The CDC warned House lawmakers that the delta variant sweeping across the country is as contagious as chickenpox, has a longer transmission window than the original Covid-19 strain and may make older people sicker, even if they’ve been fully vaccinated. The warning on Thursday was made in a confidential document that was reviewed by CNBC and…

Nurse Darryl Hana gives a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to a person at a three-day vaccination clinic at the Providence Wilmington Wellness and Activity Center on July 29, 2021 in Wilmington, California. Mario Tama | Getty Images The pace of US vaccinations is picking up again as the Delta variant leads to a…

Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CNBC on Friday that he believes the coronavirus is significantly more widespread in the United States than official case numbers reflect as the highly contagious Delta variant is sweeping the nation. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we are currently infecting by and large up to a million people a day and…

Professional sports leagues are uniquely positioned to track breakthrough Covid cases because they test thousands of athletes consistently, according to Dr. Robby Sikka, a physician who has worked with numerous NBA and NFL teams. Sikka told CNBC that the highly transmissible delta variant is “absolutely” driving most of the Covid breakthrough cases he’s studied. “Delta…

Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks in Dallas, Texas, U.S. Lucas Jackson | Reuters Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order Thursday, reiterating his opposition to mask mandates, Covid-related business restrictions and vaccination requirements and issuing fines of up to $1,000 on those who fail to comply. The governor also called on state hospitals to…

Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group will require indoor diners and drinkers at its restaurants to show they’ve been vaccinated against Covid-19. The mandate also applies to current employees and new hires. The announcement, which Meyer made Thursday on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” comes as concern around the highly contagious delta variant increases, and U.S. officials…

Pedestrians use mobile phones while walking past Twitter Inc. headquarters in San Francisco, California, U.S. Bloomberg | Getty Images Twitter has announced that it will close its San Francisco and New York offices immediately as Covid cases surge across the country. Wednesday’s announcement comes just two weeks after the social media company reopened their offices…

The effectiveness of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine steadily declines over time, dropping to about 84% for vaccinated people about four to six months after getting their second dose, according to CEO Albert Bourla. The comments, made on Wednesday on CNBC’s “The Exchange,” are based on the findings of a new company-funded study that has yet to…

A person walks past the Pfizer building in New York City, March 2, 2021. Carlo Allegri | Reuters Pfizer said Wednesday it is raising the 2021 sales forecast of its Covid-19 vaccine to $33.5 billion from $26 billion, as the delta variant spreads and scientists debate whether people will need booster shots. In releasing its…

Dr. Peter Hotez told CNBC that while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new Covid masking guidelines are “absolutely” necessary to battle the delta variant and surging cases, there might be an alternative to wearing masks indoors again.  “There is potentially a way to get around it, and it may be that third immunization,”…