California health care workers must be boosted, kids to receive rapid tests
Gov. Gavin Newsom said that health care workers will have to get a booster shot by Feb. 1 and schools will be provided rapid tests as kids head back to class after winter break.
Demand for COVID testing is high just days before Christmas
As the countdown to Christmas Day winds down, the omicron-fueled surge in COVID cases continues across the US. Many families still planning to gather are turning to testing ahead of time.
California will require healthcare workers to get COVID booster shot
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday announced that healthcare workers across the state will be required to get their booster shot.
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.
Judge rules against California school district in COVID vaccine suit
San Diego Unified is one of several large school districts in California to announce such mandates. Other districts with similar mandates include Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento and West Contra Costa Unified school districts.
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.
Restaurants brace for decline in business with threat of omicron
The latest surge in the omicron variant of COVID is impacting restaurants around the Bay Area as the busy holiday season kicks into high gear.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee tests positive for COVID breakthrough case
Oakland Congresswoman Barbara Lee shared Tuesday that she contracted a breakthrough case of COVID, despite being fully vaccinated and boosted.
Rapid COVID-19 home tests could bring reassurance for 2021 holidays, experts say
At-home rapid COVID-19 tests could help make a family’s holiday gathering safer when combined with vaccination and boosters, experts say.
Biden: 500M free at-home COVID-19 tests, more hospital aid to fight omicron
President Joe Biden pledged 500 million free at-home COVID-19 tests that Americans can have shipped to them as the world races the omicron variant.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan tests positive for COVID-19
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan says he has tested positive for COVID-19.
COVID outbreak at holiday party in Marin County
At least 28 people have tested positive for COVID-19 following the event, which took place Dec. 11 at Farm House Local.
California more prepared for latest surge of new virus cases
California has fared far better than many other states so far, with areas in the Midwest and Northeast seeing the biggest surge in cases and hospitalizations amid frigid temperatures that have kept people indoors.
Cases of omicron crop up in Contra Costa County
In just the past week, the omicron variant went from 13% of the nation's COVID cases to 73%.
DC reinstates indoor mask mandate, declares State of Emergency as COVID-19 omicron variant surges
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has reinstated the city’s mask mandate and has expanded the District’s vaccine requirements as part of a State of Emergency she declared Monday as COVID-19 cases surge nationwide due to the highly contagious omicron variant.
2022 New Years Eve numbers arrive in Times Square; NYE cancelled decision pending
New Year's Eve is less than two weeks away and while the fate of the big celebration and the crowds in Times Square are still up in the air due to a surge in coronavirus cases, the preparations continue.
NHL shutting down from Wednesday through Saturday due to COVID: AP source
A person with direct knowledge of discussions said the NHL is beginning a league-wide shutdown Wednesday amid an increase of positive COVID-19 test results among players across the league.
CDC data: Omicron now dominant COVID-19 variant in US
Omicron has raced ahead of other variants and is now the dominant version of the coronavirus in the U.S. Federal health officials said Monday that omicron accounted for an estimated 73% of new infections last week.
Delta, Omicron and influenza could lead to a tridemic, experts say
The Omicron variant of coronavirus may be dominating headlines, but one Bay Area doctor says there’s more we should be keeping our eye on.
Israel to ban travel to US, Canada due to omicron variant concerns
Israel will ban travel to the United States, Canada and eight other countries amid the rapid, global spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus.