COVID-19 infections from schools could overload crowded Idaho hospitals

Roughly 11,000 kids in Coeur d’Alene were getting ready for their first day of school when Idaho public health officials announced this week that northern hospitals were so crowded with coronavirus patients that they would be allowed to ration health care.

Study: 80% of COVID-19 patients suffer 1 or more long-term effects

Researchers who analyzed more than 18,000 studies found that 80% of people who were infected with COVID-19 suffered one or more of the long-term effects associated with the novel coronavirus.

Biden announces vaccine mandate for employers with more than 100 workers

President Joe Biden announced sweeping new federal vaccine requirements affecting as many as 100 million Americans in an all-out effort to increase COVID-19 vaccinations and curb the surging delta variant.

Anti-mask adults heckle student discussing grandmother’s COVID-19 death

"This time last year, my grandmother, who was a former teacher at the Rutherford County school system, died of COVID because someone wasn't wearing a mask," Knox said during his speech. Behind him, women could be seen laughing and shaking their heads.

Moderna developing combo COVID-19 booster, flu shot

Moderna announced on Thursday that it is developing a vaccine that combines a booster for COVID-19 and a shot for the seasonal flu.

Biden tightens COVID-19 vaccine mandate on federal workers, contractors

Weeks after mandating federal workers get a shot or face rigorous testing and masking protocols, President Joe Biden will sign a new executive order to require vaccination for employees of the executive branch and contractors that do business with the federal government.

Microsoft return to U.S. offices delayed indefinitely

Microsoft told employees Thursday that it has indefinitely delayed their return to U.S. offices until it’s safer to do so.

US unemployment claims reach another pandemic low as economy recovers

U.S. unemployment claims fell last week to 310,000, a pandemic low and a sign that rising COVID-19 cases have yet to lead to widespread layoffs.

US COVID-19 deaths surpass 650,000 as delta variant fuels pandemic

The U.S. COVID-19 death toll reached 650,000 this week as the nation faces the delta variant fueling hospitalizations, many of whom are unvaccinated.

LAUSD proposing vaccine mandate for all eligible students ages 12 and up

If the proposal passes, eligible students aged 12 and up would be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend in-person classes.

New COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations slowly declining

The amount of new COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations is slowly declining in Florida, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Florida Department of Health.

COVID-19 deaths among first responders continue to increase

Despite the deaths, police officers and other first responders are among those most hesitant to get the vaccine.

Idaho hospitals rationing care as COVID-19 patients line halls

Idaho’s move to crisis standards of care this week is allowing some hospitals to ration health care amid an onslaught of coronavirus patients and officials are warning the the rationing could spread to hospitals statewide.

Florida judge rules against governor, allowing school districts to require masks without being penalized

A Florida judge ruled Wednesday that the state cannot enforce a ban on public schools mandating the use of masks to guard against the coronavirus, while an appeals court sorts out whether the ban is ultimately legal.

Veteran says it’s unlikely PTSD caused former Marine to kill 4 in Polk massacre

Bryan Riley said he was on meth and struggling with post-traumatic-stress disorder when he killed four people, but a veteran who runs a non-profit dedicated to PTSD says it is unlikely that’s what caused Riley to commit the quadruple murder.

More than 1 in 4 new COVID-19 cases are now in children, report says

A new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics says more one in four coronavirus cases are among children — the highest ratio since the pandemic began.