CDC to Recommend N95s? New COVID Records; First Pig-to-Human Heart Transplant

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In the face of Omicron, the CDC may recommend use of N95s or KN95s over cloth masks for the general public. (Washington Post)

The Biden administration will require private insurers to cover 8 free over-the-counter, at-home COVID-19 tests for each individual each month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced.

HHS data show that the number of Americans hospitalized with COVID-19 has surpassed 142,000, breaking the all-time high from this time last year. (New York Times)

As of Tuesday at 8 a.m. EST, the unofficial U.S. COVID toll was 61,558,507 cases and 839,500 deaths, up 1,467,870 cases (smashing another global record) and 1,836 deaths from yesterday.

The FDA cleared the 23andMe consumer genetics test to screen for a hereditary marker of prostate cancer, the company announced.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra ordered CMS to reconsider Medicare premium hikes following Biogen’s decision to cut the price of aducanumab (Aduhelm) in half. (STAT)

Future of the Alzheimer’s disease drug will likely hinge on whether the agency covers the treatment in the first place. (Reuters)

For the first time ever, a man with life-threatening heart disease received a heart transplant from a genetically modified pig. (New York Times)

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced his state’s plan to create its own low-cost insulin. (Newsweek)

Health officials in Chile launched the campaign for a second COVID vaccine booster, or fourth dose, starting with the immunocompromised and moving on to the general public in February. (Reuters)

The U.S. advised against travel to Canada, due to a rise in COVID-19 cases in the country. (Reuters)

A World Health Organization expert warned that over half of Europe could be infected with COVID-19 over the next 2 months. (CNN)

At-home COVID tests, which require a set of complex steps and have no braille guides, are mostly inaccessible to blind people. (New York Times)

Amid the surge of Omicron infections in recent weeks, misinformation about COVID-19 testing has spiked on social media. (New York Times)

The Chicago Teachers Union has reached a deal to resume in-person classes starting on Wednesday after days of cancelled classes due to safety disputes during the Omicron surge. (Chicago Tribune)

Using his strongest words yet, Pope Francis suggested that getting vaccinated against COVID-19 was a “moral obligation.” (AP)

Many people who were once extremely cautious about preventing the spread of COVID-19 have now developed a “vaxxed and done” mantra. Here’s why there has been an ideological shift about the pandemic among Democrats. (The Atlantic)

Scientists at Pfizer and Moderna are now targeting a universal flu vaccine with their mRNA technology. (CNBC)

Fully vaccinated and boosted Savannah Guthrie, host of NBC’s “Today Show,” tested positive for COVID-19 a few days after her co-host Hoda Kotb was infected. (CNN)

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic was permitted to enter Melbourne for the Australian Open, after he appealed a judge’s denial of his COVID-19 vaccine exemption. But Australia’s immigration official can still overturn the decision. (Sports Illustrated)