CDC: 'No intention of changing' mask guidance 'at this time'

The CDC has “no intention” of changing its masking guidance, even as unvaccinated Americans drive a new surge of COVID-19.

Questions about the COVID-19 Delta variant? Health expert has answers

FOX 5 sought out Dr. Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Center for Health Security to answer common questions about the delta variant of COVID-19.

China rejects WHO's terms for further study of COVID-19 origins

A senior Chinese health official said he was “taken aback" that the WHO plan includes further investigation of the COVID-19 lab leak theory.

Virginia officials release updated COVID-19 safety guidelines, mask mandate for schools

The Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Education released new guidance Wednesday for PreK-12 schools for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year which includes supporting school divisions in making decisions on masking and other prevention measures.

Pfizer vaccine will be made at South African firm, a first for Africa

This is the first time Pfizer's vaccine will be produced in Africa, in a move to help address the continent's desperate need for more doses amid a recent surge of cases.

4 companies on verge of settling $26B deal in lawsuits over toll of opioid prescriptions

The three biggest U.S. drug distribution companies and the drugmaker Johnson & Johnson are on the verge of a $26 billion deal to settle lawsuits brought by state and local governments across the country over the toll of prescription opioids.

More than 1.5M children lost at least 1 caregiver from a death related to COVID-19 last year

A recent study funded by the National Institutes of Health estimated that 1.5 million around the globe lost at least one caregiver to a death related to COVID-19 in the first 14 months of the pandemic.

Study: Screen time linked to cognitive issues in children born preterm

School-age children who were born extremely preterm and engage in more than two hours of screen time per day are more likely to experience cognitive and behavioral problems, according to an NIH study.

Study: J&J COVID-19 vaccine significantly less effective against delta variant

Study authors found that while the two-dose vaccines were 94-95% effective in preventing COVID-19 from the delta and lambda variants, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine had only 66.9% efficacy “in preventing moderate to severe disease.”

Judge rules Indiana University can mandate COVID-19 vaccine for students, staff

In a ruling dated Sunday, U.S. District Judge Damon Leichty in South Bend rejected a request from eight IU students who sought to block the requirement.

Nurses union calls on CDC to reinstate universal mask guidelines

In a letter addressed to Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, the National Nurses Union called on the agency to reinstate universal mask-wearing guidelines and to implement more robust data tracking for infections among health care workers and breakthrough cases.

AAP: Students, staff should wear masks in schools — regardless of vaccination status

The American Academy of Pediatrics released a set of recommendations ahead of the upcoming school year to help stave off further growth of the COVID-19 pandemic. The recommendations include vaccinations for all eligible people and mask-wearing in class, regardless of vaccination status.

US surgeon general calls COVID-19 misinformation ‘serious threat’

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued his first formal advisory to the public, warning of the urgent threat of health misinformation during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

American unemployment claims fall to 360,000, another pandemic low

The United States set another pandemic low in this week's jobs report, showing only 360,000 first-time filers for unemployment.

Wrong patient gets kidney at Ohio hospital

An Ohio hospital has acknowledged that a patient received a new kidney meant for someone else.