Workplace class action settlements hit new highs in 2021 - January 4, 2022

The U.S. reported a record 1,082,549 new coronavirus cases on Monday, as the highly infectious omicron variant continues to spread like wildfire throughout the country. The heavily mutated variant drove the record surge, which broke the U.S. case record by almost double last week’s record of 590,000, staggeringly more than any country has ever reported. Hospitalizations are up 41% in the past two weeks but remain below the pandemic peak. Omicron Cases Are Hitting Highs, But New Data Put End in Sight - Bloomberg Free at-home COVID-19 tests: When will they be here? - CNET @jburnmurdoch: With a variant that spreads so far and so fast, the Omicron wave more than any other will be exceptionally good at seeking out the last few unprotected people, so even a small difference in the immunonaive share of the population could make a big difference to ICU pressure The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the use of a third booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Monday for children ages 12 to 15 in addition to narrowing the interval for booster shot eligibility to five months from six. The approval comes as many schools scheduled to return after the holiday break decided to delay this week’s in-person learning following record COVID-19 case levels fueled by the omicron variant. ‘Insurmountable’: Parents Grapple With Omicron’s Upending Force in Schools - The New York Times @AliBaumanTV: Students are going back to school this week but many families are struggling to find a COVID test after the holidays, and then have to wait days for the results. @CBSNewYork @charlielangton: #NEW Detroit Public Schools @Detroitk12 will be virtual starting this week and continuing until at least January 14 due to 40% #Covid_19 infection levels. @WWJ950 @FOX2News #Detroit #schools #Infection Starbucks announced its 220,000 U.S. workers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing starting Feb. 9 to comply with the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate going into effect next week. Employees who choo