John Kopp
PhillyVoice
Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Past articles by John:
How does monkeypox spread? The virus uses close physical contact – not airborne transmission, CDC officials say
The monkeypox virus primarily spreads through direct, physical contact with the bodily fluids or sores of an infected person, the CDC stressed Friday. It is not known to spread through airborne transmission – a characteristic that aids the spread of highly contagious illnesses like COVID-19 and measles. → Read More
Investigation into MOVE bombing remains found in medical examiner's office provides few answers
It remains unclear why victims' remains were kept by the medical examiner's office for years – or why they weren't given to the families upon their 2017 discovery → Read More
'100 Most Influential People in Healthcare' list includes CHOP, Independence Blue Cross executives
Modern Healthcare included Children's Hospital of Philadelphia CEO Madeline Bell and Independence Blue Cross CEO Gregory Deavens on its 2021 list of the "100 Most Influential People in Healthcare." The leaders of Pfizer and Moderna topped the rankings. → Read More
Where were you on 9/11? Our flashbulb memories of major events aren't as accurate as we believe
People are confident in their recollections of where they were when the 9/11 attacks occurred, as well as other historic events, but often those flashbulb memories contain inaccuracies, research shows. False memories inadvertently slip into these accounts of historic events due to errors made by our brains. → Read More
Millennials are turning to non-alcoholic beer, but nutritionists stress it's not a health drink
Non-alcoholic beers have been touted as a healthier alternative for people who enjoy the taste of beer but want to reduce their alcohol consumption. Nutritionists caution that NA beer is not a health drink. They say its nutritional benefits are overstated, including its polyphenol content and potential as a post-workout drink. → Read More
What's the best beach in New Jersey? Pollsters say Ocean City — for the eighth straight year
Ocean City was named New Jersey's favorite beach by voters who participated in an annual poll by the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium. The next best best? Sea Isle City. → Read More
Patriot Front — the hate group that marched through Philly — has defaced several George Floyd memorials
Patriot Front, a white supremacist group that evolved from Vanguard America following the 2017 "United the Right" rally in Charlottesville, has increased its activity in Philadelphia over the last month. The racist group marched through Center City on July 3, 2021, carrying flags and fighting with bystanders. That came a month after its members defaced a George Floyd mural in Olney. → Read More
Why do Americans celebrate July 4 with fireworks? The traditions began in Philadelphia
The first July 4 celebration took place in Philadelphia on Independence Day in 1777. The festivities included a 13-gun salute from ships on the Delaware River, a Congressional dinner and plenty of fireworks. The first fireworks were crude, with elaborate aerial displays becoming more common in the 19th Century. → Read More
Einstein's DadLab is support group for new fathers seeking parenting advice
DadLab, a support group run by Einstein Healthcare Network in Philadelphia, provides a safe space for new dads to discuss the challenges they face as first-time parents. The group meets each Thursday at 6 p.m. and is open to any fathers-to-be, new fathers and their partners. → Read More
IBX Foundation funding effort to improve mental health services at Philadelphia's Girard College
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia will provide telehealth services for Girard College as part of an effort to improve access to mental health services for students with undiagnosed anxiety, depression and other conditions. The effort is being funded by the Independence Blue Cross Foundation. → Read More
Temple patient 'counting his blessings' after near-fatal COVID-19 battle ends with lung transplant
Thomas Williams is one of several COVID-19 patients who have received organ transplants at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. The South Jersey resident received a new lung four days after being placed on the lung transplant list – an unusually quick turnaround partially prompted by his severe condition. → Read More
Penn Medicine, Temple Health among first health systems to perform COVID-related lung transplants
Health systems increasingly are turning to organ transplants to save some of the most severe COVID-19 patients — and Penn Medicine and Temple Health are at the forefront. Both systems have performed several lung transplants on coronavirus patients since Fred Rahmanaian became the first in Pennsylvania to receive one. → Read More
Blue Cross Blue Shield pledges to cut maternal health disparities in half by 2026
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is establishing a new strategy aimed at reducing racial health inequities in maternal health, behavioral health, diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. It first seeks to reduce the disparity in the maternal mortality rate — Black women are 2.5 times more likely to die while pregnant or in childbirth than white women. → Read More
FDA set to authorize Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has informed Moderna that it will authorize its COVID-19 vaccine for adults ages 18 and over. That will give the United States two coronavirus vaccines. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is currently being administered to health care workers across the country. → Read More
When can I get a COVID-19 vaccine? In Philly, eligibility depends on three factors
Philadelphia's COVID-19 vaccines will be given first to health care workers exposed to the coronavirus and nursing home residents and staffers, according to a prioritization order released by the city. Next up are critical infrastructure workers, like teachers and transit workers. It will take months before vaccines are available to the general public. → Read More
FDA authorizes Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine
Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine has been granted an emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration, kicking off a massive distribution effort to inoculate the American public. Health care workers and nursing home residents will be the first to receive the immunization. → Read More
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro tops Republican Heather Heidelbaugh to win re-election
Josh Shapiro was re-elected as Pennsylvania's attorney general, defeating Republican challenger Heather Heidelbaugh. The Democratic incumbent focused his first term on a range of issues, rooting out sexual abuse within the Catholic Church and challenging myriad Trump administration polices. He also took on opioid and e-cigarette manufacturers. → Read More
COVID-19 can spread via airborne transmission, revised CDC guidelines say
The coronavirus can spread through aerosols that linger in the air for "minutes to hours," according to the CDC's new guidelines. But airborne transmission is "uncommon," with most spread stemming from close, person-to-person contact, the agency says. → Read More
Colleges and COVID-19: Using virtual counseling to treat mental health issues has become the norm during the pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has prompted an increase of mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression, among U.S. college students. With many campuses closed, universities are responding to the influx through virtual counseling sessions and digital outreach – forums that come with a variety of advantages and disadvantages. → Read More
Arsonist watches North Philly house go up in flames after lighting porch on fire, police say
Philadelphia police are looking for the person who lit the porch of a North Philly home and watched as the flames engulfed the house. The suspect was seen observing the fire from across the street. → Read More