Jan 18 U.S. faces a wave of omicron deaths in coming weeks, models predict By Carla K. Johnson, Associated Press The fast-moving omicron variant may cause less severe disease on average, yet COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are climbing. Modelers forecast 50,000 to 300,000 more Americans could die by the time the omicron wave subsides this spring. Continue reading
Jan 18 Hong Kong to euthanize thousands of small animals after several test positive for coronavirus at pet store By Zen Soo, Associated Press Hong Kong authorities say they will kill about 2,000 small animals, including hamsters, after several tested positive for the coronavirus at a pet store where an employee was also infected. Continue reading
Jan 17 Watch 5:17 Everything you need to to know about at-home COVID testing, masks By Nicole Ellis, Karina Cuevas, Laura Santhanam A shortage of COVID testing has been a major problem across the country. Beginning this Wednesday, people will be able to order free at-home rapid tests from a government website. While the site's launch is being anticipated, many people also… Continue watching
Jan 17 Omicron slamming South American hospitals as workers fall ill By Débora Álvares, Almudena Calatrava, Associated Press The coronavirus' omicron variant is barreling across South America and pressuring hospitals whose employees are getting infected and taking sick leave, leaving facilities understaffed to cope with COVID-19's third wave. Continue reading
Jan 16 AP FACT CHECK: Trump seeds race animus with COVID falsehood By Calvin Woodward, David Klepper, Associated Press Donald Trump falsely declared in a weekend rally that public health authorities are denying the COVID-19 vaccine to white people because of their race. The former president seeded racial resentments in remarks that twisted the facts on public-health policy and… Continue reading
Jan 15 Watch 3:58 Omicron spreads as free home tests are set to roll out By PBS NewsHour Starting Saturday, private insurers are required to cover the cost of up to eight at-home testing kits, while those without insurance can get a free kit from the federal government. Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases rose by another 800,000 across the U.S. Continue watching
Jan 15 Clap, don't chant: China aims for 'Zero COVID' Olympics By Candice Choi, Associated Press The prevention protocols will be similar to those at the Tokyo Games this summer, but much tighter. That won't be a stretch in Beijing, with China having maintained a “Zero COVID" policy since early in the pandemic. Continue reading
Jan 14 Watch 6:30 Health systems buckle under latest surge of COVID hospitalizations By William Brangham, Courtney Norris President Biden on Friday announced free tests to help combat the rapidly spreading omicron variant. But the surge is battering hospitals and stretching some to capacity, with COVID hospitalizations jumping 179 percent in the past two weeks. William Brangham reports,… Continue watching
Jan 14 Watch 5:52 Boston schools face staff shortages amid sky-high COVID cases By Stephanie Sy, Claire Mufson Most of the nation’s nearly 100,000 public schools are open. But as the omicron surge continues, some districts are struggling to keep in-person learning going. Boston Public Schools have been operating in person since last spring, though a high number… Continue watching
Jan 14 A doctor's advice about testing and masks right now By Nicole Ellis As omicron continues to spread across the U.S. confusion has grown around how to get a test and what type to use, which masks are effective and how to safely isolate or quarantine and still work or care for a… Continue reading