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Amid omicron uncertainty, Md. and Va. push vaccines, boosters 11/30/2021 05:03am • While there are no confirmed cases of the omicron variant on U.S. soil as of Tuesday morning, many health experts believe it's likely already circulating here — with renewed calls to vaccinate as the best way of preventing its spread. "While there is still much unknown about the omicron variant This year's flu strain is particularly dangerous for older adults 11/29/2021 08:21pm • The flu season is beginning to gain traction with a predominant strain that concerns one infectious disease expert, and he's urging everyone 6 months and older to get a flu shot. "We're starting to see the first cases," said Dr. Bill Petri, professor of infectious diseases at the University of Vi Is It Safe to Take the COVID-19 Vaccine and the Flu Shot at the Same Time? 11/29/2021 07:00pm • Is it safe to get an influenza shot on the same day you get a COVID-19 vaccine, including a booster? Would getting both vaccines on the same arm boost the chances of suffering side effects? Can kids who are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine -- children age 5 and older -- get the flu shot and the COV 'The word right now is diligence': 1 doctor's take on the omicron variant 11/29/2021 02:39pm • The omicron variant of coronavirus is new and different, but a University of Virginia infectious disease expert is cautioning the public to not assume it's more dangerous. "I would say the word right now is diligence. And being cautious," said Dr. Taison D. Bell, an assistant professor of medicin Prince George's Co. extends COVID-19 restrictions, including mask mandate, into early 2022 11/29/2021 02:21pm • The Prince George's County, Maryland, council voted unanimously Monday to extend its current COVID-19 restrictions, including the county's indoor mask mandate, until early 2022. The council voted to extend, for the 15th time, the county's emergency declaration related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Th VRE ridership still far below pre-pandemic levels 11/29/2021 11:54am • The pandemic continues to have negative impacts on public transportation, and Virginia Railway Express commuter system is proof of that. The average number of daily trips in February 2020 was more than 18,000, according to VRE data. The average this October was just under 3,000. More V 'Good reason to be worried' as Omicron COVID variant spreads fast 11/29/2021 06:13am • ▶ Watch Video: U.S. to impose new travel restrictions on southern African countries Durban, South Africa — The Omicron variant of the coronavirus that was first detected in South Africa has now spread to at least 14 countries. Some experts believe it's likely already reached the U.S U.Md. infectious disease expert 'wouldn't be surprised' if Omicron was already in US 11/29/2021 01:51am • North America saw its first case of the Omicron variant confirmed by Canada on Sunday as officials from countries on opposite sides of the world reacted to news of its impact in Africa. That reaction may be coming too late at the federal and local level. The Biden administration's chief medic What to Know About Sign-On Bonuses 11/28/2021 07:00pm • Sign-on bonuses have always been around. Professional athletes commonly receive big sign-on bonuses when moving to a new sports team. Now, in the midst of the "Great Resignation" -- or the rise of workers leaving their jobs since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic -- sign-on bonuses have become m Virginia will test sewage to help predict COVID-19 outbreaks 11/28/2021 03:54pm • RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Department of Health will be monitoring sewage in various parts of the state in an effort to predict future outbreaks of COVID-19. The Danville Register & Bee reported Saturday that VDH is deploying up to 25 wastewater monitoring sites across the commonwealth. 'It means so much to the team': George Mason club football team heads to 1st national championship game 11/28/2021 02:17pm • There's history in the making at George Mason University; its club football team is heading to the national championships for the first time on Saturday. The journey hasn't been an easy one. "It's always hard to get people to join club football at Mason, just because a lot of people at the sch Baltimore City schools not ready to enforce vaccine mandate 11/28/2021 01:08pm • BALTIMORE — School officials in the city of Baltimore say they’re not ready to enforce a requirement that school employees be vaccinated against COVID-19. The Baltimore Sun reported Saturday that the school system had set a Nov. 1 deadline. But school officials have not started enforcing pena Johns Hopkins virologist: 'Pay close attention' to Omicron variant cases 11/27/2021 10:17pm • The Omicron variant, first discovered in Africa, made waves as public health officials like Dr. Anthony Fauci and the World Health Organization began sounding the alarm. After being deemed a "variant of concern," it was detected in areas stretching from Britain to Hong Kong and triggered a change Shoppers return to DC-area malls in droves 11/26/2021 09:34pm • At shopping malls around the D.C. region, people were shopping like it was Black Friday 2019 — before the coronavirus and its impact figured into the everyday lives of Americans. At Tysons Corner Center in Tysons, Virginia, people inched through blocks of car traffic to reach the garages. Meanw 1st child death from COVID-related syndrome reported in Va. 11/26/2021 01:33pm • After 111 cases of multi-inflammatory syndrome were recorded in Virginia, the state's Health Department on Friday reported the first child death from the COVID-19-related syndrome in the commonwealth. Few details about the victim were provided, but the department said the child was between 10 and