WEATHER ALERT
Infectious disease expert weighs in on ‘stealthier’ omicron variant BA.2
Read full article: Infectious disease expert weighs in on ‘stealthier’ omicron variant BA.2Scientists and health officials around the world are keeping their eyes on a descendant of the omicron variant that has been found in countries, including the United States.
Owners of embattled COVID-19 testing company under microscope for lavish lifestyle
Read full article: Owners of embattled COVID-19 testing company under microscope for lavish lifestyleThe owners of a company operating hundreds of pop-up COVID-19 testing sites across the country, including one in Jacksonville, have been the subject of several investigations by major media outlets over how they’re spending their money.
COVID-19 testing company under scrutiny now faces lawsuit over ‘deceptive and fraudulent practices’
Read full article: COVID-19 testing company under scrutiny now faces lawsuit over ‘deceptive and fraudulent practices’The Minnesota Attorney General’s office is accusing the Center for Covid Control of deceptive and fraudulent practices.
I-TEAM: Federal health agency investigating complaints related to COVID-19 testing company
Read full article: I-TEAM: Federal health agency investigating complaints related to COVID-19 testing companyFederal officials are investigating numerous complaints related to Center for COVID Control, the company that had been operating a rapid COVID-19 testing site in downtown Jacksonville, the News4JAX I-TEAM learned Friday.
Top health officials testify before US senators about response to omicron variant
Read full article: Top health officials testify before US senators about response to omicron variantThe nation’s top health officials testified Tuesday before United States senators about the federal government’s response to the omicron variant of the coronavirus.
The internet’s first feud of 2022 is between Elmo and a pet rock
Read full article: The internet’s first feud of 2022 is between Elmo and a pet rockLook, life as we know it right now is pretty insane. Omicron is raging across the country, it didn’t even feel like 2021 happened and America’s sweetheart, Betty White, is dead.
Omicron variant now makes up 95% of new COVID-19 cases, CDC says
Read full article: Omicron variant now makes up 95% of new COVID-19 cases, CDC saysThe White House COVID-19 Response Team held a briefing Wednesday as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to surge, fueled by the highly contagious omicron variant.
Biden urges concern but not alarm in US as omicron rises
Read full article: Biden urges concern but not alarm in US as omicron risesPresident Joe Biden is urging concern but not alarm as the United States set records for daily reported COVID-19 cases and his administration struggles to ease concerns about testing shortages.
CDC warns against cruise ship travel, regardless of vaccination status
Read full article: CDC warns against cruise ship travel, regardless of vaccination statusIn a potentially ominous message for Florida’s cruise-ship industry, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday that people should avoid cruise travel “regardless of vaccination status” because of the spread of COVID-19.
‘Increase in children being infected with the coronavirus in the community,’ Jacksonville doctor says
Read full article: ‘Increase in children being infected with the coronavirus in the community,’ Jacksonville doctor saysWhile COVID-19 cases spike locally and across the nation, doctors worry about the youngest patients.
White House COVID-19 Response Team stands by shorter isolation, quarantine recommendations
Read full article: White House COVID-19 Response Team stands by shorter isolation, quarantine recommendationsNew cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. have soared to their highest level on record at over 265,000 per day on average, a surge driven largely by the highly contagious omicron variant.
News headlines of 2021: How much do you remember? Take this quiz to find out.
Read full article: News headlines of 2021: How much do you remember? Take this quiz to find out.We might not be able to claim that 2021 was *the* wildest year in recent history (2020 will likely get that credit for quite some time), but it might be a close second.
Greece bans New Year's music at venues amid COVID surge
Read full article: Greece bans New Year's music at venues amid COVID surgeGreece’s health minister says music will be banned at all commercial venues for New Year’s celebrations as part of new restrictions announced in response to a surge in COVID-19 infections fueled by the omicron variant.
Omicron not as prevalent as first thought but remains dominant variant: CDC
Read full article: Omicron not as prevalent as first thought but remains dominant variant: CDCOmicron may not be as prevalent as first thought, but it does remain the dominant variant in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Local health expert’s take on when to seek monoclonal antibody treatment
Read full article: Local health expert’s take on when to seek monoclonal antibody treatmentUF Health Jacksonville had considered no longer ordering the Regeneron monoclonal antibody treatment but with the new numbers from the CDC, they backed off that decision and will continue to offer Regeneron treatment, Neilsen said.
How to keep your family safe during the holidays as COVID cases spike in Florida
Read full article: How to keep your family safe during the holidays as COVID cases spike in FloridaWith COVID-19 cases spiking, a local infectious disease expert shares his advice to help keep you and your family safe during the holidays.
Delta, United Airlines cancel 200+ Christmas Eve flights, cite COVID as reason
Read full article: Delta, United Airlines cancel 200+ Christmas Eve flights, cite COVID as reasonCiting a “nationwide spike in Omicron cases,” United Airlines on Thursday announced it is canceling some of its Christmas Eve flights.
Duval County health department warns of another COVID surge due to omicron
Read full article: Duval County health department warns of another COVID surge due to omicronThe Florida Department of Health in Duval County offered a warning on Thursday, saying to expect another surge of COVID-19 in the coming months because of the omicron variant.
Omicron overtakes delta as Miami’s dominant COVID-19 variant
Read full article: Omicron overtakes delta as Miami’s dominant COVID-19 variantGenomic surveillance data shows omicron has overtaken the delta variant in Miami-Dade County as the dominant strain of the coronavirus in just a matter of weeks.
Biden pivots to home tests to confront omicron surge
Read full article: Biden pivots to home tests to confront omicron surgePresident Joe Biden has announced plans to deliver 500 million free COVID-19 tests to Americans, increase support for hospitals and expand the availability of vaccines to confront a winter surge of coronavirus cases driven by the fast-spreading omicron variant.
Omicron sweeps across nation, now 73% of new US COVID cases
Read full article: Omicron sweeps across nation, now 73% of new US COVID casesOmicron has raced ahead of other variants and is now the dominant version of the coronavirus in the U.S. Federal health officials said Monday that omicron accounted for an estimated 73% of new infections last week.
As omicron variant spreads, infectious disease expert advises taking precautions
Read full article: As omicron variant spreads, infectious disease expert advises taking precautionsThe omicron variant of COVID-19 is spreading, and infectious disease experts say it won't be long before it's detected in the Jacksonville area.
Experts warn holiday tourists ‘omicron wave’ could trigger international travel restrictions
Read full article: Experts warn holiday tourists ‘omicron wave’ could trigger international travel restrictionsHealth experts are warning a new ‘Omicron wave’ could cause a large surge in infections across the world in the next month as people are traveling during the holiday season.
'The fire that's here': US is still battling delta variant
Read full article: 'The fire that's here': US is still battling delta variantWhile all eyes are on the new and little-understood omicron variant, the delta form of the coronavirus isn’t finished wreaking havoc in the U.S., sending record numbers of patients to the hospital in some states, especially in the Midwest and New England.
Slight uptick in people getting COVID vaccine boosters at Jacksonville sites
Read full article: Slight uptick in people getting COVID vaccine boosters at Jacksonville sitesNews4JAX on Wednesday checked in with local hospitals to see what is happening at those locations and went to several testing and vaccine sites to check if more people are taking precautions now because of the omicron variant.
WHO: Travel bans hurting global cooperation
Read full article: WHO: Travel bans hurting global cooperationThe World Health Organization says travel bans by countries are having an impact on global cooperation against the new omicron variant by causing “challenges” to the sharing of laboratory samples from South Africa that can help get better grips on the new variant.
‘Too early to tell’ level of severity of omicron variant, Fauci says
Read full article: ‘Too early to tell’ level of severity of omicron variant, Fauci saysIt’s still too early to tell: That is the message from the White House COVID-19 Response Team as scientists race to find out more about the omicron variant.
UK launches booster vaccination blitz as new variant spreads
Read full article: UK launches booster vaccination blitz as new variant spreadsBritain says it will offer all adults a booster dose of vaccine within two months to bolster the nation’s immunity as the new omicron variant of the coronavirus spreads.
Jacksonville doctor agrees: Omicron no reason to panic
Read full article: Jacksonville doctor agrees: Omicron no reason to panicPresident Biden on Monday told the nation that there was no need to panic about the new COVID-19 variant omicron, and a Jacksonville-area coronavirus researcher agrees with that approach.