Some European Countries Move To Require Medical-Grade Masks In Public Germany, Austria and France have announced new measures that push fabric masks aside. European leaders have tied the policy changes to efforts to fend off fast-spreading coronavirus variants. Laurel Wamsley
CDC Makes Case For School Reopening Federal researchers say, with proper safety precautions, schools don't seem to fuel outbreaks, with some exceptions, such as indoor sports practices. Cory Turner
Biden Administration Criticized For Delay In Tackling Opioid Crisis More than 200 Americans are dying from drug overdoses daily. Now the Biden administration faces criticism for reportedly delaying a Trump administration policy widely seen as a way to help save lives. Brian Mann
Opinion: Why I'm An Invisible Man In The Global Vaccine Campaign Nigerian physician Ifeanyi Nsofor writes: "I was elated when the first COVID-19 vaccine was shown effective. My joy was cut short when richer Western nations began buying up the vaccine doses." Ifeanyi Nsofor
California, Nation's Most Populous State, Struggles With Vaccine Rollout California has lifted regional stay-at-home orders, citing improved Coronavirus numbers. But that good news is tempered by ongoing problems with the state's vaccine rollout. Eric Westervelt
Turkey Struggles During Pandemic To Protect Public Health, Economy Turkey says it has vaccinated more than a million front-line workers against COVID-19, and is now vaccinating people in their 80s. The country is hard hit — even as weekend lockdowns continue. Peter Kenyon
Health Workers Still Face Shortages Of Critical Medical Supplies Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, personal protective equipment, or PPE, has been in short supply. Exam gloves currently top the ever-changing list. What's holding up the supply? Yuki Noguchi
There Are Signs Of Progress In The Battle Against COVID-19 New COVID-19 cases are declining significantly. And amid widespread optimism that the vaccines can help end the pandemic, states scramble to get the shots into more arms, after a very bumpy start. Allison Aubrey
Why Nursing Homes' COVID-19 Legal Shields May Interfere With Other Cases Over the course of the pandemic, 27 states have granted legal immunity to nursing homes. Some advocates worry this temporary reprieve is being used to hide misconduct not related to the coronavirus. Ina Jaffe
Biden To Implement Travel Restrictions To Combat New Coronavirus Variants Newly discovered variants of COVID-19 in South Africa and Brazil could make the virus more infectious and may decrease the efficacy of vaccines. Jaclyn Diaz
