Merck COVID-19 pill: FDA approves 2nd at-home treatment

Merck’s COVID-19 pill has been authorized by the FDA, providing another easy-to-use medication to fight the rapidly-spreading omicron variant.

Michigan man who defied state pandemic orders to keep diner open dies of COVID-19

John Parney said he kept the Quincy Diner open partly to pay for medical bills. The south Michigan man wasn't vaccinated when he got infected, but pledged during his illness he would, arguing "the battle, at this point, was worse than any training he endured in the military."

WCCHD offering mobile COVID-19 vaccinations
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The mobile vaccinations come as the omicron variant of COVID-19 was officially reported in Williamson County this week.

Supreme Court to hold special session on Biden's COVID-19 vaccine mandates

The Supreme Court says it will hold a special session in just over two weeks to hear arguments on the Biden administration’s vaccine or testing requirement for large employers and a separate vaccine requirement for health care workers.

COVID-19 at-home test kit purchases capped at CVS, other stores

Customers seeking at-home COVID-19 test kits from CVS stores will be limited to no more than six, according to a company spokesperson.

Pfizer COVID-19 pill approved in US as 1st home treatment

Pfizer’s pill, called Paxlovid, is the first COVID-19 treatment that Americans can pick up at a pharmacy and take at home.

WHO chief: Blanket COVID booster drives risk prolonged pandemic

The head of the World Health Organization warned Wednesday that blanket booster programs in rich countries risk prolonging the world's battle with COVID-19 and said that “no country can boost its way out of the pandemic.”

Nearly $100B in COVID-19 relief funds stolen, Secret Service says

Most of that figure comes from unemployment fraud. The Labor Department reported about $87 billion in unemployment benefits could have been paid improperly, with a significant portion attributable to fraud.

Former USC football player charged in COVID-19 unemployment benefits fraud scheme

Former USC football player Abdul-Malik McClain allegedly organized and assisted a group of other USC football players in filing fraudulent claims for hundreds of thousands of dollars of COVID-19 unemployment benefits.

At-home COVID tests are hard to come by

The Walgreens pharmacy was sold out of at-home COVID tests. The shelves were empty and a sign at the pharmacy window said they were out of stock. Shoppers faced the same shortage at the CVS pharmacy nearby where the shelf was bare.

Austin restaurants, bars close temporarily due to recent COVID-19 spike

Kome Sushi Kitchen in Central Austin is one of many establishments that have shut down temporarily due to the recent outbreak in cases.

AP source: NHL to withdraw from Olympics after COVID surge

The NHL will withdraw from the Winter Olympics after the regular-season schedule was disrupted by coronavirus outbreaks, a person with direct knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

COVID-19 surge: Here’s what’s canceled or closing across the US

As the omicron variant continues to spread across the country, many events are getting canceled and businesses are closing.