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Flooded with omicron patients, ERs struggle to treat other urgent problems
Omicron may cause milder disease but the sheer number of patients make this wave far worse for the health care system. With packed ERs, patients can wait days to get a bed.
3 years ago
Philly says stay home if you feel sick. But for many that comes at a cost
Despite public health guidance, for many workers amid the omicron surge, the idea of missing so many days of work has become wishful thinking.
3 years ago
Listen 2:08Supreme Court halts Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for U.S. businesses
At the same time, the court is allowing the administration to proceed with a vaccine mandate for most health care workers in the U.S.
3 years ago
COVID-19 pill rollout stymied by shortages as omicron rages
The problem is that production is not yet at full strength and that the pill considered to be far superior, Pfizer's, takes six to eight months to manufacture.
3 years ago
Biden to double free COVID tests, deploy federal ‘surge’ team to N.J.
The teams will support Henry Ford Hospital, University Hospital in Newark, the University of New Mexico hospital, Coney Island Hospital, and Rhode Island Hospital.
3 years ago
Philly colleges are starting to require boosters and double-masking for the spring semester
Most COVID regulations apply to students, faculty, and staff, but specifics vary by school.
3 years ago
‘Mad or nah?’: Philly residents react to the scarcity of rapid at-home COVID tests
P.O.C., a partner in WHYY’s News and Information Community Exchange, hit the streets of Philadelphia to see how residents are faring amid the COVID testing crisis.
3 years ago
Listen 5:23Americans are tuning out as omicron rages. Experts call for health messaging to adapt
Amid a surge in omicron cases and hospitalizations, public health is grappling with how to get a tuned-out public to pay attention.
3 years ago
Kids’ low COVID-19 vaccination rates called a ‘gut punch’
Vaccinations among the elementary school set surged after the shots were introduced in the fall, but the numbers have crept up slowly since then.
3 years ago
COVID was again the leading cause of death among U.S. law enforcement in 2021
Last year was the deadliest for active-duty law enforcement in nearly a century, with COVID-19 identified as the leading cause of death for the second year in a row.
3 years ago
The White House will distribute 10 million more COVID tests per month to schools
President Biden and others in his administration insist schools should stay open, even with the omicron wave making it harder than ever to manage.
3 years ago
Delaware County is down an emergency room in the face of COVID-19’s ‘perfect storm’
Hospital parent Crozer Health says patients looking for care will be directed to other emergency departments and urgent care centers.
3 years ago
N.J. Gov. Murphy reinstates public health emergency in fight against omicron variant
Under the Emergency Health Powers Act, the Public Health Emergency will expire after 30 days, unless renewed.
3 years ago
The governor acknowledged that hospital leaders had been urging restrictions, but said the business community is already pushing back.
3 years ago
Philly hospitals ‘extremely stretched’ with COVID patients, but health officials see some hope
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are still high in Philly overall, straining hospitals, city health officials said, but new positive cases are down slightly from last week.
3 years ago
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