Public Health Experts Call On CDC To Change Its Mask Guidance The agency argues that vaccinated people are safe without masks. But the guidance leaves room for plenty of unvaccinated people to mingle dangerously, and many argue that this is fueling case surges. Pien Huang
China Has Rejected A WHO Plan For Further Investigation Into The Origins Of COVID-19 Chinese officials say they cannot support a second phase of a study into the origins of the pandemic, including new investigation into the theory that the virus might have leaked from a Chinese lab. The Associated Press
U.S. Surgeon General Is Confident The U.S. Will Move Past Vaccination Plateau NPR's A Martinez talks to to U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy about the spread of COVID-19, and vaccine hesitancy. As case counts rise, the White House pushes for more Americans to get vaccinated.
Delta Variant Grows Rapidly Inside A Person's Respiratory Tract, Study Says A study from China offers clues as to why the delta variant of the coronavirus is spreading so quickly around the world. The highly contagious strain accounts for more than 80% of U.S. COVID-19 cases. Michaeleen Doucleff
Missouri's Daily COVID Cases Have More Than Doubled In The Last 2 Weeks NPR's Noel King talks to Republican Rep. Billy Long of Missouri about what is driving vaccines hesitancy among his constituents as the delta variant continues to spread.
States And Companies Reach A $26 Billion National Opioid Settlement As overdose deaths climb, four of the nation's largest health corporations have agreed to a landmark $26 billion payout that state officials say will help ease America's deadly opioid epidemic. Brian Mann
The Western Wildfires Are Affecting People 3,000 Miles Away Eastern states have been clouded in a smoky haze for days, and with the smoke comes poor air quality. People far away from the fires aren't ready for the breathing problems the smoke brings. Josie Fischels
As COVID-19 Cases Surge, Fauci Says 'We've Got To Do Much Better' NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Dr. Anthony Fauci, NIAID director, about the rising COVID-19 infection rate, updating mask guidance, potential for booster shots and breakthrough infections.
Time For Caution Amid COVID-19 Surge And Breakthrough Cases It's an unsettling moment in the pandemic as cases rise, Delta sweeps and more reports are made of breakthrough cases. Here are the latest recommendations to keep people and communities safe. Allison Aubrey
Tokyo Reports Its Highest COVID-19 Numbers Since January As First Olympic Games Start "There is an urgent need to prepare crisis management systems for hospital care," the the Tokyo Metropolitan Government says. Bill Chappell