In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Tara Vijayan, associate professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at UCLA, and director for antimicrobial stewardship at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. 

Topics today include: 

• President Biden to address the nation on winter COVID-19 preparations: 

  • U.S. to require stricter COVID-19 testing for international travelers. 
  • Private health insurance to reimburse people for over-the-counter at-home rapid tests. 
  • Mask mandate for airplanes and public transportation extended to March. 
• Minnesota reports the second U.S. case of the omicron COVID variant in a resident who traveled to New York City. What does that tell us about domestic transmission? 
• After confirming first omicron case in the United States, California health officials assure residents it’s prepared. 
• How San Francisco confirmed the first U.S. Omicron case so quickly. 

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