Michigan man who defied state pandemic orders to keep diner open dies of COVID-19
John Parney said he kept the Quincy Diner open partly to pay for medical bills. The south Michigan man wasn't vaccinated when he got infected, but pledged during his illness he would, arguing "the battle, at this point, was worse than any training he endured in the military."
Omicron variant less likely to require hospitalization, studies show
Scientists stress that even if the findings of these early studies hold up, any reductions in severity need to be weighed against the fact omicron spreads much faster than delta and is more able to evade vaccines.
Minnesota teen jumps out of McDonald’s drive-thru window to save choking customer
Sydney Raley didn’t think twice about jumping through a McDonald’s drive-through window to render first-aid to a choking customer.
Retailers put buying limits on COVID test kits as travelers rush to test before holidays
With Christmas now only days away, thousands of Floridians are looking to gather with confidence, but some stores have just announced they will impose a purchase limit for at-home COVID-19 testing products.
DC to require proof of vaccination for restaurants, bars, other indoor venues
D.C. will soon require proof of vaccination for many indoor venues, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Wednesday.
Pfizer COVID-19 pill approved in US as 1st home treatment
Pfizer’s pill, called Paxlovid, is the first COVID-19 treatment that Americans can pick up at a pharmacy and take at home.
WHO chief: Blanket COVID booster drives risk prolonged pandemic
The head of the World Health Organization warned Wednesday that blanket booster programs in rich countries risk prolonging the world's battle with COVID-19 and said that “no country can boost its way out of the pandemic.”
Nearly $100B in COVID-19 relief funds stolen, Secret Service says
Most of that figure comes from unemployment fraud. The Labor Department reported about $87 billion in unemployment benefits could have been paid improperly, with a significant portion attributable to fraud.
Judge rules against California school district in COVID vaccine suit
San Diego Unified is one of several large school districts in California to announce such mandates. Other districts with similar mandates include Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento and West Contra Costa Unified school districts.
Trump 'very appreciative' and 'surprised' after Biden acknowledged his administration's COVID vaccine rollout
Former President Trump said he was "very appreciative" and "surprised" that President Biden thanked him and his administration for their success in making COVID-19 vaccines available to the public, adding that "tone" and "trust" are critical in getting Americans vaccinated.
South Africa's COVID-19 case drop may show its omicron peak has passed
South Africa's noticeable drop in new COVID-19 cases may signal that the country's omicron-driven surge has passed its peak, medical experts say.
San Jose mayor pushes for mandatory booster; could be 1st in California
In what could be an unprecedented move in California, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said he wants to make all city employees and visitors who enter city-owned facilities, to have a booster shot or third round of vaccinations. There will surely be pushback to the plan.
NHL to withdraw from Olympics after COVID surge, sources say
The NHL is not sending players to the Beijing Olympics over concerns that the coronavirus pandemic will disrupt the league's ability to complete a full season.
Rapid COVID-19 home tests could bring reassurance for 2021 holidays, experts say
At-home rapid COVID-19 tests could help make a family’s holiday gathering safer when combined with vaccination and boosters, experts say.
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.
Biden pledges 500M free at-home COVID-19 tests, more hospital aid to fight omicron
President Joe Biden pledged 500 million free at-home COVID-19 tests that Americans can have shipped to them as the world races the omicron variant.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan tests positive for COVID-19
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan says he has tested positive for COVID-19.
NHL to briefly pause season starting Wednesday due to COVID-19 concerns
The NHL announced it will briefly pause the season starting Wednesday because of a surge in COVID-19 cases. The league will begin the Christmas break two days earlier than planned.
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.
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.