US deaths fell this year, but not to pre-COVID levels NEW YORK (AP) — The number of U.S. deaths dropped this year, but there are still more than there were before the coronavirus hit. Preliminary data — through the first 11 months of the year — indicates 2022 will see fewer deaths than the previous two COVID-19 pandemic years. AP NEWS

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If the decline does hold, it will still be a far cry from where the nation was before the coronavirus appeared. This year’s count is likely to end up at least 13% higher than what it was in 2019.

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WHO estimates two-year global death toll of COVID-19 pandemic at 15 million Almost 15 million people likely died as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, nearly three times more than previously reported, a new World Health Organization study estimates. UPI

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Lagging booster rates raise fears over deadly winter in nursing homes COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations are on the rise, posing a major threat to nursing home residents and staff who are not up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations. Less than half of all nurs… iswanson The Hill

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China's COVID scare sparks run on flu medicines, test kits as far away as Australia The rising alarm over COVID-19 spreading in China was felt in pharmacies in Hong Kong, Macau, and in some neighbourhoods in Australia, as people hunted for fever medicines and virus test kits to send to family and friends on the mainland. Stella Qiu,Sophie Yu Reuters

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Omicron BQ, XBB subvariants are a serious threat to boosters and knock out antibody treatments, study finds

White House warns of possible Covid-19 winter surge: 'This is not one disease in isolation' | CNN Politics For Americans across the country preparing to gather and socialize with family and friends during the end-of-year holiday season, the White House has a clear warning: Covid-19 is not over, and you had better protect yourself. MJ Lee CNN

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White House announces new COVID-19 prevention efforts, including free tests, vaccination clinics, support for nursing homes Biden administration announces new efforts to reduce COVID-19 as cases rise after Thanksgiving holiday. Will provide more tests, shots and treatments. Karen Weintraub USA TODAY

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People in Rural Areas Die at Higher Rates Than Those in Urban Areas Deaths from heart disease, cancer and COVID are all higher in rural areas than urban ones in the U.S., and the gap is only widening Tanya Lewis Scientific American

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Two years later, did Covid vaccines live up to their promise? Despite the success of mRNA vaccines, researchers think a new generation of Covid vaccines could provide broader, longer-term protection in the future. NBC News

...In particular, researchers think sprays or drops given through the nose or mouth could do a better job of stopping transmission. They also hope that vaccines that target multiple parts of the virus or several variants at once could reduce the need for continuous boosters.

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Florida pastor and his son are arrested in alleged $8 million Covid scam An NBC News report in July raised questions about why they hadn’t been charged in the alleged scam, which prosecutors outlined in court papers in late 2020. NBC News

A Florida pastor and his son were arrested Wednesday on charges of fraudulently obtaining more than $8 million in federal Covid relief funds and attempting to use some of the money to buy a luxury home near Walt Disney World. 

White House to restart free Covid home test program The popular mail-order program for the home kits will start next week as part of a broader winter preparedness plan. POLITICO

The Biden administration plans to reopen a partnership with the U.S. Postal Service to mail free at-home Covid-19 tests to households that request them, four people familiar with the matter told POLITICO.

The revival of one of the government’s most popular and widely used pandemic programs comes as the administration prepares for another potential winter surge.

Five reasons why Africa is hungrier than ever How climate change, conflict and Ukraine are among drivers of the gravest food crisis in Africa's history Reuters

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The number of East Africans experiencing acute food insecurity – when a lack of food puts lives or livelihoods in immediate danger – has spiked by 60% in just the last year, and by nearly 40% in West Africa, according to the World Food Programme (WFP).

China's COVID spike not due to lifting of restrictions - WHO director GENEVA (Reuters) -COVID-19 infections were exploding in China well before the government's decision to abandon its strict "zero-COVID" policy, a World Health Organization director said on Wednesday, quashing suggestions that the sudden reversal caused a spike in cases. The comments by the WHO's emergencies director Mike Ryan came as he warned of the need to ramp up vaccinations in the world's No. 2 economy. Speaking at a briefing with media, he said the virus was spreading "intensively" in the nation long before the lifting of restrictions. YahooNews

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