Unemployment claims climb to 286,000, the most since October
Jobless claims rose for the third straight week — by 55,000 to 286,000, highest since mid-October, the Labor Department reported Thursday.
San Francisco works to move homeless out of hotels and into long-term housing
San Francisco's shelter-in-place hotel program for its unhoused residents is coming to an end.
Recent UC Berkeley grad offers free COVID-19 PCR testing at pop-site, amid concerns over unauthorized sites
Almost every day for the past three weeks, Ata Mahmoud has been volunteering her time to offer free COVID-19 testing services at her own makeshift testing site in Oakland, she's said, as a service to help her community.
400 million free N95 masks to be made available starting next week, White House says
White House announced that the masks will come from the government's stockpile, which has 750 million of the highly protective masks on hand.
Stressed-out parents divided over sending kids back to school amid omicron
Just when it seemed like a little normalcy might be returning to the lives of beleaguered California families at long last, the deep-seated angst and confusion that comes with parenting amid a pandemic has returned.
Free government COVID test kits now available: Everything you need to know
A new federal website to request free COVID-19 test kits -- originally scheduled to launch Wednesday -- is online now.
Wastewater samples suggest omicron surge is peaking: UC Berkeley lab
A team of researchers at the University of California at Berkeley's Nelson Lab say new data indicates we might be hitting the peak of the omicron surge, based on analysis of the coronavirus SARS-CoV2 levels found in Bay Area wastewater samples.
'Like witnessing a miracle': Georgia woman gives birth after nearly 5-month battle with COVID-19
Sheenah Berry didn't think she needed the COVID-19 vaccine until she got pregnant. Then, before she could get her shots, the Rex, Georgia woman caught the coronavirus that would hospitalize her for more than 4 months.
COVID-19 smell and taste loss may have genetic link, study suggests
Researchers are trying to figure out why some COVID-19 patients lose their sense of taste and smell, and a new study suggests it may be because of a genetic link.
COVID-19 testing in Contra Costa County nearly doubles pandemic peak amid omicron surge
Contra Costa County is testing almost twice as many people for COVID-19 than any other time during the pandemic, county health services director Anna Roth told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
CDC encourages N95, KN95 masks to stop COVID-19 spread amid omicron surge
N95 or KN95 masks are being recommended by the CDC over cloth masks to ward off the omicron variant. Here are the benefits and when you should wear one.
Supreme Court rejects request to block federal air travel mask mandate
The TSA coronavirus mask mandate is in place until at least March 18, 2022.
Mother's tragic tale: Husband dies of COVID-19, their son dies by suicide due to guilt
Stephanie Reyes was well aware her son was depressed. She tried repeatedly to get him into counseling, but she says everyone she turned to was booked months in advance.
Study shows fewer Californians embracing booster than initial vaccine shots
As the omicron variant spreads throughout the state only 38% of vaccinated Californians have reportedly received the booster shot.
OUSD students threaten to skip classes if COVID safety concerns not addressed
Some Oakland Unified students plan to stay home from school Tuesday if the school district does not comply with their COVID safety demands, according to a petition from students.
COVID hospitalizations among California's children are highest since pandemic began
COVID-19 hospitalizations among California's children -- especially those too young to go to school -- are the highest they have been since the pandemic began. Chalk it up to the highly contagious omicron variant, kids exposed during in-person instruction at school and other public places, and infants and preschoolers being ineligible for vaccination.
Kaiser contacting nearly 4,000 people who received low dose of COVID vaccine in Walnut Creek
Kaiser Permanente on Monday said they are in the process of informing 3,900 people that they may have received a low dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Walnut Creek last fall.
Apple to require COVID booster shot for all employees
Employees of Apple will need to get a booster shot or start frequent testing soon, as the company announced new COVID protocol.
Teens show highest COVID infection rate in San Francisco
San Francisco teens are spreading COVID at a higher rate than other age groups.
San Mateo County's $7M in PPE left outside, damaged by rain
About $7 million worth of surplus personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies, purchased by San Mateo County earlier in the coronavirus pandemic, was damaged in recent rainstorms after it was left outside for months, officials said Friday.