COVID is spiking in India, further straining the country's health system
India's COVID-19 caseload is quickly rising, as omicron threatens the country's already precarious health system.
Global Health
For many Afghans, winter is forcing a cruel choice of whether to eat or stay warm
"It shouldn't be a lottery of life about who gets to eat, who doesn't get to eat. Do I keep my child warm or do I give my child food?" a World Food Programme Afghanistan spokesperson tells NPR.
Australia cancels Novak Djokovic's visa after his earlier COVID vaccine exemption
The Australian Border Force said the top-ranked tennis player "failed to provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements to Australia, and his visa has been subsequently cancelled."
A Texas team comes up with a COVID vaccine that could be a global game changer
Peter Hotez and Maria Elena Bottazzi used an oldie-but- goodie technology to devise a vaccine that's easy to make — and relatively cheap. India has already ordered 300 million doses.
Hong Kong bans flights from U.S. and 7 other countries as omicron surges
Hong Kong authorities announced a two-week ban on flights from eight countries and held 2,500 passengers on a cruise ship for coronavirus testing as the city attempted to stem an omicron outbreak.
Around the world, what does it mean to be fully vaccinated?
The question of what fully vaccinated means might be changing as booster shots are becoming more important. More data, and new policies, are emerging in the U.S. and around the world.
The CDC resists pushback and says a test to get out of COVID isolation is not needed
Those who contracted COVID-19 can end their isolation after five days while continuing to wear a well-fitting mask for an additional five days, according to the agency.
Vaccinators in Peru's Amazon face many challenges including religion and rivers
In the Peruvian Amazon, geography, religious beliefs and logistics make getting COVID-19 vaccines extremely difficult. But health care workers have not given up.
Quebec begins retail store closures amid new COVID-19 wave
Quebec proceeded with the first of three planned closures of non-essential retail stores Sunday as the government tries to curb a new wave of COVID-19 driven by the highly infectious Omicron variant.
Omicron is subsiding in South Africa
NPR's Eyder Peralta speaks with Dr. Glenda Gray, president of the South African Medical Research Council, about how omicron cases are going down in South Africa, and the lessons for the U.S.