As the number of active COVID-19 cases in Alaska continues to climb, the state reported 100 new cases Sunday and three new hospitalizations, according to data from the Department of Health and Social Services. That brings the state's total active cases to 3,178, with 1,590 currently active in Anchorage. More than half of the new cases are in Anchorage; 59 cases were reported there Sunday, including two in Eagle River and two in Chugiak. The state reported 16 new resident cases in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough; of those, eight are in Wasilla, three are in Willow, two in Palmer and one each in Big Lake, Houston and Sutton-Alpine. Fairbanks North Star Borough has eight new resident cases, with seven in Fairbanks and one in North Pole. The Juneau area has six new resident cases, with two of those in Douglas.  

VIDEO: One person has died and at least three others are critically injured after several houses exploded in Baltimore on Monday morning, officials say. The explosion happened in the area of 6500 blk Reisterstown Rd 21215. Firefighters have rescued three critically injured patients. Special Rescue Operations are searching for more victims. Some of the trapped individuals might be children, Baltimore firefighters say. A second alarm has been called. This explosion happened on the 4-year anniversary of the Flower Branch Apartments explosion that left seven people dead, including two children.  

Another Houston firefighter is in the ICU with COVID-19 as of Friday night, according to the firefighters union president. According to the union president, Captain Tommy Searcy was in the ICU as of Friday night. The news comes as Houston firefighters prepare to bury 17-year HFD veteran Jerry Pacheco, who died on August 3 from coronavirus. "While we make final preparations to bury our brother Firefighter/Paramedic Jerry Pacheco tomorrow, we are asking for Houston to pray for Capt. Tommy Searcy who is now in ICU. Prayers Needed!" the union president tweeted Friday night. Houston Fire Department tweeted about Captain Searcy on Thursday, praying for a speedy recovery. Searcy is the third Houston firefighter to be treated in the ICU with COVID-19. Two other firefighters have died, including Pacheco, and Captain Leroy Lucio, a 29-year veteran of the department.  

The New Bedford firefighter's union rallied on Sunday to oppose the mayor's proposal to take an engine off the road. The rally started and ended at Station 8 in the city's north end. The union argues that public safety would be compromised if the cuts are made. The proposal cuts engine 8 and ten vacant firefighter positions. City of New Bedford Public Information Officer Jonathan Carvalho told NBC 10 that the main reason is a financial one due to the pandemic. Cuts to the budget should prevent layoffs, Carvalho said. He added the recommendation was made by the fire chief and called it the "least painful cut to make." Carvalho said there would still be another engine to respond to calls. NBC 10 previously reported that two people died in fires earlier this year while the city's blackout policy was in effect. A blackout is when stations transition out of service on a daily basis to save money.  

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released new guidance on wearing face coverings during the coronavirus pandemic. The CDC still encourages people to wear masks so they don't infect others, but they should not have valves or vents that could allow the virus to escape the mask. For months, America's top health officials and experts have pounded home the message: We have to wear masks to combat this pandemic. But the U.S. government says not just any mask will do. The CDC says we should not wear masks with one-way vents, or valves. A trainer of front-line medical personnel, wearing protective gear, explains why: "Masks with valves have a one-way valve. And this doesn't work — because what happens, and we've known this for a long time– when I breathe out, that valve only opens and allows that air to escape from me, which could infect you," said Gavin MacGregor-Skinner, Global Biorisk Advisory Council.  

Only a handful of San Francisco Fire Department members tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies in a recent UCSF study, even though nearly half of those surveyed said they had probably or definitely been around people infected by the virus. Just three of 1,223 people who were tested had antibodies for the virus, according to a summary of the results made public by UCSF. The study tested two-thirds of the department's employees, and featured people in every job category, including firefighters and paramedics. Researchers believe it is among the first COVID-19 antibody studies of emergency responders who do not work in a hospital, according to UCSF's Dr. Robert Harrison, who directed the study. Harrison said the low positive tests are likely a reflection of the "powerful public health action" the Bay Area took when it shut down in March, combined with the Fire Department's pandemic work practices, including the use of N95 respirator masks.