WASHINGTON, May 18 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden's daughter Ashley Biden has tested positive for COVID-19, the White House said on Wednesday. Therefore, Ashley Biden dropped out of a foreign trip with first lady Jill Biden to Latin America, spokesman Michael LaRose told reporters. Ashley Biden was not considered a close contact to either Joe Biden or his wife, LaRose said. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines close contact as someone who is less than 6 feet (1.8 meters) away from an infected individual for more than 15 minutes. The infection is the latest to affect Joe Biden's inner circle. A series of Biden administration officials have recently tested positive for COVID-19, including Vice President Kamala Harris. Valerie Biden Owens, Joe Biden's sister, contracted the virus in April. The United States has reported more than 83 million COVID-19 cases and 1 million deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. "We're also … [Read more...] about Biden’s daughter tests positive for COVID-19
Rochelle
Colorado’s COVID hospitalizations rising faster, though they’re still relatively low
COVID-19 hospitalizations are rising faster in Colorado than in recent weeks — though they still remain at relatively low levels — as new infections and the rate at which people are testing positive for the virus continue their upward trajectory in the state. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported 144 people were hospitalized statewide with COVID-19 as of Tuesday afternoon, up from 116 a week earlier and 77 at the most recent low point on April 12. That’s a 24% rise in one week, which is significant, said Talia Quandelacy, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health. “That’s a fairly steep climb,” she said. “What we’re starting to see is the reflection of the surge in cases.” It’s not clear how many people have been admitted solely due to COVID-19; tested positive when admitted for something unrelated; or fall into a middle ground, where the virus may have exacerbated a pre-existing health condition. The state … [Read more...] about Colorado’s COVID hospitalizations rising faster, though they’re still relatively low
A woman’s word: Abdullah Khan reviews ‘The Punch Magazine Anthology of New Writing’
Stories by 18 women capture the nuances of socio-political conflicts of our times and meditate on issues such as identity The most interesting part about The Punch Magazine Anthology of New Writing: Select Short Stories by Women Writers is that there is no thematic thread here, and all 18 contributors have different socio-cultural backgrounds. They are women with different writing styles and sensibilities. The book opens with an introduction by editor Shireen Quadri, who explains the context of bringing authors of different genres and nationalities together. According to her, these stories “reflect a certain kind of sensibility and sensitivity”. As a reader, you can’t agree more. The stories capture the nuances of socio-political conflicts of our times and meditate on issues such as identity and the growing wedge between communities. Vineetha Mokkil’s intelligently rendered story ‘Sunday, Bloody Sunday’ talks about the impact of political propaganda by the rightwing on the … [Read more...] about A woman’s word: Abdullah Khan reviews ‘The Punch Magazine Anthology of New Writing’