China's Xi told EU less lethal Omicron opens way for fewer COVID restrictions Chinese President Xi Jinping blamed mass protests in Chinese cities on youth frustrated by years of the COVID-19 pandemic, but said the now dominant Omicron variant of the virus paved the way for fewer restrictions, European Union officials said. Reuters Reuters

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COVID can live on groceries for days, scientists find in new study The virus is more likely to survive on certain foods, depending on the conditions in which they’re stored. YahooFinance

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US plans end to mpox public health emergency in January WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government plans to end in January the public health emergency it declared earlier this year after an outbreak of mpox infected more than 29,000 people across the U.S. AP NEWS

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Flu season worsens as 44 states report high activity NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. flu season keeps getting worse. Health officials said Friday that 7.5% of outpatient medical visits last week were due to flu-like illnesses. That's as high as the peak of the 2017-18 flu season and higher than any season since. AP NEWS

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The annual winter flu season usually doesn’t get going until December or January, but this one began early and has been complicated by the simultaneous spread of other viruses.

New Mexico issues public health order amid RSV case surge SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico health officials are mandating hospitals revert to a “hub-and-spoke” model to ensure patients get the care they need amid an alarming rise in respiratory infections among children. AP NEWS

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Drop in COVID alertness could create deadly new variant - WHO Lapses in strategies to tackle COVID-19 this year continue to create the perfect conditions for a deadly new variant to emerge, as parts of China witness a rise in infections, the head of the World Health Organization said on Friday. Bhanvi Satija Reuters

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What to do now that seniors account for 9 in 10 Florida COVID deaths | Editorial Florida has a lot of older residents. We should not forget that in our day to day living. Tampa Bay Times

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More than 150 Vermont recovery programs underway, more soon More than 150 COVID-19 relief projects are underway across Vermont as the state ramps up the spending of the more than $1 billion in federal funds that are intended to help recover from the pandemic. AP NEWS

...The projects that have begun represent spending of more than $300 million, officials said Thursday, adding that more projects will be approved in the coming months with construction expected to increase next year.

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Study: Teens' brains physically altered, prematurely aged by pandemic stress Stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic has physically altered -- and prematurely aged -- the brains of adolescents, making their brain structures appear several years older than the pre-pandemic brains of peers. UPI

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Uganda discharges last known Ebola patient, raising hopes - ministry Uganda has discharged its last known Ebola patient from hospital, a senior health official said on Friday, raising hopes that an outbreak which has killed at least 56 people could be coming to an end. Reuters Reuters

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