Iowa governor signs COVID-19 vaccine mandate exemption into law
Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed into law a bill that allows Iowa workers to seek medical and religious exemptions from COVID-19 vaccine mandates and guarantees that those who are fired for refusing a vaccine will qualify for unemployment benefits.
Japan keeps borders closed to tourists despite drop in COVID-19 cases
While other Asian countries inch toward reopening, Japan looks likely to keep its borders shut for some time to come.
Survey: 72% of unvaccinated would leave job if vaccine required without testing option
A recent survey also found that 37% of unvaccinated adults said they would quit their job if forced to either get a COVID-19 vaccine or take a weekly test.
Family of couple on the run in $18M COVID-19 relief fraud believes they were abducted
Family members of a Tarzana couple whom the FBI believes cut their tracking bracelets and went on the run while awaiting sentencing for their roles in an $18 million COVID-19 relief fraud case contend the pair were kidnapped.
Convicted killer Robert Durst transferred to prison medical facility
Convicted murderer Robert Durst has been transferred to state prison less than two weeks after being hospitalized on a ventilator with COVID-19 following his sentencing for the slaying of his best friend.
FDNY anti-vaccine mandate protest draws thousands
Thousands of FDNY union members are protesting the city's vaccine requirement.
US unemployment claims drop to pandemic low of 281,000
U.S. unemployment claims dropped by 10,000 to 281,000, the lowest since mid-March 2020.
Woman wasn't tested by urgent care because she was vaccinated - but later dies of COVID-19
"I pulled up my picture and I said, 'This is my mom on a ventilator across the street,'" Lisowski said. "(I said) 'She was here two weeks ago. You guys diagnosed her with a sinus infection and you did not Covid test her because she is vaccinated - and now she is fighting for her life on a ventilator.'"
Illinois bill would remove 'conscience' as basis for refusing vaccine
Illinois law has for more than four decades protected those who oppose providing or receiving medical treatment because of their religious beliefs. Well now, that may be changing.
Report: At least 59K meat workers caught COVID-19, hundreds died
A U.S. House report says at least 59,000 meatpacking workers became ill with COVID-19 and 269 workers died when the virus tore through the industry last year.
Liver transplants, waiting list registrations surged during COVID-19 pandemic
Researchers at the University of Michigan found significant increases in the number of people registering for the national organ transplant waiting list as well as the number of deceased donor liver transplants linked to alcoholic hepatitis.
Florida penalizes school district over masks, federal COVID grant
The state of Florida has docked a school district more than $164,000 for defying a ban on classroom mask mandates and for being awarded a federal coronavirus grant, county school officials said Wednesday.
Nearly two-thirds of Americans have at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine
This equates to more than 220 million people — 66.5% — with at least one shot against the deadly coronavirus.
COVID-19 forecast model predicts rise in cases, hospitalizations as winter nears
With required mask use reduced in much of the U.S., the University of Washington's influential COVID-19 forecasting model is predicting increasing infections and hospitalizations in November.
Facebook Papers: Company froze as anti-vaccine comments swarmed users
As false claims about vaccine safety threatened to undermine COVID-19 response, documents reveal that Facebook took a full month to implement changes.
CDC: COVID-19 health rules extended for cruise lines until January 2022
Federal health officials are extending until mid-January its rules that cruise ships must follow to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks.
DeSantis denies report that Florida is recruiting unvaccinated police officers
Governor Ron DeSantis wants police officers from northern cities to fill vacancies in Florida departments. And, he says, their COVID-19 vaccination status doesn’t matter.
Food-supply problems now affecting schools in NY
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced a $1.5 billion allocation to help districts deal with supply chain costs and shortages but the problems could last into next year.
US international COVID-19 travel requirements: White House details new rules
The Biden administration is detailing its new international COVID-19 air travel polices for most foreign travelers to the U.S, which will include exemptions for kids and new federal contact tracing requirements.
Lawsuit aims to stop permanent outdoor dining in NYC
Outdoor dining was a lifeline for many restaurants during the heart of the pandemic. The city wants to make it permanent, but some residents are taking legal action to try and prevent that.