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Against the backdrop of a national blood supply crisis, the Biden administration says that a study into the controversial Food and Drug Administration policy is ongoing and acknowledged the historical stigma it has placed on the LGBTQ+ community.
Ahead of the anniversary of his inauguration, news outlets review President Joe Biden's first year in office (Spoiler alert: covid, covid, covid. And Congress.) and look ahead to year two that will include critical midterm elections. Biden will mark the occasion with a press conference.
Though there are warnings that omicron won't be the "final" variant of covid, a new study says omicron really could be the final chapter of the pandemic and end the global health emergency since it causes less serious illness and leads to protection against the delta variant.
Don't call the variant mild, since even if it does seem to cause less serious symptoms for some people, recent models place its potential impact as causing anywhere between 50,000 and 300,000 more deaths by mid-March. Other data says a million more hospitalizations could happen, too.
The White House said the masks, which come from the nation's emergency Strategic National Stockpile, are the largest deployment of PPE in U.S. history. Meanwhile, a mask battle among Supreme Court justices is proof that no office is immune to the debate over face coverings.
Investigators and lawmakers try to tackle allegations of fraudulent or predatory businesses trying to cash in on the short supply of covid testing supplies during the omicron wave.
COVIDtests.gov is set to officially launch mid-morning Wednesday, though the site was quietly made available the day before to identify bugs — which a good number of users reported, particularly those who live in multi-dwelling buildings. Delivery of ordered test kits are expected to begin by the end of the month.
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers tackle these public health issues.
Opinion writers weigh in on these covid issues.
A volcanic eruption covered the island in ash and damaged infrastructure. But Tonga has dodged covid and wants to keep the virus out, despite relief efforts. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization says a billion covid shots have been sent to poorer nations.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said flu is ending but levels were still elevated, and the risk will remain for at least a few more weeks. Separate reports say flu is also fading in Europe. Meanwhile, Moderna said it will launch a combination flu and covid vaccine as soon as late 2023.
The real estate company had promised millions to Harvard University but has reneged on its promise. Inmate mental health in Georgia, health care in Georgia's budget, nursing education in Indiana and more are also in the news.
Reports say that there's been an 8.8% rise in Medicare Advantage enrollments, as of Jan. 1, over the same period last year. But while most beneficiaries in Parts A and B are expected to join Advantage plans by next year, the spending may still outpace traditional paid health costs.
NPR and NBC News report on how long lines at free covid test sites and scarce at-home tests have driven more people to pay for tests, with potentially high prices. But the ongoing price of testing and masking up is not easy for a significant number of people. Media outlets cover other testing news.
A study from Israel has complicated implications for the future of covid vaccinations, since it showed that a fourth dose of Pfizer or Moderna can bring a boost in antibodies but not enough to prevent breakthrough infections of the omicron variant. Meanwhile, ivermectin is in the news again.
Some epidemiologists say case counts should be relied on only as broad indicators of the velocity and direction of the disease’s transmission, Stateline reports. Also: Hospitals in Oklahoma, Arizona and Utah struggle with a crush of covid patients; Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley tests positive for covid; and more.
The agency clarified its guidance on masks after recently saying that wearing any mask was better than wearing no mask. It also updated its website to say that there is no longer a shortage of N95s and that anyone can wear them without worrying they will be shortchanging health care workers.
It's also too soon to know if the covid variant will be the beginning of the end of the pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci says: "I would hope that that’s the case. But that would only be the case if we don’t get another variant that eludes the immune response of the prior variant."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky has come under fire for the agency's mish-mash of public health guidelines. One recent advisory in particular touched a nerve: A CDC update on Jan. 6 advised schools to cancel football, band and even exercise in communities with high covid transmission rates.
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