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New clinical-trial data suggest that an antiviral pill called ensitrelvir shortens the duration of two unpleasant symptoms of COVID-19: loss of smell and taste. The medication is among the first to alleviate these effects and, unlike other COVID-19 treatments, is not reserved only for people at high risk of severe illness. (Lenharo, 10/17)

A U.S. House committee is now investigating a COVID-19 policy at University of Maryland, College Park. Starting in September, if a student tests positive, they have to quarantine off campus. For students who live on campus, this means having to either go back to their family's home, or book lodging off campus like a hotel. Its cost falls squarely on the student's shoulders. (Valera, 10/16)

The Baltimore City Health Department will offer new COVID-19 vaccines to children and adults at no cost. The offer extends to adults who are uninsured or underinsured. Now that COVID-19 infections are on the rise, the health department wants to make sure that everyone is staying safe. (Kushner, 10/17)

A study yesterday in JAMA Network Open based on outcomes seen among Singaporean children ages 4 years and younger showed good protection for two doses of monovalent mRNA COVID vaccines during an Omicron surge. The authors said the findings support vaccinating this age-group, despite low incidence of severe disease or hospitalization. (Soucheray, 10/17)

Earlier this week, Chicago-based Pathize Health launched its brand-new app which helps patients living with long Covid to better manage their fatigue by collecting real-time data. This is achieved through connectivity with the Apple Watch enabling patients to develop important insights into key areas such as energy management, activity logging and medication adherence. (Alexiou, 10/18)

Â鶹ŮÓÅ Health News: Covid Relief Payments Triggered Feds To Demand Money Back From Social Security Recipients 

As the nation reeled from covid-19, the federal government sent many Americans a financial lifeline. But some recipients say the covid relief payments have triggered financial distress by jeopardizing their Social Security benefits. The government has demanded they repay much larger amounts — thousands of dollars in benefits for the poor and disabled distributed by the Social Security Administration. (Hilzenrath and Fleischer, 10/18)

The bar for taking a sick day is getting lower, and some bosses say that’s a problem. U.S. workers have long viewed an unwillingness to take sick days as a badge of honor. That’s a laurel workers care much less about these days. The number of sick days Americans take annually has soared since the pandemic, employee payroll data show. Covid-19 and a rise in illnesses such as RSV, which can require days away from work, are one reason. Managers and human-resources executives also attribute the jump to a bigger shift in the way many Americans relate to their jobs.  (Chen, 10/17)