Republicans in Congress have asked President Biden to end the designation of COVID-19 as a public health emergency (PHE), citing the accessibility of vaccines and effective treatments as well as the harms of long-term isolation on public health.

Their request for the president to undo the designation comes as calls grow — including from former Biden advisers — for the federal government to chart a course for the next stage of the pandemic. Coronavirus cases and hospitalizations have plunged after the dramatic omicron-driven surge, and deaths have begun falling as well, though the seven-day average was still 2,300 deaths per day, as of Thursday.

"We're moving toward a time when COVID won't disrupt our daily lives, a time when COVID won't be a constant crisis but rather will be something we can protect against and treat," Jeffrey Zients, the White House COVID response coordinator, said in a briefing on Wednesday.

Q&A: Surgeon General on omicron, masks and mental health WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy says he can imagine a future where Americans don't have to contend with mask requirements. But pulling back safeguards too quickly, Murthy warns, risks more avoidable suffering, especially for people with weakened immune systems or other vulnerabilities. AP NEWS

...

South Korea to start giving fourth doses of COVID vaccine South Korea will begin giving out fourth doses of COVID-19 vaccines this month and supply millions of additional home test kits to ease shortages amid a surge in Omicron infections, authorities confirmed on Monday. Josh Smith,Hyonhee Shin Reuters

...

FDA authorizes new Covid-19 monoclonal antibody that works against Omicron variant The US Food and Drug Administration has authorized a new monoclonal antibody treatment that seems to work against the Omicron variant of the virus that causes Covid-19. Jen Christensen, CNN CNN

...

Study: COVID booster effectiveness wanes but remains strong NEW YORK (AP) — An early look at the performance of COVID-19 booster shots during the recent omicron wave in the U.S. hinted at a decline in effectiveness, though the shots still offered strong protection against severe illness. AP NEWS

...

Quad-supported vaccine roll-out to begin in first half The first batch of COVID-19 vaccines that are part of the Quad group of countries' pledge to donate shots across the world, manufactured by India's Biological E, will roll out in the first half of 2022, the grouping said in a statement on Friday. Reuters Reuters

...

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

...

Will a mask protect me even if no one else is wearing one? One-way masking can still protect against Covid infection, experts say. NBC News

...

Though most health experts agree universal masking, along with vaccinations, remains the best public health strategy against the spread of the virus, people can still benefit from wearing a mask even if no one else around them is.

Coronavirus can destroy the placenta and lead to stillbirths New research suggests the coronavirus can invade and destroy the placenta and lead to stillbirths in infected women. It's an uncommon outcome for any pregnancy but women with COVID-19 face an elevated risk. AP NEWS

New research suggests the coronavirus can invade and destroy the placenta and lead to stillbirths in infected women.