Healthcare

Since January, the number of COVID-19 cases in the United States has been dropping. They, however, may have reached a standstill as the Omicron subvariant, BA.2, has become the primary source of illnesses. Meanwhile, in China, which has had few surges throughout the pandemic, there has been a…

Beginning January 19, Americans will be able to request free COVID-19 tests through the US government's new website, covidtests.gov. Ordered tests are scheduled for delivery within seven to twelve days. There will initially be a maximum of four tests per residential household. The White House will…

As of January 11, 2022, more than 145,900 people were in hospitals across the US, surpassing the previous peak from January 2021. The number of hospitalization is a record high, pushing the health infrastructure towards emergency staffing and adding great strain on the health care networks. A high…

Starting Saturday, January 15th, all private insurers will have to cover the cost of over-the-counter rapid COVID-19 tests. The new regulation is part of President Biden’s plan to make testing and screening more affordable. An average cost of a rapid test is $12. The policy change means that…

A poll from NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that 1 in 5 American households had to delay care for serious illnesses in the past few months. In Idaho's hospitals, breast cancer surgeries and standard cancer screenings have been…

Three California hospitals, two in Bakersfield and one in Redding, are receiving assistance from the National Guard amidst another surge of Covid-19 hospitalizations. These hospitals, like many others nationwide, are facing staffing shortages. Rural parts of California are facing intense COVID-19…

Merck announced that their pill reduced the risk of hospitalization and death by 50% in recent clinical trials. The pill is designed to be taken during the first few days of a COVID-19 infection. During this period, the virus is replicating quickly, but the immune system has not yet responded.…

Moderna announced this week that they are working on a two-in-one vaccine that would combine their covid vaccine with a flu shot currently under development. The new shot, called mRNA-1073, would hopefully increase convenience for individuals who plan on receiving a booster shot. The company hopes…

The new abortion law in Texas bans abortions after six weeks and allows citizens to sue any person that is helping a patient get an abortion. For affected patients, those that will be most affected are those who lack the resources such as being unable to travel out of state. Furthermore, the six…

Analysts and health professionals have seen a disturbing and substantial increase in mental health cases with children and young teens across the nation, as a result of the pandemic. And with the rising demand for services, health professionals and medical centers are struggling to keep up. A study…

Last July when Breanna Aguilar’s immediate family tested positive for COVID-19, she did not fit into any groups considered high risk for severe disease. However, her case can potentially shed light on the progression of long-haul COVID-19. Aguilar’s positive test was accompanied by weight gain,…

The pandemic stress-tested the way scientific data was produced, revealing flaws in evidence-based medicine. As the cases of COVID-19 climbed and the disruptions in the healthcare system became inevitable, clinicians, in the absence of designated treatment plans, were often found to abandon…

Undoubtedly, the devastating nature of the pandemic has led to a surge in the number of Americans seeking mental health services. However, therapists and other behavioral health providers have been found to turn patients away. Accord to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), during the…

Many are hopeful to return to "normal" life this coming fall, especially since the eligibility for vaccines are opening up to the general adult population on April 15th. Yet, COVID-19 variants are on the rise and many are fearing the vaccine will not be enough. Thus, a global strategy of "maximum…