Dec 01 First U.S. case of COVID-19 omicron variant identified in California By Michael Balsamo, Zeke Miller, Associated Press The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is taking steps to tighten U.S. testing rules for travelers from overseas, including requiring a test for all travelers within a day of boarding a flight to the U.S. regardless of vaccination status. Continue reading
Dec 01 Outside Supreme Court, crowd amplifies abortion arguments By Parker Purifoy, Associated Press Hundreds of abortion debate partisans crowded the plaza in front of the Supreme Court on Wednesday, intermingling and trading chants as justices heard the highly anticipated arguments inside. Continue reading
Dec 01 WATCH: Dr. Anthony Fauci confirms 1st case of omicron variant in U.S. By Zeke Miller, Raf Cassert, Associated Press National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci and White House press secretary Jen Psaki hold a news briefing on Wednesday in Washington, DC. Continue reading
Dec 01 LISTEN: Supreme Court hears oral arguments on Mississippi law banning abortions after 15 weeks After nearly two hours of arguments on Wednesday, all six conservative justices, including three appointed by former President Donald Trump, indicated they would uphold the Mississippi law. Continue reading
Dec 01 Omicron keeps world on edge as more information drips out By Mari Yamaguchi, Foster Klug, Raf Casert, Associated Press Much is still unknown about the new variant, including how contagious it is and whether it can evade vaccines, and the European Union chief acknowledged that waiting for scientists to tell the world more felt like "an eternity.”… Continue reading
Nov 30 Watch 8:16 Will the omicron variant require a new vaccine? An expert weighs in By Nick Schifrin, Dorothy Hastings A growing number of countries are reporting cases of the coronavirus' omicron variant, and many are mandating travel bans. Meanwhile, advisors to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have now endorsed drug maker Merck's pill to treat COVID-19 in high-risk… Continue watching
Nov 30 What we know you can do to protect yourself from omicron By Laura Santhanam Key questions need to be answered about the new COVID-19 variant, omicron, including whether it is more transmissible, produces more severe disease, and responds to vaccines and medicines. Continue reading
Nov 30 WATCH: White House COVID task force holds news briefing amidst threat of new omicron variant By News Desk The White House COVID task force will hold a news briefing on Tuesday amidst news of the new omicron variant and criticism of the travel ban against South Africa and several other African nations. Watch the briefing in the player… Continue reading
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