Teen who received life-saving transplant reacts to medical breakthroughs using pig organs

A human donor saved the life of 15-year-old Wilfre Mercedes. Today, after doctors successfully transplanted a pig's heart into a human patient, Mercedes is hopeful thousands of others on transplant waiting lists can go on living, just like he did.

Bay Area school district reopens after deep cleaning, teacher shortages persist

At Korematsu Middle School in El Cerrito Tuesday, school was back in session after a four-day weekend where the district had each school deep cleaned.

California makes it easier to hire teachers amid shortages

California is making it easier for school districts to hire teachers and other employees amid staffing shortages brought on by the latest surge in coronavirus cases, the governor said Tuesday. 

Omicron may be headed for a rapid drop in US and Britain

Scientists are seeing signals that COVID-19′s alarming omicron wave may have peaked in Britain and is about to do the same in the U.S., at which point cases may start dropping off dramatically.

Study: Exercise can strengthen brain function, prevent dementia

In a study published last week in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, researchers found that exercise helped protect the brain from dementia.

Fauci Senate hearing on pandemic gets testy: ‘What a moron’

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government’s top infectious disease expert, angrily accused Senator Rand Paul of making false accusations that are leading to threats against him -- all to raise political cash.

Family accuses employer of making their loved one work on-site despite pleas to work remotely

A family is accusing a Riverside County employer of not letting their beloved family member with pre-existing conditions work remotely during a COVID-19 surge. He died in February 2021.

Health officials let COVID-infected nurses and healthcare workers keep working

California health authorities announced over the weekend that hospital staff members who test positive but are symptom-free can continue working. Some hospitals in Rhode Island and Arizona have likewise told employees they can stay on the job if they have no symptoms or just mild ones.

US finalizing plans to ship free COVID-19 tests via USPS, shares 1st contracts

The White House is finalizing plans to ship free at-home COVID-19 tests to Americans nationwide and has awarded its first contracts as part of this pledge.

Oakland School for the Arts temporarily shuts down for COVID

Oakland School for the Arts has shutdown for the remainder of the week, blaming staff shortages because of quarantines.

New Sonoma County health order prohibits large gatherings through mid-February

Sonoma County's public health officer issued an order that prohibits gatherings of more than 50 people indoors or more than 100 people outdoors. Situations exempt from the health order include schools, outdoor recess, workplace settings, courthouse activities, places of worship, cafeterias, but also shopping malls, stores, restaurants/food facilities and museums.

China locks down third city, raising affected to 20 million

A third Chinese city has locked down its residents because of a COVID-19 outbreak, raising the number confined to their homes in China to about 20 million people.

Pfizer: Omicron-specific COVID-19 vaccine human trials to begin late January

Pfizer confirmed it plans to start human trials of its omicron-specific COVID-19 vaccine later this month, potentially making it available to the public as soon as March.

Unauthorized COVID testing site in San Francisco has outdated license

As omicron cases surge, the demand for COVID testing is through the roof, but health experts in San Francisco are warning people to be careful which sites they go to for testing.

US surgeons perform 1st transplant of pig heart into human patient

U.S. doctors have transplanted a pig heart into a patient in a last-ditch effort to save his life — a first for medical science.

Bob Saget’s legacy: ‘Full House’ actor advocated for scleroderma cure after sister’s death

Following the death of Bob Saget, many are encouraging people mourning to donate money to the Scleroderma Research Foundation, a foundation Saget advocated for after his sister’s tragic death.

Private insurers to cover home COVID-19 tests starting Saturday

Under the new policy, Americans will be able to either purchase home testing kits for free under their insurance or submit receipts for the tests for reimbursement, up to the monthly per-person limit.

Hayward Unified to go remote despite warnings not to; risks losing $2.5M a day

The Hayward Unified School District will switch to all-remote learning for its 20,000 students on Tuesday, making it the first in the Bay Area to revert to online learning for the next week despite being warned by the county and the state that they should not do that.