Jan 22 Watch 6:32 COVID-19 latest: Omicron variant, herd immunity, worldwide vaccine access By PBS NewsHour In order to expand testing access and help stop the spread of the omicron variant, the Biden administration announced this week that it would begin distributing millions of COVID-19 tests and masks to Americans for free. Infectious disease epidemiologist Jessica… Continue watching
Jan 21 Arizona sues Biden over federal money being used for schools without mask rules By Bob Christie, Associated Press The lawsuit filed in Phoenix federal court on Friday comes a week after the U.S. Treasury Department demanded that Ducey either restructure the $163 million program to eliminate restrictions it says undermine public health recommendations or pay back the money. Continue reading
Jan 21 WATCH: White House COVID task force bolsters vaccine booster messaging By Mike Stobbe, Associated Press Three new U.S. studies offer more evidence that the COVID-19 vaccines are standing up to the omicron variant, at least among people who have gotten booster shots. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the studies Friday. Continue reading
Jan 20 New Mexico calls on National Guard to help schools stay open amid COVID-19 surge By Morgan Lee, Cedar Attanasio, Associated Press Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Wednesday announced an unprecedented effort to reopen classrooms in the capital city of Santa Fe and shore up staffing across the state. Continue reading
Jan 20 Number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rises to 286,000 By Paul Wiseman, Associated Press The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose to the highest level in three months as the fast-spreading omicron variant disrupted the job market. Continue reading
Jan 19 WATCH: Biden acknowledges toll of COVID on nation, but says 'it will get better' By Zeke Miller, Josh Boak, Associated Press At a Wednesday news conference to mark his first year in office, President Joe Biden is admitting that the pandemic has exhausted and demoralized many Americans. Continue reading
Jan 19 Online again, Sundance prepares to kick off its 44th film festival By Lindsey Bahr, Associated Press The 44th annual Sundance Film Festival is back, and entirely online once more. Continue reading
Jan 19 Facing calls to resign, U.K. prime minister Johnson defends record By Jill Lawless, Associated Press British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has defied calls to resign in a feisty performance in Parliament. Continue reading
Jan 19 As officials stress importance of N95s, White House will make 400 million available for free By Zeke Miller, Associated Press The Biden administration will begin making 400 million N95 masks available for free to Americans starting next week. Continue reading
Jan 18 Watch 7:55 It's time to rethink America's pandemic strategy, experts say. Here's what they recommend COVID-19 cases are surging in many parts of the country with nearly 800,000 new cases a day. Hospitalizations and deaths are up significantly compared to two weeks ago. There are close to 140,000 people currently admitted to a hospital with… Continue watching