Flu 'gathering speed' across US as health officials and doctors prepare for a potentially rough season | CNN US health officials are becoming increasingly concerned about this year's flu season -- and are already seeing signs that the virus is spreading. Jacqueline Howard CNN

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Covid cases rise as one in 37 has virus in UK The estimates show there has been a "notable rise" in infections older people in England and Wales. BBC News

The latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggest one in 37 people in the UK has coronavirus, a rise from one in 50 the week before.

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German health minister urges stepped-up COVID-19 measures BERLIN (AP) — Germany's health minister on Friday urged the country's 16 states to consider stepping up their measures against the coronavirus amid a rise in new cases. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said he favors requiring mask-wearing indoors, a measure that has largely faded in Germany except on public transport, in medical facilities and care homes. AP NEWS

...“The direction we’re going in isn’t a good one,” Lauterbach told reporters in Berlin.

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Fall COVID-19 surge could happen in Pacific Northwest SEATTLE (AP) — Health officials in Washington and Oregon said Thursday that a fall and winter COVID surge is likely headed to the Pacific Northwest after months of relatively low case levels. King County Health Officer Dr. AP NEWS

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The last Covid holdouts in Asia are throwing open their doors for travel -- except for China Across Asia, borders are opening and quarantine measures are lifting as even the last few countries clinging to Covid restrictions embrace a return to travel. By Jessie Yeung, CNN CNN

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But in China -- which has seen its own economy suffer from a strict zero-Covid policy involving tight border controls, snap lockdowns and mandatory quarantines -- there appears to be no end in sight to the restrictions, despite mounting public frustration.

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Treasury investigates whether Florida used Covid aid to fly migrants to Martha's Vineyard Treasury's Deputy Inspector General, Richard Delmar, said his office has already asked Florida for information about how it paid for the flights. Chelsey Cox CNBC

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Vaccine trials on Sudan Ebola strain to start in weeks - WHO chief World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday a clinical trial of vaccines to combat the Sudan strain of Ebola could start within weeks as an outbreak of the disease in Uganda reached the capital, stirring alarm. Elias Biryabarema Reuters

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Biden administration extends COVID public health emergency WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration said Thursday that the COVID-19 public health emergency will continue through Jan. 11 as officials brace for a spike in cases this winter . AP NEWS

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The public health emergency, first declared in January 2020 and renewed every 90 days since, has dramatically changed how health services are delivered.

Maternity care ‘deserts’ on the rise across the U.S., report finds Seven million women across the country live in areas of limited or no access to maternity health care services. Theresa Gaffney STAT

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11.5M Americans have received updated COVID booster: CDC CDC data shows that only 11.5 million Americans have received the updated COVID-19 booster. ABC News ABC News

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Experts told ABC News that while it's great many Americans have gotten the new booster, they are worried uptake is not as high as it should be ahead of the colder weather months, when COVID-19 typically spreads much more quickly.

In drawn-out recovery, NYC inches out from COVID's shadow NEW YORK (AP) — As kids returned to school last month, people watching New York City pull itself out of COVID-19's shadow wondered whether workers who fled Manhattan's office towers during the pandemic would finally return in a rush, too. AP NEWS

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Pfizer, BioNTech's updated booster protects against Omicron in human trial Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech said their COVID-19 vaccine booster, adapted for the BA.4 and the BA.5 subvariants, generated a strong immune response and was well tolerated in testing on humans. Ludwig Burger,Manas Mishra Reuters

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What Covid-19 precautions should people take for international travel? Last week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced it would no longer be maintaining a country-by-country travel advisory of Covid-19 risk. Instead of assessing the level of Covid-19 infection in each country, the CDC will post notices only when there are new variants or other situations that would change its travel recommendations. By Katia Hetter, CNN CNN

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Haiti risks new diseases amid cholera outbreak that has killed 18, says PAHO Civil unrest is making it harder to contain a new outbreak of cholera in Haiti just as other diseases threaten to ignite new health crises, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said Wednesday. Reuters Reuters

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Millions of low-income Americans still eligible for COVID stimulus, watchdog says As many as 10 million people may still be entitled to receive a COVID-19 stimulus payment, the government’s internal watchdog said Tuesday. Americans with little or no income, who are not required … lvella The Hill

As many as 10 million people may still be entitled to receive a COVID-19 stimulus payment, the government’s internal watchdog said Tuesday.