Highest U.S. Death Total Ever; Swiss Vax Adviser Kidnapped; Gilbert Gottfried Dies

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COVID-19 helped push the U.S. to its highest death total ever. (AP)

Japan reported its first case of Omicron XE — here’s what we know, and don’t know, about the variant. (CNBC, Time)

In the U.S., Omicron BA.2 accounts for an estimated 85.9% of cases, according to the CDC.

The world has now surpassed half a billion known COVID-19 cases. (Axios)

As of Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. EDT, the unofficial COVID toll in the U.S. reached 80,493,086 infections and 987,702 deaths, increases of 26,425 and 543, respectively, since this time a day ago.

In China, people are stockpiling food with residents bracing for Shanghai-like lockdowns as Omicron spreads. (Wall Street Journal)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and a top minister were fined for pandemic lockdown parties. (CNBC)

A physician who was a top Swiss vaccine adviser was the victim of a brief kidnapping late last month that led to a fatal shootout with police. (Reuters)

Adolescent drug overdose deaths rose exponentially during the COVID pandemic, in large part due to fatalities involving fentanyls. (JAMA)

The FDA and DEA issued joint warnings to websites illegally selling schedule II stimulants, including amphetamine drugs marketed as Adderall.

Global increases in brain network integration may be why psilocybin therapy produces antidepressant effects. (Nature Medicine)

Prenatal exposure to maternal social disadvantage and psychosocial stress was linked with infant brain volumes. (JAMA Network Open)

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) signed a bill making it a felony to perform an abortion except in a medical emergency. (CNN)

Field mice have infested FDA offices, forcing some workers to use temporary office space and others to continue working remotely. (Politico)

Insulin’s price tag endangers lives, the advocacy group Human Rights Watch stated.

A California appeals court ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $302 million for concealing risks about its Ethicon pelvic mesh products. (AP)

Comedian Gilbert Gottfried died at age 67 from recurrent ventricular tachycardia due to myotonic dystrophy type 2, according to his friend and publicist. (NBC News)