The next COVID casualty: Your cup of coffee?
The pandemic has reduced mitigation of a fungus destroying coffee crops across Latin and Central America, along with limiting the movement of migrant workers who harvest coffee.
US unemployment claims fall to 364,000, a new pandemic low
U.S. unemployment claims dropped by 51,000 last week to 364,000, the lowest level since the pandemic began in 2020.
Kim Jong Un berates N. Korean officials for 'crucial' COVID-19 lapse
Kim Jong Un berated top North Korean officials for failures in COVID-19 prevention. But so far, the country has claimed to have had no infections.
Disney delays test cruise over ‘inconsistent’ virus results
Disney Cruise Line is postponing its first test cruise since the pandemic brought the cruise industry to a standstill after a handful of participants had inconsistent test results for COVID-19, the company said Monday.
Florida opts out of $300 federal unemployment benefit to push people back to workforce
Florida is now one of 26 states to end pandemic unemployment benefits early. Over the weekend, federal payments of $300 a week expired for Floridians.
Masks are off, but legal wrangling continues
Gov. Ron DeSantis in early May blocked cities and counties from requiring people to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But that hasn’t stopped legal battles over mask mandates.
Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines likely offer long-lasting protection, study finds
A study found that immune cells were still being churned out to fight the virus nearly four months after receiving the first dose of an mRNA vaccine.
Puerto Rico to receive nearly $4B in US pandemic relief funds
Strict conditions had prevented the U.S. territory from receiving certain federal funds in a timely manner under the Trump administration, but these have been easing under President Biden.
As delta variant rises globally, US targeting younger adults for vaccines
Several countries are reinstating safety measures as the delta variant continues to spread. And in the U.S., the Biden administration is now targeting a group dubbed “the movable middle” to get vaccinated.
1st post-pandemic cruise ship from US sails away from Florida
The first cruise ship to leave a U.S. port since the coronavirus pandemic brought the industry to a 15-month standstill sailed away on Saturday with nearly all vaccinated passengers on board.
UK health minister resigns after breaking COVID-19 protocols
U.K. Health Secretary Matt Hancock resigned Saturday, a day after apologizing for breaching social distancing rules with an aide with whom he was allegedly having an affair.
Delta variant: WHO urges vaccinated people to still wear masks, distance
As the delta variant of COVID-19 continues to spread globally, WHO officials are pleading for a more equitable distribution of vaccines and for those who have been vaccinated to remain “appropriately cautious.”
US saw biggest drop in life expectancy since WWII due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
A new study found that Life expectancy in the United States dropped a staggering two years between 2018 and 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
San Francisco will require all city employees to be vaccinated or they could get fired
The new policy makes San Francisco the first city or county in California — and probably the U.S. — to mandate COVID vaccinations for all government employees.
US COVID-19 deaths: Most who died recently were unvaccinated, data shows
Nearly all COVID-19 deaths in the United States now are in people who weren’t vaccinated, a staggering demonstration of how effective the vaccines have been and an indication that daily deaths — now down to under 300 — could be practically zero if everyone eligible got the shots.
Philippines president threatens to arrest refusers of COVID-19 vaccine
“I’ll have you arrested and I’ll inject the vaccine in your butt,” Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to arrest people refusing a COVID-19 shot and inject them with the vaccine himself.
Delta variant: What to know about the spreading coronavirus strain
The delta variant has been rapidly spreading in countries around the globe. In the U.S., it now makes up at least 20% of COVID-19 cases.
Nationwide eviction moratorium extended by CDC for 30 days
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, extended the evictions moratorium until July 31. It had been scheduled to end June 30.
US unemployment claims tick down to 411,000 as economy heals
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits declined 7,000 from the previous week to 411,000, the Labor Department said.
Biden to urge vaccination in NC as US likely to miss original July 4 goal
President Joe Biden will visit N. Carolina to urge COVID-19 vaccines in the region as the White House expects to just narrowly miss his July 4 goal.