Dec 10 Companies rethink return-to-office plans amid omicron cases By Anne D'Innocenzio The moves are the latest indication of how difficult it is for companies to set firm plans to return workers to the office, with worries about a spike in cases or new variants shifting return-to-office deadlines. Continue reading
Dec 10 Supreme Court allowing Texas abortion ban to remain in place By Mark Sherman, Associated Press The court acted Friday, more than a month after hearing arguments over the law that makes abortion illegal after cardiac activity is detected in an embryo. Continue reading
Dec 09 Watch 6:16 Despite strong vaccination rate, Vermont sees COVID spike amid booster shot lag By William Brangham, Claire Mufson As the country braces for the unknowns of the new omicron variant, the delta variant is still overwhelming parts of the United States. Some states in the Northeast and Midwest have seen sustained record-breaking case numbers. William Brangham reports on… Continue watching
Dec 09 Watch 7:25 Why PFAS are so impervious, and who is most at risk from the forever chemicals By Miles O'Brien, Fedor Kossakovski The new infrastructure law contains $10 billion for cleaning up drinking water that has been contaminated by a specific group of man-made chemicals. But problems with "forever chemicals" go back decades, and are located in many places around the U.S. Continue watching
Dec 09 Growing use of home COVID-19 tests leaves health agencies in the dark about unreported cases By Kathleen McLaughlin, STAT While home tests have distinct advantages, most who test positive don’t come to the attention of health officials unless they see a doctor. Continue reading
Dec 09 U.S. expands Pfizer COVID boosters, allowing third dose to people as young as 16 By Lauran Neergaard, Mike Stobbe, Associated Press The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday cleared an extra dose for those ages 16 and 17, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rapidly endorsed a booster for those ages. Continue reading
Dec 08 When Diego Rivera used his brush to honor groundbreaking healers By Dr. Howard Markel For Mexico's National Institute of Cardiology, the artist portrayed a pantheon of heart doctors. Continue reading
Dec 08 Watch 7:10 Sen. Thune: Vaccine mandates will have 'countereffect,' must be overturned to save jobs The U.S. Senate will vote Wednesday evening on repealing President Joe Biden's vaccine mandate for businesses with 100 or more employees. The measure is expected to pass with support from Democrats Joe Manchin and Jon Tester. But the bill faces… Continue watching
Dec 08 U.S. approves new COVID-19 antibody drug for high-risk patients By Matthew Perrone, Associated Press The drug could benefit cancer patients, organ transplant recipients and people with severe allergies to vaccinations. Continue reading
Dec 08 Tensions rise among lawmakers, parents as Louisiana debates vaccine mandates in schools By Roby Chavez After seven and a half hours of testimony, a Louisiana House panel overwhelmingly rejects the contentious COVID vaccine proposal for Louisiana schools. The governor vows to move the proposal forward. Continue reading