Novel coronavirus

Sarah Palin COVID-19 tests delay libel trial against New York Times

By Tom Hays, Associated Press

A judge has delayed trial for former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's defamation claims against The New York Time after she tested positive for the coronavirus three times.

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.

Trump appointed judge blocks Biden federal worker vaccine mandate

By Associated Press

U.S. Judge Jeffrey Brown ruled Friday that opponents of Biden's vaccination mandate for federal employees were likely to succeed at trial and blocked the government from enforcing the requirement.

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.

U.S. COVID testing is 'haphazard.' Here's what experts recommend

By Laura Santhanam

The pandemic’s ever-shifting demands mean goals must be established now to build up the country’s testing capacity for the future.

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.

Beijing residents disappointed Olympics will be closed event

By Associated Press

With just over two weeks before the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics, residents of the Chinese capital are disappointed at not being able to attend events because of coronavirus restrictions.

Website for free virus tests is here. How does it work?

By Zeke Miller, Darlene Superville, Associated Press

Under criticism after weeks of shortages, President Joe Biden's administration is working to make COVID-19 rapid test kits more available and accessible to Americans by boosting supply and lowering costs.

White House soft-launches free COVID testing kit website

By Zeke Miller, Associated Press

The Biden administration on Tuesday quietly launched its website for Americans to request free at-home COVID-19 tests, a day before the site was scheduled to officially launch.

U.S. faces a wave of omicron deaths in coming weeks, models predict

By Carla K. Johnson, Associated Press

The fast-moving omicron variant may cause less severe disease on average, yet COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are climbing. Modelers forecast 50,000 to 300,000 more Americans could die by the time the omicron wave subsides this spring.