Novel coronavirus

U.S. holiday travel surges despite COVID-19 outbreak

By Tamara Lush, Associated Press

Millions of Americans are traveling ahead of Christmas and New Year's, despite pleas from public health experts that they stay home to avoid fueling the raging coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 320,000 nationwide.

U.S. layoffs stay high as 803,000 seek unemployment benefits

By Paul Wiseman, Associated Press

The latest figure shows many employers are still cutting jobs, as the pandemic tightens business restrictions and leads many consumers to stay home.

Trump criticizes COVID-19 relief bill, suggests he may not sign

By Kevin Freking, Andrew Taylor, Associated Press

Trump complained in a video that he tweeted out Tuesday night that the bill delivered too much money to foreign countries, but not enough to Americans.

South Carolina governor tests positive for coronavirus

By Meg Kinnard, Associated Press

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has tested positive for the coronavirus and was slated to receive outpatient antibody treatment for “mild symptoms,” his office said Tuesday.

Can employers make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory?

By Associated Press

Experts say businesses can require COVID-19 vaccinations for employees, but that doesn't mean they will.

U.S. deaths in 2020 top 3 million

By Mike Stobbe, Associated Press

This is the deadliest year in U.S. history, with deaths topping 3 million for the first time. It's due mainly to the coronavirus pandemic that has killed nearly 320,000 Americans, and counting.

California desperately searches for more nurses and doctors

By Daisy Nguyen, Associated Press

Much of California has exhausted its usual ability to staff intensive care beds, and the nation's most populated state is desperately searching for 3,000 temporary medical workers to meet demand.

EU recommends against nonessential travel to the UK

By Pan Pylas, Associated Press

The European Union recommended Tuesday that all 27 member countries should discourage all nonessential travel to and from the United Kingdom until further notice.

Before COVID-19, U.S. life expectancy was making a slight rebound

By Laura Santhanam

New federal data shows life expectancy before the pandemic was on the rise, but tens of thousands of deaths caused by opioids…

California could see 100,000 hospitalizations in January

By Don Thompson, Associated Press

Dr. Mark Ghaly, California's secretary of health and human services, says the state fears some hospitals will exceed even their existing surge capacity.