Global Health

Australian Defense Force personnel assist the public at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Sydney, Wednesday, Aug.18th. Australia's most populous state reported a record 633 new infections on Wednesday.

Australia Outbreak Grows, Spreads To New Zealand As Southeast Asia Deaths Spike

5:35am August 18, 2021

Australia's most populous state reported a record 633 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday as concerns grew about the delta variant's spread beyond Sydney. Three people died on Tuesday.

Health & Safety

Is It OK To Lie For A Booster? Here's What Some Of You Had To Say

2:50pm August 17, 2021

by Suzette Lohmeyer

In a previous "Coronavirus FAQ," we looked at the medical, practical — and ethical — implications of lying to get a booster or a shot for a kid under 12. And we asked you to share your views.

Demonstrators calling on people to wear masks gather outside school district headquarters in Marietta, Ga., last week. A recent review at pandemic data finds requiring masks, capping the size of gatherings and instituting certain bar, gym and restaurant r

Even Moderate COVID Restrictions Can Slow The Spread Of The Virus — If They're Timely

1:04pm August 17, 2021

by Selena Simmons-Duffin

Mask mandates and other interventions can help stop a surge, even where vaccination rates are low, say scientists who've reviewed states' data. When the measures start and how long they last matters.

The Earthquake In Haiti Left More Injuries Than The Country's Doctors Can Handle

5:21pm August 16, 2021

by Jason Beaubien

Rescue efforts continue in the southwest of Haiti, the country hardest-hit by last weekend's earthquake. A shortage of physicians is inhibiting efforts to treat the injured.

Health & Safety

A Global Guide For Parents: How Your Kids Can Have Fun Without Stressing You Out

8:15am August 15, 2021

by Michaeleen Doucleff

Exhausted from taking the kids to countless kiddie activities? Overwhelmed by too many toys? Here's what Western parents can learn from other cultures about how kids (and parents too) can have fun.

Alicia Caton, left, with her father Larry, and daughter, Mia.

Health & Safety

'Dear Dad, It's Just A Pinch' — Readers Share Letters Inspired By Vaccine Hesitancy

7:58am August 15, 2021

by Suzette Lohmeyer

Here are 3 letters from our reader callout: one to a hesitant dad, one to thank a dad who got his jab after many cancellations and one to all vaccine-hesitant folks after an uncle died from COVID.

Canada plans to impose a new vaccine mandate on passengers and workers in the federally regulated air, rail and cruise ship sectors. Here, a police car is seen behind traffic cones in May near Vancouver International Airport in British Columbia.

Canada Will Require All Air Travelers To Be Vaccinated In A Broad New Policy

6:17pm August 13, 2021

by Bill Chappell

Starting this fall, Canada's government will also require all federal workers to be vaccinated, citing a "dynamic public health situation" due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A mask is still an important protective measure for both the unvaccinated and the vaccinated. A new study looks at the best ways to encourage folks to mask up.

A Study In Bangladesh Tripled The Rate Of Mask-Wearing. Can It Help In The U.S.?

4:24pm August 13, 2021

by Adela Wu

Researchers looked at the impact of free masks, text reminders and celebrity endorsements. It's unclear if the best strategies will help counter anti-mask sentiment in the U.S. during the delta surge.

Alibaba's headquarters in Hangzhou, China. A female employee at the tech company is alleging that she was sexually assaulted by her manager.

Rape Accusations At Alibaba Bring China's #MeToo Movement Back Into The Spotlight

8:26am August 13, 2021

by Emily Feng

A woman's account of her alleged rape by her manager at the Chinese tech company has gone viral, spurring conversations across the country about sexual abuse in the workplace.

Komal Rana, 19, a student in the Veerni Institute program, has faced pressure to marry since India's pandemic lockdown forced her to return home to her hamlet of Jhalamand near Jodhpur.

This Teen Is Being Pushed To Wed Because Of The Pandemic. Her School Helps Her Resist

3:26pm August 12, 2021

by Nurith Aizenman

She's one of 110 girls in a boarding program run by the Veerni Institute in India. When lockdowns hit, they were sent home to their villages, where child marriage is rampant.