Mask critics lose appeal over powers of health officers County health officers don't need approval from elected officials to issue orders, the Michigan Court of Appeals said in a precedent-setting decision related to protests over COVID-19 school mask mandates. AP NEWS

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COVID-19 Relief Funds: Lessons Learned Could Improve Future Distribution of Federal Emergency Relief to Tribal Recipients The public health and economic effects of COVID-19 on tribal nations have been especially severe. To help tribes recover, Congress's pandemic relief... U.S. Government Accountability Office USGAO

GAO Rport  Summary

The public health and economic effects of COVID-19 on tribal nations have been especially severe. To help tribes recover, Congress's pandemic relief funding has included at least $43.6 billion to support new and existing programs that tribes could use to address their unique needs.

New poll shows why some adults aren't getting the COVID booster The most common reason vaccinated people aren't getting a COVID booster is that they don't think they need one, a survey found. ABC News ABC News

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More than a third, or 37%, said they didn't think the benefits are worth it. Another third, or 36%, said they were too busy or hadn't had time.

About a quarter said they didn't want to deal with bad side effects, while 17% said they were waiting to see if there would be a surge in their area first.

Flu and RSV hit hard and early; now, Covid-19 is starting to rise | CNN Just when you thought it was safe for a holiday visit with your Auntie Mary and her fragile health, RSV and the flu reared their heads -- and now Covid-19 numbers are creeping up again. Jen Christensen CNN

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Patients' health care spending spiked in 2021 Out-of-pocket health spending grew by 10.4% in 2021, the fastest growth rate since 1985. Caitlin Owens Axios

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DeSantis blasted for 'Orwellian' vaccine investigation One day after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a push to investigate alleged harms caused by coronavirus vaccines, Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Biden’s chief medical adviser, criticized the move as a pointless exercise that would only undermine public confidence in efforts to boost and maintain protection against the circulating pathogen. YahooNews

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Losing Smell and Taste to COVID-19 Linked to Lower Reinfection Risk After a mild COVID-19 infection, people who lost smell or taste were twice as likely to have antibodies that may protect against reinfection. EverydayHealth.com

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It’s the End of the House COVID Panel As We Know It The majority of the panel has released its final report on the lack of preparations ahead of the pandemic, blunders by the Trump administration and recommendations for reform. Courtney Bublé Government Executive

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US deaths fell this year, but not to pre-COVID levels NEW YORK (AP) — The number of U.S. deaths dropped this year, but there are still more than there were before the coronavirus hit. Preliminary data — through the first 11 months of the year — indicates 2022 will see fewer deaths than the previous two COVID-19 pandemic years. AP NEWS

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If the decline does hold, it will still be a far cry from where the nation was before the coronavirus appeared. This year’s count is likely to end up at least 13% higher than what it was in 2019.

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WHO estimates two-year global death toll of COVID-19 pandemic at 15 million Almost 15 million people likely died as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, nearly three times more than previously reported, a new World Health Organization study estimates. UPI

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