Dec 01 Omicron keeps world on edge as more information drips out By Mari Yamaguchi, Foster Klug, Raf Casert, Associated Press Much is still unknown about the new variant, including how contagious it is and whether it can evade vaccines, and the European Union chief acknowledged that waiting for scientists to tell the world more felt like "an eternity.”… 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. consumer confidence falls in November to nine-month low By Associated Press The Conference Board reported Tuesday that its consumer confidence index dropped to a reading of 109.5, down from 111.6 in October. It was the lowest reading since the index stood at 95.2 in February. Continue reading
Nov 30 WATCH: White House COVID task force holds news briefing amidst threat of new omicron variant By News Desk The White House COVID task force will hold a news briefing on Tuesday amidst news of the new omicron variant and criticism of the travel ban against South Africa and several other African nations. Watch the briefing in the player… Continue reading
Nov 30 FDA panel review final hurdle for Merck’s COVID-19 pill By Matthew Perrone, Associated Press U.S. health advisers are reviewing Merck's closely watched COVID-19 pill, which could become the first easy-to-use drug for American patients. Continue reading
Nov 30 WATCH: Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Fed Chair Jerome Powell testify before Senate committee By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press Chair Jerome Powell says the Federal Reserve will consider acting more quickly to dial back its ultra-low-interest rate policies to counter higher inflation, which Powell acknowledged will likely persist well into next year. Continue reading
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 30 Omicron variant may have reached Europe earlier than suspected By Raf Casert, Andrew Meldrum, Associated Press Much remains unknown about the new variant, including how contagious it might be, but a WHO official said Tuesday that there could soon be a steep rise in infections in parts of southern Africa. 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