Will Stone
Stories
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National
Not ready to go without a facemask? One-way masking can still reduce infection risk
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says many Americans can now shed their facemasks. But if you aren't ready do that, one-way masking still offers protection — if you do it right.
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Health
It's safe to unmask in many places, says the CDC. These experts aren't quite ready
Doctors and health researchers are looking to testing rates, case rates – and intuition – to determine when they'll feel comfortable mingling maskless indoors.
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Health
Coronavirus FAQ: I'm a one-way masker. What strategy will give me optimal protection?
Even as mask mandates end in many areas, some folks still want to wear a mask in public places to reduce the risk of a coronavirus infection. Here's a guide to one-way masking.
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National
In rural America, patients are waiting for care — sometimes with deadly consequences
When cancer survivor Katie Ripley got pneumonia, the 25-bed hospital in her small town didn't have the specialized care she needed. But with omicron surging, there was no ICU bed to transfer her to.
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Health
Why omicron is crushing hospitals — even though cases are often milder than delta
People who get infected with omicron are less likely to go to the hospital, go on a ventilator or die. But with the current huge volume of patients, hospitals are still struggling to treat them all.
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National
Omicron hits Seattle's Harborview Medical Center harder than other surges
A Seattle hospital confronts the omicron surge. While COVID-19 patients aren't as sick compared to earlier waves, there is a record number of patients overall, and not enough staff to care for them.
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National
ERs are overwhelmed as omicron continues to flood them with patients
Omicron may cause milder disease, but the sheer number of patients makes this wave far worse for the health care system. With packed emergency rooms, patients can wait days to get moved to a bed.
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Health
U.S. COVID hospitalizations hit new record high, raising risks for patients
There are more patients and, in some places, not enough health care workers to go around. Research shows the crowding will impact care and increase mortality for all patients.
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National
Deaths tend to increase as hospitals fill. And hospitals are overflowing due to COVID
Some hospitals report less strain as omicron seems to cause less severe illness. But they're still overcrowded with patients. Research shows death rates rise significantly when hospitals are full.
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Health
What we know about the symptoms — and the severity — of the omicron variant
Researchers are looking at data from U.S. cases to determine if the variant causes milder disease. Even if the answer is yes, they say, rates of hospitalization could be high during the surge.