News of the week Sunday marked the end of UC Santa Cruz’s indoor mask mandate, though the campus still highly recommends their use. Masks are still required on campus public transportation, in the Early Education Services centers, and in clinical settings. Countywide, cases have increased by 67, up to 495 from last week’s 428. No […]
COVID Today
The new Omicron subvariant XE is getting attention. How concerned should we be?
Early estimates as noted by the World Health Organization say XE may be 10% more transmissible than BA.2.
Q&A: I’m eligible for a second COVID-19 booster shot. Should I get it?
The FDA and CDC offered little guidance about who should get the newly authorized second COVID-19 booster shot. We break it down.
Parents say their kids haven’t been the same since COVID. U.S. Education secretary listening
Miguel Cardona listened as L.A. parents talked of social and academic problems faced by students.
It’s official: A second COVID booster is coming to health care providers and pharmacies near you
On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control authorized a second booster of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for people ages 50 and older as well as immunocompromised people. Just a day later, the CDC issued clinical guidelines for the shots, officially allowing patients in the relevant demographics to […]
Most Californians favor COVID vaccine requirements even as they’re lifted, poll finds
Most Californians favor keeping COVID-19 vaccine requirements in place even as governments ease the rules, poll finds.
Ready for a second booster? You’ll have to wait just a little while
The highly infectious BA.2 Omicron subvariant is now the dominant version of the coronavirus circulating in the United…
One of the most far-reaching vaccine mandate bills in California will not move forward
The bill would have required employees and independent contractors to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment unless they have an exemption based on a medical condition, disability or religious beliefs.
‘It’s a nightmare’: Hong Kong runs low on coffins as Omicron exacts deadly toll
Outbreaks in Hong Kong and mainland China are testing the limits of a zero tolerance COVID-19 policy.
Study reveals likely reason for ‘stealth’ Omicron’s recent success
What accounts for BA.2’s recent success? It’s not due to an ability to evade the protection of COVID-19 vaccines, a new study finds.

