COVID-19

Governor ending New Jersey's school mask mandate TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey's governor intends to lift the statewide COVID-19 mask requirement in schools early next month in a major step toward getting back to normal as the omicron surge drops off, his office said Monday. AP NEWS

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The state’s COVID-19 caseload is dropping after a spike around the holidays fueled by the omicron variant — a trend seen nationwide, too.

Aid to volcano-hit Tonga brings 1st COVID outbreak, lockdown BANGKOK (AP) — For more than two years, the isolation of the Pacific archipelago nation of Tonga helped keep COVID-19 at bay. But last month's volcanic eruption and tsunami brought outside deliveries of desperately needed fresh water and medicine — and the virus. AP NEWS

BANGKOK (AP) — For more than two years, the isolation of the Pacific archipelago nation of Tonga helped keep COVID-19 at bay.

BA.2 Blitzes Through Households, Even More Than Original Omicron Preprint study finds increased risk of infection with subvariant Molly Walker medpagetoday

Omicron subvariant BA.2 was associated with higher susceptibility of infection among households, regardless of vaccination status, than the original BA.1 variant, Danish researchers found.