The World Health Organization’s Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a new COVID variant of concern could emerge. He noted that gaps in surveillance, testing, sequencing and vaccination for COVID-19 continue to create “the perfect conditions for a new variant of concern to emerge.” (Reuters)
Teens’ brains aged faster during the first year of the pandemic and stress may be to blame, a study found. The young study participants also reported more severe symptoms of anxiety, depression and what scientists call internalized problems – meaning feelings of sadness, low self-esteem and fear and trouble regulating their emotions – after the first year of the pandemic. (CNN)
Chinese cities announced further easing of COVID restrictions, though police are still patrolling streets to stop protests. China has required anyone with any degree of COVID to stay at those sites to cut the transmission. (MarketWatch)
‘Zombie’ viruses thawed in melting permafrost, but officials said people shouldn’t panic — yet. Virologists who were not involved in the research said the specter of future pandemics being unleashed from the Siberian steppe ranks low on the list of current public health threats. (The Washington Post)
Brothers who made billions on Royalty Pharma revamped their health bets. The Giulianis are selling Royalty Pharma stock as they invest in other health-focused firms, including a SPAC that merged with biotech business ProKidney. (Bloomberg)
