Supreme Court rejects bid to block mask mandate on airplanes The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a request to block a federal mask mandate for air travel. John Kruzel TheHill

The emergency application was filed by a father on behalf of himself and his 4-year-old autistic son, both of whom claim to be medically incapable of wearing masks for extended periods.

U.S. would seek global approach to updating Covid-19 vaccines, official says If the Food and Drug Administration decides to update Covid-19 vaccines to take better aim at Omicron or other variants, it is unlikely to go it alone. Helen Branswell STAT

IF the Food and Drug Administration decides to update Covid-19 vaccines to take better aim at Omicron or other variants, it is unlikely to go it alone.

Workers are calling out sick in droves, leaving employers scrambling --NPR

Omicron has left employers around the country short of workers. Sometimes very short.

At United Airlines, CEO Scott Kirby said nearly a third of the workforce called out sick on one day alone at Newark Liberty International Airport.

At MOM's Organic Market, some of its east coast stores have had to deal with 15 out of 50 workers out on a single day.

And at the community health center Mary's Center in Washington, D.C., half of the Covid Response Team tested positive for the virus over the past few weeks.

What you need to know about the coronavirus right now Here's what you need to know about the coronavirus right now: Reuters Reuters

-- Australia suffered its deadliest day of the pandemic on Tuesday as a fast-moving Omicron outbreak continued to push up hospitalisation rates to record levels, even as daily infections eased slightly.

Genetic risk factor found for Covid-19 smell and taste loss, researchers say Scientists are piecing together why some people lose their sense of smell after contracting Covid-19. YahooNews

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As Covid-19 cases have climbed, public health experts have urged people to dump their cloth masks in favor of higher-quality options and to test more frequently to curb the virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday updated its mask guidance to note that the disposable N95 or KN95 masks offer the "highest level of protection" against the virus.

For some, the added financial burden is an irritation — but still affordable. To others, the prospect of paying $1 for a single disposable mask or $24 for a test kit is an economic impossibility, raising the specter that the pandemic will continue to exacerbate inequalities.