Pandemic 2020
GALLERIES: Pandemic 2020
Overdue bills, late holiday cards and stale Christmas cookies: Postal Service still sorting through unprecedented backlog
The pandemic has created an unprecedented backlog in mail as more Americans have opted to shop online. On top of that, more and more postal workers are becoming infected with COVID-19.
R.I. Lt. Gov. McKee promises seamless transition during virus fight
There are some positive signs in Rhode Island's fight against the coronavirus, according to statistics released Thursday.
Massachusetts offering COVID-19 grants to small businesses
So far, the administration has awarded close to $195 million in direct financial support to more than 4,100 small businesses out of a $668 million fund set up to support small businesses across the state.
Biden unveils $1.9T plan to stem virus and steady economy
Published January 14, 2021
Called the “American Rescue Plan,” the legislative proposal would meet Biden's goal of administering 100 million vaccines by the 100th day of his administration, while advancing his objective of reopening most schools by the spring.
Expanded vaccine rollout in U.S. spawns a new set of problems
Published January 14, 2021
Up until the past few days, health care workers and nursing home patients had been given priority in most places around the U.S.
MORE STORIES: Pandemic 2020
Instacart, others push incentives to get workers vaccinated
Published January 14, 2021
Instacart Inc., the grocery delivery service, announced Thursday that it would provide a $25 stipend for workers who get the COVID-19 vaccine. It joins others, including Trader Joe's and Dollar General, which plans to pay workers extra if they get vaccinated.
Governors scramble to speed vaccine effort after slow start
Published January 6, 2021
With frustration rising over the sluggish rollout of the vaccine, state leaders and other politicians around the U.S. are turning up the pressure, improvising and seeking to bend the rules to get shots in arms more quickly.
Larry King, hospitalized with COVID, moved out of ICU
Published January 5, 2021
The 87-year-old broadcasting legend shared a video phone call with his three sons.
Connecticut teachers' union leader urges switch to all-remote learning
Gov. Ned Lamont and state education officials have been allowing local school officials to decide whether to switch to all-remote learning but have been advocating for schools to be kept open, saying it's better for students.
Retired R.I. justice tests positive, swearing-in plans changed
The state has now also administered more than 24,000 of first vaccine doses.
Mass. first responders to receive shots; 44 cases traced to church
Published January 4, 2021
Hospitals are also helping set up 60 vaccination centers across the state to administer doses to first responders.
Prosecutor: Wisconsin pharmacist thought vaccine was unsafe
Published January 4, 2021
A detective wrote in a probable cause statement that Steven Brandenburg, 46, is an admitted conspiracy theorist and that he told investigators he intentionally tried to ruin the vaccine because it could hurt people by changing their DNA.
UK prime minister orders new virus lockdown for England
Published January 4, 2021
As of Monday, there were 26,626 COVID-19 patients in hospitals in England, an increase of more than 30% from a week ago. That is 40% above the highest level of the first wave in the spring.
China OKs first homegrown vaccine as COVID-19 surges globally
Published January 1, 2021
Officials have said the vaccine standards were developed in “close cooperation” with the World Health Organization.
New Year's revelries muted by virus as curtain draws on 2020
Published December 31, 2020
Despite the celebrations, the pandemic robbed the night of its freewheeling spirit.
Wisconsin hospital worker arrested for spoiled vaccine doses
Published December 31, 2020
The Grafton Police Department said the former Advocate Aurora Health pharmacist was arrested on suspicion of reckless endangerment, adulterating a prescription drug and criminal damage to property.
Race to vaccinate millions in U.S. off to slow, messy start
Published December 31, 2020
The race to vaccinate millions of Americans is off to a slower, messier start than public health officials and leaders of the Trump administration's Operation Warp Speed had expected.
Boeing Max returns to U.S. skies with first passenger flight
Published December 30, 2020
American Airlines flew a Boeing 737 Max with paying passengers from Miami to New York on Tuesday, the plane’s first commercial flight in U.S. skies since it was grounded after two deadly crashes.
U.K. variant of coronavirus continues to spread with first cases in Canada
Published December 27, 2020
The highly transmissible variant of the coronavirus first detected in England had by Saturday been documented in several European countries, as well as Canada, Japan, Australia and Lebanon, despite efforts to curb its spread through massive global disruptions in travel and movement.
Region's health organizations begin receiving COVID-19 vaccine
Published December 23, 2020
The United Community & Family Services Health Center in Norwich received 600 doses of the Moderna vaccine Wednesday, and began administering shots to its staff.
Governor: R.I. has allocated all federal money for virus response
Gov. Gina Raimondo said a large chunk of it — about $490 million — has been allocated towards business and economic support.
Mass. grants $1.2M to help collaborative work spaces reopen
The grants ranging from less than $2,000 to $100,000 are intended to strengthen community-based innovation and entrepreneurship. They are going to 26 organizations in 18 communities to accelerate business formation, job creation and entrepreneurial activity during and after the coronavirus pandemic. “Beyond funding additions and new equipment, these awards will help recipients buy new HVAC systems and desk dividers, and implement other needed safety measures as we continue to navigate this pandemic.” Lt. Governor Karyn Polito said in a statement. The grants come through the Collaborative Workspace Program established in 2014. ------ ERIC CARLE MUSEUM CLOSES The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art has temporarily closed again in response to the latest statewide spike in COVID-19 cases. The closure that began Monday is precautionary, Alexandra Kennedy, executive director of the Amherst museum told The Daily Hampshire Gazette. Staff will continue to go into the museum on an as-needed basis and the museum’s bookshop will offer curbside service, she said. “We are hoping we can reopen to visitors early in the new year,” Kennedy wrote in an email. Museum officials say they’ll monitor state health data and reopen as soon it's safe for staff, visitors, and community. Everyone who has purchased advanced tickets will be issued a refund. The museum closed in March at the start of the pandemic and reopened in August with strict protocols in place, including advanced registration for most visits and limited capacity.
U.S. close on deal with Pfizer for millions more vaccine doses
Published December 22, 2020
Pfizer's vaccine was the first to gain approval from the Food and Drug Administration and initial shipments went to states last week.
U.S. deaths in 2020 top 3 million, by far most ever counted
Final mortality data for this year will not be available for months.
BioNTech to boost vaccine capacity, sees shot beating new strain
Published December 22, 2020
CEO Ugur Sahin also said the vaccine will probably work against the new SARS-CoV-2 strain that has emerged in the U.K.
France relaxes its ban on trucks entering from Britain
Published December 22, 2020
At least 2,800 truck drivers had been anxiously waiting near the England Channel port of Dover for word they could cross over to the continent.
Connecticut's lawmakers say significant money coming to state from $900 billion relief package
But the state's all Democratic congressional delegation said it didn’t do enough to address the financial stress caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
White House virus coordinator Deborah Birx says she will retire
Published December 22, 2020
Birx, in an interview with the news site Newsy, did not give a specific timetable on her plans.
Thirteenth Connecticut prisoner dies as ACLU calls for inmate vaccination
The latest fatalities were both 69-year-old men who had been transferred in the last month from the medical ward at the MacDougall-Walker prison in Suffield to an outside hospital.
AP EXPLAINER: Are new coronavirus strains cause for concern?
Published December 21, 2020
Reports from Britain and South Africa of new coronavirus strains that seem to spread more easily are causing alarm, but virus experts say it’s unclear if that’s the case or whether they pose any concern for vaccines or cause more severe disease.
Pandemic 2020 VIDEOS
OPINION
COVID warning serious, Lamont's options shrinking
Gov. Lamont must take with great seriousness a warning from doctors that a failure to act now in shutting down segments of the economy could cost more lives.
More tough choices in confronting tough enemy
In Connecticut, at least, the vast majority of us dutifully slip on our masks to shop, to work, to live some public life. It has become terribly routine.
Tell it like it is
Dr. Fauci should no longer feel any compunction to get White House clearances before media appearances or to paper over differences.
COVID-19: Still in the thick of it
Collectively, the news of recent days is a wakeup call that the threat posed by this pandemic is not over, not by a long shot.