For now, the U.S. is 'not in the pandemic phase,' Fauci says Though the coronavirus remains a deadly public health emergency around the globe, the United States is no longer in a pandemic phase, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical advisor to President Joe Biden. PBS NewsHour

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“We don’t have 900,000 new infections a day and tens and tens and tens of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths [each day],” Fauci told the PBS NewsHour’s anchor and managing editor Judy Woodruff on Tuesday.

Congo starts Ebola vaccinations to stem outbreak in northwest, WHO says The Democratic Republic of Congo has kicked off Ebola vaccinations to stem an outbreak in the northwest city of Mbandaka, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday. Reuters Reuters

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My At-Home Rapid Test Is Negative, But Could I Still Have COVID?

Mexico says coronavirus now endemic, not pandemic MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Mexican government said Tuesday that COVID-19 has passed from a pandemic to an endemic stage in Mexico, meaning authorities will treat it as a seasonally recurring disease. Mexico never enforced face mask requirements, and the few partial shutdowns of businesses and activities were lifted weeks ago. AP NEWS

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New case numbers have declined. But that may be because Mexico, which never did much testing, is now offering even fewer tests. ...

EU looks at ramping up COVID vaccinations of kids, developing antivirals European Union governments should ramp up COVID-19 immunisations of children, the European Commission said on Wednesday in presenting its strategy to move away from the emergency phase of the pandemic, which includes plans to develop antivirals. Francesco Guarascio Reuters

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Harris positive for COVID-19, Biden not a 'close contact' WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, the White House announced, underscoring the persistence of the highly contagious virus even as the U.S. eases restrictions in a bid to return to pre-pandemic normalcy. AP NEWS

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Neither President Joe Biden nor first lady Jill Biden was considered a “close contact” of Harris in recent days, said the vice president’s press secretary, Kirsten Allen. Harris had been scheduled to attend Biden’s Tuesday morning Presidential Daily Brief but was not present, the White House said. ...

Teens Made Up Larger Share of Suicides Early in the Pandemic, Study Finds Across 14 states, an upward trend was seen overall, though certain states had declines Molly Walker medpagetoday

Adolescent suicides made up a larger share of suicides at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to prepandemic years, according to data from 14 states.