Nearly 1 million COVID-19 deaths: A look at the US numbers
Doug Lambrecht was among the first of the nearly 1 million Americans to die from COVID-19. His demographic profile — an older white male with chronic health problems — mirrors the faces of many who would be lost over the next two years.
71 COVID patients in Hawaii hospitals considered manageable
HONOLULU — There are currently 71 people statewide hospitalized with COVID-19, including five in intensive care units. Less than a month ago, there were no coronavirus cases in intensive care, Hawaii News Now reported.
WHO: Nearly 15 million deaths associated with COVID-19
LONDON — The World Health Organization estimates that nearly 15 million people were killed either by coronavirus or by its impact on overwhelmed health systems during the first two years of the pandemic, more than double the current official death toll of over 6 million.
FDA restricts J&J’s COVID-19 vaccine due to blood clot risk
WASHINGTON — U.S. regulators on Thursday strictly limited who can receive Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine due to the ongoing risk of rare but serious blood clots.
Even as COVID cases rise, mask mandates stay shelved
NEW YORK — An increase in COVID-19 infections around the U.S. has sent more cities into new high-risk categories that are supposed to trigger indoor mask wearing, but much of the country is stopping short of bringing back restrictions amid deep pandemic fatigue.
Public school students face strict COVID rules for year-end events
HONOLULU — Hawaii public schools are enforcing pandemic restrictions that go beyond recommendations from state and federal health officials.
Fauci: US in ‘a different moment’ but pandemic not over
Dr. Anthony Fauci said Wednesday the coronavirus is under better control in the United States. but the pandemic isn’t over — and the challenge is how to keep improving the situation.
CDC estimates 3 in 4 kids have had coronavirus infections
NEW YORK — Three out of every four U.S. children have been infected with the coronavirus and more than half of all Americans had signs of previous infections, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers estimated in a report Tuesday.
Antiviral pills to fight severe COVID available in Hawaii
HONOLULU — Hawaii doctors, like physicians elsewhere in the U.S., have been prescribing antiviral pills to COVID-19 patients with mild-to-moderate symptoms of the disease. But only those at high risk of developing severe illness are eligible to receive the drugs.
COVID shots still work but researchers hunt new improvements
COVID-19 vaccinations are at a critical juncture as companies test whether new approaches like combination shots or nasal drops can keep up with a mutating coronavirus — even though it’s not clear if changes are needed.
COVID-19 cases are rising sharply again — should we worry?
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Here we go again?
Mask mandates return to US college campuses as cases rise
The final weeks of the college school year have been disrupted yet again by COVID-19 as universities bring back mask mandates, switch to online classes and scale back large gatherings in response to upticks in coronavirus infections.
Surprisingly low Shanghai COVID death count spurs questions
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Lu Muying died on April 1 in a government quarantine facility in Shanghai, with her family on the phone as doctors tried to resuscitate her. She had tested positive for COVID-19 in late March and was moved there in line with government policy that all coronavirus cases be centrally isolated.
Cleaner Earth: Healing ozone hole, less smog, more eagles
With climate change, plastic pollution and a potential sixth mass extinction, humanity has made some incredible messes in the world.
Rates for measles, other vaccinations dip for kindergartners
A smaller portion of U.S. children got routine vaccinations required for kindergarten during the pandemic, government researchers said Thursday, raising concerns that measles and other preventable diseases could increase.
Biden drug control plan stresses harm reduction, treatment
President Joe Biden is sending his administration’s first national drug control strategy to Congress as the U.S. overdose death toll hit a new record of nearly 107,000 during the past 12 months.
Many say Biden not tough enough on Russia: AP-NORC poll
WASHINGTON — Many people in the U.S. still question whether President Joe Biden is showing enough strength in response to Russia’s war against Ukraine, even as most approve of steps Biden is already taking and few want U.S. troops to get involved in the conflict.
US to appeal mask travel ruling, setting up court fight
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Justice Department said it would appeal a Florida judge’s ruling that threw out a mask requirement for plane and air travel, setting up a likely court battle that could extend past the midterm elections.
Most people in US want masks for travelers: AP-NORC poll
FARGO, N.D. — A majority of people in the United States continue to support a mask requirement for people traveling on airplanes and other shared transportation, a poll finds. A ruling by a federal judge has put the government’s transportation mask mandate on hold.
150 new COVID-19 cases reported in past week
Officials Wednesday reported 150 new COVID-19 cases were reported during the past week on Hawaii Island, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency reported in its weekly update Wednesday. Since February 2020, there have been a total of 26,651 coronavirus cases reported on the island.
