U.S. regulators post positive review of Pfizer vaccine data
The positive review from the Food and Drug Administration sets the stage for a decision allowing the vaccine’s initial use in the United States within days.
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Pfizer tells U.S. officials it cannot supply additional vaccine until late June or July
Trump administration officials denied that there would be availability issues in the second quarter, citing other vaccines in the pipeline, but others said problems are possible.
Virus relief talks drag on liability as Congress preps stopgap aid
Disagreements flared Monday over one key provision of a federal pandemic relief package—a proposed liability shield from COVID-19-related lawsuits for businesses, schools and organizations that reopen.
Michigan governor extends state’s partial shutdown by 12 days
In-person instruction at high schools and colleges, dine-in eating at restaurants and organized sports will continue to be prohibited, including the completion of fall high school sports tournaments. Entertainment venues such as movie theaters and bowling alleys will remain closed.
Indiana COVID-19 hospitalizations rise again after 5 straight days of declines
The state has reported 531 new COVID-19 deaths over the past seven days, an average of nearly 79 per day. That’s up from 354 the previous week, an average of almost 51 per day.
Americans keeping up with credit card bills, but for how long?
For some, however, the ability to keep buying things with plastic and then pay the bill likely depends on whether current negotiations in Washington, D.C., produce another round of economic aid.
Michigan hospitals: Partial shutdown should be extended
Michigan hospital officials said Monday the state’s partial shutdown of businesses and schools to curb the coronavirus is working and should be extended through the holiday season to alleviate stress on the health care system.
Schools confront ‘off the rails’ numbers of failing grades
School districts from coast to coast have reported the number of students failing classes has risen by as many as two or three times—with English language learners and disabled and disadvantaged students suffering the most.
Lawmakers say COVID-19 relief bill won’t offer $1,200 checks
The $908 billion aid package to be released Monday would be attached to a larger year-end spending bill needed to avert a government shutdown this coming weekend.
Indiana reports 6,678 new COVID-19 cases, 34 more deaths
Testing of new individuals rose by 18,864, the 40th straight day that testing in that category has exceeded 10,000.
Indiana reports 78 more COVID deaths; Marion County tops 50K cases
Statewide hospitalizations due to COVID-19 fell slightly for the fourth straight day, from an all-time high Monday of 3,460 to 3,255 on Friday.
Major stock indexes all hit new records on renewed stimulus hopes
All major indexes for U.S. equities—the S&P 500, the Dow Jones industrial average, the Russell 2000 and the Nasdaq composite—closed at records. Such synchronized highs were last seen in January 2018.
Indiana reports 8,003 more COVID-19 cases, 84 more deaths
Statewide hospitalizations due to COVID-19 fell slightly for the third straight day, from an all-time high Monday of 3,460 to 3,289 on Thursday.
U.S. employers scale back hiring as pandemic intensifies
America’s employers added 245,000 jobs in November, the fewest since April and the fifth straight monthly slowdown, the Labor Department said Friday.
Vaccines offer hope for end to pandemic, but experts say brutal months lie ahead
It is impossible to know when life will get back to normal, or something that feels close to it. The vaccine rollout will take many months under even the most optimistic scenarios.
Jobs report to show how much pandemic is squeezing hiring
Friday’s monthly U.S. jobs report will help answer a key question overhanging the economy: Just how much damage is being caused by the resurgent coronavirus, the resulting curbs on businesses and the reluctance of consumers to shop, travel and dine out?
Americans couldn’t resist Thanksgiving travel, data analysis shows
A week after Thanksgiving. U.S. deaths from the COVID-19 outbreak eclipsed 3,100 on Thursday, obliterating the single-day record set in the spring.
In seismic shift, Warner Bros. Pictures to stream all 2021 films
Among the myriad release plan changes wrought by the pandemic, no studio has so fully embraced streaming as a lifeline.
Southwest warns nearly 7,000 workers of possible furloughs
Southwest Airlines said the workers could lose their jobs unless labor unions accept concessions to help the airline cope with a sharp drop in travel caused by the pandemic.
Pelosi, McConnell discuss COVID relief as pressure builds
With COVID-19 caseloads spiraling and the daily death toll equaling records, the momentum for finally passing a second major relief bill is undeniably building.