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Months after recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection, survivors have elevated levels of antibodies that can mistakenly attack their own organs and tissues, even if they had not been severely ill, according to new findings. Among 177 healthcare workers who had recovered from confirmed coronavirus infections contracted before the availability of vaccines, all had persistent autoantibodies, including ones that can cause chronic inflammation and injury of the joints, skin and nervous system. (Lapid, 1/4)

A series of preliminary studies suggest that cellular immunity elicited by vaccines or prior COVID infections remains effective against the Omicron variant. This form of immunity is associated with protection against severe disease. That means that while vaccinated people or those with prior infections are significantly less protected against Omicron infection, they're unlikely to become seriously ill. It's still unclear how likely the Omicron variant is in the first place to cause serious disease, even in people who haven't been vaccinated or previously infected. (Owens, 1/4)

Humans have infected wild deer with Covid-19 in a handful of states, and there’s evidence that the coronavirus has been spreading among deer, according to recent studies that outline findings that could complicate the path out of the pandemic. ... The research suggests that the coronavirus could be taking hold in a free-ranging species that numbers about 30 million in the U.S. No cases of Covid spread from deer to human have been reported, but it’s possible, scientists say. (Bush, 1/2)

Betty White’s agent is clearing up a false rumor circulating online that the TV icon received a COVID-19 booster shot last week, three days before her death on New Year’s Eve. White’s agent and close friend, Jeff Witjas, revealed to the media Monday that she died “peacefully in her sleep at her home,” while debunking a statement, falsely attributed to her, that she had received a booster shot on Dec. 28. “People are saying her death was related to getting a booster shot three days earlier but that is not true,” Witjas said in a statement to People. “She died of natural causes. Her death should not be politicized — that is not the life she lived.” (Ross, 1/3)

Twitter Inc. on Sunday said it permanently banned the personal account of Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene for repeated violations of the platform’s prohibition against spreading misinformation about Covid-19. The Georgia lawmaker was previously suspended for tweeting false claims about the Covid vaccine and health risks during the global pandemic. A Twitter spokesman said the company has “been clear that, per our strike system for this policy, we will permanently suspend accounts for repeated violations of the policy.” (Edgerton, 1/2)

A new report says Oklahoma had the highest 2021 COVID-19 death rate in the country, but the state’s health commissioner says the report is missing context. The report from NBCLX, which draws on data from Johns Hopkins University, calculated Oklahoma’s death rate at 248 per 100,000 people. The national average for 2021 was 137 per 100,000, NBCLX reported. The analysis appears to use data based on the date the death was reported, rather than the date the death occurred. But death reporting happens on a lag of weeks or months, so many deaths reported in early 2021 actually occurred in 2020. (Branham, 1/3)

Alex Willis, owner of a pharmacy in south Georgia, was eagerly waiting Monday for his first shipments of a potentially game-changing COVID-19 treatment in pill form. The two new antiviral pills — both of which require a doctor’s prescription — could be a powerful tool to combat COVID-19 at a crucial time in the pandemic as the omicron variant has spiked the number of new infections. The tablet form of treatment is convenient, can be picked up at a pharmacy and taken at home. All previously authorized drugs for COVID-19 require an IV or injection administered by a medical professional. (Oliviero, 1/4)

Walmart temporarily shut almost 60 U.S. stores in COVID-19 hotspots in December to sanitize them against the virus, in a sign the new Omicron variant is disrupting the retail industry. The Walmart stores – in locations including Texas and New Jersey – were closed for two days for cleaning “to present a safe and clean in-store environment for our associates and customers," a company spokesperson told Reuters in a statement. Walmart has more than 4,700 U.S. locations in total. (Naidu and Kaye, 1/3)

Israel on Monday began offering anyone over 60 a chance to get a fourth shot of a coronavirus vaccine, greatly expanding a double-booster effort that previously included just older residents with compromised immune systems and some health-care workers. The initiative puts Israel at the forefront of aggressive vaccination strategies as the omicron variant drives up infection rates around the world. (Hendrix, 1/3)

Flu cases were at historic lows during last year's season as schools shut down and workplaces went remote, but with a resurgence of influenza, concerns about a "twindemic" caused by "flurona" are high. Israel recently confirmed what is believed to be one of the first documented cases of an individual infected with both the flu and COVID-19. An unvaccinated pregnant woman tested positive for both illnesses last week at the Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, the Times of Israel reports. (Best, 1/3)