Coronavirus

CNBC reports: Several brands are pushing consumers to get the Covid-19 vaccine with ads touting a similar message: Get the shot, so we can get back to normal. Most recently, Budweiser released an ad Wednesday called “Good Times are Coming.” It features still photographs of people drinking beer together after a screen reading “Remember this?” It ends with the language: …

Gothamist reports: Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Tuesday that the city will roll out a mobile vaccine bus this week. The bus, which can give out 150-200 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine a day, will be used to reach the city’s most vulnerable populations. During its first week in operation, the mobile clinic will be focused on …

The New York Times reports: California plans to lift all its coronavirus restrictions on June 15, provided there are enough Covid-19 vaccines available for anyone age 16 or older and hospitalizations remain low and stable, state officials announced on Tuesday. The move in June will allow Californians to return to restaurants, bars, movie theaters, houses of worship and concerts without …

The Wall Street Journal reports: Supply chain problems are reaching into a far corner of the business universe: Ketchup packets. After enduring a year of closures, employee safety fears and start-stop openings, many American restaurants are now facing a nationwide ketchup shortage. Restaurants are trying to secure the tabletop staple after Covid-19 upended the condiment world order. Managers are using …

The Washington Post reports: It was a move that put other vaccine selfies to shame. University of Illinois gymnast Evan Manivong sprinted toward the vault, launched into the air, spun and stuck the landing, nailing his routine and tying his career-high. As his teammates cheered, Manivong clapped and celebrated and then whipped out a coronavirus vaccination card that was tucked …

The Washington Post reports: White House press secretary Jen Psaki batted down the suggestion that the Biden administration was eying a national vaccine verification card, saying unequivocally that the president would not support that. “The government is not now, nor will we be supporting a system that requires Americans to carry a credential,” Psaki said. “There will be no federal …

The New York Times reports: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand announced on Tuesday that her nation would establish a travel bubble with Australia, allowing travelers to move between the countries without needing to quarantine for the first time since the pandemic began. The bubble, which will open just before midnight on April 19, is expected to deliver a …

The Guardian reports: North Korea’s sports ministry said on Tuesday that it will not participate in the Tokyo Olympics this year to protect its athletes amid the coronavirus pandemic. The decision was made at a meeting of North Korea’s Olympic committee, including its sports minister Kim Il guk, on 25 March the ministry said on its website, called Joson Sports. …

Gallup reports: At the same time Americans’ satisfaction with the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine has surged, their concerns about getting the virus and about the availability of coronavirus tests and hospital services/treatment have fallen to record lows. Thirty-five percent of U.S. adults now say they are very or somewhat worried about contracting COVID-19, the lowest point in Gallup’s trend …

CNN reports: President Joe Biden plans to announce Tuesday that he is moving up his deadline for states to make all American adults eligible for a coronavirus vaccine by almost two weeks. Biden will announce that every adult in the country will be eligible to be vaccinated by April 19, according to an administration official, instead of Biden’s original deadline …

CBS News reports: Dr. Anthony Fauci said in an interview released Monday that the federal government won’t be mandating vaccine passports for travel and businesses. The White House has indicated that any potential passports would come from the private sector, with little direct involvement from the government. “I doubt that the federal government will be the main mover of a …

Billings’s CBS News affiliate reports: Gov. Greg Gianforte tested positive for COVID-19 Monday. The governor exhibited mild symptoms Sunday and took the test Monday out of an abundance of caution, according to his office. Following his doctor’s instructions and public health guidance, the governor is isolating for 10 days. Gianforte, 59, received his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on …

The Washington Post reports: More than four million people in the United States received a coronavirus vaccine on Saturday — the nation’s highest one-day total since the shots began rolling out in December — amid a rising caseload and increase in hospitalizations. An average of 3.1 million shots were administered each day over the past seven days, and nearly 1 …

CBS News has the transcript: Sharyn Alfonsi: Publix, as you know, donated $100,000 to your campaign. And then you rewarded them with the exclusive rights to distribute the vaccination in Palm Beach County. Ron DeSantis: So, first of all, that– what you’re saying is wrong. That’s– Sharyn Alfonsi: How is that not pay to play? Ron DeSantis: –that– that’s a …

NY1 reports: The United States surpassed a significant milestone Friday toward ending the COVID-19 pandemic with more than 100 million people having received at least one vaccine dose, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number as of early Friday afternoon stood at 101.8 million, or 30.7% of the population. Nearly 58 million are fully …

CNN reports: The UK government says it plans to trial Covid-19 passports at snooker tournaments, comedy clubs and soccer matches over the coming weeks. As the country reopens, ministers hope the “covid-status certification” system will allow those who are vaccinated, have had a recent negative test or a positive test within six months to return to theaters, football matches, cinemas …

CNN reports: The US is in category five hurricane status when it comes to Covid-19 and it hasn’t begun to see the beginning of the fourth surge yet, said Michael Osterholm, University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy director, on Sunday. “Let me say that, at this time, we really are in a category five hurricane status …

Reuters reports: Pope Francis urged countries in his Easter message on Sunday to quicken distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, particularly to the world’s poor, and called armed conflict and military spending during a pandemic “scandalous”. “The pandemic is still spreading, while the social and economic crisis remains severe, especially for the poor. Nonetheless – and this is scandalous – armed conflicts …

Bloomberg News reports: Ontario declared a four-week state of emergency after hitting a record for the number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care, driven by virus strains that are more contagious and dangerous. The order imposes restrictions on businesses and residents across the Canadian province of 14.7 million people, beginning today. Restaurants won’t be allowed to serve customers except for …

The Hill reports: Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are welcoming new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that says fully vaccinated people can safely travel. “More customers than ever during the pandemic are showing us they’re ready to get back out and reconnect with the world—and we’re ready to help them reclaim their lives safely,” …