Health & Safety

Overcrowding at a Pennsylvania hospital reaches a crisis level

7:21am December 23, 2021

NPR's Melissa Block talks to Dr. Essie Reed at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., about the strains of the COVID-19 surge on personnel and care.

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Grimsley High School teacher Sierra Hannipole checks in with a student at the Greensboro, N.C., school's learning hub. According to new federal data, 6 in 10 schools around the U.S., including Grimsley, have given extra training to teachers to support stu

Here's what schools are doing to try to address students' social-emotional needs

7:01am December 23, 2021

by Anya Kamenetz

New federal numbers show the nation's schools are hiring and training staff and expanding previous curricula to address student mental health.

Health & Safety

The FDA has approved a new drug in the fight against AIDS

6:42am December 23, 2021

by Jason Beaubien

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first injectable medication for HIV prevention. Health advocates say it could be a game changer in protecting people against AIDS

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News brief: antiviral pill for COVID, Jan. 6 probe, Putin's news conference

6:25am December 23, 2021

The FDA authorizes the first antiviral pill to treat COVID-19 at home. The House Jan. 6 panel wants to talk to Trump ally Rep. Jordan. Russian President Putin holds his annual year-end new conference.

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Many facilities for the developmentally disabled remain under pandemic lockdowns

6:09am December 23, 2021

by Steph Whiteside

Families with loved ones in congregate care facilities are hoping to spend the holidays together, but many facilities face continuing lockdowns for a variety of unique reasons.

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In Ohio, some hospitals are running out of beds because of the COVID surge

5:26am December 23, 2021

Ohio's daily COVID-19 case count has hit an all-time high. NPR's A Martinez speaks with infectious disease expert Dr. Jennifer Wall Forrester about what federal assistance is needed.

Don Murphy hands out free rapid COVID tests outside of Robinson Middle School in Lowell, Massachusetts.

As omicron surges, these states and cities are focused on giving out free COVID tests

1:02am December 23, 2021

by Gabrielle Emanuel

Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Washington, Iowa and Colorado all have programs to offer free COVID testing to some or all of their residents. So do Boston, Philadelphia and New York.

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Memorials hang from the front gate of Greenwood Cemetery during an event and procession organized by Naming the Lost Memorials to remember and celebrate the lives of those killed by the COVID-19 pandemic on June 8 in New York City.

COVID sent last year's U.S. death rate soaring, especially among people of color

12:58am December 23, 2021

by Rhitu Chatterjee

Americans' life expectancy declined by nearly two years in 2020 compared to the year before, primarily because of COVID-19. The drop in life expectancy was bigger for men, and for Blacks and Latinos.

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President Joe Biden speaks Wednesday during a meeting with his task force on supply chain issues.

Biden teases possible rematch against Donald Trump. 'Why would I not?'

9:15pm December 22, 2021

by Alana Wise

In an interview with ABC News on Wednesday, the president discussed his political future and what his administration would do to fight the spike in coronavirus cases.

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during an infrastructure announcement at AFL-CIO on Dec. 16, 2021.

Kamala Harris tests negative after a COVID-19 exposure

7:01pm December 22, 2021

by Alana Wise

A staffer who worked in close proximity to the vice president has tested positive for the coronavirus. Harris tested negative via a PCR test on Wednesday and will be tested again in the coming days.