Gridlock could delay COVID funds until fall — or longer
WASHINGTON — The U.S. is headed for “a lot of unnecessary loss of life,” the Biden administration says, if Congress fails to provide billions more dollars to brace for the pandemic’s next wave. Yet the quest for that money is in limbo, the latest victim of election-year gridlock that’s stalled or killed a host of Democratic priorities.
Company to Las Vegas chapels: No more Elvis-themed weddings
LAS VEGAS — Las Vegas chapels of love that use Elvis Presley’s likeness could find themselves becoming Heartbreak Hotels.
Ige talks return of Japanese visitors
Gov. David Ige said he’s expecting Japan Airlines to start service between Japan and Kona on Aug. 1.
Dominant coronavirus mutant contains ghost of pandemic past
The coronavirus mutant that is now dominant in the United States is a member of the omicron family but scientists say it spreads faster than its omicron predecessors, is adept at escaping immunity and might possibly cause more serious disease.
Hawaii County nears “high” COVID community level
The state Department of Health reported that Hawaii County entered its ninth consecutive week of increased COVID cases, bringing the total number of new cases for the county this week to 1,102. This is an increase of over 250 cases from the week before.
Long COVID affects more older adults; shots don’t prevent it
New U.S. research on long COVID-19 provides fresh evidence that it can happen even after breakthrough infections in vaccinated people, and that older adults face higher risks for the long-term effects.
University of Hawaii requires masks indoors amid COVID spike
HONOLULU — The University of Hawaii said Tuesday it will require masks indoors across its 10-campus system amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in the islands.
Pandemic-weary Americans plan for summer despite COVID surge
HONOLULU — A high school prom in Hawaii where masked dancers weren’t allowed to touch. A return to virtual city council meetings in one Colorado town after the mayor and others tested positive following an in-person session. A reinstated mask mandate at skilled nursing facilities in Los Angeles County after 22 new outbreaks in a single week.
What’s next for COVID-19 vaccines for youngest US children
Parents hoping to get their youngest children vaccinated against COVID-19 got some encouraging news Monday.
CDC urges Pfizer booster for children ages 5 to 11
Kids ages 5 to 11 should get a booster dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, advisers to the U.S. government said Thursday.
A third of US should be considering masks, officials say
WASHINGTON — COVID-19 cases are increasing in the United States — and could get even worse over the coming months, federal health officials warned Wednesday in urging areas hardest hit to consider reissuing calls for indoor masking.
Keiki booster shots could begin soon
Booster shots for keiki ages 5-11 could be coming to the Big Island as early as next week, pending approval by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
FDA clears COVID booster shot for healthy kids ages 5 to 11
U.S. regulators on Tuesday authorized a COVID-19 booster shot for healthy 5- to 11-year-olds, hoping an extra vaccine dose will enhance their protection as infections once again creep upward.
US deaths from COVID hit 1 million, less than 2 1/2 years in
The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 hit 1 million on Monday, a once-unimaginable figure that only hints at the multitudes of loved ones and friends staggered by grief and frustration.
Meatpackers ignored COVID-19 spread to keep operating, House report says
The nation’s biggest meatpackers ignored warnings that COVID-19 was spreading through their plants, hyped claims of impending shortages and helped draft a Trump administration order to keep the facilities running during the early days of the pandemic, a congressional investigation found.
Char: Graduations could fuel COVID spike
State Health Director Libby Char said Friday she’s concerned the recent statewide rise in COVID-19 cases will become more pronounced during graduation season.
Biden marks COVID ‘tragic milestone’ in US at global summit
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden appealed to world leaders at a COVID-19 summit Thursday to reenergize a lagging international commitment to attacking the virus as he led the U.S. in marking the “tragic milestone” of 1 million deaths in America. He ordered flags lowered to half-staff and warned against complacency around the globe.
COVID spike ‘a cause for concern’ for DOE schools
Masking requirements will remain in place for graduation ceremonies and summer school, according to interim Superintendent Keith Hayashi and State Epidemiologist Sarah Kemble.
Pandemic gets tougher to track as COVID testing plunges
Testing for COVID-19 has plummeted across the globe, making it much tougher for scientists to track the course of the pandemic and spot new, worrisome viral mutants as they emerge and spread.
Rare cases of COVID returning pose questions for Pfizer pill
As more doctors prescribe Pfizer’s powerful COVID-19 pill, new questions are emerging about its performance, including why a small number of patients appear to relapse after taking the drug.
