Feb 15 UK opens quarantine hotels for travelers from 33 high-risk countries By Jill Lawless, Associated Press Britain’s newly established quarantine hotels received their first guests on Monday as the government tries to prevent new coronavirus variants from derailing its fast-moving vaccination drive. Continue reading
Feb 15 Japan approves its first COVID-19 vaccine By Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press Japan formally approved its first COVID-19 vaccine and said it would start nationwide inoculations within days, but months behind the U.S. and many other countries. Continue reading
Feb 14 Watch 3:49 A new sculpture in the ‘heart’ of New York City symbolizes hope, nods to this past year By Ivette Feliciano, Sam Weber In the middle of New York City's Times Square, a new interactive sculpture was unveiled earlier this week as part of an annual Valentine's Day-themed design competition. But this year, in the middle of a pandemic, with so many communal,… Continue watching
Feb 14 Average US virus cases dip below 100K for 1st time in months By Kate Brumback, Sudhin Thanawala, Associated Press Average daily new coronavirus cases in the United States dipped below 100,000 in recent days for the first time in months, but experts cautioned Sunday that infections remain high and precautions to slow the pandemic must remain in place. Continue reading
Feb 13 Watch 6:50 An unexpected pitfall for some cities’ mandatory hazard pay for essential workers By Laura Fong Despite the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations, hazards for frontline workers continue. Early in the pandemic, many large companies increased pay for essential workers, but many of those raises have now expired. Seattle and several cities across California have passed mandatory… Continue watching
Feb 13 Watch 6:47 Some cities made hazard pay for essential workers mandatory— what companies, and local governments, have to say about it By PBS NewsHour When the COVID-19 pandemic swept the nation last March, many large food retailers increased their frontline workers’ pay by several dollars an hour. Dubbed ‘hero pay,' the programs have since ended, despite the remaining dangers for workers. Some cities have… Continue watching
Feb 12 Biden administration to undo Medicaid work requirements By Alexandra Jaffe, Associated Press Federal health officials planned Friday to inform 10 states that they would revoke permissions granted by the Trump administration to impose such requirements. Continue reading
Feb 12 WATCH: Pentagon approves 20 more COVID-19 vaccination teams By Associated Press The Biden administration has said that delivering the vaccine to Americans is a top priority, raising questions about why the rollout of the teams hasn't moved more quickly. Continue reading
Feb 12 Czech Republic in chaos after political infighting amid COVID-19 surge By Karel Janicek, Associated Press The lower house of the Czech Parliament late Thursday refused the minority government's request to extend the state of emergency. Ministers have warned that will further worsen the situation and might cause the struggling health system to collapse. Continue reading
Feb 12 WHO chief cautions against easing restrictions By Associated Press Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says the number of reported cases of globally has declined for the fourth week in a row, and the number of deaths also fell for the second consecutive week. Continue reading