A new coronavirus variant called BA.5 is fueling yet another wave of COVID infections across the globe. This week, the CDC said BA.5 is now the dominant strain in the U.S. accounting for more than 60 percent of cases. It is also the most transmissible variant to date. Dr. Eric Topol, founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, joins William Brangham to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
With vaccinations, boosters and drugs, COVID has become a far less deadly risk for most Americans than earlier in the pandemic. But COVID still presents numerous problems, particularly for some of the most vulnerable people, with an average of more than 300 people dying every day from it. Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House COVID response coordinator, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
One of the major consequences of the coronavirus is that children around the world have been unable to attend schools to learn and are too poor to have computers and thus can't learn remotely. This is especially a problem in poor, less developed countries. We take a look at the issue with reports from three countries around the world in Venezuela, Uganda and India. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
The pandemic threatened business districts across the country, but misguided fears and rhetoric about Asian Americans made things particularly hard for Chinatown neighborhoods. John Yang visited New York's Chinatown to learn more. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
China and Russia on Thursday blocked a U.S. attempt in the United Nations Security Council to punish North Korea for testing missiles that are banned by previous resolutions by the council. North Korea's tests this week of ballistic missiles, including one that Pyongyang says can reach the east coast of the U.S., coincide with its first major outbreak of COVID-19. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
A new COVID wave is accelerating across the U.S. with cases rising in almost every state. New daily cases are up by more than 50 percent from just two weeks ago, while COVID-related hospitalizations rose by 12 percent over the last week. This as the CDC signed off on Pfizer COVID boosters for children ages 5 to 11. White House COVID response director Dr. Ashish Jha joins Geoff Bennett to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
President Biden on Thursday marked the U.S. nearing one million lives lost due to the pandemic and called on Congress to pass funding for more COVID relief. The pandemic has claimed more than 6 million lives worldwide, though WHO estimates the real toll tops 15 million deaths tied to the virus. Dr. Anthony Fauci, Biden's chief medical adviser, joins Amna Nawaz to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
It's a tiny vial with big ambitions to help bring an end to the pandemic everywhere on earth. The developers of the so-called "vaccine for the world" hope what's inside can ease the equity issues surrounding global covid vaccine distribution. John Yang has the story. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
As COVID cases begin to pick up across the U.S. the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday said that three out of every four children have been infected by COVID. This comes as the White House moved to make Paxlovid pills, which can reduce serious illness, more widely available. Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Biden's chief medical adviser, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
With the rise of the BA.2 variant in some parts of the country, many questions remain about how to best navigate daily life and what precautions should or should not be taken. White House COVID-19 response coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha joins Amna Nawaz to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders