A panel of U.S. health advisers on Tuesday narrowly backed a closely watched COVID-19 pill from Merck, setting the stage for a likely authorization of the first drug that Americans could take at home to treat the coronavirus

Over the past week, from Nov. 24 through Monday, Northern Illinois University reported 42 new cases of COVID-19: five employees and 37 students.

Health officials reported 84 more cases of COVID-19 in DeKalb County Tuesday, and added 75 more residents fully vaccinated. A fourth longterm care facility is back in outbreak mode.