epidemics

World Health Organization officials said they are still trying to understand why the delta variant is more transmissible and potentially makes people sicker than the original coronavirus strain. “We’re really trying to get a better handle on why the delta variant is more transmissible,” said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’S technical lead on Covid-19, said at a press briefing...

The CDC data published Friday was based on 469 cases of Covid associated with multiple summer events and large public gatherings in July in Massachusetts.

“The war has changed,” CDC officials wrote in a confidential document given to lawmakers this week.

Dr. Robby Sikka discusses breakthrough Covid cases as the highly transmissible delta variant spreads nationwide.

The latest vaccine push comes as coronavirus cases in the U.S. begin to spike once again, with the highly contagious delta variant fueling infection rates.

A new executive order from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott reiterates his opposition to mask mandates, Covid-related business restrictions and vaccination requirements.

Two of the states hit hardest last week, Mississippi and Louisiana and, have some of the nation’s worst vaccination rates and climbing Covid hospitalizations.

Israel’s Health Ministry reported last week that the two-dose vaccine is now just 39% effective in Israel where the delta variant is the dominant strain.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn’t have enough resources to properly track Covid-19 “breakthrough cases,” Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CNBC.

If the WHO endorsed a booster shot, it would likely only be for select groups of recipients, like the elderly or other vulnerable people.

Pfizer on Wednesday raised its 2021 sales forecast for Covid-19 vaccines to $33.5 billion from $26 billion.

Dr. Peter Hotez explains why the CDC’s masking guidelines are “absolutely” necessary to battle the delta variant and surging cases.

Experts say desks could also be at least three feet apart and teachers could be assigned smaller class sizes to reduce risk of infection.

Some Americans say they are finding ways to get extra Covid shots, with some even going as far as receiving the extra shots from different companies.

Moderna confirmed to CNBC on Monday it plans to expand the size of its clinical trial testing its Covid-19 vaccine in kids ages 5 to 11.

State employees working in a hospital setting who don’t require proof of vaccination will be required to take a Covid test twice a week.

BioNTech said it plans to develop an mRNA-based vaccine to prevent malaria, a life-threatening disease that impacts millions of people worldwide each year.

Pfizer and BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine is just 39% effective against delta in Israel, but still provides strong protection against severe illness and hospitalization.

Dr. Ashish Jha explains why he thinks people are underestimating how bad the Covid surge is going to get as a result of the delta variant.

Covid hospitalizations are up 32% from last week at about 3,500 per day and deaths have also increased 19% in the same time frame to about 240 per day.