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LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Amid the spread of omicron and increased holiday gatherings and travel, the number of new COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County jumped to nearly 10,000 on Friday - the highest number in 11 months. The 9,988 new cases represents the first time since the vaccine has been publicly available that the number of daily new infections has neared the 10,000 mark. The last time it was that high was in January 2021. It represents a 20-fold increase in one month, since the number of new cases dipped below 500 in late November according to county data.

Over 100 flights that were scheduled for Christmas Eve have been canceled by United Airlines as the company grapples with the spread of the omicron variant, the airline confirmed on Thursday. A spokesperson for United said that "we’re seeing about 120 cancellations planned for Friday."

Stephen A. Smith has tested positive for COVID-19, the ESPN personality announced Tuesday on “First Take.” Smith, 54, appeared virtually on the show and said his positive test result was the reason he missed Monday’s episode. The longtime broadcaster said he is experiencing mild symptoms and had a fever over the weekend. Smith noted that he has gotten two Pfizer vaccine shots, but has not yet received a booster.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, becoming the latest high-ranking individual in the political world to come down with a breakthrough infection amid a nationwide surge in cases. Hogan wrote on Twitter Monday morning that he received a positive rapid test for COVID-19 during his “regular testing routine.” He said he is vaccinated and received a booster shot and is “feeling fine at the moment.” The governor also encouraged individuals to get vaccinated or receive the booster shot “as soon as possible” as the omicron strain “becomes more dominant.”

WASHINGTON (CBS) — U.S. Senator Cory Booker has tested positive for COVID, according to a statement from the New Jersey Democrat. The announcement came after he started feeling symptoms Saturday. “I learned today that I tested positive for COVID-19 after first feeling symptoms on Saturday. Fortunately, my symptoms are relatively mild,” U.S. Senator Booker said in a statement.

I regularly test for COVID & while I tested negative earlier this week, today I tested positive with a breakthrough case,' Warren wrote. 'Thankfully, I am only experiencing mild symptoms & am grateful for the protection provided against serious illness that comes from being vaccinated & boosted.' In April 2020 Warren announced that her brother, Don Reed Herring, had died of the virus.

CNN is closing its offices to employees who do not need to work in person. In an internal memo to employees on Saturday and obtained by The Hill, President Jeff Zucker said the move was being made "out of an abundance of caution," and is tied to a new wave of coronavirus infections sweeping the nation. The decision to scale back in-person work "will also protect those who will be in the office by minimizing the number of people who are there," the network said.

Instead of lining up to see Santa or waiting to buy Christmas gifts, New Yorkers stood for hours Saturday to get COVID-19 tests as cases continued to surge. Residents fumed as they waited for the nasal swabs in order to travel or because they thought they might have the virus. At a city-run testing and vaccination center in Times Square on Saturday afternoon, the wait was about three hours. “I’m cold and frustrated. We are in such a big city, there should be more options available,” said Alessandra Abate, 29, a graduate student from Dumbo who had been in line...

<p>Queen guitarist Brian May has revealed that he has tested positive for COVID-19.</p><p>May, 74, said he and his wife, Anita Dobson, had been “incredibly careful” and had been acting “very hermit-like” throughout the pandemic, but decided to go out to a birthday lunch for a friend earlier this month where all guests provided negative COVID-19 tests.</p>

Dec 18 (Reuters) - CNN is closing its offices in the United States to all nonessential employees as COVID-19 cases increase, the network said on Saturday in an internal memo to staff seen by Reuters. CNN, part of AT&T Inc's (T.N) WarnerMedia division, will close its offices to all employees who do not have work in the office, the memo said.... ...The news was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. The network had set a tentative return-to-office date in January and it isn't known if that date will move, the Journal reported....

Saturday night may not be so live from New York this week. The Post has learned that “Saturday Night Live” was on the verge of canceling tonight’s final episode of the iconic sketch show’s 2021 season due to an in-house outbreak of positive COVID-19 cases. A set insider has revealed that “four actors” have tested positive for coronavirus — and “three others” have called out because they are now “fearful” about coming to NBC Studios at 30 Rockefeller Center, where the weekly sketch show is filmed in Midtown. Another insider claimed that executive producer Lorne Michaels had tested positive, adding...

More than 2,500 fully vaccinated over 50s have died from COVID-19 in the past month in England, new data shows. In a report published by the UK Health Security Agency analysis revealed 2,683 fully vaccinated over 50s have died within 28 days of positive COVID test in the last four weeks. Some 511 unvaccinated people died in the last four weeks of COVID-19. The figures reflect the fact that the vast majority in this age group has had at least two COVID vaccines. Death rates among the unvaccinated are significantly higher. For people aged over 80, the unvaccinated have a...