COVID Deaths Hit 700,000; Delta in Retreat? CDC Issues Holiday Recs

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President Biden called the 700,000 COVID-19 deaths a and urged Americans to get vaccinated.

As of Monday at 8:00 a.m. EDT, the reached 43,683,764 cases and 701,178 deaths, up 751,553 cases and 13,137 deaths since this time a week ago.

But the , with U.S. cases dropping by a third nationally since September 1 and smaller, more-recent declines in hospitalizations and deaths. (New York Times)

David Julius, PhD, of University of California San Francisco, and Ardem Patapoutian, PhD, of Scripps Research in La Jolla, California, "for their discoveries of receptors for temperature and touch."

After failing to stamp out the highly transmissible Delta variant, New Zealand announced it would end its and focus on vaccination to control the virus. (Reuters)

Still no mistletoe? The include 6 feet of social distancing at all gatherings, sitting outdoors, or using a window fan for indoor parties. (NBC News)

California is the first state to announce a for all eligible students, though the plan is contingent on full FDA approval. (LA Times)

The White House continues to pressure large U.S. airline companies by December 8, the deadline for all federal contractors. (Reuters)

With boosters now indicated for a large swath of Pfizer recipients, was the company's a mistake? (The Atlantic)

Meanwhile, vaccine advisers for the FDA will of Moderna and Johnson & Johnson's COVID vaccines (as well as "mix and match" approaches), and on October 26 to discuss data on Pfizer's vaccine in kids ages 5 to 11.

An "independent" conservative women's network to convince school leaders of "parental choice" policies is actually backed by the Charles Koch Institute and other GOP megadonors. (Washington Post)

The World Health Organization wants a working group to of certain essential, but completely unaffordable, medications -- including several high-priced cancer drugs. (STAT)

In a wide-ranging interview with 60 Minutes, Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen said the company's Instagram app makes young girls "more and more depressed, and ." (CBS News)

Forget privacy. A Florida after posting graphic photos of a baby with gastroschisis. (People)

As , people dependent on insulin and respiratory therapies battle to survive. (AP via ABC News)

The National Women's Soccer League , after players reported years of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse by coaches and inaction from league leadership. (New York Times)

FDA announced recalls of certain Coppertone and Bayer due to the presence of benzene, a human carcinogen.

Federal officials stored near insects and animal droppings from Miami-based Lyden Spice Corporation, the FDA announced.

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    Shannon Firth has been reporting on health policy as 's Washington correspondent since 2014. She is also a member of the site's Enterprise & Investigative Reporting team.