Dec 23 FDA authorizes Merck’s pill against COVID-19 By Matthew Perrone, Associated Press The Food and Drug Administration authorization of Merck's molnupiravir comes one day after the agency cleared a competing drug from Pfizer. Continue reading
Dec 23 Omicron less likely than delta to result in hospitalization, studies say By Laura Ungar, Mike Stobbe, Associated Press Two new British studies provide some early hints that the omicron variant of the coronavirus may be milder than delta. Continue reading
Dec 22 Watch 10:43 Frustrated health workers dread expected rise in COVID hospitalizations: ‘We’re exhausted’ A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report found 2020's death toll was worse than previously reported — finalized at nearly 3.4 million people. It also forewarned that 2021 is expected to surpass 2020's record number of deaths by… Continue watching
Dec 22 Watch 8:56 What Hartford has learned in its fight to raise Black vaccination rates By Jason Kane and Sarah Varney, Kaiser Health News About 72 percent of Americans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. During much of the vaccine rollout, Hispanic and Black Americans have been less likely to get vaccinated. The gap between white and Hispanic Americans has… Continue watching
Dec 22 WATCH: Gov. Gavin Newsom announces plans to protect Californians from omicron variant By News Desk and Adam Beam, Associated Press California's roughly 2.5 million health care workers have until Feb. 1 to get a coronavirus vaccine booster shot or risk losing their jobs, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday. Continue reading
Dec 22 Pfizer pill becomes first home COVID-19 treatment authorized in the U.S. By Matthew Perrone, Associated Press The long-awaited milestone comes as U.S. cases, hospitalizations and deaths are all rising and health officials warn of a tsunami of new infections from the omicron variant that could overwhelm hospitals. Continue reading
Dec 22 After Supreme Court abortion case, a new look at baby ‘safe haven’ laws By Astrid Galvan, Associated Press Safe haven laws drew attention this month when U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett questioned the role they play in the debate around abortion rights. Continue reading
Dec 22 WATCH: White House COVID task force holds news briefing amid rapidly spreading omicron variant By Associated Press At the White House on Dec. 22, Biden detailed major changes to his COVID-19 winter plan, his hand forced by the fast-spreading variant, whose properties are not yet fully understood by scientists. Continue reading
Dec 22 2021 likely to eclipse last year as nation’s deadliest, CDC says By Mike Stobbe, Associated Press It's too early to say for sure, but based on available information, it seems likely 2021 will surpass last year's record number of deaths by at least 15,000, according to the CDC. Continue reading
Dec 22 South Africa’s decline in new COVID-19 cases may indicate omicron peak has passed By Andrew Meldrum, Associated Press Although the early findings are not conclusive, especially because daily figures are prone to fluctuations, the signs that South Africa’s intense wave is weakening are notable. Continue reading