The latest Antibodies capable of fending off the omicron variant stick around for four months after a third shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, a new study shows. The non-peer-reviewed research, published Saturday, offers early evidence that the additional doses broaden this first line of immune defense in a way not seen with two shots. It also suggests that an additional booster shot may not be needed right away to fight omicron. But the results need to be replicated and studied over a longer period before officials start using them to formulate health policies. The Food and Drug Administration could soon restrict the use of two monoclonal antibody treatments after finding that they don't work against omicron. The infusions from Regeneron and Eli Lilly were powerful tools against previous variants but were rendered ineffective by omicron's many mutations. The Biden administration is expected to pause their distribution to states. One monoclonal antibody, sotrovimab, remains effective against omicron but supplies are limited. As hospitals struggle with a crush of patients, some health-care facilities are asking staff with covid-19 to return to work, even if they may still be infectious. Hospitals everywhere are dealing with staff shortages and burnout as nationwide hospitalizations hit record highs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paved the way for hospitals to make these calls when officials last month shortened isolation recommendations from 10 days to 5 — a move criticized by some leading health experts. The vast majority of the federal workforce is now vaccinated, due in part to the Biden administration's vaccine mandate. But omicron threw a wrench into the government's reopening plans. Many federal agencies haven't figured out when to resume normal operations or how to protect their workers and the public when they do. Tens of thousands of employees still haven't gotten their shots, and there's no clear plan on what to do with them. The nation's schools, too, are wrestling over how to keep kids safe. In the D.C. area alone, masking policies vary widely. A "mask optional" order issued by Virginia's Republican governor took effect today and has already thrown the state's school system into chaos, with bitter divisions emerging among parents and officials. Seven school boards, including some of Virginia's largest, have sued in federal court to block the order. An anti-vaccine rally in the nation's capital Sunday was a modest affair, with several thousand protesters gathering on the national Mall. Prominent anti-vaccine activists addressed the crowd from the Lincoln Memorial. Some of the marchers carried posters and flags with false statements such as "Vaccines are mass kill bio weapons," and many came adorned in gear with slogans supporting former president Donald Trump. One of the speakers was Robert Malone, a purveyor of covid-19 misinformation who has garnered legions of followers since the beginning of the pandemic. Though Twitter barred him for violating its coronavirus misinformation policy, he has found other outlets, including a recent appearance on Joe Rogan's popular podcast. My colleague Timothy Bella has an eye-opening profile on Malone and how he has amplified the anti-vaccine movement. Other important news Is a loved one home sick with covid-19? You can help. Low-wage workers prop up the nursing home industry. They're quitting in droves. The Kiribati island nation was one of the world's last covid-free places. Now it's under lockdown. The perfect mask for working out doesn't exist. But you've got options. | 
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