ROCHELLE WALENSKY

The White House says the federal website where Americans can request free COVID-19 tests will begin accepting orders on Wednesday.

Early studies say throat swabs may effectively detect Covid's omicron variant. Dr. Anthony Fauci and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration say more research is needed.

ABC Virus FILE - Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, speaks during an event on Dec. 8, 2020, in Wilmington, Del. ABC News is under fire for how it edited an interview that CDC Director Rochelle Walensky gave to "Good Morning America." In the interview, Walensky discussed a study that showed how most vaccinated people who died of coronavirus were also sick for other reasons. But ABC edited out the summary, about 20 seconds of her answer. On Monday, ABC posted a version of Vega's interview on the “GMA” website that restored the portion that was cut.

ABC News is under fire for how it edited an interview that CDC Director Rochelle Walensky gave to “Good Morning America.”.

Delta Air Lines is reporting a $408 million loss for the final quarter of 2021, dragged down by a COVID-19 surge that rocked the airline in December.

Biden President Joe Biden talks to reporters before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci)WASHINGTON — (AP) — The Biden administration is redoubling its efforts to expand supply and accessibility of COVID-19 testing as it faces mounting criticism over long lines and supply shortages for testing nationwide and confusion about when to get tested amid the omicron surge. The school testing initiative announced Wednesday comes after the nation’s third-largest public school system, in Chicago, closed for days after an impasse between teachers and officials over reopening policies. The closure was a black eye for President Joe Biden, who made reopening schools — and keeping them open — a priority. The administration also is working to target other federally backed testing sites to support school testing programs, including locating Federal Emergency Management Agency sites at schools.

Officials across the U.S. are again weighing how and whether to impose mask mandates as COVID-19 infections soar and the American public grows weary of pandemic-related restrictions.

Biden President Joe Biden talks to reporters before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Evan Vucci)WASHINGTON — (AP) — The Biden administration is redoubling its efforts to expand supply and accessibility of COVID-19 testing as it faces mounting criticism over long lines and supply shortages for testing nationwide and confusion about when to get tested amid the omicron surge. The school testing initiative announced Wednesday comes after the nation’s third-largest public school system, in Chicago, closed for days after an impasse between teachers and officials over reopening policies. The closure was a black eye for President Joe Biden, who made reopening schools — and keeping them open — a priority. The administration also is working to target other federally backed testing sites to support school testing programs, including locating Federal Emergency Management Agency sites at schools.

Senator Roger Marshall questioned Fauci about his salary, which, like all government employees, is public information.

The Biden administration is increasing federal support for COVID-19 testing for schools in a bid to keep them open amid the omicron surge.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<They faced criticism over testing shortages and confusion about the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) isolation and quarantine guidance after it was changed last month. “Very unpredictable and we’re doing the best we possibly can.”Senators on the committee questioned the Biden administration about public confusion after the CDC cut the recommended isolation and quarantine period for asymptomatic people from ten days down to five. READ: Biden to back Senate rule change to pass voting rights bill“For people who tested positive for COVID-19, CDC recommends isolation for five days,” said Walensky. — CDC (@CDCgov) December 22, 2021READ: United Airlines: 3,000 employees currently have COVID-19, forcing delays and cancellationsLawmakers also grilled the administration over testing shortages. “There were no tests on the shelves or online and hours long lines were the norm at testing sites across the country,” said Burr.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, used an appearance before a Senate committee on Tuesday to counter misinformation about coronavirus deaths.

Greg Nash/Pool via GettyDr. Anthony Fauci slammed Sen. Rand Paul on Tuesday for encouraging threats on his life by mounting vociferous public attacks “with not a shred of evidence,” telling the Kentucky Republican that he was “incorrect in almost everything you say.”Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was testifying at a hearing held by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, when Paul, an ophthalmologist by training, used his al

The rise of omicron has fed the longstanding efforts to pretend vaccines don't reduce the spread. Here's what the data show.

The top health leaders in the U.S. will testify before the Senate on Tuesday about the federal response to the omicron Covid variant, as new infections and hospitalizations reach pandemic highs. The Senate health committee will hear testimony from White House chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, and acting Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock. Dawn O'Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the Department of Health and Human Services, is also testifying. The hearing comes as the CDC faces criticism for its public messaging on the pandemic, particularly its quarantine guidance. The CDC cut the isolation period to five days for people who have Covid, but it did not recommend people get tested before leaving isolation.

Frustrated and exhausted, many Americans say they tune out muddled guidance.

During an appearance on Fox News Sunday, CDC director Rochelle Walensky faltered in explaining how many of the 836,000 U.S. patients whose deaths were attributed to Covid in the last two years had underlying medical conditions.

We need to learn to live with COVID. Over the next decade or so, says one expert, "every single person on Earth has a date with this virus."

The rate of hospitalization for kids under five — who are not yet eligible for the vaccine — is the highest since the pandemic began.

Pediatric hospitalizations spike amid omicron surge Stock photo of a saline intravenous drip in a pediatric patient's hand. According to CDC data, only slightly more than 50% of children ages 12 to 17 and only 16% of those between the ages of 5 and 11 are fully vaccinated. A similar analysis for omicron, however, will not be ready for several weeks, USA Today reported. More coronavirus pandemic coverage:>> Coronavirus: How long between exposure to the virus and the start of symptoms? This tool will tell you>> How to not let coronavirus pandemic fatigue set in, battle back if it does©2022 Cox Media Group

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention held only two telebriefings in 2021. That lack of transparency has prompted criticism — and a pledge from director Dr. Rochelle Walensky to be more open.

Hospitalizations in U.S. children under age 5 with COVID have soared dramatically to unprecedented levels, a worrisone trend in youngsters too young to be vaccinated. That compares with about 1 per 100,000 for kids ages 5 to 17, according to CDC data. She noted that just over 50% of children ages 12 to 18 are fully vaccinated and only 16% of those 5 to 11 are fully vaccinated. Data suggest booster shots offer the best protection against omicron, and CDC this week recommended them for kids as young as 12. “As a pediatrician, I really wish we already had that vaccine for these young kids,’’ Kusma said.

Hospitalizations of U.S. children under 5 with COVID-19 have soared to unprecedented levels, a worrisome trend in youngsters too young to be vaccinated.

The move follows the FDA's authorization earlier this week and an hours-long meeting of the CDC's outside advisers.

Virus Outbreak Pfizer Teen Boosters FILE - A doctor loads a dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine into a syringe, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, at a mobile vaccination clinic in Worcester, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) (Steven Senne)The U.S. is urging that everyone 12 and older get a COVID-19 booster as soon as they're eligible, to help fight back the hugely contagious omicron mutant that's ripping through the country. "This booster dose will provide optimized protection against COVID-19 and the Omicron variant. Vaccines still offer strong protection against serious illness from any type of COVID-19, including omicron — what experts say is their most important benefit. Studies show a booster dose at least temporarily revs up virus-fighting antibodies to levels that offer the best chance at avoiding symptomatic infection, even from omicron.

The CDC endorsement Wednesday means about 5 million of the younger teens who had their last shot in the spring are eligible for a booster right away.

If the CDC approves the advisory panel's recommendation, boosters for adolescents age 12-17 could be available as early as this week. The shots should be given five months after initial immunization.

The recommendation comes amid an increase in pediatric hospitalizations.

The co-creator of the AstraZeneca vaccine warns that "we can't vaccinate the planet every four to six months." More COVID updates.

The U.S. is strengthening its COVID-19 booster campaign, endorsing an extra shot for everyone age 12 and older.

“Individuals are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 if they’ve received their primary series,” said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. “That has not changed and we do not have any plans to change that," he told reporters during a White House briefing. It was retitled “Stay Up to Date with Vaccines,” and used the term “fully vaccinated” sparingly, to describe the primary series. Asked about the change, a CDC spokeswoman said the definition of “fully vaccinated” has not changed. “We’re using the terminology now ‘keeping your vaccinations up to date,’ rather than what ‘fully vaccinated’ means,” he said during a National Institutes of Health lecture.

U.S. health officials say they are not changing the definition of being “fully vaccinated” against COVID-19.

People who test negative were advised to continue wearing masks around others at home and in public for the same amount of time. Officials released the latest guidance last week, cutting the recommended isolation time for people who test positive for COVID-19, but who do not show symptoms, from 10 to five days. “Using a rapid test or some type of test to validate that the person isn’t infectious is vital. Globally, 295.4 million cases have been reported, resulting in 5.4 million deaths, according to the university. The omicron variant of COVID-19 was first detected in the U.S. on Dec. 1 and has since become the dominant variant linked to coronavirus infections nationwide, according to the CDC.

The updated guidance comes after the CDC faced criticism last week for shortening its recommended isolation period without asking for people to get tested.

The U.S. hit a new record high for infections in a single day on Monday, with 1,082,549 new cases recorded. Hospitalizations are also on the rise, but not at the same rate.

The move to shorten the Pfizer booster interval comes as the U.S. shatters daily case records. The recommended interval for those who received Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines has not changed.

In the midst of record COVID case numbers in the U.S., biostatistician Natalie Dean walks us through how to assess the metrics.

Some school systems around the U.S. have extended their holiday break or switched back to online instruction because of the explosion in COVID-19 cases.

The CDC must also weigh in before the third shots can be rolled out for younger age groups.

The CDC must now decide whether to recommend boosters for the age group.

The CDC must also weigh in before the third shots can be rolled out for younger age groups.

At least 62,504 Florida residents have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic began in early 2020, according to a report released Friday by the Florida Department of Health.

At least 62,504 Florida residents have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic began in early 2020, according to a report released Friday by the Florida Department of Health.

The CDC must also weigh in before the third shots can be rolled out for younger age groups.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must decide whether to recommend boosters for the younger teens. The older teens, 16- and 17-year-olds, became eligible for boosters in early December. But original vaccinations opened for the younger teens, those 12 to 15, back in May. That means those first in line in the spring, potentially millions, are about as many months past their last dose as the slightly older teens. Pfizer is studying its vaccine, in even smaller doses, for children younger than 5.

The U.S. is expanding COVID-19 boosters as it confronts the omicron surge.

New Covid infections have hit a pandemic high in the U.S. as the highly contagious omicron variant has supplanted delta as the dominant strain.

"I think we're going to be hearing more about that in the next day or so from the CDC," Fauci said.

"Record numbers testing positive for a sore throat isn't a crisis. And people in the hospital for car accidents testing positive isn't a surge," Rubio said.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Going to the emergency room is already stressful enough, so the last thing you want to worry about is an expensive, unexpected bill. A new law starting Jan. 1 gives you protection against most surprise medical bills from out-of-network health care providers. Consumer groups say those surprise bills happen more often than you think. U.S. PIRG reports about one in five emergency room visits ends in a surprise bill, with prices ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. You can call this national hotline at 1-800-985-3059 to report suspected surprise bills but the Department of Health and Human Services won’t accept calls until Jan. 1, 2022.

Now a law signed by President Joe Biden this week will create an independent commission to investigate the nearly 20-year war from start to finish. IAVA has been pushing for an independent panel to investigate the war in Afghanistan and this week, that goal became a reality. Veterans groups said the tumultuous final weeks that troops served in Afghanistan left many vets uncertain of the value of their sacrifice. Butler says the nonpartisan investigation will play a major role in giving Afghanistan war veterans those very answers. The commission will not include any service member or military official who served during the war in Afghanistan or any current members of Congress or members who were in office during the war.

The rapid increase in COVID cases reflects 'the exceptionally transmissible' quality of the Omicron variant, CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky says.

Many states are breaking their single-day case records. On Wednesday, more than 431,000 new cases were reported, the CDC said.

Skyrocketing COVID-19 case rates have caused officials In New York City and elsewhere to scale back their New Year's Eve celebrations. Around the country, people are facing tough decisions.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Scientists said they believe COVID-19 cases and reinfections are on the rise. READ: Here’s where you can find COVID-19 testing in Central FloridaThe department has not issued updated numbers, but doctors anticipate that percentage is higher now after the explosion of cases. With so many people testing positive, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expected a higher number of breakthrough cases. New research shows that breakthrough cases are more common in older individuals and women. People with HIV infection, rheumatoid arthritis and solid organ transplant had a higher rate of breakthrough infection.

The seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases topped 280,000 this week as the omicron variant spreads rapidly across the country, according to Johns Hopkins University's tracker.

>> Read more trending newsWalensky appeared on “CBS Mornings” to say that the change isn’t because tests are in short supply. People who have tested positive for COVID-19 but show no symptoms can now leave isolation after five days without being retested. The change is due to how the CDC believes COVID-19 is transmitted. Walensky stands by antigen test usage five days after someone has been exposed to COVID-19 or if they get any symptoms. Walensky also said the change was made due to what the CDC believes “people would be able to tolerate,” she told CNN.

Some workers are concerned about new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that shortens the isolation period for COVID-19 cases.

U.S. Covid cases are at a record seven-day average of more than 265,000 per day as of Tuesday as the delta and omicron variants circulate simultaneously.

Rochelle Walensky told CNN that the CDC's isolation guidance was previously "conservative" and the changes were made in the context of surging cases.

The guidelines say people who test positive for COVID-19, but have no symptoms, can leave isolation after five days without testing again.

Cutting the isolation for positive cases to five days could lead to more infections if people don't take masking seriously. A testing requirement, would have made the policy safer, experts say.

U.S. health officials’ decision to shorten the recommended COVID-19 isolation and quarantine period from 10 days to five is drawing criticism from some medical experts and could create confusion among many Americans.

U.S. health officials are cutting isolation restrictions for asymptomatic Americans who test positive for the coronavirus and shortening the time that close contacts have to quarantine.

Children younger than 5 can’t get COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. yet, but there are steps you can take to protect them from infection over the holidays.

U.S. officials are loosening rules that call on health care workers to stay out of work for 10 days if they test positive for COVID-19.

President Joe Biden promised to distribute hundreds of millions of free COVID-19 tests and to open more testing sites, but the stepped-up efforts will not come in time for the holidays.

Omicron has raced ahead of other variants and is now the dominant version of the coronavirus in the U.S. Federal health officials said Monday that omicron accounted for an estimated 73% of new infections last week.

U.S. health officials are endorsing “test-to-stay” policies that allow close contacts of students infected with the coronavirus to remain in classrooms if they test negative.

The new omicron coronavirus mutant speeding around the world may bring another wave of chaos, as it threatens to further stretch hospital workers already struggling with a surge of delta cases and upend holiday plans for the second year in a row.

As more cases of the new omicron variant of COVID-19 continue to be identified, the U.S. expanding booster shot eligibility of the Pfizer vaccine Thursday.

The U.S. is expanding COVID-19 boosters, opening a third dose of Pfizer's vaccine to people as young as age 16.

The chief of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says more than 40 people in the country have been found to be infected with the omicron variant so far and more than three-quarters of them had been vaccinated.

The Biden administration is moving to toughen testing requirements for international travelers to the U.S., for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people, amid the spread of the new omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Dr. Anthony Fauci is blasting Sen. Ted Cruz for suggesting that Fauci be investigated for statements he made about COVID-19.

The U.S. is in better shape approaching its second Thanksgiving of the pandemic, thanks to the vaccine.

The U.S. is opening COVID-19 vaccine boosters to all adults, and urging them for anyone 50 and older.

Experts say it's the result of a return to normalcy and a lessening of safety precautions taken while COVID-19 numbers were at its highest.

A federal advisory committee has recommended that all U.S. adults younger than 60 be vaccinated against hepatitis B.

Schoolchildren take the spotlight this week as the U.S. enters a new phase in COVID-19 vaccination aimed at curbing deaths, hospitalizations and more than a year of disrupted education.

US health officials have given the final OK to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for children as young as 5.

The White House says the Biden administration is already assembling and shipping millions of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11.

Witches and warlocks, ghosts and ghouls can breathe a little easier this Halloween: Coronavirus cases in the U.S. are generally on the decline, and trick-or-treaters can feel safer collecting candy.

Federal health officials say millions more Americans can get a COVID-19 booster and choose a different vaccine for that next shot.

With many Americans who got Pfizer vaccinations already rolling up their sleeves for a booster shot, millions of others who received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine wait anxiously to learn when it’s their turn.

The U.S. is gearing up in case of a bad flu season on top of the continuing COVID-19 crisis.

The number of first-dose COVID-19 vaccinations is falling in the U.S., despite the spread of vaccine requirements across the country.

A second hospital in Alaska is beginning to ration health care as the state deals with a spike in coronavirus cases.

New York City schools have been temporarily blocked from enforcing a vaccine mandate for its teachers and other workers by a federal appeals judge days before it was to take effect.

A live televised interview with Vice President Kamala Harris was delayed on Friday after two hosts of the “The View” learned they tested positive for COVID-19 moments before she was to join them on the set.

President Joe Biden is urging Americans who now are eligible for a Pfizer COVID-19 booster to go get one, and says he'll get his own soon.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has endorsed COVID-19 booster shots for millions of older or otherwise vulnerable Americans.

An international group of scientists is arguing the average person doesn't need a COVID-19 booster yet — an opinion that highlights the intense scientific divide over the question.

New U.S. studies show COVID-19 vaccines remain highly effective against hospitalizations and death.

President Joe Biden’s plans to start delivery of booster shots by Sept. 20 for most Americans who received COVID-19 vaccines are facing new complications that could delay the availability for those who received the Moderna vaccine.

New Zealand has reported its first coronavirus death in more than six months, while the number of new cases continued to trend downward.

This summer’s coronavirus surge has been labeled a “pandemic of the unvaccinated” by government officials from President Joe Biden on down.

Officials are offering new hope for the safety of U.S. schoolchildren threatened by COVID-19.

Americans at high risk from COVID-19 because of severely weakened immune systems are now allowed to get a third vaccination in hopes of better protection.

U.S. health regulators have authorized an extra dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines in people with weakened immune systems to better protect them from the virus.