Health & Safety

News brief: Masking rollbacks, Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Peter Navarro subpoenaed

7:35am February 10, 2022

More Democratic-led states pull back their masking requirements. Natural gas plays a big role in the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Jan. 6 panel subpoenas former Trump White House trade adviser Peter Navarro.

Queue Listen Now

In this photo provided by the Australian Defense Force, debris from damaged buildings and trees are strewn around on Atata Island in Tonga following the eruption of an underwater volcano and subsequent tsunami.

Tonga's COVID outbreak is growing rapidly with omicron cases confirmed

5:39am February 10, 2022

by The Associated Press

Health Minister Saia Piukala told reporters that 31 more people had tested positive for the COVID-19, nearly doubling Tonga's active cases for the second day in a row, local media reported.

Health & Safety

Trucker protests over COVID mandates fuel Canada's growing far-right

5:19am February 10, 2022

NPR's Rachel Martin talks to Stephanie Carvin, an associate professor at Canada's Carleton University, about what the spreading trucker protests mean for the country's far-right movement.

Members of the Philippine Coast Guard assist passengers as they arrive at Manila's International Airport. The Philippines lifted a nearly 2-year ban on foreign travelers Thursday as an omicron-fueled surge eases.

The Philippines welcomes back foreign travelers after nearly 2 years

3:30am February 10, 2022

by The Associated Press

The Philippines lifted a nearly 2-year ban on fully vaccinated foreign travelers Thursday to boost tourism and related industries as an omicron-fueled surge eases.

Health & Safety

Questions remain about chemicals stored at burned fertilizer plant

5:06pm February 09, 2022

by Paul Garber

Winston-Salem Fire Chief Trey Mayo provided a timeline on Wednesday on how firefighters attacked a massive blaze at the Winston Weaver fertilizer plant, but questions st

Take a look at SARS-CoV-2's family tree. It's full of surprises

5:00pm February 09, 2022

by Michaeleen Doucleff

The family history of SARS-CoV-2 is not what virologists expected — and it sheds light on the coronavirus that launched a pandemic. Check out our illustration of the virus's family tree.

While some states start to lift mask mandates, the CDC stays firm on its guidance

4:58pm February 09, 2022

by Maria Godoy

While governors in several states are moving to lift mask mandates, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today reiterated that it's not changing it's mask guidance.

COVID-19 widows left on hold with Social Security offices closed

4:34pm February 09, 2022

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with economy reporter Chabeli Carrazana from The 19th News about women whose spouses and children have died of COVID struggling to seek benefits from Social Security offices.

Democrats roll back COVID restrictions in their states as omicron attitudes shift

4:23pm February 09, 2022

by Mara Liasson

Several Democratic-led states are rolling back coronavirus restrictions in the face of public wariness as the omicron surge eases. Federal health officials advise those restrictions are still needed.

Queue Listen Now

Funds available to help impacted residents after chemical fire

4:08pm February 09, 2022

by Keri Brown

Residents in Winston-Salem who were forced to leave their homes after a chemical fire can now get some help with their evacuation expenses.