Shen Wu Tan

Brazil coronavirus variant spreads more easily, researchers say

The coronavirus variant first detected in Brazil spreads much more easily than other versions, researchers have found.

April 30, 2021

FDA approves higher-dose opioid overdose treatment

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a stronger version of a naloxone nasal spray to treat opioid overdoses.

April 30, 2021

Hand sanitizers at major stores being recalled because they contain toxic chemicals

A soap company has recalled 11 hand sanitizers sold at several major retailers because they contain toxic chemicals.

April 30, 2021

Few side effects from Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine, CDC finds

About 13,700 Americans receiving the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine experienced side effects, amounting to less than 0.18% of the nearly 8 million shots given so far, according to new federal data.

April 30, 2021

Opioids for COVID-19 ‘long haulers’ raise addiction concerns

Health experts are raising concerns over physicians prescribing opioids to COVID-19 "long haulers," saying it could lead to an increased risk of addiction among those who experience coronavirus symptoms long after having been infected.

April 29, 2021

Growing number of U.S. colleges mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for fall return

A growing number of colleges is requiring students and/or staff to be vaccinated for the fall semester, while others are resisting the use of so-called vaccine passports for those returning to campus.

April 28, 2021

Invasive ‘Asian jumping’ ‘crazy worms’ threaten forests in more than 30 states

First came the killer bees. Then the murder hornets. Now scientists are expressing concern about an invasive species dubbed "crazy worms."

April 27, 2021

Montgomery, Anne Arundel counties relax COVID-19 restrictions

Officials in Montgomery and Anne Arundel counties on Tuesday approved further easing of COVID-19 restrictions, given improving health trends.

April 27, 2021

COVID-19 long-haulers pose questions for health experts

Some COVID-19 patients, often referred to as COVID-19 long-haulers, experience symptoms or develop new ones that persist for weeks or months after initial infection.

April 26, 2021

NIH chief: Resuming J&J vaccine without limits is ‘right decision’

National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins on Sunday said federal regulators and advisers made the right call in resuming the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for everyone, saying its benefits in fighting COVID-19 outweigh the threat of rare blood clots seen in a handful of recipients.

April 25, 2021

U.S. health panel urges restarting Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccinations

A panel of U.S. health experts on Friday recommended resuming use of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 shot after the vaccine's pause earlier this month.

April 23, 2021

Two-thirds of seniors fully vaccinated against COVID-19, but officials warn about coverage gaps

Two-thirds of U.S. seniors 65 and older have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, federal health officials said Friday, but they warned that areas giving fewer shots could stymie efforts to end the pandemic.

April 23, 2021

University of Maryland will require COVID-19 vaccines for those on campus this fall

The University of Maryland will require all students, faculty and staff who will be on campus this fall to get their COVID-19 vaccines.

April 23, 2021

Maryland, Virginia, D.C. ramp up COVID-19 vaccination efforts

D.C.-area officials are ramping up COVID-19 vaccination efforts by eliciting help from houses of worship and reaching out to seniors and college students to get their shots as communities prepare to open further.

April 22, 2021

Virginia will further ease COVID-19 restrictions mid-May

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday he will expand capacity for venues and social gathering limits beginning May 15 as more residents across the state receive their COVID-19 vaccines.

April 22, 2021

Maryland, Virginia, D.C. rank low for in-person instruction

Maryland, Virginia and the District rank low among jurisdictions for in-person instruction, according to a national school tracker.

April 21, 2021

Lawmakers across the U.S. ponder regulating the potency of marijuana

Lawmakers across the country increasingly are considering legislation that would limit or regulate the potency of marijuana, as states legalize the use of the drug for medical and recreational purposes.

April 20, 2021

D.C. area law enforcement prep for unrest after Derek Chauvin verdict

The Metropolitan Police Department has restricted officers from taking days off and placed them on longer shifts in preparation for unrest in the wake of the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial in Minneapolis.

April 19, 2021

D.C. request for National Guard assistance after Derek Chauvin’s trial pending

D.C. officials on Monday said their request for assistance from the D.C. National Guard following the outcome of Derek Chauvin's trial in Minneapolis has not yet been approved.

April 19, 2021

D.C. to open walk-up COVID-19 vaccine sites city residents 65 and older Monday

New walk-up COVID-19 vaccination sites for D.C. residents who are 65 years and older will open up across the city on Monday.

April 17, 2021