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The omicron variant has been found to infect 70 times faster than the delta or original covid strain -- but causes less severe disease -- in a study from the University of Hong Kong. Why? Researchers observed that the virus takes stronger hold in the airways rather than the lungs.
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As omicron covid has spread to at least 77 countries and 35 U.S. states, the European Commission president said it was expected to dominate the area by mid-January. The CDC added Italy to the level 4 travel list, and German officials said the nation was tackling a vaccine supply problem.
The city's board of supervisors passed the regulation Tuesday, assuring around 10,000 domestic workers would have paid sick leave. State child care issues in Rhode Island, debate over Georgia's health proposals, a dangerous synthetic marijuana in Florida and more are also in the news.
The New York Times reports that Vuity, a once-a-day eye drop treatment that can help users see close-by objects without making their vision short-sighted, is now available. Other news outlets report on forever chemical contaminations, Lyme disease, CTE in a shooting case and more.
Facing questions regarding opioids, abortion and drug pricing, Robert Califf testified before senators on his record and plans for the Food and Drug Administration. His nomination to head that agency is viewed to be on track after the two-hour session.
Arizona's law would impose criminal penalties on anyone performing an abortion because of genetic abnormalities in the fetus. Meanwhile, Wisconsin's attorney general says if the Supreme Court overturns federal protections for the right to an abortion, he won't prosecute under a state ban that would take effect.
Meanwhile, Amtrak paused a vaccine mandate for employees over worries of service cuts if it had to terminate about 500 unvaxxed employees. Some Dallas hospitals are backing off vaccine mandates too. Kroger, on the other hand, is cutting some benefits for unvaccinated employees.
Idaho's health department released figures showing that 25% of its 1,000 covid deaths have been among residents living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities. State officials urge all caregivers to get vaccinated. News on covid spread at other health facilities is also reported.
A lab test showed Johnson & Johnson's shot led to "virtually no" antibody protection, and Sinovac's shot (one of the most used around the world) doesn't provide enough antibodies to neutralize the variant. Other covid news, including higher risk of myocarditis after infection, is also reported.
Media outlets cover news from Pfizer about final clinical trials of its covid treatment Paxlovid: the drug was 89% effective at preventing hospitalization and death. President Joe Biden has ordered enough of the pills to treat 10 million people.
As winter covid cases increase among college students, administrators are scrambling to respond with booster shot mandates and other mitigation measures. At Cornell University, 903 covid infections were reported between Dec. 7-13 -- many of which were confirmed to be the omicron variant.
The pace of covid cases identified with the omicron variant jumped sevenfold in a single week, according to the CDC, and public health officials warn that hospitals that are already overwhelmed with delta cases in some states could become swamped.
Adjustments to health coverage or sign-ups will have to meet today's deadline if coverage is to begin on Jan 1, 2022. Noticias Telemundo reports on efforts to enroll Latinos and, separately, Modern Healthcare covers news that 2022 is projected to be a positive year for big insurance companies.
As Americans families gather around holiday tables this season, more than 800,000 will be missing due to the covid pandemic — 163,000 of which could likely have been avoided with vaccinations, an analysis estimates. Health experts forecast that the U.S. will hit 1,000,000 deaths — and more quickly than previously expected at the latest rate of hospitalization.
Opinion writers weigh in on these covid issues.
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
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