Reliable News – Nationwide Updates

As of 1/11/21

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White House Updates

January 11th: The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment for the month of December fell by 140,000 since November, ending 7 consecutive months of job gains. The leisure and hospitality industry suffered the most job losses (with an approximately 498,000 jobs lost in December).
December 31st: President Trump is suspending through 12/31/2020, the entry of any non-citizen who is seeing to enter the country with a nonimmigrant visa as well as the entry of immigrants, subject to certain exceptions.
December 30th: The President extends the memorandum he signed on April 10th that places sanctions on visas until it is terminated by the President. The memorandum states that the US is able to “effectuate the repatriation of foreign nationals who violate the laws of the United States.”
December 21st: Vice President Mike Pence led a discussion with the chief executives and senior leaders of approximately 50 states, territories, and the city of Washington, D.C., and the White House Coronavirus Task Force to discuss the vaccine distribution and the positive news revolving the FDA’s emergency use authorization of the Moderna vaccine. The Vice President encouraged Governors to work with health care professionals in their states to make sure that monoclonal antibodies are used earlier to prevent severe illness and hospitalizations. Secretary Mnuchin updated everyone on the recent COVID relief package. CDC Director Redfield talked about the ACIP COVID-19 vaccine phase 1B recommendations for people 75+ and frontline essential workers.
December 18th: The Vice President, Second Lady, and Surgeon General publicly receive the COVID-19 vaccine in an effort to promote the safety and efficacy of the vaccine and build confidence among Americans.
- In remarks at a “Safe and Effective Vaccine Confidence Event,” the Vice President discusses how the COVID-19 vaccine is a “medical miracle.” It usually takes between 8-12 years to develop a vaccine, but currently America is on track to administer millions of doses of the vaccine in less than 1 year. He states that under Operation Warp Speed, 20 million Americans will be vaccinated by the end of December, nearly 2 million COVID-19 diagnostic tests are being done daily, a second COVID-19 vaccine has just gained FDA approval (the Moderna vaccine), and the FDA just approved the first over-the-counter coronavirus test for at home testing.
December 14th: Vice President Mike Pence led a discussion with the chief executives and senior leaders of approximately 50 states, territories, and the city of Washington, D.C., and the White House Coronavirus Task Force to discuss COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, specifically revolving about the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.
December 8th: President Trump signs an Executive Order making sure that US citizens are “first in line to benefit from United States Government COVID-19 vaccines.” America will soon have two safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines that will receive the emergency use authorization by the FDA and the Trump Administration is working to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine with States, territories, tribes, local public health programs, and the private industry.
December 3rd: President Trump extends the Governors’ use of the National Guard to respond to COVID-19 and to facilitate economic recovery.
- The 100% Federal cost share for the use of the National Guard by Florida and Texas will terminate on 12/31/2020.
- The States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, and the territories of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands will have 75% federal cost share of emergency assistance activities associated with preventing and responding to threats to public health through 03/31/2020.
- Iowa will have FEMA fund an extra 25% of the emergency assistance activities associated with preventing and responding to threats to public health retroactively from 08/3/2020-12/31/2020.
November 30th: Vice President Mike Pence led a discussion with the chief executives and senior leaders of approximately 50 states, territories, and the city of Washington, D.C., and the White House Coronavirus Task Force to discuss local, state, and federal COVID-19 response and recovery efforts including the continued collaboration on vaccine distribution and administration planning.
October 27th: The White House releases a statement on the response to COVID-19 .
October 12th: The President’s Physician releases a memorandum to confirm the president has tested negative for COVID-19.
September 29th: President Trump provides an update on America’s COVID-19 testing strategy. He announced that his Administration has plans to distribute 150 million Abbott rapid point-of-care tests in the upcoming weeks. These rapid point-of-care tests will have results available in a maximum of 15 minutes.
September 21st: Vice President Mike Pence led a discussion with the chief executives of approximately 50 States, territories, and the city of Washington, DC, and the White House Coronavirus Task Force to discuss local, State, and Federal Coronavirus response and recovery best practices.
September 18th: President Trump gives an update on the progress of the development of a vaccine for COVID-19. He mentioned that as soon as a vaccine is produced that it will be distributed to the American people within 24 hours.
September 16th: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Defense (DoD) today released two documents outlining the Trump Administration’s detailed strategy to deliver safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses to the American people as quickly and reliably as possible.
September 4th: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, America added nearly 1.4 million jobs in August. The unemployment rate is now 8.4%.
September 4th: The Vice-President had a discussion with college presidents, state and local leaders, the Secretary of Education, and the White house Coronavirus Task Force to brief them on the recently released “Recommendations for College Students.” Students are encouraged to stay on or near campus to minimize exposure to higher risk individuals.
September 1st: The President ordered the CDC to enact a moratorium on evictions during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
August 25th:The White House released a fact sheet on the steps that the Trump Administration has taken to protect seniors in nursing homes. Nursing homes will be supplied with point of care testing devices and an initial supply of test kits to nursing homes. Furthermore, the Administration will be enforcing compliance to regular testing of staff and residents.
August 18th: The Vice-President held a discussion with the chief executives of almost 50 states, territories, and the city of Washington, D.C., and the White House Coronavirus Task Force about the status of local, State, and Federal Coronavirus response and recovery best practices.
- The Vice-President announced that the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency will be shortly releasing an updated Critical Infrastructure Workforce guidance to include teachers to make sure they have a safe work environment.
- Ambassador Birx discussed the efforts of Kansas to utilize pool testing as schools start to reopen and Nebraska’s efforts to protect seniors.
- Admiral Giroir stated that nearly 3,600 antigen tests have been distributed to nursing homes. By mid-September, an antigen testing machine will be distributed to every nursing home in America.
August 14th:
- The White house released a report stating that reopening schools this upcoming academic year is necessary to “unlock the full potential of America’s children.” The Council of Economic Advisers estimates that 3 months of school closures may reduce the future earnings of children by 2.2-3.7%. The Council also stated that approximately 5.6 million adults will not be able to return to work for childcare reasons if schools do not reopen this year.
- The President signed into law, S. 3607, the “Safeguarding America’s First Responders Act,” which extends death/disability benefits under the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program to public safety officers who died/became injured due to COVID-19.

August 12th: The White House released a fact sheet in support of the safe reopening of America’s schools. To read more details, please click here.
- To read a statement from the Press Secretary regarding the safe reopening of schools, please click here.
August 11th: The White House released a fact sheet detailing President Trump using every resource to have a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine be available to Americans. To read it, please click here.
August 10th:
- The White House released a fact sheet detailing President Trump’s Coronavirus response. To read it, please click here.
- The Vice-President held a discussion with the chief executives of almost 50 states, territories, and the city of Washington, D.C., and the White House Coronavirus Task Force about the status of local, State, and Federal Coronavirus response and recovery best practices. Highlights from this meeting include: Chief of the National Guard Bureau, General Hokanson briefed on the President’s extension of Title 32 Status for the National Guard through December 31, 2020. Secretary Mnuchin provided updates on relief legislation negotiations and important executive actions to support American families. Admiral Giroir provided an update on resourcing state testing needs and supporting testing in nursing homes and schools.
August 8th:
- President Trump issued a memorandum to temporarily cease payments and waive interest on student loans held by the Department of Education until December 31, 2020.
- President Trump signed an executive order to provide assistance to renters and homeowners. Under this order, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Director of the CDC will consider whether temporarily halting residential evictions will prevent spread of COVID-19, the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development will identify all available Federal funds to provide temporary financial assistance to renters and homeowners who are struggling to pay their rents or mortgages, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development will promote the ability of renters and homeowners to avoid eviction or foreclosure, and the Director of FHFA will review all existing resources that can be used to prevent evictions and foreclosures.
- President Trump sent a memorandum to the Secretary of the Treasury to defer payroll tax obligations with respect to the American workers most in need.
- President Trump sent a memorandum to the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency that authorizes the other needs assistance program for major disaster declarations. In the memo, the President authorizes FEMA to assist in providing benefits from the Department of Homeland Security’s Disaster Relief Fund and directs for up to $44 billion from the Fund at the statutorily mandated 75% Federal cost share be made available for lost wages assistance.
August 7th:
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported adding an additional 1.8 million new jobs in July. The official unemployment rate in July was 10.2%.
- The use of the National Guard to respond to COVID-19 and to facilitate economic recovery has been extended in Arizona, California, and Connecticut through September 30th.
August 6th: The President signed an Executive Order to increase American production of essential medical supplies in order to decrease America’s reliance on medication produced by foreign nations. Under the order, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs will make a list of medicines, medical countermeasures, and critical inputs that are necessary for American public health.
- The Order will support American jobs by increasing the domestic manufacturing of essential medicines.
- Agencies will be directed to prioritize permitting and approvals for domestic manufacturers.
- The Order will ensure that America’s supply chains will be capable of meeting national security requirements for public health emergencies responses.
August 3rd:
- The President signed into law, Protecting Nonprofits from Catastrophic Cash Flow Strain Act of 2020,” which is an amendment to title IX of the Social Security Act to improve emergency relief for government entities and non-profit organizations.
- The President signed an executive order regarding the improvement of rural health and access to telehealth services: launching a payment model to enable rural health transformation, investing in infrastructure, increasing access to rural healthcare, and proposing a regulation to extend flexibilities beyond the public health emergency.
- The President sends a memo to the Secretary of Homeland Security to extend the use of the National Guard to respond to COVID-19 and to facilitate economic recovery.
- The Vice-President held a discussion with the chief executives of almost 50 states, territories, and the city of Washington, D.C., and the White House Coronavirus Task Force about the status of Congressional negotiations, the administration’s prioritization of jobs and schools, and the COVID-19 response.

July 31st: The United States has already conducted more than 59 million tests and is now averaging 810,000 tests per day.
- The Administration is investing in the expansion of point-of-care testing.
- The Administration is supporting the States’ needs for COVID-19 testing supplies.
- The Administration is providing surge testing to communities that have experienced recent increases in cases and hospitalizations.
- The FDA has allowed certain labs to begin using validated tests.
July 28th: President Trump is signing a letter of interest in support of a deal that will help for essential medicines to be produced in America. When the deal is finalized, the CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation will use his Defense Production Act loan authority to provide a $765 million loan to Kodak Pharmaceuticals, which will create at least 360 jobs and will have the capacity to produce 25% of the generic active pharmaceutical ingredients necessary for all non-biologic and non-antibacterial pharmaceuticals used in the US. To read more about this deal, please click here.
- Vice-President Pence held a discussion with the chief executives of almost 50 states, territories, and the city of Washington, D.C., and the White House Coronavirus Task Force to discuss local, state, and federal Coronavirus response and recovery best practices. To read more in-depth about what was discussed during this meeting, please click here.
July 27th: President Trump is using all available means to ensure safe vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics are developed, manufactured, and distributed quickly in response to COVID-19. There are several candidate vaccines that are now in late-stage trials. To read more about vaccine trial updates, please click here.
July 23rd:
- President Trump is taking steps to ensure that schools safely reopen in the fall and is providing parents the power to make decisions about their children’s education.
- In a press briefing, President Trump talks about the importance of wearing masks, avoiding bars and other crowded places, and the cancellation of the Jacksonville, Florida portion of the Republican Convention. He also reads a statement issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics and states that the National Education Association recently stated that online learning has never been an effective replacement for in-person learning and support. Furthermore, he states that the Administration is asking Congress to provide $105 billion to schools as part of the next coronavirus relief bill to support smaller class size, more teachers and teacher aides, repurposing spaces to practice social distancing, and mask wearing. If schools do not reopen, the President says that the money should go towards parents to send their children to a school of their choice (private, charter, religious).
July 22nd: President Trump provides updates about his Administration’s response to COVID-19. He talks about the agreement with Pfizer to produce and deliver 100 million doses of a vaccine, Operation Warp Speed, which will ensure an additional 500 million doses shortly after, and the Administration’s top priority to protect seniors and provide aid to nursing homes.
- Today was the first day that the US has surpassed 50 million tests.

The Administration is working very closely with every state to ensure the supply of remdesivir is adequate.

July 21st: The Second Lady Pence holds a roundtable discussion with the Governor of South Carolina on safely reopening schools. For remarks made by the Vice President during the same discussion, please click here.
June 20th: Vice-President Pence held another discussion with the chief executives of approximately 50 states, territories, and Washington, D.C. to discuss local, state, and Federal Coronavirus response and recovery best efforts.
- The Vice-President offered the Federal government’s full support in helping any state with a rising COVID-19 infection rate.
- Dr. Birx indicated that many states are now experiencing a decline in test positivity rate and new cases after implementing measures to slow the spread of Coronavirus.
- Secretary Azar called for hospital transparency. He also announced the launch of a public health data dashboard, https://healthdata.gov/.
- An update on nursing homes was also provided.

July 8th: Vice-President Pence and the Coronavirus Task Force hold a press briefing where they stated that more than 39 million Americans have been tested, more than 3 million Americans have tested positive, and more than 133,000 Americans have died from COVID-19. They are working hard to make sure that states have what they require.
July 7th: The Trump Administration is supporting the reopening of America’s schools in the fall. The Administration has made more than $13 billion dollars available for schools impacted by COVID-19, has provided flexibility for school breakfast and lunch programs, and the CDC has recently released detailed guidance on schools’ reopening.
- Vice President Pence led a discussion with the chief executives of approximately 50 states, territories and D.C., and the White House Coronavirus Task Force to discuss COVID-19 response and the best practices for safely reopening schools.

July 4th: The President signed into law the reauthorization of lending the Payment Protection Program until August 8, 2020 and separates the authorized limits for PPP commitments from other Small Business Administration loan programs.
July 2nd: 4.8 million jobs were added in June according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ June Employment Situation report.
July 1st: The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) goes into effect today.
June 30th:
- To honor American workers, President Trump proclaims July 2020 to be the Pledge to America’s Workers Month.
- The Vice-President and the other members of the Coronavirus Task Force hold a meeting and announce the establishment of the Ready Reserves Corps.
June 29th: The Vice-President holds a meeting with the chief executives of approximately 50 States, territories, and the city of Washington D.C., and the White House Coronavirus Task Force to discuss COVID-19 recovery efforts. The Vice-President encouraged Governors to urge Americans to wear face coverings when physical distancing is not possible and to adhere to state/local guidelines. Secretary Azar encouraged Governors to urge previous COVID-19 patients to donate convalescent plasma and told the meeting participants that HHS has secured large supplies of remdesivir. Rear Admiral Polowczyk provided an update on the expansion of the domestic production of PPE and the re-stocking of the National Stockpile.
- The White House issues an amendment to the “Suspension of Entry of Immigrants and Nonimmigrants Who Present a Risk to the United States Labor Market During the Economic Recovery Following the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak” Proclamation.
June 26th:
- The Vice-President met with airline executives and discussed with them how airlines can return to business safely as America continues to reopen.
- The White House Coronavirus Task Force holds its first briefing in nearly 2 months.
June 24th: The President pens a memo on protecting the U.S. Lobster Industry.
June 22nd:
- The White House Press Secretary clarifies that the administration is not planning to slow down the rate of COVID-19 testing.
- The Trump Administration will suspend the entry of certain foreign workers and will extend immigration restrictions until December. Click here for more information.
- The Vice-President holds another meeting with the chief executives of the 50 States, territories, and the city of Washington D.C., and the White House Coronavirus Task Force to discuss America’s reopening.
June 21st: The White House Trade Advisor said that the Trump Administration is preparing for a second wave of coronavirus infections in the fall.
June 20th: The White House Press Secretary announced yesterday that the Coronavirus Task Force will no longer provide public briefings and that any updates on the outbreak will be reported by her.
June 19th: The Trump Administration transfers the federal stockpile of emergency medical supplies back under the control of federal health officials.
June 16th: The Vice-President publishes an op-ed denouncing the media bringing panic to the American public about a “second wave” of COVID-19.
June 15th: The Vice-President held another meeting with the chief executives of the 50 States, territories, and the city of Washington D.C., and the White House Coronavirus Task Force to provide updates on the country’s re-opening, with a focus on supporting America’s small businesses and workforce development.
June 14th: The President urges all Americans to donate blood to their local blood donation center.
June 8th: The Vice-President had a discussion with the chief executives of the 50 States, territories, and the city of Washington D.C., and the White House Coronavirus Task Force to provide an update on the Federal COVID-19 response effort, with an emphasis on the reopening of universities, camps, and schools.
June 5th: President signs act that allows businesses greater flexibility in using government loans to pay for business expenses amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
June 2nd: White House memo extends the authorization of states’ and territories’ use of National Guard forces in addressing the COVID-19 Pandemic until August 21, 2020.
May 31st: President releases joint statement of cooperation with Brazil on cooperation and sharing of resources in dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic, including a shipment of hydroxychloroquine to Brazil.
May 24th: President Trump signed an executive order to restrict and suspend entry into America of all aliens who were in the Federative Republic of Brazil during the 14-day period prior to their attempted entry into the United States.
May 22nd: President Trump ordered the American flag to be flown at half-staff at all public buildings and grounds and at all military and naval posts.
May 19th: President Trump signed executive order to direct agencies to address the economic impact of COVID-19 by eliminating regulations, providing reopening guidance to business, and recognizing that regulatory compliance can be difficult in these times.
May 7th: President Trump changed guidelines around seafood and national fishing in order to increase economic growth.
April 27th: Blueprints released that describe the testing plans and rapid response programs necessary for state to reopen, which can be found here
April 23rd: New bill that will include $320 billion to refill the Payment Protection Program
April 22nd: President Trump signed an executive order temporarily suspending immigration.
April 16th: New guidelines issued for states to reopen, allowing the governors to individualize the opening based on their state’s situation
Refer to guidelines here
April 15th: President Trump suspends all funding to the WHO
March 29th: President Trump and the White House Coronavirus Task Force issued new guidelines, found here, “30 Days to Slow the Spread”
March 27th: President Trump signed the Cares Act $2 trillion relief package into law. The money will go to secure emergency relief for healthcare systems, support individual families, and boost the economy by providing assistance to small businesses and workers
March 25th: Senate passes $2 trillion coronavirus relief package and sends it to the House who will vote on it on Friday March 27th
March 19th: began development on a vaccine and clinical trials for therapies
Potential use for chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine
March 18th: Families First Coronavirus Response Act signed
Addresses domestic outbreak, sick leave, insurance coverage, nutrition, and unemployment benefits
March 16th: President Trump and the White House Coronavirus Task Force issued new guidelines, found here, “15 Days to Slow the Spread”
Encourages social distancing, avoid social gatherings of more than 10 people
March 13th: President and White House declares a national emergency.
Opens access of $50 billion to fight against the disease
Every hospital in the country activates its emergency preparedness plans
Urges every state to set up emergency operation centers effective immediately
Secretary of HHS can waive provisions of applicable laws and regulations to provide the healthcare system maximum flexibility
FDA approved new test for virus, increase in testing
Waived interest on all student loans held by federal government agencies until further notice
March 11th: WHO officially announced global pandemic
Suspended entry of foreign nationals who have been to Europe in the last 14 days from entering the US; will be subject to extra screening as well as self-isolation for a period of 14 days

Maryland Updates

December 17th: The Governor signs an emergency order that details new testing and quarantine requirements for travel (all travel is limited to essential purposes; if Marylanders do travel outside of the state/any individuals arriving in Maryland from out of state must either get a negative COVID-19 test result or self quarantine for 10 days). State health officials advise individuals to limit gatherings to no more than 10 people. Furthermore, state agencies will suspend customer facing operations for 2 weeks beginning December 21st.
- The Governor also announced $180 million in emergency economic relief, which will help bars and restaurants, and increase the Temporary Cash Assistance Benefit: $50 million will be allocated for hotels and hospitality businesses, $30 million in relief for bars/restaurants, $15 million in assistance to entertainment venues, $5 million for rural business, $40 million for health care providers, and $40 million to provide a $100 boost to the Temporary Cash Assistance benefit for the following 6 months.
- The Governor signed an emergency order extending the moratorium on foreclosures to January 31st.
- The Governor signed a special emergency order stating that Santa Claus and his elves are exempt from all travel, testing, and quarantine requirements.
December 15th:
- The Governor reactivates the Maryland National Guard to support local health officials in distributing the COVID-19 vaccine.
- The Governor announces that Maryland has utilized all 500,000 LabGenomics COVID-19 test kits that were received from South Korea last spring and that have proven to be the backbone of the state’s long term testing strategy. Stemming from this success, LabGenomics announced that it has entered into an agreement with CIAN Diagnostics (a laboratory in Frederick) to purchase an additional 1 million COVID-19 tests.
December 14th: The first 5 University of Maryland Medical System frontline healthcare workers receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
December 10th: The Governor signs an executive order to provide emergency tax relief to small businesses, forgiveness of $75 million in small business loans, commits $25 million for low income housing, and $12 million for rental housing works program. Furthermore, the Governor announces $94 million in new grants for diabetes treatment and prevention and announces that $10 million in federal funding will be allocated to support virtual and multijurisdictional initiatives for law enforcement, youth services, and victim services.
December 8th: The Governor provided an update on Maryland’s plans to safely distribute the COVID-19 vaccine. The state’s initial vaccine allocations will be given to critical health care workers, residents and staff of long-term care facilities, and first responders. The state will receive 155,000 first doses of two-dose COVID-19 vaccines. Distribution is likely to begin as early as the week of December 14 for the Pfizer vaccine and the week of December 21st for the Moderna vaccine.
- Any licensed healthcare provider can administer the COVID-19 vaccine with appropriate training.
- The state will store vaccination records through ImmuNet, which is a HIPAA-compliant system that has been used by the state for over 15 years.
- Last week, Maryland activated its Critical Care Coordination Center that makes it easier to move patients between hospitals.
- Over 4,200 prospects have signed up through MarylandMedNow to work at state hospitals, nursing homes, testing sites, and vaccination clinics.
December 7th: Governor Hogan along with several other governors call on Congress to pass a COVID-19 relief bill.
December 3rd: Governor Hogan speaks on ABC’s Good Morning America to discuss Maryland’s preparedness efforts in anticipation of the COVID-19 vaccine. To read Maryland’s vaccination plan that the state submitted to the CDC, please click here. The state is hoping to vaccinate 300,000 by the end of December.
December 1st: Governor Hogan mobilizes medical staffing surge to fight COVID-19, support public health infrastructure
November 23rd: Governor Hogan announces launch of an all-hands-on-deck COVID-19 compliance and enforcement operation
November 18th: Governor Larry Hogan announces emergency orders to restrict hospital and nursing home visitation, alleviate crowding at medical facilities. Furthermore, starting November 20th at 5 PM, institutes 10 PM closure for bars and restaurants, 50% capacity for retail and religious establishments
November 11th: Governor Larry Hogan announces $70 million in new investments to protect the health, safety, and well-being of Marylanders
November 10th: Governor Larry Hogan announces series of actions to slow the spread of COVID-19
October 30th: Governor Larry Hogan today continued to call for vigilance in the fight against COVID-19 as he issued an order renewing the current state of emergency in Maryland.
October 29th: Maryland reports an increase in cases, from 414 on September 30 to 900 today, with hospitalizations, including ICU hospitalizations, increasing as well.
October 28th: Maryland hospitalizations reach highest total since early August.
October 20th: Governor Hogan Announces Maryland’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan
October 19th: Governor Larry Hogan today announced a new $10 million initiative to provide critical support to thousands of Maryland farmers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
October 16th: Governor Larry Hogan and Maryland Secretary of Health Robert Neall today issued orders updating safe capacity limits for outdoor sporting and entertainment venues, while maintaining face covering requirements and strict public health protocols.
October 2nd: Governor Larry Hogan today announced that indoor visitation may resume at Maryland nursing homes where no new cases have been reported in 14 days or more, along with greater flexibility for compassionate care visits, and an additional $6 million specifically for testing nursing home staff.
October 1st: Governor Larry Hogan announces that the state of Maryland has had no coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours, a first since March 28.
September 29th: The Maryland Department of Health reports the number of hospitalizations are increasing, as the total number of cases in Maryland surpasses 124,000, nearly 3,000 more than the previous week.
September 21st:
- Governor Larry Hogan today announced that state health officials are conducting a COVID-19 serology testing study for all professional and volunteer firefighters in Maryland.
- Governor Larry Hogan today announced new milestones in Maryland’s fight against COVID-19, with the statewide seven-day positivity rate dropping below 3% for the first time, and the daily positivity rate dropping below 2% for the first time.
September 28th: The Governor announced that the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) has extended the deadline to apply for 2020 Homeowners’ and Renters’ Property Tax Credits to October 31st.
September 24th:
- The Governor announced that the statewide COVID-19 7-day positivity rate is now at a record low of 2.57% and that the positivity rate is below 5% for 23/24 jurisdictions. The number of unemployment claims has also decreased and is now 9,185.
  - State officials are continuing to urge Maryland citizens to get tested for COVID-19 in one of the 210 testing sites available throughout Maryland. For more information about the testing sites as well as their location, please click here.
- Governor Hogan and the State Superintendent, Dr. Salmon, announced the return of fall sports in Maryland beginning October 7, 2020.
September 21st:
- Governor Larry Hogan today announced that state health officials are conducting a COVID-19 serology testing study for all professional and volunteer firefighters in Maryland.
- Governor Larry Hogan today announced new milestones in Maryland’s fight against COVID-19, with the statewide seven-day positivity rate dropping below 3% for the first time, and the daily positivity rate dropping below 2% for the first time.
September 20th: The Governor announced that the statewide 7-day positivity rate dropped below 3% for the first time and that the daily positivity rate dropped below 2% for the first time.
September 18th:
- The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that Maryland has added 24,200 jobs in August and that the unemployment rate has decreased to 6.9%, which is 18% lower than the national unemployment rate.
- Today was the first day of Maryland’s first ever Restaurant Week. The Governor announced that effective September 21st at 5:00 PM, restaurants may increase their indoor operations to up to 75%, with appropriate social distancing and safety measurements in place.
September 10th: Governor Hogan announced that Maryland has acquired 250,000 rapid point of care antigen tests, which will be distributed to nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, and correctional and juvenile detention facilities across the state. This purchase makes Maryland the first state in the bipartisan interstate testing compact to move forward with an order for rapid antigen tests.
September 9th: Governor Hogan announced that all of Maryland’s jurisdictions can start applying for $16 million in Maryland Eviction Prevention Partnership grants. This will aid local rental assistance programs throughout the state.
September 8th: Governor Hogan and the State Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Salmon, visited 3 schools in Caroline County to mark the 1st day of school. Caroline County is 1 of 16 jurisdictions to develop plans to bring select students back into the classroom this fall. Learn more about Caroline County’s plan for student instruction here.
September 1st: Governor Hogan announced that Maryland will begin transitioning to Phase 3 of the state’s COVID-19 recovery program. More information about the plan for reopening can be found here.
September 1st: The Maryland State Board of Education has updated their requirements for school systems within the state. All students must receive at least 3.5 hours of synchronous education and at least 6 hours of total content each day.
August 27th: The state government authorized all Maryland county school systems to begin re-opening procedures, based on improving COVID-19 metrics across the state.
August 24th: Nearly 40 Maryland companies are working on developing and manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics, improving diagnostic tests, and providing clinical research and technological support.
August 21st:
- The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that Maryland has added 53,900 jobs in July and that the unemployment rate decreased to 7.6%.
- Maryland’s statewide COVID-19 rate has reached a new low of 3.08%.
August 20th:
- The Governor announces that for the first time the COVID-19 positivity rate for all 24 jurisdictions in Maryland has fallen below 5%.
- FEMA has approved the state’s application to provide unemployed Marylanders with an additional $300 per week in benefits under the Lost Wages Assistance program.
- August 19th: Governor Hogan announces that the state has applied for the Lost Wages Assistance administered by the Federal Emergency Management Administration. If approved, the grant will provide an additional $300 per week to Marylanders who are unemployed during the COVID-19 pandemic
August 12th: The state’s 7-day average COVID-19 positivity rate is 3.61%. The daily positivity rate is 3.59%.
- In the past 24 hours, there was a decrease of 41 COVID-19 hospitalizations and a decrease of 4 ICU beds in use by COVID-19 patients.
- The positivity rate remains above 5% only in Prince George’s county.
- The positivity rate among Marylanders under the age of 35 is now 4.74%. The positivity rate among Marylanders over the age of 35 is 3.03%.

August 11th: The statewide positivity rate has decreased to 3.54%. The daily positivity rate is 4.37%.
- Anne Arundel, Frederick, and Prince George’s counties are at their lowest infection rate on record. The positivity rate is above 5% just in Prince George’s and Queen Anne’s.
August 10th: Maryland’s statewide COVID-19 positivity rate has dropped to 3.62%.
- The infection rate among Marylanders under the age of 35 has decreased to 4.78%, down nearly 30% since July 23rd.
- The number of ICU beds in use by COVID-19 patients has dropped below 120 for the first time since July 14.
August 9th:The statewide 7-day average positivity rate has dropped to 3.75%, a new low.
- The state conducted 40,473 COVID-19 tests in the past 24 hours and has now tested 17.2% of the state’s population.
- The positivity rate is above 5% only in 3 jurisdictions: Prince George’s, Queen Anne’s, and Worcester.
August 7th:
- Maryland’s 7-day average positivity rate has dropped to 3.90%, which marks the first time that the state has had less than a 4% average positivity rate.
  - 16.7% of the state’s population has been tested.
  - The positivity rate of Marylanders over the age of 35 is down to a record low of 3.19%, while the positivity rate among Marylanders under the age of 35 is starting to decrease, and is now at 5.35%.
- The Governor announces the reopening of the coronavirus emergency special enrollment period until December 15. With this announcement, the State will offer the longest special enrollment period in the nation relating to the pandemic. To enroll, click here or download the free “Enroll MHC” mobile app. For free assistance, call 855-642-8572 from 8 AM-6 PM M-F.
August 6th:
- Maryland’s 7-day average positivity rate has dropped to 4.03%, which is the lowest positivity rate since the start of the pandemic. The daily positivity rate is 3.83%.
  - State health officials are monitoring Worcester County, where the positivity rate has increased by nearly 88% since July 31, to 6.50%.
  - The positivity rate in Montgomery County is down 92.2% from its peak on April 20th and is now 2.54%.
  - Nearly 1.35 million COVID-19 tests have been conducted, with 16.4% of the population being tested.
  - There are 215 COVID-19 testing sites available throughout the state. To schedule an appointment, please click here.
- The Governor announces that Utah has become the 8th state to join the bipartisan interstate testing compact for rapid point of care antigen testing. With Utah’s entry into the testing compact, the compact will expand to 4 million tests.
August 5th: The State’s COVID-19 positivity rate has dropped to 4.05%, the lowest it has been since the beginning of the pandemic. The daily positivity rate is now at a record low of 3.08%.
- State health officials are closely monitoring the situation in Worcester County where the positivity rate has increased by 86% since August 1st, to 6.43%.
- There are currently 555 COVID-19 hospitalizations throughout the state and 134 of these hospitalizations are in the ICU.
- Following the disruptions to testing due to Tropical Storm Isaias, most state and local COVID-19 testing sites have resumed their operations. To schedule an appointment, please click here.
- The high-volume testing event at Ripken Stadium will be held on August 11th.
August 4th: The Governors of Maryland, Virginia, Michigan, Louisiana, and Ohio announce a bipartisan interstate compact with the Rockefeller Foundation to expand the use of the rapid point-of-care antigen tests to halt the spread of COVID-19.
- This is the first interstate testing compact among governors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The states are currently in discussion with Becton Dickinson and Quidel, the U.S. manufacturers of antigen tests that have received FDA authorization, to purchase 3 million tests (500,000 tests per state).
- The Rockefeller Foundation will provide financial assistance for this effort.
August 3rd:
- Testing operations will be suspended on August 4th due to Tropical Storm Isaias.
- The state’s 7-day COVID-19 positivity rate has dropped to 4.36%, which is the second lowest since the start of the pandemic. The daily positivity rate is now 4.13%.
- 15.9% of Maryland’s total population has now been tested.
- Nearly 60% of new COVID-19 cases are Marylanders who are less than 40 years old.
August 1st: The Governor announces that all 24 of the state’s jurisdictions have now met the goal of testing 10% of their populations, as the state’s COVID-19 positivity rate has now dropped to 4.47%.
- 15.4% of Maryland’s total population has now been tested and more than 1.25 million tests have been performed.
- Nearly 56% of new cases are Marylanders who are under the age of 40.
- The state-wide COVID-19 positivity rate is now 4.47%.
July 30th:
- A one-time, high volume, drive-through event will be held on August 4th at Ripken Stadium for individuals 12 years and older. Any Marylander who would like to be tested at this event, please schedule an appointment at Ripken Stadium by clicking here.
- On July 31st and August 1st, the state will have a drive-through testing clinic at the Ocean City Convention Center. The testing clinic will be located in the parking lot at the corner of Convention Center Drive and Coastal Highway. Appointments can be made by calling 410-632-1100 and pressing 8.
- To help extend testing in Cecil County, there will be a drive-through testing site at the Elkton Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program station every Tuesday in August, August 15th, and August 29th by appointment. To schedule an appointment, call 410-996-1005 or click here.
- Neither the testing at Ripken Stadium, Cecil County, or the Ocean City Convention Center require an individual to have COVID-19 symptoms or a doctor’s order. Photo identification is required for all of the locations.
- For more information about the testing sites in Maryland, please click here.
- Maryland has now tested nearly 1.2 million residents as testing continues at an average of more than 20,000 tests per day.
- The statewide positivity rate is now 4.57%.

July 29th: The Governor announces that statewide contact tracing has shown that family gatherings are the most common high-risk gathering and working outside of the home is the most common high-risk location for COVID-19.
- A recent increase in the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations has called for a pause in further reopening plans.
- Starting on July 31st at 5:00 PM, all Marylanders over the age of 5 are required to wear face coverings in the public spaces of all businesses in the state as well as in public spaces where it is not possible to socially distance. Certain exceptions, such as certain medical conditions, do exist. To read the executive order, please click here.
- There is a public health advisory for out of state travel in effect. Under this advisory, Marylanders are strongly advised against traveling to states where the COVID-19 positivity rate is >10%. To read the entirety of the travel advisory, please click here.
July 26th: The statewide positivity rate decreased to 4.47% and the daily positivity rate decreased to 3.77%.
- Maryland has now tested 13.9% of the state’s population.
- Public officials are still urging that Marylanders are safer at home, particularly older and vulnerable populations.
- Maryland has now conducted almost 1.1 million COVID-19 tests, including 22,045 tests over the past 24 hours.
July 25th: Maryland performed 34,874 tests today. The state positivity rate has decreased to 4.48% even as statewide testing has increased by 78% in the past month.
- The daily positivity rate has decreased to 3.92%, and the positivity rate decreased in the state’s most populous jurisdictions.
July 24th: Maryland has conducted over 1 million COVID-19 tests, including 24,220 over the last 24 hours.
- More than 60% of new cases are among Marylanders that are younger than 40.
- Rising positivity rate in Dorchester County is possibly linked to local crab picking houses.
- 22/24 of Maryland’s jurisdictions have now met the goal of testing at least 10% of the state’s population.
- There are now more than 210 testing sites throughout the state. For more information about testing, please click here.
July 22nd: The State Superintendent announced that the Maryland State Department of Education will extend flexibility to local school systems to determine re-openings while instituting protocols for in-person instruction. A series of benchmarks that need to be met before a school system can reopen were laid out.
- The state-wide COVID-19 7-day positivity rate is now 4.49%.
- 20/24 of Maryland’s jurisdictions have now met the goal of testing at least 10% of the state’s population.
- The governor is encouraging local elected officials to enforce the public health measures in place.
- Marylanders are encouraged to cooperate with the state’s contact tracing efforts by answering calls from “MD COVID” or (240)-466-4888.

July 17th:
- Maryland added 68,300 jobs in June and the unemployment rate decreased to 8.0%
- Maryland’s key COVID-19 health metrics have declined: the 7-day positivity rate is now 4.43% and the daily positivity rate is now 3.43%. 16 of the 24 jurisdictions have now met the 10% testing goal. There are now more than 220 testing sites throughout the state. For more information about the testing sites, please click here.

July 15th: Maryland has uncovered over 47,500 fraudulent COVID-19 unemployment claims in the state that total over $500 million.
July 14th: Governor Hogan directs local leaders to enforce public health requirements in restaurants and bars. Click here for the Governor’s letter to local leaders.
July 12th: Maryland has now conducted more than 800,000 COVID-19 tests and has tested 10.6% of the state’s population.
July 10th: The statewide positivity rate has decreased to 4.34% and ICU beds are at the lowest that they have been since March 30th. The positivity rate among Maryland residents <35 is 84%, which is higher than the positivity rate of residents >35.
July 9th: Maryland’s positivity rate is 4.53%, total current hospitalizations are 406, and 12 of the state’s 24 jurisdictions are meeting the goal of testing 10% of the population.
July 6th: Maryland’s COVID-19 positivity rate has dropped down to 4.51%, and total current hospitalizations have fallen down to 403.
- Baltimore County now has a 10% testing rate, becoming the 11th jurisdiction in Maryland to achieve that.
July 2nd:
- The Governor announces additional measures to further expand COVID-19 testing, including a Maryland DOH directive that instructs physicians to order a COVID-19 test for any of their patients who request it.
- Health officials advise individuals who traveled out of state to get tested.
- There are now more than 220 COVID-19 testing sites across the state, including new sites in Ocean City and Deer Creek Lake. For more information on testing, click here.
June 30th: The Governor announces $190 million in relief funds for small businesses, colleges, and non-profit organizations that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
June 29th:
- The Governor and Superintendent Salmon announce $210 million in extra funding for the Maryland schools and students that were most affected by COVID-19. Funding will be used to make sure that more students have access to remote learning and will also expand tutoring services for at risk students.
- The Governor announces that the State now has 215 major COVID-19 testing sites and that there will be expanded testing in Anne Arundel County at the Glen Burnie VEIP testing site starting on July 1st. To see an interactive map of the State’s testing sites, click here.
June 26th:
- The Governor announces a phased reopening plan for Maryland’s assisted living facilities. To read the Maryland Department of Health’s order, click here.
- The Governor announces a commitment of $30 million in additional funding to prevent evictions due to financial hardships caused by the pandemic.
- The statewide COVID-19 positivity rate is 4.92% and the number of hospitalizations is below 500 for the first time in 12 weeks. There are now nearly 200 major testing sites throughout the state.
- CVS Health, Governor Hogan, Congressman Mfume, and Mayor Young announce the opening of a free rapid COVID-19 testing site in Baltimore (2401 Liberty Heights Avenue). Patients will have to pre-register by calling 401-318-5028 to schedule a testing time slot.
June 25th: The Governor issues an update urging Marylanders to remain vigilant: continuing practicing physical distancing, wearing a mask, and getting tested.
- The Maryland Department of Health launches a social media campaign to urge citizens to wear face coverings when physical distancing is not possible.
June 24th: The Governor announces over $45.6 million in additional education funding.
June 23rd: The Governor announces that Maryland has already distributed over 50 million units of PPE to hospitals, essential workers, local health departments, and state agencies.
- The State has awarded $3.2 million dollars to companies who applied through the Maryland COVID-19 Emergency Relief Manufacturing Fund to produce PPE.
June 22nd: The Governor announces that more than 200 Maryland companies and non-profit organizations have helped the state through the pandemic. For specific businesses that have supported their communities during COVID-19 or to submit an organization for recognition click here.
June 19th: The Governor announces a plan to allow for outdoor visits as well as for limited communal dining and group activities to resume this weekend in the state’s nursing home facilities.
- Weekly testing will be conducted on nursing home staff as well on residents living at facilities that report facility-acquired COVID-19 cases.
- Click here for more information on the outdoor visitation policy at assisted living facilities.
June 18th:
- The state’s COVID-19 positivity rate drops to 5.43% and is reporting its lowest number of new cases since March 31st.
- The state has expanded its testing services and now offers almost 170 major testing sites throughout the state. For updated locations click here.
- The Maryland Department of Health is urging local leaders to increase their county’s testing services to meet the state’s goal of testing at least 10% of the population in all 24 jurisdictions.
June 17th:
- Starting this morning, the Department of Health has begun operating a free COVID-19 testing center at the Baltimore Convention Center.
- With 7.3% of the state’s population tested, the COVID-19 positivity rate has dropped to 5.81% and the state has conducted 15,594 tests within just the past 24 hours.
June 16th: Governor announces that a free COVID-19 testing site will be operating at the Baltimore Convention Center starting on June 17th. To schedule an appointment, click here (walk-in testing is also available).
June 15th:
- The state’s COVID-19 positivity rate has dropped to 6.55% and is now in single digits in all 24 jurisdictions.
- The total current ICU beds used statewide for COVID-19 patients is now below 300 for the first time since April 6th.
- No laboratory confirmed COVID-19 positive cases associated with Maryland’s poultry processing facilities.
June 12th:
- The state’s COVID-19 positivity rate has declined to 6.94% and the total current hospitalizations are the lowest they have been since April 7th.
- There are now more than 150 testing sites throughout the state. Click here for more information about the testing sites and their locations.
June 11th: Governor issues an Emergency Order that allows local liquor boards to waive the fees associated with having a liquor license in an effort to help restaurants expand outdoor dining.
June 10th:
- Governor announces that effective June 12th at 5:00 P.M.,restaurants will be able to resume indoor dining at 50% capacity given distancing measures are in effect. Additionally, pools will be able to increase their capacity to 50% and outdoor amusements and rides will be able to resume operations.
- Governor announces that effective June 19th at 5:00 P.M., indoor fitness activities, malls, arcades, and casinos will be able to resume operations.
- All child care facilities are able to re-open with a capacity of up to 15 individuals in one room.
- All non-public special education facilities are able to re-open to serve students with disabilities. All school systems are allowed to start bringing in small groups of students and staff into school buildings.
- Governor is encouraging school systems to hold outdoor graduation ceremonies and outdoor high school sports are able to resume practices.
June 8th: Governor announces that the state’s COVID-19 positivity rate has declined to 7.38% and current total hospitalizations have dropped down to less than 1,000 for the first time since early April.
- Starting this week, state-operating testing sites will have summer-friendly testing hours.
June 5th: The state has now administered more than 400,000 tests.
- The COVID-19 positivity rate has fallen to 8.4% and the total current hospitalization is the lowest it has been since April 13th.
- The clinical lab at the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Institute for Genome Sciences is fully operational and has begun to process tests.
- There are now more than 115 major testing sites in the state.
June 3rd: Governor announces the rollout of Phase Two of Maryland’s plan to reopen businesses and workplaces. Phase Two will go into effect on June 5th at 5:00 PM.
June 1st: COVID-19 testing efforts at Six Flags America in Prince George’s County will be expanded to twice weekly.
May 27th: Governor’s office announces completion of Stage One reopenings due to improvements in coronavirus case numbers.
May 26th:
- Adventist HealthCare Fort Washington Medical Center is the first hospital in America to install STAAT Mod ™ (Strategic, Temporary, Acuity-Adaptable Treatment) units to treat COVID-19 patients. This installation will allow the medical center to have additional ICU-bed capacity.
May 22nd:
- State-wide COVID-19 testing expansion to include Walmart and additional private-sector companies, such as CVS (Click here for participating locations).

May 21st:
- Contact tracing will be available in all jurisdictions starting next week.
May 20th:
- All state-run correctional and juvenile facilities will begin universal COVID-19 testing.
- More than 20,000 tests per week are being delivered to nursing homes.
- Maryland’s Public Health Laboratory is manufacturing up to 10,000 tubes of viral transport media per week.
- Maryland received approval to expand the SNAP Program to Online Grocery Purchases, Curbside Pickup and Delivery starting May 27th. More information can be found here.
May 19th:
- Maryland will begin testing symptomless individuals who might have been exposed to COVID-19.
- COVID-19 testing is available at community testing sites throughout Maryland and requires no appointment and has no out-of-pocket cost. Current information on testing sites throughout the state can be found here.
- Pharmacists are able to directly order and administer COVID-19 tests.
May 18th:
- Governor announces the launch of the Caregiver Services Corp, which is a program that will send volunteers and other resources to the homes of seniors who need help with everyday tasks.
May 13th:
- Governor announces Stage One of the “Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery.” More information can be found here.
April 29th:
- Maryland will be expanding its testing strategy and focusing on high-priority outbreaks and clusters.
- Activated a multi-state operation to address poultry processing plants
April 27th: Expanding testing capacity by opening additional drive through testing sites
April 24th:
- Governor announces the state’s recovery and reopening plan. Read the entire Roadmap to Recovery plan here.
- Montgomery County has opened a online news channel dedicated to disseminating information
- Montgomery County’s Call-N-Ride program will now offer grocery and/or carry out deliveries for low-income adults and those with disabilities
April 22nd: Laurel Hospital is reopened to provide more hospital beds
April 20th: Maryland received 500,000 testing kits from South Korea
April 17th: Schools to remain closed till May 15th
April 15th:
- Closure of non-essential businesses extended until May 10th
- All Maryland residents must wear masks when going out to stores

April 10th:
- all non-coronavirus state spending was suspended, agencies ordered to identify budget cuts after analysis revealed the impacts of the virus on state tax revenue
- Primary on June 2nd will be conducted by voting by mail
- New “strike team” designed to create new coronavirus testing initiative, allowing for up to potentially 20,000 tests per day
- Montgomery county announced everyone must wear face coverings when shopping
April 9th: Montgomery county announced everyone must wear face coverings when shopping
March 30th: stay-at-home order starting at 8 PM (unless for essential job or reason, such as seeking medical care or food), no travel outside the state (those who have should self quarantine for 14 days)
March 25^th: school closures extended until April 24^th
March 23^rd: closure of all non-essential businesses (view list of essential businesses here)
March 19^th: closure of malls, gatherings limited to 10

Virginia Updates

November 13th: Governor Northam announces new statewide measures to contain COVID-19 including limiting 25 individuals for in-person gatherings, expanded mask mandate, on-site alcohol curfew, and increased enforcement.
October 29: Uptick in cases in Southwest Virginia contribute to near peak in statewide cases
October 28th: New cases in Northern Virginia continue to increase, but not as much of a surge as the rest of the state
October 20th: Northern Virginia community transmission increases to moderate for the first time since mid- August, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
October 5, 2020: Upcoming events offering free COVID-19 Testing in Fall 2020
October 1st: Governor Ralph Northam announced that the Virginia Open Data Portal now includes more than a dozen new COVID-19 datasets from the Virginia Department of Health. The launch of the new Virginia Open Data Portal, which is a collaboration between the Office of the Chief Data Officer and the Library of Virginia, was accelerated amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to provide greater access to the data informing public health officials and allow Virginians to interact with it.
September 28th:
- Governor Ralph Northam today announced more than $1.7 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for three projects in James City and York counties and the city of Williamsburg that will assist local governments and community partners in meeting the needs of Virginia families and small businesses impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
September 23rd: Cases in Virginia and Northern Virginia are reported moderately lower for three straight days
September 20th:
- The CDC updated guidance on its website regarding transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to say that the virus is airborne.
- As the economy begins to recover, economists are worried that upcoming seasons will threaten any progress that has been made.
September 19th: AstraZeneca, one of many companies currently working on a coronavirus vaccine, released information on its testing protocol after calls for greater transparency in how drug companies are conducting vaccine trials.
September 18th:
- A new study found that as many as 51% of school employees are at increased risk of contracting COVID-19.
- Firefighters in the West are battling wildfires and COVID-19, after new cases on firefighting teams threaten efforts to combat fires this week.
- Case numbers of COVID-19 in the U.S. are increasing after weeks of decline, raising concerns of worsening caseloads when the flu season begins.
- After much criticism, the CDC reversed previous recommendations that people who had close contact with someone who had symptoms of COVID-19 did not need to get tested if they did not have symptoms.
September 17th:
- 36 new COVID deaths have been reported today, and 196 since Monday, bringing the total fatalities in Virginia close to 3,000
- A Manassas Park City Schools employee has tested positive for coronavirus, prompting other employees to quarantine
September 13th: The Governor announced today that COVID-19 restrictions will be eased beginning today in Hampton Roads, as the region enters Phase 3 of the state’s reopening plan. A spike in cases in late July and through August forced closings.
September 12th: Two inmates died of COVID-19 recently at Deerfield Correctional Center in Capron, VA, where over 400 inmates have tested positive for the coronavirus. More than 10% of Virginia’s 27,000+ inmates have tested positive for the virus so far.
September 10th: Virginia’s seven-day average positivity rate for COVID-19 has increased since this time last month, from 5.6% to 6.4%
August 31st:
- Under the CARES Act, $6 million in federal funding will be provided to local and state criminal justice programs.
- The Virginia COVID-19 Relief Fund will match a $2 million donation by the Ikea U.S. Community Foundation to the Legal Services Corporation of Virginia to support legal aid attorneys who will be helping state residents fight evictions over the next two years.
August 28th: Governor Northam announced that Floyd and Loudoun counties will each receive a grant of $20,000 from the state government to support local agribusiness that has suffered due to restaurant closures and decreased attendance at farmer’s markets due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
August 28th: The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported today that 21 colleges and universities around the state of Virginia reported 551 positive cases of COVID-19. Some of these colleges said that positive cases were “inevitable” and that they were “prepared to handle them.”
August 26th: Virginia state legislative proposals to create exceptions for people who may not want to receive an eventual coronavirus vaccine died in committee today.
August 25th: The Governor and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts announce the recipients of the Artist Relief Grants, which provides $5,000 grants to 40 Virginia visual artists who were impacted by the pandemic.
August 21st: The Governor announced that Virginia has been approved to proceed with a state-based health insurance exchange starting in the open enrollment period in November.
August 18th: The Governor has signed an executive order to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in state-run psychiatric facilities. The order states that when a facility is operating at 100% capacity, they will not serve as the facility of temporary detention for individuals who are not under emergency custody. The order also encourages law enforcement to ensure a bed is available before taking a new admission to a state hospital and requires a COVID-19 screening before a patient is transferred to the facility.
August 17th: The Governor announces several proposals to expand access to voting for the November 3rd election amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposals include having prepaid return postage on all absentee ballots, having drop boxes and drop off locations, ensuring Virginian’s voting rights are protected by allowing them to fix an error on their absentee ballot.
August 16th: Fairfax County announces start of the Supporting Return to School program, a weekly program for students in Kindergarten through the 6th grade that aims to assist working parents in need of child care as their children go back to school virtually.
August 14th: Arlington police are preparing to enforce social distancing guidelines after recent reports of large groups of people breaking guidelines outside Clarendon bars. Failure to comply with local distancing guidelines could result in a $100 fine.
August 13th: Governor Northam announces that the Growth and Opportunity for Virginia (GO Virginia) program will provide $5.5 million in funding for regional entrepreneurial and workforce development projects to address public health and economic challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
August 13th: Governor Northam announces a VDH-run pediatric COVID-19 serology study that will be carried out in Northern Virginia to measure the proportion of the pediatric population with antibodies to COVID-19. A similar study in adults has found that approximately 2.4% of adults statewide have antibodies to COVID-19.
August 13th: The University of Virginia is developing a semi-autonomous robot that is designed to decontaminate surfaces of the coronavirus using UV radiation.

August 11th: The Governor announces that 18 communities across the Commonwealth will receive $278,000 in Virginia Main Street grants in order to accelerate the economic revitalization of their downtown districts as part of the pandemic recovery process.
August 7th: The Governor announces a temporary statewide moratorium on eviction proceedings related to failure to pay rent. The moratorium will begin on August 10th and will continue until September 7th.
August 5th: The Governor announces the launch of COVIDWISE, an exposure notification app that will notify users if they have been in close contact with an individual who tested positive for COVID-19. The app does not rely on personal information or location data and is free to download on Apple and Google platforms.
August 4th: The Governor announced an interstate compact to expand the use of rapid antigen testing in Virginia. The compact is a bipartisan agreement between the Rockefeller Foundation and Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Massachusetts, Louisiana, and Michigan, which is the first interstate testing compact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Virginia and the other 5 states are entering formal discussions with Becton Dickinson and Quidel, the U.S. manufacturers of antigen tests, to purchase 500,000 rapid antigen tests per state.

July 28th:
- The Governor outlined new actions to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the Hampton Roads region (which includes Cities of Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Williamsburg, Newport News, Poquoson, James City County, and York County), which has recently seen a surge of new cases and hospitalizations. Beginning at midnight on July 31st, restrictions will prohibit the on-site sale and possession of alcohol after 10 PM in any establishment. All restaurants, dining establishments, and breweries/wineries must close by midnight. Indoor dining in these establishments will be limited to 50% capacity. Furthermore, gatherings of over 50 people will be prohibited. For the full order, please click here.
- The Governor met with Dr. Birx and requested federal assistance to increase testing capacity and reduce test turnaround time.
- The Governor announces that the Commonwealth will distribute $644.6 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding to local governments in its second and final round of allocations. The funding will be distributed to local governments based on population.
July 27th: The Governor and his cabinet joined state local public health officials for a virtual exercise to test Virginia’s hurricane readiness and address the challenges of managing disaster response and recovery efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. To read the full guide prepared by the state about hurricane preparedness in the midst of a pandemic, please click here. The Commonwealth is preparing to adjust operations to ensure the delivery of critical services while adhering to social distancing guidelines and keeping people safe from storm impacts as well as are updating kits to include PPE and sanitation.

July 15th: In the absence of federal guidelines, the Governor announces the workplace safety standards (i.e. PPE, social distancing, sanitation, infectious disease preparedness and response plans, record keeping, and hazard communications) that will be mandated throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

July 2nd:
- The Governor announces more than $10.3 million in Affordable and Special Needs Housing loans for 14 projects across the Commonwealth. This will create or preserve 790 affordable housing units for low-income Virginians.
- Fleetwood Homes will invest $2.1 million in the renovation and expansion of its Rocky Mount facility. This will create 60 new jobs in Franklin County.
June 30th:
- The Governor announces that bar seating will be prohibited in restaurants as the Commonwealth enters Phase 3 of the recovery plan.
- The Governor announces that he is recommending more than $4.2 million in Appalachian Regional Commission grants for 17 projects in the Appalachian region of Virginia. These grants will be used to stimulate economic growth by funding various projects. This will be an essential component of rural Virginia’s recovery from COVID-19.
- The Hershey Company will invest $135 million to expand its manufacturing operation in Augusta company. This will create 100 new jobs in Augusta County.
June 29th: The Governor launches the Virginia Rent and Mortgage Relief Program (RMRP), which will provide $50 million in CARES funding for households facing eviction or foreclosure due to COVID-19. This program will provide short-term financial assistance to households in the form of rent or mortgage payments.
June 26th: Ashton Lewis Holding Company will invest $11 million to establish a new specialty sawmill. This will create 44 new jobs in Caroline County.
June 24th: Metalworx, Inc. will invest $7.6 million in Grayson County. This will create an additional 59 new jobs.
June 22nd: Drake Extrusion Inc. will invest $6.9 million to expand its operation in Henry County. This will create an additional 30 jobs for Virginians.
June 19th: The Governor announces new guidelines for re-opening long-term care facilities and outlined how the Commonwealth will use $246 million in supporting long-term care facilities.
- The Virginia Department of Health has made facility-specific data regarding COVID-19 cases and deaths associated with long-term care facilities available to the public. This data can be found here.
June 18th:
- The Governor presents the 3rd phase of the “Forward Virginia” plan. For Phase 3 guidelines, click here.
- The Governor announces that BRD Extraction, LLC will invest $3.26 million in establishing Virginia’s first large-scale industrial hemp processing and cannabidiol oil extraction facility in the Town of South Boston. The project will create 22 new jobs and will result in more than $70 million in payments to Virginia farmers over the next 3 years.
- The Governor announces that funds are available through the WanderLove Recovery Grant Program to destination marketing organizations across the Commonwealth that have been impacted by the pandemic.
June 16th:
- The Governor announces that in the city of Newport News S23 Holdings, LLC and its affiliates will invest $64.4 million to establish a campus for ship repair, manufacturing, and to rehabilitate piers. This will create 322 new jobs for Virginians.
- The Governor and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) announce the creation of the Virginia Artist Relief Fellowship Program that will assist visual artists impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
June 15th:
- The Governor announces more than $14.66 million for a new Economic Resilience and Recovery Program through a restructuring of the Growth and Opportunity for Virginia (GO Virginia) funding.
- The Governor announces that ASGN Incorporated will invest $12.4 million in the state and create 700 new jobs for Virginians.
- The Governor announced two new affordable housing programs in Charlottesville and Newport News. $3 million in the Vibrant Community Initiative funding will be used to support community development and affordable housing in these cities.
June 14th:
- Health officials announced 0 new COVID-19 deaths on June 14th in Northern Virginia. This marks the first day since April 6th with no new deaths from the disease.
June 12th:
- Governor Northam announces two new online tools—Virginia Career Works Referral Portal and Virginia Career Works Dashboard—to help unemployed Virginians get back to work amidst the pandemic.
- The Governor announced a new way for local governments to fund Virginia agribusinesses through the state’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund Planning Grant program.
June 11th:
- The Governor issues guidance for Virginia’s public and private higher education institutions as they develop plans to resume in-person instruction. Institutions will have to submit a comprehensive re-opening plan to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
June 9th:
- The Governor releases a phased approach for resuming in-person classes for the summer as well as the upcoming academic year for K-12 schools.
- At midnight on June 11th, Northern Virginia and Richmond will enter Phase Two.
June 8th:
- The Governor announces a statewide temporary moratorium on all eviction proceedings through June 28th.
June 2nd:
- The Governor announces that most of Virginia will enter Phase Two on June 5th. Northern Virginia and the City of Richmond will stay in Phase One.
May 31st:
- The Governor declares a state of emergency and authorizes assistance to localities in response to civil unrest within the state.
- A curfew in the City of Richmond is in effect from May 31st to June 3rd, and lasts from 8:00 P.M. to 6:00 A.M.
- *This is not a COVID-19 related curfew. *

May 26th:
- The Governor signs an Executive Order requiring Virginians to wear face coverings when they are in a public indoor environment.
- The Department of Labor and Industry is developing emergency temporary standards to prevent workplace exposure to COVID-19.
- Virginia’s State of Emergency Declaration has been extended.
May 22nd:
- Governor shares COVIDCheck, an online risk assessment resource through the VA Dept of Health that Virginians can use to quickly evaluate their symptoms and connect with appropriate health care resources.
- Starting May 29th, Virginians who receive SNAP benefits will be able to purchase and have groceries delivered from online retailers Amazon and Walmart. More info can be found on the VDSS website.
- Governor is currently planning implementation of statewide requirements for facial coverings.
- Associated Press reports Virginia unemployment rate rose to 10.6% in April 2020, up from 7.3% in March.
May 21st: Group of voters in Northern Virginia sues the state arguing that the coronavirus pandemic should not be used as an excuse to vote by mail in upcoming elections.
May 20th: Fairfax County plans to re-open its parks by Memorial Day weekend.
May 19th:
- Governor signs two bills that cap late fees for rent and expands protections for tenants from being evicted or foreclosed during emergencies.
- StayHomeVirginia.com is a new website shared by the governor that provides housing resources for Virginians.
May 12th: Governor allows Arlington County to delay implementation of Phase One reopening plans until Thursday, May 28th.
April 24th:
- Blueprint for easing restrictions released
- Governor delays local elections by two weeks
- Arlington County announced that $300,000 will be used to provide relief to lower-income residents (including seniors and those with disabilities)
- Task Force formed to advise Governor on how to reopen the state
April 15th: Closure of non-essential businesses extended until May 8th
April 10th: task force of state agencies overseen by Laurie Forlano (Virginia’s deputy health commissioner) will work with localities and health-care providers to bring resources to nursing homes and long term care facilities
March 30th: stay-at-home order starting tonight, effective until June 10th
March 23rd:
- Gathering of more than 10 people banned
- Closure of non-essential recreation and entertainment businesses
- All public and private K-12 schools will remain closed for remainder of academic year

National Updates

The Washington Post posts updates daily on where and how states are reopening. Updates can be found here.

The New York Times has an interactive map of the United States that shows where the number of new COVID-19 cases is increasing and decreasing in the last 2 weeks. It can be found here.

November 16th: Promising Interim Results from Clinical Trial from NIH-Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
October 14: Guidance for SARS CoV-2 Point-of-Care Testing
September 30: CDC offers considerations for ways in which Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) can help protect students, faculty, and staff and slow the spread of COVID-19.
September 23: Coronavirus Deaths pass 200,000 across the US.
September 20th:
- The CDC updated guidance on its website regarding transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to say that the virus is airborne.
- As the economy begins to recover, economists are worried that upcoming seasons will threaten any progress that has been made.
September 19th: AstraZeneca, one of many companies currently working on a coronavirus vaccine, released information on its testing protocol after calls for greater transparency in how drug companies are conducting vaccine trials.
September 18th:
- A new study found that as many as 51% of school employees are at increased risk of contracting COVID-19.
- Firefighters in the West are battling wildfires and COVID-19, after new cases on firefighting teams threaten efforts to combat fires this week.
- Case numbers of COVID-19 in the U.S. are increasing after weeks of decline, raising concerns of worsening caseloads when the flu season begins.
- After much criticism, the CDC reversed previous recommendations that people who had close contact with someone who had symptoms of COVID-19 did not need to get tested if they did not have symptoms.
September 17th: Federal Officials release plan to distribute COVID-19 vaccine once it has been approved.
September 16th: The CDC releases a report analyzing how COVID-19 affects pregnant women, including higher rates of stillbirths and preterm deliveries.
September 13th: Cases of COVID-19 are growing by 5% or more, based on new weekly averages, in 11 U.S. states. Dr. Anthony Fauci called the new outbreaks “disturbing.”
September 12th:
- New reports came out today that Trump appointees at the Department of Health and Human Services have tried to force CDC officials to revise or scrap certain reports on COVID-19 that they believed were “unflattering” to the president.
- AstraZeneca has partially resumed its COVID-19 vaccine trial after it was briefly suspended when a participant in Britain became severely ill.
- Many college towns around the country are grappling with the consequences of students returning for classes amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
September 11th:
- Education experts around the country are concerned that, due to new education formats being adopted amidst the pandemic, current inequalities in education will be exacerbated in the long-term.
- The Republicans’ second COVID-19 stimulus plan failed to pass the Senate today, bolstering fears that Congress will be unable to pass another stimulus package before the November election.
September 10th: The Justice Department announced today that dozens of people were charged today with fraud, after they were caught trying to steal more than $175 million from the Paycheck Protection Program, which was created to help businesses struggling to pay employees as a result of the pandemic.
September 4th: 1) Officials are worried about a surge of cases following the Labor Day Weekend, especially since many universities are back in session. 2) All participants in Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine trial have produced antibodies, according to preliminary results published in a leading scientific journal. 3) According to a new forecast by the University of Washington, up too 400,000 Americans can die from COVID-19 by the end of the year. 4) The Chief Scientific Officer for the Trump administration’s effort to accelerate production of a vaccine says that it is “possible but highly unlikely” that a vaccine will be ready to be distributed by early November. 5) The U.S. economy added 1.4 million jobs in August and the unemployment rate dropped to 8.4%.
September 3rd: 1) The Chief Scientific Officer for the Trump Administration’s effort to accelerate production of a COVID-19 vaccine says that he will quit if there was political interference in the process. 2) The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 2.8%. The S&P’s 500 index shed dropped 3.5%. NasDaq dropped nearly 5%. 3) Dr. Anthony Fauci says that the worst thing colleges can do is sending students home after a COVID-19 eruption on campus.
September 2nd:
- New evidence suggests that steroids, drugs traditionally used to treat autoimmune and other diseases, appear to be somewhat effective in treating severe cases of COVID-19.
- CNN reports on ways to keep yourself safe when going to vote during the COVID-19 pandemic.
September 1st:
- The CDC has placed a national moratorium on evictions, citing desires to limit potential spread of COVID-19 by tenants who would be evicted and forced to look for new housing.
- Undocumented immigrants face long, difficult recoveries from COVID-19, often without traditional support from the healthcare system.
- Dr. Fauci, one of the country’s leading public health officials, says daily new COVID-19 case counts need to come down by around 30,000 in order to avoid a “disastrous” flu season.
August 30th: Cases of COVID-19 topped six million in the U.S. today, after new hotspots in the Midwest and on school and college campuses across the country have begun to pop up.
August 30th: The FDA Commissioner stated in an interview that he would be willing to fast-track development of a COVID-19 vaccine before Phase III trials are completed if experts are “convinced that the benefits outweigh the risks.”
August 28th: The FDA expanded it’s emergency use authorization of the drug remdesivir for COVID-19 to include all patients hospitalized for the coronavirus.
August 26th: The Trump administration defended a new CDC recommendation that people without symptoms of COVID-19 refrain from getting tested.
August 26th:
- The Justice Department requested information on COVID-19 in nursing homes from 4 states due to the decisions of the state’s leaderships having potentially resulted in the unnecessary deaths of thousands of elderly nursing home residents.
- The CDC altered their guidelines and now state that many people who have been exposed to COVID-19 through close contact with someone who later tested positive do not necessarily have to get tested for the virus if they are asymptomatic.
- The federal government will require the regular testing of nursing home staff for the virus.
August 25th:
- According to the Environment Protection Agency, American Airlines will be the first airline to use a disinfecting surface coating that kills coronavirus for up to 7 days.
- City and state leaders are afraid that the Trump Administration might stop reimbursements for some of their purchases of PPE.
- NYC Mayor, Bill De Blasio, is urging schools to consider using outdoor spaces to hold classes in. The city announced that it is setting up a program to allow for educators to apply for permits to close streets and reserve park spaces.
- More than 500 COVID-19 infections have been reported at University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
- The governor of Michigan states that she will “not be bullied” into re-opening businesses that are still closed.
- More cases of coronavirus re-infection are beginning to be reported.
August 24th:
- The Food and Drug Administration has authorized the use of convalescent plasma as a treatment for COVID-19 patients.
- The Ohio State University has suspended 220 students for disregarding the COVID-19 rules. This is one of the largest crackdowns on COVID-19 violations.
- CDC has removed the 14-day self-quarantine recommendation for international and out-of-state travels.
- A Florida judge has blocked a state order that mandated for schools in the state to reopen.
- Iowa confirms the death of the first child in the state from COVID-19. As of August 13th, at least 90 children have died from the disease.
- A federal judge has blocked the Secretary of Education, Betsy Devos, from enforcing a rule that directs states to give private schools a larger share of coronavirus aid than Congress had intended.

August 30th: Cases of COVID-19 topped six million in the U.S. today, after new hotspots in the Midwest and on school and college campuses across the country have begun to pop up.
August 30th: The FDA Commissioner stated in an interview that he would be willing to fast-track development of a COVID-19 vaccine before Phase III trials are completed if experts are “convinced that the benefits outweigh the risks.”
August 28th: The FDA expanded it’s emergency use authorization of the drug remdesivir for COVID-19 to include all patients hospitalized for the coronavirus.
August 26th: The Trump administration defended a new CDC recommendation that people without symptoms of COVID-19 refrain from getting tested.
August 26th:
- The Justice Department requested information on COVID-19 in nursing homes from 4 states due to the decisions of the state’s leaderships having potentially resulted in the unnecessary deaths of thousands of elderly nursing home residents.
- The CDC altered their guidelines and now state that many people who have been exposed to COVID-19 through close contact with someone who later tested positive do not necessarily have to get tested for the virus if they are asymptomatic.
- The federal government will require the regular testing of nursing home staff for the virus.
August 25th:
- According to the Environment Protection Agency, American Airlines will be the first airline to use a disinfecting surface coating that kills coronavirus for up to 7 days.
- City and state leaders are afraid that the Trump Administration might stop reimbursements for some of their purchases of PPE.
- NYC Mayor, Bill De Blasio, is urging schools to consider using outdoor spaces to hold classes in. The city announced that it is setting up a program to allow for educators to apply for permits to close streets and reserve park spaces.
- More than 500 COVID-19 infections have been reported at University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
- The governor of Michigan states that she will “not be bullied” into re-opening businesses that are still closed.
- More cases of coronavirus re-infection are beginning to be reported.
August 24th:
- The Food and Drug Administration has authorized the use of convalescent plasma as a treatment for COVID-19 patients.
- The Ohio State University has suspended 220 students for disregarding the COVID-19 rules. This is one of the largest crackdowns on COVID-19 violations.
- CDC has removed the 14-day self-quarantine recommendation for international and out-of-state travels.
- A Florida judge has blocked a state order that mandated for schools in the state to reopen.
- Iowa confirms the death of the first child in the state from COVID-19. As of August 13th, at least 90 children have died from the disease.
- A federal judge has blocked the Secretary of Education, Betsy Devos, from enforcing a rule that directs states to give private schools a larger share of coronavirus aid than Congress had intended.

August 11th:
- The Big Ten becomes the 1st major college football conference to call off the fall season. The Pacific-12 league followed shortly after.
- A Duke University study found that some cloth masks are as effective as surgical masks, while alternatives such as neck gaiters can be worse than not wearing a mask at all.
- Facebook says that it has removed 7 million posts for spreading misinformation about COVID-19.
- Omaha, Nebraska, the largest city in America without a mask ordinance, finally passed a mask mandate.
- The US had over 1,332 COVID-19 related deaths today.
- The Trump Administration has made a $1.5 billion deal with Moderna to deliver 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. Moderna has begun a Phase 3 Clinical Trial with up to 30,000 people.
- NYC plans for 700,000 in-person students to return to the classroom in September.
- White House officials are thinking of enacting an order that would not permit immigrants or American citizens to enter America from Mexico if they are suspected of being infected with COVID-19.
August 8th:
- The President signed 4 executive orders on economic aid as stimulus talks in the Congress have stalled. The orders seek to prolong a federal moratorium on evictions, add flexibility to student loan payments, and renew additional assistance to unemployed workers.
- A CDC report suggests that hundreds of children were sent to the ICU for a syndrome connected to COVID-19, the Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children.

August 7th:
- Talks regarding a COVID-19 relief package have stalled in Congress and White house officials are recommending that the President move ahead without Congress to address unemployment benefits, eviction rules, and student loan relief.
- California leads the nation in the most COVID-19 infections, with 8,436 new infections were confirmed on August 7th.
- The unemployment rate in July fell to 10.2% as the U.S. economy added 1.8 million jobs.
- Researchers warn that by December the U.S. can see nearly 300,000 deaths due to COVID-19.
August 6th:
- The Governor of Ohio, Mike DeWine, received a false positive test result for COVID-19.
- The State Department lifted its Level 4 international travel advisory.
- Although more than 51,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported yesterday, the daily COVID-19 caseload average is continuing to test downward. However, due to Hurricane Isaias many testing locations were closed.
- The Democrats and Republicans in Congress met to negotiate a coronavirus relief bill and traded bitter accusations.
- The NFL announces that there have been 56 positive COVID-19 positive tests among its players since the opening of training camps last week.
- For the 20th consecutive week, more than 1 million Americans filed new unemployment claims.
- The chief of the WHO criticizes “vaccine nationalism” and calls on political leaders to share resources and distribute the coronavirus vaccine as a “global public product.”
- A new poll finds that parents prefer a mix of in-person and online schooling.
- The NY Governor says that NY schools can reopen if COVID-19 infection rate remains below 5%, using a 14-day average.

August 5th:
- Dr. Fauci states that tens of millions of vaccine doses will probably be on hand early next year and that manufacturers say they will probably have about a billion doses by the end of 2021.
- Hiring slowed dramatically in July, according to an estimate by ADP.
- Democrats on Capitol Hill told negotiators for President Trump that preserving funding for the U.S. Postal Service and removing new rules that have slowed delivery times are necessary components of a new coronavirus relief bill.
- Facebook and Twitter hide Trump’s post on the social media platforms as they state that they contain misleading information about COVID-19.
- As the school year begins in some states, numerous schools have reported positive COVID-19 cases.
- Johnson & Johnson reach a 1 billion dollar vaccine deal with the U.S. government and it will provide the government with 100 million doses of its prospective vaccine after FDA approval.

August 1st:
- Negotiations between the White House and congressional Democrats on coronavirus relief legislation are beginning to show signs of progress.
- California reports 219 new COVID-19 fatalities, the most the city has reported in 1 day. It also becomes the 1st state to surpass 500,000 confirmed cases.
- Due to 2 COVID-19 positive test results amongst the St. Louis Cardinal team, the Cardinal-Brewers game was called off, making it the 16th game of the MLB season to be postponed.
July 31st:
- The death toll in the United States from COVID-19 has surpassed 150,000 today, with over 1,000 deaths today.
- At midnight today, tens of millions of Americans lost $600 weekly unemployment payments after no agreement was reached by Congress.
- The leader of the Trump Administration’s coronavirus testing efforts, Brett Giroir, acknowledged in a Friday congressional hearing that getting results to patients within 3 days is currently not feasible.
- Dr. Fauci testified before Congress that a “diversity of responses” from states has led to the rise of new COVID-19 infections.
- Over the past week, 24 states had a case increase of more than 100 cases per 100,000 people, which is a metric that the White House has defined as “red zone” states, where the spread of the virus is very serious.
- CDC publishes a report suggesting that children of all ages may be susceptible to coronavirus infections and may also spread it to others.
- According to a study, students can safely return to university if they are tested every 2 days.

July 22nd:
- US has reached a deal with Pfizer and BioNTech where these companies will supply the federal government with 100 million doses of coronavirus vaccine. The US government will be able to acquire an additional 500 million if the vaccine is effective.
- President Trump says that the pandemic will get worse before it gets better.
- Scott Gottlieb, the former FDA commissioner, says that the US can have more than 300,000 deaths if “we continue on the current trajectory.”
- The government fails to reach a consensus on the new coronavirus relief package.
- A federal moratorium that has protected millions of renters from eviction expires this upcoming Friday.
- US officials are accusing China of attempting to hack coronavirus vaccine research.
July 21st:
- US daily death toll has topped 1,000 for the first time in 2 weeks.
- President Trump says that masks are effective and that everyone should wear a mask when social distancing is not possible.
- Dr. Anthony Fauci insists that the health of children and teachers should guide school reopening policies.

July 6th:
- Arizona becomes the 8th state to exceed 100,000 total coronavirus cases. The Governor has signed an executive order for the shutdown of bars, gyms, theaters, and waterparks through July 27th. Vice-President Pence announced that the federal government will send 500 health care workers to the state and will prioritize the state in the distribution of remdesivir.
- According to the former FDA commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, the U.S. will probably see 60,000 new infections this week.
- The Miami-Dade Mayor signed an executive order to shut-down many businesses that have recently opened up, such as nightclubs, gyms, and dine-in services in restaurants.
- Harvard University announces that the 2020-2021 academic year will have solely remote instruction, will have only 40% of undergraduates return to campus, and students will be subjected to COVID-19 testing every 3 days.
- The FDA approves a rapid, point-of-care COVID-19 diagnostic test that will be able to yield results within 15 minutes.
- U.S. Stocks surge.
- The White House Chief of Staff states that most people are safe from coronavirus and will not die.
- Congress begins a 2-week recess today without having addressed the rise in COVID-19 cases.
- More than 200 scientists are urging the WHO to address the possibility of COVID-19 being an airborne virus.
June 25th:
- The United States reports more than 41,000 new coronavirus cases.
- Governor DeSantis of Florida announced that the state will no longer be entering its next phase of re-opening.
- Governor Abbott of Texas announced that the state will be pausing its re-opening process and will be making sure that hospitals have space for coronavirus patients.
- The director of the CDC states that the number of Americans who have been infected with the coronavirus is probably 10 times more than the 2.3 million that have been reported.
- Individuals younger than 35 are the majority of the current COVID-19 cases.
- Congress is in the final states of vetting General Joseph F. Dunford Jr., who is expected to lead a bipartisan oversights commission for stimulus programs.
- NYC is on track to enter Stage 3 of its re-opening strategy on July 6th.
June 24th:
- The Governor of Washington announces that residents will be mandated to weak masks in public.
- The Governor of North Carolina announces that the state will pause its re-opening strategy for 3 weeks and mandate face masks.
- The Governor of Missouri states that the uptick in cases in his state is linked to more testing and that he has no intentions at this point to shutdown the state again.
- The WHO warned that if communities are not able to slow down the spread of the virus through contact tracing and isolation of cases, general lockdowns will be necessary.
- The Governor of New York announces that out-of-state travelers from hard-hit states will be required to quarantine for 14 days.
June 14th:
- Health experts suggest rising caseloads in Southern and Western states suggest they may have opened their economies too early. They also suggest we have not yet seen any indications of significant increases in cases due to protests over the death of George Floyd.
- White House representative states it has no plans to continue funding for unemployment insurance benefits.
June 13th:
- China reports 57 new coronavirus infections, it’s highest in 2 months. These new cases were traced to a market in Beijing that has since been shut down.
- The CDC has released new social distancing guidelines for post-lockdown life.
- Dr. Fauci and CDC officials continue to advise against large-scale gatherings of people as President Trump begins to hit the campaign trail again with large rallies.
June 12th:
- The Trump administration reverses Obama era protections for the medical treatment of transgender people, allowing healthcare providers to refuse treatment. This comes on the fourth anniversary of the Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando.
June 11th:
- The United States has more than 2 million confirmed COVID-19 cases. New cases of infection have declined in previous hotspot locations such as New York and Washington, but have been on the rise in states that previously had lower rates of infection, such as Arizona and North Carolina.
- The Mayo Clinic announced that it is releasing a new coronavirus antibody test. This test will help researchers identify plasma donors and measure the effectiveness of potential vaccines.
- Surgeons successfully perform the 1st known U.S. lung transplant for a COVID-19 positive patient.
June 10th:
- More than 12 states and Puerto Rico are recording their highest averages of new cases since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rate of hospitalization has been increasing in at least 9 states since Memorial Day.
- The recently re-opened state of Arizona is nearing its ICU capacity and the state health director recently sent a letter to hospitals advising them to “fully activate” their emergency plans.
- The Treasury Secretary tells Congress that the vast majority of borrowers of the Paycheck Protection Program will have at least a portion of their loans forgiven, but that the names of the borrowers will not be released to the public. He also announces that business owners with a criminal conviction will only be prevented from participating in the program if the conviction occurred in the past 3 years.
- Dr. Fauci urges Americans to continue to practice social distancing and to wear masks in public settings amid state re-openings and protests.
June 9th:
- The U.S. Agency for International Development issued regulations that will restrict its employees from using federal funding to buy PPE to be used overseas.
- Three Democractic Senators are requesting an investigation into an initiative formed between the federal government and six for-profit companies known as Project Airbridge.
- Senator Lamar Alexander, who is the Chairman of the Senate Health Committee, wants the U.S. to be more prepared for consequent pandemics and is asking Americans to submit their ideas on how America can become more prepared to: PandemicPreparedness@help.senate.gov.
- Dr. Fauci states that the federal government probably should not establish a price limit on drugmakers at the forefront of creating a vaccine for COVID-19.
June 8th:
- The U.S. Defense Department has started to lift travel restrictions.
- Two independent studies published in the medical journal Nature suggest that the shutdown orders prevented an exponential spread of the novel coronavirus (prevented 285 new infections in China, 60 million new infections in the United States, and reduced infection rates by 82% in Europe).
- The WHO warns that the pandemic is not over and that individuals should continue practicing social distancing and wearing masks in public settings.
June 7th: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that some N95 respirator masks should not be decontaminated and reused.
June 3rd: White House selects 5 drug companies it believes are most likely to produce a vaccine against COVID-19. These 5 companies will receive increased funding and support from the federal government for research and manufacturing.
May 29th: Trump announces that the United States will suspend its relationship with the WHO.
May 24th:
- Trump has suspended travel from Brazil as cases in South America have climbed
May 22nd:
- The White House is looking into expansion of the “Opportunity Zones” – hopes to extend a tax break for those investments made in low income areas
May 18th:
- The World Health Organization has started the 73rd World Health Assembly – the first ever to be virtual with a reduced agenda mostly focusing on coronavirus.
  - The WHO stated that they will start an independent review of its own handling of the pandemic after facing pressures that they showed a “failed response” against Coronavirus. They also called for an investigation into the origins of the virus
  - China has also pledged $2 billion to help countries deal with the pandemic over the next two years.
  - President Trump threatened to stop funding the WHO organization permanently if it doesn’t make big changes
- Moderna pushes forward with their vaccine study. It has shown positive results in Phase I of their trial and they will now continue forward with Phase II
- Navajo Nation surpases New York state for the highest infection rate in the US
May 15th:
- House of Representatives passed the $3 trillion care package earlier posed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
May 14th:
- CDC releases new guidelines on how states can safely open business, workplaces, schools, and childcare facilities. More information can be found on their website.
May 13th:
- Federal Reserve Chair Powell warns of a potential economic recession and urges the Congress and White House to provide further rescue aid. Currently the Fed has provided these aids:
  - Hold the federal key interest rate at 0
  - Expanded the municipal bond buying program
  - Announced several new loan spending programs
May 12th:
- Dr. Fauci and other key health officials are warning states against opening too quickly, stating a risk of causing a second wave.
- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveils a $3 trillion coronavirus aid package that will be voted for by the House on Friday. It includes $1 trillion for cities and states, “hazard pay” for essential workers and new round of individual packages.
May 11th:
- The WHO urges caution about countries opening too soon. States that before states can re-open, there should be widespread testing, necessary medical infrastructure to handle a second wave, and appropriate tracing protocol.
- President Trump pushes states to open the economy faster and Pennsylvania pushes back
- Due to increasing positive test results in the White House, all employees are now mandated to wear masks in the West Wing
May 9th: The FDA awards emergency approval to Quidel Corp to manufacture a new antigen test that is cheaper and faster
May 6th: President Trump backtracks on the disbandment of the Coronavirus Task Force
May 5th: The White House Coronavirus Task Force may become disbanded
May 4th:
- The FDA is now requiring manufacturers of antibody testing to apply for emergency use authorization within 10 business days after their products hit the market.
- The FDA issued warning letters against two websites (www.antroids.com and www.foxroids.com) that market unapproved COVID-19 products. There are no current FDA-approved drugs to prevent or treat COVID-19.
May 3rd: The East Coast (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Rhode Island, Massachusetts) will jointly purchase PPE and ventilators, they also plan to coordinate their reopenings
- Other states have also joined together to coordinate reopenings; the Midwest (Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky) and the West Coast (California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Colorado)
April 27th: WHO warns countries against issuing “immunity passports” as there is no current evidence to suggest long immunity.
April 24th:
- Georgia’s governor is allowing some businesses (gyms, nail and hair salons, etc) to reopen as long as they can enforce some safety rules.
  - South Carolina has also started to reopen. Other states (Texas, Tennessee, and Ohio) could open within the next two weeks.
April 23rd: CDC will be sending $631 million to state and local health departments in order to increase testing and contact tracing
April 21st:
- First stay-at-home COVID19 testing kit has been approved by the FDA
- The Senate has passed a $484 billion interim COVID funding bill. This bill will go towards the Paycheck Protection Program, Small Business Disaster Fund, hospital and testing.
April 16th updates:
- White House and Senate have not yet reached an agreement on providing additional funding for Paycheck Protection Program (which funds small businesses)
- CDC report shows that the virus can possibly spread up to 13 feet and travel on shoes. But current social distancing guidelines still remain at 6 feet.
- California becomes the first state in the country to provide relief funding to undocument residents.
April 10th updates:
- Next Tuesday President Trump plans to announce members of a new task force, which will include both medical and business personnel, in order to determine how and when to reopen the country
- Recent analysis has found that African Americans have higher rates of infection and death
  - Louisiana and Michigan have formed health equity task forces in order to address this disparity
- Surgeon General believes that most of the country will not reopen on May 1st despite social distancing guidelines of April 30th.
- Fauci states that within a week or so, there will be a large availability of tests
April 3rd updates:
- CDC recommends that Americans use non-medical cloth masks when in public
- Governor of New York asks for more medical personnel and equipment since the states death toll has doubled in the past 3 days, wants to redistribute equipment to areas of higher need
- Nancy Pelosi calls for another government aid package due to the large number of individuals unemployed, wants to extend further aid to small businesses
Federal government’s supply on ventilators, masks, gloves and gowns is nearly empty
Coronavirus Predictions Curve: a user friendly projection of COVID statistics that is updated frequently
Hospital ship U.S.N.S. Comfort arrived in New York on March 30th, contains 1000 hospital beds with the goal to help relieve NY hospitals
Social distancing guidelines extended to April 30
- The extended guidelines are secondary to predictions of significantly increased cases and deaths if no interventions are established.
Small Businesses and private non-profit organizations:
- Can apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loan, offer up to $2 million dollars in assistance
- Can apply for Paycheck Protection Program, which is a loan towards keeping employees on the payroll
WHO launched messaging service with WhatsApp, which can be accessed through a link, simply type “hi” to activate, can help answer questions about COVID-19
WHO recommends increased production of personal protective equipment (PPE)
Tokyo olympics postponed until 2021

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