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 02 Travel bans punish countries for doing necessary work to end the pandemic, South Africa epidemiologist says By Kenichi Serino When omicron, a new variant of Covid-19, was discovered by South African scientists, the United States moved quickly to implement a travel ban against the country, a move the country's leading epidemiologist has called "outrageous" and "an overreaction."… Continue reading
Dec 02 Watch 6:13 Does South Africa's COVID uptick signal greater threat from omicron? Here's what we know By William Brangham, Courtney Norris While we don't know whether the omicron variant will lead to more severe cases of COVID-19, its ability to spread is becoming clearer. Cases in South Africa are spiking at the fastest rate since the pandemic began, and European officials… Continue watching
Dec 02 WATCH: President Biden gives remarks on COVID-19 at the National Institute of Health By Zeke Miller, Alexandra Jaffe, Associated Press Biden on Thursday unveiled a winter plan to combat the coronavirus and its omicron variant with enhanced availability of shots and vaccines but without major new restrictions. Continue reading
Dec 02 With threat of omicron variant, Biden to launch winter COVID-19 booster and testing campaign By Zeke Miller, Associated Press President Joe Biden is kicking off a more urgent campaign for Americans to get COVID-19 booster shots. Biden on Thursday is unveiling a winter plan to combat the coronavirus and its omicron variant with enhanced availability of shots and vaccines… Continue reading
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 Watch 5:41 India extends door-to-door vaccine campaign as omicron variant worries officials By Fred de Sam Lazaro The trajectory of omicron infections is being watched closely in India, where the official death toll from COVID-19 is approaching half a million. The true toll is likely much higher. Memories are still fresh of the devastation caused by the… Continue watching
Dec 01 Watch 5:16 Vaccinated Americans reflect on breakthrough infections, 'infuriating' anti-vaccine views By Ryan Connelly Holmes Even as Americans are trying to prepare for omicron, many parts of the country are still reeling from the delta variant. More Americans died of COVID this year than in 2020, despite the wide availability of free vaccines. The pandemic's… Continue watching
Dec 01 WATCH: Dr. Anthony Fauci confirms 1st case of omicron variant in U.S. By Zeke Miller, Raf Cassert, Associated Press National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci and White House press secretary Jen Psaki hold a news briefing on Wednesday in Washington, DC. Continue reading