Articles by Maria Caspani and Dan Whitcomb

As Delta Variant Spreads, Officials and Firms Push Vaccines, Masks Over Lockdowns

New York City will become the first major U.S. city to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination at restaurants, gyms and other businesses, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Tuesday, as the nation grapples with the rapidly spreading Delta variant. With …

New York City Erects Quarantine Checkpoints to Curb Coronavirus

New York City will put up COVID-19 quarantine checkpoints at key entry points to ensure that incoming travelers from 35 states with outbreaks comply with the state’s 14-day quarantine mandate, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Wednesday. The measure underscores …

Tropical Storm Isaias Left Death, Darkness, Tornadoes, Floods on East Coast

08/05/2020 02:06 AM— Tropical Storm Isaias killed at least four people on Tuesday as it made its way up the U.S. Atlantic Coast, including two deaths at a North Carolina trailer park that was struck by a tornado spun off …

Tropical Storm Bertha to Bring Heavy Rain to South Carolina

A tropical storm that quickly formed off the coast of South Carolina on Wednesday threatened to unleash heavy rainfall that could produce life-threatening flash flooding after making landfall near Charleston, the National Hurricane Center said. With maximum sustained winds of …

New York Strengthens COVID-19 Safety Measures for Nursing Homes

New York state on Sunday announced new coronavirus-safety measures to better protect nursing home residents, who are highly vulnerable to the respiratory illness and account for a large share of the nearly 80,000 Americans who have died from it. The …

White House Quashes ‘Overly Specific’ CDC Guide for Reopening of Economy

The White House shelved a step-by-step guide prepared by U.S. health officials to help states safely reopen mass transit, restaurants, daycare centers and other public places closed by the coronavirus pandemic, an administration official said on Thursday. The 17-page document …

States Under Pressure to Lift Coronavirus Restrictions as Unemployment Grows

As White House economic reopening guidance expired on Thursday after two weeks in place, half of all U.S. states forged ahead with easing restrictions on restaurants, retail and other businesses in hopes of reviving coronavirus-stricken commerce. The enormous pressure on …

PG&E Cuts Power to 50K California Homes And Businesses During Wildfire Risk

About 50,000 homes and businesses across Northern California were without power on Wednesday during the latest planned outage instituted by utility Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to guard against risk of wildfire during dry, windy weather. The precautionary shutoffs included …

Americans Still Don’t Trust Autonomous Vehicles, Reuters Poll Shows

Half of U.S. adults think automated vehicles are more dangerous than traditional vehicles operated by people, while nearly two-thirds said they would not buy a fully autonomous vehicle, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll. In the same poll, about …

Doctor, Early Advocate for Opioids, to Testify Against Drug Makers: Reuters

A physician ally of Purdue Pharma LP whose views helped drive the explosive growth in the use of addictive pain relievers for common aches and pains in the United States has agreed to testify against the OxyContin maker and other …