OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - U.S. factories have been cranking out goods during much of the pandemic at rates that are remarkably close to normal. However, manufacturers are concerned they may not be able to keep pace until most of the country is vaccinated because the coronavirus continues to surge in areas where many plants are based.

Safeguards that were put in place after the initial wave of the virus appear to have prevented the large outbreaks that sickened hundreds of workers and forced automakers, meat processors and other businesses to halt production last spring. But with the nation's COVID-19 death toll eclipsing 300,000 and the virus spiking in communities that surround the plants, industry and union officials say it may be impossible to keep the virus out of factories.

"We are seeing an increase in the number of positive (test) rates like you're seeing in the surrounding communities," said Gary Johnson, chief manufacturing officer at Ford Motor Co., which has about 56,000 hourly factory workers nationwide.

Federal Reserve statistics show that U.S. industrial output is about 5% below levels in February, before the pandemic hit. It fell by 16.5% between February and April but has rebounded since, led by auto manufacturing.

Beef and pork production have both been running just below last year's levels, Iowa State University agricultural economist Lee Schulz said.

But as it will be months before many people will be able to get vaccinated, factories will remain vulnerable.

"Even though we are doing OK now, this virus can spread rapidly in areas," said Mark Lauritsen, director of the food processing and meatpacking division for the United Food and Commercial Workers International union. "I worry every day that this virus will explode in one of our plants again, even with all the precautions that we've taken."

At auto plants and factories in other industries where the United Auto Workers union represents workers, cases have risen slightly since around Halloween, but nearly all have been traced to outside of the plants, said UAW President Rory Gamble.

Since reopening in May after an eight-week shutdown, three workers from Fiat Chrysler factories near Detroit have died from the virus, raising fear among thousands of workers.

Gamble said much of the fear has come from misinformation about workers catching the virus in factories, which is not true.

"They need to have a complete understanding that we're doing everything we can to keep them safe," Gamble said. "Because they have a right to be afraid."

The statistics on the pandemic's impact on the meatpacking industry offer plenty of reason to worry. The UFCW union, which represents roughly 80% of the nation's beef and pork workers and 33% of its poultry workers, estimates that at least 19,800 meatpacking workers have been infected or exposed and 128 have died of COVID-19.

Employees such as Donald Nix, who works at a Tyson Foods pork processing plant in Waterloo, Iowa, agonizes about the virus that sidelined him for 27 days in the spring with a fever, body aches and severe headaches.

Nix, 51, is concerned because co-workers keep getting sick. During the spring, more than 1,000 of the plant's 2,800 workers were infected and at least six died. "My workplace is still high risk. My job is still high risk," he said.

But the giants of the meat industry - Tyson Foods, Smithfield Foods, JBS and Cargill - contend that the safety measures that were put in place after the major outbreaks last spring have enabled them to limit the spread of the virus.

"We made substantial investments in personal protective equipment, social distancing safeguards, and other increased health and safety measures across our business. We've seen a dramatic reduction in active cases involving our team members since last spring," Tyson CEO Dean Banks recently told investors.

Measures include wellness questionnaires before work, temperature checks, plastic screens between work stations, increased cleaning of the plants, random testing, and the required use of masks and other protective equipment. The industry spent roughly $2.5 billion on those improvements and additional pay for workers in the first six months, said Will Sawyer, a protein economist at Cobank, an agribusiness bank.

At Ford, factories are operating at about 98% of their pre-pandemic production. Most workers who have symptoms or have been exposed to the virus stay home until the danger of infecting others has passed, limiting its spread in the plants, Johnson said. The automaker hires temporary workers to take their place, allowing it to keep assembly lines running.

Auto and meatpacking companies say generally less than 1% of their workforces are catching the virus. Automakers and the UAW are urging workers to wear masks in public outside the plants.

Members of the UAW, which represents 150,000 workers employed by General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler, said the companies largely have stuck to their precautions and protocols.

"I know of people who have had it and tested positive, but as far as I know, they're doing what they're supposed to as far as quarantining and getting people tested," said Andrea Repasky a forklift operator at GM's pickup truck factory in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

People she passes at the plant always wear protective gear correctly, she said. Management posts how many people test positive on each shift, and the numbers have been relatively small, even with a minor surge after Thanksgiving, she said.

Ford, General Motors, Toyota and others are starting to see minor problems with smaller parts companies having to shut down factories due to virus outbreaks or government restrictions, especially in Mexico. Ford's Johnson said a truck driver shortage is affecting parts deliveries. The company has lined up just-in-time freight to get parts to keep plants running, he said.

Ford had to delay production of its new Bronco SUV from spring until summer because of virus-related parts shortages that the company wouldn't specify.

Toyota said it has come close to halting assembly lines due to a lack of parts, but so far has managed to avoid it.

"There have been a few close calls for sure," said spokesman Scott Vazin. "Any given day, we've got up to 10 parts we're closely monitoring on red alert."

The UFCW's Lauritsen said he hopes the industry will continue working hard to limit the spread of the virus.

"We can't get complacent just because things seem to be holding right now," Lauritsen said. "We know that plants of any kind - anytime people get together in large groups - can act as a super spreader with this virus."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608949346276.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOSH FUNK-Associated Press OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - U.S. factories have been cranking out goods during much of the pandemic at rates that are remarkably close to normal. However, manufacturers are concerned they may not be able to keep pace until most of the country is vaccinated because the coronavirus continues to surge in areas where many plants are based.Safeguards that were put in place after the initial wave of the virus appear to have prevented the large outbreaks that sickened hundreds of workers and forced automakers, meat processors and other businesses to halt production last spring. But with the nation's COVID-19 death toll eclipsing 300,000 and the virus spiking in communities that surround the plants, industry and union officials say it may be impossible to keep the virus out of factories."We are seeing an increase in the number of positive (test) rates like you're seeing in the surrounding communities," said Gary Johnson, chief manufacturing officer at Ford Motor Co., which has about 56,000 hourly factory workers nationwide.Federal Reserve statistics show that U.S. industrial output is about 5% below levels in February, before the pandemic hit. It fell by 16.5% between February and April but has rebounded since, led by auto manufacturing.Beef and pork production have both been running just below last year's levels, Iowa State University agricultural economist Lee Schulz said.But as it will be months before many people will be able to get vaccinated, factories will remain vulnerable."Even though we are doing OK now, this virus can spread rapidly in areas," said Mark Lauritsen, director of the food processing and meatpacking division for the United Food and Commercial Workers International union. "I worry every day that this virus will explode in one of our plants again, even with all the precautions that we've taken."At auto plants and factories in other industries where the United Auto Workers union represents workers, cases have risen slightly since around Halloween, but nearly all have been traced to outside of the plants, said UAW President Rory Gamble.Since reopening in May after an eight-week shutdown, three workers from Fiat Chrysler factories near Detroit have died from the virus, raising fear among thousands of workers.Gamble said much of the fear has come from misinformation about workers catching the virus in factories, which is not true."They need to have a complete understanding that we're doing everything we can to keep them safe," Gamble said. "Because they have a right to be afraid."The statistics on the pandemic's impact on the meatpacking industry offer plenty of reason to worry. The UFCW union, which represents roughly 80% of the nation's beef and pork workers and 33% of its poultry workers, estimates that at least 19,800 meatpacking workers have been infected or exposed and 128 have died of COVID-19.Employees such as Donald Nix, who works at a Tyson Foods pork processing plant in Waterloo, Iowa, agonizes about the virus that sidelined him for 27 days in the spring with a fever, body aches and severe headaches.Nix, 51, is concerned because co-workers keep getting sick. During the spring, more than 1,000 of the plant's 2,800 workers were infected and at least six died. "My workplace is still high risk. My job is still high risk," he said.But the giants of the meat industry - Tyson Foods, Smithfield Foods, JBS and Cargill - contend that the safety measures that were put in place after the major outbreaks last spring have enabled them to limit the spread of the virus."We made substantial investments in personal protective equipment, social distancing safeguards, and other increased health and safety measures across our business. We've seen a dramatic reduction in active cases involving our team members since last spring," Tyson CEO Dean Banks recently told investors.Measures include wellness questionnaires before work, temperature checks, plastic screens between work stations, increased cleaning of the plants, random testing, and the required use of masks and other protective equipment. The industry spent roughly $2.5 billion on those improvements and additional pay for workers in the first six months, said Will Sawyer, a protein economist at Cobank, an agribusiness bank.At Ford, factories are operating at about 98% of their pre-pandemic production. Most workers who have symptoms or have been exposed to the virus stay home until the danger of infecting others has passed, limiting its spread in the plants, Johnson said. The automaker hires temporary workers to take their place, allowing it to keep assembly lines running.Auto and meatpacking companies say generally less than 1% of their workforces are catching the virus. Automakers and the UAW are urging workers to wear masks in public outside the plants.Members of the UAW, which represents 150,000 workers employed by General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler, said the companies largely have stuck to their precautions and protocols."I know of people who have had it and tested positive, but as far as I know, they're doing what they're supposed to as far as quarantining and getting people tested," said Andrea Repasky a forklift operator at GM's pickup truck factory in Fort Wayne, Indiana.People she passes at the plant always wear protective gear correctly, she said. Management posts how many people test positive on each shift, and the numbers have been relatively small, even with a minor surge after Thanksgiving, she said.Ford, General Motors, Toyota and others are starting to see minor problems with smaller parts companies having to shut down factories due to virus outbreaks or government restrictions, especially in Mexico. Ford's Johnson said a truck driver shortage is affecting parts deliveries. The company has lined up just-in-time freight to get parts to keep plants running, he said.Ford had to delay production of its new Bronco SUV from spring until summer because of virus-related parts shortages that the company wouldn't specify.Toyota said it has come close to halting assembly lines due to a lack of parts, but so far has managed to avoid it."There have been a few close calls for sure," said spokesman Scott Vazin. "Any given day, we've got up to 10 parts we're closely monitoring on red alert."The UFCW's Lauritsen said he hopes the industry will continue working hard to limit the spread of the virus."We can't get complacent just because things seem to be holding right now," Lauritsen said. "We know that plants of any kind - anytime people get together in large groups - can act as a super spreader with this virus."

US plants hope to maintain production despite virus threat

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska further relaxed the state's social distancing restrictions because the number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus has continued to decline.

Gov. Pete Ricketts said Wednesday that the rules would be eased because less than 15% of the state's hospital beds have been occupied by virus patients over the past week, on average.

The new rules that take effect Thursday will allow indoor gatherings up to 75% of a building's capacity, up from 50% now, and rules requiring people to sit in groups of no more than eight people and remain seated at bars and restaurants most of the time will be eliminated in favor of recommendations. The restrictions on elective surgeries will also be lifted.

The state's chief medical officer, Dr. Gary Anthone, said it's important that Nebraskans continue to wear masks and avoid crowded places to continue limiting the virus' spread.

"COVID-19 hospitalizations have continued to come down and we want to keep that trend going," Anthone said. "That's why it is still important to limit our interactions and to be diligent about preventing the spread of COVID-19, especially over the holidays."

The state said the number of people being treated in hospitals declined again Tuesday to 566 from the previous day's 582. That total remains well below the record of 987 set on Nov. 20 but it remains high compared to Oct. 1 when 227 people were hospitalized.

Nebraska reported 1,221 new virus cases and 10 deaths Tuesday to give the state 158,324 cases and 1,521 deaths since the pandemic began.

The state has gone from having the fifth-highest rate of new virus cases in the nation early this month to ranking 31st Tuesday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased over the past two weeks, going from 1,817.14 new cases per day on Dec. 8 to 1,108.43 new cases per day on Tuesday.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska further relaxed the state's social distancing restrictions because the number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus has continued to decline.Gov. Pete Ricketts said Wednesday that the rules would be eased because less than 15% of the state's hospital beds have been occupied by virus patients over the past week, on average.The new rules that take effect Thursday will allow indoor gatherings up to 75% of a building's capacity, up from 50% now, and rules requiring people to sit in groups of no more than eight people and remain seated at bars and restaurants most of the time will be eliminated in favor of recommendations. The restrictions on elective surgeries will also be lifted.The state's chief medical officer, Dr. Gary Anthone, said it's important that Nebraskans continue to wear masks and avoid crowded places to continue limiting the virus' spread."COVID-19 hospitalizations have continued to come down and we want to keep that trend going," Anthone said. "That's why it is still important to limit our interactions and to be diligent about preventing the spread of COVID-19, especially over the holidays."The state said the number of people being treated in hospitals declined again Tuesday to 566 from the previous day's 582. That total remains well below the record of 987 set on Nov. 20 but it remains high compared to Oct. 1 when 227 people were hospitalized.Nebraska reported 1,221 new virus cases and 10 deaths Tuesday to give the state 158,324 cases and 1,521 deaths since the pandemic began.The state has gone from having the fifth-highest rate of new virus cases in the nation early this month to ranking 31st Tuesday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased over the past two weeks, going from 1,817.14 new cases per day on Dec. 8 to 1,108.43 new cases per day on Tuesday.

Nebraska relaxes virus restrictions as hospitalizations fall

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska may soon relax its social distancing restrictions again because the number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus has continued to decline.

Gov. Pete Ricketts has said he will relax those restrictions if there are consistently less than 15% of the state's hospital beds occupied by virus patients. Currently, 14% of Nebraska's staffed hospital beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients, and that number has remained below 15% for six days in a row.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska may soon relax its social distancing restrictions again because the number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus has continued to decline.Gov. Pete Ricketts has said he will relax those restrictions if there are consistently less than 15% of the state's hospital beds occupied by virus patients. Currently, 14% of Nebraska's staffed hospital beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients, and that number has remained below 15% for six days in a row.The state said the number of people being treated in hospitals declined again Tuesday to 566 from the previous day's 582. That total remains well below the record of 987 set on Nov. 20 but it remains high compared to Oct. 1 when 227 people were hospitalized.Nebraska reported 1,221 new virus cases and 10 deaths Tuesday to give the state 158,324 cases and 1,521 deaths since the pandemic began.The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased over the past two weeks, going from 1,817.14 new cases per day on Dec. 8 to 1,108.43 new cases per day on Tuesday.

Nebraska could soon relax virus restrictions further

LINCOLN, Neb. -- New AARP analysis shows nursing home residents and staff in Nebraska still are at significant risk from the coronavirus. Data from October through November marked increases in both infection rates and deaths. Todd Stubbendieck, state director with AARP Nebraska, said residents have been doing everything right; they're staying in their homes and social distancing, but still are bearing the brunt of the disease. He said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aarp.org/ppi/initiatives/ltss-choices.html?cmp=RDRCT-34f9f552-20201029" target="_blank">the report</a>&nbsp;should be a call to action for people outside nursing homes, but worries too many people have become numb to the numbers. "But we are talking about people's mothers and fathers and grandmothers and grandfathers and our neighbors in these facilities," Studdendieck said. "These are our most vulnerable folks, and it's incumbent upon us to make sure we're doing what we can to help protect them." <a href="https://www.aarp.org/ppi/issues/caregiving/info-2020/nursing-home-covid-dashboard.html?cmp=RDRCT-350d888f-20201013" target="_blank">In Nebraska</a>, new COVID-19 infection rates nearly tripled compared with the previous four-week period - to 11 out of every 100 nursing home residents. Death rates also increased three-fold, to 1.27 resident deaths per 100. Nearly a third of nursing homes still do not have a one-week supply of personal protective equipment, and 47% of facilities are reporting staff shortages - up from 42%. Stubbendieck said the health crisis has exposed long-standing flaws in the nation's long-term care system. A separate AARP report offers recommendations for improvements, such as ensuring staff have health insurance, paid sick leave and competitive wages. "There's been an issue with shortage of staffing for these facilities before the pandemic, but the pandemic obviously is exacerbating that," he said. "Almost half of these facilities are saying that they're having staffing shortages." Recommendations also include prioritizing testing and PPE for residents, staff, inspectors and visitors; rejecting immunity from liability for long-term care facilities; improving transparency on reported cases and deaths; and addressing patient isolation, risk for depression, and ability to interact with loved ones.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608730621101.png" alt="Nursing home deaths comprised 54% of all COVID-19 deaths in Nebraska between October and November, the latest data set analyzed by AARP (Thedigitalartist/Pixabay)." />
 <figcaption>Nursing home deaths comprised 54% of all COVID-19 deaths in Nebraska between October and November, the latest data set analyzed by AARP (Thedigitalartist/Pixabay).</figcaption>
 </figure>From Nebraska News ConnectionBy Eric GalatasLINCOLN, Neb. -- New AARP analysis shows nursing home residents and staff in Nebraska still are at significant risk from the coronavirus. Data from October through November marked increases in both infection rates and deaths. Todd Stubbendieck, state director with AARP Nebraska, said residents have been doing everything right; they're staying in their homes and social distancing, but still are bearing the brunt of the disease. He said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aarp.org/ppi/initiatives/ltss-choices.html?cmp=RDRCT-34f9f552-20201029" target="_blank">the report</a>&nbsp;should be a call to action for people outside nursing homes, but worries too many people have become numb to the numbers. "But we are talking about people's mothers and fathers and grandmothers and grandfathers and our neighbors in these facilities," Studdendieck said. "These are our most vulnerable folks, and it's incumbent upon us to make sure we're doing what we can to help protect them." <a href="https://www.aarp.org/ppi/issues/caregiving/info-2020/nursing-home-covid-dashboard.html?cmp=RDRCT-350d888f-20201013" target="_blank">In Nebraska</a>, new COVID-19 infection rates nearly tripled compared with the previous four-week period - to 11 out of every 100 nursing home residents. Death rates also increased three-fold, to 1.27 resident deaths per 100. Nearly a third of nursing homes still do not have a one-week supply of personal protective equipment, and 47% of facilities are reporting staff shortages - up from 42%. Stubbendieck said the health crisis has exposed long-standing flaws in the nation's long-term care system. A separate AARP report offers recommendations for improvements, such as ensuring staff have health insurance, paid sick leave and competitive wages. "There's been an issue with shortage of staffing for these facilities before the pandemic, but the pandemic obviously is exacerbating that," he said. "Almost half of these facilities are saying that they're having staffing shortages." Recommendations also include prioritizing testing and PPE for residents, staff, inspectors and visitors; rejecting immunity from liability for long-term care facilities; improving transparency on reported cases and deaths; and addressing patient isolation, risk for depression, and ability to interact with loved ones.

Nebraska nursing-home COVID-19 cases, deaths rise

NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) - One of Union Pacific's main unions is threatening to strike if the railroad doesn't do more to protect its employees from the coronavirus.

The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division union said the Omaha, Nebraska-based railroad needs to offer its more than 30,000 employees full pay if they have to quarantine because of exposure to the virus, and it wants UP to bolster safety precautions in the workplace.

"The working conditions created by UP's COVID-19 protocols have created a work site that is immediately hazardous to the life and health of our members," Tony Caldwell, the union's general chairman, said in a letter to UP management.

Union Pacific maintains that it is taking appropriate precautions to protect workers from the virus, and it has gone to court to block the union from striking because it says the dispute should be resolved through collective bargaining. The railroad argues that a strike would unfairly harm the companies that rely on the railroad for shipping.

"We have worked hard to ensure the safety of our employees, while continuing to move the goods and products that our country needs to support current freight demands and recover from the pandemic," Union Pacific spokeswoman Elizabeth Graham said. "We implemented a robust pandemic response to ensure that our employees remain safe and are compensated if required to be off of work because of a work-related exposure to the virus."

A federal judge is set to hear arguments Wednesday over whether the union should be allowed to strike.

The union said Union Pacific employees that have to quarantine themselves because they have been exposed to the virus aren't being paid their full wages, and the railroad may not pay employees if they have to quarantine themselves multiple times, so there is an incentive to continue coming to work even when sick.

The union, which represents about 8,000 Union Pacific employees, also said the railroad should also offer coronavirus testing regularly at its work sites, screen employees' temperatures before they start work and do more to ensure social distancing.

Jed Dodd, the union's national vice president, said the group has similar concerns about virus precautions at the other major railroads, but it decided to press the issue first with Union Pacific.

Union Pacific is one of the nation's largest railroads, and it operates 32,400 miles (52,000 kilometers) of track in 23 Western states.

By JOSH FUNK-Associated Press NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) - One of Union Pacific's main unions is threatening to strike if the railroad doesn't do more to protect its employees from the coronavirus.The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division union said the Omaha, Nebraska-based railroad needs to offer its more than 30,000 employees full pay if they have to quarantine because of exposure to the virus, and it wants UP to bolster safety precautions in the workplace."The working conditions created by UP's COVID-19 protocols have created a work site that is immediately hazardous to the life and health of our members," Tony Caldwell, the union's general chairman, said in a letter to UP management.Union Pacific maintains that it is taking appropriate precautions to protect workers from the virus, and it has gone to court to block the union from striking because it says the dispute should be resolved through collective bargaining. The railroad argues that a strike would unfairly harm the companies that rely on the railroad for shipping."We have worked hard to ensure the safety of our employees, while continuing to move the goods and products that our country needs to support current freight demands and recover from the pandemic," Union Pacific spokeswoman Elizabeth Graham said. "We implemented a robust pandemic response to ensure that our employees remain safe and are compensated if required to be off of work because of a work-related exposure to the virus."A federal judge is set to hear arguments Wednesday over whether the union should be allowed to strike.The union said Union Pacific employees that have to quarantine themselves because they have been exposed to the virus aren't being paid their full wages, and the railroad may not pay employees if they have to quarantine themselves multiple times, so there is an incentive to continue coming to work even when sick.The union, which represents about 8,000 Union Pacific employees, also said the railroad should also offer coronavirus testing regularly at its work sites, screen employees' temperatures before they start work and do more to ensure social distancing.Jed Dodd, the union's national vice president, said the group has similar concerns about virus precautions at the other major railroads, but it decided to press the issue first with Union Pacific.Union Pacific is one of the nation's largest railroads, and it operates 32,400 miles (52,000 kilometers) of track in 23 Western states.

Union threatens to strike over Union Pacific's virus protections

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - A Lincoln doctor who works for the Nebraska National Guard expressed optimism Monday that the pandemic is nearing an end as vaccine shipments arrive, but he warned that the state's situation will remain "very tenuous" until doses are widely available.

Dr. Kevin Reichmuth, a pulmonologist, made the comments as he sought to dispel myths that have circulated on social media about the new coronavirus vaccines. Reichmuth was among the first Nebraska residents to get vaccinated for the coronavirus last week.

"This has opened a light at the end of the tunnel, but we still have a long tunnel to go through," he said at a news conference with Gov. Pete Ricketts. "We have some very tenuous times coming up here in the next several months, and all of those things up until this vaccine becoming widely available are going to be critical."

Reichmuth spoke as part of an effort to correct inaccurate claims about the new vaccines, including claims that they cause infertility, contain a microchip and trigger genetic changes in those who get them.

Ricketts said more than 8,700 people in Nebraska have received their initial doses already. The vaccinations are given in two doses, separated by three to four weeks to be fully effective. Ricketts said he asked Reichmuth to speak publicly because his office has received a lot of questions about the vaccines, which are safe and very effective.

The state's infection figures improved on Sunday, with 582 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, down from 598 the day before. That number has been steadily declining since setting a record of 987 on Nov. 20, but it remains more than 2.5 times higher than what it was on Oct. 1.

Currently, 14% of the state's hospital beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients. If the seven-day rolling average of that figure remains below 15%, the state may further relax its social distancing restrictions.

Nebraska reported 967 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 11 new deaths on Sunday, raising its totals since the pandemic started to 156,382 cases and 1,486 deaths.

By GRANT SCHULTE-Associated Press OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - A Lincoln doctor who works for the Nebraska National Guard expressed optimism Monday that the pandemic is nearing an end as vaccine shipments arrive, but he warned that the state's situation will remain "very tenuous" until doses are widely available.Dr. Kevin Reichmuth, a pulmonologist, made the comments as he sought to dispel myths that have circulated on social media about the new coronavirus vaccines. Reichmuth was among the first Nebraska residents to get vaccinated for the coronavirus last week."This has opened a light at the end of the tunnel, but we still have a long tunnel to go through," he said at a news conference with Gov. Pete Ricketts. "We have some very tenuous times coming up here in the next several months, and all of those things up until this vaccine becoming widely available are going to be critical."Reichmuth spoke as part of an effort to correct inaccurate claims about the new vaccines, including claims that they cause infertility, contain a microchip and trigger genetic changes in those who get them.Ricketts said more than 8,700 people in Nebraska have received their initial doses already. The vaccinations are given in two doses, separated by three to four weeks to be fully effective. Ricketts said he asked Reichmuth to speak publicly because his office has received a lot of questions about the vaccines, which are safe and very effective.The state's infection figures improved on Sunday, with 582 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, down from 598 the day before. That number has been steadily declining since setting a record of 987 on Nov. 20, but it remains more than 2.5 times higher than what it was on Oct. 1.Currently, 14% of the state's hospital beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients. If the seven-day rolling average of that figure remains below 15%, the state may further relax its social distancing restrictions.Nebraska reported 967 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 11 new deaths on Sunday, raising its totals since the pandemic started to 156,382 cases and 1,486 deaths.

Nebraska doctor urges continued caution as vaccines roll out

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The latest virus numbers continued to improve in Nebraska on Sunday with the number of virus hospitalizations remaining below 600.

The state said 582 people were being treated in hospitals for COVID-19 on Sunday, which was down from 598 the day before. That number has been steadily declining since setting a record of 987 on Nov. 20, but it remains more than 2.5 times higher than what it was on Oct. 1.

Currently, 14% of the state's hospital beds are occupied by coronavirus patients. If the seven-day rolling average of that figure remains below 15%, the state may further relax its social distancing restrictions.

Nebraska reported 967 new virus cases and 11 new deaths Sunday to give the state a total of 156,382 cases and 1,486 deaths since the pandemic began.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The latest virus numbers continued to improve in Nebraska on Sunday with the number of virus hospitalizations remaining below 600.The state said 582 people were being treated in hospitals for COVID-19 on Sunday, which was down from 598 the day before. That number has been steadily declining since setting a record of 987 on Nov. 20, but it remains more than 2.5 times higher than what it was on Oct. 1.Currently, 14% of the state's hospital beds are occupied by coronavirus patients. If the seven-day rolling average of that figure remains below 15%, the state may further relax its social distancing restrictions.Nebraska reported 967 new virus cases and 11 new deaths Sunday to give the state a total of 156,382 cases and 1,486 deaths since the pandemic began.

Number of virus hospitalizations in Nebraska declines again

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus in Nebraska has dropped below 600 for the first time since late October.

Nebraska said 598 people across the state were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Saturday. The last time that figure was below 600 was on October 30, and that total remains well below the peak of 987 reached on Nov. 20.

The state reported 670 new cases of the virus Saturday to raise the total to 155,415 since the pandemic began. There have also been 1,475 deaths linked to the virus.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased over the past two weeks, going from 1,751.29 new cases per day on Dec. 5 to 1,124 new cases per day on Saturday.

Also Saturday, the state Department of Correctional Services said nine more prison staff members had tested positive for the virus. Six of those work at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution, two work at the Omaha Community Corrections Center and one works at the Lincoln Correctional Center.

The state said a total of 439 corrections employees have contracted the virus. Of those, 338 have recovered.

As of Friday, 855 inmates had tested positive for the virus and 6 had died. The state said most of those inmates, 720 of them, have recovered from their illnesses.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus in Nebraska has dropped below 600 for the first time since late October.Nebraska said 598 people across the state were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Saturday. The last time that figure was below 600 was on October 30, and that total remains well below the peak of 987 reached on Nov. 20.The state reported 670 new cases of the virus Saturday to raise the total to 155,415 since the pandemic began. There have also been 1,475 deaths linked to the virus.The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased over the past two weeks, going from 1,751.29 new cases per day on Dec. 5 to 1,124 new cases per day on Saturday.Also Saturday, the state Department of Correctional Services said nine more prison staff members had tested positive for the virus. Six of those work at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution, two work at the Omaha Community Corrections Center and one works at the Lincoln Correctional Center.The state said a total of 439 corrections employees have contracted the virus. Of those, 338 have recovered.As of Friday, 855 inmates had tested positive for the virus and 6 had died. The state said most of those inmates, 720 of them, have recovered from their illnesses.

Nebraska virus hospitalizations dip below 600 over weekend

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A record 621 people died of drug overdoses in San Francisco so far this year, a staggering number that far outpaces the 173 deaths from COVID-19 the city has seen thus far.

The crisis fueled by the powerful painkiller fentanyl could have been far worse if it wasn’t for the nearly 3,000 times Narcan was used from January to the beginning of November to save someone from the brink of death, the San Francisco Chronicle&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Drug-overdoses-in-S-F-kill-58-people-in-November-15814242.php" target="_blank">reported Saturday</a>.

The data reflects the number of times people report using Narcan to the Drug Overdose Prevention and Education Project, a city-funded program that coordinates San Francisco’s response to overdose, or return to refill their supply. Officials at the DOPE Project said that since the numbers are self-reported, they are probably a major undercount.

Last year, 441 people died of drug overdoses — a 70% increase from 2018 — and 2,610 potential overdoses were prevented by Narcan, a medication commonly sprayed up the nose to reverse an opioid overdose, according to data from the city Medical Examiner’s office and the DOPE Project.

The crisis is deepening because fentanyl, which can be 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, flooded the city’s drug supply, the newspaper said. Moreover, the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted city services like housing and treatment, and left many people who rely on others to help save them if they overdose to use alone.

While nearly 40% of the deaths occurred in the Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods near downtown, city data showed the epidemic has touched every part of the city. Many people overdosed in low-income apartment buildings and in city-funded hotel rooms for the homeless. Others died on sidewalks, in alleyways and parks around the city.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608475545491.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A record 621 people died of drug overdoses in San Francisco so far this year, a staggering number that far outpaces the 173 deaths from COVID-19 the city has seen thus far.The crisis fueled by the powerful painkiller fentanyl could have been far worse if it wasn’t for the nearly 3,000 times Narcan was used from January to the beginning of November to save someone from the brink of death, the San Francisco Chronicle&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Drug-overdoses-in-S-F-kill-58-people-in-November-15814242.php" target="_blank">reported Saturday</a>.The data reflects the number of times people report using Narcan to the Drug Overdose Prevention and Education Project, a city-funded program that coordinates San Francisco’s response to overdose, or return to refill their supply. Officials at the DOPE Project said that since the numbers are self-reported, they are probably a major undercount.Last year, 441 people died of drug overdoses — a 70% increase from 2018 — and 2,610 potential overdoses were prevented by Narcan, a medication commonly sprayed up the nose to reverse an opioid overdose, according to data from the city Medical Examiner’s office and the DOPE Project.The crisis is deepening because fentanyl, which can be 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, flooded the city’s drug supply, the newspaper said. Moreover, the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted city services like housing and treatment, and left many people who rely on others to help save them if they overdose to use alone.While nearly 40% of the deaths occurred in the Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods near downtown, city data showed the epidemic has touched every part of the city. Many people overdosed in low-income apartment buildings and in city-funded hotel rooms for the homeless. Others died on sidewalks, in alleyways and parks around the city.

Overdose deaths far outpace COVID-19 deaths in San Francisco

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. added a second COVID-19 vaccine to its arsenal Friday, boosting efforts to beat back an outbreak so dire that the nation is regularly recording more than 3,000 deaths a day.

Much-needed doses are set to arrive Monday after the Food and Drug Administration authorized an emergency rollout of the vaccine developed by Moderna Inc. and the National Institutes of Health.

The move marks the world’s first authorization for Moderna’s shots. The vaccine is very similar to one from Pfizer Inc. and Germany’s BioNTech that’s now being dispensed to millions of health care workers and nursing home residents as the biggest vaccination drive in U.S. history starts to ramp up.

The two work “better than we almost dared to hope,” NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins told The Associated Press. “Science is working here, science has done something amazing.”

Early results of large, still unfinished studies show both vaccines appear safe and strongly protective although Moderna’s is easier to handle since it doesn’t need to be stored at ultra-frozen temperatures.

A second vaccine represents a ray of hope amid despair as the virus continues to spread unabated even before holiday gatherings that are certain to further fuel the outbreak.

The scourge has claimed more than 312,000 U.S. lives and killed 1.7 million people worldwide. New cases in the U.S. are running at over 216,000 per day on average. Deaths per day have hit all-time highs, eclipsing 3,600 on Wednesday.

California has emerged as one of the most lethal hot spots, with hospitals running out of intensive care beds and ambulances lining up outside emergency rooms in scenes reminiscent of the calamity around New York City last spring. California on Friday reported over 41,000 new cases and 300 more deaths.

When New York’s hospitals were in crisis, health care workers from across the country came to help out. This time, “there’s no cavalry coming” because so many hospitals are swamped, said Dr. Marc Futernick, an emergency room physician in Los Angeles.

The nation is scrambling to expand vaccinations as rapidly as Moderna and Pfizer can churn out doses. Moderna’s is for people 18 and older, Pfizer’s starts at age 16.

It’s just the beginning of “what we hope will be a big push to get this terrible virus behind us, although it will take many more months to get to all Americans,” Collins said.

Even with additional candidates in the pipeline, there won’t be enough for the general population until spring, and shots will be rationed in the meantime. And while health workers are enthusiastically embracing vaccination, authorities worry the public may need more reassurance to ensure more people get in line when it’s their turn.

“Frankly if we don’t succeed in getting 80% or so of Americans immunized against COVID-19 by the middle of this 2021 year, we have the risk that this epidemic could go on and on and on,” Collins said.

He is especially concerned that accurate information about the shots’ value reaches communities of color, which have been hard-hit by COVID-19 yet also are wary after years of health care disparities and research abuses.

To try to help instill confidence, Vice President Mike Pence received the Pfizer-BioNTech shot on live TV Friday, along with Surgeon General Jerome Adams.

FDA’s decision could help pave the way for other countries that are considering the Moderna vaccine, the first-ever regulatory clearance for the small Cambridge, Massachusetts, company. European regulators could authorize its use as soon as Jan. 6. Britain, Canada and a few other countries already have cleared the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, with a European Union decision due Monday.

“What we want to always remember is one size does not fit all. We want to have options,” said Dr. Paul Duprex of the University of Pittsburgh.

Moderna has about 5.9 million doses ready for shipment set to begin over the weekend, according to Operation Warp Speed, the government’s vaccine development program. Injections of health workers and nursing home residents continue next week, before other essential workers and vulnerable groups are allowed to get in line.

Both Moderna’s and Pfizer-BioNTech’s shots are so-called mRNA vaccines, made with a groundbreaking new technology. They don’t contain any coronavirus – meaning they cannot cause infection. Instead, they use a piece of genetic code that trains the immune system to recognize the spike protein on the surface of the virus, ready to attack if the real thing comes along.

Their development less than a year after the coronavirus first emerged set a speed record, but Collins stressed that shouldn’t worry people. The speed was due to billions in company and government investments paired with years of earlier scientific research, not any cut corners.

“The rigor of the analysis of these vaccines is unprecedented,” Collins said. “We’re not done with this but hope is on the way, and the hope comes from this scientific brain trust that has pulled out all the stops.”

Experts are hoping the two vaccines together will “break the back of the pandemic” when combined with masks and other precautions, said Dr. Arnold Monto of the University of Michigan, who chaired an advisory committee that publicly debated the shots’ evidence ahead of FDA’s decisions.

--Both the new Moderna vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech shot require two doses several weeks apart. The second dose must be from the same company as the first.

--In a study of 30,000 volunteers, the Moderna vaccine was more than 94% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in people 18 and older. It also strongly protected older adults, who are most vulnerable.

--The inoculated can’t throw away their masks as it’s not yet clear either vaccine prevents silent, symptomless virus spread. But there was a hint that Moderna’s shot might provide some protection against asymptomatic infection.

--The Moderna study uncovered no major safety problems. Like with the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, expect sore arms, fever, fatigue and muscle aches, which are signs the immune system is revving up.

--Moderna’s study turned up no severe allergic reactions, like the handful reported with the Pfizer-BioNTech shots in Britain and Alaska. The vaccines’ ingredients aren’t identical. Still, after any COVID-19 vaccination, people should stick around for 15 minutes – or 30 minutes if they have a history of severe allergies – so if they do have a reaction, it can be treated immediately.

--Both vaccines remain experimental, and the government is closely monitoring safety in case rare problems crop up.

--Additional studies are needed to tell if the vaccine should be used by children and pregnant women.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605532144900.png" alt="Photo&nbsp; courtesy Moderna" />
 <figcaption>Photo&nbsp; courtesy Moderna</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. added a second COVID-19 vaccine to its arsenal Friday, boosting efforts to beat back an outbreak so dire that the nation is regularly recording more than 3,000 deaths a day.Much-needed doses are set to arrive Monday after the Food and Drug Administration authorized an emergency rollout of the vaccine developed by Moderna Inc. and the National Institutes of Health.The move marks the world’s first authorization for Moderna’s shots. The vaccine is very similar to one from Pfizer Inc. and Germany’s BioNTech that’s now being dispensed to millions of health care workers and nursing home residents as the biggest vaccination drive in U.S. history starts to ramp up.The two work “better than we almost dared to hope,” NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins told The Associated Press. “Science is working here, science has done something amazing.”Early results of large, still unfinished studies show both vaccines appear safe and strongly protective although Moderna’s is easier to handle since it doesn’t need to be stored at ultra-frozen temperatures.A second vaccine represents a ray of hope amid despair as the virus continues to spread unabated even before holiday gatherings that are certain to further fuel the outbreak.The scourge has claimed more than 312,000 U.S. lives and killed 1.7 million people worldwide. New cases in the U.S. are running at over 216,000 per day on average. Deaths per day have hit all-time highs, eclipsing 3,600 on Wednesday.California has emerged as one of the most lethal hot spots, with hospitals running out of intensive care beds and ambulances lining up outside emergency rooms in scenes reminiscent of the calamity around New York City last spring. California on Friday reported over 41,000 new cases and 300 more deaths.When New York’s hospitals were in crisis, health care workers from across the country came to help out. This time, “there’s no cavalry coming” because so many hospitals are swamped, said Dr. Marc Futernick, an emergency room physician in Los Angeles.The nation is scrambling to expand vaccinations as rapidly as Moderna and Pfizer can churn out doses. Moderna’s is for people 18 and older, Pfizer’s starts at age 16.It’s just the beginning of “what we hope will be a big push to get this terrible virus behind us, although it will take many more months to get to all Americans,” Collins said.Even with additional candidates in the pipeline, there won’t be enough for the general population until spring, and shots will be rationed in the meantime. And while health workers are enthusiastically embracing vaccination, authorities worry the public may need more reassurance to ensure more people get in line when it’s their turn.“Frankly if we don’t succeed in getting 80% or so of Americans immunized against COVID-19 by the middle of this 2021 year, we have the risk that this epidemic could go on and on and on,” Collins said.He is especially concerned that accurate information about the shots’ value reaches communities of color, which have been hard-hit by COVID-19 yet also are wary after years of health care disparities and research abuses.To try to help instill confidence, Vice President Mike Pence received the Pfizer-BioNTech shot on live TV Friday, along with Surgeon General Jerome Adams.FDA’s decision could help pave the way for other countries that are considering the Moderna vaccine, the first-ever regulatory clearance for the small Cambridge, Massachusetts, company. European regulators could authorize its use as soon as Jan. 6. Britain, Canada and a few other countries already have cleared the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, with a European Union decision due Monday.“What we want to always remember is one size does not fit all. We want to have options,” said Dr. Paul Duprex of the University of Pittsburgh.Moderna has about 5.9 million doses ready for shipment set to begin over the weekend, according to Operation Warp Speed, the government’s vaccine development program. Injections of health workers and nursing home residents continue next week, before other essential workers and vulnerable groups are allowed to get in line.Both Moderna’s and Pfizer-BioNTech’s shots are so-called mRNA vaccines, made with a groundbreaking new technology. They don’t contain any coronavirus – meaning they cannot cause infection. Instead, they use a piece of genetic code that trains the immune system to recognize the spike protein on the surface of the virus, ready to attack if the real thing comes along.Their development less than a year after the coronavirus first emerged set a speed record, but Collins stressed that shouldn’t worry people. The speed was due to billions in company and government investments paired with years of earlier scientific research, not any cut corners.“The rigor of the analysis of these vaccines is unprecedented,” Collins said. “We’re not done with this but hope is on the way, and the hope comes from this scientific brain trust that has pulled out all the stops.”Experts are hoping the two vaccines together will “break the back of the pandemic” when combined with masks and other precautions, said Dr. Arnold Monto of the University of Michigan, who chaired an advisory committee that publicly debated the shots’ evidence ahead of FDA’s decisions.The FDA’s main messages:--Both the new Moderna vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech shot require two doses several weeks apart. The second dose must be from the same company as the first.--In a study of 30,000 volunteers, the Moderna vaccine was more than 94% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in people 18 and older. It also strongly protected older adults, who are most vulnerable.--The inoculated can’t throw away their masks as it’s not yet clear either vaccine prevents silent, symptomless virus spread. But there was a hint that Moderna’s shot might provide some protection against asymptomatic infection.--The Moderna study uncovered no major safety problems. Like with the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, expect sore arms, fever, fatigue and muscle aches, which are signs the immune system is revving up.--Moderna’s study turned up no severe allergic reactions, like the handful reported with the Pfizer-BioNTech shots in Britain and Alaska. The vaccines’ ingredients aren’t identical. Still, after any COVID-19 vaccination, people should stick around for 15 minutes – or 30 minutes if they have a history of severe allergies – so if they do have a reaction, it can be treated immediately.--Both vaccines remain experimental, and the government is closely monitoring safety in case rare problems crop up.--Additional studies are needed to tell if the vaccine should be used by children and pregnant women.___

2nd shot: US clears Moderna vaccine for COVID-19

NEW YORK (AP) — Deciding that health care workers and nursing home residents should be first in line for the initial, limited supplies of COVID-19 shots wasn’t that hard a call. Now U.S. health officials have to determine who should be next.

How high a priority, for example, should senior citizens, teachers, transit workers and supermarket employees get in the next few months as more vaccine becomes available?

A federal panel of vaccination experts takes up that question at an emergency meeting this weekend. Its guidance is not binding, and no matter what it decides, there will be differences from state to state.

The panel members are leaning toward putting “essential workers” next up because people like bus drivers, grocery store clerks and others who perform vital jobs that can’t be done from home are the ones getting infected most often. That is also where concerns about racial inequities in the crisis are most apparent. Many essential workers are Black and Hispanic.

But other experts say people 65 and older should be next, along with people with certain medical conditions. Those are the ones who are dying at the highest rates, they say.

The panel is scheduled to vote on the proposal Sunday.

“I think we know this isn’t going to be perfect. We don’t have vaccine for everyone right away, so we’re going to have to make difficult decisions,” said Claire Hannan, executive director of an organization that represents managers of state vaccination programs.

If essential workers are indeed next up, states already have different ideas about who among them should be closer to the front of the line.

In Nevada, for example, teachers and child care staff will be ahead of public transportation workers, according to the state’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/NEVADA-COVID-19-VACCINE-PLAYBOOK-VERSION-2.0.pdf" target="_blank">current plan</a>. Then come agriculture and food workers, and then retail and utility employees.

In South Dakota, teachers&nbsp;<a href="https://doh.sd.gov/documents/COVID19/SD_COVID-19VaccinationPlan.pdf" target="_blank">could get access</a>&nbsp;before those working in food and transportation. In Arkansas, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/images/uploads/pdf/Arkansas_Interim_Draft_COVID-19_Vaccination_Plan_10-16-20.pdf" target="_blank">essential workers list</a>&nbsp;includes teachers, prison guards, police officers, meatpacking plant workers and mayors.

The advice of the expert panel — the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — is almost always endorsed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s what happened earlier this month, when the group said top priority should be given to health care workers and residents of long-term care homes for the 20 million initial vaccinations this month.

But it’s not clear things will go the same way in the next phase. CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield has said he believes priority should be given to people 70 and older who live with children or grandchildren.

The advisory panel’s chairman, Dr. Jose Romero, told The Associated Press he was aware of Redfield’s comments but had not spoken directly with him about it.

Redfield declined to say if he would prioritize senior citizens over essential workers even if the panel recommended the reverse. “I look forward to listening to the advisory group’s discussion, and to receiving its recommendation for consideration,” he said in an email to the AP.

Most states followed the panel’s recommendation that health care workers and nursing home residents get the very first doses. But there have been a few exceptions.

Utah&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus-download.utah.gov/Health/COVID-19_Vaccination_Plan.pdf" target="_blank">said&nbsp;</a>long-term care residents should be in line behind health care workers, instead of sharing the front with them. Massachusetts included prisoners and homeless people in the first tier. Nevada, New Hampshire and Wyoming did the same for police officers.

State-to-state variations are likely to increase in the next-priority groups, said the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Jennifer Kates, who has been analyzing state vaccination plans.

“I think we’re going to see states falling out in different ways,” with some putting older people ahead of essential workers, Kates said.

Things could get messy. For example, some experts said that if one state prioritizes certain essential workers and a neighboring state decides to give primacy to seniors, people might try crossing state lines in hopes of getting vaccinated.

“That’s one of the issues of not having a fully national plan of immunization,” said Romero, who also is the head of the Arkansas state health department.

The proposal before the advisory committee relies on a broad definition of essential workers set in August by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Version_4.0_CISA_Guidance_on_Essential_Critical_Infrastructure_Workers_FINAL%20AUG%2018v3.pdf" target="_blank">It counts hundreds</a>&nbsp;of different jobs as part of the critical infrastructure workforce, including first responders, teachers, communications technicians, weather forecasters, sewage treatment plant employees and people who work in animal shelters.

According to estimates presented to the advisory committee, as many as 87 million people not working in health care can be counted as essential employees.

The nation has more than 53 million senior citizens. The CDC also counts more than 100 million Americans as having underlying medical conditions that put them at higher risk for severe COVID-related illness, though there is overlap between the two groups.

Trade associations and worker groups have been sending emails and other communications to the committee, arguing that they should be given priority.

Julie Russell, representing the Coronado Unified School District in California, urged that teachers and other school workers be prioritized. “We ask that you recognize the importance of the safety of our staff and how many young lives each of us touch,” she said at a meeting last weekend of the panel.

Dr. Charles Lee of the American College of Correctional Physicians pushed for those who work in jails and prisons, plus inmates.

Romero said the committee is likely to discuss ways to help states narrow down which essential workers should go first. For example, people who are considered essential but can work from home might be placed further down the list than those who can’t stay 6 feet away from others while on the job.

What about the staff of the Atlanta-based CDC? In a memo to employees that was obtained by the AP, Redfield said the agency will not get a direct allotment of vaccine. However, Georgia’s plan allows for certain public health and lab workers to be in the state’s highest priority group. Some CDC staff also work at hospitals and clinics, and may be prioritized with staff at those places.

Of course, when more vaccine comes out, “the issue of priority becomes less important,” said Dr. Eric Toner, a Johns Hopkins University scientist who has written about possible vaccination prioritization frameworks.

“The bottom line is we just need to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as we can,” he said.

AP writers Candice Choi and Jason Dearen in New York City and Jonathan Poet in Philadelphia contributed to this report.

NEW YORK (AP) — Deciding that health care workers and nursing home residents should be first in line for the initial, limited supplies of COVID-19 shots wasn’t that hard a call. Now U.S. health officials have to determine who should be next.How high a priority, for example, should senior citizens, teachers, transit workers and supermarket employees get in the next few months as more vaccine becomes available?A federal panel of vaccination experts takes up that question at an emergency meeting this weekend. Its guidance is not binding, and no matter what it decides, there will be differences from state to state.The panel members are leaning toward putting “essential workers” next up because people like bus drivers, grocery store clerks and others who perform vital jobs that can’t be done from home are the ones getting infected most often. That is also where concerns about racial inequities in the crisis are most apparent. Many essential workers are Black and Hispanic.But other experts say people 65 and older should be next, along with people with certain medical conditions. Those are the ones who are dying at the highest rates, they say.The panel is scheduled to vote on the proposal Sunday.“I think we know this isn’t going to be perfect. We don’t have vaccine for everyone right away, so we’re going to have to make difficult decisions,” said Claire Hannan, executive director of an organization that represents managers of state vaccination programs.If essential workers are indeed next up, states already have different ideas about who among them should be closer to the front of the line.In Nevada, for example, teachers and child care staff will be ahead of public transportation workers, according to the state’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/NEVADA-COVID-19-VACCINE-PLAYBOOK-VERSION-2.0.pdf" target="_blank">current plan</a>. Then come agriculture and food workers, and then retail and utility employees.In South Dakota, teachers&nbsp;<a href="https://doh.sd.gov/documents/COVID19/SD_COVID-19VaccinationPlan.pdf" target="_blank">could get access</a>&nbsp;before those working in food and transportation. In Arkansas, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/images/uploads/pdf/Arkansas_Interim_Draft_COVID-19_Vaccination_Plan_10-16-20.pdf" target="_blank">essential workers list</a>&nbsp;includes teachers, prison guards, police officers, meatpacking plant workers and mayors.The advice of the expert panel — the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — is almost always endorsed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s what happened earlier this month, when the group said top priority should be given to health care workers and residents of long-term care homes for the 20 million initial vaccinations this month.But it’s not clear things will go the same way in the next phase. CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield has said he believes priority should be given to people 70 and older who live with children or grandchildren.The advisory panel’s chairman, Dr. Jose Romero, told The Associated Press he was aware of Redfield’s comments but had not spoken directly with him about it.Redfield declined to say if he would prioritize senior citizens over essential workers even if the panel recommended the reverse. “I look forward to listening to the advisory group’s discussion, and to receiving its recommendation for consideration,” he said in an email to the AP.Most states followed the panel’s recommendation that health care workers and nursing home residents get the very first doses. But there have been a few exceptions.Utah&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus-download.utah.gov/Health/COVID-19_Vaccination_Plan.pdf" target="_blank">said&nbsp;</a>long-term care residents should be in line behind health care workers, instead of sharing the front with them. Massachusetts included prisoners and homeless people in the first tier. Nevada, New Hampshire and Wyoming did the same for police officers.State-to-state variations are likely to increase in the next-priority groups, said the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Jennifer Kates, who has been analyzing state vaccination plans.“I think we’re going to see states falling out in different ways,” with some putting older people ahead of essential workers, Kates said.Things could get messy. For example, some experts said that if one state prioritizes certain essential workers and a neighboring state decides to give primacy to seniors, people might try crossing state lines in hopes of getting vaccinated.“That’s one of the issues of not having a fully national plan of immunization,” said Romero, who also is the head of the Arkansas state health department.The proposal before the advisory committee relies on a broad definition of essential workers set in August by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Version_4.0_CISA_Guidance_on_Essential_Critical_Infrastructure_Workers_FINAL%20AUG%2018v3.pdf" target="_blank">It counts hundreds</a>&nbsp;of different jobs as part of the critical infrastructure workforce, including first responders, teachers, communications technicians, weather forecasters, sewage treatment plant employees and people who work in animal shelters.According to estimates presented to the advisory committee, as many as 87 million people not working in health care can be counted as essential employees.The nation has more than 53 million senior citizens. The CDC also counts more than 100 million Americans as having underlying medical conditions that put them at higher risk for severe COVID-related illness, though there is overlap between the two groups.Trade associations and worker groups have been sending emails and other communications to the committee, arguing that they should be given priority.Julie Russell, representing the Coronado Unified School District in California, urged that teachers and other school workers be prioritized. “We ask that you recognize the importance of the safety of our staff and how many young lives each of us touch,” she said at a meeting last weekend of the panel.Dr. Charles Lee of the American College of Correctional Physicians pushed for those who work in jails and prisons, plus inmates.Romero said the committee is likely to discuss ways to help states narrow down which essential workers should go first. For example, people who are considered essential but can work from home might be placed further down the list than those who can’t stay 6 feet away from others while on the job.What about the staff of the Atlanta-based CDC? In a memo to employees that was obtained by the AP, Redfield said the agency will not get a direct allotment of vaccine. However, Georgia’s plan allows for certain public health and lab workers to be in the state’s highest priority group. Some CDC staff also work at hospitals and clinics, and may be prioritized with staff at those places.Of course, when more vaccine comes out, “the issue of priority becomes less important,” said Dr. Eric Toner, a Johns Hopkins University scientist who has written about possible vaccination prioritization frameworks.“The bottom line is we just need to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as we can,” he said.___AP writers Candice Choi and Jason Dearen in New York City and Jonathan Poet in Philadelphia contributed to this report.

US experts debate: Who should be next in line for vaccine?

ELM GROVE, Wis. (AP) — Eight nuns living at a retirement home for sisters in suburban Milwaukee died of COVID-19 complications in the last week — including four who passed away on the same day — a grim reminder of how quickly the virus can spread in congregate living situations, even when precautions are taken.

Notre Dame of Elm Grove had been free of the virus for the last nine months, but the congregation that runs the home found out on Thanksgiving Day that one of the roughly 100 sisters who live there had tested positive. Despite social distancing and other mitigation efforts that were already in place, several more positive tests followed, said Sister Debra Marie Sciano, the provincial leader for School Sisters of Notre Dame Central Pacific Province.

The first death happened last week, and the death announcements kept coming. Four of the eight nuns died on Monday alone, a difficult situation for other sisters in the home and members of the broader congregation, who consider each other family.

“Even though they’re older and most of the sisters that did go to God are in their late 80s, 90s ... we didn’t expect them to go so, so quickly,” Sciano said. “So it was just very difficult for us.”

Sciano said the congregation isolated sisters who tested positive into the same area so they would have no contact with others. They are advised to stay in their rooms, where meals are brought to them. Funerals and memorial services are being broadcast on closed-circuit TV. Sciano declined to say how many other sisters have tested positive, citing the residents’ privacy.

The outbreak comes months after similar homes had reported multiple deaths from the coronavirus.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-wisconsin-religion-understanding-the-outbreak-new-york-a3155e87ad8a6ad00d3f600bad91bcf1">In July, 1</a>&nbsp;3 nuns died at a convent near Detroit and seven died at a center for Maryknoll sisters in New York. At least six nuns also died at Our Lady of the Angels convent in Greenfield, Wisconsin — a home that provides memory care for nuns of the School Sisters of St. Francis and the School Sisters of Notre Dame.

Earlier this month, church authorities said 76 Catholic nuns tested positive for COVID-19 after an outbreak at a Franciscan convent in northwestern Germany, forcing health authorities to put the entire monastery under quarantine.

Sciano said that Our Lady of the Angels in Greenfield has had no additional positive cases for many months, and the facility is still not allowing visitors.

Deena Swank, communications director for the Felecian Sisters of North America, which lost 13 sisters — about a fifth of the population at the Livonia, Michigan, convent — said they have not had additional deaths there and they are eager to get sisters vaccinated when possible.

Sciano said she’s not aware of anyone at the Notre Dame of Elm Grove home being on a priority list for vaccines, but administrators are contacting local pharmacies to try to get vaccines lined up for the future.

Convents share some of the same issues as nursing homes, which are the hardest-hit sector in the U.S. in terms of COVID-19 deaths. In many cases, their populations are elderly and live in close quarters with one another.

Linda Wickstrom, spokeswoman for the Waukesha County Department of Health &amp; Human Services said county disease investigators have been working with the facility since School Sisters of Notre Dame contacted them in November.

“Given the extreme contagiousness of this virus, it is exceedingly important for congregate settings to practice basic protocols to stop the spread of the disease,” Wickstrom said. She said the School Sisters of Notre Dame have been disinfecting high-touch surfaces, washing hands frequently, social distancing and wearing appropriate face coverings. Sciano said all residents with the virus have been isolated, and visitors are not allowed.

The School Sisters of Notre Dame established the Notre Dame of Elm Grove home in 1859 to provide an orphanage for children in the area. It later became a home for elderly and ill sisters, according to its website.

The facility’s first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ssndcentralpacific.org/news-events/obituaries" target="_blank">COVID-19 death&nbsp;</a>happened Dec. 9, when Sisters Rose M. Feess and Mary Elva Wiesner died. Sister Dorothy MacIntyre died Dec. 11 and Sister Mary Alexius Portz died Sunday, according to the congregation’s website. Sisters Cynthia Borman, Joan Emily Kaul, Lillia Langreck and Michael Marie Laux all died on Monday.

Sciano said all of the women worked as educators. Some were missionaries. Some were musicians. Some worked on peace and justice issues. One was a published poet. According to the congregation’s website, one was a teacher and principal who loved working in the summers on an American Indian reservation in South Dakota. Another taught in Catholic elementary schools for more than 40 years and worked part-time as a gift shop coordinator at the Elm Grove home.

“We believe that each of these sisters, and and all the sisters, really, they’ve made a difference in this world,” Sciano said, adding, “I just think it’s important that people know that, and that they were committed up until the end of their lives.”

She said she hopes others can learn from the sisters’ lives and continue their mission to “maybe make this world just a little bit better place because of them.”

ELM GROVE, Wis. (AP) — Eight nuns living at a retirement home for sisters in suburban Milwaukee died of COVID-19 complications in the last week — including four who passed away on the same day — a grim reminder of how quickly the virus can spread in congregate living situations, even when precautions are taken.Notre Dame of Elm Grove had been free of the virus for the last nine months, but the congregation that runs the home found out on Thanksgiving Day that one of the roughly 100 sisters who live there had tested positive. Despite social distancing and other mitigation efforts that were already in place, several more positive tests followed, said Sister Debra Marie Sciano, the provincial leader for School Sisters of Notre Dame Central Pacific Province.The first death happened last week, and the death announcements kept coming. Four of the eight nuns died on Monday alone, a difficult situation for other sisters in the home and members of the broader congregation, who consider each other family.“Even though they’re older and most of the sisters that did go to God are in their late 80s, 90s ... we didn’t expect them to go so, so quickly,” Sciano said. “So it was just very difficult for us.”Sciano said the congregation isolated sisters who tested positive into the same area so they would have no contact with others. They are advised to stay in their rooms, where meals are brought to them. Funerals and memorial services are being broadcast on closed-circuit TV. Sciano declined to say how many other sisters have tested positive, citing the residents’ privacy.The outbreak comes months after similar homes had reported multiple deaths from the coronavirus.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-wisconsin-religion-understanding-the-outbreak-new-york-a3155e87ad8a6ad00d3f600bad91bcf1">In July, 1</a>&nbsp;3 nuns died at a convent near Detroit and seven died at a center for Maryknoll sisters in New York. At least six nuns also died at Our Lady of the Angels convent in Greenfield, Wisconsin — a home that provides memory care for nuns of the School Sisters of St. Francis and the School Sisters of Notre Dame.Earlier this month, church authorities said 76 Catholic nuns tested positive for COVID-19 after an outbreak at a Franciscan convent in northwestern Germany, forcing health authorities to put the entire monastery under quarantine.Sciano said that Our Lady of the Angels in Greenfield has had no additional positive cases for many months, and the facility is still not allowing visitors.Deena Swank, communications director for the Felecian Sisters of North America, which lost 13 sisters — about a fifth of the population at the Livonia, Michigan, convent — said they have not had additional deaths there and they are eager to get sisters vaccinated when possible.Sciano said she’s not aware of anyone at the Notre Dame of Elm Grove home being on a priority list for vaccines, but administrators are contacting local pharmacies to try to get vaccines lined up for the future.Convents share some of the same issues as nursing homes, which are the hardest-hit sector in the U.S. in terms of COVID-19 deaths. In many cases, their populations are elderly and live in close quarters with one another.Linda Wickstrom, spokeswoman for the Waukesha County Department of Health &amp; Human Services said county disease investigators have been working with the facility since School Sisters of Notre Dame contacted them in November.“Given the extreme contagiousness of this virus, it is exceedingly important for congregate settings to practice basic protocols to stop the spread of the disease,” Wickstrom said. She said the School Sisters of Notre Dame have been disinfecting high-touch surfaces, washing hands frequently, social distancing and wearing appropriate face coverings. Sciano said all residents with the virus have been isolated, and visitors are not allowed.The School Sisters of Notre Dame established the Notre Dame of Elm Grove home in 1859 to provide an orphanage for children in the area. It later became a home for elderly and ill sisters, according to its website.The facility’s first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ssndcentralpacific.org/news-events/obituaries" target="_blank">COVID-19 death&nbsp;</a>happened Dec. 9, when Sisters Rose M. Feess and Mary Elva Wiesner died. Sister Dorothy MacIntyre died Dec. 11 and Sister Mary Alexius Portz died Sunday, according to the congregation’s website. Sisters Cynthia Borman, Joan Emily Kaul, Lillia Langreck and Michael Marie Laux all died on Monday.Sciano said all of the women worked as educators. Some were missionaries. Some were musicians. Some worked on peace and justice issues. One was a published poet. According to the congregation’s website, one was a teacher and principal who loved working in the summers on an American Indian reservation in South Dakota. Another taught in Catholic elementary schools for more than 40 years and worked part-time as a gift shop coordinator at the Elm Grove home.“We believe that each of these sisters, and and all the sisters, really, they’ve made a difference in this world,” Sciano said, adding, “I just think it’s important that people know that, and that they were committed up until the end of their lives.”She said she hopes others can learn from the sisters’ lives and continue their mission to “maybe make this world just a little bit better place because of them.”

8 nuns die of COVID-19 in last week at Wisconsin convent

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH-Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - As the coronavirus sidelines huge numbers of educators, school districts around the country are aggressively recruiting substitute teachers, offering bonuses and waiving certification requirements in order to keep classrooms open.

Coming to the rescue in many cases are college students who are themselves learning online or home for extended winter breaks.

In Indiana, the 4,400-student Greenfield-Central school district about 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of Indianapolis made a plea for help as its substitute pool shrank. "I said, 'If you've got a student who's in college, maybe they'd like to work even a two-month thing for us - which would be a stopgap, no doubt - but it will help us a whole, whole bunch," said Scott Kern, the Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation director of human resources.

Over a dozen college students answered the call including his own daughter, 19-year-old Grace Kern, who is studying medical imaging technology at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. She has been working in elementary school classrooms, helping students as teachers offer instruction remotely via a screen inside the room.

"My dad told me that a bunch of teachers are out and they're struggling to get substitutes in. And I was like, 'Well, all my classes are online, except for one, so I have the time to do it.' And I would hate for the schools and the students to struggle," she said.

The teaching force already was stretched in many places before the pandemic hit as fewer students entered the profession, and retirees who often fill in as substitutes have been staying home in large numbers because of concerns about their health. As contact tracing forces teachers into quarantine,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ohio-coronavirus-pandemic-034c27c20ab6c179c487e363ce9fa346" target="_blank">staffing shortages</a>&nbsp;have become so severe that many schools have had no choice but to switch to distance learning.

In Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, appealed late last month to college students who were coming home for their winter break to help in hospitals, virus testing sites - and in schools. In cases where teachers are leading instruction remotely because they have to be in quarantine, for example, Lamont said college students could be paid to come into the classrooms and help provide supervision.

"Look you could binge watch Netflix for three weeks but we have some other ways that you could really be of assistance, helping your entire community get through this pandemic," Lamont said at a news briefing.

Isabel Orozco, a freshman at Wellesley College, is working as a substitute teacher in the Cheshire, Connecticut district, where she graduated high school in June. She said she's considering taking all of her spring semester classes online, so she can continue working in the public schools.

"Anything I can do to help, I feel good about," she said.

College students have been tapped in growing numbers this year by Kelly Education, which contracts with districts to provide substitutes. Company president Nicola Soares said the pandemic has laid bare problems with shortages that have been worsening for years.

"So when I think about the pandemic and everything that we have seen for the past 10 months it has absolutely exacerbated the issue around teacher shortages and also substitute teacher shortages," Soares said, adding that she doesn't expect much relief next school year. "We have seen a lot of folks leave the profession. The openings are going to increase, so it is domino effect."

In South Carolina, Lisa Usry, of Charleston, encountered this firsthand. One of her first jobs of the year was filling in for a teacher in his mid-60s who quit abruptly.

"He worked a couple weeks and said, 'I'm out of here' and walked out the door," she recalled.

In Nebraska, more districts are applying for exemptions to a requirement that substitutes have a teaching certificate. The exemption, once only used by a few large districts, allows administrators to hire subs who have 60 college credits and have completed a teaching course and another that addresses bias and discrimination.

Because the state's substitute requirements had been so high, it had relied heavily on retirees in years past, said Jenni Benson, president of the Nebraska State Education Association. But it has been a harder sell this year, with the association finding that only 33% of the 500 retired teachers it surveyed in August planned to sub this year, while the others said no or were unsure.

Seventy-four-year-old Pat Shepard, a retired Spanish teacher from of Lincoln, Nebraska, was among those who went ahead and kept working, more even than past years as her district offered bonuses for subs that committed to a certain number of jobs each month. Some of her substitute teacher friends, though, decided to take the year off.

"One she has a father who is 89 with a heart condition and a brand new grandbaby so she is not willing. I've had some others who are cancer survivors and things like that. And they are just not willing to take that risk," she said. "I'm a little bit more concerned now after Thanksgiving because our our cases here are just getting more and more everyday in the city."

In Iowa, more substitute jobs are going unfilled, even after the state lowered its requirements. In the past districts could manage by dividing an absent teacher's students among the other teachers in the building. But that won't work in a pandemic, said Coy Marquardt, associate executive director at the Iowa State Education Association.

To get by, some administrators and counselors are being called into action to serve as substitutes, although even that isn't enough.

"That is one of the reasons why some of the districts went and are still in virtual or remote because they just didn't have the staffing," he said.

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH-Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - As the coronavirus sidelines huge numbers of educators, school districts around the country are aggressively recruiting substitute teachers, offering bonuses and waiving certification requirements in order to keep classrooms open.Coming to the rescue in many cases are college students who are themselves learning online or home for extended winter breaks.In Indiana, the 4,400-student Greenfield-Central school district about 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of Indianapolis made a plea for help as its substitute pool shrank. "I said, 'If you've got a student who's in college, maybe they'd like to work even a two-month thing for us - which would be a stopgap, no doubt - but it will help us a whole, whole bunch," said Scott Kern, the Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation director of human resources.Over a dozen college students answered the call including his own daughter, 19-year-old Grace Kern, who is studying medical imaging technology at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. She has been working in elementary school classrooms, helping students as teachers offer instruction remotely via a screen inside the room."My dad told me that a bunch of teachers are out and they're struggling to get substitutes in. And I was like, 'Well, all my classes are online, except for one, so I have the time to do it.' And I would hate for the schools and the students to struggle," she said.The teaching force already was stretched in many places before the pandemic hit as fewer students entered the profession, and retirees who often fill in as substitutes have been staying home in large numbers because of concerns about their health. As contact tracing forces teachers into quarantine,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ohio-coronavirus-pandemic-034c27c20ab6c179c487e363ce9fa346" target="_blank">staffing shortages</a>&nbsp;have become so severe that many schools have had no choice but to switch to distance learning.In Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, appealed late last month to college students who were coming home for their winter break to help in hospitals, virus testing sites - and in schools. In cases where teachers are leading instruction remotely because they have to be in quarantine, for example, Lamont said college students could be paid to come into the classrooms and help provide supervision."Look you could binge watch Netflix for three weeks but we have some other ways that you could really be of assistance, helping your entire community get through this pandemic," Lamont said at a news briefing.Isabel Orozco, a freshman at Wellesley College, is working as a substitute teacher in the Cheshire, Connecticut district, where she graduated high school in June. She said she's considering taking all of her spring semester classes online, so she can continue working in the public schools."Anything I can do to help, I feel good about," she said.College students have been tapped in growing numbers this year by Kelly Education, which contracts with districts to provide substitutes. Company president Nicola Soares said the pandemic has laid bare problems with shortages that have been worsening for years."So when I think about the pandemic and everything that we have seen for the past 10 months it has absolutely exacerbated the issue around teacher shortages and also substitute teacher shortages," Soares said, adding that she doesn't expect much relief next school year. "We have seen a lot of folks leave the profession. The openings are going to increase, so it is domino effect."In South Carolina, Lisa Usry, of Charleston, encountered this firsthand. One of her first jobs of the year was filling in for a teacher in his mid-60s who quit abruptly."He worked a couple weeks and said, 'I'm out of here' and walked out the door," she recalled.In Nebraska, more districts are applying for exemptions to a requirement that substitutes have a teaching certificate. The exemption, once only used by a few large districts, allows administrators to hire subs who have 60 college credits and have completed a teaching course and another that addresses bias and discrimination.Because the state's substitute requirements had been so high, it had relied heavily on retirees in years past, said Jenni Benson, president of the Nebraska State Education Association. But it has been a harder sell this year, with the association finding that only 33% of the 500 retired teachers it surveyed in August planned to sub this year, while the others said no or were unsure.Seventy-four-year-old Pat Shepard, a retired Spanish teacher from of Lincoln, Nebraska, was among those who went ahead and kept working, more even than past years as her district offered bonuses for subs that committed to a certain number of jobs each month. Some of her substitute teacher friends, though, decided to take the year off."One she has a father who is 89 with a heart condition and a brand new grandbaby so she is not willing. I've had some others who are cancer survivors and things like that. And they are just not willing to take that risk," she said. "I'm a little bit more concerned now after Thanksgiving because our our cases here are just getting more and more everyday in the city."In Iowa, more substitute jobs are going unfilled, even after the state lowered its requirements. In the past districts could manage by dividing an absent teacher's students among the other teachers in the building. But that won't work in a pandemic, said Coy Marquardt, associate executive director at the Iowa State Education Association.To get by, some administrators and counselors are being called into action to serve as substitutes, although even that isn't enough."That is one of the reasons why some of the districts went and are still in virtual or remote because they just didn't have the staffing," he said.

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