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Business

Gold Price Soars: Expert Says It’s Time to Buy?

by Priya Shah – Business Editor September 7, 2025

written by Priya Shah – Business Editor

Gold Prices Hit Record High: Experts Say Now is the Time to Buy

Jakarta, Indonesia ‌ – Antam gold prices surged to a new all-time high ⁤on Saturday, September 6, 2025, reaching Rp 2,060,000 per gram. This latest peak surpasses the previous⁤ record of Rp 2,044,000 set just two days prior, on September ‌4th.

According to currency analyst Ibrahim Assuaibi,⁣ this presents a favorable prospect for⁢ investors looking to‌ enter the ⁤gold market. While a price correction ⁣is anticipated before the US Federal Reserve meeting ‍scheduled for September 16-17, Assuaibi believes this dip ⁤will be limited. He forecasts the potential for global gold prices to reach US $3,700 per troy ounce in the ⁢near future, and remains optimistic about a continued upward trend through 2029.

“world gold prices could‌ very well reach US‌ $3,700,” Assuaibi stated. “I’m ⁣still confident we’ll see a steady climb in global ⁤gold prices extending into 2029.”

He strongly ⁣advises prospective investors to begin making purchases now, ⁤even wiht the possibility of a ‌correction. “It’s a good time to ⁢buy, as any correction will likely be moderate due to the imbalance between supply and demand.⁤ Even if the⁤ price drops, it won’t be a drastic fall,” he ‌explained.

Several factors‍ are driving this surge ‍in⁢ gold prices.‌ Ongoing global geopolitical instability,‌ coupled with ⁢controversial policies enacted by ⁢US President Donald Trump, are ⁢contributing to ⁤market fluctuations.Furthermore, weak US ⁢economic data released on

September 7, 2025 0 comments

News

Southwest COVID Rates Surge to 12.5%, LA County at Highest Level Since February

by Emma Walker – News Editor August 17, 2025

written by Emma Walker – News Editor

COVID-19 Cases Surge in Southwest amid new Variant and ⁢Policy Shifts

Table of Contents

COVID-19 Cases Surge in Southwest amid new Variant and ⁢Policy Shifts

The Southwestern United States is experiencing a ⁤meaningful ‍increase in COVID-19 infections, wiht‍ a positivity⁤ rate reaching 12.5%, the highest in the nation. Los Angeles County is also reporting the highest levels of the virus in its wastewater since February, signaling a renewed wave of the respiratory illness.

The Rise of the⁢ ‘stratus’ Variant

This surge is attributed to the emergence ⁣and rapid spread of a new, highly contagious variant named “Stratus.” First identified in Asia in January, the strain arrived in⁤ the U.S. in⁢ March and quickly became dominant⁣ by⁢ the end of June. Currently, Stratus accounts ⁢for approximately⁣ two-thirds of all COVID-19 variants detected through⁤ wastewater surveillance nationwide according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The SARS-cov-2 virus, responsible for COVID-19, is known for its ability to mutate, enhancing its transmissibility and ability to evade immunity‌ developed‌ through prior infections⁢ or ⁢vaccinations.

National Trends and Vaccination rates

Nationally, the COVID-19 positivity rate reached 9% in early August, exceeding levels seen‍ after the winter holidays. While this‌ is still below the peak of 18% recorded last August,health officials are closely monitoring the trend. Fortunately,⁢ weekly reported deaths remain relatively low, though this metric typically lags ⁤behind infection rates.

Southwest COVID Rates Surge to 12.5%, LA County at Highest Level Since February

Policy Changes and Public Health Debate

The increase in cases comes as students return to classrooms across ‌California without a universal advice from the CDC for updated COVID-19 vaccinations. This policy shift was spearheaded by Health‌ and Human Services ⁣Secretary⁤ Robert F. Kennedy Jr., ‍a move⁢ that has ⁢drawn criticism from numerous public health‌ experts.

Did You Know?‍ The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) continues⁣ to recommend updated COVID-19 vaccinations alongside annual flu shots, citing data showing‍ a 44% reduction in hospitalization risk⁢ and a 23% reduction in mortality ⁣with booster doses according to the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality ‍Weekly Report.

In May, Secretary Kennedy ‍Jr. announced‍ the CDC’s decision to remove the COVID-19 vaccine from the recommended immunization schedule for healthy children and⁣ pregnant women. He argued this reversed a previous Biden governance policy that “urged healthy children to get yet another COVID shot, despite the lack of any clinical data to support‌ the repeat booster strategy in children.”

This decision immediately prompted a ‍lawsuit from leading‌ medical organizations, ⁢including the American academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians, and the American Public health Association.The organizations ‌contend the decision was “baseless ⁣and⁣ uninformed” and violated federal law by disregarding the recommendations of⁤ the scientific committee responsible for immunization practices.

COVID-19 Vaccination Rates – 2024-2025

Group	COVID-19 Booster Rate	Flu⁣ Shot Rate
Adults	23%	50%
Children	13%	50%

Despite the ACIP’s continued recommendations, the CDC estimates that ⁢only 23% of adults and 13% of⁤ children have received the 2024-25 COVID-19 booster. This is considerably lower than the approximately 50% of ‌adults and children who received the updated flu shot during the same ‌period.

Pro ⁢Tip: Staying informed about local COVID-19 levels and following public health guidelines, such as practicing good hygiene and considering masking in crowded indoor spaces, can help protect yourself and others.

What factors do you think are contributing to the lower uptake of COVID-19 boosters compared to flu shots? How⁢ can public health officials better communicate‌ the benefits of vaccination ⁣to ‍the public?

Understanding⁢ COVID-19: A Long-Term ‌Viewpoint

The COVID-19 ⁤pandemic has fundamentally altered global health practices and highlighted the importance of preparedness for emerging infectious diseases. The virus’s ‌ability to mutate and⁤ evade immunity underscores the need ‌for ongoing surveillance, vaccine development, and public health infrastructure investment. ⁣ The long-term effects of COVID-19, frequently enough referred to as “long COVID,” continue to be studied, ⁤with research focusing on the impact on various organ ⁣systems and the development⁣ of effective treatments.

Frequently Asked Questions About⁤ COVID-19

What are the common symptoms ‍of the Stratus variant? The most common symptoms remain fever, chills, and sore throat, but can also include cough, fatigue, and loss of taste or smell.
Is the COVID-19 vaccine still effective against the Stratus variant? While the vaccine’s effectiveness may be reduced against⁣ infection, it continues to provide significant protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
Should I get a COVID-19 booster? ⁣The CDC recommends that most⁢ Americans receive an updated COVID-19 booster, especially⁣ those at higher risk of severe illness.
What can I do to protect myself from COVID-19? Practice good hygiene, wear ‍a mask in crowded indoor spaces, and stay up-to-date ‌on vaccinations.
Where can I find more ⁢data about COVID-19? ‌ visit the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

Disclaimer: ⁤This article provides general information about COVID-19‌ and should not⁣ be considered medical ‍advice.‍ Please consult with a healthcare professional for personalized guidance.

we hope this report provides‌ valuable insight into the current COVID-19 situation. Share this article with your network to help keep everyone ⁤informed, and don’t hesitate to leave a comment with your thoughts or ⁤questions.‌ Consider subscribing to our newsletter for the latest updates on this and other⁢ critically important news stories.

August 17, 2025 0 comments

Technology

State Health Officials: Flu-Related ER Visits Surge to 5 Times Alert Threshold

by Chief editor of world-today-news.com January 15, 2025

written by Chief editor of world-today-news.com

Flu Season⁢ Surges in Washington State: Hospitalizations ⁣Spike as Experts Urge Vaccination

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Washington State is grappling with ‍a ⁢notable surge in flu cases this season,⁣ with new ‍statewide data revealing a sharp increase in⁤ flu-related hospitalizations and emergency room ⁣visits compared to ‌previous years. Snohomish County ⁤recently reported its first ⁢two flu-related deaths of⁣ the season, underscoring the severity of the outbreak.Public health officials in snohomish county noted, “Local Emergency departments are also seeing a higher number‍ of visits ⁤due to flu, nearly five times higher than the threshold that would alert officials to ‌increased transmission; twice as high as⁢ what was reported during the same ‍week in 2024.” This alarming trend highlights the growing strain on healthcare systems as flu activity‍ intensifies.

A Delayed but‌ Intense Flu ⁣Season

According to Dr.⁢ Paul Thottingal, senior director of communicable diseases and organizational preparedness at Kaiser Permanente, “Flu is still an issue. It’s come later, but now it’s here, and there’s⁤ no lost opportunity of getting vaccinated.” The delayed onset of the ‌flu season this year contrasts with the earlier peaks observed during ‍the pandemic. Dr.Thottingal explained,”In the last two years,we’ve‍ seen influenza ‌start earlier and peak ‍pretty early. So generally, influenza, prior to the pandemic, ‌the⁣ season⁣ was somewhere between the ⁣end of December, beginning of March, and that’s kind of more on time this year than in prior‍ years during the pandemic.”

January and ‌February are typically ⁤the worst months for flu, but ‌in Washington, the season can extend into ⁢March and April. Dr. Ana‍ Weil, an‌ infectious diseases physician at UW Medicine,⁣ emphasized the variability‌ of flu seasons, stating, “There’s⁤ year-to-year differences in⁤ the influenza infections. these can be due to vaccination rates. They can be due to the, more importantly, the strain that’s circulating ‌in a ⁤given year.” ⁣

Pediatric Flu Activity on ⁤the Rise

Pediatric ⁤flu activity has⁤ also ⁣been notably high ‍in recent weeks.Doctors at Seattle Children’s Hospital are urging parents to monitor their children closely ⁣for severe‌ symptoms. Dr.‌ Sara Vora, an infectious disease pediatrician at Seattle Children’s, advised, “If kids are not staying hydrated, so they’re ‍not taking in fluids for ⁢young, ‍younger kids or ⁤babies, you can look at how many wet diapers they’re having, ‍so if that’s ‌gone down‍ significantly, it ⁤can be a sign they’re dehydrated.”

Vaccination Rates Decline Amid “vaccine ⁢Fatigue”

As flu-related hospital visits climb, state data indicates a slight‍ decline in flu‌ vaccinations this season. dr.⁤ Weil suggested that “vaccine⁤ fatigue is a possible reason. After, you know, the COVID-19 period ⁣when people were more accustomed to getting frequent vaccines, I think some of the enthusiasm ⁢may be lowered, which I⁤ think is unfortunate.” This ⁢drop ⁤in vaccination rates⁣ could be contributing‌ to the⁤ spike in ⁤flu cases, as fewer individuals‍ are protected against the virus.

Key Takeaways: Flu⁣ Season in Washington State ⁢

A Call⁤ to Action: Get Vaccinated

Health ⁢professionals are‍ urging⁤ Washington residents to get vaccinated against the flu, ⁤especially as the season progresses and other respiratory ‍viruses like RSV and COVID-19 also see a rise. Vaccination remains the most effective way ⁤to‌ protect against severe illness and reduce⁤ the burden on‍ healthcare systems.

As⁣ the flu season continues to unfold, staying ‍informed and taking ⁤preventive measures can make all the difference. Don’t wait—get your flu shot today.

January 15, 2025 0 comments