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Montgomery Co. schools to add 3 early-release days to current school year 12/02/2021 08:12pm • Montgomery County Public Schools will add three early-release days to the current school year after a contentious vote by the board of education Thursday. The school system proposed adding the half-days on Wednesday, Jan. 12; Thursday, March 24 and Wednesday, May 18 to allow time for staff work d DC issues 'mask advisory,' but mandate will not return as of yet 12/02/2021 05:52pm • The District is issuing a "mask advisory" that recommends residents wear masks in indoor public settings, but is stopping short of reinstating its mask mandate as the omicron variant of the coronavirus has been identified in the U.S. DC Health Director Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt said the advisory fall 70 children in Prince George's Co. given expired COVID-19 vaccines 12/02/2021 04:15pm • Seventy children in Prince George’s County, Maryland, received expired doses of Pfizer’s pediatric COVID-19 vaccine, the county’s health department said Thursday. It happened Friday, Nov. 26, at the county’s Sports and Learning Complex in Landover. The Prince George’s County Health D Virginia labs screen previous coronavirus positive tests for omicron variant 12/01/2021 11:38pm • Pathologists believe it is likely a matter of time before the omicron variant of the coronavirus appears in the D.C. region, but labs across Virginia are scanning millions of previous positive tests for it. It all depends on the new variant's transmissibility, Dr. Amy Mathers with the University Montgomery Co. plan to pay some county managers COVID-19 hazard pay triggers fight 12/01/2021 07:57pm • Officials in Montgomery County, Maryland, are asking the County Council to approve nearly $1.5 million in new funding to cover COVID-19 premium pay for county managers from earlier in the coronavirus pandemic. The request has set up a sharp battle between County Executive Marc Elrich and some mem Maryland state education officials want mask mandate policy with 'off ramp' for schools 12/01/2021 07:55pm • Maryland's current statewide mask mandate in public schools is staying in place for now. On Wednesday, the members of the State Board of Education voted 12-2 to come up with a new emergency mandate that would provide an "off ramp" for school districts. State Superintendent of Schools Mohammed Hogan urges Marylanders to get tested regularly as omicron variant arrives in US 12/01/2021 03:47pm • Over 1 million Marylanders have received a booster shot, and a greater emphasis is being placed on testing as the state prepares for the arrival of the omicron variant of the coronavirus, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said Wednesday. The omicron variant -- which was first identified in South Africa b Md. House Republican leaders ask to uphold some COVID transparency protocols next legislative session 11/30/2021 08:36pm • This content was republished with permission from WTOP's news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters' free email subscription today. As the General Assembly prepares for a special session next week and the upcoming regular legislative session, Maryland House Republicans say th If an omicron vaccine is needed, how long would it take to develop one? 11/30/2021 02:15pm • If it turns out vaccines need to be adjusted to target the new omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, a University of Virginia infectious diseases expert said it could be done quite quickly. It's about how messenger RNA vaccines, such as the COVID-19 vaccines, work. "It's very, very simple to change a 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 '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 '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