NYC COVID: Health department urges use of masks in public places and in crowds outdoors

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is recommending all New Yorkers wear masks in certain settings, again, in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.

COVID-19 omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 could be ‘worst’ so far, doctors say

Subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 are more transmissible, and early evidence shows both are capable of evading immune responses from previous infection as well as current COVID-19 vaccines.

Gates Foundation, women's tennis partnering on health issues

All sorts of requests reach the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, via all sorts of methods, but rarely does a meaningful entreaty come via LinkedIn message. That, though, is how Micky Lawler, the president of the WTA women’s professional tennis tour, first reached out to the group about a partnership during a sleepless pandemic night.

Beijing appears to retract vaccine mandate after pushback

The Chinese capital Beijing appears to have backed off a plan to launch a vaccine mandate for entry into certain public spaces after pushback from residents.

Man may have spread monkeypox in Dallas, health officials say

Dallas County health officials said a man who was infected with monkeypox had sexual encounters with several other men at a bathhouse late last month.

Beijing mandates COVID vaccines to enter some public spaces

The Chinese capital has issued a mandate requiring people to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination before they can enter some public spaces including gyms, museums and libraries, drawing concern from city residents.

New vaccine could protect against COVID-19 variants before they emerge

The vaccine works by using spike proteins from SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that causes COVID-19 — and seven other related animal viruses with the potential to cause a pandemic in humans.

Spain's Running of the Bulls fills streets after 2-year COVID hiatus; no gorings

No one was gored during Spain’s San Fermín festival in Pamplona, but several runners took knocks and hard falls during the first bull run in three years.

COVID-19 endemic stage could be two years away

The coronavirus pandemic could last for nearly two more years before becoming an endemic according to new Yale research.

Pharmacists can prescribe COVID treatment drug Paxlovid, FDA says

The FDA change will make thousands more pharmacies eligible to quickly prescribe and dispense the pill, which has been shown to curb the worst effects of COVID-19.

CDC expanding monkeypox testing with commercial laboratories

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced LabCorp will begin utilizing its largest clinical laboratory to increase nationwide testing capacity on monkeypox. 

Late NFL, Georgia Tech football player Demaryius Thomas had Stage 2 CTE, researchers say

The Boston University CTE Center confirmed Tuesday that former Georgia Tech football standout and NFL star Demaryius Thomas had Stage 2 CTE when he died suddenly in December 2021. 

Parasitic worms found across US parks put kids, pet owners at risk

Eggs of the tiny worm, which are found in pets' fecal matter, have been widely detected in New York City public spaces, with evidence of significant levels of contamination in all five boroughs.

CDC links Sarasota ice cream maker to deadly listeria outbreak

Officials with the CDC, FDA, and FL Dept. of Health suspected a link between the Sunshine State and nearly 2-dozen listeria cases. Now the CDC says Big Olaf Creamery in Sarasota might be the root of the outbreak.

Texas Supreme Court blocks order that said clinics could continue abortions

The whiplash of Texas clinics turning away patients, rescheduling them, and now potentially canceling appointments again illustrates the confusion and scrambling taking place across the country since Roe was overturned.

Parasitic worms found across US parks put kids, pet owners at risk

Eggs of the tiny worm which are found in pets' fecal matter have been widely detected in New York City public spaces, with evidence of significant levels of contamination in all five boroughs.