Dec 31 U.K. reports surge in COVID deaths, builds temporary wards By Danica Kirka, Associated Press While the figures are the highest in almost 10 months, they are still far below the peaks reported last January, when most people were unvaccinated. Continue reading
Dec 31 New Year's Eve muted by omicron, many around the world hope for better 2022 By Nick Perry, Associated Press In many places around the world, plans for New Year's Eve celebrations are muted or canceled for the second straight year due to a surge of coronavirus infections, this time driven by the highly contagious omicron variant. Continue reading
Dec 31 New laws on abortion, policing, taxes take effect across U.S. By Wilson Ring, Associated Press Minimum wage increases, animal protections, police accountability, cutting and increasing taxes are all part of a series of new laws taking effect across the country on Saturday, the first day of 2022. Continue reading
Dec 31 WATCH: At least 500 homes destroyed by Colorado wildfires, sheriff says By Patty Nieberg, Brady McCombs, Colleen Slevin, Associated Press There were no known deaths in a wind-fueled wildfire outside Denver, Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said Friday. Continue reading
Dec 30 Recalling influential people who died in 2021 By Bernard McGhee, Associated Press Former Secretary of State Colin Powell and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld are among the many noteworthy people who died in 2021. Also among those who died this year was a man who for years held the title of baseball’s… Continue reading
Dec 30 More time needed to remove jet fuel from Pearl Harbor drinking water, says Navy By Associated Press Military officials tell Hawaii lawmakers that they need more time to flush jet fuel from their Pearl Harbor water system. Continue reading
Dec 30 CDC warns against cruises, regardless of vaccination status By News Desk The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning people not to go on cruises, regardless of their vaccination status, because of onboard outbreaks fueled by the omicron variant. Continue reading
Dec 30 3 big questions about the Biden administration's COVID response in 2022 By Lev Facher, STAT STAT looked at Biden's COVID strategy and whether 2022 could finally be the year the pandemic fades into the background. Continue reading
Dec 30 As staff cases spike, Feds press for nursing home COVID boosters By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press Federal health officials are pressing nursing home workers to get their booster shots amid a spike in COVID-19 cases among staffers and a concerning lag in booster vaccination for residents and staff. Continue reading
Dec 30 Number of U.S. children hospitalized with COVID hits near-record high By Martha Bellisle, Associated Press The omicron-fueled surge that is sending COVID-19 cases rocketing in the U.S. is putting children in the hospital in close to record numbers. Continue reading