Health

Big Florida school districts defy governor over mask mandate

By Freida Frisaro, Adriana Gomez Licon, Associated Press

Students in Florida's Broward County went back to school under a mask mandate Wednesday, even as their school board faces threats of penalties for defying Gov. Ron DeSantis.

WATCH: Biden administration to require COVID vaccines for nursing home staff

By Zeke Miller, Associated Press

Biden announced that his administration will require that nursing home staff be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition for those facilities to continue receiving federal Medicare and Medicaid funding.

U.S. health officials call for booster shots against COVID-19

By Mike Stobbe, Matthew Perrone, Associated Press

U.S. health officials Wednesday recommended all Americans get COVID-19 booster shots to shore up their protection amid the surging delta variant and evidence that the vaccines' effectiveness is falling.

WATCH: White House COVID task force recommends COVID-19 booster shots

By News Desk and Associated Press

The White House COVID-19 task force will hold a news briefing Wednesday as U.S. officials recommend that all Americans get COVID-19 booster shots.

How health experts are navigating daily life amid the delta variant surge

By Helen Branswell, STAT

With the highly transmissible Delta variant spreading, caution prevails.

Texas governor tests positive for COVID-19, in ‘good health’

By Paul J. Weber, Associated Press

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has tested positive for COVID-19. His office said Tuesday that Abbot is in good health and experiencing no symptoms.

WATCH: How to keep kids safe from COVID-19 in school

By Laura Santhanam

Will everyone wear a face mask? How many children and staff will be present in each classroom? Do school administrators have resources to improve ventilation and air flow?…

Vaccine-skeptic cardinal hospitalized with COVID

By Todd Richmond, Associated Press

One of the Catholic church's top officials and fiercest critics of Pope Francis has COVID-19 and is breathing through a ventilator. His staff tweeted Saturday that he has been hospitalized and is breathing through a ventilator.

U.S. mulls COVID vaccine boosters for elderly as early as fall

By Hope Yen, Associated Press

Federal health officials have been actively looking at whether extra shots for the vaccinated may be needed as early as this fall, reviewing case numbers in the U.S. “almost daily” as well as the situation in other countries such as…

How the talented Oscar Levant broke taboos by talking about mental health

By Dr. Howard Markel

In today’s socially mediated 24/7 news cycle, it is difficult to imagine just how taboo the topic of prescription opiate addiction was back then, let alone how much courage it took for Levant to bring it to such national prominence.