Covid's toll in the U.S. reaches a once unfathomable number: 1 million deaths "It's an exponential number of other people that are walking around with a small hole in their heart," one widow said. NBC News

The U.S. on Wednesday surpassed 1 million Covid-19 deaths, according to data compiled by NBC News — a once unthinkable scale of loss even for the country with the world's highest recorded toll from the virus.

WHO: COVID continues to decline, except in Americas, Africa GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization said Wednesday that the number of newly reported coronavirus cases and deaths globally continued to fall in the last week, continuing a decline that first began in March. AP NEWS

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FDA officials say annual Covid-19 shots may be needed in the future The United States might need to update its Covid-19 vaccines each year, according to a trio of top US Food and Drug Administration officials, and "a new normal" may include an annual Covid-19 vaccine alongside a seasonal flu shot. Jacqueline Howard, CNN CNN

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Biden announces Sept conference on hunger, nutrition, health WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House will hold a conference on hunger, nutrition and health in September to notch progress on the Biden administration's goals of ending hunger, improving nutrition and physical activity and reducing diet-related diseases. AP NEWS

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What the latest omicron subvariants mean for reinfection risk In the U.S., the BA.2.12.1 subvariant is gaining a foothold, while South Africa is seeing a surge in cases from two other subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5. NBC News

... research shows antibodies obtained from vaccination or infection gradually wane over time, and each new omicron subvariant, though still a part of the larger omicron family tree, is slightly different from the last, meaning a person's ability to fight off infections from the virus can shift.