The Biden administration is launching a new phone number for mental health crises The Biden administration is putting a quarter of a billion dollars into a new national suicide prevention line. But some say that's not enough to build the infrastructure that's needed. Rhitu Chatterjee
How your brain copes with grief, and why it takes time to heal Grieving is a form of learning, says a scientist who studies the brain's response to loss. When someone you love dies, you have to learn new rules for navigating the world and your brain has to adapt. Berly McCoy
As omicron surges, nations announce rules on gatherings and travel ahead of holidays European nations implemented a wave of new restrictions as case numbers rise. And Israel added the U.S. and Canada to its "red list" of countries from which citizens are barred from travel. Laurel Wamsley
Lawmakers use their breakthrough infections to push COVID-19 vaccines and boosters Democratic Sens. Cory Booker and Elizabeth Warren and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan all reported mild symptoms. All three had been vaccinated and boosted, and encouraged others to do the same. Rachel Treisman
Hospitals brace for a COVID surge as people travel for the holidays The U.S. is now averaging 125,000 new COVID-19 cases a day. While delta is still surging, the highly transmissible omicron variant likely will become the dominant variant very soon. A Martinez
Moderna says its COVID booster increases protection against omicron Moderna said its current FDA-approved 50-microgram booster shot increased antibody levels against omicron 37-fold compared to pre-booster levels. Jaclyn Diaz
COVID is again raging across the U.S. just as Americans gather for the holidays Sporting events and live theater announced cancellations amid major increases in new coronavirus cases, in large part because of the omicron variant. Jaclyn Diaz
COVID-safe travel tips if you can't postpone your holiday plans NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer speaks with Kelley Lee, a professor of global health governance, about COVID and holiday travel.
How to safely navigate the holidays amid rising COVID cases NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of Brown University School of Public Health, about safely navigating the holidays amid rising COVID-19 case numbers. Ayen Bior
Omicron could bring the worst surge of COVID yet in the U.S. — and fast Scientists are projecting the surge to peak in January. Just how massive it could be depends on how quickly Americans get boosted and change behavior to slow the spread. Rob Stein
