This is the week that was…weird, but not in a fun way
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
Well, it’s been a week.
Between the sheer joy of dealing with hackers who briefly locked me out of these sites (thankfully, I was able to quickly recover things and build a digital moat around the server — which hopefully will defend it better) the emergence of a new COVID variant and Dr. Memet Oz declaring his candidacy for U.S. Senate, it’s...
CDC to Chesco residents: time to wear masks in public, indoor settings again
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
Vector color chalk drawn illustration of medical mask on black chalkboard background.
Well, it was nice while it lasted — it is time to break out the masks again, thanks to the rapid spread of the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus.
As of Thursday afternoon, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is now recommending that all residents of Chester...
County: high vaccination rates have COVID case numbers falling
Chester County Health Officials announced Thursday that 83 percent of all eligible Chester County residents (age 12 and above) are partially or fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Taking it one step further, of those age 18 and over (which follows the Governor’s benchmark), 92 percent are partially or fully vaccinated. According to county health officials, these figures indicate that Chester...
DOH: Pa. mask mandate likely to end June 28
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
Vector color chalk drawn illustration of medical mask on black chalkboard background.
One more month.
Pennsylvania’s mask mandates will end no later than June 28, the state Department of Health (DOH) announced Thursday.
Already, folks who are fully vaccinated do not need to wear masks in many situations — stores, businesses and such are still...
We’re winning the war on COVD — but we haven’t won yet
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
The announcement that the Centers for Disease Control said that those of us who have been fully vaccinated may now pretty much do without masks everywhere but on public transportation and medical facilities means one thing:
We’re winning the war on COVID-19 — but we haven’t won yet.
And we may not win for quite some time.
In places like Chester...
Vaccinated? CDC, Pa. Health says it’s OK to take off mask in most situations
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
Vector color chalk drawn illustration of medical mask on black chalkboard background.
With COVID-19 cases dropping nationally, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced Thursday afternoon that those who are fully vaccinated no longer need to wear masks, indoors or outdoors, or observe social distancing, although masks will be required on public...
Wolf to lift most COVID restrictions May 31; mask mandate to continue until 70% get 1st vaccine
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
The battle against COVID-19 has been a long — and difficult — one, but it appears rising vaccination rates and dropping infection and death rates will allow the commonwealth to end most of its pandemic-related restrictions at the end of this month, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Tuesday, while also setting a vaccination goal to end the state’s...
Roadtrip shows why we’re losing the fight against COVID-19
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
The great thing about a road trip is seeing how amazing America can be.
In a pandemic, though, one also sees how foolish, ignorant and careless some Americans can be. A few thoughts from voluntary quarantine (beyond the fact that sleeping on the couch in my home office/detention cell is not super comfortable).
My daughter is a sophomore (and a half...
Let’s be blunt about it: Russ Diamond is a jerk
By Mike McGann, Editor The Times @mikemcgannpa
There are good people (lots, actually) and then — well, and unfortunately there’s no better way to put it — some people are reprehensible jerks (and yes, I wanted to use a more succinct expletive, but it seemed immature).
One of the biggest in Pennsylvania is a State Representative from Lebanon County, Russ Diamond.
After State Health Secretary...
Best way to fight COVID-19? Don’t be stupid
By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times
When contemplating my column for this month, I looked over the columns of years past and thought about how different things are now. As I write this I am sitting in my office with the sound of the newly installed localized negative pressure units humming away as my hygienist is working with a patient. It sounds more like I am in a vacuum...
