Health News

US opens more distance in global COVID race

Details on who got blood clots from J&J vaccine

'Breakthrough' COVID cases are expected, rare

Prisons postpone vaccinations with J&J pause

US setting up $1.7B network to track virus variant

South Africa variant may evade Pfizer vaccine

The Latest: Eli Lilly: Antibody combo works best on variants

Worried about your J&J COVID vaccine? Don't be.

Locked-down Toronto still seeing a COVID surge

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26 minutes ago

Portugal reaps benefits of a prolonged COVID-19 lockdown

Portugal is preparing to loosen virus restrictions as most of the Europe Union grapples with new COVID-19 cases and brings back curbs on what people can do
26 minutes ago
FILE - In this Wednesday, March 10, 2021 file photo, Portugal's Prime Minister Antonio Costa addresses European lawmakers at the European Parliament in Brussels. While most of the Europe Union grapples with new surges of COVID-19 cases and brings back curbs on what people can do, Portugal is going in the other direction. From next Monday, the Portuguese will be able to go back to restaurants, shopping malls and cinemas. Prime Minister Antonio Costa warned late Thursday, April 15, 2021 that the country could reverse gear and go back into lockdown if cases start to rise again. (Johanna Geron, Pool Photo via AP, file)
1 hour ago

The Latest: Eli Lilly: Antibody combo works best on variants

Eli Lilly says its COVID-19 antibody drug should no longer be given to patients alone because treatment combinations work better fighting some variants
1 hour ago
A health worker collects a swab samples to test for COVID-19 in Dharavi, one of Asia's largest slums, in Mumbai, India, Friday, April 16, 2021. On Friday, India recorded another high of 217,353 new cases in the past 24 hours, pushing its total since the pandemic began past 14.2 million. The Health Ministry also reported 1,185 fatalities in the past 24 hours, raising deaths to 174,308. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
1 hour ago

US setting up $1.7B national network to track virus variants

The Biden administration says the U.S. is setting up a $1.7 billion national network to identify and track worrisome coronavirus mutations whose spread could trigger another pandemic wave
1 hour ago
President Joe Biden speaks about Russia in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
1 hour ago

Day workers leaving India's cities as virus dries up jobs

Migrant workers are piling into rail stations in India’s financial capital Mumbai to go to their home villages as virus-control measures dry up work in the hard-hit region
1 hour ago
Health workers wait to screen passengers at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj train Terminus in Mumbai, India, Thursday, April 15, 2021. The teeming metropolis of Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra, the Indian state worst hit by the pandemic, face stricter restrictions for 15 days starting Wednesday in an effort to stem the surge of coronavirus infections. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
2 hours ago

Kosovo doctors protest colleague's arrest, suspension

Kosovar doctors are threatening to take action over the arrest of a colleague who refused to treat a patient after working hours
2 hours ago
April 16

Prisons postpone vaccinations with Johnson & Johnson shots paused

"There's going to be barriers to access that come from this pause."
April 16
A vial of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is held by pharmacist Madeline Acquilano at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Conn., March 3, 2021.
April 16

Despite increase in depression during pandemic, suicides may have decreased: Studies

But it's still too early to grasp COVID-19's full impact on mental health.
April 16
April 16

The Latest: Half eligible Californians have at least 1 shot

Gov. Gavin Newsom says nearly half of Californians eligible for vaccination have received at least one shot against the coronavirus
April 16
Secretary of State Antony Blinken announces his appointment of Gayle Smith as the new State Department Coordinator for Global COVID-19 Response and Health Security as he speaks about U.S. leadership in fighting the coronavirus pandemic at the State Department in Washington, Monday, April 5, 2021. (Al Drago/Pool via AP)
April 16

Amid hesitancy, Louisiana gets creative in vaccine outreach

Louisiana is making a full-court press to get shots in arms, with sometimes creative outreach to make it as easy as possible to get vaccinated
April 16
Lary Dolley walls to the waiting area after receiving the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccine event hosted by Nola Ready, where people received a free drink at the bar if they received a COVID-19 vaccine, at The Howling Wolf, a music venue and bar, in New Orleans, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. Louisiana is making a full-court press to get shots in arms, with sometimes creative outreach to make it as easy as possible to get vaccinated. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
April 16

China ramps up vaccination drive with free eggs, other goods

China’s success at controlling the coronavirus outbreak has resulted in a population that has seemed almost reluctant to get vaccinated
April 16
April 15

Japan expands virus alert in Tokyo area as surge spreads

Japan is set to raise the coronavirus alert level in Tokyo’s three neighboring prefectures and a forth area in central Japan to allow tougher measures as a more contagious coronavirus variant spreads, along with doubts whether the Olympics can go ahead
April 15
FILE - In this April 14, 2021, file photo, Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games mascot Miraitowa poses with a display of Olympic Symbol after an unveiling ceremony of the symbol on Mt. Takao in Hachioji, west of Tokyo to mark 100 days before the start of the Olympic Games. Japan is set to raise the coronavirus alert level in Tokyo’s three neighboring prefectures and a forth area in central Japan to allow tougher measures as a more contagious coronavirus variant spreads and doubts are growing whether the Olympics can go ahead. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP)
April 15

Michigan governor talks about spring surge of COVID cases in her state

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer explains why she has resisted calls to shut down her state, which is experiencing a surge in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, including among young adults.
April 15
VIDEO: Michigan governor talks about spring surge of COVID cases in her state
April 15

Iran to purchase 60M Russian vaccines as coronavirus surges

Iran has finalized a deal with Russia to purchase 60 million doses of Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine
April 15
FILE— In this Feb. 9, 2021, file photo, Parsa Namaki, center, son of Health Minister Saeed Namaki, left, is injected with the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in a staged event at Imam Khomeini hospital in Tehran, Iran, Iran. Iran has finalized a deal with Russia over purchasing 60 million doses Sputnik V Coronavirus vaccine, state-run IRNA news agency reported Thursday, April 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File)
April 15

US opens more distance in worldwide race against coronavirus

The United States is opening more distance between itself and much of the rest of the world in the race against the coronavirus
April 15
FILE - In this April 14, 2021, file photo, Northwell Health nurse inoculates Local 28 Sheet Metal Worker Demetrius Buttelman with the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine during a news conference at the Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. The United States opened more distance between itself and much of the rest of the world on Thursday, April 15, nearing the 200 millionth vaccine administered in a months-long race to protect the population against COVID-19, even as other countries, rich and poor, struggle with stubbornly high infection rates and deaths. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, Pool, File)
April 15

West Virginia gov signs needle exchange program regulations

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has signed a bill to introduce more stringent requirements to needle exchange programs that critics say will make it harder to get clean needles amid a spike in HIV cases in the state
April 15
In this photo provided by Chad Cordell, signs for syringe returns are shown Saturday, March 6, 2021, at a nonprofit group's health fair in Charleston, W.Va. For years, West Virginia has had the nation's highest rate of drug overdose deaths. Now the state is wrestling with another, not entirely unrelated health emergency: a spike in HIV cases related to intravenous drug use. (Chad Cordell via AP)
April 15

Bill would give US vets of 1966 Spain bomb accident benefits

New legislation in Congress would provide disability benefits for U.S. veterans exposed to radiation while responding to a 1966 hydrogen bomb accident in Spain
April 15
April 15

What to know about those getting rare but severe blood clots from J&J vaccine

Though they're impacting one in a million, unknowns have put the shot on pause.
April 15
A syringe is filled with a dose of the Johnson & Johnson Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination site, March 13, 2021, in Delano, Calif.
April 15

France's COVID-19 death toll has surpassed 100,000, making nation 8th in the world to reach the bleak milestone

France's COVID-19 death toll has surpassed 100,000, making nation 8th in the world to reach the bleak milestone
April 15
April 15

India's biggest cities shut down as new virus cases hit 200K

India’s two largest cities have imposed stringent restrictions on movement and one planned to use hotels and banquet halls to treat coronavirus patients
April 15
A security person patrols at the Marine Drive in Mumbai, India, Wednesday April 14, 2021. The teeming metropolis of Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra, the Indian state worst hit by the pandemic, face stricter restrictions for 15 days starting Wednesday in an effort to stem the surge of coronavirus infections. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
April 15

Africa CDC urges India to lift COVID vaccine export limits

The Africa CDC director says he wants to believe that India will lift export restrictions on COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible, warning that “India is not an island” while some African nations still have seen no shots at all
April 15
Kenyans line up to receive a dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India and provided through the global COVAX initiative, at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi, Tuesday, April 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Brian Ingasnga)
April 15

WHO: Europe has surpassed 1 million COVID-19 deaths

A top official from the World Health Organization says Europe has surpassed 1 million deaths from COVID-19
April 15
A Torlak Institute's employee waits for the visit of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, Serbia, Thursday, April 15, 2021. Serbia has announced it will begin packing and later producing Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, which would make it the first European state outside Russia and Belarus to begin manufacturing the jab. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
April 15

World Health Organization: Europe's 53-country region has surpassed 1 million deaths linked to COVID-19

World Health Organization: Europe's 53-country region has surpassed 1 million deaths linked to COVID-19
April 15
April 15

AP sources: Tool behind crackdown on opioids could expire

The Biden administration has been slow-walking the extension of a legislative order that would keep in place a sweeping tool that’s helped federal agents crack down on drugs chemically similar to fentanyl
April 15
FILE - In this March 25, 2021, file photo, President Joe Biden speaks during a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington. The Biden administration has been slow-walking the extension of a legislative order that would keep in place a sweeping tool that’s helped federal agents crack down on drugs chemically similar to fentanyl. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
April 15

'Concerning' drop in blood donor turnout as hospital demand increases, Red Cross says

Getting blood donations has been a challenge throughout the pandemic.
April 15
The Red Cross and L.A. Care Health Plan hold a blood drive in Los Angeles amidst a shortage of blood donations during the pandemic, March 23, 2021.
April 15

Bangkok nightlife clusters expose Thailand's virus stumbles

When Thailand’s transport minister was diagnosed with COVID-19, it was Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha who got a headache
April 15
FILE - In this Feb. 24, 2021, file photo, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha holds samples of Sinovac vaccine during a ceremony to mark the arrival of 200,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccine shipment at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok, Thailand. Prayuth was not particularly lauded for his leadership last year against the coronavirus, but for much of 2020 Thailand fought the disease to a standstill, with low infection and death rates envied by more developed countries. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)
April 15

Cambodia orders strict 2-week lockdown of Phnom Penh

Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered a strict stay-at-home two-week lockdown in the capital Phnom Penh starting Thursday to slow a surge in coronavirus cases, warning “we will die unless we act responsibly.”
April 15
Local police officers stand guard at a blocked street near Phnom Penh International airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday, April 15, 2021. Cambodia’s leader said that the country’s capital Phnom Penh will be locked down for two weeks from Thursday following a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
April 14

Bangkok nightlife clusters expose Thailand's virus stumbles

When Thailand’s transport minister was diagnosed with COVID-19, it was Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha who got a headache
April 14
FILE - In this Feb. 24, 2021, file photo, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha holds samples of Sinovac vaccine during a ceremony to mark the arrival of 200,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccine shipment at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok, Thailand. Prayuth was not particularly lauded for his leadership last year against the coronavirus, but for much of 2020 Thailand fought the disease to a standstill, with low infection and death rates envied by more developed countries. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)
April 14

Study finds that blocking seats on planes reduces virus risk

A new study says leaving middle seats open could reduce the risk of airline passengers contracting the virus that causes COVID-19
April 14
FILE - In this Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, file photo, a passenger wears a face mask she travels after take off from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. A new study says leaving middle seats open could reduce the risk of airline passengers contracting the virus that causes COVID-19. The study was published Wednesday, April 14, 2021 by researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Kansas State University. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
April 14

Vaccine Watch: How far away are COVID-19 booster shots?

ABC News’ Bob Woodruff looks at how Pfizer and Moderna are developing booster shots to target virus variants
April 14
VIDEO: Vaccine Watch: How far away are COVID-19 booster shots?
April 14

France fights kids' mental health woes with free counseling

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that free psychological counseling will be provided to children and teenagers struck by a wave of mental health difficulties that accompanied the coronavirus pandemic
April 14
French President Emmanuel Macron, wearing a protective face mask, talks during a meeting with medical staff members during a visit in a child psychiatry department at Reims hospital, eastern France, to discuss the psychological impact of the COVID-19 crisis and the lockdown on children and teenagers in France, Wednesday, April 14, 2021. (Christian Hartmann/Pool via AP)
April 14

EXPLAINER: Chauvin defense suggests prone position not risky

The attorney for the officer on trial in George Floyd’s death says several studies suggest police can safely use their bodyweight to hold a handcuffed suspect facedown on the ground, as Floyd was in the last minutes of his life
April 14
In this image from video, Dr. David Fowler, a retired forensic pathologist and former chief medical examiner for the state of Maryland is questioned by prosecutor Jerry Blackwell, as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides, Wednesday, April 14, 2021, in the trial of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis, Minn. Chauvin is charged in the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd. (Court TV via AP, Pool)
April 14

Interview: Kentucky governor sees useful lessons in pandemic

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear says there are lessons to be drawn from the COVID-19 pandemic
April 14
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear speaks before the signing of a bill creating a partial ban on no-knock warrants at the Center for African American Heritage in Louisville, Ky., Friday, April 9, 2021. The bill signing comes after months of demonstrations set off by the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor in her home during a botched police raid. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
April 14

J&J vaccine to remain in limbo while officials seek evidence

Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine will remain in limbo for a while longer
April 14
FILE - In this March 6, 2021, file photo, boxes stand next vials of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in the pharmacy of National Jewish Hospital for distribution in east Denver. U.S. health officials are weighing next steps as they investigate unusual blood clots in a small number of people given the vaccine -- a one-dose shot that many countries hoped would help speed protection against the pandemic. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
April 14

The Latest: California governor says all schools must reopen

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is urging all schools in the state to reopen, saying there are no health barriers to getting children back into classrooms and ending distance learning
April 14
Customers enjoy their dinner specially constructed domes to ensure social distancing as a way to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, at a restaurant in Istanbul, Monday, April 12, 2021. Turkey has been posting record-high single-day COVID-19 cases for the past 10 days.Keen to minimise repercussions on its ailing economy and under intense pressure by services industry, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan eased COVID-19 measures in early March. With the spike, he was forced to announce renewed restrictions, such as weekend lockdowns and the closure of cafes and restaurants during Ramadan, the holy Muslim month, starting on April 13.(AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
April 14

California's schools lag in reopening push

Some of California’s biggest school districts are starting to reopen classrooms this week, including Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco
April 14
6-year-old Amanda Duran gets a hug from her mother, Lizette, on the first day of school at Heliotrope Elementary School in Maywood, Calif., Tuesday, April 13, 2021. More than a year after the pandemic forced all of California's schools to close classroom doors, some of the state's largest school districts are slowly beginning to reopen this week for in-person instruction.(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
April 14

US health advisers seek more data on rare clots before deciding next steps on Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine

US health advisers seek more data on rare clots before deciding next steps on Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine
April 14
April 14

'Red' states on US electoral map lagging on vaccinations

A look at which U.S. states are leading at vaccinating against the coronavirus and which states are struggling is beginning to resemble America's electoral map
April 14
FILE - In this April 10, 2021, file photo, registered nurse Ashleigh Velasco, left, administers the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to Rosemene Lordeus, right, at a clinic held by Healthcare Network in Immokalee, Fla. With coronavirus shots now in the arms of nearly half of American adults, the parts of the U.S. that are excelling and those that are struggling with vaccinations are starting to look like the nation’s political map: deeply divided between red and blue states. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
April 14

Biden begins to undo Trump-era ban on abortion referrals

The Biden administration is beginning to undo a Trump-era ban on clinics referring women for abortions
April 14
April 14

We need to plan: UK travel urges clarity from government

Leaders from Britain’s aviation industry have joined forces to urge the British government to ensure that popular European destinations face the least onerous coronavirus travel restrictions when holidays are permitted again
April 14
A waitress serves drinks as customers sit at setup tables outside pubs in Soho, in London, on the day some of England's third coronavirus lockdown restrictions were eased by the British government, Monday, April 12, 2021. People across England flocked to shed shaggy locks and browse for clothes, books and other "non-essential" items as shops, gyms, hairdressers, restaurant patios and beer gardens reopened Monday after months of lockdown. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
April 14

South Africans anxious over pause in use of J&J vaccines

South Africa’s decision to suspend the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine due to preliminary reports of rare blood clots has left the country without any shots as it struggles to combat an aggressive coronavirus variant
April 14
FILE — In this Friday, March 26, 2021 file photo, healthcare workers queue to receive the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. South Africa has suspended giving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as a "precautionary measure" following the FDA decision in the United States to pause the use of the vaccine while very rare blood clot cases are examined. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, file)
April 14

COVID-19 task force speaks on Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause

Members of the White House COVID-19 task force discussed the Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause and how that might affect vaccine hesitancy.
April 14
Members of the White House COVID-19 task force discussed the Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause and how that might affect vaccine hesitancy.
April 14

Europe scrambles as J&J vaccine delay deals another blow

European countries are diverging on whether to push ahead with giving residents Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine after reports of very rare blood clots in a handful of recipients in the United States
April 14
A box of Johnson & Johnson vaccines are shown by pharmacist Zsolt Szenasi at a warehouse of Hungaropharma, a Hungarian pharmaceutical wholesale company, in Budapest, Hungary. European nations are scrambling Wednesday, April 14, 2021, in the wake of Johnson & Johnson’s decision to delay the rollout of its COVID-19 vaccine amid reports of rare blood clots. (Szilard Koszticsak/MTI via AP)
April 14

Wisconsin high court: Governor can't limit business capacity

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled that Gov. Tony Evers’ administration does not have the authority to issue capacity limits on bars, restaurants and other businesses without approval of the Legislature
April 14
April 14

EU throws weight behind Pfizer-BioNTech and new technology

In a stinging rebuke to pharma giant AstraZeneca, the head of the European Union's executive arm has announced plans for a major contract extension for COVID-19 vaccines with Pfizer stretching to 2023
April 14
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen listens to statements during a meeting of the Conference of Presidents at the European Parliament in Brussels, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, Pool)
April 14

Russian President Putin gets 2nd COVID-19 vaccine shot

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he has received his second COVID-19 vaccine shot, three weeks after getting the first dose
April 14
Russian President Vladimir Putin visits the Coordination Center of the Russian Government in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. The centre was set up as a line of communication with the whole of Russia for analysing and collecting information, promptly using big data and solving arising problems. (Mikhail Metzel, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
April 14

Biden begins reversal of Trump abortion referral ban that caused Planned Parenthood to leave family planning program

Biden begins reversal of Trump abortion referral ban that caused Planned Parenthood to leave family planning program
April 14
April 14

Denmark decides not to resume use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine following reports of rare blood clots

Denmark decides not to resume use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine following reports of rare blood clots
April 14
April 14

EU Commission chief announces negotiations for extension of COVID-19 vaccine contract with Pfizer stretching to 2023

EU Commission chief announces negotiations for extension of COVID-19 vaccine contract with Pfizer stretching to 2023
April 14
April 14

India's worst-hit state imposes strict virus restrictions

India’s worst-hit and richest state Maharashtra is imposing stricter restrictions for 15 days in an effort to stem the surge of coronavirus infections that is threatening to overcome hospitals
April 14
People wearing masks as a precaution against the coronavirus stand in queues to board trains at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, April 14, 2021. India is experiencing its worst pandemic surge, with average daily infections exceeding 143,000 over the past week. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
April 14

WHO urges pause in market sale of captured live wild animals

The U.N. health agency is urging countries to suspend the sale of live animals captured from the wild in food markets as an emergency measure
April 14
Amira Hassan, of Burnsville, Minn., plays in the waiting room at the specialty clinic at Children's Minnesota in Minneapolis, May 2, 2017. Hassan went to the hospital's clinic for a routine wellness check, but had to wear a mask to protect her from measles after an outbreak has sickened more than 30 children in Minnesota.
Amira Hassan, of Burnsville, Minn., plays in the waiting room at the specialty clinic at Children's Minnesota in Minneapolis, May 2, 2017. Hassan went to the hospital's clinic for a routine wellness check, but had to wear a mask to protect her from measles after an outbreak has sickened more than 30 children in Minnesota.
In Minnesota's worst measles outbreak, a battle of beliefs over vaccines
May 04
Amy Forliti/AP Photo
A doctor talks to an older patient in this undated photo.
A doctor talks to an older patient in this undated photo.
What patients need to know about new recommendations for prostate cancer screening
Apr 11
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