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Tag Archives: Recommended
Best Men’s Cologne For 2023: Top 7 Scents Most Recommended By Experts
Your scent is a part of your style and can leave a lasting impact on those who meet you (for better or for worse!). We’re not alone in that feeling, a recent study shows that a man’s scent was a major factor for women seeking a potential partner. Of course, finding the right cologne can be challenging with so many options. Doesn’t it seem like the scents all seem the same after just smelling a few? We’re hoping to make that process easier for you — rather than sniffing bottle after bottle, we took a look at 10 reviews by the pros and came away with the seven best colognes for men.
You can thank us in advance. In general, men who wear cologne may feel more confident, more attractive, and leave a better first impression on others.
If you’re on the dating scene, your cologne choice is an important part of you. A recent study showed that hygiene is a major factor for Americans seeking a partner. Proper hygiene also has powerful benefits, easing stress & anxiety, boosting sleep, and improving self-image. So on top of the basics, guys should look to find a scent that resonates with them.
After all, sense of smell is still one of the most powerful senses we have, even though it’s apparently gotten weaker over time, scientists say. Perhaps because of that slight loss of smell, a high quality cologne can be the perfect solution for those men looking to stand out…whether in the board room or on a date!
Carrying an appealing smell could also help you make friends, perhaps. One study shows that people actually choose their friends — based on how they smell! Researchers in report that people with similar body odors are more likely to become friends. “This is not to say that we act like goats or shrews – humans likely rely on other, far more dominant cues in their social decision-making. Nevertheless, our study’s results do suggest that our nose plays a bigger role than previously thought in our choice of friends,” notes Prof. Noam Sobel of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.
So which men’s cologne is the best? StudyFinds has researched 10 expert websites and compiled a list of the most frequently recommended scents. If you’ve got your own suggestions, please leave them in the comments below!
The List: Top 5 Colognes, According to Experts
1. Bleu de Chanel
Noted for its strong, intriguing scent, Chanel’s Bleu de Chanel landed on seven of our experts’ top lists. Chanel, of course, is widely known in the fragrance industry, with Chanel N° 5 being one of the top selling perfumes within the USA. It’s Bleu, however, that is a heavy favorite for 2023.
Bleu de Chanel has long been a top-selling cologne within the fragrance world, and Men’s Health tells it best, saying ”it’s just plain good.”
The standout scent was praised for its “woody cedar undertone with lingering traces of grapefruit, making it a fresh, clean-smelling option,” according to Brides. Meanwhile, CNN Underscore ranks it tops overall, highlighting how the cologne’s “citrus and amber notes complement each other perfectly, while the cedarwood adds an element of punch.”
2. Dior Sauvage
Dior has long been a player in the high-end luxury fashion market and the Sauvage is no different, having been around since 1966. The Sauvage has been a top selling scent ever since. For those wanting to be noticed for their cologne, it might be the option for you.
This cologne is a more bold choice in scents, reviewers say, though the Robb Report names it the best cologne to wear in the office. CNN Underscore writes that Dior Savage “contains hints of ambroxan, Sichuan pepper and reggio bergamot, making it perfect for the man who wants to stand out from the crowd.”
SPY also highlights the pepper and bergamot hints in its review, and notes the cologne is a great choice if you’re looking to spend under $100. “Complex in composition yet raw in scent, Dior Sauvage evokes grandeur and summons compliments no matter the gathering,” they write.
Adds T3: “Like its poster boy Johnny Depp, Sauvage is an intriguing mix of rugged manliness (vetiver, pepper, patchouli) and borderline feminine refinement (lavender, geranium) that’s hard to pin down, but there’s no end of wearers complimenting its wondrous fusion of scents.”
3. Versace Eros
There may be no bigger name when it comes to men’s fashion than Versace, and Eros is certainly living up to that expectation of the best of the best.
“Playful and warm yet sexy and charming, Eros expertly blends minty freshness with a touch of sweetness for an irresistible result that’s as enchanting as it is tantalizing. Best part: Its cool spiciness means it’s suitable for all seasons,” boasts Forbes.
Even before trying the cologne, reviewers also love the design of the bottle alone. “We don’t know what’s cooler, the beautiful Art Deco–style bottle or the addition of mint in this fresh and tropical scent. Infused with orange, Italian lemon zest, green apple, tonka beans, amber, woody vanilla, vetiver, and moss, this fusion of scents wears well in the summer but is a pretty universal cologne overall,” says Brides.
Like Sauvage, Eros is a statement scent that will have those around you noticing your aroma right away. “The bold mix of citrus and woods in this cologne (think the classic Eros but more intense) is best worn when you want to make an entrance—and leave a lasting impression,” writes Men’s Health.
4. Calvin Klein Eternity
Let’s be honest: There are far too many colognes to choose from and sometimes it’s good to just go with that one great scent that you simply can’t go wrong with. Well, there’s no better choice than Calvin Klein’s longtime favorite Eternity.
“Calvin Klein’s Eternity is an absolute powerhouse of a cologne that dudes have been rocking all over the globe for years. It has an OG-centric aesthetic, making it a must-have for any guy’s cologne collection,” says SPY.
Eternity is also a winner if you’re looking for a cologne to give as a gift because it’s so universally beloved — and because it’s not as expensive as others on the list. “Eternity is evergreen: sage, cedar, bergamot, and moss combine for an earthen and refreshing finish, and at a price that is friendly to the greens in your wallet. This is one of those scents that everyone recognizes, since it’s an easy pick as a signature scent, or as a gift for the cologne-curious,” writes GQ.
5. Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille
If an industry standard like Eternity isn’t for you, Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille is definitely something different worth trying. As Forbes jokes, “The Tobacco Vanille is grandpa’s smoking jacket meeting grandma’s freshly baked vanilla cookies.”
Don’t let that fool you – the Vanille is still an intriguing cologne for men. Forbes adds that the cologne is “a refined balance that is not overly sweet or overly smoky, the smell remains warm, inviting and—most importantly—worthy of compliments.”
Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanille is a scent may appeal to outdoorsy men who enjoy the finer things in life, especially a bold cologne. “With ginger, tobacco and cocoa, this high-end Tom Ford cologne is the ultimate sweet and spicy scent for the person who just can’t pick between the two,” says CNN Underscored.
6. Blu Atlas Atlantis
“Influenced by the scents and sights of the coastal jungle in Bali,” Blu Atlas Atlantis is a newcomer that joined the mix in 2022.
The scent alone is a huge differentiation from the competition, appealing to folks who want to avoid a strong chemical brew. It is made without any phthalates or other unwanted additives, as noted by Forbes. The formula is also vegan and cruelty free.
Perhaps the final selling point of the Blu Atlas Atlantis was the versatility that the scent offers to those who wear it. Men’s Journal notes that its fragrance profile contains “a splash of invigorating citrus top notes, rich floral mid notes and deep, musky base notes that fuse together into a clean and attractive scent that men can wear day in and day out.”
7. Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio
One of the most well-known cologne brands, and a staple within the industry since its inception in 1996, Acqua di Gio by Giorgio Armani is another one of those “can’t go wrong” bottles.
Acqua di Gio’s scent, a combination of “bergamot, neroli, rosemary, and patchouli to scream earthy in the best way” (Brides) give this cologne a great smell without being too overpowering. Other expert sites mention hints of marine, lavender, and green tangerine.
The Armani cologne also received high praise for its extended life and wearability, meaning your scent won’t quickly go away. In fact, Men’s Health notes the scent has “eternal wearability.”
Though eternal might be a little long, they were not alone in this analysis. Men’s Journal also comments that Acqua di Gio “will keep you smelling effortlessly fresh, even after a long day.”
Sources:
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.
24 Switch Games We Missed, As Recommended By You
Back in September, we asked you lovely readers to tell us what hidden gems slipped through our fingers. You championed them, and our backlog (both personal and professional) is feeling even more daunting.
We’re not kidding when we say we had tons of nominations, and as a result, whittling down the list was no easy feat. Even so, this is our biggest list of ‘Reader Recommendations’ yet, with 24 titles piquing our interest. But don’t worry, even if your recommendation didn’t make it onto the list, it’s still staring at us wistfully. Perhaps part 6 will come to pass very soon — this is the first one we’ve done this year and the first in over a year. And we love to hear from you all! So if you still think we’re missing something, or you have another recommendation, follow the instructions at the end of the article to nominate more!
As always, thank you so much for responding to our rallying cry. As always, we’ve discounted nominations for games we have already reviewed and assembled the following list of games we missed. Each entry features a brief user comment or two (lightly edited in some cases for spelling and brevity), plus a trailer to give you some highlights from the game. And, right at the end, you can vote in our poll and check out what games others have been playing. Perhaps your next favourite is right here on this list — and maybe ours is, too.
And with that all out of the way, in no particular order, here are twenty-four NL reader recommendations you should look out for:
Publisher: United Label / Developer: Odd Bug Studio
Release Date: 17th Sep 2021 (USA) / 17th Sep 2021 (UK/EU)
Need more playable mice in your video games? And not just the cute variety? Ross Farrey has a Metroidvania for you (and us) in Tails of Iron:
“Tails of Iron is a deeply satisfying 2D Metroidvania set in a kingdom of rats devastated by grotesque frog-like creatures. The game is tough, yet accessible, and combat has a deliberate tactical feel, much like Dark Souls — but the twist is that every enemy attack is telegraphed. Your job is to react quickly with the correct action. Blows, blocks and parries have a weighty thump giving each encounter a delightfully visceral feel. As you explore the kingdom, smash beasties, and die a lot, the once dilapidated land comes back to life with song, colour and changing scenery. It’s lovely.”
Publisher: Draknek & Friends / Developer: Corey Martin
Release Date: 30th Sep 2021 (USA) / 30th Sep 2021 (UK/EU)
The beautiful, blocky 3D pixels in Bonfire Peaks make it eye-catching, but there is so much more beyond the flames, as Raymond Benson points out:
“My pick is Bonfire Peaks. It’s a challenging puzzle game about moving boxes to a fireplace. The vibe of the game is very relaxing and its puzzles are endlessly clever, full of ‘you could do that the entire time?’ moments. The overworld itself is also a grander puzzle that involves using the rewards from the completed puzzles to progress forward.”
Publisher: Laundry Bear Games
Release Date: 14th Feb 2020 (USA)
Everyone deserves some love in their lives, and Speed Dating for Ghosts shows us that even the undead can find love in the afterlife. McGloomy explains this game’s charm:
“Speed Dating for Ghosts doesn’t disappoint because it’s exactly what it says on the tin, and more. I expected a quirky dating sim, but to my surprise, the game also deals with the darker and more melancholic sides of death and the afterlife. Its scribbled art style, little use of color and subtle soundtrack create a minimalistic atmosphere that allows your imagination to fill in the gaps – while the player gets to know the ghosts they’re dating better.”
Developer: Die Gute Fabrik
Release Date: 26th May 2021 (USA) / 26th May 2021 (UK/EU)
“Juicy personal drama” on the go? Mutazione’s lovely minimalist style and mutant characters hide a heartfelt story, as McGloomy reveals:
“Mutazione was released a year ago and always felt a bit overlooked on the Switch to me. Inspired by everything from Studio Ghibli films to soap operas, the game tells the story of a girl visiting an island inhabited by a community of (mostly) friendly mutants. Its slice-of-life narrative is built around bigger mysteries and the game’s interesting characters make it a great option for fans of games like Night in the Woods. In the months since Mutazione’s release, there have been two updates full of fanservice that show how much the developers care about this game and its world.”
Publisher: Sumire / Developer: GameTomo
Release Date: 27th May 2021 (USA) / 27th May 2021 (UK/EU)
Sumire’s critical acclaim is attributed to more than just its stunning graphics, as Pramath vouches for:
“I don’t remember the last time a game took so much out of me emotionally — Sumire is incredible on so many levels. It’s a very sad game, but it’s also extremely hopeful. The themes and core message resonate and are universally identifiable. The writing is remarkably straightforward but very, VERY strong. The characters are all fleshed out and the dialog is authentic and makes the cast feel real. And, as well as the gorgeous art style and beautiful music, unlike so many indie games of this nature, the gameplay is great too, featuring some well thought out puzzles and legitimately fun gameplay loops.”
Publisher: Aksys Games / Developer: Experience
Release Date: 25th Feb 2022 (USA) / 25th Feb 2022 (UK/EU)
Akysys Games has a pretty unique library of games, and Tobias Ayling things we’ve missed a gem in dungeon-crawler Undernauts: Labyrinth of Yomi:
“This game simply oozes character and subtle menace. Take an old-school turn-based first-person dungeon-crawler, file off the fantasy trappings and layer it in ’70s Japanese pulp horror. Insert a subtext around the capitalist exploitation of workers, some wry nods to Japanese game staples, and mix in absolutely impeccable sound, graphics and system design, and it all gels into a beautifully sinister whole. Finally, use thumbnail character biographies and brief conversations to elucidate the grinding depths of horror and anguish that choke the world and you’ll have reached Yomi. Your job is to make it out alive.”
Publisher: Playdius
Release Date: 13th Sep 2018 (USA) / 13th Sep 2018 (UK/EU)
Rhythm games are few and far between nowadays, but Ilya Zverev has one that’s both short and also pays tribute to some of our favourite games from the ’90s in Old School Musical:
“I’d suggest Old School Musical. It’s short, easy to get into, and an absolute blast of a rhythm game. You travel across various ’90s game homages, but you do not play them: instead, you press buttons to the rhythm of the music while characters are playing the game for you. Miss a button press, and they get hit. Replayability is good, there’s an infinite chicken world, and you can try beating the game at higher difficulty levels.”
Publisher: TECOPARK
Release Date: 8th Jun 2019 (USA) / 8th Jun 2019 (UK/EU)
Tired of playing against 5+ people? Pico Park lets you work together with bigger teams of friends, and is full of cute, pixelated cats! Ilya Zverev thinks this is one that we’ll love:
“Pico Park is a marvel of co-op multiplayer. It’s one of the few Switch games that you can play with 5+ players, and not against each other. Instead, you collaborate on solving dozens of platforming puzzles. Each of you has to perform perfectly, which leads to lots of failures and laughs in the process. And all characters are cats!”
Adults With a History of Childhood Trauma Can Benefit From Recommended Depression Treatments, Contrary to Current Theory
Summary: Patients with major depressive disorder who experienced trauma during childhood see symptom improvement following psychopharmacological intervention, psychotherapy, or a combination of both.
Source: The Lancet
Adults with major depressive disorder who have a history of childhood trauma experience symptom improvement after pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, or combination treatment.
The results of a new study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, suggest that contrary to current theory, these common treatments for major depressive disorder are effective for patients with childhood trauma.
Childhood trauma (defined as emotional/physical neglect or emotional/physical/sexual abuse before the age of 18) is known to be a risk factor for the development of major depressive disorder in adulthood, often producing symptoms that are earlier onset, longer lasting/more frequently recurring, and with increased risk of morbidity.
Previous studies have suggested that adults and adolescents with depression and childhood trauma were around 1.5 times more likely to not respond or remit after pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, or combination treatment, than those without childhood trauma.
“This study is the largest of its kind to look at the effectiveness of depression treatments for adults with childhood trauma and is also the first to compare the effect of active treatment with control condition (waitlist, placebo, or care-as-usual) for this population.
“Around 46% of adults with depression have a history of childhood trauma, and for chronic depression sufferers the prevalence is even higher. It is therefore important to determine whether current treatments offered for major depressive disorder are effective for patients with childhood trauma,” says Ph.D. Candidate and first author of the study, Erika Kuzminskaite.
The researchers used data from 29 clinical trials of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy treatments for major depressive disorder in adults, covering a maximum of 6,830 patients. Of the participants, 4,268 or 62.5% reported a history of childhood trauma. Most of the clinical trials (15, 51.7%) were conducted in Europe, followed by North America (9, 31%). Depression severity measures were determined using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) or Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD).
The three research questions tested were: whether childhood trauma patients were more severely depressed prior to treatment, whether there were more unfavorable outcomes following active treatments for patients with childhood trauma, and whether childhood trauma patients were less likely to benefit from active treatment than control condition.
In line with the results of previous studies, patients with childhood trauma showed greater symptom severity at the start of treatment than patients without childhood trauma, highlighting the importance of taking symptom severity into account when calculating treatment effects.
Although childhood trauma patients reported more depressive symptoms at both the start and end of the treatment, they experienced similar symptom improvement compared to patients without childhood trauma history.
Treatment dropout rates were also similar for patients with and without childhood trauma. The measured treatment efficacy did not vary by childhood trauma type, depression diagnosis, assessment method of childhood trauma, study quality, year, treatment type or length.
“Finding that patients with depression and childhood trauma experience similar treatment outcome when compared to patients without trauma can give hope to people who have experienced childhood trauma. Nevertheless, residual symptoms following treatment in patients with childhood trauma warrant more clinical attention as additional interventions may still be needed.
“To provide further meaningful progress and improve outcomes for individuals with childhood trauma, future research is necessary to examine long-term treatment outcomes and mechanisms through which childhood trauma exerts its long-lasting effects,” says Erika Kuzminskaite.
The authors acknowledge some limitations with this study, including a high variety of results among the studies included in the meta-analysis, and all cases of childhood trauma being reported retrospectively.
The meta-analysis focused on symptom decline during acute treatment phase, but people with depression and childhood trauma often show post-treatment residual symptoms and are characterized by a high risk of relapse, thus they may benefit from treatment significantly less than patients without childhood trauma in the long run. The study design also did not account for differences between genders.
Writing in a linked Comment, Antoine Yrondi, University of Toulouse, France (who was not involved in the research) said, “This meta-analysis could allow to deliver a hopeful message to patients with childhood trauma that evidence-based psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy could improve depressive symptoms.
“However, physicians should keep in mind that childhood trauma could be associated with clinical features which may make it more difficult to reach complete symptomatic remission, and therefore, have an impact on the daily functioning.”
See also
About this depression and child abuse research news
Author: Press Office
Source: The Lancet
Contact: Press Office – The Lancet
Image: The image is in the public domain
Original Research: Closed access.
“Treatment efficacy and effectiveness in adults with major depressive disorder and childhood trauma history: a systematic review and meta-analysis” by Erika Kuzminskaite et al. Lancet Psychiatry
Abstract
Treatment efficacy and effectiveness in adults with major depressive disorder and childhood trauma history: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Background
Childhood trauma is a common and potent risk factor for developing major depressive disorder in adulthood, associated with earlier onset, more chronic or recurrent symptoms, and greater probability of having comorbidities. Some studies indicate that evidence-based pharmacotherapies and psychotherapies for adult depression might be less efficacious in patients with a history of childhood trauma than patients without childhood trauma, but findings are inconsistent. Therefore, we examined whether individuals with major depressive disorder, including chronic forms of depression, and a reported history of childhood trauma, had more severe depressive symptoms before treatment, had more unfavourable treatment outcomes following active treatments, and were less likely to benefit from active treatments relative to a control condition, compared with individuals with depression without childhood trauma.
Methods
We did a comprehensive meta-analysis (PROSPERO CRD42020220139). Study selection combined the search of bibliographical databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, and Embase) from Nov 21, 2013, to March 16, 2020, and full-text randomised clinical trials (RCTs) identified from several sources (1966 up to 2016–19) to identify articles in English. RCTs and open trials comparing the efficacy or effectiveness of evidence-based pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, or combination intervention for adult patients with depressive disorders and the presence or absence of childhood trauma were included. Two independent researchers extracted study characteristics. Group data for effect-size calculations were requested from study authors. The primary outcome was depression severity change from baseline to the end of the acute treatment phase, expressed as standardised effect size (Hedges’ g). Meta-analyses were done using random-effects models.
Findings
From 10 505 publications, 54 trials met the inclusion criteria, of which 29 (20 RCTs and nine open trials) contributed data of a maximum of 6830 participants (age range 18–85 years, male and female individuals and specific ethnicity data unavailable). More than half (4268 [62%] of 6830) of patients with major depressive disorder reported a history of childhood trauma. Despite having more severe depression at baseline (g=0·202, 95% CI 0·145 to 0·258, I2=0%), patients with childhood trauma benefitted from active treatment similarly to patients without childhood trauma history (treatment effect difference between groups g=0·016, –0·094 to 0·125, I2=44·3%), with no significant difference in active treatment effects (vs control condition) between individuals with and without childhood trauma (childhood trauma g=0·605, 0·294 to 0·916, I2=58·0%; no childhood trauma g=0·178, –0·195 to 0·552, I2=67·5%; between-group difference p=0·051), and similar dropout rates (risk ratio 1·063, 0·945 to 1·195, I2=0%). Findings did not significantly differ by childhood trauma type, study design, depression diagnosis, assessment method of childhood trauma, study quality, year, or treatment type or length, but differed by country (North American studies showed larger treatment effects for patients with childhood trauma; false discovery rate corrected p=0·0080). Most studies had a moderate to high risk of bias (21 [72%] of 29), but the sensitivity analysis in low-bias studies yielded similar findings to when all studies were included.
Interpretation
Contrary to previous studies, we found evidence that the symptoms of patients with major depressive disorder and childhood trauma significantly improve after pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments, notwithstanding their higher severity of depressive symptoms. Evidence-based psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy should be offered to patients with major depressive disorder regardless of childhood trauma status.
Funding
None.
Exercise more than recommended amounts for longest life, study says
Adults should get 150 to 300 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous physical activity a week, according to the World Health Organization. But people who surpass those levels live longer than those who don’t.
“It is also important to note that we found no harmful association among individuals who reported (more than four times) the recommended minimum levels of long-term leisure-time moderate and vigorous physical activity,” he added in an email.
Examples of moderate activity include a very brisk walk, mowing the lawn or playing tennis doubles, while vigorous activity includes things like hiking, jogging or playing soccer, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
The study results support WHO’s current physical activity guidelines, but also pushes for higher levels to see even more benefit in living a longer life, Lee said.
How to add more movement
You may be thinking, “10 hours a week of moderate activity sounds like a lot. There is no way I can work that in with all my other responsibilities.”
And yes, it may take some intentionality and effort. But studies have also shown the best ways to work in exercise into routines so that they stick.
A megastudy published in December 2021 showed that the best exercise programs include planning when you work out, getting reminders, offering incentives and discouraging missing more than one planned workout in a row.
“If people are hoping to boost their physical activity or change their health behaviors, there are very low-cost behavioral insights that can be built into programs to help them achieve greater success,” said the December study’s lead author Katy Milkman, the James G. Dinan Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and author of “How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be.”
And you don’t have to add it all in at once. Just 11 minutes of exercise a day made a difference on life span, according to a 2021 study.
You can make it a brisk walk outside or on the treadmill, do four sets of a three-minute body-weight exercise sequence, practice a yoga flow or pick three upbeat songs to dance to, said CNN fitness contributor Dana Santas, a certified strength and conditioning specialist and mind-body coach in professional sports.
Masks recommended indoors in 9 N.J. counties with ‘high’ COVID risk, CDC says
Masks are now recommended for indoor public places and on public transportation in nine New Jersey counties for the first time since federal COVID-19 risk guidelines were updated in February.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention elevated the nine counties in the state to “high” transmission risk for COVID-19 as cases continue to steadily increase. New Jersey reported 5,309 confirmed positive tests on Friday, the first time more than 5,000 cases have been reported since late January during the winter omicron wave.
The counties ranked as “high” risk include Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Gloucester, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean and Sussex, according to the CDC’s metrics.
Eleven counties are in the medium risk category: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Union, and Warren. Warren County is in the low risk category. Masks are not recommended in the medium and low regions.
Gov. Phil Murphy ended remaining statewide mask mandates for schools and public transit in March as the omicron wave eased. He said as recently as last month that he doesn’t envision a return to statewide mask rules or other restrictions.
Murphy’s office did not immediately respond Friday afternoon to a request for comment on nine counties being elevated to high transmission risk.
The CDC’s revised metrics introduced in February take into account case rate by population over the last seven days along with hospital admissions and hospital capacity.
New Jersey’s 71 hospitals had 727 patients with confirmed or suspected coronavirus as of Thursday night, down 16 patients from the previous night. Still, the numbers of hospitalized coronavirus remain far lower than when they peaked at 6,089 on Jan. 10 during the omicron wave.
The state’s seven-day average for confirmed positive tests increased to 3,453 on Friday, up 39% from a week ago, and up 136% from a month ago. Cases have been steadily rising for the past month, despite concerns that wide availability of at-home rapid tests are going uncounted because they are not reported to health officials.
New Jersey has seen the BA.2 strain of COVID-19 spread for weeks, however, at lower rates than the sweeping omicron surge in late 2021 through January. The latest strain of the virus apparently spreads more easily but does not lead to more serious illnesses.
NJ Advance Media staff writers Brent Johnson and Deion Johnson contributed to this report.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.
Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com.
High level of COVID-19 in Metro Detroit; indoor masking recommended
DETROIT – As COVID-19 cases climb back up in Michigan, the CDC is once again recommending everyone in Metro Detroit to mask up indoors and take the necessary precautions.
A newly released CDC map shows Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Livingston and St. Clair counties with a high level of community transmission of the virus, which means there’s a greater risk of catching it.
Because of this, schools are also being urged to mask up.
On Wednesday, the state reported 27,705 new cases over seven days, averaging out to 3,900 cases per day. That’s well above last week’s average of 2,700 cases per day.
Seventy-six deaths are also reported over that same seven day period.
That number may not reflect home test results if those cases aren’t reported to the state.
Copyright 2022 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
Indoor masking recommended again in Northeast counties
Although COVID-19 infection and hospitalizations rates have been steadily on the rise across the United States, nowhere have the increases been more significant than in the Northeast.
Across the New England and greater New York and New Jersey regions, infection rates are nearing their highest levels in three months. COVID-19 related hospitalizations are increasing too — with daily admissions levels more than doubling in the last month.
Overnight, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its community risk levels, pushing many counties across the Northeast, particularly in New York and Massachusetts, to the “high” alert level. The “high” community level suggests there is a “high potential for healthcare system strain” and a “high level of severe disease”, and thus, the CDC recommends that people wear a mask in public indoor settings, including schools.
“If we were still using the original CDC COVID-19 risk classification, the northeast would be bright red, indicating uncontrolled community spread. This part of the country has some of the highest vaccination and booster rates, yet infections are still increasing,” Dr. Maureen Miller, professor of epidemiology at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, told ABC News.
Although Manhattan and the rest of New York City are still considered “medium” risk, transmission rates have increased by nearly 33% in the last 10 days. Much of upstate New York is also now colored in orange for “high” risk.
Suffolk County, home to the city of Boston, as well as six other surrounding counties in Massachusetts are also now considered communities at “high” risk. Across the greater Boston area, wastewater levels are at their highest point since early February, with 20 to 29 year-old residents reporting the highest numbers of infections.
In many areas of Vermont and Maine, community levels have also reached the high or medium risk threshold, data shows. And across the region, six Northeast states — Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey — have the highest number of new cases, per capita, over the last week, of all 50 states.
“I do think that the wave we’re seeing is a real one, and probably much bigger than we appreciate. Since most cases of COVID-19 are not being reported — because people are testing at home or not at all — I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that the number of daily infections now is higher than during delta, maybe even winter 2020-21,” David Dowdy, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told ABC News.
Health experts say the increases are driven by a confluence of factors, including the easing of masking requirements and other COVID-19 restrictions, as well as highly contagious omicron subvariants, most notably, BA.1.12.1. The subvariant is projected to account for about 36.5% of cases nationwide and 62% of infections in the New York-New Jersey region. BA.1.12.1 is estimated to be between 30% and 80% more transmissible than the original omicron strain.
“It is becoming clear that the latest version of omicron BA.2 and its offspring BA2.12.1 can evade immunity developed as a result of an original omicron infection. Vaccination for those who were infected–even with omicron–is still highly recommended to prevent the severe outcomes experienced primarily by the unvaccinated,” Miller said. “The big game changer in how this wave plays out is human behavior. There is now a huge body of evidence that proves that mask wearing helps slow the spread of COVID-19… I wear a mask every time I enter an indoor public place, from the supermarket to an airplane. Life can go on, but you need to be smart about it.”
Amid looming questions surrounding a potential return of mask and vaccine mandates, New York City Mayor Adams said Friday that officials are closely monitoring the increases, reiterating that the city will be ready to “pivot and shift” should reinstating mitigation measures be deemed necessary.
“We can’t control what this virus is doing. But we can control our response and we’re doing that,” Adams said Friday during an on-camera press conference. “Yes, we are concerned [about the numbers]. Yes, we are. But preparation, not panic, preparation, not panic. We are prepared as the city and we’re not going to panic.”
When asked whether the city would consider reinstating its mask mandate for K-12 schools and proof of vaccination requirement, Adams insisted that the city is “not there yet.”
“We’re going to pivot and shift like COVID pivots and shifts. Every morning we meet, and based on that outcome of our meetings, we’ll making an announcement where we’re going to go, if this stays at this level, we may pivot and shift and still do mandates, and we see an increase in hospitalization and deaths, that is alarming, we may shift. COVID pivots and shifts, I’m going to pivot and shift,” Adams reiterated. “No matter what happens, we’re going to make a determination after we have our morning meetings.”
Adams lauded the city’s high vaccination and booster rates, as well as access to at-home tests, which he said is helping to prevent a significant surge in hospitalizations and deaths.
Earlier this week, New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan told CNBC that if infections and hospitalizations continue to rise, masking and vaccination requirements certainly could return.
“It’s clear that if we moved into a high risk and high alert environment, we’d be seriously considering bringing those mandates back,” Vasan said on Tuesday.
Indoor masking ‘strongly recommended’ but still optional in Chicago and in schools as COVID-19 numbers climb – Chicago Tribune
Chicago health officials announced Friday that indoor masking is once again “strongly recommended” — but not required — in the city as the risk of contracting COVID-19 in Cook County has increased.
Chicago’s public health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady made the advisory after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention deemed Cook County is now in the “medium” risk level for community transmission. The metrics are based on a combination of new cases and hospitalizations, but the medium category is automatically reached if weekly cases surpass 200 positive tests per 100,000 residents.
Arwady stressed that even though the county was in the medium risk category the city is not near reinstating mandates on indoor masking or proof-of-vaccination, though Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Transit Authority also are “encouraging” indoor masking.
“Chicago moving into the medium level does not mean a citywide mask mandate, restrictions on public gatherings, or reinstatement of vaccination requirements at this time,” Arwady said in a statement. “With the way the current COVID variants are behaving, those are measures we would consider if we reached the high COVID-19 community level — which we aren’t close to reaching in Chicago right now.”
At CPS, employees and parents received a letter from CPS CEO Pedro Martinez stating that the district will “continue strongly encouraging the use of masks in our schools,” especially among unvaccinated students, but it will not restore the mask mandate it dropped in March. Martinez said in the letter that CPS will follow the recommendations of the Chicago Department of Public Health.
Martinez noted the positivity rate of the district’s in-school COVID-19 testing program is 0.68% while the city’s positivity rate is 3.9%. The 0.68% positivity rate is the highest for the district’s testing program since January, near the end of the highly contagious omicron variant. CPS case numbers have been rising since students returned from spring break last month.
Last month, Arwady suggested a medium level designation could lead to a reinstated mask mandate at CPS, but this week she said only at high risk will any form of a mask requirement be put in place.
Technically this past week, the city of Chicago stood at 195 new cases per 100,000 residents — just below the 200-case threshold. But Arwady said the city would follow Cook County if the county broke 200 cases per 100,000 first. Cook County is at 259 cases per 100,000 residents, according to CDC data. Still, COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU capacity remain low for both the city and the county.
The developments come one week after suburban Cook County areas reached the medium risk level, prompting officials to also recommend indoor masking, and as COVID-19 numbers climb across Illinois.
Statewide, health officials on Friday reported 7,709 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19, a level not seen since early February. Over the past week, the state has averaged 4,376 new cases per day, up from an average of 1,426 daily cases just one month ago.
While the CDC only tracks its community levels on a county-by-county basis, Illinois as a whole has a weekly case rate of 240 per 100,000 residents. In addition to Cook County, all five collar counties and eight others in northern and central Illinois are now at medium level, where older residents and those with compromised immune systems are encouraged to wear masks indoors.
Still, Amaal Tokars, acting director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, said in statement Friday that the agency “would stress this (is) not a cause for alarm.”
Those at greater risk for severe outcomes from COVID should “exercise caution,” and everyone should make sure they are up to date on their vaccinations, she said.
The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19, while still relatively low, also is increasing statewide.
As of Thursday night, there were 808 COVID-19 patients in hospitals statewide, up from 515 a month earlier. Hospitalizations for COVID-19 hit an all-time high of 7,380 on Jan. 12, the height of the winter surge driven by the omicron surge.
Deaths have remained low, with the state averaging seven per day over the past week, including seven reported Friday. In all, the statewide death toll stands at 33,660 since the pandemic began.
ayin@chicagotribune.com
tswartz@chicagotribune.com
Tribune reporter Dan Petrella contributed.
Aspirin no longer recommended to prevent 1st heart attack, stroke for most adults over 60
The new guidelines do not change for people who have had a heart attack.
For years, doctors recommended people in their 50s start taking baby aspirin every day to protect against heart attacks and stroke. But in recent years, with new evidence of the possible harm of daily aspirin, health experts shifted those recommendations.
In major new guidance, an influential physician task force no longer recommends daily aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke among people 60 and older. Meanwhile, the new guidance said people 40 to 59 should only take it if they have a high risk of cardiovascular disease, and in consultation with a doctor. There is little benefit in continuing aspirin beyond the age of 75 years old, experts concluded.
The new guidance comes from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), an influential physician group that helps guide medical best practices.
Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death in the United States, accounting for more than one in four deaths. While daily aspirin use has been shown to lower the chance of having a first heart attack or stroke, it can also increase the risk for bleeding in the brain, stomach and intestines. Although the absolute risk of a bleeding event is low, the risk increases with age.
“Based on current evidence, the task force recommends against people 60 and older starting to take aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke,” task force vice chair Dr. Michael Barry, professor of Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, told ABC News. “Because the chance of internal bleeding increases with age, the potential harms of aspirin use cancel out the benefits in this age group.”
“People who are 40 to 59 years old and don’t have a history of cardiovascular disease but are at higher risk may benefit from starting to take aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke,” task force member Dr. John Wong, interim Chief Scientific Officer and Professor of Medicine at Tufts Medical Center, told ABC News. “It’s important that they decide together with their healthcare professional if starting aspirin is right for them because daily aspirin does come with possible serious harms.”
“It is important for the public to understand that for the vast majority of Americans without pre-existing heart disease, aspirin does not provide a net benefit. The harms are approximately equal to any benefits. The USPSTF is just catching up with this widely accepted scientific viewpoint. For nearly 20 years the FDA has advised against routine use of aspirin for prevention in patients without heart disease,” Dr. Steven Nissen, cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic, told ABC News.
The new recommendations were aimed at people who have not yet started taking a daily aspirin. The panel of experts did not issue guidance for people who are already taking a daily aspirin, and the updated news does not necessarily mean people should stop taking it if prescribed by a doctor.
“We want to emphasize that these recommendations are focused on starting aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke. Anyone who already takes aspirin and has questions about it should speak with their healthcare professional,” Wong said.
The new guidelines do not change for people who have had a heart attack, stroke or other major cardiovascular issue. The recommendation for using aspirin to protect them from a second event remains strong.
Recommendations on daily aspirin to prevent disease have shifted in recent years. In 2016, the preventive services task force recommended people in their 50s at risk for heart disease take baby aspirin to prevent both cardiovascular disease and colon cancer. But updated recommendations based on additional research found benefits may not outweigh the risk, concluding the best colon cancer prevention is routine screening beginning at the age of 45.
Dr. Chineze Akusoba is an Internal Medicine resident at the Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota, and a contributor on the ABC News Medical Unit.