Changing America - Are COVID-19 rapid tests working against new omicron variants?

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View Online  Are COVID-19 rapid tests working against new omicron variants? © Getty Images By Chia-Yi Hou Antigen tests that are ready in 15 minutes and can be stored and used at home have been crucial for many who are trying to mitigate risk of contracting the coronavirus. But now some people with COVID-19 related symptoms are reporting that they are repeatedly testing negative with at-home rapid tests. This has brought up the question of whether these tests are working for newer omicron variants.  Read the full story here What the historic health care bill Biden signed means for veterans and their families © The Hill/Greg Nash By Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech President Biden signed a bill into law Wednesday that expands health care benefits to veterans exposed to toxic chemicals from burn pits. Burn pits are areas in U.S. military bases where waste is disposed of through burning. Veterans will now see additional benefits for exposures to burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Read the full story here Climate change reversing 900 years of cooling in Gulf of Maine © iStock By Gianna Melillo In an effort to chronicle changing water temperatures in the Gulf of Maine, researchers assessed data collected from shells and simulated variability through climate models. They found that following a prolonged period of cooling, climate change has contributed to rising temperatures in the region. These increased temperatures have already taken a toll on local marine life and will likely worsen in the future.  Read the full story here The US is filled with voter turnout deserts, pushing inequalities: study © iStock By Shirin Ali Minority citizens, young people and those who support the Democratic Party are much less likely to go out and vote, according to a new study that analyzed millions of voter records from across the country. The analysis also found that the country is filled with "turnout deserts"— a local community where comparatively few people vote.  Read the full story here Feature of the Week: Why lowering the cost of insulin is so hard in the US © iStock By Shirin Ali Congress failed to pass a proposal that would have capped out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 a month for people not covered by Medicare. More than 34 million Americans have diabetes, and it's considered the most expensive chronic illness in the country. Currently only three drug companies manufacture insulin in the U.S., with competition slow to develop because of the complex and expensive nature of creating insulin.  Read the full story here Sign up for Changing America email Manage Subscriptions | Sign Up for Other Newsletters | Unsubscribe    Copyright © 1998 - 2022 Nexstar Media Inc. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use   To ensure you receive these emails in the future, please add thehill@email.thehill.com to your address book, contacts or safe senders list.