Australia welcomes back tourists with toy koalas, Tim Tams CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — International tourists and business travelers began arriving in Australia with few restrictions on Monday, bringing together families in tearful reunions after separations of two years or longer forced by some of the most draconian pandemic measures of any democracy in the world. AP NEWS

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A fourth Covid-19 shot might be recommended this fall, as officials 'continually' look at emerging data As the world approaches the second anniversary of the declaration of the Covid-19 pandemic by the World Health Organization, on March 11, more nations are rolling out -- or are discussing the possibility of -- fourth doses of coronavirus vaccine for their most vulnerable. In the United States, leading public health officials say they are "very carefully" monitoring if or when fourth doses might be needed. Jacqueline Howard, CNN CNN

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Shifting Covid attitudes lead to political changes Almost two years into the pandemic, the nation feels as though it has turned a corner on the virus, and there may be political ramifications to all the changes. NBC News

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Almost two years into the pandemic, the nation feels as though it has turned a corner on the virus, at least in terms of the attitudes around it. And there may be political ramifications to all the changes.

Who is dying of COVID amid omicron surge and widespread vaccine availability? Doctors say U.S. COVID deaths are still mainly occurring among unvaccinated people, most of whom are in their 30s and their 40s with no underlying health issues. ABC News ABC News

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"The vast majority of patients -- anywhere from 75% and greater -- we're seeing is primarily unvaccinated individuals who are getting COVID and wind up in the hospital severely ill and are currently dying," Dr. Mahdee Sobhanie, an assistant professor of internal medicine and an infectious diseases physician at The Ohio State University, told ABC News.

US virus cases, hospitalizations continue steady decline Average daily COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are continuing to fall in the U.S., an indicator that the omicron variant’s hold is weakening across the country. Total confirmed cases reported Saturday barely exceeded 100,000, a sharp downturn from around 800,850 five weeks ago on Jan. AP NEWS

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The Millions of People Stuck in Pandemic Limbo What does society owe immunocompromised people? Ed Yong The Atlantic

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Doc Group Pushes Ivermectin for Long COVID FLCCC promotes 20 therapies: like 'throwing spaghetti against the wall,' one expert says Jennifer Henderson medpagetoday

As patients with long COVID scour the internet desperate for relief, physicians are concerned they may stumble upon an unproven treatment plan touted by a group known for pushing the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin.

Six African countries to receive mRNA vaccine technology BRUSSELS (AP) — The first African countries selected to receive the technology necessary to produce mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 are Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia, a summit meeting of European Union and African Union nations heard on Friday. AP NEWS

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Map: Covid-19 deaths have more than doubled in five states Track Covid death hot spots. NBC News

Omicron took a month and a half to match the death rate that the delta wave took nearly three months to reach.

The omicron variant, which has spread disease to tens of millions in the U.S. since late December, is now fueling a wave of Covid-related deaths. Average deaths have plateaued at close to 2,600 a day, the highest level since February 2021, according to NBC News’ tally.