health care

The U.S. omicron outbreak has dramatically slowed, cutting wait times for tests. But health officials worry a new uptick in cases fueled by the BA.2 variant could be on the way.

U.K. COVID cases are rising. Health officials are watching to see if the U.S. is next

5:00am March 19, 2022

The rise of the more infectious BA.2 variant in the U.S. — plus signals in the sewage — also point to a possible uptick in cases, and have health officials on alert.

A nurse holds bottles of medications. The Lviv hospital had about three weeks of reserves on site.

World News

Fighting to survive: Ukraine's cancer patients' struggle to find care while fleeing

3:42pm March 18, 2022

Supplies are running low at Lviv's regional cancer hospital in Ukraine. The patient load has doubled and supplies in Kyiv are inaccessible. But hospital staff choose the duty of care over safety.

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Nina Feldman, a reporter for member station WHYY in Philadelphia, had COVID-19 symptoms that persisted into what she calls "medium COVID."

Health & Safety

People with 'medium COVID' are caught in a gray area of recovery with little support

1:01pm March 17, 2022

by Nina Feldman

Even if you don't have long COVID, it can still take weeks to recover — much longer than the isolation period implies. Millions of Americans are finding that this still majorly disrupts their lives.

Residents queue to undergo tests for the coronavirus in China's northeastern Jilin province on Saturday.

A surge in COVID-19 spurs new lockdowns in China's cities

11:54am March 15, 2022

In the latest wave, the highly transmissible omicron variant has moved more quickly than contact tracing allows.

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Jaqueline Castro plays with a Schnauzer named Paola at the Support Hospital of Brasilia, Brazil, on Nov. 24, 2016, as part of program set up to help patients with chronic diseases or recovering from trauma.

Therapy dogs can help relieve pain in the ER

9:33pm March 10, 2022

by Rina Torchinsky

They have offered comfort at nursing homes, schools — even disaster sites. Now, a study shows that a 10-minute visit from therapy dogs can help relieve emergency room patients' pain.

Nurses are waiting 6 months or more for licenses despite hospitals' need for nurses

10:47am March 10, 2022

by Austin Fast

Staffing shortages at hospitals across the U.S. are worsened by state boards taking months to process nursing licenses. It's resulted in a huge backlog in nurses waiting for jobs during the pandemic.

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Scheduling time on the calendar for a workout and setting small, achievable goals are just a couple of ways we can focus on rebuilding healthy habits.

Health & Safety

Americans are stuck in unhealthy pandemic habits. Here's how to reboot

10:29am March 10, 2022

by Allison Aubrey

After two years of pandemic life, people have learned to cope in ways that have become stubborn, unhealthy habits. But there are positive steps we can take to reset a healthy lifestyle.

Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the first woman to lead the the World Health Organization's regional Africa office, sits in her office in Brazzaville, Congo on Feb. 8, 2022.

WHO Africa's 1st woman leader helps continent fight COVID

3:39am March 09, 2022

by The Associated Press

Dr. Matshidiso Moeti has become one of the world's most compelling voices urging better consideration of Africa's people — especially women.

Amy Bloom and Brian Ameche married in 2007. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2019.

After an Alzheimer's diagnosis, her husband asked for help to die with dignity

1:20pm March 08, 2022

by Terry Gross

Novelist Amy Bloom talks about how, at her husband's insistence, she traveled with him to Zurich so he could legally terminate his life. Her new memoir is In Love.

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Health & Safety

Cone Health opens new emergency department in Greensboro

10:17am March 08, 2022

by Neal Charnoff

Cone Health has opened a new emergency department in Greensboro.