Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams says schools will remain open, subways will be safer
New York City Mayor Eric Adams pledged Monday to keep students in the classroom and restore order on the subway system as the new mayor faces the twin challenges of a surging coronavirus variant and rising crime. Published January 3, 2022
Biden’s Christmas crisis: 2021 ends with 400K more COVID-19 deaths
President Biden won the White House on a pledge to crush the coronavirus through a commitment to science, testing for anyone who wants it, and a major vaccine sprint in his first 100 days in office. Published December 25, 2021
COVID-19 undermines Biden’s competence argument heading into the New Year
The coronavirus is infecting President Biden's image. Mr. Biden won the public's trust with his vow to do more to stop the spread of the virus than his predecessor, but 11 months into his tenure the public is growing weary of surging cases and new variants. Published December 23, 2021
FDA authorizes Pfizer COVID-19 pill for emergency use
The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday authorized emergency use of a Pfizer pill that staved off hospitalization and death from COVID-19 in clinical trials, adding a major tool to America's effort against the virus. Published December 22, 2021
Army researchers see promise in early trials of COVID-19 vaccine
Army researchers say they've developed a vaccine that shows promise against the coronavirus and its variants after two years of work. Published December 22, 2021
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio to forge ahead with New Year’s Eve bash despite omicron spike
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday he wants to forge ahead with the New Year's Eve party in Times Square but may consider new safety measures, even as major cities across the world scrap their plans outright due to fears around the omicron variant of the coronavirus. Published December 22, 2021
Biden hails an all-time high of 13.6M Obamacare sign-ups
Obamacare added 4.6 million people to its rolls over the course of the year, President Biden said Wednesday, bolstering the 2010 program he pushed with then-President Obama while heaping pressure on Mr. Biden to get his social welfare bill across the finish line in Congress. Published December 22, 2021
Biden pledges better access to testing, deploys military to fight omicron
President Biden said Tuesday he will purchase half a billion rapid coronavirus tests that Americans can order for free delivery to their homes, deploy the military to overwhelmed hospitals and stand up federal testing sites as he scrambles to rein in the omicron variant that's become dominant and exhausting Americans who wanted a relaxing Christmas. Published December 21, 2021
Majority of un-boosted Americans see omicron as a compelling reason to get extra dose: Poll
More than half of vaccinated adults who haven't gotten a COVID-19 booster shot say the omicron threat makes them more likely to go get an extra dose, according to a poll that found the variant is having a smaller impact on unvaccinated persons mulling a first dose. Published December 21, 2021
Houston area man who was unvaccinated may be first U.S. death from omicron
An unvaccinated man in the Houston area died after contracting the omicron form of the coronavirus, local officials said Monday in what might be the first known U.S. death from the variant. Published December 21, 2021
Biden to unveil website to order free COVID-19 tests, will deploy 1K troops to help hospitals
President Biden on Tuesday will announce the deployment of 1,000 troops to help hospitals reeling from COVID-19 and unveil a website where Americans can order free at-home virus tests in January, senior administration officials said. Published December 21, 2021
Omicron spooks Wall Street, infects VIPs and spurs new rules
Wall Street buckled under the strain of omicron as President Biden met with advisers to retool his strategy for beating back a winter surge that's accelerating rapidly and draining the cheer out of the week before Christmas. Published December 20, 2021
D.C. mayor declares state of emergency for COVID-19
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a state of emergency for COVID-19 and reinstated a mask mandate on Monday, after Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced he has tested positive for the disease. Published December 20, 2021
Trump says he got a COVID-19 booster
Former President Donald Trump revealed over the weekend that he had received a COVID-19 booster shot and chastised supporters who booed over the revelation. Published December 20, 2021
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan tests positive for COVID-19
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said Monday he tested positive for the coronavirus as part of routine testing, joining members of Congress on the roster of high-profile politicians who caught the pathogen amid a winter surge. Published December 20, 2021
High-powered Davos global summit postponed over omicron fears
The World Economic Forum said Monday it is postponing its high-profile annual meeting in Davos, the latest sign that omicron is upending winter plans of even the rich and well-connected. Published December 20, 2021
Biden’s approval rating sinks to new low as the year ends
President Biden is ending the year with his approval rating at a new low, according to a high-profile poll Monday that finds the White House reeling from higher prices, the COVID-19 crisis and opposition to his social welfare bill. Published December 20, 2021
NYPD requires all cops to mask up amid COVID-19 surge
New York City police officers must wear a mask regardless of vaccination status, according to a new policy that coincides with a surge in COVID-19 cases. Published December 20, 2021
Moderna says COVID-19 booster offers ‘reassuring’ protection against omicron
Drugmaker Moderna said Monday its booster shot increased antibody levels against omicron in lab studies, providing what it called "reassuring" protection against the coronavirus variant that is ripping through many countries and will likely become dominant in the U.S. Published December 20, 2021
Schumer vows Build Back Better votes in the new year, wants to put senators on the record
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer told Democratic senators Monday he will not give up on President Biden's social welfare bill and will schedule votes in the new year so Sen. Joe Manchin III or other objectors must go on record in opposition. Published December 20, 2021
