Big cities look to masks again in preparation for winter threat of COVID, flu, RSV
With the beginning of winter roughly a week away, major cities across the U.S. are looking to mask up once again for the purpose of combating not just COVID-19, but the flu and the respiratory illness RSV.
Free COVID-19 tests available to Americans again as White House reveals winter plan
The Biden administration is making four rapid COVID-19 tests available online starting Thursday as it unveils its contingency plans for potential surges this winter.
Federal Reserve raises interest rates again, but at a slower pace
The Federal Reserve has decided to raise interest rates yet again, but this time, it is only going up by half a percentage point. This brings rates to their highest level since 2007.
Federal judge says vaccine choice doesn't outweigh safety requirements in medical settings
US. District Court Judge Donald Molloy on Friday permanently blocked a section of a law that said it was discriminatory for most employers to require workers to be vaccinated against communicable diseases.
‘Star Wars,’ ‘Happy Days’ actor Gary Friedkin dies due to COVID-19 complications
The 4-foot-tall actor appeared in “Blade Runner,” “Young Doctors in Love,” “Happy Days,” and also starred as an Ewok in the “Star Wars” franchise.
Florida lawmaker resigns after being accused of fraudulently obtaining COVID business loans
The Florida lawmaker who sponsored the "Parental Rights in Education" bill resigned on Thursday, one day after authorities announced his indictment on charges of defrauding a federal COVID-19 loan program for small businesses. Gov. Ron DeSantis will have to call a special election to replace him.
House bill rescinds COVID-19 vaccine mandate for U.S. military
More than 8,000 active-duty service members were discharged for failure to obey a lawful order when they refused the vaccine.
FDA clears bivalent COVID-19 booster shots for children under 5
The FDA has authorized use of the tweaked shots starting at age 6 months, but just who is eligible depends on how many vaccinations they’ve already had.
Congress set to rescind COVID-19 vaccine mandate for military members
The COVID-19 vaccine mandate for members of the U.S. military would be rescinded under the annual defense bill heading for a vote this week in Congress, ending a directive that helped ensure the vast majority of troops were vaccinated but also raised concerns that it harmed recruitment and retention.
China eases some controls but gives no sign of when 'zero COVID' strategy will end
China’s “zero-COVID“ strategy has confined millions of people to their homes and set off protests and demands for President Xi Jinping to resign.
Indoor mask mandate may return if LA County reaches high COVID transmission, Ferrer says
Los Angeles County may once again bring back the indoor mask mandate. According to Director Barbara Ferrer, if the county reaches the CDC's high transmission category, masking may be required indoors – again.
DoorDash to cut 1,250 corporate jobs after COVID-19 pandemic hiring surge
Delivery company DoorDash is eliminating more than 1,200 corporate jobs, about 6% of its total workforce, saying it hired too many people when demand for its services increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
China’s meticulous contact tracing pinpoints jogger amid recent COVID-19 outbreak
Patient zero had gone on a 35-minute jog in a local park without a mask and ended up exposing 2,836 people to the virus, 39 of whom tested positive, health officials said.
China's Xi Jinping faces threat from public anger over 'zero COVID' policy
Most protesters focused their anger on COVID-19 restrictions that confine families to their homes for months and have been criticized as neither scientific nor effective.
Fauci urges Americans — one last time — to get the updated COVID-19 booster
Dr. Fauci, who is just weeks away from retirement, had a consistent, familiar message for Americans during his last time at the podium — get your COVID shot.
US health officials renew push for COVID-19 boosters, amid new data on efficacy
Only about 13% of U.S. adults have gotten the updated booster.
RSV surge raises questions about repeat cases: Can you or your child get it again?
As respiratory syncytial virus, otherwise known as RSV, continues to surge across the United States, experts warn it’s possible people can be infected with it more than once.
Carnival Cruise Line brings back COVID-19 protocols in Australia
The move came after hundreds of passengers were infected on the Majestic Princess.
MIT scientists say humidity 'sweet spot' may help reduce spread of COVID-19
In the study published on Nov. 16, 2022, in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, researchers report that maintaining an indoor relative humidity between 40 and 60 percent attributed to lower rates of COVID-19 infections and deaths.
LA County returns to 'strongly recommending' masks indoors as COVID cases rise
The average daily rate of new COVID-19 cases in LA County has risen to 100 infections per 100,000 residents, the county's health officer says, meaning the county is again "strongly recommending" that everyone wear masks in indoor public spaces.