Florida COVID data critic reaches agreement on felony charge FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A fired Florida health department data manager charged with illegally accessing state computers after she publicly accused officials of wanting to make COVID-19 statistics look less dire has reached an agreement with prosecutors that should result in the case being dropped. AP NEWS

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Jones, 33, received national attention in early 2020 when she sowed doubt about the information being reported by the state when Florida was an epicenter of the pandemic.

Urgent Need for Next-Generation COVID-19 Vaccines This Viewpoint argues that the development of a distinctly improved generation of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines is paramount to offering a greater breadth and depth of protection for a longer duration against COVID-19 disease. JAMA_current

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These are the most common COVID symptoms currently being reported, study finds Some of the “traditional” symptoms associated with COVID are becoming less prevalent, a new study found. bhoward The Hill

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How to tell the difference between flu, COVID-19 and RSV symptoms amid looming tripledemic While the viruses share some symptoms, there are several key differences. tbascome silive

...Though the three respiratory viruses all share certain symptoms, there are some key differences that can help patients differentiate which illnesses they may be dealing with, according to the CDC.

Hospitalizations signal rising COVID-19 risk for US seniors Coronavirus-related hospital admissions are climbing again in the United States, with older adults a growing share of U.S. deaths and less than half of nursing home residents up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations. AP NEWS

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Authorities are urging indoor masking in major cities as the 'tripledemic' rages The CDC is advising people to practice indoor masking in nearly a tenth of U.S. counties, as three highly contagious respiratory viruses sweep the country. NPR.org

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Omicron subvariants that more easily dodge immunity are causing more than 70% of U.S. infections

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The BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 subvariants taken together are now responsible for 68% of new cases, according to data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday. The XBB subvariant is causing 4.7% of new Covid infections.

Scientists, in several independent studies, have described the BQ and XBB subvariants as more adept at evading immunity from vaccination and infection than prior versions of the virus.

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ALSO SEE: Antivirals—not monoclonal antibodies—neutralize Omicron BQ.1.1, XBB

Maricopa County sees large spike in flu, COVID-19 and RSV PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona's most populous county is warning of a significantly rise in cases of the flu, COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. The Maricopa County Department of Public Health issued an alert Friday that cases among these viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus—known as RSV—are higher than normal for this time of year. AP NEWS

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