Biden announces plan to increase vaccinations, curb delta variant's spread

In his most forceful pandemic actions and words, President Joe Biden on Thursday ordered sweeping new federal vaccine requirements for as many as 100 million Americans — private-sector employees as well as health care workers and federal contractors — in an all-out effort to curb the surging COVID-19 delta variant.

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.

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.

NY delays state worker office return and vaccine mandate

New York has delayed its requirement that state employees get vaccinated against the coronavirus or undergo weekly tests by more than a month to Oct. 12, the same day telecommuting workers are now scheduled to return to their offices.