While flu activity remains low nationally, cases have risen in recent weeks, especially among young adults, the CDC said in a Nov. 24 health advisory.
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The omicron coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa has spread to at least 19 countries, according to CNN.
Under a mask advisory issued Nov. 29, health officials in New York City urged all residents to wear a mask in public indoor settings regardless of vaccination status, ABC7 New York reports.
For the week ending Nov. 20, New Mexico reported high flu activity for the third week in a row, according to data from the CDC's FluView report published Nov. 29.
Search trends played a factor in the selection of Merriam-Webster's 2021 Word of the Year: vaccine, the company said Nov. 29.
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Amid rising concern over the new COVID-19 variant, omicron, the U.S. is tightening borders and limiting travel from eight countries, including South Africa, where the variant was first detected.
While U.S. health officials recommend all adults get their COVID-19 booster shots, they're not currently required to be considered fully vaccinated.
In a Nov. 23 update, the World Health Organization issued clinical management recommendations for the treatment of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, a rare but serious condition tied to COVID-19.
Between Nov. 11 and Nov. 18, 141,905 COVID-19 cases were reported among children in the U.S., marking a 32 percent increase since the week ending Nov. 4., according to a Nov. 22 update from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
A large majority of Americans intend to gather with friends and family for Thanksgiving, though who is gathering differs by race/ethnicity and vaccination status, according to Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index poll findings published Nov. 23.