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.

National Harbor to honor employees for service during COVID-19 pandemic

National Harbor will honor 14 local employees on Tuesday at the Waterfront Plaza who have been identified by employers, residents and co-workers as someone who went above and beyond during the pandemic. 

CDC says J&J vaccine has ‘small possible risk’ of rare neurological disorder

Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine may pose a “small possible risk” of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare but potentially dangerous neurological reaction, U.S. health officials said Monday.

5 Virginia mental health facilities shrink capacity, halt new admissions

The commissioner of behavioral health and developmental services in Virginia has ordered five of the Commonwealth’s eight adult state mental health hospitals to decrease capacity and temporarily stop admissions.

Mobile unit offering COVID-19 vaccines in underserved communities

As most mass vaccination sites across the country and in the DMV have now closed, there are many underserved communities that still need help with getting people vaccinated.

Team USA gold medal favorite is refusing vaccination ahead of Olympic Games

The event is set to start on July 23, with no spectators planned to attend the event due to an ongoing spike in COVID cases challenging Tokyo.

DMV parents express mixed feelings about new CDC student mask wearing guidelines

With a highly anticipated school year just weeks away, on Friday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that vaccinated teachers and students don't need to wear masks inside school buildings, relaxing its COVID-19 guidelines.

US death rates fall for lung cancer, melanoma, report says

U.S. death rates from many types of cancer continued to decline, mostly in deaths from lung cancer and melanoma, according to a new report published Thursday.