UCSF doctor detects 1st U.S. omicron case in 8 hours
Doctors at a UCSF lab worked fast to confirm the first COVID omicron case in the country, pinpointing the virus to a person in San Francisco.
1st omicron case in US found in San Francisco
A person in California became the first in the U.S. to have an identified case of the COVID-19 omicron variant, the White House announced Wednesday as scientists continue to study the risks posed by the new strain of the virus.
WHO urges elderly to postpone travel plans amid rise of omicron variant
The World Health Organization on Tuesday advised elderly and immunocompromised individuals to postpone travel plans amid the emergence of the omicron coronavirus variant.
Jobs abound in California, yet unemployment remains high
California, the nation's largest job market, has experts scratching their heads about why job data is confusing and contradictory.
COVID booster shots on many people's holiday wish list
Bay Area county health officers say COVID vaccines supplies are plentiful, but they are urging people to make appointments and be patient as demand for vaccine shots and boosters is rising.
Bay Area health officers stress booster shots amid emergence of omicron variant
Bay Area health officers are preparing for the potential arrival of the omicron variant of COVID.
Merck COVID-19 pill: FDA health panel endorses experimental at-home drug for virus
FDA health panel endorses Merck COVID-19 pill, paving way for U.S. authorization of the first at-home drug for virus.
Powell says Federal Reserve may accelerate pullback in economic support
Chair Jerome Powell said that the Federal Reserve will consider acting more quickly to dial back its ultra-low-interest rate policies to counter higher inflation.
UCSF virologist says it's urgent to collect data on omicron variant
New research shows the COVID-19 omicron variant has 50 mutations, including some known to allow the virus to bind to human cells more tightly and cause high transmission. A UCSF virologist says this is one of the reasons for the urgency to collect data.
Animal welfare groups among those looking forward to Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday has set a high bar for fund-raising after a record-shattering year in 2020.
Small businesses hope for holiday season boost through shop local campaign
It’s the start of the holiday shopping season and the City of San Jose is trying to give small businesses a boost during the pandemic. The city has launched a campaign called Shop Local SJ.
Protest held against East Bay school district's vaccine mandate
A group of parents, along with their children and grandchildren, demonstrated in front of the West Contra Costa Unified School District headquarters in Richmond on Monday.
WHO says omicron variant poses 'very high risk'
The U.N. health agency, in a technical paper issued to member states, said "considerable uncertainties” remain about the variant that was first detected days ago in southern Africa.
EXPLAINER: What we know and don’t know about omicron variant
The World Health Organization says it could still take some time to get a full picture of the threat posed by omicron, a new variant of the coronavirus as scientists worldwide scramble to assess its multiple mutations.
WHO disagrees with flight bans over omicron variant
WHO's regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, called on countries to follow science and international health regulations in order to avoid using travel restrictions.
California health officials on watch for omicron variant
"California is closely monitoring the new omicron variant, which has not yet arrived in California or the U.S.," Dr. Tomas Aragon, director of the California Department of Public Health said Sunday.
South African doctor says omicron variant symptoms ‘unusual but mild’
Dr. Angelique Coetzee, a board member of the South African Medical Association, said the COVID-19 omicron variant reported that it presents "unusual but mild" symptoms.
Are more restrictions coming after US imposes travel ban on 8 African countries?
Nearly two years since the start of the pandemic that has claimed more than 5 million lives around the world, countries are on high alert.
New COVID-19 variant prompts travel restrictions
Health officials are sounding the alarm about a new COVID-19 variant identified in South Africa this week. Experts worry that the rapidly spreading Omicron variant could be even more contagious than Delta.
U.S. will restrict travel from South Africa, 7 other countries over omicron variant
The United States will restrict travel from South Africa and seven other countries starting Monday over concerns of the "heavily mutated" COVID-19 omicron variant, senior administration officials said.