Dec 14 WATCH: Members of Congress hold moment of silence for COVID victims By Associated Press The milestone represents a solemn end to a year that held so much promise with the arrival of vaccines but is ending in heartbreak for the many grieving families trying to navigate the holiday season. Continue reading
Dec 14 Cities, towns decimated by opioids are close to receiving $28 billion settlement By Andrew Selsky, Associated Press In the U.S., more than 500,000 deaths over the last two decades have been linked to opioids, both prescription drugs and illegal ones. Continue reading
Dec 14 Data analysis shows omicron variant less severe, better at evading vaccines By Andrew Meldrum, Associated Press While the findings released Tuesday are preliminary and have not been peer-reviewed — the gold standard in scientific research — they line up with other early data about omicron's behavior, including that it seems to be more easily transmitted. Continue reading
Dec 14 Pfizer confirms COVID pill’s results, effectiveness against omicron By Matthew Perrone, Associated Press The company also confirmed Tuesday that the pill delivered on promising early results in reducing COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths. Continue reading
Dec 14 Nurse who got first authorized U.S. COVID vaccine: ‘We cannot continue to live like this’ By Laura Santhanam Looking at how life has changed since multiple COVID-19 vaccines became available over the last year, Northwell Health nurse Sandra Lindsay told the PBS NewsHour, “It's a stark contrast to where we were a year ago.”… Continue reading
Dec 13 California brings back mask mandate during holiday season as virus cases rise By Adam Beam, Associated Press California is bringing back a statewide indoor mask mandate. Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration announced the new mandate will start Wednesday and last until Jan. 15. Continue reading
Dec 13 Watch 6:18 How officials, ‘everyday heroes’ are supporting recovery efforts in Kentucky The death toll has reached 74 in Kentucky, three nights after a swarm of tornadoes struck. For a closer look at how officials in the state are dealing with all of this, Judy Woodruff speaks to Jacqueline Coleman, the state's… Continue watching
Dec 13 Watch 5:52 Older Americans make up a majority of COVID deaths. They are falling behind on boosters By Amna Nawaz, Courtney Norris The United States is approaching a grim milestone of the pandemic, as the nationwide death toll approaches 800,000. The vast majority of those deaths are among the elderly — people 65 and up make up 75 percent of all COVID-19… Continue watching
Dec 13 Watch 8:23 Do safe drug consumption sites save lives? Here’s what we know about NYC’s new venture By William Brangham, Mike Fritz, Leah Nagy Since last spring, more than 100,000 Americans have died of drug overdoses — many caused by the opioid, fentanyl. Officials are searching for solutions to try to save lives, including setting up authorized centers where people can use illegal drugs… Continue watching
Dec 12 South African president tests positive for COVID, mildly ill By Andrew Meldrum, Associated Press Last week, Ramaphosa visited four West African countries. He and all members of his delegation were tested for COVID-19 in each of the countries during the trip. Some in the delegation tested positive in Nigeria and returned directly to South… Continue reading