COVID-19

Local

Omicron slammed California’s workforce. Was there another way?

Ben Christopher and Grace Gedye / CalMatters

Tighter mask rules and increased vaccination rates could have made a difference, but omicron was going to be a problem no matter what. In response to worker shortages, the Newsom administration has made it easier for schools to hire subs, requested $8 million to address health care staffing issues and more.
Local

Colleges reassess safety plans after omicron surge

Stephanie Zappelli, Omar Rashad and Marnette Federis / CalMatters

How many isolation beds are needed on campus? Should in-person classes be resumed all at once, or phased in? Those are just some of the questions colleges are grappling with as they head into the spring term.
National

US gives full approval to Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine

The Associated Press

U.S. health regulators have given full approval to Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine after reviewing additional data on its safety and effectiveness.
National

Joe Rogan has responded to the protests against Spotify over his podcast

Anastasia Tsioulcas

Rogan said that he was only seeking to have conversations on his podcast with people who have "differing opinions."
National

Spotify will add a COVID advisory to podcasts after the Joe Rogan controversy

Joe Hernandez

The streaming platform will add a new content advisory to any podcast episode that discusses COVID-19, which will direct listeners to a hub with information from "trusted sources."
National

Joni Mitchell joins Neil Young in protest against Spotify

Hazel Cills

The singer-songwriter is the first high-profile musician to join Young's protest against the streaming service over its hosting of Joe Rogan's podcast.
National

Why omicron is crushing hospitals — even though cases are often milder than delta

Will Stone

People who get infected with omicron are less likely to go to the hospital, go on a ventilator or die. But with the current huge volume of patients, hospitals are still struggling to treat them all.
Health

Padilla, children's hospitals push for more vaccinations

M.G. Perez

Children 17 and under make up 18% of California's COVID-19 cases.
Local

San Diego County reports 6,108 new COVID-19 cases, 18 deaths

City News Service

San Diego County's Health and Human Services Agency reported 6,108 new COVID-19 cases and 18 deaths.
Health

Vaccinate and test. That advice isn't much help to parents who have kids under 5.

Bram Sable-Smith

Parents of children too young for vaccines are exhausted. As omicron surges, they keep trying to protect their kids. But some feel isolated and even forgotten by those who just want to move on.