Public Health

Early research suggests that the diagnostic tests most commonly used in the U.S. may not be the most effective at detecting the omicron coronavirus variant.  

The opioid epidemic has not spared older Americans, as overdose deaths among Americans ages 55 and older have steadily increased from 1999-2019, according to a study published Jan. 11 in JAMA Network Open.

The American Hospital Association is calling on the federal government to renew two emergency declarations related to the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure continued support for hospitals responding to the crisis.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Jan. 11 reinstated a public health emergency to help health systems experiencing a COVID-19 surge.

New findings about omicron's spread and severity are emerging daily, with recent research pointing to a higher rate of asymptomatic spread and lower hospitalization risk.

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a limited public health emergency Jan. 11 amid the latest COVID-19 surge fueled by the omicron variant.

In line with national forecasts, health systems on opposite sides of the country — NewYork-Presbyterian and Phoenix-based Banner Health — both anticipate the omicron-driven COVID-19 surge to peak at some point this month. 

A proposal from California Gov. Gavin Newsom aims to make the state the first to expand Medicaid eligibility to include anyone regardless of their immigration status, according to a Jan. 11 report from The Sacramento Bee. 

COVID-19 hospitalizations have surpassed levels seen during last winter's surge and are now at an all-time high, HHS data shows.

The current state of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. in many ways differs from earlier surges, with breakthrough infections now a norm and not the exception.