Important health topics being covered by reliable news sources:
Thirsty? Here’s how your brains answers that question – NPR
Here’s what you should keep in your car and other ways to prepare for winter driving – NPR
We asked how you are finding joy in the pandemic. Here are 12 surprising ideas – NPR
Want to get omicron and just get it over with? Here’s why that’s a bad idea – NPR
What we know about the symptoms — and the severity — of the omicron variant – NPR
Stressed? Instead of distracting yourself, try paying closer attention – NPR
Nose or Throat? The Best Way to Swab for At-Home COVID-19 Tests – TIME
Death Doulas Used to Be Rare. The COVID-19 Pandemic Changed That – TIME
Older Americans Are the Ignored Victims of the Opioid Epidemic – TIME
Why 2022 Is the Year We Learn to Live With COVID-19 – TIME
WHO Official Downplays New COVID IHU Variant Found in France – TIME
COVID-19 sick pay in California would return under deal between Newsom, lawmakers – Los Angeles Times
Some Angelenos say it’s time to learn to live with COVID – Los Angeles Times
Coronavirus transmission rates are falling across California, bringing guarded optimism – Los Angeles Times
L.A. Unified orders COVID testing before school resumes amid high Omicron anxiety – Los Angeles Times
What is ‘stealth omicron’ and how worried should we be about another COVID-19 mutation? Chicago experts explain – Chicago Tribune
Nearly 10,000 women traveled from out of state to have an abortion in Illinois in 2020 — a 29% increase – Chicago Tribune
Cracked teeth. Grinding. Sore jaws. Chicago dentists say COVID-19 stress is affecting our dental health. – Chicago Tribune
Fraudulent ‘pop-up’ COVID testing centers are rampant. Here are 8 tips to help protect against phony clinics and testing scams. – Chicago Tribune
New law allows donation of unused medication in Illinois. But it could take some time to get started. – Chicago Tribune
Anxiety and pandemic fatigue are spiking amid latest COVID surge. – Chicago Tribune
Latest sign of hospitals’ COVID crisis: Patients kept waiting in ERs for beds – Chicago Tribune
Your biological age may be different from your real age. A new institute at Northwestern plans to explore the issue. – Chicago Tribune
Boom time for marijuana sales in Illinois, as industry expands with new products — but minority businesses get left behind – Chicago Tribune
Florida monoclonal antibody sites shut down after FDA decision. What happens now? – Miami Herald
Did you lose your COVID vaccination card? How to get a replacement in Florida – Miami Herald
Florida to prioritize transplant hospitals, cancer centers for scarce COVID-19 therapeutic – Miami Herald
About those expired COVID test kits: Florida gets another extension to use them – Miami Herald
Norwegian and Royal Caribbean call off voyages, marking first mass cruise cancellations due to omicron – Miami Herald
DeSantis calls for more monoclonal antibodies; feds say Florida is getting its fair share – Miami Herald
Omicron Pushes Health Authorities Toward Learning to Live With Covid-19 – The Wall Street Journal
Pfizer Begins Study Testing Omicron Vaccine in People – The Wall Street Journal
Omicron Wave Drives Surge of Workers Calling In Sick, Working Through Illness – The Wall Street Journal
Covid-19 Test Distribution Plans Put More Pressure on U.S. Supply – The Wall Street Journal
Omicron Wave Leads to New Highs of Hospitalized Children Who Have Covid-19 – The Wall Street Journal
Supreme Court Blocks Biden Vaccine Rules for Large Employers – The Wall Street Journal
Biden Administration to Offer Schools Millions of Free Covid-19 Tests Each Month – The Wall Street Journal
White House Says Private Insurers to Cover Rapid Covid-19 Tests – The Wall Street Journal
Covid-19 Cases Reach Records in U.S. – The Wall Street Journal
U.S. Covid-19 Infections Top One Million After Holiday Backlog – The Wall Street Journal
Omicron Surge Hinders School Reopening Plans – The Wall Street Journal
The Best Brain Foods You’re Not Eating – The New York Times
When the Last Thing You Want to Do Is Exercise – The New York Times
Is It Better to Exercise in the Morning or Evening? – The New York Times
Can Omicron Cause Long Covid? – The New York Times
How Exercise May Tame Our Anxiety – The New York Times
This Simple Piece of Equipment Could Elevate Your Workout – The New York Times
Why Do Women Gain Belly Fat in Midlife? – The New York Times
Why Some Workers Are Getting All the Covid Tests They Need – The New York Times
Melatonin Isn’t a Sleeping Pill. Here’s How to Use It. – The New York Times
Here’s When We Expect Omicron to Peak – The New York Times
Sign-ups in Affordable Care Act marketplaces reach record 14.5 million – The Washington Post
Booster shots in U.S. have strongly protected against severe disease from omicron variant, CDC studies show – The Washington Post
White House to distribute 400 million free N95 masks starting next week – The Washington Post
Medicare proposes covering expensive drug for early-stage Alzheimer’s, but with restrictions that will sharply limit use – The Washington Post
Official predicts ‘most people are going to get covid’ as global cases reach new high – The Washington Post
U.S. breaks record with more than 145,000 covid-19 hospitalizations – The Washington Post
White House, USPS finalizing plans to begin shipping coronavirus test kits to U.S. households – The Washington Post
CDC recommends Pfizer-BioNTech booster for 12- to 17-year-olds – The Washington Post
Doctors bemoan limited supply of game-changing antiviral pills amid winter surge – The Washington Post
FDA authorizes coronavirus vaccine boosters for 12- to 15-year-olds as schools reopen amid omicron surge – The Washington Post