Emergency and disaster management briefing for November 4, 2020: Vienna police arrest 12 people who may be connected to Monday’s terror attack; the United Kingdom has raised its terror threat level to severe, following recent attacks in France and Austria; Hurricane Eta made landfall Tuesday afternoon in Nicaragua as a Category 4 storm with heavy rainfall that is forecast to cause widespread flooding; on Wednesday, Turkey ended its search and rescue efforts for victims from Friday’s deadly quake; Florida may be in the path of Eta according to the new NHC forecast; FDA reports false positives at nursing homes and other health care settings from rapid antigen coronavirus tests; the Red Cross says full power restoration on a Philippines island hit by a super typhoon may take months; and in-store branded Organic Whole Elderberries are being recalled by the Natural Grocers grocery store chain.
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1) Austria allegedly suffered its first terror attack after a gunman opened fire at different locations on Monday night in Vienna. The gunman killed at least four people and wounded 20 others, seven of whom have life-threatening injuries. The gunman, who is suspected of having sympathies or ties to ISIS, was shot and killed by police just nine minutes after he began shooting. Authorities have arrested at least 12 people who may possibly be connected to the attack.
14 people arrested in Vienna after attack as UK raises terror threat level to 'severe' https://t.co/Mphgo31lSJ
— i newspaper (@theipaper) November 4, 2020
2) The United Kingdom has raised its terror threat to severe — its second-highest level — following the recent terror attacks in France and Austria. The level is meant to indicate that an attack in the United Kingdom is considered highly likely to occur. Authorities in England noted that the raising of the terror threat alert was not due to any specific threat, but was merely a precaution to encourage public vigilance. The UK authorities are urging communities and individuals to report anyone they believe may be a danger or escalating towards terrorism.
UK raises terror threat level to severe, after terrorist attacks in other European countries https://t.co/OwiUVOE0Zc
— WXII 12 News (@WXII) November 3, 2020
3) Hurricane Eta rapidly intensified and made landfall in Nicaragua on Tuesday afternoon as a major Category 4 storm. It is being blamed for at least three deaths. Eta made landfall south-southeast of the city of Puerto Cabezas, causing widespread damage and heavy rainfall that led to mudslides and dangerous flooding. The storm is expected to move slowly to the west-northwest, while producing days of heavy rainfall across the region that is likely to lead to catastrophic flash floods and flooding, with localized rainfall amounts of anywhere from 10 to 25 inches.
The National Hurricane Center said Eta was downgraded to a tropical storm overnight after making landfall in Nicaragua Tuesday as a Category 4 hurricane. https://t.co/eZuh0NcrFT
— 8News WRIC Richmond (@8NEWS) November 4, 2020
4) Turkey ended its search for victims who may have been buried in the rubble after Friday’s earthquake that occurred in the Aegean Sea. Earlier on Tuesday, another young girl was pulled alive from the rubble in Izmir, joining a toddler who was rescued on Monday. The death toll has reached 116, with the total victims at 114 in Izmir, Turkey, along with two teenage victims from the Greek island of Samos. Approximately 1,035 people in Izmir were injured, including 137 who were still undergoing treatment for injuries sustained during the deadly quake.
#RegionsAsia Aegean quake toll rises to 116 as Turkey ends search: Turkey on Wednesday ended search and rescue efforts in the rubble of buildings that collapsed as a result of Friday's strong earthquake in the Aegean Sea, after the death toll crept up… https://t.co/sUs6VfupvM
— @globalfirstnews (@globalfirstnews) November 4, 2020
5) Forecast tracks from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) for Tropical Storm Eta potentially show the storm re-emerging out over the Caribbean Sea and re-strengthening into a tropical storm. The new forecast warning cone shows the storm could potentially impact Cuba and then Florida — including the Florida Keys — by as early as Monday. According to the NHC, Eta still has a well-organized cloud pattern as it moves over Central America. Although it could degenerate into a remnant low by Thursday, it is forecast to strengthen back into a tropical storm once it emerges into the open waters of the Caribbean.
Here is the 10 a.m. advisory and forecast track on #Eta from the National Hurricane Center. Head to https://t.co/2DMpPv6ZyI for more. pic.twitter.com/HTdpURbPCk
— Jonathan Kegges (@JonathanKegges) November 4, 2020
6) According to new information from the Food and Drug Administration, rapid antigen coronavirus tests may produce false positives. The instances of false positives is higher in cases where the test is not used correctly, and recent reports have emerged of false-positives in nursing homes and other health care settings. Multiple factors can affect the rapid antigen test as noted by the FDA, including reading the test outside the specified time provided, cross-contamination, test mishandling, improper storage, insufficient disinfection of the instrument, inappropriate use of protective equipment — such as changing gloves between patients — and processing multiple tests at once.
The FDA alerted clinical laboratory staff & health care providers that false positive results can occur with antigen tests for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2. The FDA is aware of reports of false positive results and continues to monitor and evaluate. https://t.co/LjYl2hi9L3
— Antibiotic Steward? Bassam Ghanem (@ABsteward) November 4, 2020
7) The Red Cross noted that it will likely take months to fully restore power to an island in the Philippines that was slammed by Super Typhoon Goni. The major storm slammed into the island of Catanduanes, where it cut off power and communications. It also destroyed or severely damaged homes, buildings, and roadways. At least eight towns were cut off by landslides prompted by heavy rainfall across the island, and the number of homes and buildings that were destroyed by the 140 mph winds and torrential rainfall is expected to rise.
The Philippine Red Cross estimated that damage caused by Super Typhoon #RollyPH in Catanduanes is equivalent to 70 percent of damage left behind by Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, PRC Chairman Sen. Richard Gordon said. | @CMRamosINQ https://t.co/d5RbGLllGg
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) November 2, 2020
8) A voluntary recall has been issued for an in-house brand of Organic Whole Elderberries after reports of potential salmonella contamination. The elderberries were sold at 159 locations of Natural Grocers, a grocery store chain, in stores across the nation in 20 states, including Arkansas, Oregon, and Louisiana. The recall was issued after the supplier, who had initially certified the berries as safe, notified Vitamin Cottage Natural Food Markets, Inc., who owns the grocery chain, that specific lots of the berries showed the potential presence of salmonella.
Natural Grocers' store brand Organic Whole Elderberries in 4-ounce bags sold at stores in Nebraska and 19 others states has been recalled after a supplier told the chain the berries might have salmonella. https://t.co/59wkJfuBks
— Lincoln Journal Star (@JournalStarNews) November 3, 2020
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