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
Gang uses pandemic small business loans to buy guns, alcohol: Feds
Federal prosecutors announced charges Friday against a dozen members of the Florida-based Hood Boys, accusing the gang of fraudulently applying for pandemic small business loans, then spending the money at gun and liquor stores.
Kennedy strikes back: HHS secretary battles outraged Democrats at hearing centered on vaccines
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. beat back Senate Democrats' blistering barrage of attacks Thursday accusing him of eviscerating U.S. vaccine policies.
Trump demands new COVID-19 vaccine data as CDC is torn apart
President Trump struggled to understand on Monday whether his Operation Warp Speed to develop COVID-19 vaccines should be considered a resounding success.
Post-pandemic hooky worsens in public schools, says Rand Corp. report
The number of students constantly absent from public K-12 campuses worsened during the 2024-25 school year, the Rand Corp. said Thursday.
Shooter attacked CDC headquarters to protest COVID-19 vaccines
The man who fired more than 180 shots with a long gun at the headquarters of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention broke into a locked safe to get his father's weapons and wanted to send a message against COVID-19 vaccines, authorities said Tuesday.
David Nabarro, British physician who led U.N. response to Ebola and COVID-19, dies
Dr. David Nabarro, a British physician who led the U.N. response to some of the biggest health crises in recent years, including bird flu, Ebola and the coronavirus pandemic, has died.
Stanford-led study finds COVID vaccines saved far fewer lives than previously reported
A Stanford University-led study estimates that COVID-19 vaccinations saved 2.5 million lives from 2020 to 2024, about 17 million fewer than earlier reports suggested, primarily among older adults.
Rand Paul to reissue criminal referral against Fauci after report of autopen pardon
Sen. Rand Paul this week vowed to refile a criminal referral against Anthony Fauci with the Justice Department after it was revealed Dr. Fauci's pardon from former President Joseph R. Biden was issued through a late-night autopen.
FDA vaccine official restricted COVID vaccine approvals against the advice of agency staff
The government's top vaccine official working under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently restricted the approval of two COVID-19 vaccines, disregarding recommendations from government scientists, according to federal documents released Wednesday.
Study finds fewer U.S. adults inclined to test for COVID, JAMA Network Open reports
A new study finds that nearly 1 in 3 adults have no intention of testing at home for COVID when they suspect an infection.
World Heath Organization fails to find COVID origin in latest probe
The World Health Organization said in a 78-page report released last week it cannot pinpoint the cause of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China, five years ago -- in part because of a lack of cooperation on the part of Chinese officials.
Feds paid $80 billion to bogus Social Security numbers during pandemic
Federal agencies paid out nearly $80 billion in pandemic money to applications that used stolen or invalid Social Security numbers, according to a new watchdog report Wednesday that said it should have been easy to stop them.
Measles vaccination rates drop after COVID-19 pandemic in counties across the U.S.
Childhood vaccination rates against measles fell in the years after the COVID-19 pandemic in nearly 80% of the more than 2,000 U.S. counties with available data -- including in states that are battling outbreaks this year.
Researchers find mothers' mental health declined faster during COVID-19
The mental health of mothers is declining faster as living costs rise and single-parent homes multiply in the pandemic era, a recent study shows.
RFK Jr.: COVID vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Tuesday that COVID-19 vaccines are no longer the recommended action for healthy children and pregnant women.
Kennedy says COVID vaccines no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday announced that COVID-19 vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women.
Report: Spring undergraduate college enrollment still short of pre-pandemic numbers
A new report finds that undergraduate college enrollment grew 3.5% to 15.3 million students this spring but remained about 378,000 students, or 2.4%, shy of 2020's pre-pandemic tally.
DOJ opens criminal investigation of former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, AP source says
The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo after congressional Republicans recommended that he be charged with lying over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, a person familiar with the matter said Tuesday.
Trump officials set new requirements for COVID vaccines in healthy adults and children
Annual COVID-19 shots for healthy younger adults and children will no longer be routinely approved under a major new policy shift unveiled Tuesday by the Trump administration.
Public transportation faces 'death spiral' as pandemic funds dry up
Major cuts to public bus and rail services are looming in cities from New York to San Francisco, as combined route reductions and fare hikes suggest a "death spiral" in ridership and revenue.
Almost 6,000 millionaires collected unemployment benefits after COVID-19 crisis subsided
Thousands of millionaires were still collecting unemployment benefits even after the coronavirus emergency receded, according to new data released Wednesday.
Recent Commentary Columns
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Florida plans to become first state to eliminate all childhood vaccine mandates
Florida plans to become the first state to eliminate vaccine mandates that have been a cornerstone of public health policy for decades in keeping schoolchildren and adults safe from infectious diseases.
