September 27, 2021: The COVID pandemic has become the deadliest outbreak in American history. According to data from Johns Hopkins University 681,253 individuals in the U.S. have died from COVID-19, with an estimated 675,000 people during the 1918 flu pandemic. (Smithsonian)
September 24, 2021: The CDC has announced recommendations for booster shots and who should receive them:
(1) People 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series,(2) People aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series,(3) People aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks, and(4) People aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.
September 23, 2021: The FDA has granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for a booster dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine in people 65 and older, people at high risk of severe disease, and people whose jobs put them at risk of infection. (CNN)
September 20, 2021: Pfizer reports a low dose of their COVID vaccine is safe and effective in children ages 5 to 11 and are seeking emergency use authorization as they continue to accumulate data to support an application for full approval in children. (Washington Post)
September 14, 2021: Top U.S. health officials believe that Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine could be authorized for children aged 5-11 years old by the end of October (Reuters)
September 9, 2021: President Biden and the U.S. Department of Labor will issue a rule requiring businesses with more than 100 employees to have their workers vaccinated or tested weekly, officials said on Thursday.
September 9, 2021: Authorities are expecting an active flu season this year, threatening hospitals already struggling to keep up with COVID-19 strains. There is hope that COVID and flu vaccines will keep case counts low this winter. (Wall Street Journal)
September 8, 2021: COVID-19 testing infrastructure nationally struggles to keep up with Delta variant demand. President Biden will address the situation laying out the next phase of the federal pandemic response.
September 7, 2021: World Health Organization (WHO): COVID-19 is likely “here to stay” as the virus continues to mutate similarly to the influenza (flu) pandemic viruses. (CNBC)
August 23, 2021: U.S. FDA has officially granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
August 19, 2021: As the Delta variant spreads through the US, demand for COVID testing has risen to levels previously seen in November of 2020. Urgent care centers are again on the front lines of care and experiencing record high patient volumes.
August 17, 2021: The flu vaccine may lower the risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Researchers studied nearly 75,000 COVID-19 patients, half of whom had received the most recently available flu shot.
August 15, 2021: CDC reports that COVID-19 has caused more pediatric deaths than the flu since the pandemic began.
August 13, 2021: Pediatric hospitals are seeing a spike in RSV cases as COVID-19 Delta variant continues, flu season approaches.
August 4, 2021: The Delta variant now accounts for about 93% of all COVID-19 cases in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
August 3, 2021: The seven-day average of daily COVID cases in the U.S. surpassed the peak seen last summer when the nation didn’t have an authorized vaccine, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said. Friday July 30 saw 72,790 new COVID cases nationwide.
July 27, 2021: California to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination or regular testing for all state employees and health care workers. Additionally, some San Francisco restaurants and bars will soon require proof of vaccination prior to admittance.
July 9, 2021: Current guidance from the CDC says fully vaccinated people can refrain from routine COVID testing, however, some experts are questioning whether that approach should change given the spread of the new Delta variant.
July 7, 2021: Children have found a manipulative method generate false-positive COVID tests using soft drinks, all in an effort to get out of school.
May 14, 2021: Target, Home Depot, CVS and Harris Teeter are among the chains that will continue to require masks in store, though they are reviewing new CDC guidance and reevaluating store policies.
May 14, 2021: Walmart, the nation's largest retailer, says fully vaccinated employees and customers will not need to wear a mask inside stores beginning on Tuesday, based on the latest guidance from the CDC.
May 13, 2021: CDC: If you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you can resume activities without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal or territorial laws, incl. local business and workplace guidance.
April 27, 2021: The CDC on Tuesday eased guidelines on mask-wearing for Americans, noting many outdoor activities are now safe without a mask following significant progress with the COVID-19 vaccine and reductions in new daily cases nationwide.
April 26, 2021: Encouraged by the results of an 11-district pilot program, the state of California is now expanding access to cover any school district’s or charter school’s cost of rapid diagnostic Covid testing of students and staff through the summer and likely into the fall.
April 26, 2021: As of Sunday, April 25, Virginia has had 654,210 total cases of COVID-19, including confirmed lab tests and clinical diagnoses, according to the Virginia Department of Health. That total reflects a 884 case increase since Saturday. The Virginia Department of Health reports a 6.1% 7-day positivity rate for total testing encounters, and a 5.5% 7-day positivity rate for PCR tests. 16 additional deaths were reported on Sunday, leaving the death toll at 10,691.
April 22, 2021: More than 86 million U.S. adults are now fully vaccinated with more than 200 million shots administered, but experts fear that enthusiasm for getting the vaccine could be falling and many Americans may be too eager to take off their masks.
April 6, 2021: Epidemiologists and other public health experts are debating whether to use rapid COVID-19 tests as admission tickets to schools, businesses and entertainment and sports venues. Even with the quickening pace of vaccinations, it will be months before all Americans who want COVID-19 vaccines receive them. As a result, testing could become ubiquitous as a requirement for students, office workers, spectators and visitors seeking to gather indoors.
April 3, 2021: Offering increasing evidence that the pandemic is loosening its grip on the region, Los Angeles County dipped below 600 coronavirus-related hospitalizations for the first time since March 2020, state public health officials announced Friday.
April 3, 2021: California health officials announced changes Friday that will allow a resumption of indoor activities such as concerts, conferences and theater performances — and a return of fans to indoor sporting events, subject to the approval of local health authorities, who are permitted in each county to impose stricter regulations than the state allows. The new rules will take effect April 15.
April 2, 2021: Humboldt County health officials urge residents to continue getting tested for COVID. Testing in Humboldt County is offered at no charge seven days a week (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) at Redwood Acres in Eureka and is also available at various locations throughout the county each weekday. Walk-ins are welcome at all sites, and turnaround time for results averages 48 to 72 hours.
April 2, 2021: Health officials in San Jose—the Bay Area's largest county—say they're seeing a dramatic drop in testing for COVID-19. They're also reminding the public to think twice before gathering in large groups this holiday weekend.
April 1, 2021: FDA approves two new over-the-counter COVID tests: Abbott's BinaxNOW and Quidel Quickvue tests will soon be available at drug stores in two-packs for between $15 and $20.
March 31, 2021: Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC: "Vaccinated people do not carry the virus — they don’t get sick.” Walensky was referring to a new CDC study that suggests those fully inoculated with the vaccines produced by Moderna and Pfizer don’t transmit the virus.
