More countries in Europe are easing COVID restrictions; and several U.S. cities and states that had tough COVID precautions in place are gradually lifting them. San Francisco even is loosening its indoor mask requirements. But not in Los Angeles County. When should restrictions be eased? Doctors want everyone now to where N-95 and KN-95 masks--out with the old cloth and thinner surgical masks. But there are lots of questions on how to wear them, for how long and if they can be reused; so we'll t...
Jan 28, 2022•24 min
It was supposed to be iron clad and strictly enforced: the COVID vaccine mandate on indoor spaces in Los Angeles meant that if you wanted to go to a gym, or movie theater or restaurant, you had to show proof of being vaccinated. Turns out no one seems to be enforcing it..........and no fines or warnings have been issued by city public health officials. And If you took a COVID test recently and are still waiting for the results after two days...you're far from alone. We talk to one man who had to...
Jan 27, 2022•12 min
The COVID vaccine booster shot effort is in need of............a boost. The numbers of booster shots going into arms of Americans has slowed considerably in recent weeks and public health officials are wondering what they can do to kickstart the effort. Also on today's podcast, we're looking at why some pharmacies are telling immunocompromised people they can't get a fourth booster shot............even though the CDC has given it the green light. To learn more about listener data and our privacy...
Jan 26, 2022•15 min
What if the Omicron variant had a little brother? Well, it kind of does. Scientists are paying attention to a variant of this troublesome COVID variant. The Omicron relative is being called B-A 2, it's been found in both Europe and the U.S.--so we'll get to know this omicron relative and try to decipher how big of a problem it could be. Ethical questions are being raised about a hospital refusing to perform a heart transplant until a man gets vaccinated. So far, he's refused to get the shots.......
Jan 25, 2022•15 min
School aged kids here in California must receive about seven different inoculations before they're allowed in classrooms--they include vaccines against things like Polio, the chickenpox, measles mumps and rubella. Well one California lawmaker would like to add COVID-19 vaccinations to the list. So we'll take a closer look at making COVID vaccinations a permanent requirement for kids in the classroom. Those government-provided free, at-home rapid COVID testing kits are allegedly in the mail to th...
Jan 24, 2022•22 min
Teenagers are now cleared by the CDC and FDA to be vaccinated against COVID-19; but what if their parents won't let them get the shots? A bill in California would let kids as young as 12 get vaccinated without their parents consent. But can kids that young really make their own medical decisions? The pandemic has more parents in California taking their kids out of school and moving them into homeschooling. Some even form their own small groups and co-ops--we'll take a closer look. Then: There ar...
Jan 21, 2022•24 min
Two years ago on this very day...life in the United States would change as we know it. The CDC confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in the country. It came from samples taken in Washington State. Since then, the virus has spread everywhere infecting tens of millions of people and killing more than 850,000 so far. So today we're taking stock of the COVID-19 pandemic two years later. We'll explore what we've learned and the progress that's been made in trying to save lives and slow the spread of t...
Jan 20, 2022•29 min
We've been told for a few weeks now that the omicron COVID variant is producing milder illnesses in the people unlucky enough to catch it--and indeed, there have even been some very preliminary studies backing up that notion. But what if we had it all wrong? We're starting to see an increase in COVID deaths here in L-A County. Last Tuesday, 15 deaths from COVID complications were reported by public health; that jumped to 66 recorded on Saturday, the highest in more than nine months. So we'll tak...
Jan 17, 2022•12 min
The Supreme Court strikes down President Biden's vaccine mandate for businesses with 100 or more employees. But the justices are allowing a mandate for healthcare workers to stand. President Biden is pledging more free at-home tests and high-quality masks for Americans as the Omicron surge continues. Many hospitals are at a breaking point right now. And nurses in Southern California are unhappy with new rules allowing them to come back to work after testing positive for Covid-19 if they don't ha...
Jan 13, 2022•15 min
Private insurance will start covering the cost of at-home Covid-19 tests. Will it be easy to get reimbursed? And will it remain hard to find them? Pfizer is producing an Omicron-specific version of its Covid vaccine, but will it be too late to make a difference by the time it's available? And we could soon see the number of Covid cases plummet in the U.S. Scientists say we may be close to the peak of the Omicron surge. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://ww...
Jan 12, 2022•17 min
The United States set a new record with more than 140,000 Covid-19 patients in the hospital, but the good news is that most cases don't appear to be as severe. The CEO at United Airlines says none of the company's vaccinated employees died of Covid-19. Will this convince other businesses to implement vaccine mandates. We still don't have vaccines approved for children under the age of 5. When will that change? And even though more kids are getting Covid-19, some health experts think it's smart a...
Jan 11, 2022•19 min
Scammers are taking advantage of how hard it is to get a Covid-19 test amid the current Omicron surge. They're selling fake testing kits online and even setting up fake testing sites. Like doctors, veterinarians are being hit hard by the pandemic. There's extra pressure on them with all the new pets people have bought over the last couple years. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit http...
Jan 10, 2022•16 min
The number of kids hospitalized with Covid-19 in the United States is higher now than at any point during the pandemic. Is Omicron more dangerous to children or is it just the fact that kids under 5 can't get vaccinated? The CDC's changing guidance and messaging has been confusing and often frustrating to many Americans. And with Covid-19 cases surging, people might already be doing away with their 2022 New Year's resolutions. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: ht...
Jan 07, 2022•15 min
A new Covid-19 vaccine already approved for use in India could be a "game changer" for developing countries. It's cheaper and easier to produce than most of the vaccines we have now. Some medical advisors to President Biden's transition team have been critical of the administration's response to Covid-19. They say we need to learn to live with the virus rather than tying to wipe it out. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Le...
Jan 06, 2022•12 min
This is not the new year mashup we were hoping for: catching the flu, and COVID, at the same time--it's being labeled "Flurona"and the first case has been reported in Los Angeles County. Add one more anxiety to your pandemic bingo cards. Schools in Chicago are closing again. The teacher's union there voting to go back to remote learning because of the omicron surge, running up against Chicago's mayor and many parents who have no desire to go back to Zoom classes. Will the same thing start happen...
Jan 05, 2022•17 min
The winter COVID surge is well under way in the United States, leading to dubious new records. About one million cases were recorded Monday which surpassed the old record of 590-thousand set just last week. Can the country's healthcare system withstand the onslaught of cases and hospitalizations? If that's not bad enough...there's a new variant found in southern France that has some scientists worried. Meanwhile hospitals are having a tough time finding enough of Pfizer's and Merck's COVID pills...
Jan 04, 2022•30 min
The FDA kicked off 2022 by approving Pfizer's COVID booster shot for children as young as 12. Can boosted young teenagers play a big role in slowing COVID's rapid spread this Winter? 2022 also starts with some relief from medical bills--there should be much fewer surprises the next time you have to check into a hospital or pay a visit to the ER. If you're hopeful for a better 2022 than 2021...don't pay attention to how much money you're spending for things like gas, food and clothes. Everything ...
Jan 03, 2022•15 min
Omicron may fuel the Winter surge in the U.S. That might be a good thing. Pfizer is tweaking its vaccine for kids 5 and younger because trials show it's not really working on them. The pandemic created a wild economy in 2021. What's in store for 2022? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Dec 17, 2021•24 min•Season 1Ep. 398
New studies show booster shots might stop the omicron variant. The COVID Winter surge is wreaking havoc in the pro sports world as dozens of athletes are now out due to league protocols. Will the rest of Winter see a bunch of canceled and postponed games in the NHL, NBA and even the NFL? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Dec 15, 2021•11 min•Season 1Ep. 397
Promising data from Pfizer shows its antiviral Covid-19 pill reduces severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. And it appears to hold up against the Omicron variant. A healthcare professional who is fully vaccinated and boosted just came down with Covid-19 for a second time. California is reenacting a statewide mask mandate amid a surge in cases, even among the vaccinated. Will people actually mask up? And the pandemic is part of the reason we're dealing with a nationwide shortage of teachers...
Dec 14, 2021•22 min•Season 1Ep. 396
The pandemic has now taken the lives of 800,000 Americans. Did it have to be this bad? And the second-largest public school district in the country is delaying a vaccine mandate for students 12 and older. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Dec 13, 2021•11 min•Season 1Ep. 395
The omicron variant is still a mystery scientists and doctors are trying to unravel. Dr. Michael Osterholm explains what omicron means for the future of the pandemic and a Winter surge. The pandemic is being blamed for inflation. When will price hikes slow down? Ostriches are helping scientists detect COVID-19. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Dec 10, 2021•19 min•Season 1Ep. 394
The FDA and CDC approve Pfizer booster shots for older teenagers. Are they really needed? California could be headed for another Winter surge. The pandemic is apparently increasing everyone's blood pressure. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Dec 09, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 393
New research shows the vaccines are holding up well against omicron, especially the boosters. Chewing gum is showing promise in killing coronavirus. The U.S. Surgeon General has issued a public health advisory on the mental health challenges confronting teens and kids during the pandemic. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Dec 08, 2021•18 min•Season 1Ep. 392
Doctors and scientists are learning more about the omicron variant. It seems to be more contagious but not as severe. Pandemic-related supply chain problems are now leading to a cream cheese shortage on the East Coast much to the dismay of bagel fans. A fake arm is used to avoid a real vaccine. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Dec 07, 2021•11 min•Season 1Ep. 391
More and more cases of the omicron variant are being found in the U.S. and the rest of the world. That's leading to a lot more concern and nervousness out there. New information could add to all that. South African scientists are warning omicron may be causing more reinfections than earlier virus mutants. Parts of the U.S. are dealing with a record number of COVID hospitalizations. A new study explains why some people have an easier time with COVID compared to others. To learn more about listene...
Dec 03, 2021•7 min•Season 1Ep. 390
President Biden announces new measures to fight COVID and the omicron variant. One calls for health insurance companies to reimburse people for at-home test kits. The U.S. is lagging behind other countries when it comes to available and affordable rapid at-home COVID tests. Did omicron really begin in a person? Its origins might not be human. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https:/...
Dec 02, 2021•14 min
The omicron variant is now in the U.S. A person in San Francisco who was fully vaccinated arrived from South Africa. They're dealing with mild symptoms and recovering. How worried should we be about this variant? Do we have to start over now? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Dec 01, 2021•16 min•Season 1Ep. 388
The origins of the omicron variant remain a mystery but it's possible it's been around for a while now. Omicron is making stock market investors and traders nervous. Merck's COVID treatment drug might not be as strong as once believed. Pharmacies are struggling with a shortage of pharmacists and other workers. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Nov 30, 2021•24 min•Season 1Ep. 387
The omicron variant is here. What is it? Where did it come from? Can vaccines work against it? Will travel bans be enough to stop its spread? Can this variant escape current and upcoming treatments and pills to stop COVID? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Nov 29, 2021•29 min•Season 1Ep. 386
