107 new COVID-19 cases reported in past week
Some 107 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 26,341 coronavirus cases reported on the island.
Future of COVID boosters comes down to crucial meeting of FDA Advisers
An all-star panel of COVID-19 experts will convene this week to hash out how and when vaccines should be updated to address future variants as the virus continues to rapidly mutate.
COVID outbreak ‘extremely grim’ as Shanghai extends lockdown
BEIJING — The COVID-19 outbreak in China’s largest metropolis of Shanghai remains “extremely grim” amid an ongoing lockdown confining around 26 million people to their homes, a city official said Tuesday.
Number of COVID patients in US hospitals reaches record low
NORFOLK, Va. — COVID-19 hospitalization numbers have plunged to their lowest levels since the early days of the pandemic, offering a much needed break to health care workers and patients alike following the omicron surge.
Hawaii sees increase in COVID-19 omicron variant cases
HONOLULU — Mirroring much of the U.S. and the world, Hawaii is seeing an uptick in the more transmissible BA.2 omicron variant.
92 new COVID-19 cases reported in past week
Ninety-two new COVID-19 cases were reported during the past week on Hawaii Island, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency reported in its weekly update Wednesday.
Americans ease up on masks, virus safeguards: AP-NORC poll
Many Americans have taken significant steps back from once-routine coronavirus precautions, with less than half now saying they regularly wear face masks, avoid crowds and skip nonessential travel.
FDA clears way for millions to get additional COVID-19 boosters
WASHINGTON — U.S. regulators cleared second booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna Inc. and the partnership of Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE for adults 50 and older, making millions more people eligible for the shots as concern grows about a potential new wave of infections.
High from hemp: States wrestle with chemically made THC
Over the past few years, Jonny Griffis has invested millions of dollars in his legal marijuana farm in northern Michigan, which produces extracts to be used in things like gummy bears and vape oils.
AP-NORC poll: Low marks for Biden on economy as prices rise
WASHINGTON — A majority of Americans say they don’t blame President Joe Biden for high gasoline prices, but they’re giving his economic leadership low marks amid fears of inflation and deep pessimism about economic conditions.
Much of Shanghai locked down as mass COVID-19 testing begins
BEIJING — China began locking down most of its largest city of Shanghai on Monday as a coronavirus outbreak surges and amid questions about the economic toll of the nation’s “zero-COVID” strategy.
In 1st full year of pandemic, biggest metros lost residents
After returning to metro San Francisco following a college football career, Anthony Giusti felt like his hometown was passing him by. The high cost of living, driven by a constantly transforming tech industry, ensured that even with two jobs he would never save enough money to buy a house.
Lifting of indoor mask mandate, Safe Travels program restores sense of normality
Hawaii’s indoor mask mandate and the Safe Travels program — the state’s only remaining COVID-19 restrictions — officially ended Saturday.
Experts worry about how US will see next COVID surge coming
NEW YORK — As coronavirus infections rise in some parts of the world, experts are watching for a potential new COVID-19 surge in the U.S. — and wondering how long it will take to detect.
Ige extends COVID-19 food assistance spending
HONOLULU — Gov. David Ige has signed an emergency proclamation allowing federal funds to continue to flow to food assistance recipients during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic national public health emergency, his office said Thursday.
Rich countries getting new COVID vaccine before poorer ones
NEW DELHI — The company behind a COVID-19 vaccine touted as a key tool for the developing world has sent tens of millions of doses to wealthy nations but provided none yet to the U.N.-backed effort to supply poorer countries, a sign that inequity persists in the global response to the pandemic.
Pandemic relief money spent on hotel, ballpark, ski slopes
WASHINGTON — Thanks to a sudden $140 million cash infusion, officials in Broward County, Florida, recently broke ground on a high-end hotel that will have views of the Atlantic Ocean and an 11,000-square-foot spa.
County to halt COVID-19 testing beginning Saturday
Hawaii County will suspend all county-sponsored COVID-19 testing operations beginning Saturday.
Scientists worry virus variant may push up COVID cases in US
With coronavirus cases rising in parts of Europe and Asia, scientists worry that an extra-contagious version of the omicron variant may soon push cases up in the United States too.
Doctors finding hurdles to using pills to treat COVID-19
High-risk COVID-19 patients now have new treatments they can take at home to stay out of the hospital — if doctors get the pills to them fast enough.
