PBS NewsHour - Novel Coronavirus

As new, highly contagious mutations are making this summer's COVID surge significantly bigger than expected, the FDA approved updated COVID vaccines on Friday. But funding runs out this month for a federal program providing free vaccines to uninsured and underinsured Americans. John Yang speaks with PBS News digital health reporter Laura Santhanam for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

As summer winds down, much of the U.S. is seeing the biggest COVID wave in at least two years, and hundreds of people are still being killed by the virus every week. According to a CDC analysis of hospitalizations, 25 states have or likely have rising numbers of COVID infections. William Brangham speaks with Dr. Eric Topol about what's behind the uptick and how people can protect themselves. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Saturday, Iran has a new president-elect after a runoff vote, Russian drone attacks hit a vital energy facility in northern Ukraine, Hamas dropped a key demand in cease-fire negotiations with Israel, Trump is distancing himself from Project 2025, and coronavirus cases in the U.S. are ticking back up after a springtime lull. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The pace of COVID fatalities in the U.S. has slowed significantly, with the nation's death toll standing at more than 1 million people. With precautions like mandatory masking no longer in place, it can seem as if worries about the virus are gone as well. But for many people with disabilities, the threat is still very real. We hear from people in the disability community about their concerns. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Hospitalizations for COVID are at an all-time low four years after the start of the pandemic, but new variants are in circulation. Meanwhile, bird flu has been found in 36 dairy herds across nine states, though there has been only one confirmed human case so far in 2024. To find out how concerned we should be about all of this, John Yang speaks with epidemiologist Katelyn Jetelina. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The U.S. is experiencing another uptick in COVID infections after the holidays, with hospitalizations rising for the eighth week in a row. A new dominant variant, JN.1, has quickly spread to account for more than 60 percent of cases. John Yang speaks with epidemiologist Jessica Malaty Rivera to learn more about the surge and what it tells us about how we deal with COVID moving forward. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

As we head into the winter holidays, John Yang speaks with epidemiologist Katelyn Jetelina about the current state of affairs with COVID, RSV and flu infections, lagging vaccination rates and how to stay healthy this season. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

This week, the World Health Organization ended the global public health emergency it declared three years ago as COVID-19 spread around the world. Meanwhile, the U.S. public health emergency is set to end on Thursday, May 11. Katelyn Jetelina, an epidemiologist at the University of Texas, joins John Yang to discuss where the pandemic stands now and what we should be doing about it. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

As students and teachers across the U.S. prepare to head back to school, the CDC is relaxing its COVID-19 guidelines. It marks a significant shift in how the nation approaches the pandemic as the new guidance prioritizes keeping kids in class. But some health experts worry the agency has gone too far. Julia Raifman, who leads the COVID-19 U.S. State Policy Database, joins Stephanie Sy to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

More than two years into the pandemic, most Americans have returned to a sense of some normalcy. But the virus is still disrupting daily life in the U.S. with more than 130,000 per day and deaths on the rise. We reached out to viewers about their latest questions on COVID-19. Katelyn Jetelina, an epidemiologist with the University of Texas, joins Judy Woodruff to provide some answers. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

From the start of the pandemic, scientists have tried to determine exactly where and how the novel coronavirus spread to humans. New studies conclude the virus first emerged from a live-animal market in Wuhan, China. One of the authors of a study, Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, joins William Brangham to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

A new coronavirus variant called BA.5 is fueling yet another wave of COVID infections across the globe. This week, the CDC said BA.5 is now the dominant strain in the U.S. accounting for more than 60 percent of cases. It is also the most transmissible variant to date. Dr. Eric Topol, founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, joins William Brangham to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

With vaccinations, boosters and drugs, COVID has become a far less deadly risk for most Americans than earlier in the pandemic. But COVID still presents numerous problems, particularly for some of the most vulnerable people, with an average of more than 300 people dying every day from it. Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House COVID response coordinator, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

One of the major consequences of the coronavirus is that children around the world have been unable to attend schools to learn and are too poor to have computers and thus can't learn remotely. This is especially a problem in poor, less developed countries. We take a look at the issue with reports from three countries around the world in Venezuela, Uganda and India. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The pandemic threatened business districts across the country, but misguided fears and rhetoric about Asian Americans made things particularly hard for Chinatown neighborhoods. John Yang visited New York's Chinatown to learn more. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

China and Russia on Thursday blocked a U.S. attempt in the United Nations Security Council to punish North Korea for testing missiles that are banned by previous resolutions by the council. North Korea's tests this week of ballistic missiles, including one that Pyongyang says can reach the east coast of the U.S., coincide with its first major outbreak of COVID-19. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

A new COVID wave is accelerating across the U.S. with cases rising in almost every state. New daily cases are up by more than 50 percent from just two weeks ago, while COVID-related hospitalizations rose by 12 percent over the last week. This as the CDC signed off on Pfizer COVID boosters for children ages 5 to 11. White House COVID response director Dr. Ashish Jha joins Geoff Bennett to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

President Biden on Thursday marked the U.S. nearing one million lives lost due to the pandemic and called on Congress to pass funding for more COVID relief. The pandemic has claimed more than 6 million lives worldwide, though WHO estimates the real toll tops 15 million deaths tied to the virus. Dr. Anthony Fauci, Biden's chief medical adviser, joins Amna Nawaz to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

It's a tiny vial with big ambitions to help bring an end to the pandemic everywhere on earth. The developers of the so-called "vaccine for the world" hope what's inside can ease the equity issues surrounding global covid vaccine distribution. John Yang has the story. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

As COVID cases begin to pick up across the U.S. the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday said that three out of every four children have been infected by COVID. This comes as the White House moved to make Paxlovid pills, which can reduce serious illness, more widely available. Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Biden's chief medical adviser, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

With the rise of the BA.2 variant in some parts of the country, many questions remain about how to best navigate daily life and what precautions should or should not be taken. White House COVID-19 response coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha joins Amna Nawaz to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Shanghai is under lockdown Friday, as COVID cases continue to surge in China's financial capital. It is the most severe measure by the Chinese government to isolate and tract infections since it shut down the city of Wuhan after the virus broke out in 2020. William Brangham reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

As COVID-19 swept across the United States it became clear that the virus disproportionately affected certain racial and ethnic groups. But the outsized impact of the pandemic on one community -- Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders -- has been largely hidden because of inconsistent data collection and reporting. Stephanie Sy reports as part of our series, "Race Matters." PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Two years into the pandemic, concerns about COVID-19's impact on mental health continue to grow. We spoke to people across the country about their particular struggles and the work being done to help others suffering during the pandemic. And Dr. Tom Insel, who served as the director of the National Institute of Mental Health, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss what can be done. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The World Health Organization reported infections are down globally. In the last two weeks, new cases in the U.S. have decreased by more than 60 percent and a number of states and cities have been lifting masking requirements. But experts warn about letting our guard down too soon. Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to President Biden, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

With the holidays approaching and the omicron variant surging in some parts of the U.S., demand for rapid and at-home COVID-19 tests is higher than ever, and the wait at large PCR test sites can be several hours in some places. ProPublica reporter Lydia Depillis joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss why the tests are so hard to find in the U.S., and the Biden administration's plans for ramping up supply. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

A newly emerged variant of the coronavirus known as "omicron" is causing widespread concern. First discovered in South Africa, it's now been detected in multiple nations, including Europe and Israel. Many nations including the U.S. are considering travel bans to try and contain the variant. Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of Brown University's School of Public Health, joins William Brangham to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart join William Brangham to discuss the week in politics, including the new COVID- 19 variant, inflation, President Biden's leadership decisions at the Federal Reserve and the verdict in the death of Ahmaud Arbery. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

COVID-19 was the number one cause of death for people between the ages of 35 to 54 during some months since the pandemic began last year, according to recent data. Meanwhile, as the Delta variant continues to drive infections around the world, the push for booster shots in the U.S. has raised concerns since many are still awaiting their first dose. ProPublica's Caroline Chen joins. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Community colleges have long been seen as an opportunity for students of all backgrounds to earn a degree. But those same students, especially the students of color, have been some of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. And many have had to drop out. But schools are hoping to bring students back with new initiatives. Hari Sreenivasan reports for our new series, Rethinking College. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

India is battling a devastating COVID-19 wave as the case count continues to break records, overwhelming resources including medical supplies. As foreign aid pours in from around the world, the nation has opened up vaccinations for all adults. NewsHour Weekend Digital Producer Pavni Mittal joins Hari Sreenivasan from New Delhi to discuss the mass cremations, scramble for vaccines and the possible political fallout. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

India's health system is collapsing amid a tsunami of COVID-19 cases--the highest in the world. As patients struggle to find hospital beds, doctors are sounding the alarm on dwindling medical supplies, including oxygen, on Twitter. Meanwhile, the Modi govt., which expanded vaccination criteria, is facing the heat for its response to the crisis. NPR Correspondent Lauren Frayer joins from Mumbai. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Four people who lost a loved one in the pandemic tell us about what they remember, how they're grieving and how they're trying to move forward. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

One year after the first COVID-19 shutdowns began in the U.S., over 500,000 people have died from the disease, businesses have opened and closed, and several vaccines have emerged. President Biden has set a May 1 deadline for universal vaccine access; currently, over 10 percent of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated. Caroline Chen of ProPublica has been reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic since its earliest days. She joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss the latest. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Take a second to remember what your life was like one year ago. For most of us, it all feels like a distant memory. From how we work to how we learn, who we see and where we can go, our day-to-day has changed drastically. And some of those changes have lasting consequences. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In the first episode of a series we're calling "The Longest Year," which tells the stories of the isolation, uncertainty, fear, loss and new understanding that have spread alongside the virus, we focus on the people on the front lines. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

For people whose COVID-19 symptoms linger for months, the effects can be devastating and debilitating. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

President Biden has set a goal to vaccinate 100 million Americans in his first 100 days even as federal and state officials grapple with logistical challenges and the absence of a national inoculation plan. ProPublica reporter Caroline Chen joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss the confusion surrounding the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in the nation. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Months into the COVID-19 pandemic, schools are using all kinds of models -- virtual, in-person or some hybrid inbetween -- to try to keep kids on track and engaged. Parents and teachers say sometimes it feels like none of them are working. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Coronavirus is spiking in parts of the U.S. spared the worst of the pandemic in its early days, as well as in states that already suffered. With an average of 75,000 new daily cases over the past week, hospital admissions are rising, straining health care systems and forcing very difficult decisions. William Brangham talks to Dr. Edward Stenehjem of the Intermountain Healthcare system in Utah. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Coronavirus is spreading across the United States more widely than it did in previous waves. U.S. hospitalizations rose 40 percent in the past month and increased across 38 states during the past week. The country saw more than 75,000 new cases Thursday; over 41,000 people are hospitalized with the virus. Judy Woodruff talks to Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a stronger recommendation for passengers and employees to wear face masks on buses, planes and trains. The guidance, more specific than previous statements, comes as infections are surging. Also, a NASA robotic spacecraft called OSIRIS-REx swooped down on an asteroid 200 million miles from Earth to collect samples. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders