iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

"A lot of these bureaucratic silos we have are actually killing people." Proud to share our work at @rootsempowers.bsky.social in today's @nytimes.com We must rethink how we fund & deliver care for the most marginalized if we want to see true generational change. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/13/h...

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

🚨 3 active + 3 suspected & now 200+ latent TB cases at Riordan high and counting. Concerning timeline starting in September! Now up to 6 young people facing serious illness and 200+ families grappling with treatment risks and decisions. Where was the clinical urgency? Where's the accountability? 🚩

Headline in Mission Local: TB tests reveal 204 latent cases at Riordan High in S.F.
Photo of school

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

🚨Unusual and alarming! 3 active & 50 latent TB cases at Riordan high, and counting. When a well-resourced school sees this level of spread, it’s a siren for our public health infrastructure everywhere. Hoping for speedy containment & recovery. 🙏🏾

Tuberculosis outbreak at San Francisco high school
halts in-person classes

By Tara Campbell
Friday, January 30, 2026 9:42AM

FR.TOM SEAGRAVE"6O MAIN ENTRANCE

TUBERCULOSIS OUTBREAK AT RIORDAN HIGH
IN-PERSON CLASSES CANCELED THROUGH NEXT WEEK

A third confirmed case of TB is forcing San Francisco's Archbishop Riordan High School to halt in-person classes next week.

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

The US is facing a critical deadline on the measles-free status we've held for over 25 years. Beyond the immediate risk, we have to talk about long-term effects like immune amnesia. 📺 Watch the full People’s Health Briefing here: www.youtube.com/live/NnUfNce...

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

Been looking at this on my shelf for a couple years now saying "it's too soon." Finally ready to dive in, continuing to sharpen the analysis for a fight that has become even more uphill as we try to protect a safety net that was already inadequate. Respect to @thrasherxy for the work. ✊🏾

The Viral Underclass by Steven W. Thrasher

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

Unacceptable! FDA delays in ByHeart formula recall allowed contaminated product to stay on shelves, prioritizing business confidentiality and putting babies at risk. Bureaucracy and business interests should never supersede infant safety! More here 👇🏾 www.instagram.com/p/DRaNu0OEmu...

FDA delays left recalled baby formula on store shelves, food safety experts say
HEALTHBEAT article
Image of ByHeart formula

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

The 1st confirmed human case of H5N5 has lead to death. This is especially alarming given the gutting and destruction of US public health infrastructure. More on my IG (where I'm migrating) 👇🏾 www.instagram.com/p/DRYPZRtEm3...

1st human known to be infected with H5N5C strain of bird flu dies- ABC article, photo of poultry

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

"The ACIP is no longer a scientific committee. It is an ideology machine." I can't even bring myself to watch their meetings. Instead, I'm cheering for states and medical associations working to mitigate the damage and fill gaps. But the damage being done is immeasurable.

DrDemetre @dr_demetre
FINAL THOUGHT: When scientific process is not followed, the science that make the foundation for decisions is suspect and the decisions are therefore not valid. The ACIP S no longer scientific committee. It is an ideology machine. Istand by my justification for my resignation. Sending strength to the scientists being held hostage at CDC.

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

Smart move! 1st made-in-Canada mRNA vaccines. "By supporting the production of vaccines here at home, we are supporting our economy while strengthening Canada’s ability to respond quickly and effectively to future public health emergencies." -Canadian Minister of Health

Government of Canada announces major milestone In the Canadian piomanufacturing sector
From:Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada
News release
Moderna produces its first Canadian MRNA vaccines in its new state-of- the-art Quebec facility
September 19,2025 - Laval, Quebec

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

HHS initial cuts canceled nearly 700 CDC grants worth about $11 billion. Now, of the 5 states with the most canceled grants, 4 are republican-led: Texas, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Ohio.

Red S States Hit Hardest by CDC Grant Terminations
Before Democratic-led jurisd ictions filed lawsuits in Aprilto retain their Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grants, terminations more closely resembled the distribution of CDC funding across the nation. After injunctions were issued in May and June, red states lost a greater share of public health infrastructure funding and support.

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 09/08/2025

Alarming! Non-medical exemptions for childhood vaccines are increasing & coverage is decreasing. In Idaho, with 15.4% exemptions, only 78% of kindergartners entered school last year with polio vax - below the immunity threshold! Just one imported case could mean an outbreak.

Non-medical exemptions for childhood vaccines have been increasing since the 2020 2021 school year

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 09/08/2025

The future of COVID-19? It's in the sewers!🦠 Excellent Minnesota study found SARS-CoV-2 levels in wastewater predictably surged ~1 week before a rise in symptomatic cases. This bolsters the case for improved wastewater surveillance as a key tool for public health. academic.oup.com/jid/advance-...

Wastewater Measures of SARS-CoV-2 Accurately
Predict Frequency of Symptomatic Infections in the
Community

JID

Charles R Doss , Mark J Osborn, Stacey Stark , Joshua Rhein, Jacalynn Donkersgoed,
Donna Budde, Shannon Champeau, Carolyn Meyer, Mason Hayden, Laura Landini,
Difan Ouyang, Lappui Chung,YiTang, Sara Vetter, TimothyW Schacker

Published: 24 July 2025

Background

Widespread immunity through vaccination or natural infection has altered the
predictive ability of wastewater for hospitalization and mortality.

Results

We collected 215 wastewater samples from the Twin Cities Wastewater Treatment
Plant over a 32-month interval. Over that period, there were 6879 positive SARS-
CoV-2 test results reported to Fairview Employee Health from individuals who
lived in the wastewater catchment area. We found that SARS-CoV-2 levels in
wastewater accurately predicted the subsequent COVID-19 case count the
following week in the community (P = .001).

as of 8/4/2025 source: https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiaf242

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 09/08/2025

Another day, another stunning display of ignorance by RFK Jr. Vaccines are, in fact, a financial burden and a logistical challenge. Medical practices *only* take this on for the health of their patients and the community. RFK Jr is dangerous and must be removed.

Secretary Kennedy

Medical decisions should be made based on one thing: the
wellbeing of the person--never on afinancial bonus or a
government mandate. Doctors deserve the freedom to use
their training, follow the science, and speak the truth without
fear Of punishment.

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 25/07/2025

I never got to give my public comment at the Alameda County Board of Supervisors meeting this week about hundreds of millions of dollars for homelessness, so I'm gonna share it with y'all here 🙏🏾

Good afternoon, Supervisors. I'm Dr. Noha Aboelata, founding CEO of Roots Community Health. Thank you for this critical discussion.

To ensure Measure W's success and truly impact homelessness, we urge a shift from business as usual:

First, we need Transparency and Open Competition. Hundreds of millions of dollars to impact this crisis demands clear criteria and visibility for all involved. Transparency will set the tone for accountability and results.

Second, Reject Top-Down, One-Size-Fits-All approaches. Those of us on the front lines have hundreds of years of collective experience. Don't limit our impact with cookie-cutter processes. Leverage our expertise and engage us as peers committed to shifting this crisis.

Third, Invest in Integrated, Tailored Approaches. Homelessness isn't a single problem, and our solutions must be multifaceted. We must move beyond mere shelter to address the complex social factors that create and perpetuate homelessness.

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 6 medical societies + 1 patient suing HHS & RFK Jr. for "acting arbitrarily and capriciously" when they unilaterally changed C19 vax recs for children & pregnancy and took other actions designed to "mislead, confuse, and gradually desensitize the public to anti-vaccine and anti-science rhetoric"

Leading Medical Professional Societies, Patient Sue HHS, Robert F. Kennedy,]Jr. for Unlawful, unilateral Vaccine Changes
AAP, ACP, APHA, IDSA, MPHA, and SMFM Join Together to Stop Assault on Public Health.
BOSTON -July 7, 2025 - Today, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American College of Physicians (ACP), American Public Health Association (APHA), Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), Massachusetts Public Health Alliance (MPHA), Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), and a pregnant physician, filed suit in American Academy of Pediatrics v. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts to defend vaccine policy, and to put an end to the Secretary's assault on science, public health and evidence-based medicine.

Logos of the 6 societies including AAP, ACP, APHA & IDSA

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

CDC is urging summer camp operators to check for measles immunity status among campers and staff this summer due to increasing measles cases in the US. This is especially critical in regions with low/dropping vax rates. Helpful checklist for camp operators: www.cdc.gov/measles/down...

CBS NEWS

CDC urges summer camps to check for
measles immunitv. as U.S. nears record

By Alexander Tin
Edited By Faris Tanyos
June 13,2025/6:00 PM EDT /CBS News

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now urging summer camp operators to check
for documentation of immunity from measles through vaccination or prior infection for all children,
staff and volunteers, amid a deadly year of outbreaks that is now near record levels

"Measles can spread quickly in summer camps because campers and staff spend a lot of time together
in close contact with each other. Measles is more than just a rash -it can cause serious complications
or even death," the CDC warned in a."checklist" for operators of summer camps published this week.

The agency's new guidance says that tracking measles immunity status is important to help health
departments quickly identify people who need to be vaccinated or offered antibody injections in the
case of an outbreak within a camp.

as of 6/16/2025 source:
nears-record/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

Can someone please explain to me why masking is not required in NICUs and PICUs (among other places)? These are very vulnerable patients. And one in 5 children and adolescents with Covid-associated hospitalization are admitted to ICU. We must protect our babies and children!

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

This shifts depending how you slice the age groups, but adults die of a lot of other things, and the younger age groups are disproportionately impacted. They also don't necessarily have to have underlying conditions to have high morbidity. 58% of hospitalized kids <2y had none.

Younger kids hospitalized with Covid less likely to have underlying conditions

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

Info from ACIP meeting, slide adapted for clarity. Yes covid-associated hospitalization rates are highest among the 75+ age group. But the next highest rate of covid hospitalization is among the *under 6-mo old* age group! w/65-74 close behind. Important perspective! www.cdc.gov/acip/downloa...

Since 2022, Covid-associated hospitalization rate is highest among the 75+ age group, followed by under 6-mo olds. 65-74 yr old follow close behind under 6mo

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

US is at risk of losing measles elimination status, returning to endemic measles. At current childhood vax rates, measles could return to spreading regularly at high levels, and if rates were to decline by 10%, ~11.1 million cases of measles could result over 25 yrs. This is what failure looks like!

Reuters

US at tipping point for return of endemic measles

By Nancy Lapid

April 24, 2025 11:25 AM PDT . Updated 19 hours ago

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

In the last 30yrs the US has seen increases in NICU beds (by 48%) and neonatologists (by 227%) with no apparent effect on lowering newborn mortality rates. It's much more effective (and cheaper) to do prevention. We should be investing in, not gutting, public health. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

JAMA Network
JAMA Pediatrics
Original Investigation March 24, 2025
Regional Growth in US Neonatal Intensive Care Capacity and Mortality, 1991-2020
Gwenyth M. Gasper, MS'; Patrick M. Stuchlik, PhD1; Therese A. Stukel, PhD2,3; et al > Author Affiliations JAMA Pediatr. Published online March 24, 2025. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.7133

Key Points
Question Controlling for need, is regional growth in numbers of neonatologists and neonatal in- tensive care unit (NICU) beds per newborn associated with lower mortality?
Findings In this cross-sectional study, in multilevel models adjusted for maternal and newborn characteristics, higher growth in regional capacity during the period 1991-2020 was not associated with lower neonatal or 180-day mortality,
Meaning The benefits and costs of current NICU capacity and further growth warrant clinical and policy scrutiny.

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

They seem to be telegraphing their intention to do that, and stating the production timeline won't be affected. I also talked about it in this week's briefing. www.youtube.com/live/zPlFITJ... www.fda.gov/vaccines-blo...

FDA U.S. FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION
FDA Plans for Selecting Influenza Virus Strains for Vaccine Composition for the 2025-2026 U.S. Influenza Season
The March 13, 2025, meeting of the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee on the influenza vaccine strains for the 2025-2026 influenza season in the U.S. has been cancelled. FDA continues to work with federal and international partners and U.S.-licensed influenza vaccine manufacturers to prepare for the upcoming season. FDA, in consultation with our federal partners, will review the available data to make our recommendations to manufacturers of U.S.-licensed influenza vaccines in time for the production of updated vaccines for the 2025-2026 influenza season. We do not anticipate any impact on vaccine supply or timing of availability.
as of 3/3/2025 source: https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/lot-release/fda-plans-selecting-influenza- virus-strains-vaccine-composition-2025-2026-us-influenza-season

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

Good to see that CDC finally updated its measles page and will now update it weekly. That's about the only good news though. Measles outbreak in West Texas continues. Kindergarten vaccination rates are declining. The US is at risk of losing the elimination status we achieved in 2000.

CDC

Measles (Rubeola)

Updated on February 21, 2025.The data on this page reflects measles
cases reported to CDC as of noon on Thursdays.

Starting 2/21/25, CDC will update this page every Friday.

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

The City of Fremont, California votes 6-1 to ban camping on public & private - including residential - land for >3 nights. Also prohibits anyone from “permitting, aiding, abetting or concealing” camping on those lands. A violation is punishable by a fine of up to $1000 or up to 6 mos in jail.

KQED
This Bay Area City Just Passed the Most Extreme Encampment Ban in California By Vanessa Rancaño X Feb 12

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

Backwards! Hospitals are getting slammed with flu, covid and RSV, so *visitors* are restricted while masks are optional. If we really care about stopping transmission, we should require masks. Where are all the people who were screaming about "heartless" visitor restrictions and "lockdowns?!"

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

"In the past week, a swath of schools and even entire school districts have announced closures in at least 10 states. These include Texas, Ohio, Oklahoma, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee, among others." Where's all the outrage about "learning loss?" 🤔

TODAY
COLD & FLU

Flu is SO bad right now that schools across the country
are closing

Schools around the U.S. are closing due to surges of flu and other illnesses, which
are sickening students and staff. Here's what parents need to know

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

CDCs MMWR is back, sort of. Two "Notes from the Field," brief reports with incomplete info, no recommendations or conclusions. These are about Wildfires. Looking back over the past year, there's never been a week without at least 1 full report, outbreak report, etc. 3 H5N1 papers still unpublished.

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

Weekly Report

CURRENT ISSUE

February 6, 2025 / No. 3

• Notes from the Field. Serum Concentrations of Perfluoroalkyl and
Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Among_ First Responders to the Maui Wildfires
Hawaii, September 2023

• Notes from the Field Emergency_Department Use During the Los Angeles
County _Wildfires, January_2025

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

For the first time in decades, no Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from CDC under the new administration's health communications freeze. Normally would've been posted yesterday 1/24. Who is this benefiting? Hoping this is truly temporary. 🙏🏽

MMWR menu showing last reports were 1/16.

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Finally more details about the 13yo girl who was critically ill with H5N1. Still unclear where she contracted this mutated version of the strain that's been found in wild birds. She survived after a long ICU stay, tracheal intubation, ECMO, and antivirals. www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

After you get past the headline with RFK and FDA in the same sentence, this is a solid overview *from experts* of needed changes at FDA: ➡️ Stop relying on industry funding ➡️ Curtail employee-industry connections ➡️ Improve device, additive & supplement approval ➡️ Separate food & drug into 2 agencies

The New York Times
Illustration by Mark Harris; Photographs by Getty Images
Kennedy Wants to Overhaul the F.D.A. Here's How Experts Would Change It.
While some agree with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that the agency needs reform, their ideas for fixing it are very different from his.

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

Your experience is consistent with data trends. The infographics are looking at a couple months in total, but recent trends have RSV and flu picking up faster than c19. We also do the multiplex and are seeing more RSV than anything at the moment. Glad to know another masking (and testing) doc! 🙏🏾

Percent of Tests Positive for Respiratory Viruses shows RSV, flu and c19 increasing. RSV and flu moreso than c19
Weekly percent of tests positive for the viruses that cause COVID-19, influenza, and RSV at the national level. Preliminary data are shaded in gray.

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

It's also important to note significant racial disparities in Invasive Pneumococcal Disease, including peaking at a much younger age among Black adults. This was one consideration in lowering the age for Pneumococcal vaccine to 50 from 65.

IPD rates in Black adults peak at a younger age in Black adults (55-59 yo) than non-Black adults (65+)

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Helpful new in-season estimates from CDC confirm what we already know: The burden of c19 dwarfs that of flu and RSV combined, *even in flu and RSV season*. It's even more dramatic when you look year-round. And this is before we even get to post-viral sequelae.

CDC estimates from October 1, 2024 through December 7, 2024, showing up to 120k hospitalizations and 13k deaths from Covid.

CDC estimates from October 1, 2024 through December 7, 2024, showing up to 33k hospitalizations and 3.2k deaths from flu

CDC estimates from October 1, 2024 through December 7, 2024, showing up to 45k hospitalizations and 2.3k deaths from RSV.

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

This info has been slow to get out: the recommended age for adult pneumococcal vaccine has been lowered from 65+ to 50+ because the rates of invasive pneumococcal disease (life-threatening) have been increasing, and death rates for 50-64yo are approaching the 65+ group.

Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) incidence rates, by age
group, 2007-2022, increasing since 2020

IPD mortality rate* in adults aged 65+ years has become closer to that in adults aged 50-64 years

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

Check out this map! Red states are where the sale of raw milk is *illegal*. I'll be interested to see whether/how this changes in the coming months/years.

Sale of raw milk illegal in most of US. Legal on west coast and some of northeast.

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Noha Aboelata, MD @nohaaboelatamd.bsky.social · 12/11/2024

👋🏾 slowly migrating from the other platform. I'll replace my profile pic with a more professional one later. For now, sharing from our annual "Heal the Healers" concert event as a reminder: Healers need healing too & Gathering outside is safer.❤️ (Also, I'll never not mask in a public restroom again!)

Photos of me and colleagues at an outdoor concert at Oakland's beautiful Woodminster Amphitheater. Plus one of me, masked, in the public restroom.

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