First two cases of more contagious COVID virus detected in Canada

Two people in Canada have the new, more contagious strain of COVID-19. They are a couple. They have not been traveling. They did not have any exposure to anyone who was at high risk.

Unemployment benefits set to expire as COVID relief bill remains unsigned by Trump

Unemployment benefits for millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet were set to lapse at midnight Saturday night unless President Donald Trump signed an end-of-year COVID relief and spending bill that had been considered a done deal before his sudden objections.

Nearly 40 Pennsylvania restaurants ordered shut for defying governor's coronavirus order

Nearly 40 Pennsylvania restaurants have been ordered to shut down after defying a mandate by Gov. Tom Wolf temporarily banning indoor dining because of the coronavirus pandemic, a report said.

COVID-19 vaccinations begin in Hungary, Germany hours after shipments

Germany, Hungary and Slovakia began giving out their first coronavirus vaccine shots on Saturday only hours after receiving their first shipments.

US requires UK passengers to get negative test

The United States will require airline passengers from Britain to get a negative COVID-19 test before their flight. 

Hospital develops 'hugging curtain' for sick children to touch loved ones

A hospital in Rome has come up with a unique solution to allow families to have personal contact with children who are patients while also minimizing the risk of them catching the coronavirus.

'We have a big problem': Experts fear the holidays will fuel the US COVID-19 crisis

Hard-hit California has eclipsed 2 million coronavirus cases as the U.S. heads into a Christmas travel surge that could fuel the deadly crisis across the nation.

December is deadliest month of COVID-19 pandemic in US so far

With a week to go, December has become the deadliest month yet of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States.

New coronavirus variant appears to emerge in Nigeria, Africa's CDC says

Africa’s top public health official says another new variant of the coronavirus appears to have emerged in Nigeria, but further investigation is needed.

Idaho boy, 12, falls critically ill from COVID-19 complication

A 12-year-old boy from a secluded valley in Idaho became one of hundreds of children in the U.S. affected by a rare COVID-19 complication.

Restaurants lose court bid against Pennsylvania indoor dining ban

A federal judge in Pennsylvania has rejected a bid to block one of Gov. Tom Wolf’s latest orders to try to stem the spread of the coronavirus, a three-week shutdown of indoor dining at restaurants through Jan. 4.

Christmas Eve milestone: California tops 2 million confirmed cases of coronavirus

California’s infection rate — in terms of number of cases per 100,000 people — is lower than the U.S. average but its 40 million residents means it outpaces other states in sheer numbers. More than 23,000 Californians have died since the pandemic began.