COVID-19

As more indoor venues require proof of vaccination and new variants loom, scientists and public health officials are debating when it will be time to change the definition of “fully vaccinated” to include a booster shot.

As of Saturday evening, the omicron variant had been detected in at least 15 different states. And while it's too early to say if the most recent variant of concern will be as dangerous as delta, preliminary evidence suggests it may spread faster and be more likely to reinfect individuals who previously contracted coronavirus.

The variant was confirmed by the California and San Francisco departments of public health in an individual who returned to the U.S. from South Africa on Nov. 22.

The decision came from U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, of Louisiana’s western district, and applies to the entire country.

The omicron variant surfaced in November in several southern African nations. It set off alarm bells worldwide when public health officials in South Africa saw it beginning to outcompete the previous reigning variant, delta.

The ruling is a preliminary win for Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who joined other states suing to block the mandate.

Obesity has been a long-standing health issue in the Ohio Valley and the pandemic has made it worse.

Kentucky tourism has slowly recovered, but industry advocates want a jump start of federal relief money to help market the state.

It's important for all eligible people to get the COVID-19 vaccine to limit the opportunity for spread. This is especially true for children who often have the virus, but don't have any symptoms.

This is the third national effort Cameron has joined seeking to block federal vaccine mandates in recent weeks.