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Pulse oximeters are portable devices used to measure blood oxygen levels. Recently, people have been using them to monitor COVID-19 which is often characterized by low blood oxygen levels. However, a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that Black patients had almost three…

It has been ten months since Jodee Pineau-Chaisson, a 55-year old woman without pre-existing conditions, contracted COVID-19. Now, she is unable to work due to a myriad of symptoms. She experiences body pain, heart murmurs, memory problems, depression, and chronic fatigue. Many long-haulers also…

More research shows that wearing two face masks increases filtration efficiency of the masks. This is not necessary for everyone but can be useful to increase the efficiency of thinner face masks such as cloth or homemade masks. While the best face masks are N95s, layering two less effective face…

A coalition of health and tech companies have formed VCI, which stands for Vaccination Credential Initiative, in order to develop encrypted digital copies of immunization records that can be stored in digital wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay. For those who do not own smartphones, VCI plans…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warn that the variant coronavirus strain first found in Britain could become the dominant strain in the United States by March. The United States is now in a race to vaccinate as many Americans as possible; however, efforts have been inefficient…

The L.A. County Housing for Health program, which helps provide housing for medically vulnerable homeless individuals to control COVID-19 throughout the shelter system, has been overwhelmed in the December case surge. Infections of homeless people have doubled in the week following Thanksgiving and…

The two vaccines produced by Pfizer and Moderna recently approved in the U.S. by the FDA have raised concerns due to cases of allergic reactions. In the UK, the medical regulatory agency advises that people with a history of anaphylaxis to food or medicine avoid getting vaccinated. The FDA, on the…

Crime in Los Angeles county went from 257 homicides in 2019 to 300 homicides so far in 2020. Major cities across the United States have also been seeing rising numbers of shootings, murders, and crime in general this year. Minneapolis Police attributes the shortage of police officers as one reason…

Rural communities in Missouri have been experiencing record-high infection and death rates due to COVID-19. Critically ill patients from rural areas are sent to urban hospitals for more advanced treatments, causing strain on hospital capacities and staffing. These areas are particularly unadapted…

Typhoon Goni, the strongest typhoon this year, passed through the southern region of the Philippine’s main island, Luzon killing at least ten people. Heavy rain and winds up to 133 miles per hour have destroyed dikes, caused rivers to overflow, and buried hundred of houses in landslides. The…

SARS-CoV-2, like many other pathogens, needs to be at a certain vaccine dose in order for it to trigger an infection and immune response in an infected individual. A low dose may allow an individual to respond to a virus successfully, while a dose that is too high can potentially make a person…

Two COVID-19 vaccine trials are currently paused due to concerns about its side effects. AstraZeneca's U.S. trial of its vaccine has been stalled for over a month after two volunteers developed neurological conditions, though it is unconfirmed how the conditions arose. Likewise, this Monday,…

As the fall season approaches, the public must remain vigilant amidst colder weather, reopened schools, and loosening restrictions. Some ways to stay safe are to limit your physical contact to just a small group of friends or family and to leave large gatherings to a virtual platform. It is also a…

QAnon is an online conspiracy cult that has been massively spreading across major social media platforms this past year. This "virtual cult" started off on the anonymous message board website, 4chan, releasing theories about Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. Election. Now, QAnon is a global…