In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the UCSF Medical Center. 

Topics today include: 

• Merck pill gets FDA panel support in a 13-10 vote. 
• Biden administration expected to toughen testing requirements for international travelers. 
• Omicron likely had began to spread from South Africa prior to it being detected. 
• Los Angeles County has no significant plans for new COVID-19 restrictions. 
  
  • If vaccines prove to be ineffective, county health department’s first priority will be protecting nursing homes. 
• Bay Area Scientist explains Omicron variant’s set of mutations. 
• California patient confirmed to have first US case of the Omicron variant. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.