Coronavirus

New York City’s NBC News affiliate reports: The state reported a new single-day high of 67,090 cases on Wednesday, a 64.5% increase in just the last day, Gov. Kathy Hochul said. The unprecedented total came amid a recent high in the number of daily tests — 362,594 — for a positivity rate of 18.5%. Hospitalizations are escalating exponentially, too, rounding …

Newsweek reports: A Dutch economist who was a prominent skeptic of the COVID-19 vaccines and an anti-lockdown campaigner has died at the age of 53 after contracting the disease. Robin Fransman, a political economist, passed away due to the consequences of infection with the SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19, on December 28 at a hospital in Amsterdam, Dutch daily …

Reuters reports: Greece is introducing new restrictions on the hospitality sector from Thursday, bringing forward measures planned for early January as coronavirus infections surge. Bars, nightclubs and restaurants will be forced to close at midnight, with no standing customers and no music, with the exception of New Year’s Eve when then can stay open until 2 a.m.. “These measures, if …

Stars & Stripes reports: The Department of Defense recommended COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for all eligible civilian employees and service members on Tuesday as the U.S. hit a record number of new coronavirus cases. The DOD urged anyone over age 18 and already vaccinated to get the booster as a means of mitigating the surge in coronavirus cases associated with …

The Hill reports: An Oklahoma federal judge on Tuesday denied an attempt from the state to block the Department of Defense’s coronavirus vaccine mandate for National Guard members. In a 29-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot denied a motion from Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) and Attorney General John O’Connor to preliminarily enjoin the mandate, saying the plaintiffs’ claims …

The Associated Press reports: The mayor of one of Florida’s largest counties on Tuesday blasted Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, saying he has been missing in action during the latest wave of COVID-19, as some counties brought back mask mandates for government workers and other municipalities opened up new testing sites in response to overwhelming demand. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings …

Reuters reports: US carriers Delta Air Lines and Alaska Air Group canceled hundreds of flights on Tuesday due to adverse weather conditions and rising cases of the Omicron variant – and expected more cancellations today. Delta said it expected to cancel more flights today after canceling the more than 250 of 4,133 scheduled flights on Tuesday, while Alaska canceled 170 …

“I should probably say this, because I haven’t yet. My 4/20 show that sold out in Vancouver, I don’t think that’s happening. I don’t think I can even get into the country. “I don’t think I can go and even if I do go, I don’t trust that Vancouver is not going to follow suit with what Toronto did — …

The Oklahoman reports: Despite state health officials recommending all eligible Oklahomans get a COVID-19 booster shot, Gov. Kevin Stitt says he doesn’t plan on getting another inoculation. Stitt said Monday he hasn’t received a booster shot nor does he plan on getting another jab. “I’m perfectly healthy, and my doctor hasn’t told me I need to get it,” said Stitt, …

The Washington Post reports: The lightning spread of the coronavirus’s omicron variant in the United States pushed the seven-day average of new daily cases to 253,245 as of Tuesday afternoon, surpassing the previous high of 248,209 cases on Jan. 12. The omicron variant, first identified late last month in southern Africa, has sent infections soaring to levels not seen since …

The New York Times reports: The higher vaccination rate for older people has helped to protect them. Although more older than younger people still die from Covid-19, the virus is now responsible for a smaller share of all deaths among people 65 and older than it was before vaccines became available to all adults. For those younger than 65, Covid-19 …

USA Today reports: Texas has run out of its supply of monoclonal antibodies, and infusion centers in the state will be unable to offer the treatment until more shipments are sent out in January. Infusion centers in Austin, El Paso, Fort Worth, San Antonio and The Woodlands have all gone through their supply of sotrovimab, the only antibody treatment believed …

New York City’s ABC News affiliate reports: New York State reported a “striking increase” in new hospital admissions for children as pediatric COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the U.S. continue to rise week after week. The New York State Department of Health said the recent fourfold increase in admissions that began the week of December 5 is concentrated in New …

CNN reports: A fourth college football bowl game was canceled Monday due to Covid-19 protocols, while at least two other bowl games will feature different teams. Boise State Athletics announced Monday that it shut down all football team activities due to Covid-19 protocols. As a result, the Broncos will not compete against the Central Michigan Chippewas in the Arizona Bowl …

The Italian wire service ANSA reports: A diehard Italian anti-vaxxer who became a popular radio personality died of COVID at the age of 61 on Monday night, sources said Tuesday. Maurizio Buratti, better known as “Mauro from Mantua” died in a Verona hospital where he had been receiving treatment for some weeks. Despite being in a critical condition, he never …

An annual tradition takes place today in New York City: You’ll need to venture into Times Square for this event–but on December 28th (before the New Year’s Eve mob). That’s when Good Riddance Day is taking place between 12 and 1 pm. Inspired by the Latin American New Year’s Eve tradition of stuffing dolls with objects that represent unpleasant memories …

Reuters reports: Research by South African scientists suggests that Omicron could displace the Delta variant of the coronavirus because infection with the new variant boosts immunity to the older one. The study only covered a small group of people and has not been peer-reviewed, but it found that people who were infected with Omicron, especially those who were vaccinated, developed …

The Insider reports: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now investigating or observing almost 70 cruise ships following COVID-19 outbreaks aboard the vessels, according to the agency’s update on Monday. According to the CDC’s website, 68 ships have either met the agency’s “investigation threshold” of crew or passengers COVID-19 outbreaks, or a health department has alerted the …

Gothamist reports: New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the state is expecting to receive millions of additional COVID-19 tests by the end of this week, and will make most of them available to school districts, including one million kits—each with two tests—for New York City’s schools. “They can be in hand for the school districts to be able to deploy …

Bloomberg News reports: Apple Inc. has closed its major New York City retail stores — including its Fifth Avenue, SoHo, Grand Central and World Trade Center locations — to shoppers because of rising Covid-19 cases. The closures include 16 stores across New York, with Upper West Side, West 14th Street, Staten Island and Bronx locations all affected. The temporary move …