Researchers say diseases that spread between humans and animals will become increasingly commonplace as human expansion into previously uninhabited areas intensifies.

They argue the threat posed by COVID has lessened because of preexisting immunity and access to treatment. Plus, some deaths may be incorrectly blamed on COVID. Others caution it's too soon to tell.

Masks are no longer required on public transportation or in correctional facilities and shelters as a new Omicron booster becomes more widely available to New Yorkers.

Central New York students are having a very different back to school experience compared to last year, as many of the COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted. But the virus has not gone away.

People can get the Moderna booster if they're 18 or older, and the Pfizer-BioNTech version if they're 12 and up. In both cases, they must wait at least two months since their last COVID vaccine.

The new shots from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech target both the original strain of the coronavirus and the omicron BA.4/BA.5 subvariants that most people are catching now.

The Food and Drug Administration is planning to authorize a new generation of COVID-19 boosters this week that for the first time will target the omicron variant.

The Biden administration is pausing its distribution of free COVID-19 tests this week, but you can still order new ones before the end date.

Gov. Kathy Hochul says COVID-19 rules will be eased for New York’s schoolchildren this year, and masks and social distancing will no longer be required. The governor and state health officials also gave an update on the spread of monkeypox, which for the first time has infected a child.