omicron surge

Hospital staff at Gritman Medical Center in the northern Idaho city of Moscow were unable to find Katie Ripley an open ICU bed at a larger hospital as her condition deteriorated.

In rural America, patients are waiting for care — sometimes with deadly consequences

2:33pm February 10, 2022

by Will Stone

When cancer survivor Katie Ripley got pneumonia, the 25-bed hospital in her small town didn't have the specialized care she needed. But with omicron surging, there was no ICU bed to transfer her to.

Nursing assistant Michelle Bryan dons a protective face shield before entering the room of a COVID-19 patient on the acute care floor.

Health & Safety

Inside an Oregon hospital, here's what it takes to provide care through the chaos

11:04am February 08, 2022

by Amelia Templeton

Salem Health in Oregon is a major hospital, but the omicron onslaught has strained the staff like never before. Still, they show up. For the patients, and for each other. And some see signs of hope.

Health & Safety

The omicron surge may be starting to peak in some parts of the U.S.

2:28pm January 14, 2022

by Rob Stein

Infections appear to have started to either crest or fall in some parts of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, but hospitalizations and deaths tend to lag.

Caregivers working with COVID-19 patients in a Barnes-Jewish Hospital intensive care unit write a message of love and support on the glass door facing a patient's room.

ICU teams report fatigue and frustration as they brace for omicron surge

4:41pm December 31, 2021

by Jon Hamilton

A resurgence in COVID-19 cases is testing the endurance of health care workers who care for the sickest patients, most of whom are unvaccinated.

Queue Listen Now

A healthcare worker administers a COVID-19 PCR test at a free test site in Farragut Square on Dec. 28 in Washington, D.C. On Tuesday, the CDC revised data reflecting the prevalence of the omicron variant in new COVID-19 cases.

The CDC slashes estimates of omicron's prevalence in the U.S.

8:50pm December 28, 2021

by Vanessa Romo

New data from the CDC released on Tuesday, shows that while omicron remains the dominant variant, delta – which is the more severe strain – is still a worrisome driving force behind the current surge.

A man is handed a swab for a rapid test as people line up for coronavirus testing at a gas station in the Reseda section of Los Angeles on Sunday.

Omicron surge sets records as flight disruptions continue

8:07am December 27, 2021

by NPR Staff

More than 1,400 flights canceled worldwide Monday, adding to thousands canceled over the Christmas weekend. And across the country, long lines continued at COVID-19 testing sites.

New York City Mayor-elect Eric Adams announced on Tuesday he will be postponing his planned Jan.1 inauguration ceremony.

A shot at gold, a swearing in, and a tech get-together are all thwarted by omicron

8:39pm December 21, 2021

by Vanessa Romo

The alarming surge in COVID infections is prompting city leaders, heads of companies, and even sports officials to withdraw from public events that could potentially expose more people to the virus.

President Joe Biden speaks about the COVID-19 response and vaccinations on Tuesday in the State Dining Room of the White House.

Biden announces free tests and defends the White House response as COVID cases surge

4:51pm December 21, 2021

by Jaclyn Diaz

The U.S. government will buy a half-billion at-home COVID test kits and mail them to people who want them, with deliveries beginning in January.

People line up outside a free COVID-19 vaccination site on Dec. 3 in Washington, D.C. Many areas are stepping up vaccination and booster shots as more cases of the omicron variant of the coronavirus are detected in the United States.

Omicron could bring the worst surge of COVID yet in the U.S. — and fast

9:00pm December 17, 2021

by Rob Stein

Scientists are projecting the surge to peak in January. Just how massive it could be depends on how quickly Americans get boosted and change behavior to slow the spread.

Queue Listen Now

Omicron may be less severe in South Africa. That may not be the case for the U.S.

7:47pm December 17, 2021

Researchers in South Africa have found that people infected with omicron, on average, are less likely to end up in the hospital. But the variant may act differently here in the U.S.