US study finds 1 in 10 get long COVID after omicron, starts identifying key symptoms
May 26, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — About 10% of people appear to suffer long COVID after an omicron infection, a lower estimate than earlier in the pandemic, according to a study of nearly 10,000 Americans that aims to help unravel the mysterious condition.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Pfizer received full approval on Thursday for its COVID-19 pill Paxlovid that's been the go-to treatment against the coronavirus.
Kentucky dedicates memorial to honor those lost to COVID-19
May 24, 2023 GMTFRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Tears flowed as Jan Peterson gazed at the new Kentucky COVID Memorial on Wednesday, recalling a lifetime of memories with her husband, who died from the virus in the fall of 2021.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A state audit released Wednesday faults the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for how it awarded grants and ventilators to health care providers during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
How raising the nation’s debt limit could reduce spending of some coronavirus relief funds
May 23, 2023 GMTWith the pandemic officially over, leftover coronavirus relief money for vaccines, public health initiatives and other programs has become a target as negotiators try to reach a budget deal to raise the nation's debt limit.
High blood pressure plagues many Black Americans. Combined with COVID, it’s catastrophic
May 23, 2023 GMTDISTRICT HEIGHTS, Md. (AP) — Charles Thomas was unwell but he had no time for rest.
He was on the cusp of a management promotion and a move to Florida to begin a new chapter that would alter his family’s financial future and break the cycle of generational poverty.
COVID emergency orders are among `greatest intrusions on civil liberties,′ Justice Gorsuch says
May 19, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court got rid of a pandemic-related immigration case with a single sentence.
Justice Neil Gorsuch had a lot more to say, leveling harsh criticism of how governments, from small towns to the nation's capital, responded to the gravest public health threat in a century.
Japan racks up trade deficit although exports gradually rebound
May 18, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japan racked up a trade deficit in April, marking the 21st month in a row of deficits, although it declined dramatically compared to a year ago, as exports recovered, according to government data released Thursday.
Ex-Kansas legislator convicted of COVID relief fraud sentenced to more than 2 years in US prison
May 11, 2023 GMTTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A former Kansas lawmaker who was convicted of 12 felonies for lying on applications for federal COVID-19 relief was sentenced Thursday to two years and three months in prison, according to online court records.
South Korea to lift quarantine mandate for COVID-19 and end testing recommendation for travelers
May 11, 2023 GMTSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea will drop its COVID-19 quarantine requirements and end testing recommendations for international arrivals starting next month after the World Health Organization declared the end of the global health emergency.
WHO says COVID emergency is over. So what does that mean?
May 5, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — The World Health Organization downgraded its assessment of the coronavirus pandemic on Friday, saying it no longer qualifies as a global emergency.
WHO downgrades COVID pandemic, says it’s no longer emergency
May 5, 2023 GMTGENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization said Friday that COVID-19 no longer qualifies as a global emergency, marking a symbolic end to the devastating coronavirus pandemic that triggered once-unthinkable lockdowns, upended economies and killed millions of people worldwide.
COVID dropped to 4th leading cause of death in US last year
May 4, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. deaths fell last year, and COVID-19 dropped to the nation's No. 4 cause, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday.
COVID-19 deaths trailed those caused by heart disease, cancer and injuries such as drug overdoses, motor vehicle fatalities and shootings.
WHO fires scientist who led COVID search over sex misconduct
May 4, 2023 GMTGENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization says it has fired the scientist who led a high-profile delegation from the U.N. health agency to China two years ago to jointly look into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic, citing sexual misconduct.
Djokovic can return to US Open; vaccine mandate ends May 11
May 2, 2023 GMTNovak Djokovic can return to the U.S. Open this year after missing the tournament in 2022, because the federal government's COVID-19 vaccination mandate for foreign air travelers ends next week.
US to lift most federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates next week
May 2, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration will end most of the last remaining federal COVID-19 vaccine requirements next week when the national public health emergency for the coronavirus ends, the White House said Monday.
Chinese who reported on COVID to be released after 3 years
April 30, 2023 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — Chinese authorities were preparing Sunday to release a man who disappeared three years ago after publicizing videos of overcrowded hospitals and bodies during the COVID-19 outbreak, a relative and another person familiar with his case said.
Merck has strong quarter even as COVID-19 treatment tumble
April 27, 2023 GMTMerck beat first-quarter expectations and hiked its 2023 forecast even as sales plunged for its COVID-19 treatment and a strong dollar hurt revenue.
Soaring sales of the drugmaker’s top seller, the cancer treatment Keytruda, helped counter those hits, a drop expected by analysts.
Rugby Australia returns surplus in wake of COVID-19 chaos
April 26, 2023 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — Rugby Australia has returned from the brink of budget despair during the COVID-19 pandemic to announce a surplus for 2022.
RA chairman Hamish McLennan announced the surplus of 8.2 million Australian dollars ($5.5 million) for last year after the annual general meeting in Sydney on Wednesday, saying “the last two years have been a wild ride for us.”
Kraken believe return to normalcy has helped fuel success
April 25, 2023 GMTSEATTLE (AP) — Before this unexpectedly successful season for the Seattle Kraken began last fall, the team spent three days in the mountains of Alberta doing the kind of team bonding that was impossible in the expansion franchise's first season.
FACT FOCUS: COVID vaccines are not in the food supply
April 25, 2023 GMTAnti-vaccine advocates have for years used foreboding imagery of syringes to paint immunizations as dark and dangerous. But recent vaccine conspiracy theories are casting an air of fear around more mundane things — like cows and lettuce.
Extra COVID-19 booster now open to some high-risk Americans
April 19, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Older Americans and people with weak immune systems can get an extra COVID-19 booster dose this spring.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday signed off on a more flexible booster schedule for people who remain at the highest risk from COVID-19 — giving them the choice of a second “bivalent” Pfizer or Moderna booster, the most up-to-date formula.
California church must pay $1.2M for breaking COVID rules
April 14, 2023 GMTSAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — A California church that defied safety regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic by holding large, unmasked religious services must pay $1.2 million in fines, a judge has ruled.
Free COVID testing will fade with US health emergency in May
April 11, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — When the COVID-19 public health emergency ends in the U.S. next month, you'll still have access to a multitude of tests but with one big difference: Who pays for them.
For the first time, you may have to pick up some or all of the costs, depending on insurance coverage and whether the tests are done at home or in a doctor's office.
Biden ends COVID national emergency after Congress acts
April 11, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. national emergency to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic ended Monday as President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan congressional resolution to bring it to a close after three years — weeks before it was set to expire alongside a separate public health emergency.
Top Bosnian government official convicted of abuse of office
April 5, 2023 GMTSARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — A top Bosnian government official and two others were convicted and given prison sentences Wednesday over the procurement at highly inflated prices of inadequate medical equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
South Korea to test sewage samples for COVID-19
April 5, 2023 GMTSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea this month will begin weekly tests of sewage produced by its major cities and towns to track the spread of COVID-19 and identify future waves.
Officials at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said Wednesday that wastewater surveillance will potentially provide a cheaper and more sustainable tool in the country’s pandemic response.
New Mexico’s COVID-19 public health order officially ends
March 31, 2023 GMTSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's public health order related to COVID-19 is coming to an end.
The state Department of Health announced Friday is the last day of an executive order that had been extended by Gov.
Brazil hits 700,000 virus deaths, 2nd highest in the world
March 28, 2023 GMTSAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil's government on Tuesday reported the 700,000th death from COVID-19 in the South American nation, which has the second most victims of the virus after the United States.
Brazilian health experts say most people dying of COVID-19 in recent days are either unvaccinated or suffer from other debilitating diseases.
Walgreens profit slides as COVID-19 vaccinations fade in Q2
March 28, 2023 GMTA decline in COVID-19 vaccinations cut into Walgreens second-quarter earnings, but the drugstore chain still delivered better-than-expected results.
Walgreens said Tuesday the number of vaccines it administered in the quarter tumbled 80% to 2.4 million compared to last year's quarter.
Poll: Religious service attendance a bit down after pandemic
March 28, 2023 GMTA “stable share” of Americans has participated in religious services in some way – virtually or in person – during the coronavirus pandemic, though in-person attendance is slightly lower than before the COVID-19 outbreak.
Ignoring experts, China’s sudden zero-COVID exit cost lives
March 24, 2023 GMTBEIJING (AP) — When China suddenly scrapped onerous zero-COVID measures in December, the country wasn’t ready for a massive onslaught of cases, with hospitals turning away ambulances and crematoriums burning bodies around the clock.
Ignoring experts, China’s sudden zero-COVID exit cost lives
March 24, 2023 GMTBEIJING (AP) — When China suddenly scrapped onerous zero-COVID measures in December, the country wasn’t ready for a massive onslaught of cases. Hospitals turned away ambulances, crematoriums burned bodies around the clock, and relatives hauled dead loved ones to warehouses for lack of storage space.
Bill would extend food aid, school meals, to-go cocktails
March 23, 2023 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts lawmakers approved a spending plan Thursday that would extend programs launched during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic including outdoor dining regulations, remote access to public meetings and support for assisted living residences.
North Carolina House advances ban on COVID vaccine mandates
March 21, 2023 GMTRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina's public schools, colleges and universities would be prohibited from requiring a student to prove they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 under a bill that advanced Tuesday in the state House.
Anthony Fauci documentary on PBS covers a career of crises
March 21, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — There's a moment in the new PBS documentary about Dr. Anthony Fauci when a protester holds up a handmade sign reading, “Dr.
Biden signs bill on COVID origins declassification
March 20, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan bill Monday that directs the federal government to declassify as much intelligence as possible about the origins of COVID-19 more than three years after the start of the pandemic.
New COVID origins data point to raccoon dogs in China market
March 17, 2023 GMTBEIJING (AP) — Genetic material collected at a Chinese market near where the first human cases of COVID-19 were identified show raccoon dog DNA comingled with the virus, adding evidence to the theory that the virus originated from animals, not from a lab, international experts say.
US pregnancy deaths dropped in 2022, after COVID spike
March 16, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Deaths of pregnant women in the U.S. fell in 2022, dropping significantly from a six-decade high during the pandemic, new data suggests.
More than 1,200 U.S. women died in 2021 during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth, according to a final tally released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Gov. Healey: COVID-19 public health emergency to end May 11
March 15, 2023 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey announced Wednesday that the state's COVID-19 public health emergency will end May 11.
The announcement comes ahead of the 45-day notice required by state law, allowing additional time for organizations affected by the change to prepare for the end of the public health emergency, Healey said.
California care home charged in connection with COVID deaths
March 15, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — A Southern California residential care home company and three of its managers have been charged in connection with 14 COVID-related deaths at one of its facilities three years ago, prosecutors said Monday.
China to reopen to tourists, resume all visas Wednesday
March 14, 2023 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — China will reopen its borders to tourists and resume issuing all visas Wednesday as it tries to revive tourism and its economy following a three-year halt during the COVID-19 pandemic.
10 iconic moments in Pope Francis’ first 10 years as pontiff
March 13, 2023 GMTVATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis marks the 10th anniversary of his election as pope on Monday. During that decade, several historic occasions, as well as several unplanned events, helped define the contours and priorities of history's first Latin American pontiff.
China names Li Qiang premier nominally in charge of economy
March 11, 2023 GMTBEIJING (AP) — China on Saturday named Li Qiang, a close confidant of top leader Xi Jinping, as the country’s next premier nominally in charge of the world’s second-largest economy now facing some of its worst prospects in years.
House votes to declassify info about origins of COVID-19
March 10, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The House voted unanimously Friday to declassify U.S. intelligence information about the origins of COVID-19, a sweeping show of bipartisan support near the third anniversary of the start of the deadly pandemic.
Pandemic 3 years later: Has the COVID-19 virus won?
March 10, 2023 GMTOn the third anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus is still spreading and the death toll is nearing 7 million worldwide. Yet most people have resumed their normal lives, thanks to a wall of immunity built from infections and vaccines.
Loyal and experienced, China’s other top leaders take posts
March 10, 2023 GMTTAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — With Chinese leader Xi Jinping receiving a norms-breaking third five-year term as president on Friday, the other six men who serve with him on the ruling Communist Party’s all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee are beginning to take up their new portfolios.
China’s other top leaders bring loyalty to Xi, experience
March 9, 2023 GMTTAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Six men sit alongside Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the ruling Communist Party’s all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee, handling major portfolios from propaganda to corruption fighting.
Will China’s next premier be a moderating influence on Xi?
March 9, 2023 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — The pro-business track record of the man poised to become China’s top economic official will make his term a test of whether he might moderate President Xi Jinping ’s tendency to intervene.
Japan revises GDP to nearly flat, showing fragile recovery
March 9, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japan’s economy grew at an annual pace of 0.1% in October-December, in a downgrade from an earlier 0.6% increase, showing how the world’s third-largest economy was barely eking out growth.
DeSantis’ new Disney World board hints at future controversy
March 8, 2023 GMTLAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — The first meeting of the new board of Walt Disney World’s government — overhauled by sweeping legislation signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis as punishment for Disney publicly challenging Florida's so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill — dealt with the rote affairs any other municipal government would handle: calls for better firefighter equipment, lessons on public records requests and bond ratings.
Love Rocks NYC benefit to help meet rising demand for meals
March 8, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — The War and Treaty’s Michael Trotter never really considered missing the chance to perform at the Love Rocks NYC 2023 benefit for God’s Love We Deliver on Thursday, even though he was knocked unconscious and broke his leg in a fall onstage in Nashville last week.
WHO fires director in Asia accused of racist misconduct
March 8, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — The World Health Organization has fired its top official in the Western Pacific after the Associated Press reported last year that dozens of staff members accused him of racist, abusive and unethical behavior that may have compromised the U.N.
Georgia chief justice says lawyer shortage slows down courts
March 8, 2023 GMTATLANTA (AP) — Georgia's courts are working hard to dig out from under a backlog of cases created and exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, but a shortage of lawyers is hindering some of those efforts, the state's top judge said Wednesday.
EU watchdog: Not enough safeguards on pandemic recovery fund
March 8, 2023 GMTBRUSSELS (AP) — Insufficient checks and safeguards on how EU member countries spend a massive aid program designed to help them bounce back from the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are creating possibilities for fraud and mismanagement, the bloc's financial watchdog warned on Wednesday.
Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific posts $834 million loss for 2022
March 8, 2023 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. said it was ready to rebuild as Hong Kong opened up to global visitors despite reporting wider losses in 2022.
The airline reported an annual loss of 6.55 billion Hong Kong dollars ($834.4 million) for the year ending Dec.
AP PHOTOS: Indians celebrate Holi, Hindu festival of color
March 8, 2023 GMTNEW DELHI (AP) — Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the Holi festival, dancing to the beat of drums, smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets.
Bucks beat Magic 134-123 for 18th win in 19 games
March 8, 2023 GMTORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Brook Lopez scored 26 points, Khris Middleton and Jevon Carter each added 24 points and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Orlando Magic 134-123 on Tuesday night for their 18th win in 19 games.
South Korea: Kim’s daughter enjoys horseback riding, skiing
March 8, 2023 GMTSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The recently unveiled daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is being home-schooled and spends her leisure time horseback riding, skiing and swimming, South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers Tuesday.