COVID-19 surge: Here’s what’s canceled or closing across the US

As the omicron variant continues to spread across the country, many events are getting canceled and businesses are closing.

Pima County reinstates indoor mask mandate as Arizona omicron cases rise

Pima County's Board of Supervisors voted to reinstate its indoor mask mandate on Dec. 21 as Arizona omicron cases rise. The county says it's seeing more cases at this time of year than it did in 2020.

Feds sending medical team to aid with COVID-19 in Arizona

The federal government is sending medical personnel to Arizona to help with the ongoing COVID-19 surge. Arizona is one of a handful of states expected to receive additional resources.

Daily Show’s Trevor Noah sues New York hospital for negligence after surgery

The Hospital for Special Surgery is facing a lawsuit from comedian Trevor Noah after he said a surgery left him feeling “sick, sore lame and disabled.”

'A Doll Like Me': Helping children with disabilities feel seen through personalized dolls

The doll maker behind “A Doll Like Me” makes dolls for children who don't see themselves on store shelves. The dolls resemble their owners: children with a variety of disabilities, so that every child feels seen.

US population shows slowest growth rate ever over first year of pandemic

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau released Tuesday showed the country's population grew at its lowest rate ever. This past year was the first time since 1937 that the nation's population grew by less than 1 million people.

DC reinstates indoor mask mandate, declares State of Emergency as COVID-19 omicron variant surges

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has reinstated the city’s mask mandate and has expanded the District’s vaccine requirements as part of a State of Emergency she declared Monday as COVID-19 cases surge nationwide due to the highly contagious omicron variant.

Those who received Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine should get Moderna or Pfizer booster shots: AZDHS

Officials with the Arizona Department of Health Services say the approximately 321,000 Arizonans who received Johnson & Johnson's single-shot COVID-19 vaccine should get a Moderna or Pfizer booster shot.

NHL shutting down from Wednesday through Saturday due to COVID: AP source

A person with direct knowledge of discussions said the NHL is beginning a league-wide shutdown Wednesday amid an increase of positive COVID-19 test results among players across the league.

Biden tests negative for COVID-19 after close contact with infected staffer

“On Monday morning, a mid-level staff member, who does not regularly have contact with the President, received a positive result for a COVID-19 test,” press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday.

Arizona reports 2,176 new COVID-19 cases, no deaths

The latest numbers released on Dec. 20 push the state’s pandemic totals to 1,338,982 cases and 23,519 known deaths.

CDC data: Omicron now dominant COVID-19 variant in US

Omicron has raced ahead of other variants and is now the dominant version of the coronavirus in the U.S. Federal health officials said Monday that omicron accounted for an estimated 73% of new infections last week.

Swedish company showcases microchip that can download COVID-19 passport status

A microchip technology introduced in recent years by the Stockholm-based startup, Epicenter, is being presented as a means to store one's COVID-19 vaccine passport under the skin, according to a video from the South China Post that went viral Friday.

Crowd boos after Trump reveals he got COVID-19 booster shot

Former President Donald Trump revealed he received a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, drawing boos from a crowd in Dallas. "If you don't want to take it, you shouldn't be forced to take it. No mandates," he told the crowd. “But take credit because we saved tens of millions of lives. Take credit. Don't let them take that away from you.”