The good news is that California finally ramped up its lagging COVID-19 vaccination program last week. The bad news, at least for Gov. Gavin Newsom, is that despite the surge, the state fell well short of the 1 million additional inoculations that he had promised during the 10-day period that...
California Becomes First State to Top 3 Million Virus Cases
California on Monday became the first state to record more than 3 million known coronavirus infections. The grim milestone, as tallied by Johns Hopkins University, wasn’t entirely unexpected in a state with 40 million residents but its speed stunning. The state only reached 2 million reported cases on Dec. 24....
A New COVID-19 Challenge: Mutations Rise Along With Cases
The race against the virus that causes COVID-19 has taken a new turn: Mutations are rapidly popping up, and the longer it takes to vaccinate people, the more likely it is that a variant that can elude current tests, treatments and vaccines could emerge. The coronavirus is becoming more genetically...
Online Sign-Ups Complicate Vaccine Rollout for Older People
DENVER — Howard Jones, who's 83, was on the phone for three to four hours every day trying to sign up for a coronavirus vaccine. Jones, who lives alone in Colorado Springs, doesn’t have the internet, and that's made it much more difficult for him to make an appointment. It...
Deep South Falls Behind in Coronavirus Vaccine Drive
ATLANTA — The coronavirus vaccines have been rolled out unevenly across the U.S., but four states in the Deep South have had particularly dismal inoculation rates that have alarmed health experts and frustrated residents. In Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina, less than 2% of the population had received its...
Biden’s $1.9T Plan Includes $1,400 Checks for Most Americans
WILMINGTON, Del. — President-elect Joe Biden is unveiling a $1.9 trillion coronavirus plan Thursday to turn the tide on the pandemic, speeding up the vaccine rollout and providing financial help to individuals, states and local governments and businesses struggling with the prolonged economic fallout. Called the “American Rescue Plan,” the...
California Counties Beg for Vaccine as Eligibility Expands
SACRAMENTO — California counties begged for more coronavirus vaccine as the state added a potential 4 to 6 million people to those eligible for the sought-after doses. State public health officials followed federal guidance Wednesday by announcing that people 65 and older could get the two-dose vaccine. But Los Angeles...
Biden Pandemic Plan: Control Virus and Stabilize the Economy
WILMINGTON, Del. — The coronavirus action plan President Joe Biden is unveiling Thursday aims to bring new urgency to the nation's vaccination campaign coupled with another round of economic relief for hunkered-down Americans. The Biden plan comes as a divided nation remains caught in the grip of the pandemic’s most...
Calls to Reopen Classrooms Grow as Teachers Get Vaccinated
State leaders around the U.S. are increasingly pushing for schools to reopen this winter — pressuring them, even — as teachers begin to gain access to the vaccine against the raging pandemic. Ohio's governor offered to give vaccinations to teachers at the start of February, provided their school districts agree...
California Students Could Get ‘Do-Over’ School Year to Make Up for Distance Learning Gaps
California students who have been struggling academically because of distance learning during the pandemic could get a "do-over" year under legislation proposed by a San Diego Assemblywoman. Assembly Bill 104 would let parents and students decide whether the student should repeat a grade because of learning losses during the pandemic,...