Health & Safety
The omicron variant is the latest proof that the pandemic isn't over
There are cases of this new coronavirus variant reported in several countries. How much protection can fully vaccinated people expect to have?
News brief: Omicron variant, Maxwell trial, renowned fashion designer dies
A new coronavirus variant creates uncertainty around the world. Opening statements begin Monday in Ghislaine Maxwell's trial. Fashion designer Virgil Abloh has died at age 41.
How Black tech entrepreneurs are tackling health care's race gap
Determined to improve the way doctors connect with their patients, a new wave of innovators are using technology to match people of color with culturally competent professionals.
For patients with long COVID, chronic fatigue syndrome may offer a guiding star
Long COVID has been a reality since the beginning of the pandemic. The patients who have it are desperate for answers that doctors don't yet have.
As omicron spreads, studies suggest that travel bans alone don't do much good
Public health experts warn that the rush to impose travel bans on southern African countries after the omicron variant was identified can work against scientific transparency.
Omicron variant spreads to North America, Australia and more of Europe
President Biden received a briefing from his medical task force, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, who said that "inevitably" the omicron variant will turn up in the U.S.
As new COVID-19 variant spreads, human rights lawyer points to 'vaccine apartheid'
NPR's David Folkenflik talks with Fatima Hassan, founder and director of the Health Justice Initiative in South Africa, about the omicron variant and inequity in the global vaccination campaign.
Fauci says the omicron variant will inevitably appear in the U.S.
The omicron variant has not been detected in the U.S., but Dr. Anthony Fauci says it is certain to be at some point. Fauci and Dr. Francis Collins appealed for people to get vaccinated as a defense.
The WHO is seeking a new treaty on handling future pandemics. It could be a hard sell
At a special session this week, the World Health Organization hopes to start sketching out a new world order. "We don't have rules of the game," says WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.