COVID cases, deaths continue to fall globally, WHO reports GENEVA (AP) — The number of new coronavirus cases reported globally dropped by 16% last week, marking a month-long decline in COVID-19 infections, according to figures from the World Health Organization. AP NEWS

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Pfizer shots protect kids from severe COVID even in omicron Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine gave children 5 and older strong protection against hospitalization and death even during the omicron surge that hit youngsters especially hard, U.S. health officials reported Tuesday. AP NEWS

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From Alabama to Utah, Efforts to Vaccinate Medicaid Enrollees Against Covid Run Into Obstacles Inoculation rates remain low despite massive outreach efforts and incentives from federal and state programs and Medicaid plan operators, leaving many low-income people vulnerable to the virus. khnphilipg Kaiser Health News

Medicaid enrollees continue to get vaccinated against covid at far lower rates than the general population despite vigorous outreach efforts by government officials and private organizations to get low-income people inoculated, according to data from several states.

Excess Deaths Twice as High for Dementia Patients During Pandemic COVID's indirect effects may have affected people with Alzheimer's and dementia more Judy George medpagetoday

Excess mortality was twice as high for older adults with dementia in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic than it was for those without dementia, an analysis of all Medicare enrollees showed.

From March through December 2020, adjusted mortality was 25.7% higher (95% CI 25.3-26.2) among older adults with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias than it was during a similar period in 2019, reported Lauren Gilstrap, MD, MPH, of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and co-authors.

Nevada emphasizes therapeutics as new COVID-19 cases plummet RENO, Nev. (AP) — As Nevada's COVID-19 case rates plummet to their lowest levels since last summer, state health officials are turning more attention to therapeutic treatments for those who can't get vaccinated or are most at risk of severe illness or death. AP NEWS

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Biden Administration Announces Steps to Improve Nursing Home Care Measures include those aimed at increasing staffing and cutting down on unnecessary treatment Joyce Frieden medpagetoday

WASHINGTON -- Nursing home care in the U.S. needs improvement, and the Biden administration is taking steps to do just that, the White House announced Monday.

A slew of states, cities and schools are ditching mask mandates this week. But the fate of one big mandate is still up in air Even some of the most ardent supporters of Covid-19 precautions are ditching mask mandates as health officials release new guidelines and hospitalizations plummet. Holly Yan, CNN CNN

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