What to know about the XBB.1.5 variant

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Meet XBB.1.5, the New COVID-19 Variant By Jamie Ducharme Health Correspondent Unfortunately, the new year has brought with it a new viral variant: XBB.1.5. Yet another descendent of Omicron, it's currently responsible for about 40% of new COVID-19 cases nationwide, and as many as 75% in the Northeast. Researchers are still learning about XBB.1.5, but it seems uniquely able to bypass immune defenses gained from vaccination or prior infections compared to past variants. Pair that with its apparent contagiousness, and we may be in for another surge of infections and reinfections this winter. If you’re among the 83% of U.S. adults who haven’t yet gotten a bivalent booster shot, XBB.1.5 is a good reason to change that. Preliminary research suggests that people who got the latest booster have stronger defenses than those who haven’t. High-quality masks, good ventilation, and rapid tests will also be crucial tools for staying well during this fourth COVID-19 winter. READ THE STORY.   Share the story

What else to read What We Know So Far About Damar Hamlin’s Cardiac Arrest By Anisha Kohli Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is still in critical condition at a Cincinnati hospital on Tuesday after going into cardiac arrest during a primetime game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Read More » FDA Expands Availability of Abortion Pills By Matthew Perrone/AP The Food and Drug Administration finalized a rule change that broadens availability of abortion pills to many more pharmacies. Read More » The White Supremacist Origins of Exercise, and 6 Other Surprising Facts About the History of U.S. Physical Fitness By Olivia B. Waxman And six other surprising facts about the history of fitness in America. Read More » The E.U. And China Are Barreling Toward a Political Standoff Over COVID-19 The bloc moved closer to imposing restrictions on travelers from China, as Beijing threatened countermeasures. Read More » Why You Shouldn't Exercise If You're Feeling Sick By Markham Heid Exercise won't make you better, but it could make your illness worse. (Originally published in 2018.) Read More »

One Last Read Why Paxlovid Is So Underused In the age of Omicron, Paxlovid is one of the only treatments left to help people at high risk for COVID-19. Yet it's dismally underused for several reasons, explains journalist Max Kozlov in Nature. One of people's biggest fears is Paxlovid rebound, or getting sick again shortly after their COVID-19 symptoms have cleared up. But rebound is typically mild and can even occur in people who don't take the drug, experts say—so it's no reason not to take the life-saving medication if you qualify. Read More »

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