Rural hospitals received pandemic aid. What happens when the funds run out? Rural health leaders warn that more hospital closures loom as federal pandemic relief money dries up. At the same time, there are concerns of a surge in hospitalizations due to the omicron variant. Kirk Siegler
More cruise ships are under CDC investigation following COVID-19 outbreaks on board After several Florida-based ships reported COVID-19 outbreaks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that 88 vessels are now under either investigation or observation. The Associated Press
With omicron surging, it may be another year to put away your New Years party heels COVID cases are hitting record highs with about 240,000 people testing positive a day. But the omicron variant behind the surge may lead to milder illness, especially in vaccinated and boosted people. Allison Aubrey
What public health experts say about the about the CDC's new quarantine guidelines Many public health experts are pushing for stronger measures than the Biden administration and governors are willing to take to reduce impacts from the growing omicron wave. Why the disconnect? Yuki Noguchi
It's time to recalculate your COVID 'risk budget'. Here's how The omicron situation seems to be changing so fast that it's hard to figure out which activities are safe on any given day. Two experts guide us through how to make a smart risk budget. Patrick Wood
The U.S. hits a record number of new COVID cases The seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases topped 280,000 this week as the omicron variant spreads rapidly across the country, according to Johns Hopkins University's tracker. Deepa Shivaram
Delta wanted isolation cut to 5 days. A flight attendants' union opposes the change Some workers are concerned about new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that shortens the isolation period for COVID-19 cases. Deepa Shivaram
How are unionized flight attendants responding to the new COVID rules? The CDC's new isolation guidelines could have big impacts on essential workers. NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants about the rule change.
Nurses are disappointed by CDC easing isolation guidelines, union says NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks to Jean Ross, co-president of National Nurses United, about why she says now is not the time for the CDC to relax its isolation guidance.
The CDC relaxes some of its COVID-19 isolation guidelines As omicron continues to spread, the CDC loosened isolation guidelines. Some infectious disease experts say the revisions should come with stronger mask and testing requirements. Steve Inskeep
