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
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 U.S. picks up speed on tracking of virus variants after slow start By Carla K. Johnson, Associated Press After a slow start, the United States has improved its surveillance system for tracking new coronavirus variants such as omicron, boosting its capacity by tens of thousands of samples per week since early this year. Viruses mutate constantly. To find… Continue reading
Nov 29 Watch 3:24 How the world is responding to the omicron variant By Yamiche Alcindor, Courtney Norris A growing number of nations imposed travel restrictions Monday to try to slow the spread of the new coronavirus variant, omicron. The moves came as more cases of the variant were confirmed internationally. But some warned the travel bans —… Continue watching
Nov 29 Watch 7:22 Dr. Fauci on the omicron variant, testing and travel Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, and the president's chief medical advisor, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the U.S. plan to respond to the new omicron variant… Continue watching
Nov 26 Watch 9:42 Alarm grows after emergence of new omicron COVID-19 variant. Here’s what you need to know A newly emerged variant of the coronavirus known as “omicron” is causing widespread concern. First discovered in South Africa, it's now been detected in multiple nations, including Europe and Israel. Many nations including the U.S. are considering travel bans to… Continue watching
Nov 26 Watch 12:14 Brooks and Capehart on new COVID-19 variant, inflation, Ahmaud Arbery verdict New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart join William Brangham to discuss the week in politics, including the new COVID- 19 variant, inflation, President Biden's leadership decisions at the Federal Reserve and the verdict in… Continue watching
Nov 26 World races to contain new COVID threat, the omicron variant By Raf Casert, Calvin Woodward, Associated Press Nearly two years into the pandemic, the world is suddenly racing to contain a new coronavirus variant potentially more dangerous than the one that has fueled relentless waves of infection on every continent. Continue reading
Nov 26 New variant hits sports just as they were nearing normality By Gerald Imray, Associated Press Golf, cricket and rugby became the first major sports to be affected by the new COVID-19 variant on Friday, prompting fears of renewed travel restrictions and disrupted events just as they were returning to normal nearly two years into the… Continue reading