Health

Groups rush to get Florida farmworkers vaccinated

By Adriana Gomez Licon, Associated Press

Farmworkers were denied priority access in Florida, unlike other states. Advocates are asking the state and counties to quickly mobilize to areas such as Homestead, south of Miami, and Immokalee, east of Naples.

U.S. allows 2 more over-the-counter COVID-19 home tests

By Matthew Perrone, Associated Press

The Food and Drug Administration decision this week is expected to vastly expand the availability of cheap home tests that many experts have recommended for months.

World trade body chief says vaccine inequity ‘unacceptable’

By Associated Press

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said Thursday that "vaccine inequity" during the coronavirus pandemic demonstrates the need for developing nations to be able to make vaccines.

Biden calls on celebrity partners, community leaders to boost COVID vaccinations

By Zeke Miller, Associated Press

The Biden administration is unveiling a coalition of community, religious and celebrity partners to promote COVID-19 shots as it seeks to overcome vaccine hesitancy.

Company at heart of Johnson & Johnson vaccine woes has series of citations

By Richard Lardner, Linda A. Johnson, Associated Press

The company at the center of quality problems that led Johnson & Johnson to discard a batch of its coronavirus vaccine has a string of citations from U.S. health officials for quality control problems.

Why vaccine passports may be inevitable in next phase of COVID-19

By Laura Santhanam

As countries around the world become more eager to reduce public health risks and jumpstart their own economies, vaccine passports are becoming a focus of discussion, and in some cases a reality.

France to close schools, ban domestic travel as virus surges

By Sylvie Corbet, Associated Press

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a three-week nationwide school closure and a month-long domestic travel ban.

Dramatic drop in common viruses raises question: Masks forever?

By Blake Farmer, Nashville Public Radio

Hospitalizations are down 62% for childhood respiratory illnesses, a study shows. Masking and social distancing are keeping a variety of viruses in check this flu season.

New York is latest state to legalize recreational marijuana

By Marina Villeneuve, Associated Press

The legislation provides protections for cannabis users in the workplace, housing, family court and in schools, colleges and universities, and sets a target of providing half of marijuana licenses to individuals from underrepresented communities.

City dwellers gained more access to public spaces during the pandemic – can they keep it?

By Katharine Lusk, The Conversation

COVID-19 has underscored the value of parks and public spaces. A new survey shows that U.S. mayors have gotten the message, but post-pandemic plans for public spaces remain largely undefined.