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A coronavirus testing van on a New York City street on Jan. 21. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Emergency phase of pandemic could end in 2022 but conditions still ‘ideal’ for new variants, WHO says

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The emergency phase of the pandemic could end this year if 70 percent of the population of every country is vaccinated, among other criteria, even as conditions across the globe make the surfacing of new variants a strong possibility, the director general of the World Health Organization said Monday.  
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Virus-fighting antibodies capable of blocking the omicron variant persist four months after a third shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, according to a new study.
Vaccine boosters provide robust protection against severe disease from the omicron variant in the United States, according to three reports released Friday.
The Food and Drug Administration removed two monoclonal antibody therapies from the list of covid-19 treatments for now, announcing that they’re ineffective against the omicron variant.
Seven school boards in Virginia sued to stop the mask-optional order by Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) on the day it took effect.
A courtroom showdown between Sarah Palin and the New York Times over a 2017 editorial was delayed Monday when the former Alaska governor tested positive for the coronavirus.
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Skip to end of carousel
Virus-fighting antibodies capable of blocking the omicron variant persist four months after a third shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, according to a new study.
Vaccine boosters provide robust protection against severe disease from the omicron variant in the United States, according to three reports released Friday.
The Food and Drug Administration removed two monoclonal antibody therapies from the list of covid-19 treatments for now, announcing that they’re ineffective against the omicron variant.
Seven school boards in Virginia sued to stop the mask-optional order by Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) on the day it took effect.
A courtroom showdown between Sarah Palin and the New York Times over a 2017 editorial was delayed Monday when the former Alaska governor tested positive for the coronavirus.
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Coronavirus: What you need to know

Covid isolation guidelines: Americans who test positive for the coronavirus no longer need to routinely stay home from work and school for five days under new guidance planned by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The change has raised concerns among medically vulnerable people.

New coronavirus variant: The United States is in the throes of another covid-19 uptick and coronavirus samples detected in wastewater suggests infections could be as rampant as they were last winter. JN.1, the new dominant variant, appears to be especially adept at infecting those who have been vaccinated or previously infected. Here’s how this covid surge compares with earlier spikes.

Latest coronavirus booster: The CDC recommends that anyone 6 months or older gets an updated coronavirus shot, but the vaccine rollout has seen some hiccups, especially for children. Here’s what you need to know about the latest coronavirus vaccines, including when you should get it.