'My deal was better’: May delivers takedown of Brexit deal
Theresa May has delivered a withering takedown of Boris Johnson’s Brexit agreement.
He's quite the artist.
"Not to frighten people, Meg, but…." That's an ominous way to start a sentence, but it's the only way Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease doctor, can talk these days, given the toll the coronavirus has taken on humanity. More than 380,000 Americans have died, with many more deaths to come, a "9/11" every day. Rather than feel defeated, Dr. Fauci hopes you'll instead help defeat COVID-19. "Now's not the time to say, 'I'm just so tired'—that would only make matters worse," said Fauci in a CNBC Healthy Returns Livestream, speaking with CNBC's Senior Health and Science Reporter Meg Tirrell. Read on to hear the four things he recommends, and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had Coronavirus. 1 Dr. Fauci Recommends "Less Congregating" Dr. Fauci connects holiday get-togethers with the rise in cases and deaths, and doesn't want to see that happen again. "You can see what I have referred to as a surge upon a surge," he said, "because if you look at the inflection of the curve of things that they've gone up over the last few weeks, as we got into the cold weather, people stayed indoors, they congregated indoors sometimes without masks, the inflection of the curve was like this. It then," he shot his hand straight up, "went like that." And it keeps going up every day. "We really need to pull back a little bit, and maybe not do the things that otherwise at this part of the season of the year would be considered normal and do things to a lesser extent." 2 Dr. Fauci Recommends "Less Social Interaction" "I would like to see a dramatic diminution of the personal interaction we see in restaurants and in bars. Whatever it takes to do that, that's what I would like to see," Fauci said. But not during the CNBC interview. No, he said that back in March! And the advice still applies now—avoid socializing with people you're not sheltering with.RELATED: COVID Symptoms Usually Appear in This Order, Study Finds 3 Dr. Fauci Recommends "Less Travel" You could catch—or give someone else—COVID in the airport parking lot. Or in line checking your bag. Or in the security line. Or on the plane. Or in the baggage line at your destination. Or when greeting Mom at the airport. Or by stopping for gas on the way home. Travelling just opens you up to more social interaction. "Before you start making plans that you would have to cancel, think seriously," Fauci has said recently. "So just think about it, that we really need to say we are in an extraordinarily unique time, I mean, it is unprecedented in the last hundred and two years," he continued. He urges you to remember the more than 380,000 dead, and others debilitated by Post-COVID Syndrome. "Here's what we're going through — it's real. The numbers don't lie." 4 Dr. Fauci Says to Never Forget the Fundamentals We can curb COVID, says Fauci, if we all commit to doing this:Universal wearing of masksMaintaining physical distanceAvoiding congregate settings or crowdsDoing more outdoors, as opposed to indoorsWashing hands frequentlyThese "simple but effective" measures really do help. 5 Dr. Fauci Knows This is Hard But Wants to Save Lives (and Hopes You Do, Too!) "We all know how difficult that is because we've been under this situation of COVID fatigue, as we call it, everyone is fatigued about this. We've been going through this now for almost a year," Fauci said on CNBC. But now is the exact wrong time to give up. Follow his fundamentals and help end this surge, no matter where you live—wear a face mask, social distance, avoid large crowds, don't go indoors with people you're not sheltering with (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene and to protect your life and the lives of others, and don't visit any of these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.
Ramen is one of those comfort foods that we love to turn to when we're short on time but want a light, warm dinner in a hurry. However, the sodium content in instant ramen is definitely cringe-worthy. Those instant noodles can have up to 1,750mg of sodium in one pack, which is nearly the entirety of the daily recommended sodium intake. It's for that reason that so many of us have decided to leave the instant ramen packets on the shelves at the grocery store and opt for something healthier.Until now.Immi is a brand-new startup that's shaking up the soup game with a healthy instant ramen. The high-protein, low-carb instant ramen comes in three flavor varieties, but if you can't decide, you can also get a sampler pack. Your options are Tom Yum "Shrimp," Black Garlic "Chicken," and Spicy "Beef," and yes, they're plant-based as well.Each pack of Immi instant ramen has a total of 9g net carbs, 31g protein, and 850mg sodium. Compared to your standard packs of instant ramen, these come in at a much healthier level. (Speaking of upgrading your everyday shopping list, make sure to avoid buying these items on our list of the 100 Unhealthiest Foods on the Planet.) View this post on Instagram A post shared by immi (@immieats)Immi founders Kevin Lee and Kevin Chanthasiriphan grew up in Taiwan and Thailand and wrote on the company's website that they wanted to create a healthier version of ramen because they not only love ramen but wanted to give their families a healthy alternative to a staple comfort food. The healthy instant ramen is primarily made with pumpkin seed protein, as well as a variety of other plant-based ingredients. Even better: This ramen is keto-friendly.Right now, these instant ramen packs are only available to shop online, but perhaps as more people catch on to the possibility of enjoying lower-sodium ramen, the packs may end up in your favorite grocery store. Six-packs of the instant ramen start at $39.05 on Immi's website, and they even offer a subscribe-and-save option so you never run out.For more food news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter, and avoid these 21 Foods With More Sodium Than A Pack of Ramen.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took part in a video call this week from Anmer Hall, their Norfolk residence.
On my radar: Jason Williamson's cultural highlights. The Sleaford Mods frontman on a favourite singer-songwriter, a hellish horror film and why he spends seven hours a day on Twitter
It's not the answer you're expecting.
The Grand Slam–winning tennis player shared a photo of her little one on the tennis court.
The coronavirus vaccine is now available, the "light at the end of the tunnel" of this deadly pandemic. But confusion about who is eligible, how to get yours, and where to go seems to be changing every day. "The vaccine rollout in the United States has been a dismal failure so far," President-elect Joe Biden said Friday. "The honest truth is this, things will get worse before they get better. And the policy changes we are going to be making, they're going to take time to show up in the COVID statistics." In the following story, you'll find links to every state's vaccination rollouts, so you can find the latest information. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had Coronavirus. 1 Alabama If you live in Alabama, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 2 Alaska If you currently live in Alaska, you can find out how to get the vaccine by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 3 Arizona If you reside in Arizona, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 4 Arkansas If you live in Arkansas, you can find out how to get the vaccine by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 5 California If you reside in California, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 6 Colorado If you currently live in Colorado, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 7 Connecticut If you live in Connecticut, you can find out how to get the vaccine by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 8 Delaware If you live in Delaware, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 9 Florida If you currently reside in Florida, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 10 Georgia If you're located in Georgia, you can find out how to get the vaccine by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 11 Hawaii If you live in Hawaii, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 12 Idaho If you're located in Idaho, you can find out how to get the vaccine by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 13 Illinois If you reside in Illinois, you can find out how to get the vaccine by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 14 Indiana If you live in Indiana, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 15 Iowa If you take up residence Iowa, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 16 Kansas If you live in Kansas, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 17 Kentucky If you live in Kentucky, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 18 Louisiana If you take up residence in Louisiana, you can find out how to get the vaccine by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 19 Maine If you live in Maine, you can find out how to get the vaccine by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 20 Maryland If you're located in Maryland, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 21 Massachusetts If you live in Massachusetts, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 22 Michigan If you're located in Michigan, you can find out how to get the vaccine by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 23 Minnesota If you reside in Minnesota, you can find out how to get the vaccine by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 24 Mississippi If you live in Mississippi, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 25 Missouri If you take up residence in Missouri, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 26 Montana If you live in Montana, you can find out how to get the vaccine by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 27 Nebraska If you reside in Nebraska, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 28 Nevada If you live in Nevada, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 29 New Hampshire If you live in New Hampshire, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 30 New Jersey If you live in New Jersey, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. RELATED: 7 Tips You Must Follow to Avoid COVID, Say Doctors 31 New Mexico If you reside in New Mexico, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 32 New York If you live in New York, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 33 North Carolina If you live in North Carolina, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 34 North Dakota If you live in North Dakota, you can find out how to get the vaccine by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 35 Ohio If you live in Ohio, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 36 Oklahoma If you live in Oklahoma, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 37 Oregon If you're located in Oregon, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 38 Pennsylvania If you live in Pennsylvania, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 39 Rhode Island If you're located in Rhode Island, you can find out how to get the vaccine by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 40 South Carolina If you live in South Carolina, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. RELATED: Dr. Fauci Just Said When We'd Be Back to "Normal" 41 South Dakota If you take up residence in South Dakota, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 42 Tennessee If you live in Tennessee, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 43 Texas If you live in Texas, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 44 Utah If you live in Utah, you can find out how to get the vaccine by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 45 Vermont If you take up residence in Vermont, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 46 Virginia If you reside in Virginia, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 47 Washington If you live in Washington, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 48 West Virginia If you live in West Virginia, you can find out how to get the vaccine by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 49 Wisconsin If you live in Wisconsin, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 50 Wyoming If you live in Wyoming, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 51 Washington DC If you currently live in Washington DC, you can find out how to get vaccinated by going to the state's vaccine website, here. 52 How to Survive This Pandemic As for yourself, follow the public health fundamentals and help end this surge, no matter where you live—wear a face mask, social distance, avoid large crowds, don't go indoors with people you're not sheltering with (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, get vaccinated when it becomes available to you, and to protect your life and the lives of others, don't visit any of these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.
The model was joined by her husband and doting pup Colombo while out in NYC.
The state of Hawaii ranks 40th in terms of population, with about 1,416,000 residents, according to the United States Census Bureau. It comes in 43rd in terms of total square mileage, a number which includes some 4,500 square miles of water. And having been granted statehood in 1959, it is the 50th state to have joined the Union.But there is one unexpected distinction for which the Aloha State currently holds the number one spot: the state has far and away the highest number of fast food restaurants per capita, according to data assembled by NiceRX.com. (Related: 8 Grocery Items That May Soon Be in Short Supply.)Hawaii has 97.5 fast food locations per 100,000 residents, which translates to one McDonald's, Subway, Taco Bell, or other fast food outlet per every 1,025 people who live in Hawaii. Only one other state comes even close to the same concentration of fast food spots, and that's New York. The Empire State has 92.3 fast restaurants per 100,000 residents.Averaged together, most states have closer to 80 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents, while the only other noncontiguous state, Alaska, ranks the lowest in fast food locations per capita, with just under 62 fast food locations per 100,000 Alaskans.Part of the reason Hawaii tops the list are its high concentrations of certain fast-food brands but also a wide variety of others which are present in smaller numbers. By contrast, most other states have a high concentration of some chains but few or even zero locations of others (several states lack even a single Dunkin' location, for example).So what are the most common fast food chains you'll come across in Hawaii? Subway holds the #1 spot, followed closely by Starbucks and McDonald's.Interestingly, Hawaii has a low prevalence of obesity compared to the rest of the United States, according to America's Health Rankings for 2020. It may be that those fast-food restaurants are primarily there for the tourists.Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter to get the latest restaurant news delivered straight to your inbox.
A five-foot-tall neon Drake head, anyone?
Shop everything from Ugg boots to Apple AirPods.
Double masking adds an extra layer of filter. But is it necessary?
Here, we take a look at what is in store for the family in the year ahead.
We are nearing more than 400,000 deaths from coronavirus in America. Numbers like that are "a problem," Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CBS. "There's no doubt about it. You can't run away from that, but that doesn't mean you give up," he says, "you've got to keep hammering out the correct public health message. If we do five fundamental things…as simple as they sound, they can certainly turn around the spikes that we see and can prevent new spikes from occurring. We know that because our experience has proven to us that that is the case." Read on for the techniques Fauci says are proven to stop COVID—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had Coronavirus. 1 Dr. Fauci Says We Need the "Universal Wearing of Masks" Incoming President Joseph Biden will ask all Americans to wear a mask for the first 100 days of his presidency. "He just wants to get — and it's a good idea — uniform," Fauci told the Today Show. "He's saying, 'Hey, folks, trust me. Everybody for 100 days.' Now, it might be that after that, we still are going to need it. But he just wants it, everybody for a commitment for 100 days. And I discussed that with him, and I told him I thought that was a good idea." 2 Dr. Fauci Says You Must "Maintain Physical Distance" You must keep social distancing and wearing masks even after being vaccinated. "Obviously, with a 90-plus percent effective vaccine, you could feel much more confident" that you won't get COVID-19, Fauci told CNN. "But I would recommend to people to not abandon all public health measures just because you have been vaccinated….even though, for the general population, it might be 90 to 95% effective," said Fauci, "you don't necessarily know, for you, how effective it is." 3 Dr. Fauci Says "Avoiding Congregate Settings or Crowds" is Essential "Any crowd, whether it's a protest, any crowd when you have people close together without masks is a risk," Fauci said last year. The same goes for families or friends congregating indoors for family meals; if you don't shelter with the person, don't have them over, or go there. 4 Dr. Fauci Says Do "Things More Outdoors, as Opposed to Indoors" "I would get as much outdoors as you possibly can," Fauci told the Washington Post. "If you look at the super spreader events that have occurred, I think it's incorrect to call people super spreaders. The event is super spread. They're almost always inside super spreader events—in nursing homes, meat-packing, prisons, choirs in churches, congregations of weddings and other social events where people get together. It's almost invariable. Nothing's 100%, but it's almost invariable that it's indoors. So when you are indoors, make sure you have a mask when you're outdoors, keep the mask on."RELATED: If You Feel This, You May Have Already Had COVID, Says Dr. Fauci 5 Wash Your Hands Frequently "Washing hands can keep you healthy and prevent the spread of respiratory and diarrheal infections from one person to the next," says the CDC. "Germs can spread from other people or surfaces when you:Touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed handsPrepare or eat food and drinks with unwashed handsTouch a contaminated surface or objectsBlow your nose, cough, or sneeze into hands and then touch other people's hands or common objects." 6 How to Survive This Pandemic "Those simple things" really do work, says Dr. Fauci. So follow Fauci's fundamentals and help end this surge, no matter where you live—wear a face mask, social distance, avoid large crowds, don't go indoors with people you're not sheltering with (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, get vaccinated when it becomes available to you, and to protect your life and the lives of others, don't visit any of these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.
There's lots of conflicting information out there about how long you should exercise for at a time—and how often—to best protect your heart. So what is the right answer?Some experts say twenty minutes of high intensity interval training (HIIT), three days a week is all you need to blast visceral fat and keep your heart in tip-top shape. Others insist that even shorter spurts of strength and cardio are equally as effective. There are also a range of runners who feel most healthy jogging nearly every day of the week. (Related: 15 Underrated Weight Loss Tips That Actually Work.)But according to new research, it doesn't really matter what you're doing or how hard you're going as long as you're doing something—and a lot of it as time allows. A new study published in the journal PLOS Medicine revealed that the more you exercise, the healthier your heart is going to be—there's truly no cutoff. In fact, by capping your physical activity, you could be selling your heart short."In this study," the researchers conclude, "we found no evidence of a threshold for the inverse association between objectively measured moderate, vigorous, and total PA [physical activity] with CVD [cardiovascular disease]. Our findings suggest that PA is not only associated with lower risk of CVD, but the greatest benefit is seen for those who are active at the highest level."In other words, the more you exercise, the more you set yourself up for good heart health."Physical activity is even more important for the prevention of cardiovascular disease than we previously thought," the study's first author Rema Ramakrishnan, M.P.H., Ph.D., biostatistician and epidemiologist at the Nuffield Department of Women's&Reproductive Health at Oxford University, tells Eat This, Not That!Of course, you can't spend all day every day working out. If you need an expert-recommended length of time to hit each week, Ramakrishnan says that "individuals should try to follow the new WHO guidelines on physical activity, which recommend at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity per week for all adults."Of course, even when you're aiming to reap as many health benefits from exercise as physically possible, it's important to listen to your body. Be sure to keep in mind these 7 Warning Signs You're Exercising Too Much.
At this point in the coronavirus pandemic, it is extremely inadvisable to go out in public without wearing a mask. As infections, hospitalizations, and deaths surge across the country, masks mandates—whether issued by the government or private business—are the norm. Why? Wearing a protective face covering has been found time and again to be one of the most effective methods of preventing the spread of COVID-19. However, there is a decent chance you aren't maximizing the effectiveness of your face mask, according to Karen Jubanyik, MD, Yale Medicine Emergency Medicine Physician, Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine and one of the authors of Beat the Coronavirus: Strategies for Staying Safe and Coping With the New Normal During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Read on to learn about the biggest mask mistakes you are making—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had Coronavirus. 1 "Treat Your Mask Like Underwear" If you aren't wearing and caring for your mask like your finest pieces of lingerie, then you are making a huge mistake. "The best analogy is to treat your mask like underwear," Dr. Jubanyik tells Eat This, Not That! Health. 2 Make Sure It Fits Well You wouldn't wear baggy underwear or a bra that is too tight, so think about your mask in a similar way, making sure it is well-fitting. "A poorly fitting mask will have you grabbing at it and you need to avoid touching your face/mask," Dr. Jubanyik points out. 3 Your Material Matters Scratchy undies and bras can make your day miserable and so can a mask made out of subpar material. "Make sure it is a comfortable material for your skin," says Dr. Jubanyik. "You do not want to break out in a rash due to irritation from the material. If this happens, you will not want to wear the mask as much as you should." 4 Don't Re-Wear Them If the thought of wearing dirty underwear two days in a row grosses you out, you should avoid re-wearing a soiled mask. "Wash after every use," Dr. Jubanyik asserts. 5 Wash Your Mask Like Your Undergarments Cleaning your mask properly is not only key in terms of disinfection, but also making sure it will last as long as possible. "Wash in hot water," instructs Dr. Jubanyik. "Dry fine materials in air, while more durable fabrics can go in the dryer." 6 Don't Share With Others You probably don't let your friends and family wear your underwear. Dr. Jubanyik suggests maintaining the same policy with your mask. "Do not share with others," she says. 7 How to Survive This Pandemic As for yourself, keep you mask clean and follow Dr. Anthony Fauci's fundamentals and help end this surge, no matter where you live—wear a (clean!) face mask, social distance, avoid large crowds, don't go indoors with people you're not sheltering with (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, get vaccinated when it becomes available to you, and to protect your life and the lives of others, don't visit any of these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.
The United States is currently in the throes of the worst surge-upon-surge of the COVID-19 virus thus far. On Tuesday, 4,327 deaths were reported—the highest number of fatalities in a day—and over the last week, there have been an average of 3,300 deaths daily. While the vaccine is being rolled out, offering some hope that normalcy will be restored in the future, preventing the spread of infection is now more crucial than ever. "In general, the more closely you interact with others and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread," warns the CDC. Over the last year, they have offered guidance on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, warning about places where you are more prone to infection. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had Coronavirus. 1 The CDC Says There is "Risk" Eating Inside of Restaurants While the majority of people enjoy indoor dining, the CDC warns it can promote transmission. On their website they cite a recent study finding that adults with positive COVID-19 test results were twice as likely to have reported dining at a restaurant than those with negative COVID-19 test results. They also list a variety of reasons why indoor dining can increase your risk of getting and spreading the virus. These include the fact that restaurants host people from different households gathering in the same space, that eating and drinking involves removing your masks, and ventilation can cause droplets to spread more than six feet. "Poor ventilation can also increase risk as it may cause the virus to accumulate in the air," they add. The safest way to support your local restaurant? Order takeout and enjoy your food in the safety of your own home. 2 Bars and Clubs Can Be Risky Because it's "More Difficult" to Practice Safety Measures Bars and nightclubs are also conducive to virus spread for many of the same reasons as indoor dining. "Physical distancing of at least 6 feet is often difficult to maintain in restaurants and bars," the CDC explains, adding that people also have to speak louder in these types of places, contributing to the production of more virus aerosols. "Use of alcohol may alter judgment and make it more difficult for people to practice COVID-19 safety measures," they also point out. 3 The CDC Says COVID-19 Has Been Shown to Spread in Gyms The CDC maintains that "exercising and physical activity are important for physical and mental health and should be continued for healthy living, especially during the coronavirus crisis." However, they point out that "COVID-19 has been shown to spread at gyms, fitness classes, and studios." If you do decide to exercise in a group environment, they offer several tips to minimize your chance of infection. These include wearing a mask, social distancing, disinfecting equipment before and after each use, and making sure the center offers ample ventilation. Also, keep workout as brief as possible and avoid entering a gym during peak hours to minimize exposure." 4 The CDC Says Playgrounds Can Be "Hard to Keep Safe" While children aren't as prone to severe infection as adults, they are perfectly capable of spreading the virus. "Carefully consider use of playgrounds, and help children follow guidelines," write the CDC. "In communities where there is ongoing spread of COVID-19, playgrounds can be hard to keep safe," they point out, listing reasons ranging from the number of people there to the difficulty of keeping surfaces disinfecting. "SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can spread when young children touch contaminated objects, and then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth," they remind us. 5 The CDC Says Events and Gatherings Have Risk While the CDC breaks down events into various categories—ranging from weddings and funerals to holiday celebrations—any situation that takes place indoors and involves a large group of people has potential for spread. They offer a variety of ways to make events and gatherings as safe as possible, including hosting them outdoors instead of in, wearing masks, social distancing, and even bringing your own food and utensils. 6 The CDC Says Sporting Events Greaten Your "Risk" "The more people someone interacts with, the closer, the longer, and the more frequent the interaction, and the more contact with frequently touched surfaces, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread. Indoor events pose a greater risk than outdoor events," the CDC explains. "The greater the number of sporting events someone attends, the greater the risk of COVID-19 spread." That being said, ultimately the risk of COVID-19 will range by the type of event, how they participate, where it is held, and the infection rate in the community. The highest risk situations are events held in a "confined, poorly ventilated indoor space," where attendees do not wear masks, yell, chant, and sing without masks, do not stay at least six feet away from people they do not live with, travel from outside the area to attend the event, freely share their food and personal items (e.g., noisemakers) with people they don't live with, and when the sports program "has no modifications or messaging in place to prevent or reduce the spread of COVID-19." 7 The CDC Warns Against Going to Other People's Houses In the fall, CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield revealed that small gatherings were "an increasing threat" and responsible for a great deal of COVID infections. "In the public square, we're seeing a higher degree of vigilance and mitigation steps in many jurisdictions," he said during a call with the nation's governors, stressing the "vigilance" of mitigation steps in the household setting. 8 The CDC Says You Can Spread COVID on Public Transportation Whether you are traveling by train, bus, airplane, or rideshare, any time you are inside with others there is risk involved. "Travel can increase your chance of spreading and getting COVID-19. Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19," the CDC says. "You and your travel companions (including children) may feel well and not have any symptoms, but you can still spread COVID-19 to family, friends, and community after travel." One of the reasons travel is risky is because it is almost impossible to socially distance in these types of situations. "The safest thing to do is to stay home," they urge. However, they do detail the safest ways to travel if it can't be avoided. 9 The CDC Says "Avoid" Cruise Ships Early in the pandemic, cruise ships were the sight of many superspreader events. Cruises were halted for a time, but now many are sailing the seas once again. However, the CDC urges you to avoid traveling this way. "CDC recommends that all people avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide," they state. "That's because the chance of getting COVID-19 on cruise ships is high since the virus appears to spread more easily between people in close quarters aboard ships."RELATED: If You Feel This, You May Have Already Had COVID, Says Dr. Fauci 10 The CDC Says Religious Services "Present a Risk" While group worship is an important part of many people's lives, religious services and places of worship have been linked to major outbreaks across the globe. "For many faith traditions, gathering together for worship is at the heart of what it means to be a community of faith. But as Americans are now aware, gatherings present a risk for increasing spread of COVID-19," they point out on their website. As with other types of group events and gatherings, they suggest hosting them outdoors whenever possible, mask wearing, social distancing, and limiting the sharing of objects. 11 How to Survive This Pandemic As for yourself, follow Dr. Anthony Fauci and the CDC's fundamentals and help end this surge, no matter where you live—wear a face mask, social distance, avoid large crowds, don't go indoors with people you're not sheltering with (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, get vaccinated when it becomes available to you, and to protect your life and the lives of others, don't visit any of these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.
FWIW, they’re all under $30.
A few months into the COVID-19 pandemic, health experts noticed that some people who battled the virus—mild, moderate, and severe infections included—weren't recovering from it. In fact, they reported lingering symptoms that increased in severity after their initial infection had cleared. For long haulers, "it is certainly clear that for around 10% of patients, symptoms can last long after the acute illness," F. Perry Wilson, a Yale Medicine physician and clinical researcher and associate professor of medicine at the Yale School of Medicine, explains to Eat This, Not That! Health. "Many people have described the symptoms as coming and going, often triggered by things like exercise or stress." Now, a new study published on MedRX sheds light onto Long COVID and the symptoms that it can include. The researchers surveyed 3,762 people from 56 countries, pinpointing the most commonly reported signs of the prolonged illness. Here are the most common symptoms, ranked from less common to the most common. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had Coronavirus. 63 You Might Have a New/Unexpected Anaphylaxis Reaction Some long haulers report new or unexpected anaphylaxis reactions after an infection. The Mayo Clinic explains these are "severe, potentially life-threatening" allergic reactions that can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure to an allergen. "Symptoms include a skin rash, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and shock." If not treated promptly, usually with epinephrine, they can result in unconsciousness or death. 62 You Might Develop New Allergies Similarly, some people report new allergies after COVID, specifically those associated with scent. According to one report from VeryWell Health, "COVID-19 can concoct new allergies in patients" to many substances–a signature perfume, soothing holiday candle, or even their own car. These allergies can result in "severe respiratory distress" with symptoms including shortness of breath, wheezing, headaches, and sore throats. 61 You Might Have Visibly Inflamed or Bulging Veins Bulging veins are another symptom that long haulers have reported, which is likely due to the blood clotting tendencies of the virus. "COVID-19 can make blood cells more likely to clump up and form clots," the Mayo Clinic explains. 60 You Might Have Bradycardia COVID long haulers report several heart-related symptoms. One of them is bradycardia. Per the Mayo Clinic, bradycardia is defined as a "slower-than-expected heart rate, generally beating fewer than 60 beats per minute." 59 You Might Have Dermatographia There are many long term dermatological manifestations of COVID, and one is dermatographia. According to the Mayo Clinic, the condition is also known as skin writing. "When people who have dermatographia lightly scratch their skin, the scratches redden into a raised weal similar to hives," they explain. "These marks usually disappear within 30 minutes." 58 You Might Have Peeling Skin and Other Skin Issues Other skin issues associated with long hauler symptoms include peeling skin. "The skin is potentially a visible window into inflammation that could be going on in the body," wrote Esther E. Freeman, MD, Ph.D., director of Global Health Dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital, senior author of a study surrounding the skin manifestations experienced by 1,000 long COVID patients. 57 You Could Have Constipation Gastrointestinal issues are common with long haulers, Dr. Wilson maintains. One of them is constipation. Of course, "if you have uncomfortable symptoms of constipation, the first step is ensure you are drinking enough fluids, and to increase your fiber intake. The fiber content of your diet by adding cereal grains, fruits and vegetables, or daily doses of a fiber supplement (for example, Metamucil or Citrucel)," advises Harvard Health. 56 You Might Develop Tinnitus According to the Mayo Clinic, tinnitus is defined as "ringing or buzzing noise in one or both ears that may be constant or come and go, often associated with hearing loss." One study found that 40% of those who had COVID-19 symptoms experienced a worsening of their existing tinnitus, linking it to long COVID. "The findings of this study highlight the complexities associated with experiencing tinnitus and how both internal factors, such as increased anxiety and feelings of loneliness, and external factors, such as changes to daily routines, can have a significant effect on the condition," explained study author Eldre Beukes. "Poor treatment of tinnitus in the early stages often leads to much worse cases, and severe tinnitus can have a huge impact on mental health," added study co-author David Stockdale, chief executive of the British Tinnitus Association. 55 You Might Have Bladder Control Issues Research has found that COVID-related inflammation impacts the urinary tract, and can result in urine cytokine elevation and cause COVID-19 associated cystitis, resulting in bladder dysfunction. 54 You Might Have Petechiae Another dermatological sign of long COVID is petechiae. The Mayo Clinic describes them as "tiny round brown-purple spots due to bleeding under the skin" revealing that they can be in a small area due to minor trauma or "widespread due to blood-clotting disorder." One study maintains that this symptom could be the result of thrombocytopenia "not a common complication in COVID-19" or "due to an alternate etiology such as vasculitis." 53 You Might Have Hearing Loss and Other Ear/Hearing issues According to case reports as well as this study, sudden onset sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL)—often irreversible—has been reported by those identifying as long haulers. 52 You Could Faint Many long haulers report fatigue, dizziness, and balance issues—all of which can increase the likelihood of fainting. 51 You Might Notice Tremors Per the U.S. National Library of Medicine, a tremor is an involuntary, uncontrollable "rhythmic shaking movement" that occurs because of muscle contractions. As COVID can attack the neurological system, this could explain why some people experience them. 50 You Might Notice Skin Rashes Skin rashes are another common dermatological manifestation of long COVID. "Rash-like morbilliform" lasted a median of seven days and four days, respectively, for patients with lab-confirmed COVID-19, with a maximum duration of 28 days, according to the authors of the MGH long COVID study. 49 You Might Have Vision Symptoms Vision symptoms—including blurry vision—have been reported by many long COVID sufferers. 48 You Might Have Vibrating Sensations One report on long COVID courtesy of the Atlantic found that many long haulers reported tingling or vibrating sensations when touching surfaces, likely due to the disease's effect on the brain and nervous system. 47 You Might Experience Lower Esophagus Burning or Refluxes Those battling COVID-19 often report gastrointestinal issues. "Heartburn occurs when stomach acid backs up into the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach (esophagus)," the Mayo Clinic explains. For some, this symptom continues long after their initial infection. 46 You Might Have Menstrual/Period Issues Many women have reported menstrual issues—such as irregular or skipped periods, blood clotting, or prolonged period-related symptoms—for months after a COVID-19 infection. RELATED: The New COVID Symptom Every Woman Needs to Know 45 You Might Suffer Memory Issues Since COVID-19 impacts the neurological system, memory issues often plague long haulers. 44 You Might Have Neuralgia (Nerve Pain) Per the U.S. National Library of Medicine, "Neuralgia is a sharp, shocking pain that follows the path of a nerve and is due to irritation or damage to the nerve." It can be caused by a variety of factors, including infections, such as herpes zoster (shingles), HIV/AIDS, Lyme disease, and syphilis, and, according to many long haulers, COVID-19. 43 You Might Slur Your Words or Speech Slurring words and speech difficulties are usually a result of neurological damage, sometimes caused by a stroke. As COVID-19 wreaks havoc on the neurological system, this is likely why some long haulers still experience these issues months after their infection. 42 You Might Experience Hallucinations One of the most curious symptoms reported by many long haulers is hallucinations, some of which are truly frightening. One woman felt a sponge was talking to her. Another thought an umbrella was a man. A third had homicidal thoughts about her children. 41 You Might Have COVID Toes One of the most peculiar symptoms of long term COVID is pernio/chilblains, or redness and swelling of the feet and hands, which has come to be commonly known as "COVID toes." According to MGH's study, this symptom lasted a median of 15 days in patients with suspected COVID-19 and 10 days in lab-confirmed cases. "Notably, six patients with pernio/chilblains were long haulers with toe symptoms lasting at least 60 days, with two lab-confirmed patients with COVID toes lasting longer than 130 days," they wrote. 40 You Might Notice Speech/Language Issues In addition to slurring words and speech, some long haulers report speech and language issues. 39 You Might Have "Other Eye Symptoms" Eye symptoms—including blurry vision—can occur as a result of COVID related nerve damage or due to other symptoms related to the virus, including fever or headache. 38 You Might Develop Muscle Spasms According to the Cleveland Clinic, muscle spasms, also known as muscle cramps, happen when a muscle involuntary and forcibly contracts. Dr. Wilson explains that they are "not terribly common" with long haulers "and can certainly be triggered by other conditions besides long-covid." 37 You Might Have "Other Temperature Issues" Fluctuations in temperature are not uncommon amongst those battling long COVID. 36 You Might Notice a Change in "All Sensorimotor Symptoms" The U.S. National Library of Medicine explains that sensorimotor polyneuropathy is a condition that causes a decreased ability to move or feel (sensation) because of nerve damage. It can be caused by autoimmune disorders or swelling/inflammation of the nerves. "Many patients with lingering covid symptoms report some alterations in nerve sensation," explains Dr. Wilson. "Often this takes the form of prolonged changes in smell or taste, but some have reported numbness or tingling in the hands or feet." 35 You Might Start—and Keep—Sneezing Per the U.S. National Library of Medicine, a sneeze is a sudden, forceful, uncontrolled burst of air through the nose and mouth. Generally, it is caused by irritation to the mucous membranes of the nose or throat. This could be why months after an infection, COVID long haulers are still experiencing sneezing bouts. 34 You Could Have Vomiting Vomiting is one of the many gastrointestinal complications reported by long haulers. It is likely the result of the gastrointestinal damage wreaked by the initial COVID-19 infection. 33 You May Experience "Brain Fog" "This is a sense of feeling not 100% sharp, which can be hard for patients to describe," Dr. Wilson specifies. "They just don't feel on top of their mental game." 32 You Could Cough Up Blood Coughing up blood can be due to a variety of health issues, explains Mount Sinai. Many of them—such as inflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis), injury to the arteries of the lungs, pneumonia or other lung infections, or even simply irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood)—are likely connected to an initial COVID infection. "This is very uncommon and should absolutely be evaluated by a doctor," explains Dr. Wilson. "Coughing up blood is not a normal symptom and should be treated as a potential medical emergency if it develops suddenly." 31 You Might Feel Bone Ache or Burning Bone aching or burning is another uncomfortable sensation tied to long hauler syndrome. "Diffuse aching, either in the muscles or bones has been reported," confirms Dr. Wilson. 30 You Might Cough With Mucus Production While a dry cough is most commonly identified with COVID-19, some long haulers report more of a wet one that involves mucus. Edison Chiluisa, a 51-year-old hospital worker, recently revealed to the Washington Post that amongst his debilitating symptoms he "coughs up a thick mucus that is becoming worse despite a variety of treatments." Adds Dr. Wilson: "Lingering cough is common with all viral infections, and COVID seems to be no exception. Some patients are still coughing after they have tested negative." 29 You Might Have a Low Temperature Temperature fluctuations—including low body temperature—are commonly reported by COVID long haulers. 28 You Could Have Acute (Sudden) Confusion/Disorientation Another neurological symptom, acute or sudden confusion or disorientation is "a concerning symptom and should be evaluated by a medical professional ASAP." 27 You are Likely to Experience Post-Exertional Malaise Feeling unusually exhausted after exerting any energy? Maybe that feeling—fatigue, or maybe a migraine—kicks in 24 hours after you exert yourself? It could be a symptom of long COVID. "This is one of the most common symptoms described by COVID long-haulers, who report that after exercise they can feel really run-down for a while," says Dr. Wilson. RELATED: COVID Symptoms Usually Appear in This Order, Study Finds 26 You May Have Abdominal Pain Gastrointestinal problems are a somewhat common symptom of COVID and likely explain why many long haulers report abdominal pain. 25 You Could Get Joint Pain The Mayo Clinic explains that joint pain often arises as a result of inflammation. It has been established that inflammation is common in COVID-19 infections. "Inflammation attacks joint tissues, causing fluid in your joints, swelling, muscle damage, and more," explains Penn Medicine orthopedic surgeon, Christopher S. Travers, MD. 24 You Could Develop Heart Palpitations Heart palpitations are "feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering or pounding heart," explains the Mayo Clinic. "Stress, exercise, medication or, rarely, a medical condition can trigger them." Per one study published in JAMA Cardiology, out of 100 recovered COVID-19 patients, 78 reported "cardiac involvement" while 60% had ongoing myocardial inflammation. And, even those who initially suffered from mild to moderate infections, reported ongoing heart issues, such as palpitations.RELATED: Simple Ways to Avoid a Heart Attack, According to Doctors 23 You Might Have Nausea Feeling uncomfortably ill is not uncommon for long haulers. "Some patients report gastrointestinal symptoms after COVID, like nausea and diarrhea," says Dr. Wilson. 22 You Could Develop Sleep Apnea Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts, according to the Mayo Clinic. "If you snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night's sleep, you might have sleep apnea," they explain. It is just one of a few sleep-related symptoms reported by COVID long haulers. 21 You Might Have Tachycardia The Mayo Clinic explains that tachycardia, a form of arrhythmia, occurs when your heart beats over 100 beats per minute. It is one of the many heart-related symptoms that long haulers suffer from. 20 You Might Suffer From Insomnia Sleep complications are not uncommon for long haulers. According to a survey of more than 1,500 people in the Survivor Corp Facebook group, half of patients recovering from COVID-19 reported difficulty sleeping as one of the lingering symptoms. Some experts believe that post-COVID insomnia could be the result of anxiety and stress created by the illness. 19 You Could Experience Dizziness or Balance Issues Feeling dizzy or unbalanced is another neurological manifestation of the virus. "This may be due to the weakness many patients have after a tough bout with COVID, but any balance or persistent dizziness should be evaluated by a medical professional," Dr. Wilson says. 18 You Could Have a Runny Nose and Other Respiratory and Sinus Issues Dr. Wilson confirms that runny noses and sinus issues are not uncommon with long haulers. "Lingering sinus congestion and runny nose have been reported weeks to months after a COVID infection," he says. 17 You Could Get Headaches and Related Symptoms One case report focuses on a woman whose post COVID headache lasted for months after her initial infection. "New daily persistent headache (NDPH) is another chronic headache that can be triggered by viral diseases," the researchers explain. 16 You May Have Diarrhea "A lot of patients with lingering symptoms report constipation or diarrhea that persists for a few days, then resolves, then returns again," says Dr. Wilson. 15 You Could Develop Other Sleeping Symptoms It isn't uncommon for sleeping issues to occur as a result of health complications. Since COVID long haulers struggle with anxiety and stress as well as many other uncomfortable symptoms, it isn't surprising that they struggle with sleep. 14 You Might Feel a Pain/Burning in Chest COVID-19 impacts the lungs and respiratory system, and according to some long haulers, continues to long after their initial infection. The Mayo Clinic explains that sudden, sharp chest pains—aka pleurisy—may indicate that the lung walls are inflamed. This sensation can signal pneumonia or other types of infection. 13 You Could Have a Rattling of Breath "Chest congestion can be seen even after a patient is no longer infectious," Dr. Wilson explains. The University of Florida Health reports that there are several types of abnormal breath sounds, each unique in sound. These include rales, small clicking, bubbling, or rattling sounds in the lungs. "They are heard when a person breathes in (inhales). They are believed to occur when air opens closed air spaces. Rales can be further described as moist, dry, fine, or coarse," they explain. Others include wheezing, high-pitched sounds produced by narrow airways, rhonchi, snoring-like sounds that occur when air is blocked, and stridor, wheeze-like sounds that can be heard when a person breathes. 12 You are Likely to Experience Changes to Sense of Smell and Taste "Some patients still haven't fully recovered their sense of smell months after they lost it during the initial infection," Dr. Wilson explains. "Many people might not recognize how serious this is, but without smell people may not eat as well, may inadvertently expose themselves to contaminated food, and, more broadly, life just feels less colorful. Though we don't often think about it, smell is hugely important for our well-being." 11 You Could Feel Muscle Aches Achy muscles can be a sign that you are battling an infection, and also one that your body already has. "One of the more common long-hauler symptoms, muscle aches—particularly after exercise—can limit activity," says Dr. Wilson. 10 You Might Have a Loss of Appetite Along with weight loss, loss of appetite does occur in long-haulers, explains Dr. Wilson. "Sme of this might be due to the loss of sense of smell that many patients report," he points out. RELATED: Unhealthiest Habits on the Planet, According to Doctors 9 You May Have Breathing Difficulty (Normal O2 Saturation Level) According to the Mayo Clinic, COVID-related pneumonia can permanently damage the tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. "The resulting scar tissue can lead to long-term breathing problems," they explain. 8 You May Have Chills/Flushing/Sweats Temperature fluctuations, including chills, flushing, and sweats, are a common complaint amongst those suffering from long COVID. 7 You May Get a Sore Throat According to the CDC, viruses and infections can cause sore throats. While many COVID sufferers report a sore or scratchy throat as an initial symptom of the virus, some claim that it lingers long after their initial infection. 6 You May Feel a Tightness of Chest "Chest symptoms like cough, congestion, rattling, can persist in some patients," Dr. Wilson maintains. RELATED: 7 Tips You Must Follow to Avoid COVID, Say Doctors 5 You Could See an Elevated Temperature (98.8-100.4F) While a fever over 100.4 is a trademark symptom of COVID-19 as well as long COVID, a simple spike in temperature (or low grade fever) is also common. 4 You are Extremely Likely to Have Fatigue Extreme exhaustion or fatigue is one of the most debilitating symptoms of long COVID. "This is one of the most commonly reported symptoms and can be quite severe," reveals Dr. Wilson. 3 You Could Feel Shortness of Breath "Shortness of breath, particularly with exercise (even climbing a flight of stairs) can be really debilitating," says Dr. Wilson. Per John Hopkins Medicine, shortness of breath is when you feel like you can't get enough air or your chest is tight. While this might be normal after a workout or period of exertion, post COVID shortness of breath can occur at any time—even when laying in bed or sitting on the couch. RELATED: If You Feel This, You May Have Already Had COVID, Says Dr. Fauci 2 You Might Have a Dry Cough Dry cough is one of the defining symptoms of an initial COVID-19 infection, with many long haulers reporting that it does not quit. The American Lung Association points out that this could be a result of permanent damage to the lungs, which may in turn affect the ability of the body to function normally. However, they also point out that some long haulers experience symptoms such as a dry cough, "without apparent damage to vital organs." 1 You May Have a Fever While a fever is a trademark symptom of an initial COVID-19 infection, many long haulers report a recurrent or persistent temperature spike over 100.4F. If you've experienced that or any of the symptoms mentioned here, seek medical attention or contact a Post-COVID care center. And to protect your life and the lives of others, don't visit any of these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.