In the U.S., people of color have been more likely to die at younger ages, especially among lower-income communities. That's had a ripple effect on finances, education and physical and mental health.

"One million empty chairs around the dinner table. Each an irreplaceable loss," President Biden said Thursday.

We asked experts from around the world: What would they like to see on the agenda for this virtual event. Their ideas include fair pay for all health workers — and a makeover for foreign aid.

Some people have had trouble getting Paxlovid pills quickly, despite the administration's effort to ease access after a COVID test confirms infection.

The 66-year-old wrote in a tweet Tuesday that he is experiencing mild symptoms and is "following the experts' advice" by isolating himself until he's healthy.

Sharon Osbourne, who revealed the diagnosis, said she is taking off time from work to care for her 73-year-old husband, a rock music legend. "I am very worried about Ozzy right now," she said.

Vaccinations and residual immunity are among the reasons, President Biden's chief medical adviser, Anthony Fauci, said Tuesday, as the number of deaths drop and hospitalizations rise only slightly.

So many people caught the omicron variant over the winter that almost 60% of everyone in the U.S. — including most children — now have antibodies to the virus in their blood, the CDC said Tuesday.

The airline changed its announcement about the end of the federal mask mandate after a firestorm of criticism from public health experts who called it inaccurate and misleading.

Delta, United, Southwest, American and Alaska Airlines and other say masks are now optional for travelers on their aircraft.

The overarching impact of vaccination, boosting and natural immunity from infection is that hospitalization numbers are now as low, if not lower than, right before last July’s delta wave, Georgia Department of Health epidemiologist Dr. Cherie Drenzek said. 

Though the majority of Medicaid recipients have smartphones, most states will rely on snail mail and email to tell people their coverage is at risk with the end of the COVID public health emergency.

The order from Washington covers "non-emergency U.S. government employees and their family members from U.S. Consulate General Shanghai."

Nationwide, a March Gallup poll found that 3% of respondents said the top problem facing the United States is the coronavirus or diseases, the lowest percentage since the start of the pandemic. Data from the state health department shows at least 400 Georgians died from COVID-19 in March. 

People who are interested in taking part can find out more by emailing the Morehouse School of Medicine Vaccine Trials Unit (VTU) at vturesearch@msm.edu, or calling 888-788-0644.