Health Mar 22 Will BA.2, an omicron subvariant, cause another wave of U.S. infections? The latest addition to the omicron lineage has been making waves in Europe. Whether it will do the same in the U.S. depends on rates of vaccination and prior infection. By Prakash Nagarkatti, Mitzi Nagarkatti, The Conversation
Health Dec 20 Watch 10:19 Vaccines reduce hospitalizations, but slow testing and rapid omicron spread worry experts The rapid and relentless spread of COVID-19 in the midst of a new variant of the coronavirus is leading to growing alarm just ahead of the holidays. Omicron infections are exploding amid a shortage of testing, and governments are imposing… By Stephanie Sy, Claire Mufson
Health Dec 16 Watch 9:20 As the holiday season nears, concerns of a resurgent virus are growing From Broadway to Britain, COVID-19 is spreading new fears, forcing new shutdowns and prompting people to wonder when it will all end. And experts warn omicron is likely to become the dominant strain in the U.S. William Brangham reports on… By William Brangham, Amber Partida
Health Dec 06 Watch 8:27 Could omicron lead to more breakthrough COVID cases? Here’s what we know For the first time in nearly two months, the United States is averaging more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases daily. Roughly one-third of states have also now detected the new omicron variant. John Yang reports. By John Yang, Courtney Norris
Dec 03 Watch 7:37 NIH director on the spread of the omicron variant amid the ongoing pandemic Maryland, Nebraska and Pennsylvania are the latest states reporting cases of the new omicron variant in the U.S., while it has now spread to more than 40 nations worldwide. And the CDC director said Friday the omicron variant could become… Continue watching
Dec 02 Watch 5:15 U.S. launches new effort to fight omicron variant’s spread with ‘science and speed’ By Yamiche Alcindor, Dorothy Hastings The United States’ COVID-19 watch has turned up more cases of the omicron variant Thursday. They appeared as President Joe Biden unveiled new initiatives on vaccines, masking and treatment. White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor reports. Continue watching
Dec 01 Watch 2:19 U.S. to release new rules for foreign travelers amid growing concerns over omicron variant By William Brangham, Dorothy Hastings The first case of the omicron variant of the coronavirus was detected in the U.S. Wednesday — a discovery most health officials had said was inevitable. A case was confirmed in San Francisco, California, on the eve of new requirements… Continue watching
Dec 01 Watch 6:40 What early evidence tells us about omicron, and how it may affect need for booster shots By William Brangham, Dorothy Hastings The first case of COVID-19 from the omicron variant in the U.S. was in a person who had been vaccinated, but hadn’t received a booster. Dr. Fauci said it was a mild infection, and none of the traveler’s close contacts… Continue watching
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