COVID-19 surge: Here’s what’s canceled or closing across the US

As the omicron variant continues to spread across the country, many events are getting canceled and businesses are closing.

DC reinstates indoor mask mandate, declares State of Emergency as COVID-19 omicron variant surges

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has reinstated the city’s mask mandate and has expanded the District’s vaccine requirements as part of a State of Emergency she declared Monday as COVID-19 cases surge nationwide due to the highly contagious omicron variant.

2022 New Years Eve numbers arrive in Times Square; NYE cancelled decision pending

New Year's Eve is less than two weeks away and while the fate of the big celebration and the crowds in Times Square are still up in the air due to a surge in coronavirus cases, the preparations continue.

NHL shutting down from Wednesday through Saturday due to COVID: AP source

A person with direct knowledge of discussions said the NHL is beginning a league-wide shutdown Wednesday amid an increase of positive COVID-19 test results among players across the league.

Biden tests negative for COVID-19 after close contact with infected staffer

“On Monday morning, a mid-level staff member, who does not regularly have contact with the President, received a positive result for a COVID-19 test,” press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday.

Atlanta Mayor-elect Andre Dickens tests positive for COVID-19, reports mild symptoms

Atlanta Mayor-elect Andre Dickens said he has tested positive for COVID-19 but is only experiencing mild symptoms. Dickens said he is fully vaccinated against the virus.

CDC data: Omicron now dominant COVID-19 variant in US

Omicron has raced ahead of other variants and is now the dominant version of the coronavirus in the U.S. Federal health officials said Monday that omicron accounted for an estimated 73% of new infections last week.

Swedish company showcases microchip that can download COVID-19 passport status

A microchip technology introduced in recent years by the Stockholm-based startup, Epicenter, is being presented as a means to store one's COVID-19 vaccine passport under the skin, according to a video from the South China Post that went viral Friday.

Crowd boos after Trump reveals he got COVID-19 booster shot

Former President Donald Trump revealed he received a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, drawing boos from a crowd in Dallas. "If you don't want to take it, you shouldn't be forced to take it. No mandates," he told the crowd. “But take credit because we saved tens of millions of lives. Take credit. Don't let them take that away from you.”

Suicide hotline transitioning to 3-digit number: 988

People in crisis and those trying to help them will have a new three-digit phone number, 988, to reach the national suicide prevention network starting in July.

Biogen halves price of Alzheimer's drug after criticism

The drugmaker said Monday that it will cut the wholesale acquisition cost of the drug by about 50% next month. That means the annual cost for a person of average weight will amount to $28,200.

Family searches for bone marrow donor to cure daughter's cancer

When Essie Gutierrez was ten years old, she had a bruise that wouldn't go away, so her mother took Essie to Nemours Children's Health hospital in Jacksonville.