WHO warns new Omicron spinoff XBB.1.16 is 'one to watch,' but hasn't shown to be more severe | CNN The World Health Organization is monitoring the Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, which has been identified in about two dozen countries. Deidre McPhillips CNN

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WHO calls for action to protect, support and expand global health force Ahead of its 75th anniversary on Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for countries to both address inequities in care and protect the workers who provide it, many of whom are burned out from the COVID-19 pandemic. UN News

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Tedros reported that since the onset of the pandemic, more than one in three health and care workers have suffered from anxiety and depression, and around half have experienced burnout. 

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Healthcare workers: Keep hospital mask mandate The group says the Covid picture in Massachusetts is not as bright as official figures suggest -- due to non-reporting of home tests and asymptomatic infections. Yahoo News

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Wednesday, the Massachusetts Coalition for Health Equity held a virtual press conference calling on Governor Maura Healey to keep in place mandatory mask requirements for patients, visitors and practitioners at all healthcare facilities, including dental offices.

“Why is this so important? Well, Covid is airborne,” said Lara Jirmanus, MD, a primary care physician. “It spreads through the air like smoke.”

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U.S. healthcare workers face rising levels of burnout - UPI.com Much has been made of burnout among doctors and nurses, but a new survey has found high rates of work fatigue in nearly every type of job associated with health care. UPI

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A new approach to a Covid-19 nasal vaccine shows early promise | CNN Scientists in Germany say they've been able to make a nasal vaccine that can shut down a Covid-19 infection in the nose and throat, where the virus gets its first foothold in the body. Brenda Goodman CNN

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China and India both rolled out vaccines given through the nasal tissues last fall, though it’s not clear how well they may be working. Studies on the effectiveness of these vaccines have yet to be published, leaving much of the world to wonder whether this approach to protection really works in people.

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FDA will let some adults get a second boost of the bivalent COVID-19 shot Older adults and others at high risk will soon be able to get a second shot of the COVID-19 booster that targets omicron. NPR

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The Food and Drug Administration has decided to allow some people to get a second booster with one of the COVID-19 vaccines that have been updated to target the omicron variant, NPR has learned.

House GOP launches probe into use of COVID-19 education funds House Republicans announced Tuesday they are investigating potential misuse of coronavirus pandemic education funds and are requesting documents from the Department of Education regarding its guida… llonas The Hill

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Masks, vaccines no longer required in California health care, high-risk settings The new California Department of Public Health guidelines state people can decide if they want to wear a mask in a health care setting. Yahoo News

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WHO tracking Omicron XBB.1.16 subvariant, rising cases in some countries CIDRAP

In its weekly update on the pandemic, the WHO said it added XBB.1.16 as the sixth variant under monitoring on Mar 22. It also said though global cases and deaths continue to decline, some countries—including India—are reporting recent spikes in cases.

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