Dec 29 More than 2,900 health care workers died this year — and the government barely kept track By Christina Jewett, Robert Lewis, Melissa Bailey, Kaiser Health News Fatalities from the coronavirus have skewed young, with the majority of victims under age 60 in the cases for which there is age data. Continue reading
Dec 29 British officials consider tougher rules as hospitals struggle with COVID-19 variant By Jill Lawless, Associated Press Authorities are blaming a new, more transmissible variant of the virus, first identified in southeast England, for the soaring infection rates. Continue reading
Dec 28 Watch 8:09 3 tragic mistakes that made the 2020 pandemic worse At key moments over the last year leaders around the globe made critical mistakes that worsened the pandemic and led to more deaths. That’s the argument put forth by the New Yorker’s Lawrence Wright in “The Plague Year,” an article… Continue watching
Dec 28 What’s behind the historic spike in drug overdose deaths under COVID-19 By Laura Santhanam Drug overdoses were linked to more than 81,000 people’s deaths, jumping 18 percent between June 2019 and May 2020, according to recently released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Continue reading
Dec 28 Mexico may allow private firms to buy, distribute COVID-19 vaccines By Associated Press López Obrador has been criticized by some in Mexico for centralizing vaccine purchases and distribution, and for putting the effort — like many programs in his administration — in the hands of the military. Continue reading
Dec 28 Aid groups aim to bring health care to migrants on way to U.S. By Julie Watson, Associated Press A humanitarian organization led by U.S. military veterans has treated thousands of migrants over the past year at two clinics in a Mexican town across the border from Texas. Continue reading
Dec 28 WATCH: House debates $2,000 COVID-19 stimulus checks, defense bill By Lisa Mascaro, Jill Colvin, Associated Press President Donald Trump signed a $2 trillion-plus COVID-19 and annual federal spending package into law. But Congress returns Monday to confront the White House on remaining priorities in a rare end-of-session showdown. Continue reading
Dec 28 3 questions scientists are working to answer about the new coronavirus variant By Andrew Joseph, STAT When a new viral variant emerges, experts want to know how well it spreads, whether it changes the disease, and whether it affects immunity. Continue reading
Dec 28 South Korea confirms first cases of more contagious coronavirus variant By Associated Press The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said on Monday the cases have been confirmed in a family of three people who came to South Korea on December 22. Continue reading
Dec 27 ‘Believe in science’: EU kicks off COVID-19 vaccine campaign By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press Doctors, nurses and the elderly rolled up their sleeves across the European Union to receive the first doses of the coronavirus vaccine Sunday in a symbolic show of unity and moment of hope for a continent confronting its worst health… Continue reading