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 Omicron confirmed in man who attended NYC anime convention By Michelle L. Price, Associated Press Officials said Thursday that the man tested positive after returning home and that his symptoms have subsided. Continue reading
Dec 02 WATCH: House Speaker Pelosi holds weekly news conference By Associated Press Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said the Supreme Court's deliberation over a Mississippi law presenting the most serious challenge to abortion rights in decades, marked a "very dark day."… Continue reading
Dec 02 Omicron and delta spell return of unpopular restrictions By Lori Hinnant, Associated Press Governments face a thorny calculus made more difficult by the prospect of backlash, increased social divisions and the fear of being voted out of office. 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 First U.S. case of COVID-19 omicron variant identified in California By Michael Balsamo, Zeke Miller, Associated Press The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is taking steps to tighten U.S. testing rules for travelers from overseas, including requiring a test for all travelers within a day of boarding a flight to the U.S. regardless of vaccination status. Continue reading
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