Nov 30 NYC greenlights safe sites for drug use in effort to curb overdoses By Associated Press The “overdose prevention centers” — commonly known as supervised injection sites — have been discussed for years in New York and some other U.S. cities and already exist in Canada, Australia and Europe. Continue reading
Nov 30 FDA panel review final hurdle for Merck’s COVID-19 pill By Matthew Perrone, Associated Press U.S. health advisers are reviewing Merck's closely watched COVID-19 pill, which could become the first easy-to-use drug for American patients. Continue reading
Nov 30 U.S. picks up speed on tracking of virus variants after slow start By Carla K. Johnson, Associated Press After a slow start, the United States has improved its surveillance system for tracking new coronavirus variants such as omicron, boosting its capacity by tens of thousands of samples per week since early this year. Viruses mutate constantly. To find… Continue reading
Nov 30 Omicron variant may have reached Europe earlier than suspected By Raf Casert, Andrew Meldrum, Associated Press Much remains unknown about the new variant, including how contagious it might be, but a WHO official said Tuesday that there could soon be a steep rise in infections in parts of southern Africa. Continue reading
Nov 29 Watch 3:24 How the world is responding to the omicron variant By Yamiche Alcindor, Courtney Norris A growing number of nations imposed travel restrictions Monday to try to slow the spread of the new coronavirus variant, omicron. The moves came as more cases of the variant were confirmed internationally. But some warned the travel bans —… Continue watching
Nov 29 Watch 7:22 Dr. Fauci on the omicron variant, testing and travel Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, and the president's chief medical advisor, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the U.S. plan to respond to the new omicron variant… Continue watching
Nov 29 Watch 9:24 How unresolved grief could haunt children who lost a parent or caregiver to COVID By Jason Kane and Sarah Varney, Kaiser Health News The number of U.S. deaths from COVID-19 has surpassed 775,000. But left behind are tens of thousands of children — some orphaned entirely — after their parents or a grandparent who cared for them died. In this report co-produced with… Continue watching
Nov 29 CDC recommends COVID boosters for all adults as omicron variant spreads By Jamey Keaten, Raf Casert, Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reacted to the potential threat by urging everyone 18 and older to get booster shots, because “strong immunity will likely prevent serious illness."… Continue reading
Nov 29 New omicron variant brings COVID-19 vaccine inequity ‘home to roost’ By Maria Cheng, Lori Hinnant, Associated Press The emergence of the new omicron variant and the world's desperate and likely futile attempts to keep it at bay are reminders of what scientists have warned for months: The coronavirus will thrive as long as vast parts of the… Continue reading
Nov 29 Nations rush to contain COVID omicron variant By Raf Cassert, Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press Nations around the world sought to keep the new omicron variant at bay with travel bans and further restrictions, even as it remains unclear what it means for the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading