San Francisco Exempt from California Indoor Masks Mandate

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The number of COVID fatalities in the US has exceeded 800,000 – the highest reported number of any country in the world. Figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University yesterday confirmed that the total number of virus-related deaths is roughly equal to the populations of Minneapolis and Cleveland combined.

It comes almost a year after the country launched its vaccination campaign and amid the uncertainty of the new variant of Omicron, which early studies found could bypass antibodies in double-vaccinated people. Information so far has led experts to speculate that this variant spreads faster than Delta, but that the symptoms are milder. The same experts stress that it is too early to draw any concrete conclusions.

Meanwhile, countries in Europe are grappling with how to respond to the variant, with some opting for bans and others adopting vaccine passports. In the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson comes under significant pressure over new restrictions last night after a major rebellion by his own party when Omicron sweeps the country.