In a Twitter thread on Oct. 12, Ashish Jha, MD, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, said that he keeps getting asked if we’re “heading towards lockdowns.” The short answer, he said, is no. At least, “not if we are smart.” According to Jha, there are straightforward ways to mitigate the spread of coronavirus now and prevent another lockdown in the future. As he notes, little of this is new, but there are some specifics based on the most recent information about how COVID spreads....

After praising the recent increase in the pace of vaccinations, Osterholm still warned that more than half of senior citizens—who remain one of the groups most vulnerable to the disease—have either not been vaccinated or only received one dose, leaving them exposed to the contagious new variants. “At 2.9 to 3 million doses of vaccine a day over the next six to 14 weeks, when this surge is likely to happen, is not going to really take care of the problem at all,” he predicted....

During an Oct. 7 appearance on CNN, Robert Wachter, MD, chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, offered his assessment of what’s ahead for the president’s COVID case. “The absence of fever and the absence of symptoms when someone is on steroids is a little bit dicey to hang your hat on because the steroids can make fever go away and make people feel better even though they are still kind of sick,” Wachter said....

The Axios Harris Poll 100, based on an annual survey of 42,935 Americans, ranks the biggest brands in the U.S. using a two-step process. First, the survey determined the public’s “top-of-mind awareness of companies that either excel or falter in society,” deeming them the 100 “most visible” companies. These brands were then rated by a second group of Americans using seven key dimensions of reputation—affinity, ethics, growth, products/service, citizenship, vision, and culture....

To find out where homes hold the most value in each state, we looked to 24/7 Wall St., which analyzed five-year estimates of median owner-occupied home values from the most recent U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. To be included in this list, towns had to have a population of at least 1,000 people and less than 25,000 people. Read on to discover the most expensive place to buy a home in your state....

What’s more, individuals who reside in certain parts of the country seem to be more prone to getting an insufficient amount of rest than those who live elsewhere. For its annual America’s Health Rankings report, the United Health Foundation (UHF) gathered data from more than 30 sources—ranging from accredited survey organizations to government agencies like the U.S. Census Bureau and the CDC—to determine the health status of every state in the country....

During an exclusive interview with People, the president said Champ and Major, who are both German Shepards, are really well behaved, so they only have one rule—they’re not allowed on the furniture, including beds and couches. But the dogs have the run of the rest of the house, along with the spacious front yard. During another recent interview for The Kelly Clarkson Show, the first lady introduced host Kelly Clarkson to Major and Champ at the White House....

Nearly halfway through the interview, Jha initiated the exchange with a question he said he is often asked, himself: “How confident are you that we are going to have a vaccine, let’s say by the end of this year or by early next year?” Ever the pragmatist, Fauci posited that “confidence” without data is essentially meaningless, so any confidence he could have in regards to something that has not yet been tested is purely speculative....

To determine the worst of the worst, we looked at 20 of the biggest gym chains and fitness centers in the U.S. to see how they stacked up against each other. To start, we consulted the Better Business Bureau to see what grade each gym was given (we assigned a numeric value to the letter grades), as well as how many stars they got based on customer reviews. Next, we gathered the customer service rating for each gym from Comparably, a site focused on workplace transparency and accurate brand assessments....

Read the original article on Best Life. A normal, healthy individual will usually urinate around six or seven times a day, although this varies with age, medical conditions, and other factors, according to experts. Peeing too often is always worth keeping an eye on–it can be a sign of overhydrating, diabetes, or a urinary tract infection. And for other symptoms to be aware of, here are 40 Sneaky Signs You’re Unhealthier Than You May Think....

RELATED: Dr. Fauci Just Shared a Sobering Prediction About Ending the Pandemic. During a Nov. 5 interview on CNBC’s Squawk Box, former U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, said that the end of the pandemic might be closer in sight than many of us realize. According to Gottlieb, upcoming vaccine mandates will aid in moving the U.S. out of the trenches. “These mandates that are going to be put in place by Jan....

Researchers from Imperial College London recently used cell phone data from more than 10 million individuals to find out who is spreading the coronavirus, and they published their findings on Feb. 2 in Science. According to the research, adults aged 20 to 49 have been the only ones significantly contributing to COVID spread in the U.S. as of Oct. 2020. In terms of cases, around 65 out of 100 COVID infections originate from those in this age group....

RELATED: Never Do This When You Get a Medical Bill, Experts Warn. When you rent a house or an apartment, your landlord’s insurance will only cover the costs of repairing your building when a disaster occurs, the Insurance Information Institute (III) explains. This is why many people turn to renters insurance, which helps protect your personal belongings in these situations. According to the III, renters insurance “covers you against losses from fire or smoke, lightning, vandalism, theft, explosion, windstorm and certain types of water damage (such as from a burst pipe or when the tenant upstairs leaves the water running in the bathtub and floods your apartment)....

Sleep disorders can be so stressful, frustrating, and harmful to physical and mental wellness that people are willing to try many different strategies in order to get a good night’s rest. But one beverage in particular, which is widely thought to be a soothing drink of choice before bed, may actually be keeping you awake. Read on to find out whether your bedtime beverage could be interfering with your slumber....

READ THIS NEXT: This Iconic Clothing Chain Is Closing Stores, Starting Today. While many businesses have closed stores here and there, others have made bigger moves. In April, Rite Aid revealed that it is planning to close a total of 145 stores, which is 82 more locations than shoppers were already expecting to lose when the company first announced in Dec. 2021 that it would be shuttering stores in 2022....

The Quaker Oats recall is specific to the brand’s 3.03-oz. bags of Quaker Rice Crisps in Sweet Barbecue Flavor, which may have undeclared soy in them. According to the recall notice, individuals with soy sensitivities or allergies “run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the product contained inside the recalled bags.” In total, 4,550 bags of the potentially contaminated chips are being recalled, each bearing UPC number 0 30000 31984 0 and a best before date of May 29, 2021, written as “MAY29213M21” on the packaging....

“As we age, our ability to adequately respond to summer heat can become a serious problem,” reports the National Institutes of Health (NIH). “Older people are at a significantly increased risk of heat-related illnesses, known collectively as hyperthermia, during the summer months.” Read on to learn what surprising symptom could be a red flag that you’re experiencing hyperthermia—and why you should seek help immediately if you notice it. READ THIS NEXT: If You’re Over 65, Never Do These 4 Things on a Hot Day, CDC Says....

READ THIS NEXT: The Laziest Zodiac Sign, According to Astrologers. This sensitive, empathetic sign isn’t drawn to dice or cards. Instead, they gamble with life-changing decisions. “Whilst other signs base their decisions on logic and hard evidence, Pisces relies on its gut instincts and intuition,” says Charlotte Kirsten, professional astrologer and founder of astrology and esoteric blog Typically Topical. “If something feels right, Pisces is sure to follow it… even if logically it makes little sense....

1 Kate and Meghan Didn’t Talk at the Event Multiple sources told The Mirror that Kate Middleton and Meghan were “not known” to talk at all the entire time Harry and Meghan were in the UK. They also maintain that “any hint of a rapprochement between the couples was ‘very unlikely.’” 2 Some Experts Saw It As an Olive Branch While the September 10 walkabout at Windsor surprised the world and many saw it as the Royal Family version of extending an olive brand to the couple, others maintain it was just for show....

RELATED: Unvaccinated People Will Be Banned From Here, Starting Nov. 28. On Oct. 18, vaccination requirements for state workers went into effect in three different states: Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington. Massachusetts state employees were required to be fully vaccinated as of Oct. 17, so now up to 5,000 workers are at risk of suspension or termination, according to the Boston Herald. More than 40,000 employees have already submitted proof of full vaccination or filed for an exemption, however....