COVID

Kevin Tranbarger poses with his two children outside the Hong Kong International Airport in July, before they left for the United States. A few weeks later, Tranbarger decided to permanently move away from Hong after living there for nearly three decades.

World News

He loved Hong Kong. Its COVID crackdown made him leave without even saying goodbye

8:06am February 20, 2022

by David Gura

Hong Kong has imposed severe restrictions to fight COVID-19. For many expatriates, it's proving the last straw after years of seeing its autonomy erode as China tightens its grip on the territory.

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A rapid antigen test shows a positive test result for COVID-19.

Health & Safety

Coronavirus FAQ: Is it a good idea to get COVID before I'm over 60 and at higher risk?

3:18pm February 18, 2022

Say you're in your 50s. Maybe you're thinking, it's a good idea to catch SARS-CoV-2 now before you hit your 60s and would be at higher risk of severe illness? Or is that a very bad idea?

Latino workers are caught deciding between their health and livelihood

3:00pm February 18, 2022

by Eileen Rodriguez

Cases of COVID-19 in the Latino community in North Carolina skyrocketed in December, and only recently have declined.

Ben Bergquam was hospitalized with COVID in January. He says he brought his own prescription for ivermectin — an unproven COVID therapy.

Health & Safety

What a bottle of ivermectin reveals about the shadowy world of COVID telemedicine

3:45pm February 09, 2022

by Geoff Brumfiel

An anti-vaccine group known for spreading medical disinformation is writing prescriptions for unproven COVID-19 treatments, with the help of a doctor whose medical license was revoked in Alabama.

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Curlers Vicky Persinger and Chris Plys will be the first U.S. athletes to compete in Beijing in a mixed doubles match against Australia two days ahead of the opening ceremony.

Sports

American curlers get an early start at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing

8:32am February 01, 2022

by Brian Mann

Two days before the opening ceremony in Beijing, U.S. curlers Vicky Persinger and Chris Plys face an Australian pair in a mixed doubles match that was nearly upended by the COVID pandemic.

Sandra Castro vaccinates first-grader Kristen Cruz, 6, at KIPP Believe Charter School in New Orleans last week ahead of Tuesday's deadline for all students in the city's school system to be vaccinated.

New Orleans will be the first major school district to mandate COVID vaccinations

7:36pm January 31, 2022

by The Associated Press

Waivers for those opposed to vaccination are easy to obtain under state regulations, and schools will work with students who aren't inoculated, the district's superintendent said.

A Hong Kong hamster that evaded the cull.

Health & Safety

Coronavirus FAQ: Are pets a threat? My immunocompromised pal had COVID. Can I visit?

7:22pm January 28, 2022

by Marc Silver

Hong Kong's hamster cull has people wondering if they can catch SARS-CoV-2 from a pet. And here's a human dilemma: It is risky to visit an immunocompromised individual who recently had COVID?

Linsey Jones, a medical assistant working at a drive-up coronavirus testing clinic, wears an N95 mask on Jan. 4 in Puyallup, Wash. The Biden administration will begin making 400 million N95 masks available for free to Americans starting this week.

Health & Safety

Free N95 masks are arriving at pharmacies and grocery stores. Here's how to get yours

8:11pm January 25, 2022

by Vanessa Romo

Some retailers are starting to get the first wave of the 400 million free masks being distributed by the federal government. Every person is allowed to receive up to three masks.

The Yanqing Winter Olympic Village in Beijing is just one of the many "closed loop" locations that will isolate athletes, staff and the limited number of spectators.

China's Olympics aim to keep COVID at bay with armpit sensors, robots and more

3:49pm January 22, 2022

Athletes and other attendees will be in a closed "loop" with strict rules about everything from daily testing for athletes to how spectators should respond — no cheering out loud, please!

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Starbucks drops COVID vaccine mandate after Supreme Court ruling

9:29pm January 19, 2022

by The Associated Press

The coffee giant said it was responding to last week's Supreme Court ruling that rejected the Biden administration's plan to require vaccines or COVID testing at companies with more than 100 workers.