WHO abandons plans for crucial second phase of COVID-origins investigation Nature - Sensitive studies in China were intended to pinpoint the source of the pandemic virus. Mallapaty, Smriti nature

The World Health Organization (WHO) has quietly shelved the second phase of its much-anticipated scientific investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, citing ongoing challenges over attempts to conduct crucial studies in China, Nature has learned. ...

COVID vaccine uptake low among older people, especially in poorer nations The global vaccination rate in 2022 for people older than 60 was 76%, but it was only 33% in low-income countries. CIDRAP

COVID-19 Mortality and Progress Toward Vaccinating Older Adults — World Health Organization, Worldwide, 2020–2022

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56,000 COVID-19 rapid tests have been recalled WASHINGTON -Thousands of rapid tests for COVID-19 are part of a recall due to the chance it could give users the wrong test results. Universal Meditech Inc. has initiated a nationwide recall of 56,… Larry Hawley WGN-TV

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Universal Meditech Inc. has initiated a nationwide recall of 56,300 Skippack Medical Lab SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test Kits. The company says they were distributed without “appropriate premarket clearance or approval” which could lead to inaccurate results since their performance was not properly evaluated by the FDA.

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Paxlovid may help prevent hospitalization, death in COVID outpatients CIDRAP

Two new studies, one from the United States and one from Canada, suggest that the oral antiviral drug Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir-ritonavir) is effective in lowering the odds of hospitalization or death from the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant.

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‘Think of the unthinkable’: IMF chief warns world is a very different place after crises like Covid

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“We all have to change our mindset to be much more agile and much more oriented towards building resilience at all levels, so we can handle the shocks better,” Kristalina Georgieva said Tuesday, during a World Government Summit panel hosted by CNBC’s Hadley Gamble.

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Google to expand misinformation 'prebunking' in Europe WASHINGTON (AP) — After seeing promising results in Eastern Europe, Google will initiate a new campaign in Germany that aims to make people more resilient to the corrosive effects of online misinformation. AP NEWS

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Suicides rose in 2021 after 2 years of declines, CDC report finds A new CDC report published Thursday found the number of suicides increased in 2021 -- after two years of declines -- to figures not seen since 2018 ABC News ABC News

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Omicron XBB.1.5 variant expands US dominance CIDRAP

...the CDC said the more transmissible XBB.15 subvariant makes up an estimated 74.7% of cases, up from 66.4% last week. The only area where the subvariant isn't dominant is in the far northwestern region, which includes Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

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