On Christmas Eve, Dr. Anthony Fauci will turn 81. Having advised seven presidents in his role as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, he is one of America's best-known doctors, and, for many, a trusted voice on Covid-19.
Just when we thought we were heading for a more normalized holiday season, a new variant -- the dreaded Omicron -- has been identified as a "variant of concern" by the World Health Organization. I and other public health experts are cautioning Americans to take this variant seriously, but also to be patient, as we have much to discover. But I recognize that the wait feels understandably frustrating: how is it possible that almost two years into the pandemic, we still can't know with certainty what the next best step might be?
Prosecutors charged the parents of a 15-year-old suspected school shooter with four counts of involuntary manslaughter in a rare move that sent shockwaves across the country.