Jan 11 Watch 8:13 COVID hospitalizations reach record high as the White House rushes to ramp up testing During Tuesday's congressional hearing about the pandemic, there were tough criticisms of the Biden administration and the lack of available testing. Biden has announced plans to ramp up the response, from requiring insurers to pay for rapid at-home testing to… Continue watching
Jan 07 As omicron continues to surge, families despair over return to remote learning By Corey Williams, Associated Press A growing number of U.S. school districts are moving back to online classes because of the winter surge in COVID-19 cases. Continue reading
Dec 31 Do at-home COVID-19 tests detect the omicron variant? By Carla K. Johnson, Associated Press U.S. health officials say early data suggests they may be less sensitive at picking it up. Continue reading
Dec 31 Watch 5:52 Is it safe to gather for New Year’s Eve? Here’s what one doctor recommends By PBS NewsHour The U.S. has set a new daily record by topping 580,000 new COVID cases Thursday. For the first time in the pandemic, America recorded more than two million cases in a week. It is now averaging more than 300,000 new… Continue watching
Dec 31 New Year’s Eve muted by omicron, many around the world hope for better 2022 By Nick Perry, Associated Press In many places around the world, plans for New Year's Eve celebrations are muted or canceled for the second straight year due to a surge of coronavirus infections, this time driven by the highly contagious omicron variant. Continue reading
Dec 24 Pope celebrates Christmas Eve Mass as virus surges in Italy By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press A maskless Francis processed down the central aisle of the basilica as the Sistine Chapel choir sang “Noel,” kicking off the Vatican’s Christmas holiday that commemorates the birth of Jesus in a manger in Bethlehem. Continue reading
Dec 24 How will Biden’s COVID-19 test giveaway work? By Darlene Superville, Associated Press President Joe Biden says the federal government will buy half a billion COVID-19 rapid test kits and distribute them free of charge to people to use at home. Continue reading
Dec 24 COVID puts a damper on Christmas Eve again around the world By Jack Jeffrey, David Crary, David McHugh, Associated Press Travel plans are being disrupted because of flight cancellations, as the pandemic once again casts a pall on celebrations around the world. Continue reading
Dec 23 Emails detail Trump administration’s fight with own medical experts over COVID advice By Kenichi Serino Emails from Dr. Deborah Birx, the former White House COVID coordinator, and Dr. Jay Butler, a senior Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official, detailed their objection to the administration's guidance. Continue reading
Dec 23 FDA authorizes Merck’s pill against COVID-19 By Matthew Perrone, Associated Press The Food and Drug Administration authorization of Merck's molnupiravir comes one day after the agency cleared a competing drug from Pfizer. Continue reading