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FDA Adds to List of Toxic Hand Sanitizers, Warns About Use of at Least 80

The list of hand sanitizers that have been recalled by the Food and Drug Administration is growing. The FDA is now warning about the use of more toxic hand sanitizers. There are four more hand sanitizers that have been made by La Loma, Tlalnepantla, Mexico, Real Clean Distribuciones SA de CV, which "...is voluntarily recalling all lots it manufactured within expiry of the following brand names of hand sanitizers." According to the FDA website, these are the four brands: Born Basic ANTI-BAC HAND SANITIZER, Scent Theory KEEP CLEAN Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer, Scent Theory KEEP IT CLEAN Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer, and Lux Eoi Hand Sanitizing Gel to the consumer level. The products are being recalled due to the potential presence of methanol (wood alcohol). Last month, the list got longer - the FDA warned that there are hand sanitizers that have tested positive for methanol contamination, according to the FDA website. There are at least 75 hand sanitizers that are being recalled and are also being sold at national retail locations including Walmart and Costco, according to an NBC story Wednesday. "FDA is warning consumers and health care providers that the agency has seen a sharp increase in hand sanitizer products that are labeled to contain ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) but that have tested positive for methanol contamination. Methanol, or wood alcohol, is a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested and can be life-threatening when ingested," the FDA website says. The FDA website says "Methanol is not an acceptable active ingredient for hand sanitizers and must not be used due to its toxic effects. FDA’s investigation of methanol in certain hand sanitizers is ongoing. The agency will provide additional information as it becomes available." In the past, FDA expanded to 59 its list of sanitizers to steer clear of — some of which have already been recalled and some the FDA is recommending be recalled — for containing the potentially fatal substance, also known as wood alcohol. "The agency is aware of adults and children ingesting hand sanitizer products contaminated with methanol that has led to recent adverse events including blindness, hospitalizations, and death," the FDA stated. In a statement from the FDA, "substantial methanol exposure can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death." These are some of the brands that have been deemed harmful by the FDA. 4E Global's Blumen Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer with 70% Alcohol4E Global's Blumen Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear Ethyl Alcohol 70%4E Global's Blumen Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear4E Global's Klar and Danver Instant Hand Sanitizer (labeled with Greenbrier International Inc.)4E Global's Modesa Instant Hand Sanitizer Moisturizers and Vitamin4E Global's Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer4E Global's Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Aloe4E Global's Blumen Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Lavender4E Global's Blumen Clear Lear Advanced Hand Sanitizer4E Global's Blumen Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer4E Global's The Honeykeeper Hand Sanitizer4E Global's Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Clear4E Global's Blumen Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer4E Global's Blumen Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe4E Global's Blumen Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Lavender4E Global's Blumen Aloe Advanced Hand Sanitizer, with 70 Alcohol4E Global's Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Lavender, with 70% alcohol4E Global's Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Aloe, with 70% alcohol4E Global's Blumen Antibacterial Fresh Citrus Hand Sanitizer4E Global's Blumen Hand Sanitizer Fresh Citrus4E Global's Klar and Danver Instant Hand Sanitizer4E Global's Hello Kitty by Sanrio Hand Sanitizer4E Global's Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer (Vitamin E and Aloe)4E Global's Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer (Aloe and Moisturizers)4E Global's Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer Vitamin E and Aloe4E Global's Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe and Moisturizers4E Global's Blumen Instant Hand Sanitizer Fragrance Free4E Global's Blumen Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe Vera4E Global's Assured AloeAAA Cosmetica's bio aaa Advance Hand SanitizerAAA Cosmetica's LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer 4 ozAAA Cosmetica's LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer 16 ozAAA Cosmetica's QualitaMed Hand SanitizerDDI Multinacional's Earths Amenities Instant Unscented Hand Sanitizer with Aloe Vera AdvancedDDI Multinacional's Hand Sanitizer Agavespa SkincareDDI Multinacional's Vidanos Easy Cleaning Rentals Hand Sanitizer Agavespa SkincareEskbiochem's All-Clean Hand SanitizerEskbiochem's Esk Biochem Hand SanitizerEskbiochem's Lavar 70 Gel Hand SanitizerEskbiochem's The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand SanitizerEskbiochem's CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% AlcoholEskbiochem's CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% AlcoholEskbiochem's CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% AlcoholEskbiochem's Saniderm Advanced Hand SanitizerGrupo Insoma's Hand sanitizer Gel Unscented 70% AlcoholLimpo Quimicos' Andy's BestLimpo Quimicos' Andy'sLimpo Quimicos' GelclorLimpo Quimicos' NeoNaturalLimpo Quimicos' Plus AdvancedLiqesa Exportacion or Liq-E-S.A.'s Optimus Lubricants Instant Hand SanitizerMaquiladora Miniara's Shine and Clean Hand SanitizerMaquiladora Miniara's Selecto Hand SanitizerMystic International's Mystic Shield Protection hand sanitizerSoluciones Cosmeticas' Bersih Hand Sanitizer Gel Fragrance FreeSoluciones Cosmeticas' Antiseptic Alcohol 70% Topical Solution hand sanitizerSoluciones Cosmeticas' Hand sanitizer (labeled with Wet Look Janitorial and Gardening Corp.)Tropicosmeticos' Britz Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 70%Yara Elena De La Garza Perez Nieto's Daesi hand sanitizer LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM App Follow RADIO.COMFacebook | Twitter | Instagram

August 03, 2020

The Latest: Texas has zero active coronavirus infections

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world: ___ Texas has no active coronavirus infections on the football team or among the volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball team players on campus, athletic director Chris Del Conte said Tuesday. The football team will soon increase testing from once to twice a week and women’s soccer will begin arriving on campus this week. Texas provided its first update on testing in weeks. Del Conte said the number of athletes testing positive or being identified as possible cases through contact tracing has “dropped dramatically.” The school announced June 18 that 13 players were either positive or presumed positive. ___ Arizona has suspended junior offensive lineman Edgar Burrola for violating school coronavirus protocols. Burrola confirmed the suspension on Twitter and said he stopped receiving his meal plan the day he was suspended. He also said his stipend has been taken away. Burrola started six games at right tackle in 2019 and had shoulder surgery in January. “If you’re not going to pay attention to the protocol, wear a mask, all that other stuff, we can’t have you around,” coach Kevin Sumlin told the Arizona Daily Star. ___ The Cleveland Browns are doing all they can to give their fans a look at their training camp, which is closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team will launch “Browns Live: Training Camp,” on Aug. 14. The online site will give fans “an up-close and personal look at camp.” The two-hour show will be broadcast on all the team’s social media platforms and show clips from practice and interviews with players, coaches and alumni. The Browns are coming off a 6-10 season that didn’t go as planned, but there is excitement around an unproven but talented team, which recently signed star defensive end Myles Garrett to a long-term extension. Cleveland began in-taking veteran players on Tuesday. Quarterback Baker Mayfield has already cleared NFL protocol on the coronavirus and was permitted in the training facility. ___ Austin’s public health authority said the city was “caught a little off guard” by the recent announcement by Texas that the school planned to allow 50% stadium capacity at Longhorns football games this fall. Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott spoke with county commissioners Tuesday, and said it’s hard to imagine allowing a crowd of any size watch a game. Texas Athletic Director Chris Del Conte wrote season ticket holders last week about plans to allow about 50,000 fans at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, even as the state of Texas remains a national hot spot in the coronavirus pandemic. Escott says having that many people in one place is a bit of a reach right now. School officials have noted the 50% limit is currently allowed under statewide rules. ___ The Atlanta Falcons have placed rookie safety Jaylinn Hawkins on the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list. The announcement came after coach Dan Quinn earlier said all rookies had negative tests. Hawkins, a fourth-round pick from Cal, could have tested negative and be placed on the list after exposure to the coronavirus. Teams are not allowed to disclose if a player is in quarantine. Quinn said the coronavirus outbreak with the MLB’s Miami Marlins was a topic of discussion as veteran players arrived for training camp on Tuesday and began their testing. He said no player has discussed opting out. ___ Veteran cornerback Maurice Canady and undrafted rookie receiver Stephen Guidry have opted out of playing for the Dallas Cowboys this season because of the coronavirus pandemic. Canady signed a one-year contract with the Cowboys after splitting the 2019 season between the New York Jets and Baltimore. The Ravens drafted Canady in the sixth round in 2016. Guidry had 827 yards receiving and eight touchdowns in two seasons at Mississippi State after playing two years of junior college. He faced long adds to make the roster at a position that includes Amari Cooper, who signed a $100 million contract in the offseason, third-year man Michael Gallup and first-round pick CeeDee Lamb. ___ The Jacksonville Jaguars have placed starting right tackle Jawaan Taylor and first-year offensive lineman Ryan Pope on the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list. Taylor, a second-round pick from Florida last year, started all 16 games as a rookie. The COVID-19 list is for a player who tests positive for coronavirus or has been quarantined after being in close contact with someone infected. NFL teams are not allowed to disclose whether the player is in quarantine or is positive for COVID-19. Jacksonville also removed rookie fullback Connor Slomka from the team’s active/non-football injury list after he passed his physical. ___ The NCAA is allowing all major college football teams to begin their seasons as early as Aug. 29. The association confirmed that the football oversight committee had requested a blanket waiver to permit any school to push up the start of its season to the so-called Week Zero. The official start of the season had been Labor Day weekend, with a few games scheduled for Aug. 29. That was before the coronavirus pandemic put the season in peril and schedules were remade to deal with potential disruptions of COVID-19. Some schools and conferences are working on delaying the start of their football seasons while others are trying to get a head start. Kansas and Oklahoma from the Big 12 have both recently moved up their opening games against FCS opponents to Aug. 29. ___ The Summit League is pushing back the start of fall sports to Sept. 23 due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. The conference’s president’s council agreed to delay championship seasons for men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball and cross country. Non-championship segments for golf and tennis, along with non-traditional seasons for softball and baseball also were pushed back. Soccer and volleyball will have conference-only schedules. ___ A women’s professional tennis tournament that was supposed to be played in Tokyo in November has been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, the latest event scratched from the sport’s calendar. The Toray Pan Pacific Open already had been postponed from September because of the COVID-19 outbreak that has put the WTA and ATP tours on hold since March. Two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka won that title last year. Tuesday’s announcement follows news last week that 11 men’s and women’s tournaments planned for later this year in China were scrapped. That included the WTA Finals. As of now, women’s tennis is scheduled to resume next week in Palermo, Italy. ___ The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has moved most fall sports until the spring, including football. The MIAC joined the majority of its NCAA Division III peers, postponing competition in cross country, football, soccer and volleyball. Tennis teams will be permitted to compete against conference opponents this fall in accordance with campus, state, NCAA and MIAC health directives. That sport is deemed low risk for coronavirus transmission. Training, practice and other team activities will be permitted in the postponed sports, in compliance with the virus-related guidelines. The biggest impact of the MIAC’s move will be on the football game between league powers St. John’s and St. Thomas, rivals who first played in 1901 and have faced off 89 times in the sport. This year’s game, which was scheduled for early November at U.S. Bank Stadium, the NFL home of the Vikings, could be the last ever with the impending move by St. Thomas to the FCS level after being booted from the MIAC for competitive reasons. ___ The Tennessee Titans have placed their top draft pick on the COVID-19/reserve list. Coach Mike Vrabel announced that move Tuesday at the end of a 40-minute video conference call with reporters. The Titans drafted offensive lineman Isaiah Wilson with the No. 29 pick overall out of Georgia, and Wilson remains the one member of their six-man draft class that has yet to agree to a contract. Wilson is expected to compete for the right tackle job that came open when Jack Conklin signed with Cleveland in free agency. Vrabel also said linebacker Jayon Brown will start training camp on the physically unable to perform list. The Titans so far have had one player opt out. Undrafted rookie free agent Anthony McKinney is an offensive lineman out of Texas Christian. Vrabel confirmed McKinney informed the coach and general manager Jon Robinson of his decision. Vrabel says he has not heard nor talked to other Titans who might choose to opt out and is waiting until players make the best decision in the interest of themselves and their families. ___ A person familiar with the situation says New England Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower has decided to opt out of the 2020 season. Hightower’s decision was made out of concern for the health of his fiancée and child, who was born earlier this month, the person said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Patriots have not announced the decision. ESPN was the first to report the move. Two other people told the AP that starting right tackle Marcus Cannon and fullback Danny Vitale have also chosen to sit out the season, citing health concerns. Cannon is a cancer survivor and Vitale has a young family and doesn’t want to risk exposing them, according to the sources. ___ Two people with direct knowledge of the decision have confirmed to The Associated Press that Buffalo Bills starting defensive tackle Star Lotulelei is voluntarily opting out from playing this season. The people spoke to The AP on the condition of anonymity because the team has not revealed this information as players reported for the start of training camp Tuesday. The NFL Network first reported Lotulelei’s decision earlier in the day. The 30-year-old Lotulelei has seven years of NFL experience and was entering his third season with the Bills. He has two years remaining on his contract, which will now run through 2022. -- John Wawrow reporting from Buffalo. New York. ___ Iowa has paused its men’s basketball workouts for 14 days after two players tested positive for COVID-19, the school announced Tuesday. Iowa’s protocol requires individuals who test positive to be in isolation and for people who might have been exposed to someone with the virus to be quarantined. Last week, Michigan State suspended football workouts and players began a 14-day quarantine after a staff member and player tested positive. ___ Ohio State will limit home crowds to about 20,000 and prohibit tailgating if the football season is played this fall. Fans inside Ohio Stadium will be required to wear masks and observe social distancing to help stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Concessions will be limited. The traditional “Skull Session” pregame pep rallies at St. John’s Arena will not be held. Athletic director Gene Smith informed season-ticket holders of the new rules in a letter Tuesday, first reported by Cleveland.com. The guidelines limit capacity of the 105,000-seat stadium to 20%. -Mitch Stacy reporting from Columbus, Ohio ___ The New Jersey Athletic Conference announced the suspension of all fall sports because of the coronavirus pandemic. The conference of Division III schools will explore the possibility of playing fall sports in the spring. The fall sports include football, women’s soccer, men’s soccer, field hockey, women’s volleyball, women’s tennis, women’s cross country, and men’s cross country. The member schools are Kean, Montclair State, New Jersey City, Ramapo, Rowan, Rutgers-Camden, Rutgers-Newark, Stockton, The College of New Jersey, and William Paterson. ___ Brazilian TV host Rodrigo Rodrigues has died at age 45, two weeks after contracting COVID-19. A fan favorite for his humorous style leading sports programs, Rodrigues was hospitalized on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro after feeling nausea and disorientation. Doctors found he had a cerebral venous blood clot, one of the possible bodily responses to an infection by the new coronavirus. Rodrigues had surgery on Sunday and was in an induced coma. He worked at TV Globo and its cable channel Sportv, which confirmed his death during one of the programs he hosted. Rodrigues also worked in several other Brazilian networks, including ESPN. ___ The Atlanta Falcons have selected their 40-member cheerleaders squad following their first virtual tryouts. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 38 women and two men earned their spots in online tryouts. The results were announced on Monday night on a livestream on the Falcons website. Chato Hendrix, director of the cheerleaders, said the group was disheartened at first to have to go completely virtual, but like the rest of the world had to adapt. Hendrix says the virtual tryouts made it possible for out-of-state applicants to compete for spots without having to travel to Atlanta. This is the first time since 1989 the Falcons have had male cheerleaders. ___ Ball State has filled one of three open dates on its football schedule by announcing plans to open the season Sept. 12 at Iowa State of the Big 12. The game replaces a previously scheduled date for the Cardinals at Michigan and the annual rivalry game at Iowa for the Cyclones. Both games were wiped out when Big Ten officials said they would play a conference-only schedule. Ball State also had its Sept. 3 season opener against Maine and a Sept. 19 trip to Indiana canceled earlier this month. The Big Ten games reportedly cost the Cardinals about $1.7 million in guaranteed money. Ball State is still scheduled to host Wyoming on Sept. 26 in its second game of the season before heading into Mid-American Conference play. ___ Real Madrid says forward Mariano has tested positive for the coronavirus. The announcement came as the team returned to practice ahead of its Champions League match against Manchester City on Aug. 7. Real Madrid lost at home 2-1 in the first leg of the round-of-16 series. Madrid says Mariano was in “perfect health condition” and was following health protocols. The entire Madrid squad was tested for COVID-19 on Monday. The players had been on a break of almost 10 days after winning the Spanish league title. ___ The French government has maintained a maximum capacity of 5,000 fans in stadiums until the end of August amid the coronavirus pandemic. French sports minister Roxana Maracineanu says the decision was taken because France has seen an increase in coronavirus cases recently. But Maracineanu adds that local officials will have the authority to increase the capacity at some events from Aug. 15 if they can obtain special dispensation and observe strict health and safety protocol. Only 2,805 fans attended the French Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Saint-Etienne last Friday but the number was low because Saint-Etienne fans did not use their allocation of 900 seats at Stade de France. PSG faces Lyon in the League Cup final at the same stadium on Friday. ___ More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

July 28, 2020

The Latest: Texas has zero active coronavirus infections

July 28, 2020

Disney World Delays Reopening Some Hotels and Resorts

Walt Disney World is postponing the reopening of several hotels and resorts in Orlando, Florida. Prior to the reopening of the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11, several hotels began welcoming guests in June. Others have remained closed and have now been given new reopening dates which differ from their previously scheduled timeframes. After having an initial planned reopening date of August 12th, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will now reopen on Oct. 4 and the Art of Animation Resort will reopen on Nov. 1, according to a notice on Disney World’s official website. Two other hotels have had their reopening dates removed for the time being. Disney's Beach Club Resort and Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, which were set to reopen on Aug. 24 and Oct. 1, respectively, “will remain closed until further notice.” This week will see the reopening of Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort on July 29th, while Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is still on schedule for its August 24th reopening. "We will continue to evaluate the situation and reopen more locations when the environment is right to do so," the company added. "While these plans may evolve, we will be monitoring the constantly changing health environment and its impact on the state of Florida as we find the right time to welcome back even more of our guests." Florida continues to be one of the epicenters of COVID-19 in the United States. On Tuesday, Florida reported more than 9,000 new cases of coronavirus and a high of 191 deaths in a single day, reported the LA Times. The Sunshine State has recorded nearly 442,000 total cases and more than 6,100 confirmed deaths, according to the Florida Health Department. LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM AppFollow RADIO.COMFacebook | Twitter | Instagram

July 28, 2020

NASCAR champ Johnson enamored with IndyCar after test

Jimmie Johnson finally fulfilled his childhood dream of driving an Indy car with a test session Tuesday. When the seven-time NASCAR champion finished turning laps, he was sold on figuring out how to race next year in the IndyCar Series. “It only lit the fire more. I want to do this more than ever before,” Johnson said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. “It was something new, something different. NASCAR has been so good to me and I am so proud of the success I've had. But to try something new, man, this was really cool.” Johnson initially thought his racing career would take him into IndyCar, the series he followed as a child, but the path instead veered into NASCAR. He's put together one of the most successful careers in series history, but the 44-year-old will retire from full-time NASCAR competition at the end of this season. He won't stop competing, though, and Johnson has already put in motion a plan he hopes will get him into some IndyCar events next year. An initial test with McLaren was canceled when sports shut down in the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic; Johnson's positive coronavirus test earlier this month pushed a test with Chip Ganassi Racing to Tuesday. Even as he headed to Indianapolis Motor Speedway at the start of the day, he fretted that something would spoil his long-awaited opportunity. “Third time was a charm, but I was worried something would jinx it,” he said. Nothing spoiled his day, which Johnson likened to a “first day of school.” He drove the same car Felix Rosenqvist raced on the Indy road course earlier this month and had five-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon on hand as his driver coach. “He was very impressive. There was no trying to do too much,” Dixon told AP. “He was texting me last night, asking me all sorts of questions, if there were tricks for getting out of the pits, how to handle a turn, those kind of things. He was just super amped up and just excited to finally get there.” It was a busy session for Johnson, who was trying to learn the car while also testing new cockpit cooling advances for the series. The Ganassi team had five sets of tires for the session and with the track temperature nearing 140 degrees, the degradation came quickly. Johnson also spun twice during the day — once in the first turn of the road course when he had too much rear brake and a second time in the fourth turn when he just lost the car. He took pride in keeping it out of the grass both times, but he flat-spotted an already limited allotment of tires. “By the end of the day they were mix-matching tires, giving me mixed sets, just to let me have more laps,” Johnson said. Johnson had previously said this test would determine if pursuing IndyCar was worth his time — he had joked he'd know quickly if he was any good at it — and after nearly eight hours with the Ganassi team, he was undeterred. “When I got in the car, I needed two sessions to let my eyes adjust. Things were coming up on me pretty quick,” Johnson said. “Right before lunch, we started finding a groove. In the beginning of the day I was finding big chunks, but the track was going away while my ability was increasing.” Dixon was impressed with Johnson's ability to process information and apply feedback, particularly since he's one of the most accomplished NASCAR drivers in history. Dixon said it was difficult to assess Johnson's pace because the track was green and the temperatures were so hot but estimated Johnson was running similar to how series regulars were earlier this month in "the mid-to-late stint of the race we had. But you’ve got no benchmark. It’s a big unknown. “For a guy who has done what he’s done, he was still pretty excited,” Dixon said. "The passion that he has for racing and trying something different, he was typical Jimmie, just the way he applies himself. He’s never pushy. He’s constantly asking questions, how to be better, how do I do this. “He was really methodical, he was really good at being able to copy stuff and he was really adaptive, which isn't always easy, especially at our age.” Johnson still hopes to test with McLaren later this year and is determined to get into road or street course races in 2021. He's softened his stance toward racing on ovals and the Indianapolis 500 because of IndyCar safety advancements, but said Tuesday that 2022 is probably the earliest he could consider expanding his schedule. He also noted that his IndyCar future is contingent on finding sponsorship and hoped a successful first test will spark conversations about funding. “Hopefully today was the day to create a springboard,” Johnson said. “The more I can be in a garage, the more excitement I can generate, the better chances.” ___ More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/apf-AutoRacing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

July 28, 2020

Pats face challenges as starters Hightower, Chung opt out

BOSTON (AP) — The Patriots were already going to have a completely different look following an offseason that saw former franchise cornerstone Tom Brady depart to Tampa Bay, as well as several key players on defense cash in elsewhere in free agency. Now the COVID-19 pandemic has added more complications to New England’s efforts to rebuild its roster heading into the 2020 season. Linebacker Dont’a Hightower said Tuesday that he is opting out of the 2020 season, highlighting a list of several Patriots who will sit out because of health concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic. A person familiar with the situation says safety Patrick Chung has also elected not to play. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been announced. Both players join tackle Marcus Cannon, running back Brandon Bolden and fullback Danny Vitale, who were listed on the league's official opt-out list Tuesday. ESPN reported that practice squad guard Najee Toran also has decided not to play in 2020. “This wasn’t an easy decision, or one I made lightly, but I do feel it’s the best decision for my family at this time,” Hightower wrote in a post on Twitter. “I am so grateful for the support of my teammates and coaches, and I will continue to lead and help as much as I can.” The NFL and the players association agreed last week to an opt-out clause for the upcoming season, with those who choose to voluntarily sit out receiving a $150,000 stipend and those with medical opt outs receiving $350,000 rather than their contractual salary. Hightower’s decision was made out of concern for the health of his fiancée and child, who was born earlier this month. Cannon is a cancer survivor, having been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma during his final season at Texas Christian University in 2011. It’s left a team that had been reinvigorated by the signing of veteran quarterback Cam Newton earlier this month with a multitude of questions to answer. Glimpses of Newton in workout videos posted to his social media accounts seem to reveal a player in great physical condition after being limited to two games in 2019 because of a broken bone in his foot. The prospect of having a dual threat quarterback to build around also could potentially bring a new dimension to the Patriots’ offense. But to accomplish that, they were counting on having a healthy offensive line in front of him. With Cannon now unavailable and center David Andrews coming back after missing all of 2019 with blood clots in his lungs, that group is showing cracks. Hightower has been a staple of New England’s defense since being drafted in the first round in 2012, helping the Patriots win three Super Bowls. The two-time Pro Bowler signed a four-year, $35.5 million contract in 2017. He was scheduled to make an $8 million base salary this season. His absence is the latest blow to a Patriots linebacking group that saw key contributors Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins and Elandon Roberts leave in free agency. Chung, who started alongside Devin McCourty, was limited to 13 starts last season because of injuries, but his 51 tackles still ranked fourth among members of the Patriots’ secondary. Cannon has been a regular on the offensive line since 2016 and missed just one game in 2019. He played 88% of the offensive snaps last season and was scheduled to make $4.7 million this season. That leaves the Patriots somewhat thin at the tackle spot. Left tackle Isaiah Wynn has missed all but eight games since being selected in the first round of the 2018 draft. The only other tackles on the roster are 2019 draft pick Yodny Cajuste, 2020 sixth-rounder Justin Herron and veteran Korey Cunningham, who appeared in only one game for New England last season. Likewise, the Patriots were hoping Vitale, who was signed in March after being cut by the Packers, would help fill the void left following James Develin’s decision to retire in the offseason. Though NFL veterans can officially begin reporting to training camp Tuesday, the Patriots say their players are not reporting until this upcoming weekend. The only good news is that it will be weeks before workouts actually begin. While several teams began testing players as they reported to training camp, New England was awaiting approval of its Infectious Disease Emergency Response plan to help protect its players and staff during the ongoing pandemic. ___ AP Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner contributed to this report. ___ More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

July 28, 2020

Airline Will Pay Your Medical and Funeral Costs if You Catch COVID-19 While Traveling

An airline is incentivizing people to fly amid the pandemic by offering up coronavirus insurance. Emirates, the state-owned airline of the United Arab Emirates, has pledged to cover the medical, quarantine and funeral costs of any passenger diagnosed with COVID-19 while traveling, reported CNN. The Dubai-based airline will provide up to approximately $176,000 (150,000 euros) in medical expenses, as well as $118 (100 euros) per day to cover quarantine accommodations for up to two weeks. In addition, should things take a turn for the worse, Emirates will provide up to $1,765 toward a passenger’s funeral/burial costs, the New York Post noted. As directed by @HHShkMohd, @emirates will be the first airline to offer free cover for COVID-19 medical costs for customers when they travel to & from UAE & around the world. This will boost travel confidence & once again positions Emirates & Dubai as aviation industry leaders. pic.twitter.com/9mUBeDnx1X— HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum (@HHAhmedBinSaeed) July 23, 2020“Emirates has worked hard to put in place measures at every step of the customer journey to mitigate risk of infection, and we have also revamped our booking policies to offer flexibility,” Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates group chairman and chief executive, said in a press release. “We are now taking it to the next level, by being the first in the industry to offer our customers free global cover for COVID-19 medical expenses and quarantine costs should they incur these costs during their travel.” The COVID coverage is available to all passengers at no extra cost and applied automatically, from now until October 31. It's also valid for 31 days from "the moment you take your first flight, and it covers you even if you travel onwards to another city," the airline said. While Emirates has taken this innovative approach to bolster traveler confidence, most other major airlines have implemented mandatory face mask policies while on board. Last week, Delta’s CEO revealed they’ve already banned over 100 passengers who refused to wear a mask on their flights. “You cannot board a Delta plane unless you have a mask on. If you board the plane and you insist on not wearing your mask, we will insist that you don’t fly Delta into the future,” Ed Bastain told “Today.” “We already have over 100 people we've put on that list.” LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM AppFollow RADIO.COMFacebook | Twitter | Instagram

July 28, 2020

Healthy and 'Deeply Committed' ICU Chief, 56, Dies From Coronavirus

A beloved intensive care unit chief at a hospital in downtown Baltimore died Saturday of the coronavirus. Dr. Joseph Costa, who was in charge of critical care at Mercy Medical Center and helped treat patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, passed away at age 56 due to the virus, reports NBC News. Mercy Medical Center Chief of Critical Care, 56, passes from coronavirus https://t.co/lPSBvhfwwt— WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore (@wbaltv11) July 27, 2020Costa worked for 23 years at Mercy, and “dedicated his life and career to caring for the sickest patients,” said Sister Helen Amon, the chair of Mercy’s board of trustees, and David Maine, the president and CEO of the hospital, in a joint statement. In 2005, Costa became chief of critical care at the hospital. Costa would frequently volunteer to work on holidays so that his colleagues with children wouldn’t have to, and when he died, around 20 colleagues held a vigil at his bedside. Costa chaired the Medical Morals Committee at the hospital and was a member of the Mercy Health Services Board of Trustees Mission and Corporate Ethics Committee. “When the global pandemic came down upon us, Joe selflessly continued his work on the front lines — deeply committed to serving our patients and our City during this time of great need,” said Amon and Maine. His husband of 28 years, David Hart, says Costa loved his job and was surrounded by loved ones when he died. “Those who cared for Joe were his best friends,” Hart said. “A housekeeper who knelt by his bed and shook with grief said, ‘I’m now losing my best friend,’” Hart told The Baltimore Sun. It is unclear how Costa contracted the coronavirus, but Dr. Amy Zimmerman, one of Costa’s medical school classmates, told NBC Baltimore that “this was a 56-year-old healthy man. He knew how to be careful. He knew how to take good care of himself, and he still passed away from this disease. This could happen to anybody.” Michael Green and his wife Gail told The Baltimore Sun that when Green was placed in a medically-induced coma for almost seven weeks due to the coronavirus, Costa would speak with her regularly over the phone. “He said to me, ‘because families can’t be here, we not only think of your husband as our patient, but you’re our patients as well. And we’re here to take care of you as much as we’re here to take care of your husband.’” Green, who has recently returned home after spending time in a rehab facility to continue his recovery, hoped to “thank him and the rest of the staff that worked under him and tell him how much I appreciated what he did. And now that won’t happen.” A joint tally by Kaiser Health News and The Guardian found that 850 healthcare workers have died of COVID-19 in the United States. LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM AppFollow RADIO.COMFacebook | Twitter | Instagram

July 28, 2020

6 Tips to Boost Your Child's Mental Health During COVID-19

Educating kids about COVID-19 without scaring them into nightmares can be tricky, but parents need to have serious conversations with their children to keep them safe and calm. As the coronavirus pandemic continues, the “new normal” can be especially hard on younger children as they prepare for the new school year. Experts are still learning about how the pandemic could affect children’s mental health, reported Good Morning America. Here are six tips on how parents should support their children during this difficult time. 1. Maintain a daily routine Dr. Anju Hurria, a child psychiatrist at the University of California, Irvine, said, “the structured routine is really big, and firm sleep times are very important.” Hurria suggested creating a schedule by explicitly writing it on a whiteboard. This is an excellent way for children to know what they are doing throughout the day. 2. Make physical activity a priority Hurria explained that while moving is vital for your child’s physical health, it is also essential for their mental health. Even “just turning up music for 20 minutes and everyone in the family dancing,” Hurria said, is a great way to jump start some physical activity. 3. Limit negative news "There's a lot of mixed messages being sent between the media, their friends, and others in the community that's probably making kids feel very confused," Dr. Francesca Okolie, a neonatologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center said. Limiting the amount of negative news your child consumes can be helpful in keeping them in a relaxed state of mind. 4. Keep up social connections While many continue to social distance, this may be hard for children who cannot see their friends from school. For activities, Hurria recommended they create a family tree. She explained how the activity would push children to reach out to their relatives. Parents can also set up virtual sleepovers or playdates by using video-conferencing platforms. Older children or teens can also go on a socially distanced walk outside. 5. Engage children in an open dialogue Hurria said it is essential to check in with your kids. She said to set aside time in the day or week to ask them how they are doing, and engage in a conversation with them about their emotions. 6. Build hope and a sense of purpose With free time during the pandemic, Hurria said it is good for children to "find some sort or hobby or project they are passionate about.” This creates a sense of purpose in your child, so that they may focus their energy on more productive things. LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM AppFollow RADIO.COMFacebook | Twitter | Instagram

July 28, 2020

Nurses Describe the Mental Toll of Working on the Front Lines of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Since the coronavirus pandemic hit the United States in March, nurses around the country have shared their harrowing stories. Krista Perry, who’s been an intensive care nurse for eight years, recently told "Today" that she has “seen more horrible things” this year than she has in her entire career. “It’s like somebody flipped a switch, and we entered into this kind of alternative reality,” Perry said. Perry works at a hospital in Arizona, where she says her days include comforting end-of-life patients whose families aren’t around and battling being short-staffed working on the front lines. She is just one of the many medical professionals who treat coronavirus every day and whose mental health is suffering. A recent survey from the American Nurses Foundation reported that more than half of nurses feel overwhelmed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Of those 10,000 nurses included in the study, 29% were depressed, and almost three-quarters reported challenges with sleeping. Other studies have shown that nurses die by suicide more often than the general population. A recent study said female nurses are 58% more likely, and male nurses are 41% more like to take their own lives, reported the outlet. “I have a very robust happy life, and to have every day feel like a struggle now I know is directly related to everything going on in the world,” Perry said. "I have nightmares all the time. That's now a normal occurrence," she added. Candice Cordero, an RN in Bradenton, Florida, is currently dealing with the crisis right inside her own home. In late June, several days after treating two patients because they were exposed to COVID-19, her son with asthma tested positive. She said that she was not provided with an N95 mask, and when she spoke up, her hospital allegedly threatened her with “disciplinary action.” “To feel like you’re not protected and then to be threatened on top of that is really demeaning,” she said. “I kind of felt betrayed.” She said that the primary source of stress has been her hospital’s lack of transparency over PPE policies and disclosing coronavirus exposure by staff members. Josh Deal, a nurse manager in North Carolina, worries about the at-home support systems of members of his emergency room staff. "As a supervisor, seeing the stress that goes on in your unit is very taxing," he told the outlet. "People in the medical field don't like taking care of themselves because they're always taking care of others," he said. "We're getting to a point where we have to take care of ourselves." LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM AppFollow RADIO.COMFacebook | Twitter | Instagram

July 28, 2020