Tom Howell Jr.

White House invests $1.6 billion in virus testing, sequencing

The White House said Wednesday it is investing $1.6 billion to keep America's eyes on the coronavirus, including an expansion of testing in schools and sequencing efforts that can spot fast-moving variants.

February 17, 2021

Dr. Anthony Fauci: Studies show vaccinated persons less likely to transmit the coronavirus

Dr. Anthony Fauci said Wednesday evidence is growing that people who receive COVID-19 vaccines will not only be protected from disease but also will be less likely to spread the pathogen to others.

February 17, 2021

Joe Biden vows vaccines available for all Americans by midsummer

President Biden on Tuesday said any American who wants a vaccine should be able to get one by midsummer, setting a clear marker for the immunization campaign that will define the first year of his presidency.

February 16, 2021

Winter storm upends coronavirus vaccine rollout

A massive winter storm is disrupting the U.S. coronavirus vaccine rollout, with governors in hard-hit states postponing appointments and others facing delays in weekly shipments despite recent progress in getting shots into arms.

February 16, 2021

White House commits to fighting Ebola in Guinea

The White House said Tuesday it will do "everything in its power" to ensure a new Ebola outbreak in West Africa doesn't spread within the region or world at large.

February 16, 2021

Feds increase COVID-19 vaccine shipments to pharmacies, states; rollout disrupted by storms

The White House on Tuesday said a federal pharmacy program will receive 2 million doses of coronavirus vaccine week, or double the 1 million dispatched to launch the direct-to-drugstores initiative last week.

February 16, 2021

Massachusetts companion rule for COVID-19 vaccines sparks concerns

Massachusetts is rolling out a plan to get more of its seniors vaccinated for COVID-19 — a caregiver who brings someone 75 and older to mass-vaccination sites like Fenway Park can get their own shot during the visit.

February 15, 2021

WH launching $50M Obamacare awareness campaign

The Biden administration will launch a $50 million awareness campaign to advertise a special Obamacare enrollment period that begins on Monday.

February 12, 2021

Biden lauds scientists for rapid vaccine development, chides Trump for slow distribution

President Biden praised National Institutes of Health scientists Thursday for their sacrifice in developing COVID-19 vaccines while taking several jabs at former President Donald Trump, who presided over the lightning-fast development of the shots.

February 11, 2021

White House: CDC to release school-reopening guidelines Friday

The White House on Thursday said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will release guidelines on Friday that outline how schools can reopen safely, as President Biden faces pressure to get moving on his pledge to get kids back into the classroom.

February 11, 2021

CDC tells Americans to wear two masks, make sure they fit correctly to reduce coronavirus spread

They say that whatever is worth doing is worth doing well — that includes wearing a dang mask during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

February 10, 2021

Biden: U.S. will sanction leaders of Myanmar coup

President Biden said Wednesday the U.S. will sanction military leaders in Myanmar who directed the Feb. 1 military coup in the Southeast Asian nation.

February 10, 2021

Feds building three vaccine centers in Texas

The Biden administration said Wednesday the federal government is building three mass-vaccination centers in Texas with the aim of getting 10,000 shots into arms per day.

February 10, 2021

Walmart, CVS, Walgreens among retailers to get vaccines under Federal Retail Pharmacy Program

Coronavirus vaccines are coming to a Walmart or Sam's Club near you as the federal government launches a program this week that sends shots directly to pharmacies.

February 9, 2021

Biden, Harris take virtual tour of Arizona vaccination site

President Biden and Vice President Kamala D. Harris virtually toured a 24-7 vaccination site Monday at the Arizona Cardinals' stadium that could serve as a model for others, as the U.S. pivots from immunizing priority groups to reaching older Americans and racing against fast-moving variants of the coronavirus.

February 8, 2021

White House to states: Don’t ease up now on mask, distancing rules

The Biden administration on Monday told states not to lift mask mandates and distancing rules as the coronavirus situation slowly improves, citing still-high transmission that exceeds last summer's peak and fast-spreading variants.

February 8, 2021

Teamwork bolsters South Dakota’s efforts to vaccinate residents

When a Sioux Falls vaccinator needed more COVID-19 shots to serve its 80-and-older population last week, it received help from an unlikely source — other parts of South Dakota that are trying to vaccinate their own residents.

February 7, 2021

White House defends Biden’s Delaware trip amid no-travel guidance

The White House on Friday defended President Biden's decision to head to Delaware for the weekend despite federal guidance telling Americans not to travel amid the pandemic.

February 5, 2021

Pentagon approves 1,000-troop deployment to support COVID-19 vaccine effort

The Defense Department approved the deployment of more than 1,000 active-duty troops to help with COVID-19 vaccination efforts, the White House said Friday.

February 5, 2021

Johnson & Johnson seeks emergency use of its one-dose COVID-19 vaccine

Johnson & Johnson on Thursday asked U.S. regulators to approve its single-dose COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use.

February 4, 2021