Griffin-Spalding County school bus driver, monitor die after battle with COVID-19, according to co-workers

Some Griffin-Spalding school bus drivers are concerned after they say two of their co-workers died from COVID-19. School district leaders tell us that nine other bus drivers were out Monday due to positive COVID-19 cases.

Use of certain N95 masks should stop due to ‘serious’ quality concerns, FDA says

Certain N95 masks from Shanghai Dasheng should no longer be used by health care workers due to a failure to “implement, maintain, and control a quality management system,” the FDA said.

4 largest Oklahoma City hospitals run out of COVID-19 ICU beds

Mercy, Integris, SSM Health and OU Health said they either have no intensive care bed space available or no space for COVID-19 patients.

Delta variant surge taking mental, physical toll on hospital staff

The COVID-19 delta variant is more aggressive, more transmissible and health experts say, as numbers continue to climb at an alarming rate.

5 Republican-run states under federal investigation for banning masks in schools

The Education Department says it’s investigating five Republican-led states that have banned or limited mask requirements in schools, saying the policies could amount to discrimination against students with disabilities or health conditions.

European Union takes US off safe travel list, recommends reinstating restrictions

The decision to remove the U.S. from a safe list of countries for nonessential travel reverses advice from June, when the European Council recommended lifting restrictions on U.S. travelers.

Anti-parasite drug for animals ivermectin flying off store shelves as COVID spikes

The drug has been reportedly flying off stores shelves in multiple states even though it has not been approved for treating or preventing COVID-19 in humans. 

Florida feed store hides Ivermectin to prevent misuse by COVID-19 patients

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried says the Florida Poison Control Center is seeing an uptick in calls and cases from people taking Ivermectin, a medication used to treat parasites in cows and horses.

COVID-19 contact tracing takes back seat during latest surge

Health officials say with the overwhelming number of new cases, they’re not able to track every case and instead try to focus on infections that could have exposed large numbers of people or vulnerable groups.

US intelligence agencies remain divided on origins of COVID-19

U.S. intelligence agencies are still divided on the origins of the coronavirus, but believe China’s leaders did not know about the virus before the start of the global pandemic.

Atlanta area group protests for rent cancellation and reinstitution of eviction ban

An organization called “Cancel the Rent” gathered outside of the Fulton County Courthouse earlier Friday evening, calling for rent cancellation and reinstating the eviction ban.

Brutal benchmark: Arizona passes 1 million COVID-19 cases

The Arizona Department of Health Services on Friday reported 3,707 new cases of COVID-19 and 63 additional deaths. Over 18,000 deaths from the virus have now been reported.

As COVID-19 infections in children surge, CDC head urges schools to push masks, vaccinations

As COVID-19 cases surge, and more children are being exposed and infected, pediatric hospitalizations are rising. This week, as 1,900 children were hospitalized across the US, the CDC Director urged schools to double-down on their safety precautions.

COVID-19 cases jump at Arkansas schools in 2nd week of classes

Arkansas ranks fifth in the country for new virus cases per capita, according to researchers at John Hopkins University.

Rev. Jesse Jackson moved to rehab facility, wife moved to ICU following COVID-19 diagnosis

Rev. Jesse Jackson has been moved to a rehab facility, and his wife, Jacqueline Jackson, has been moved to the ICU following their recent COVID-19 diagnosis, their family announced Friday.