Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic updates
The latest news and commentary on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
NOTE: As the world adjusts to COVID-19, research continues on its origins, the effectiveness of masks, vaccines and boosters, new variants, workplace policies, politics and much more. The Washington Times is committed to accuracy in our reporting of the coronavirus. We continue to explore how COVID-19 affects us here in the United States and around the world.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to update its guidance on coronavirus (available here) with information geared toward parents, employers, healthcare professionals and consumers. They also offer a COVID data tracker here where you can explore vaccination trends, levels of community spread and other valuable tools for making healthy choices for you and your family.
For more detailed information on total cases, total deaths, global maps and dashboards, visit the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center here.
Recent Stories
Musk, Ramaswamy propose federal workers be required to return to office full time
Billionaire Elon Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said this week they support requiring all federal employees to return to the office five days a week.
Incoming Trump administration to make science scientific again
The editor-in-chief of Scientific American recently quit her job after taking to social media to rant against Donald Trump's supporters as the "meanest" and the "dumbest," and to call Generation X-ers who voted Republican "f---ing fascists." Science, Democrat style.
Dementia-related deaths spiked during COVID lockdowns, says CDC
Deaths linked to dementia surged during COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 and remained elevated the following two years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Wednesday.
CDC study finds anxiety and depression surged after COVID lockdowns
U.S. adults experienced a "significant increase" in mental health complaints after the COVID-19 pandemic restricted social interaction, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday.
With COVID-19 XEC variant projected to become main strain, are the symptoms different?
The COVID-19 XEC variant is gaining steam and, according to a new study, could become the virus' dominant strain in the U.S.
Back to the future: California counties impose seasonal mask mandate on health workers
Several Bay Area counties in California will require health care workers to mask up from Nov. 1 to either March or April, an unusual revival of rules that sparked controversy during the height of the pandemic.
Feds accuse five IRS employees of COVID fraud
The Justice Department announced fraud charges Tuesday against five current or former IRS employees in Tennessee whom prosecutors say stole money from the government's pandemic relief programs.
Youth anxiety, depression surged during Southern California pandemic lockdown
A new study of electronic medical records finds clinically diagnosed anxiety and depression swelled among young people during strict pandemic lockdowns in Southern California.
U.S. government offering Americans four free COVID-19 tests once again
The Department of Health and Human Services is once again offering every American household up to four free COVID-19 tests shipped to their homes, the agency announced Thursday.
Americans can order free COVID-19 tests beginning this month
Starting this month, Americans will be able to order free COVID-19 test kits that will be mailed to their homes.
Ex-N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo tries to dodge blame for nursing-home deaths during COVID
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday blamed former President Donald Trump for the COVID-19 chaos that enveloped the Empire State in early 2020, refusing in a combative Capitol Hill hearing to accept fault for thousands of seniors' deaths in the weeks after he ordered nursing homes to readmit positive patients.
Cuomo to testify before House committee that accused him of COVID-19 cover up
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is scheduled to testify publicly Tuesday before a congressional subcommittee critical of his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as it began to spread through the state's nursing homes in 2020.
Former N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo to testify on nursing home deaths
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will testify before Congress on Sept. 10 about "potentially fatal" nursing home policies that he dictated in 2020 before thousands of seniors died of COVID-19 in facilities across the state, House Republicans said Tuesday.
Fall campaign for COVID-19 shots is coming, but many Americans have moved on
The Biden-Harris administration wants Americans to roll up their sleeves for the new COVID-19 shot but many Americans fear the coronavirus less than the flu, portending another lackluster fall campaign.
Zuckerberg admits to Congress: COVID-19, Hunter Biden laptop suppression was wrong
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg told House Republicans that the Biden administration repeatedly pressured Facebook to censor information about the COVID-19 crisis in 2021.
Democrats' convention leans into pandemic politics
As television cameras panned the crowd at the Democratic National Convention this week, they caught more than a few delegates masked up for COVID-19.
Got cold symptoms? Here's when kids should take a sick day from school
As schools reopen for another year, they are focused on improving student attendance. But back-to-school is hitting just as COVID-19 cases are increasing, raising the question: When is a child too sick for school?
Fauci, vaccinated six times, tests positive for COVID -- again and again and again
Anthony Fauci, former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director and ex-chief medical adviser to President Biden -- and the face of coronavirus mandates -- said he's tested positive for his third case of COVID, despite having been vaccinated six times. Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up!
Rodgers says in book he regrets his 2021 'immunized' comment
Aaron Rodgers says in a soon-to-be published book that he should have handled discussing his COVID-19 immunization status differently.
Lyles feared bronchitis after positive COVID test, but now pushes through with new career goals
Asthma didn't stop Noah Lyles from taking on the 200 meter at the Paris Olympics, even after testing positive for COVID-19.
Noah Lyles feared bronchitis after positive COVID test, but now pushes through with new career goals
Asthma didn't stop Noah Lyles from taking on the 200 meter at the Paris Olympics, even after testing positive for COVID-19.
COVID-19 falls to No. 10 cause of death in U.S.
U.S. death rates fell last year for all age groups compared with 2022, federal health officials said Thursday.
Walz oversaw worst pandemic fraud in nation; $250 million stolen from program to feed kids
Plenty of governors saw their states get bilked by fraudsters during the pandemic, but Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz oversaw the most egregious one yet.
COVID-stricken Lyles finishes third in 200 meters won by Botswana's Tebogo
Noah Lyles lost the Olympic 200 meters Thursday, falling to Botswana's Letsile Tebogo, then being tended to by medics who carted him off the track in a wheelchair. Later, wearing a mask as he spoke with reporters, Lyles said he had COVID.
COVID-19 fell out of top 5 mortality causes last year for first time
COVID-19 fell out of the top five causes of death in the U.S. last year for the first time since breaking out, according to a provisional estimate released Thursday.
Study finds declining trust in doctors and hospitals during COVID hurt vaccination rates
A federally funded study shows that decreased trust in the medical establishment during the COVID-19 pandemic made adults of all political stripes less likely to get vaccinated.
'Curses from God': Church minister accused of forcing parishioners to help with pandemic fraud
Leaders of a Missouri church have been charged with a $1.2 million pandemic fraud scam in which prosecutors say they stole the identities of congregants and then applied for government loans in their name.
Biden's virus symptoms are gone, says his doctor
President Biden no longer has signs of COVID-19 and his rapid antigen test for the virus returned negative, his physician said Tuesday.
White House doctor says Biden's COVID-19 symptoms are nearly gone
President Biden is recovering well from COVID-19 and his symptoms are nearly gone, his doctor said Monday.
Biden's COVID-19 symptoms improving, doctor says
President Biden took a fourth dose of COVID-19 treatment Friday and his symptoms seem to be improving, his doctor said.
Study links pandemic social distancing to increased neonatal mortality, preterm births
Social distancing measures that caused mothers to avoid prenatal care during the early pandemic led to higher rates of babies born early and dying within a month, an analysis of federal data shows.
Biden tests positive for COVID amid Schiff's call to drop out, as more voters sour on president
President Biden tested positive for COVID on Wednesday, another setback for the 81-year-old embattled president on the day a prominent Democratic lawmaker joined the chorus for Mr. Biden to quit his reelection campaign and polling showed more voters abandoning him.
Founder of D.C. nonprofit for homeless LGBTQ+ youth pleads guilty to diverting COVID relief money
The founder of a D.C. nonprofit group intended to house homeless LGBTQ+ youth and immigrants pleaded guilty to wire fraud Wednesday for moving COVID-19 relief money to private offshore accounts.
Study finds post-pandemic teens doing worse emotionally than parents suspect
Teenagers are doing worse emotionally since the pandemic than their parents suspect or previous studies have shown, according to federal data released Tuesday.
Second gentleman Doug Emhoff tests positive for COVID-19. Vice President Harris has tested negative
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff has tested positive for COVID-19 after experiencing mild symptoms, his office announced Sunday, but his wife, Vice President Kamala Harris, has tested negative and remains asymptomatic.
Pentagon can't account for funding of risky virus research in China
The Defense Department can't account for all of its money that may have been sent to China to conduct risky research enhancing viruses, according to an inspector general's report that blamed bad data collection at the department for gaps in understanding what it was paying for.
Post-pandemic Paris Olympics signal a return to 'normal' for athletes and fans
Any athlete with Olympic dreams knows the feeling of lungs burning, arms and legs turning to jelly, as they near the closing moments of another grueling race or excruciatingly close match. For that last shot of adrenaline, they often tap into the energy provided by the roaring crowd.
France's Macron and African leaders push for vaccines for Africa after COVID exposed inequalities
French President Emmanuel Macron is joining several African leaders on Thursday to kick off a planned $1 billion project to accelerate the rollout of vaccines in Africa, after the coronavirus pandemic exposed gaping inequalities in access to them.
Japan's emperor says he looks forward to deepening ties with Britain's royals during U.K. visit
Japan's Emperor Naruhito said Wednesday he is "delighted" to finally be able to visit Britain after the trip was delayed by several years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The royal said he looks forward to rekindling his friendship with the British royal family and exploring Oxford, where he studied about 40 years ago.
Answers prove elusive as scientists weigh lab leak or animal source for COVID
More than four years after the COVID-19 pandemic first emerged in Wuhan, China, the origin of the virus behind the global pandemic remained a topic of heated debate and frustrating uncertainty at a Senate hearing Tuesday, with Republicans and Democrats accusing the Chinese and U.S. governments of covering up critical details of the outbreak.
Kansas sues Pfizer over purportedly false claims its COVID-19 shot was 'safe and effective'
The Kansas attorney general sued Pfizer this week arguing the company claimed its COVID-19 shot was "safe and effective" but knew it could cause bad side effects.
'Taxpayer theft': Federal agencies overpay teleworkers who moved out of Washington
Federal employees approved for telework have been bilking the government by collecting Washington-area pay rates while living in much lower-cost regions.
Fraud trial juror reports getting bag of $120,000 and promise of more if she'll acquit
A juror was dismissed Monday after reporting that a woman dropped a bag of $120,000 in cash at her home and offered her more money if she would vote to acquit seven people charged with stealing more than $40 million from a program meant to feed children during the pandemic.
MTG tells Fauci he should be prosecuted for 'crimes against humanity'
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene told Dr. Anthony Fauci on Monday that he belongs in prison for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and urged her colleagues to write a criminal referral for "crimes against humanity."
Nation's school districts scrimp and improvise as pandemic funds dry up
Urban school districts paying parents to drive their kids to class. Four-day school weeks in rural towns. Long-term substitute teachers and "acting superintendents" who stay in their posts for years.
Fauci says he was always open to China lab-leak theory for coronavirus
Dr. Anthony Fauci said Monday that he never tried to squelch lab leak theories about the origins of the coronavirus, distanced himself from a senior adviser who bragged about defying transparency laws and rebuffed Republicans who said he should have spoken out against the 6-foot social distancing rule.
Fed's multimillion-dollar poop-picking program is expanding, has international ambitions
The U.S. government is expanding its program to collect poop and thinks picking through the nation's feces is key to ensuring national security.
Jabbed: Lawmakers push feds to show proof they've stopped funding pipeline to COVID-linked lab
Sen. Joni Ernst has fired off letters to federal agencies demanding they prove they have shut down funding for EcoHealth Alliance after the Biden administration earlier this month suspended the firm from getting government grants.
Dr. Fauci expected to testify before House lawmakers
Dr. Anthony Fauci, a key figure in the federal government's pandemic response, will testify before House lawmakers early next week.
Inflation pressures lingering from pandemic are keeping Fed rate cuts on pause
Hopes for interest rate cuts this year by the Federal Reserve are steadily fading, with a stream of recent remarks by Fed officials underscoring their intention to keep borrowing costs high as long as needed to curb persistently elevated inflation.
World Health Assembly hopes to reinforce pandemic preparedness after bold treaty project stalls
Member countries kicked off the World Health Organization's annual assembly on Monday with hopes of improving global readiness for deadly outbreaks like COVID-19, after an ambitious "pandemic treaty" ran aground last week.
Top Fauci adviser allegedly destroyed evidence about origins of COVID-19 pandemic
Sen. Rand Paul is urging the Department of Justice to investigate a senior adviser to Dr. Anthony Fauci who is accused of improperly concealing or destroying documents related to the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Federal health officials expand punishment of EcoHealth over Wuhan virus lab
The Biden administration has delivered another blow to the firm that sent taxpayer money to the Wuhan virus lab, announcing it has suspended EcoHealth Alliance's president from being able to work on government-funded projects.
EcoHealth's COVID bat-testing lab upended by feds' spending ban
When the federal government shut down taxpayer money for EcoHealth Alliance, the company linked to the Wuhan virus lab, it may have doomed plans to start a bat research laboratory in the U.S.
Federal workers rebuff Biden decree; few heed call to return to offices a year after pandemic's end
A year after President Biden officially ended the pandemic, his agencies have struggled mightily to get employees back into their offices -- and some of them are still trying to figure out how to monitor them when they're at home.
Countries struggle to draft 'pandemic treaty' to avoid mistakes made during COVID
After the coronavirus pandemic triggered once-unthinkable lockdowns, upended economies and killed millions, leaders at the World Health Organization and worldwide vowed to do better in the future. Years later, countries are still struggling to come up with an agreed-upon plan for how the world might respond to the next global outbreak.
Billions in federal COVID money can't save rural private colleges from shutting down
Vermont's Goddard College is among dozens of mostly rural liberal arts campuses that have announced they will close after having received billions of dollars in federal pandemic relief funding.
AstraZeneca drops COVID shot, but props up China Belt and Road communism
AstraZeneca has just announced it is stopping production of its COVID shots, citing a drop in demand around the world. There's a half-truth if ever there was one. The demand has stopped because AstraZeneca recently admitted the shot could cause life-threatening injuries.
House panel seeks release of COVID-19 origin secrets
Two classified State Department documents made public in part by a House subcommittee suggest that Chinese President Xi Jinping was involved in covering up the deadly COVID-19 outbreak.
AstraZeneca withdraws COVID-19 vaccine from worldwide circulation
AstraZeneca is withdrawing its COVID-19 vaccine from worldwide circulation and marketing authorizations.
Recent Commentary Columns
<
Three lessons of COVID shockflation
Federal Reserve policymakers shouldn't lower their guard. Inflation isn't dead.
<
COVID funding fraud a prime example of why handouts fail
Whenever government gets involved in taking tax dollars from one to give to another, the system goes bust. Government is not just a lousy manager of money. Government is totally unconcerned about its lousy money management skills because the members of government are too busy using that money to buy up votes.
<
COVID consequences: Childhood vaccines fall from parental favor
Fewer Americans today see the importance of childhood vaccines, with the most dramatic declines in parental approvals of the normal vaccine schedule for newborns through 18-year-olds taking place after 2019 -- in the post-COVID, shot-pushing years. Good. It's about time for a return to the suspicions over mandates.
<
Fauci, still crazy after all these years
Had the concept of God-given individual rights and liberties been in play during the coronavirus years, America never would have reached the point where then-COVID policy czar Anthony Fauci was allowed to dictate-while-pretending-Not-To-Dictate how free citizens live their lives.
<
Tyranny of Fauci and the experts: COVID-19 misinformation campaign
Last week, a House committee revealed emails from David Morens, who worked under Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
<
WHO pandemic treaty utterly unacceptable for America
The World Health Organization is finalizing with its partner states the details of a pandemic treaty that is supposed to protect the citizens of the globe from future COVID-like devastations. America's only suitable response is to tell the WHO to take a hike.
<
Reflections on the COVID panic
Four years have passed since the fateful decision to shut down the nation over the virus that emerged from Wuhan, China.
