Health & Safety

Lylliette Ramirez gets a coronavirus test in January in North Miami, Florida.

The more contagious BA.2 version of omicron is now the most common in the U.S.

9:48pm March 29, 2022

by Joe Hernandez

The BA.2 strain now accounts for more than half of all coronavirus infections nationwide, the CDC estimates. Although it's fueling a surge in Europe, the variant doesn't appear to make people sicker.

The abortion drug mifepristone was approved by the FDA more than 20 years ago. The FDA recently relaxed some of the rules for dispensing the drug. Now, some legislatures are trying to restrict access.

As medication abortion becomes dominant, red states restrict pills

6:01pm March 29, 2022

by Sarah McCammon

As access to abortion in clinics becomes limited across much of the country, many patients are turning to abortion pills. And conservative state lawmakers are taking notice.

Sleeping in a room even a little bit of light can hurt a person's health, study shows

5:30pm March 29, 2022

by Will Stone

Turn out the lights for a good night of sleep: this seems like common sense, but many Americans don't actually follow it. New research shows it doesn't take much light at night to hurt our health.

Queue Listen Now

The viability of ECMO as a last-ditch treatment for COVID

5:08pm March 29, 2022

ECMO machines became a last-ditch treatment for COVID. But only half of the patients who got ECMO survived, raising questions about whether this expensive and hard to access treatment is worth it.

Queue Listen Now

FDA authorizes 4th COVID shots for people 50 and older

4:41pm March 29, 2022

by Rob Stein

The Food and Drug Administration has authorize fourth shots for those age 50 and older. The move is aimed at shoring up waning immunity, especially as the U.S. faces the possibility of another surge.

People travel through the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. Governors from 21 states are suing to end the federal mask mandate for public transportation.

21 states sue the Biden administration to end the federal travel mask mandate

4:17pm March 29, 2022

by Jaclyn Diaz

The states are suing to end the public transportation mandate, claiming the continued enforcement "harms the states" and interferes with local laws. The mandate is in place at least through April 18.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis, back left, and Colorado Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, back right, listen as Majority Leader Daneya Esgar speaks during a news conference. Esgar has called for the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold Roe v. Wade.

Colorado braces to become refuge for abortion access if 'Roe' is weakened

2:44pm March 29, 2022

by Rae Ellen Bichell | Kaiser Health News

If Roe v. Wade falters, Colorado will be nearly surrounded by a sea of anti-abortion states. The state is bracing for impact from out-of-state residents, while lawmakers cement abortion protections.

Stone Age brain surgery? It might have been more survivable than you think

12:39pm March 29, 2022

by Dave Davies

Medical historian Ira Rutkow points to physical evidence that suggests Stone Age people conducted — and survived — brain surgery. His new book is Empire of the Scalpel.

Through the pandemic, if you needed a coronavirus test, you could get one for free, even without insurance. Now, that is no longer the case in some places, as the federal funding covering the costs has run out.

Free COVID tests and treatments no longer free for uninsured, as funding runs out

11:35am March 29, 2022

by Selena Simmons-Duffin

The Biden administration has asked Congress to allocate $22.5 billion more for pandemic relief. But the funding is stalled and the effects are already being felt.

Health & Safety

Does it make sense for older people to get another booster against COVID-19?

5:10am March 29, 2022

With the FDA poised to OK another booster for people 50 and older, questions remain: Is the evidence strong enough to warrant a fourth shot, does the timing make sense, and will there be much demand?