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For the third time, Americans can order free at-home COVID-19 tests at COVIDtests.gov. Through the U.S postal service, up to 8 tests will be sent per household. This comes as a result of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations increasing by 60% in the past 2 weeks due to highly contagious Omicron…

According to the White House, the United States has reached 1 million COVID-19 deaths. However, it is believed by experts that the death toll is much higher. There was a decrease in people with non-Covid related cases going to the hospital because of fear of going to the hospital during Covid and…

As COVID-19 cases rise some cases are returning after usage of Pfizer’s antiviral pill, putting the efficacy of the medication into question. The drug was first authorized in December 2021 for adults with preconditions based on a study where 1,000 adults took the pill. Since then the United States…

The White House has issued a warning that COVID-19 could infect 100 million people in the fall and winter similar to surges at this time of year in 2021 and 2020. This estimation is based on the assumption no new variants arise and COVID-19 funding and precautions remain the same as what they are…

A new study has shown some severe COVID-19 cases to cause substantial damage to cognitive processes. Researchers from the University of Cambridge found 400,000 people who may have a level of cognitive impairment equivalent to a 10-point IQ drop or the mental decline that occurs between ages 50 and…

Although the United States has seen a recent spike in COVID-19 cases, there doesn’t seem to be a rise in severe illness. Areas where Omicron sub-variants such as BA.2 first hit have seen a flattening in cases. In other places such as New York, easier spreading omicron versions such as BA.2.12.1…

A new study from the Health Institute Carlos III in Madrid, Spain has linked shorter telomere length to higher COVID-19 mortality, particularly in older women. Telomeres are the end tips of a chromosome and they are made of repetitive sequences of non-coding DNA that protect the chromosome…

The Biden Administration is looking to push for COVID-19 funding as soon as Congress returns from recess. Before the recess, the White House had a $10 billion bipartisan deal stalled in the senate. Half of the $10 billion will go towards therapeutics with the rest being designated for vaccines and…

Moderna has announced the development of a new version of their COVID-19 vaccine. A study has shown the vaccine to be stronger, longer-lasting, and more effective against variants than the original vaccine. The vaccine is intended to target the original strain of COVID-19 and the beta variant,…

Two new Omicron sub-lineages called BA.5 and BA.4 have been discovered in South Africa and some parts of Europe. There now have been 4 omicron sub-variants BA.2, XE (combination of BA.2 and BA.1), and the two new ones. Currently, there is no indication that the BA.5, BA.4, and XE sub-variants are…

It is looking likely that the Biden administration will extend the mask mandate for public transport such as planes, buses, trains, airports, and any transit hub. The mandate was to end on April 18. The masking requirement was first put in place in February 2021 and since then has been extended…

With COVID-19 cases and deaths hitting record lows in the past few months many testing sites have closed due to a lack of demand. The rise in at-home testing availability has also played a role in the decrease in testing sites across the United States. Also, the decrease in federal funding for…

The United States Senate approved a $10 billion COVID-19 funding deal. The plan is mainly focused on funding the purchase of treatments and vaccines as well as maintaining nationwide testing. Half of the $10 billion is going towards the purchase and development of antiviral pills and $750 million…

A new COVID-19 variant called XE has been found in the United Kingdom and has infected 637 people as of March 22 according to the U.K Health Security Agency. The variant is a combination BA.1 omicron variant and the subvariant BA.2 omicron. This combination makes XE a recombinant variant. Dr. John…