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. Michaeleen Doucleff
Unvaccinated National Guard members can't be deployed to hospitals that need help Ohio's hospitals have some of the nation's highest numbers of COVID patients. And with staffing levels suffering, nearly 2,000 Ohio National Guard personnel are being deployed to help. Karen Kasler
COVID is spiking in India, further straining the country's health system India's COVID-19 caseload is quickly rising, as omicron threatens the country's already precarious health system. Lauren Frayer
COVID testing FAQ: When to test, what kind of test to use and what your results mean We answer key questions about COVID tests: What types are there? Should you self-test right after exposure to someone with COVID? And what should you do if you test positive? Melody Schreiber
Isolation rule changes are the latest case of the CDC's problems with messaging The new CDC guidelines for COVID-19 isolation and quarantine have garnered a lot of criticism. And this is just one example of the agency's on going communication problems. Selena Simmons-Duffin
California baker looses her taste and smell after getting COVID Hannalee Pervan is a baker and owner of the One House Bakery in Benicia. She lost her sense of taste and smell after contracting COVID-19, and is working without two essential tools of her trade.
California extends its indoor mask mandate until February as omicron surge continues So far, nearly 80% of California residents have been vaccinated with at least one dose of the COVID vaccine. The extended statewide mask mandate is set to expire on Feb. 15. Jonathan Franklin
Children as young as 12 should get Pfizer COVID-19 booster vaccines, CDC advisers say If the CDC approves the advisory panel's recommendation, boosters for adolescents age 12-17 could be available as early as this week. The shots should be given five months after initial immunization. Jonathan Franklin
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona discusses the push to keep schools open NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Education Secretary Miguel Cardona about the omicron surge and the administration's push to keep schools open. Ailsa Chang
Advisers to the CDC say kids as young as 12 should get COVID booster shots Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say kids as young as 12 should get booster shots. This endorsement clears the way for the CDC to approve boosters for kids between 12 and 15. Pien Huang