intense hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season on Tuesday. The only storm to become stronger this season was Hurricane Laura, which packed peak winds of 150 mph.


upi--2020-10-10--Study: Restricting promotions of sweet foods cuts sugar, not profits

Limiting marketing of high-sugar foods in supermarkets does n't cut into store profits , but it may improve public health , Australian researchers report .
Price promotions , end-of-aisle displays and putting products at eye level can stimulate sales .
Ending these practices reduced purchase of sugar-sweetened drinks and candy in participating stores by the equivalent to nearly two tons of sugar , the researchers said .
These included foods and drinks with added sugars , as well as natural sugar in honey , syrups and fruit juices .
The reductions in soft drink and candy purchases were particularly large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profits were not affected , they added .
The study , published Oct. 7 in The Lancet Planetary Health , ran for 12 weeks and focused on 20 randomly selected stores in rural Australia .
Some stores restricted promotion of sugary foods , others did not .
`` Our novel study is the first to show that limiting [ promotional ] activities can also have an effect on sales , in particular , of unhealthy food and drinks , '' said researcher Julie Brimblecombe , an associate professor of nutrition , dietetics and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` This strategy has important health implications and is an opportunity to improve diets and reduce associated non-communicable diseases .
It also offers a way for supermarkets to position themselves as responsible retailers , which could potentially strengthen customers ' loyalty without damaging business performance , '' she said in a journal news release .
The changes affected sugar-sweetened drinks , candy and other sweets , table sugar and sweet biscuits or cookies .
Among other things , these restricted price promotions , removed end-of-aisle and counter displays , and reduced refrigerator space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drinks elsewhere .
Stores also promoted water and listed the amount of sugar in soft drinks .
As a result , added sugars purchased in foods and drinks fell 3 % .
Sugars in purchased sugar-sweetened drinks were cut by 7 % , and from soda purchases it dropped 13 % .
Sugars from candy sales fell 7.5 % , the researchers found .
Co-author Emma McMahon , a research fellow at Menzies School of Health Research in Casuarina , Australia , said researchers expected the strategy would work best on impulse items @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like table sugar .
`` A different strategy for biscuits and items like table sugar should be explored to stimulate change in those buying behaviors , '' she said in the release .
To learn more about sugar and your health , see Harvard University .

Limiting marketing of high-sugar foods in supermarkets doesn't cut into store profits, but it may improve public health, Australian researchers report.
Price promotions, end-of-aisle displays and putting products at eye level can stimulate sales. Ending these practices reduced purchase of sugar-sweetened drinks and candy in participating stores by the equivalent to nearly two tons of sugar, the researchers said. These included foods and drinks with added sugars, as well as natural sugar in honey, syrups and fruit juices.
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The reductions in soft drink and candy purchases were particularly large, researchers said. Even so, profits were not affected, they added.
The study, published Oct. 7 in The Lancet Planetary Health, ran for 12 weeks and focused on 20 randomly selected stores in rural Australia. Some stores restricted promotion of sugary foods, others did not.
"Our novel study is the first to show that limiting [promotional] activities can also have an effect on sales, in particular, of unhealthy food and drinks," said researcher Julie Brimblecombe, an associate professor of nutrition, dietetics and food at Monash University in Melbourne.
"This strategy has important health implications and is an opportunity to improve diets and reduce associated non-communicable diseases. It also offers a way for supermarkets to position themselves as responsible retailers, which could potentially strengthen customers' loyalty without damaging business performance," she said in a journal news release.
Advertisement
The changes affected sugar-sweetened drinks, candy and other sweets, table sugar and sweet biscuits or cookies. Among other things, these restricted price promotions, removed end-of-aisle and counter displays, and reduced refrigerator space for sugary drinks while placing large-size soft drinks elsewhere. Stores also promoted water and listed the amount of sugar in soft drinks.
As a result, added sugars purchased in foods and drinks fell 3%. Sugars in purchased sugar-sweetened drinks were cut by 7%, and from soda purchases it dropped 13%. Sugars from candy sales fell 7.5%, the researchers found.
Co-author Emma McMahon, a research fellow at Menzies School of Health Research in Casuarina, Australia, said researchers expected the strategy would work best on impulse items like sweet biscuits rather than on staples like table sugar.
"A different strategy for biscuits and items like table sugar should be explored to stimulate change in those buying behaviors," she said in the release.
More information
To learn more about sugar and your health, see Harvard University.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-10-10--On This Day, Oct. 10: Angela Merkel becomes 1st female chancellor of Germany

Oct. 10 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1845 , the U.S .
Naval Academy was formally opened at Fort Severn , Annapolis , Md.
, with 50 midshipmen in the first class .
In 1886 , Griswold Lorillard of Tuxedo Park , N.Y. , fashioned the first tuxedo for men .
In 1928 , Chiang Kai-shek became chairman of the Republic of China .
Following two civil wars , separated by a World War , Chiang Kai-shek and his Kuomintang party would head into exile in 1949 following defeat at the hands of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Airlines Boeing 247 is destroyed by sabotage , the first such proven case in the history of commercial aviation .
In 1956 , no sign of compromise seen in Suez Canal dispute .
Egypt had been pressing for a negotiated solution , `` consistent with Egyptian sovereignty , '' though there were no signs that the Egyptians or the British and French were ready to compromise .
In 1971 , having been sold , dismantled and moved to the United States , London Bridge reopens in Lake Havasu City , Ariz .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in disgrace after pleading no contest to income tax evasion .
In 1985 , movie legend Orson Welles , whose innovative Citizen Kane of 1941 was regarded by many as the best American-made film of all time , died of a heart attack at the age of 70 .
In 1995 , Israel freed about 900 Palestinian prisoners and pulled its troops out of four towns as the second phase of a peace plan was implemented on the West Bank .
In 1997 , major tobacco companies agreed to a settlement in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said second-hand smoke made them ill. About a week earlier , tobacco executives admitted that tobacco causes lung cancer and other diseases .
In 2003 , the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Iranian lawyer Shurin Ebadi for her work in promoting democracy and human rights in Iran and beyond .
She was the first Muslim woman to win the award .
In 2005 , Angela Merkel became the first female chancellor of Germany after her Christian Democrats won the parliamentary election .
In 2014 , the Nobel committee awarded the peace prize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children 's rights activists .
Yousafzai , the youngest Nobelist in history , became a household name after Taliban militants shot her in the head in Pakistan , bringing attention to her cause -- education for girls .
In 2018 , Hurricane Michael made landfall on Mexico Beach , Fla. , as a Category 5 storm .
Michael directly caused 31 deaths and more than $ 25 billion in damage .
In 2019 , the Swedish Academy awarded both the 2018 and 2019 Nobel Prizes for Literature at the same time -- to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- after a yearlong delay due to a sexual misconduct scandal .

1/6
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. President George W. Bush speak to the media after their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on May 3, 2006. On October 10, 2005, Merkel became the first female chancellor of Germany after her Christian Democrats won the parliamentary election. File Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 10 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1845, the U.S. Naval Academy was formally opened at Fort Severn, Annapolis, Md., with 50 midshipmen in the first class. Advertisement
In 1886, Griswold Lorillard of Tuxedo Park, N.Y., fashioned the first tuxedo for men.
In 1928, Chiang Kai-shek became chairman of the Republic of China. Following two civil wars, separated by a World War, Chiang Kai-shek and his Kuomintang party would head into exile in 1949 following defeat at the hands of the Communists.
In 1933, a United Airlines Boeing 247 is destroyed by sabotage, the first such proven case in the history of commercial aviation.
In 1956, no sign of compromise seen in Suez Canal dispute. Egypt had been pressing for a negotiated solution, "consistent with Egyptian sovereignty," though there were no signs that the Egyptians or the British and French were ready to compromise.
In 1971, having been sold, dismantled and moved to the United States, London Bridge reopens in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
In 1973, Vice President Spiro Agnew resigns in disgrace after pleading no contest to income tax evasion.
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UPI File Photo
In 1985, movie legend Orson Welles, whose innovative Citizen Kane of 1941 was regarded by many as the best American-made film of all time, died of a heart attack at the age of 70.
In 1995, Israel freed about 900 Palestinian prisoners and pulled its troops out of four towns as the second phase of a peace plan was implemented on the West Bank.
In 1997, major tobacco companies agreed to a settlement in a class-action lawsuit by 60,000 flight attendants who said second-hand smoke made them ill. About a week earlier, tobacco executives admitted that tobacco causes lung cancer and other diseases.
In 2003, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Iranian lawyer Shurin Ebadi for her work in promoting democracy and human rights in Iran and beyond. She was the first Muslim woman to win the award.
In 2005, Angela Merkel became the first female chancellor of Germany after her Christian Democrats won the parliamentary election.
File Photo by Matthew Healey/ UPI
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In 2014, the Nobel committee awarded the peace prize to Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi, children's rights activists. Yousafzai, the youngest Nobelist in history, became a household name after Taliban militants shot her in the head in Pakistan, bringing attention to her cause -- education for girls.
In 2018, Hurricane Michael made landfall on Mexico Beach, Fla., as a Category 5 storm. Michael directly caused 31 deaths and more than $25 billion in damage.
In 2019, the Swedish Academy awarded both the 2018 and 2019 Nobel Prizes for Literature at the same time -- to Olga Tokarczuk and Peter Handke, respectively -- after a yearlong delay due to a sexual misconduct scandal.


upi--2020-10-10--Famous birthdays for Oct. 10: David Lee Roth, Brett Favre

Oct. 10 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Libra .

1/3
David Lee Roth attends the Billboard Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 17, 2015. The singer turns 66 on October 10. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Libra. They include: Advertisement
-- English chemist/physicist Henry Cavendish, discoverer of hydrogen, in 1731
-- Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi in 1813
-- Sculptor Alberto Giacometti in 1901
-- Jazz musician Thelonious Monk in 1917
-- Filmmaker Ed Wood in 1924
-- Actor Peter Coyote in 1941 (age 79)
-- Singer John Prine in 1946
-- Entertainer Ben Vereen in 1946 (age 74)
-- Actor Jessica Harper in 1949 (age 71)
File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
-- Writer Nora Roberts in 1950
-- Rocker David Lee Roth in 1954 (age 66)
-- Country singer Tanya Tucker in 1958 (age 62)
-- Actor Bradley Whitford in 1959 (age 61)
-- Slain journalist Daniel Pearl in 1963
-- Actor Bai Ling in 1966 (age 54)
-- Actor Wendi McLendon-Covey in 1969 (age 51)
-- Football star Brett Favre in 1969 (age 51)
File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
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-- Actor Mario Lopez in 1973 (age 47)
-- Race car driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 1974 (age 46)
-- Actor Andrea Navedo in 1977 (age 43)
-- Singer Mya Harrison in 1979 (age 41)
-- Actor Dan Stevens in 1982 (age 38)
-- Actor Rose McIver in 1988 (age 32)


upi--2020-10-10--Researchers confirm coronavirus can infect the eye

COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory infection , but experts have suspected the virus can also infiltrate the eyes .
Now , scientists have more direct evidence of it .
The findings are based on a patient in China who developed an acute glaucoma attack soon after recovering from COVID-19 .
Her doctors had to perform surgery to treat the condition , and tests of her eye tissue showed evidence of the coronavirus .
The case offers proof that `` [ the coronavirus ] can also infect ocular tissues in addition to the respiratory system , '' the doctors reported in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journal JAMA Ophthalmology .
`` It 's been suspected that the eyes can be a source of both 'in ' and 'out ' '' for the novel coronavirus , said Dr. Aaron Glatt , a spokesman for the Infectious Diseases Society of America .
That 's why health care workers protect their eyes with goggles or face shields , he noted .
It 's not possible to say whether the patient in this case contracted the coronavirus via her eyes , according to Glatt .
But that is a possibility -- whether through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touching her eyes with a virus-contaminated hand , he said .
Another big unknown is whether any lingering virus in patients ' eye tissue will cause problems .
According to Dr. Grace Richter , an ophthalmologist at the University of Southern California 's Roski Eye Institute in Los Angeles , `` It 's too early to know what having this virus floating around in the eye means for ocular health . ''
At this point , Richter said , limited eye problems have been seen with COVID-19 : A small number of patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' where the white part of the eye and inside of the eyelid become swollen , red and itchy .
The patient in this case suffered acute angle-closure glaucoma -- a serious condition in which pressure in the eyes suddenly rises due to fluid buildup .
It requires prompt treatment to relieve the pressure , sometimes with surgery to restore the eye 's normal fluid movement .
Richter was doubtful the coronavirus directly caused the eye complication .
In general , certain anatomical features of the eye make some people vulnerable to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be triggered by medications , she explained .
Richter speculated that since the patient was hospitalized and likely received various drugs , that might have been the cause .
That is possible , agreed Dr. Sonal Tuli , a clinical spokeswoman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and chairwoman of ophthalmology at the University of Florida College of Medicine , in Gainesville .
Tuli said the patient 's case is `` interesting , '' but leaves open a number of questions .
One is whether the virus present in the eye tissue is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 64-year-old woman who was hospitalized for COVID-19 on Jan. 31 .
Eighteen days later , her symptoms had fully resolved , and throat swabs turned up negative for the coronavirus .
About a week later , though , she developed pain and vision loss in one eye , and then in her other eye a few days afterward , according to the report by Dr. Ying Yan and colleagues at the General Hospital of the Central Theater Command in Wuhan , China .
The patient landed in the hospital again , where she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cataract .
Medication failed to bring down her eye pressure , so her doctors performed surgery -- taking tissue samples in the process .
Tests of those samples turned up evidence that the coronavirus had invaded the eye tissues , Yan 's team reported .
While it 's not clear how the virus got into the patient 's eyes , the experts agreed the case underscores the importance of eye protection .
For health care providers , that means goggles and face shields for the average person , it 's regular hand-washing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I think people do n't realize how often they touch their eyes , '' Tuli said .
That advice will reduce the chance of any virus , including cold and flu bugs , from coming into contact with the eyes , she noted .
While that may be enough in most cases , people caring for someone with COVID-19 at home may want to be extra cautious , Tuli suggested .
Wearing eye protection in addition to a mask is a `` good idea , '' she said .
The American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and eye health .

COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory infection, but experts have suspected the virus can also infiltrate the eyes. Now, scientists have more direct evidence of it.
The findings are based on a patient in China who developed an acute glaucoma attack soon after recovering from COVID-19. Her doctors had to perform surgery to treat the condition, and tests of her eye tissue showed evidence of the coronavirus.
Advertisement
The case offers proof that "[the coronavirus] can also infect ocular tissues in addition to the respiratory system," the doctors reported in the Oct. 8 online edition of the journal JAMA Ophthalmology.
"It's been suspected that the eyes can be a source of both 'in' and 'out'" for the novel coronavirus, said Dr. Aaron Glatt, a spokesman for the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
That's why health care workers protect their eyes with goggles or face shields, he noted.
Advertisement
It's not possible to say whether the patient in this case contracted the coronavirus via her eyes, according to Glatt. But that is a possibility -- whether through viral particles in the air or by touching her eyes with a virus-contaminated hand, he said.
Another big unknown is whether any lingering virus in patients' eye tissue will cause problems.
According to Dr. Grace Richter, an ophthalmologist at the University of Southern California's Roski Eye Institute in Los Angeles, "It's too early to know what having this virus floating around in the eye means for ocular health."
At this point, Richter said, limited eye problems have been seen with COVID-19: A small number of patients develop conjunctivitis, or "pink eye," where the white part of the eye and inside of the eyelid become swollen, red and itchy.
The patient in this case suffered acute angle-closure glaucoma -- a serious condition in which pressure in the eyes suddenly rises due to fluid buildup. It requires prompt treatment to relieve the pressure, sometimes with surgery to restore the eye's normal fluid movement.
Richter was doubtful the coronavirus directly caused the eye complication. In general, certain anatomical features of the eye make some people vulnerable to acute angle-closure glaucoma, and it can be triggered by medications, she explained.
Advertisement
Richter speculated that since the patient was hospitalized and likely received various drugs, that might have been the cause.
That is possible, agreed Dr. Sonal Tuli, a clinical spokeswoman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and chairwoman of ophthalmology at the University of Florida College of Medicine, in Gainesville.
Tuli said the patient's case is "interesting," but leaves open a number of questions. One is whether the virus present in the eye tissue is actually infectious.
The patient was a 64-year-old woman who was hospitalized for COVID-19 on Jan. 31. Eighteen days later, her symptoms had fully resolved, and throat swabs turned up negative for the coronavirus.
About a week later, though, she developed pain and vision loss in one eye, and then in her other eye a few days afterward, according to the report by Dr. Ying Yan and colleagues at the General Hospital of the Central Theater Command in Wuhan, China.
The patient landed in the hospital again, where she was diagnosed with acute angle-closure glaucoma and cataract. Medication failed to bring down her eye pressure, so her doctors performed surgery -- taking tissue samples in the process.
Tests of those samples turned up evidence that the coronavirus had invaded the eye tissues, Yan's team reported.
Advertisement
While it's not clear how the virus got into the patient's eyes, the experts agreed the case underscores the importance of eye protection. For health care providers, that means goggles and face shields for the average person, it's regular hand-washing and keeping the hands away from the eyes.
"I think people don't realize how often they touch their eyes," Tuli said.
That advice will reduce the chance of any virus, including cold and flu bugs, from coming into contact with the eyes, she noted.
While that may be enough in most cases, people caring for someone with COVID-19 at home may want to be extra cautious, Tuli suggested. Wearing eye protection in addition to a mask is a "good idea," she said.
More information
The American Academy of Ophthalmology has more on coronavirus and eye health.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-10-10--NBA Finals: Butler, Heat hold off LeBron, Lakers to force Game 6

Oct. 10 ( UPI ) -- The Miami Heat staved off elimination with a thrilling 111-108 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Friday night .
Jimmy Butler had 35 points , 12 rebounds and 11 assists for the Heat , who stayed alive in the championship series after Danny Green 's wide-open 3-pointer fell short in the closing seconds of the game .
Game 6 of the series is Sunday night .
The Lakers still hold a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series .
`` This one was a little bit of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the top of the key , '' Butler said .
Heat sharpshooter Duncan Robinson had arguably his best game of the postseason with 26 points on 7-of-13 shooting from 3-point range .
Kendrick Nunn had 14 points , while Bam Adebayo chipped in 13 points , four rebounds and four assists .
Jae Crowder scored 11 points , and Tyler Herro added 12 for the Heat .
LeBron James had 40 points , 13 rebounds , seven assists and three steals for the Lakers .
Anthony Davis , who was hampered by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game , notched 28 points , 12 rebounds and three blocks .
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 16 points .
Robinson 's 3-pointer with 3:13 remaining in the fourth quarter gave the Heat a two-point lead and started a stretch where the next nine scoring possessions from either side resulted in a tie or lead change .
Butler was fouled with 46.7 seconds left and made both free throws for a one-point lead .
Davis answered with a putback with 21.8 seconds remaining to put the Lakers back on top .
Heat head coach Erik @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team 's next possession , giving Butler a little extra rest .
Butler then drove the lane and drew another foul , sinking both foul shots for a 109-108 lead .
The Lakers -- seeking their first NBA championship in a decade -- called a timeout in preparation for the possible title-winning shot .
James drove for a layup but kicked the ball out to Green for a wide-open 3-pointer , which clanged off the rim .
Herro finished off the game with two free throws .

Miami Heat sharpshooter Duncan Robinson reacts during the third quarter of Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Friday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Fla. Photo by Erik S. Lesser/EPA-EFE
Oct. 10 (UPI) -- The Miami Heat staved off elimination with a thrilling 111-108 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Friday night. Jimmy Butler had 35 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists for the Heat, who stayed alive in the championship series after Danny Green's wide-open 3-pointer fell short in the closing seconds of the game. Advertisement
Game 6 of the series is Sunday night. The Lakers still hold a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
"This one was a little bit of luck that Danny Green missed that shot at the top of the key," Butler said.
Heat sharpshooter Duncan Robinson had arguably his best game of the postseason with 26 points on 7-of-13 shooting from 3-point range. Kendrick Nunn had 14 points, while Bam Adebayo chipped in 13 points, four rebounds and four assists.
Jae Crowder scored 11 points, and Tyler Herro added 12 for the Heat.
LeBron James had 40 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and three steals for the Lakers. Anthony Davis, who was hampered by a foot injury for much of the game, notched 28 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 16 points.
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Robinson's 3-pointer with 3:13 remaining in the fourth quarter gave the Heat a two-point lead and started a stretch where the next nine scoring possessions from either side resulted in a tie or lead change.
Butler was fouled with 46.7 seconds left and made both free throws for a one-point lead. Davis answered with a putback with 21.8 seconds remaining to put the Lakers back on top.
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra used his last timeout before the team's next possession, giving Butler a little extra rest. Butler then drove the lane and drew another foul, sinking both foul shots for a 109-108 lead.
The Lakers -- seeking their first NBA championship in a decade -- called a timeout in preparation for the possible title-winning shot. James drove for a layup but kicked the ball out to Green for a wide-open 3-pointer, which clanged off the rim. Herro finished off the game with two free throws.


upi--2020-10-09--Ex-Bruins defenseman Torey Krug agrees to 7-year deal with Blues

Oct. 9 ( UPI ) -- Former Boston Bruins star defenseman Torey Krug , one of the top players available in this year 's free-agent class , has agreed to a multiyear contract with the St. Louis Blues , the team announced Friday .
Krug agreed to a seven-year contract worth $ 45.5 million with the Blues , according to the team .
He was coming off a four-year , $ 21 million contract and previously said he was n't interested in a short-term deal .
`` We know the player , we know what he can do on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Doug Armstrong told reporters Friday night .
`` He 's going to fit in very well . ''
Before the agreement , the 29-year-old Krug had spent his entire NHL career with the Bruins and appeared in 523 games .
He has recorded 67 goals and 270 assists in his career .
Krug 's deal likely ends the tenure of Blues captain and top defenseman Alex Pietrangelo .
Also a free agent , Pietrangelo has had contract discussions with the Blues but could ultimately leave for another club .
`` You never know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'd have to get very creative , '' Armstrong said .
`` But Alex has been a great part of this franchise .
What we were trying to do is knock things off as they came .
And this came first . ''
Krug , who played collegiately at Michigan State , was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 2013-14 .

Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug has recorded 67 goals and 270 assists in his NHL career. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Former Boston Bruins star defenseman Torey Krug, one of the top players available in this year's free-agent class, has agreed to a multiyear contract with the St. Louis Blues, the team announced Friday. Krug agreed to a seven-year contract worth $45.5 million with the Blues, according to the team. He was coming off a four-year, $21 million contract and previously said he wasn't interested in a short-term deal. Advertisement
"We know the player, we know what he can do on the power play," Blues general manager Doug Armstrong told reporters Friday night. "He's going to fit in very well."
Before the agreement, the 29-year-old Krug had spent his entire NHL career with the Bruins and appeared in 523 games. He has recorded 67 goals and 270 assists in his career.
Krug's deal likely ends the tenure of Blues captain and top defenseman Alex Pietrangelo. Also a free agent, Pietrangelo has had contract discussions with the Blues but could ultimately leave for another club.
"You never know what happens in the future. We'd have to get very creative," Armstrong said. "But Alex has been a great part of this franchise. What we were trying to do is knock things off as they came. And this came first."
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Krug, who played collegiately at Michigan State, was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 2013-14.