Pandemic News Updates Archive

📌 Here is our daily brief archive.  If you'd like our newsletter delivered to your inbox, click here. And if you'd like to see today's update, click here.

May 24th Daily Update

As of Monday evening, the US daily case count is 25,318, down 38% over the past 14 days. 49% of Americans have had at least 1 vaccine dose, and 39% are fully vaccinated.

In major news today, the nation's two largest school districts, New York and Los Angeles, announced that they will be suspending remote learning entirely in the fall, and children will attend fully in-person all five days a week. Other cities and states around the country are debating whether to continue with remote learning, after more than a year of children learning from home or in hybrid environments. While remote learning has been challenging on teachers and strained districts' resources, some parents remain concerned about the virus and have expressed desire to keep their children home.

The rest of today's coronavirus news updates are below, and we hope your week is off to a great start.

Latest COVID Updates

• India surpassed 300,000 known coronavirus deaths today, joining Brazil and the U.S. in the grim milestone.
• Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan apologized again on Monday for gathering at a restaurant with a dozen other people, in violation of a recently issued statewide rule from her own health department.
• Steven Colbert's late-night show will return to filming in front of a studio audience of fully vaccinated onlookers.
• New Jersey’s governor, Philip D. Murphy, announced on Monday that residents fully vaccinated against the coronavirus would no longer be required to wear masks inside stores, casinos and other indoor venues starting Friday.

May 21st Daily Update

As of Friday evening, the US daily case count is 28,933, down 36% over the past 14 days. 48% of Americans have had at least 1 vaccine dose, and 38% are fully vaccinated.

According to the WHO, deaths from the pandemic may be 2 to 3 times higher than official tallies. The organization believes that 6 to 8 million people total have likely died from COVID-19, as compared to the 3.4 million officially reported deaths. The WHO used advanced statistical modeling to determine the discrepancy, illustrating the challenges many countries have with testing, reporting and tracking the virus.  

Meanwhile, the 7-day average for new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. dropped below 30,000 for the first time today since June 22nd. As cases continue to drop, the U.S. government is under intense pressure to assist other nations buckling under the virus.

The rest of today's coronavirus news updates are below, and we hope you have a nice weekend.

Latest COVID Updates

• According to a report today released in the medical journal The Lancet, patients who get severe COVID-19 in Africa are more likely to die than patients in other parts of the world. Among 3,077 critically ill patients admitted to African hospitals, 48.2 percent died within 30 days, compared with a global average of 31.5 percent, the Lancet study found.
• The global vaccination program Covax will receive 200 million doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, according to a purchase agreement announced today.
• In an attempt to control the virus' spread, India has ramped up testing. The country conducted 2.5 million tests over the last 24 hours, the most in a single day since the pandemic began.
• The Biden Administration has announced a deal with several popular dating apps, including OkCupid, Tinder and Hinge, to encourage young people to share their vaccination status in the app. “We have finally found the one thing that makes us all more attractive: a vaccination,”  said Andy Slavitt, one of President Biden’s top coronavirus advisers.

May 20th Daily Update

As of Thursday evening, the US daily case count is 30,206, down 35% over the past 14 days. 48% of Americans have had at least 1 vaccine dose, and 38% are fully vaccinated.

The pace of vaccinations in the U.S. is plummeting. Over the past week, about 1.8 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered each day, a 46% drop from the peak rate of nearly 3.4 million doses per day in mid-April, according to CDC data published today. The drop is partially because the U.S. has vaccinated many residents already, but is also due to vaccine hesitancy, according to experts. Many adults who want to get vaccinated in the U.S., and who have the time do so, have already gotten their shot.

Meanwhile, more than 20 states have now announced their intention to stop distributing the federal pandemic-era unemployment boost, leaving millions vulnerable to losing benefits entirely or receiving sharply reduced payments. We covered the news on the Skip blog.

Latest COVID Updates

• According to the WHO, Europe has recorded a 60 percent drop in new coronavirus infections over the past month. As the continent plans to reopen to tourists, the news is welcome. Still, “this progress is fragile,” a top agency official cautioned.
• Maryland is taking an unusual approach to encouraging residents to get vaccinated. Gov. Larry Hogan announced that Maryland is partnering with the state's lottery to provide $2 million in prize money for residents who get vaccinated. $40,000 will be offered to a vaccinated, random Maryland resident every day from May 25th until July 4th, and there will be final drawing for $400,000.
• Prince William, second in line for the throne in Britain, received his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine this week. At 38, Prince William became eligible to book a vaccine in the country last week.
• The FDA has relaxed the refrigeration requirements for the Pfizer vaccine; it can now be kept in a normal refrigerator for up to 30 days, rather than up to five, as before.

May 19th Daily Update

As of Wednesday evening, the US daily case count is 31,149, down 35% over the past 14 days. 48% of Americans have had at least 1 vaccine dose, and 38% are fully vaccinated.

In major news today, the European Union announced today that all member states would be reopening to vaccinated travelers, and those from certain countries deemed to be low-risk for COVID-19. The new rules are set to become formal policy next week, although some European nations have already reopened: the Italian government announced this week that American tourists will now be able to visit the country, provided that they get tested before and upon arrival. We covered the news on the Skip Blog.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases are now down in all 50  U.S. states for the first time since the pandemic began. "We are winning the war on the virus, and we need you to help us finish the job," said White House advisor Andy Slavitt.

Latest COVID Updates

• Nepal reported 246 deaths from COVID-19 today, the highest it's experienced since the pandemic began. Cases are skyrocketing in the Himalayan nation, among other countries in Asia.
• So-called "mix-and-match" vaccines, vaccine doses of two different types, seem to be effective. In a trial of 600 people, vaccinating people with both the Oxford–AstraZeneca and Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines produces a potent immune response, according to a report released yesterday.
• Vaccinations have led to a significant drop in cases in U.S. nursing homes, a flashpoint for the pandemic where clusters have often appeared. Even residents who did not get vaccinated appear to be getting sick less often as more vaccines are distributed to staff and other residents.
• Starting today, most businesses in New York state can return to 100 percent capacity if social distancing is still possible. House parties are allowed, and large venues like theaters can return to full capacity if attendees are vaccinated. New York was once the epicenter of the virus not only in the U.S. but globally, making it an emotional milestone.

May 18th Daily Update

As of Tuesday evening, the US daily case count is 32,032, down 35% over the past 14 days. 48% of Americans have had at least 1 vaccine dose, and 37% are fully vaccinated.

In major news today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill today to counter anti-Asian hate crimes. The bill, which has already passed the Senate, was introduced by Democratic Rep. Grace Meng of New York and Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii. It passed the House by a margin of 364-62, and once signed by President Biden, would create a new position at the Justice Department to expedite review of potential Covid-19-related hate crimes and incidents reported at the federal, state, or local level.

Meanwhile, the Italian government announced this week that American tourists will now be able to visit the country, provided that they get tested before and upon arrival. We covered the news on the Skip Blog.

The rest of today's coronavirus news updates are below, and we hope your week is off to a good start.

Latest COVID Updates

• Thailand reported its highest number of deaths since the pandemic began today. Officials are struggling to contain a third wave in the country.
• Chicago's famous outdoor music festival, Lollapalooza, will be returning this summer for vaccinated attendees or those who can present a negative COVID-19 test. “Here in Chicago, the word ‘Lollapalooza’ has always been synonymous with summer, great music, and four days of unforgettable fun – which made last year’s decision to postpone it all the more difficult,” Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in the statement.
• Protesters in Japan are advocating for the cancellation of the Olympics, which is to be held in Tokyo this summer. Since Japan has vaccinated only 1% of its population, many citizens are hesitant about the event.
• The vaccination rates in rural areas of the U.S. continue to lag behind cities, despite the fact that the risk for sickness or death from COVID-19 in those areas is higher.
• 60% of U.S. adults are now vaccinated

May 17th Daily Update

As of Monday evening, the US daily case count is 33,041, down 33% over the past 14 days. 47% of Americans have had at least 1 vaccine dose, and 37% are fully vaccinated.

In major news today, President Biden announced that the U.S. will be distributing 20 million vaccine doses abroad in June to help countries struggling against the pandemic. The announcement came on the heels of a statement from the World Health Organization's director general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, that wealthy countries need to do more to help contain the virus. “There is a huge disconnect growing where, in some countries with the highest vaccination rates, there appears to be a mindset that the pandemic is over, while others are experiencing huge waves of infection,” Dr. Tedros said.

Meanwhile, the IRS announced on Friday that millions of Americans will be receiving refunds on their 2020 taxes thanks to the provision in the March stimulus bill which made $10,000 in unemployment benefits tax-exempt. People who filed their taxes prior to the passing of the bill were taxed on their unemployment income, and are now eligible for a refund. We covered the news on the Skip Blog.

The rest of today's coronavirus news updates are below, and we hope your week is off to a good start.

Latest COVID Updates

• New York and New Jersey both took action today to loosen restrictions and reopen their states. New York will adopt the CDC's mask recommendations (which allow vaccinated people to go most places without a mask), and New Jersey will be removing the option for students to learn remotely starting in September.
• Northeastern states like Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania are reporting far fewer cases in the past few weeks. All struggled with spikes earlier this year.
• The French pharmaceutical company Sanofi announced today that they were moving the vaccine they are developing alongside GlaxoSmithKline into a late-stage trial after the shot produced strong immune responses in volunteers in a midstage study. Scientists are optimistic that the vaccine could serve as a booster shot for people who are already vaccinated.
• In India, where resources have already been spread thin to contain an aggressive spike in COVID-19 cases, regional governments are now facing a new challenge: a cyclone. Cyclone Tauktae has battered the country's western coast and is heading north, expected to land in Gujarat (a region already dealing with a devastating wave of COVID-19).

May 10th Daily Update

As of Monday evening, there are over 158.3 million coronavirus cases and over 3.2 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 32.7 million cases and over 581,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 41,000 people hospitalized in the U.S.

The FDA approved the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 12 to 15 today. It is welcome news for parents, many of whom have been unsure how to conduct their lives when only the adults in a household are immunized. It also signals the possibility of normal activities for teens this summer, like camp, sleepovers, and gatherings with friends. Of course, it will also allow schools to operate more safely.

To assist the millions of Americans who remain unable to pay their rent, the Treasury Department announced $21.6 billion in new rental assistance funds on Friday. We covered the news on the Skip Blog.

Latest COVID Updates

• Only 9% of India's population has received a vaccine, and cases remain high throughout the country. One of the variants in India, B.1.617, has been declared a variant of concern by the WHO.
• To revive the city's flagging vaccination campaign,  New York City will now offer vaccines at subway stations. Vaccinations will be walk-in and, of course, free.
• Although early in the pandemic public health experts hoped that we may eventually reach herd immunity and no longer live with the virus, many are now saying that it is likely to become endemic: we may live with COVID-19 as a managed threat forever, much like the flu or other viruses. Outbreaks are likely to become smaller and less common, but not disappear.
• The hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca undertaken by millions of Muslims every year, will be allowed to happen this year, but Saudi Arabia has not yet released details about how many people will be allowed or what COVID-19 restrictions will be in place.

May 7th Daily Update

As of Friday evening, there are over 156 million coronavirus cases and over 3.2 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 32.6 million cases and over 579,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 40,000 people hospitalized in the U.S.

The CDC updated their guidance on how the virus spreads today, acknowledging that transmission can occur by inhaling very fine respiratory droplets and aerosolized particles, as well as through contact with sprayed droplets or touching contaminated hands to one’s mouth, nose or eyes. The agency had previously stated that the disease did not spread through airborne transmission.

A third of Americans are now fully vaccinated, and cases are falling in 30 states. Internationally, however, the virus continues to wreak havoc: India reported over 414,000 cases today.

Latest COVID Updates

• The WHO approved Chinese company Sinopharm's vaccine for emergency use, clearing the way for it to be used in Covax and other international vaccine programs.
• Pfizer and BionTech have applied for full FDA approval of their COVID-19 vaccine, as opposed to emergency use authorization. It is expected to take several months.
• U.S executives are weighing whether to require employees to get vaccinated as the country reopens. It could protect service workers and others who work in close quarters but also risks setting off massive backlash and even litigation.
• The U.S. jobs market seems to be tottering after initial recovery, adding only 266,000 jobs in April (far below those added in March). The jobless rate rose slightly in April to 6.1%.

May 6th Daily Update

As of Thursday evening, there are over 155.2 million coronavirus cases and over 3.2 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 32.5 million cases and over 578,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 40,000 people hospitalized in the U.S.

The seven-day average of new cases in the U.S. has dropped to its lowest level in nearly seven months, according to Johns Hopkins. The rolling 7-day average of cases is currently 46,656, the lowest it's been since October. Deaths are at their lowest since July, with an average of 686 deaths a day. In mid-January the U.S. was averaging 3,432 deaths per day. The data shows encouraging progress and indicates that the country's vaccine rollout is continuing to contain the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the SBA released early data on the Restaurant Revitalization Fund,  which has received nearly 190,000 applications so far. We covered the news and the latest on other grant and funding opportunities on our YouTube Channel.

The rest of today's coronavirus news updates are below, and we hope your week is going well.

Latest Updates

• Moderna announced today that data from their clinical trials indicates the vaccine is very effective in adolescents, showing 96% efficacy in early data. There were no safety concerns reported.
• Many U.S pharmacy chains including Rite-Aid and Walmart are offering walk-in, no-appointment vaccine slots in an effort to reach the Biden administration's goal of 70% of adults vaccinated by July 4th.
• A new national survey indicates that many American parents are hesitant to vaccinate their children, even though vaccines may be approved for young children by this summer.
• The International Olympic Committee announced that announced that Pfizer/BioNTech will donate Covid-19 vaccine doses to Olympic athletes for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games now scheduled for July. The IOC said the national committees will work with local governments to coordinate distribution of the vaccines "in accordance with each country’s vaccination guidelines and consistent with local regulations."
• India reported a single-day record of coronavirus cases today, with 412,262 new Covid-19 cases. Its vaccination campaign is has been slow, hampered by lack of supply.

May 5th Daily Update

As of Wednesday evening, there are over 154.5 million coronavirus cases and over 3.2 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 32.5 million cases and over 578,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 40,000 people hospitalized in the U.S.

Today, a U.S. federal judge struck down the CDC's moratorium on evictions, which President Biden extended until June 30th. It's unclear how much the move will impact renters, since the Justice Department has appealed the decision and the moratorium is already set to expire on June 30th. However, it could leave tenants vulnerable if the U.S. government can't distribute renters' assistance funds fast enough. Landlords and realtors, however, applauded the decision since many have argued the moratorium is illegal. We have a guide to renters assistance and tenants' rights during the pandemic available on the blog.

Meanwhile, the SBA announced that the PPP program has exhausted its funding, and will not be accepting new applications (with the exception of some applications from Community Development Financial Institutions). It's a blow for small business owners, but we covered some other funding opportunities on our YouTube Channel.

Latest Updates

• Moderna announced today that a single shot of their vaccine given as a booster to those already vaccinated significantly increased the level of antibodies they had. The antibodies also appeared to be effective against variants. “We are encouraged by these new data, which reinforce our confidence that our booster strategy should be protective against these newly detected variants,” Stéphane Bancel, Moderna’s chief executive officer, said in a statement.
• The pandemic has caused a ripple effect of other issues around the globe: hunger, maternal death and stillbirth have all increased astronomically since its outset, the U.N. announced today.
• Canada approved Pfizer's vaccine for adolescents as young as 12 today. The U.S. is expected to make a similar announcement within days.
• Curevac, a German company, has developed a third RNA vaccine (the first two were Moderna and Pfizer), and is expected to release the results of its clinical trials this week. If the vaccine is effective, it could be crucially important to increasing the world's woefully short vaccine supply.

May 4th Daily Update

As of Tuesday evening, there are over 153.5 million coronavirus cases and over 3.2 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 32.4 million cases and over 577,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 41,000 people hospitalized in the U.S.

Today, India became the second country in the world to pass 20 million total reported cases, the first being the U.S. However, it's expected that India's cases have been drastically underreported, and the true number of cases may actually be much higher. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is under immense pressure to respond to the country's crisis and implement a lockdown. The country's last lockdown last spring caused the country's largest internal migration in decades and dealt a serious blow to the country's economy as workers fled from India's cities, but there may be no other way to contain the country's rapid spread. International aid is on the way to India from several countries including the U.S. and France, but it may not be enough.

Meanwhile, in the U.S., many businesses are still awaiting funds from the Small Business Administration through the Targeted EIDL Advance program. We spoke with our SBA contact to hear about the agency's plans for the program and progress so far. We shared the latest updates on our YouTube channel.

Latest Updates

• Although most states in the U.S. have seen a decline in cases, in Arizona cases and hospitalizations are steadily climbing. As of Monday, Arizona’s daily average had climbed 21 percent in the last two weeks.
• Pfizer's vaccine generated $3.5 billion in revenue for the company in the first quarter of 2021, roughly a quarter of the company's total revenue. Pfizer has not disclosed the profits they generated from the vaccine, but it's estimated to be more than $900 million so far.
• Vaccinations are slowing in the U.S. Fewer than 1 million doses have been distributed since Monday.
• If the U.S. doesn't reach 80% herd immunity, it could face another surge of cases this coming winter, according to public health experts. Vaccine hesitancy is beginning to hold the country back from vaccine goals.
• President Biden has announced that the country's new vaccine goal is to have 70% of U.S adults vaccinated by July 4th, a goal he says that the country can reach even as vaccinations slow.

May 3 Daily Update

As of Monday evening, there are over 152.8 million coronavirus cases and over 3.2 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 32.4 million cases and over 576,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 42,000 people hospitalized in the U.S.

The Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine is set to be authorized by the FDA for youth ages 12-15 by early next week, according to officials, if not the end of this week. Trials showed that the vaccine is as effective in adolescents as it is in adults, if not more so. Vaccinating children could help curb community spread and bring down hospitalizations and deaths.

It's National Small Business Week in the U.S., and we covered ways to support small business owners in your community. We also have a post up on new Targeted EIDL data.

Latest Updates

• Many businesses in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut will be allowed to resume full service in May, and the subway will resume 24-hour service.
• India is facing a severe oxygen shortage, and on Sunday, the New Delhi High Court said that it would start punishing government officials for failing to deliver oxygen after hospitals in the capital successfully sought an injunction, The Associated Press reported.
• Denmark announced that they will not be using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because the country has made adequate progress with other vaccines and does not want to risk the rare blood clots it has caused in some cases.
• Cases are rising in Canada, and some people have had to wait up to four months between doses because the country's vaccine rollout has been so slow. Some Canadians are driving over the border into the U.S to get vaccinated.
• More than 600 people are now vaccinated against COVID-19, but over 7 billion are not. For wealthier countries, the virus is retreating, but in many developing nations, cases are spiking.

April 30th Daily Update

As of Friday evening, there are over 150.4 million coronavirus cases and over 3.1 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 32.3 million cases and over 574,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 43,000 people hospitalized in the U.S.

The Biden Administration announced today that they will begin restricting travel from India, where the COVID-19 pandemic is now claiming over 3,000 lives a day. The travel restrictions will not apply to citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States, their spouses or minor children or siblings, or to the parents of citizens or lawful permanent residents who are younger than 21 years old, according to Jen Psaki, the White House Press Secretary. “The policy will be implemented in light of extraordinarily high Covid-19 caseloads and multiple variants circulating in India,” she said.

Latest COVID Updates

• 100 million people in the U.S. are now fully vaccinated, but experts are concerned about reaching those who haven't yet gotten their shots due to hesitancy or lack of access.
• The Astrazeneca vaccine has brought in $275 million in sales from about 68 million doses so far this year, according to the company.
• Disneyland reopened today to California residents, after more than a year of closure. Travel advisors said tickets sold out quickly.
• Brazil has now surpassed 400,000 deaths from COVID-19, the second country in the world to pass that milestone (the first was the U.S.).

April 29th Daily Update

As of Thursday evening, there are over 149.6 million coronavirus cases and over 3.1 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 32.2 million cases and over 573,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 43,000 people hospitalized in the U.S.

After more than a year, cruise ships will be allowed to resume sailing in U.S. waters this summer, according to new CDC guidelines. Starting in July, cruise companies can resume regular voyages as long as they can attest that 98% of the crew and 95% of the passengers are fully vaccinated. Some cruise companies have already announced that no passengers will be allowed to board without proof of vaccination.

Meanwhile, small business owners throughout the U.S. in the food and beverage industry are preparing to submit applications for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, which will open for applications tomorrow through the SBA and a variety of partner companies including Toast and Square. We have a step-by-step guide to applying for the RRF up on our YouTube channel today.

The rest of today's coronavirus news updates are below, and we hope your week is going well so far.

Latest COVID Updates

• The coronavirus crisis in India continues to worsen. The country's health ministry on Thursday reported more than 375,000 cases and more than 3,600 deaths, and hospitals warned of critical shortages of ventilator beds, medical oxygen, medicines and other lifesaving supplies. Americans in the country have been advised by the government to leave "as soon as possible".
• Cases are also ticking upward in Latin America, which comprised 35% of the world's cases last week. Scientists are concerned that another wave of the pandemic could be on its way there.
• New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that he wants the city to be "fully reopened" by July 1, with no capacity requirements on businesses.
• Amazon's profits have increased 220% as compared to the same quarter last year, as the pandemic continues to force more shoppers online.

April 28th Daily Update

As of Wednesday evening, there are over 148.3 million coronavirus cases and over 3.1 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 32.1 million cases and over 573,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 44,000 people hospitalized in the U.S.

The IRS sent out about 2 million more $1,400 stimulus payments to Americans this week, including 850,000 paper checks and 1.1 million direct deposits. The majority of the payments went to people that the IRS did not have a record of until now, after processing their most recent tax return. There have now been 163 million payments distributed, worth a total of $384 billion.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced today that they are rolling back the deadline to get a REAL ID until 2023 in light of the impacts of the pandemic on government services. The deadline had been previously extended until October of 2021, but the agency extended it further since many DMVs remain closed or have limited appointments.

Latest COVID Updates

• Several U.S. states, including New York and Maryland, are rolling back coronavirus restrictions as cases and hospitalizations drop, especially for outdoor settings.
• Although many states are reporting a drop in cases, cases are spiking in Oregon, where cases have risen 54% in the last two weeks. 15 counties are moving back to the most restrictive tier of opening, where indoor dining is prohibited and many other businesses have to significantly reduce capacity.
• Biden will address the joint houses of Congress for the first time today, but it will be in a much different way than previous presidents: only 200 lawmakers will be present, and there will be much more security than usual.
• Germany's domestic intelligence service will begin monitoring members of the country's aggressive coronavirus deniers movement, saying that they threaten the integrity of the state.

April 27th Daily Update

As of Tuesday evening, there are over 147.5 million coronavirus cases and over 3.1 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 32.1 million cases and over 572,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 44,000 people hospitalized in the U.S.

Even as cases tick upward globally, within the U.S. the virus appears to be in retreat. The 7-day average for new U.S. coronavirus infections fell below 60,000 on Friday for the first time since March 25th, according to the CDC. Average cases have dropped 14% in the last week. Vaccinations are also trending downward as demand slows, but the U.S. is still averaging 2.7 million vaccines per day. As conditions improve, the U.S. is loosening some restrictions; the CDC announced today that vaccinated Americans can forgo a mask in many outdoor settings, and even unvaccinated people can go maskless in some outdoor situations.

Meanwhile, the SBA announced today that the Restaurant Revitalization Fund will be open for applications on Monday, and shared more information about how business owners can prepare and apply. The SBA is also making progress in distributing EIDL grants, which we covered on our YouTube channel.

Latest COVID Updates

• After battling a difficult fall and winter wave, California now has the lowest COVID-19 rates in the country. The state's improvement seems to be holding even as it opens its economy cautiously.
• CDC data shows that about 8% of vaccinated Americans are not getting their second vaccine dose, millions of people in total. Some report hesitancy in getting the second dose because they are afraid of side effects, while others say they feel protected enough after one dose. One dose does not grant full immunity, however.
• 25% of U.S. women report that they are financially worse off now, a year into the pandemic, than before it began. 18% of men report the same.
• The U.S. will send vaccine supplies and other medical aid to India, as the country's coronavirus crisis deepens.

April 26th Daily Update

As of Monday evening, there are over 146.8 million coronavirus cases and over 3.1 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 32 million cases and over 571,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 45,000 people hospitalized in the U.S.

Despite vaccinations, global coronavirus cases continue to climb. According to World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.“Globally, the Covid-19 pandemic continues to intensify,” he said. India recorded 350,000 cases yesterday, setting a global daily record for COVID-19 cases for the fifth day in a row. “Cases have now increased for the ninth straight week, and deaths have increased for the sixth straight week," he added.

In small business news, the SBA announced over the weekend that they were opening up a new, $5,000 grant program for businesses in low income areas. We covered the news on the Skip blog. Meanwhile, the IRS is preparing to send out millions of monthly payments to American families this summer.

Latest COVID Updates

• Under pressure from other nations, the Biden administration will be sharing AstraZeneca doses with other countries once the FDA approves the vaccine as safe. About 60 million doses total will be sent out from the U.S. abroad.
• India's coronavirus is deepening, and although other countries and the W.H.O have pledged support and will be sending supplies, in the meantime the country is running out of oxygen and mass funeral pyres are burning in the most impacted cities.“It’s a desperate situation out there,” said Ramanan Laxminarayan, the founder and director of the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy.
• The EU is suing Astrazeneca over the delayed shipment of millions of vaccine doses. AstraZeneca has said that it would be able to deliver only a third of the 300 million doses that European officials had been expecting by the end of June, which the bloc has said  means the company has broken their contract.
• The president of Turkey has ordered the country into lockdown to stop the spread of the virus. All nonessential businesses will be closed and schools will be shut down.

April 23rd Daily Update

As of Friday evening, there are over 144.8 million coronavirus cases and over 3 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 31.9 million cases and over 569,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 45,000 people hospitalized in the U.S.

The vaccine advisory panel for the CDC recommended today that the pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine be lifted but suggested that J & J add a label to the shot to warn patients about the extremely rare, but dangerous, side effect of blood clots. CDC director Rochelle Walensky will need to approve the recommendation, which she is expected to do, before the pause will officially end. Several states, including Utah and Wisconsin, have already said they will resume use of the vaccine once the federal guidance is released. Resuming the shot could lead to between 26 and 45 cases of blood clots over the next few months but prevent up to 1,400 deaths from COVID-19, according to CDC modeling. All the 15 confirmed cases so far have been in women between 18 and 49 years old.

In small business news, the SBA announced today that the online application portal for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, a pandemic recovery grant for entertainment venues, will be reopened tomorrow. The portal has been shut down for nearly two weeks, and no applications have been accepted for the program yet.

Latest COVID Updates

• Demand has dropped for vaccines dramatically in some parts of the U.S., leading some counties to close mass vaccination sites due to lack of customers. At this stage of the U.S.' vaccine rollout, the country's largest challenge will be convincing those who are hesitant about the vaccine to get a shot.
• Puerto Rico is seeing a massive uptick in COVID-19 cases, driven partially by Spring Break travelers.
• New York City will now allow walk-in vaccinations at every city-run site in an effort to expand access and speed up vaccinations.
• Oregon has seen the largest increase in COVID-19 infections of any state in the country over the past two weeks. Our newest modeling indicates that the rate of transmission surpassed the most pessimistic scenario of three weeks ago,”  said state epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger.

April 22nd Daily Update

As of Thursday evening, there are over 144.2 million coronavirus cases and over 3 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 31.8 million cases and over 568,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 45,000 people hospitalized in the U.S.

The U.S. could resume the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as soon as this weekend. The vaccine advisory panel for the CDC is meeting tomorrow to discuss and vote on whether to end the pause and is said to be leaning toward lifting restrictions on the vaccine, since so few blood clotting cases have been reported. The FDA is likely to require Johnson & Johnson to include a warning label on the vaccine, however, informing people about the possible side effect.

In small business news, the Biden Administration announced a new tax credit yesterday that will compensate small business owners who give their employees time off to get vaccinated. Small business owners can now also request an increased EIDL Loan directly from their online portal.

Latest Updates

• Fully vaccinated fans will be granted their own section at Dodgers Stadium this weekend, where social distancing will not be required. Fans will still need to wear masks even in the vaccinated area.
• After a brutal battle with the virus, France is cautiously planning to reopen parts of the country in May as vaccines progress.
• India set a new daily record for infections: the country reported 310,000 cases yesterday, the most ever reported in a single country in a single day.
• Half of the U.S.' eligible population has now received at least one vaccine dose, and all adults are now eligible to get vaccinated.

April 21st Daily Update

As of Wednesday evening, there are over 142.5 million coronavirus cases and over 3 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 31.8 million cases and over 568,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 45,000 people hospitalized in the U.S.

More COVID-19 cases were reported last week than in a single 7-day period since the start of the pandemic, according to the WHO. 5.24 million cases were reported last week, largely driven by a surge in India. The pandemic's overall death toll passed 3 million last week. A spokeswoman for the W.H.O., Margaret Harris, noted that it took nine months for the world to reach 1 million pandemic deaths, then four months to pass 2 million, and now three months to reach 3 million.

In small business news, the SBA has released information about the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), a $28.6 billion funding program for food and beverage businesses. We have an in-depth post on the RRF up on the blog today.

Latest Updates

• President Biden encouraged U.S. employers to offer employees paid time off to get vaccinated today, saying, “No working American should lose a single dollar from their paycheck because they chose to fill their patriotic duty to get vaccinated." Small businesses who offer PTO for vaccination will be given a tax credit.
• CDC researchers have found no evidence in early data that either the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccine is unsafe during pregnancy. Some pregnant women have been hesitant to get vaccinated, because pregnant women were not included in either vaccine's clinical trials.
• Doctors have confirmed the first coronavirus cases among climbers trying to scale Mt. Everest. Coronavirus outbreaks at Everest could be devastating for Nepal, which depends largely on tourism.
• A single unvaccinated worker set off a large outbreak at a nursing home in Kentucky, despite the fact that many residents and staff were already immunized. It's an alarming reminder that vaccines don't carry 100% immunity, and that healthcare workers need to be inoculated to protect patients.

April 20th Daily Update

As of Tuesday evening, there are over 142.4 million coronavirus cases and over 3 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 31.8 million cases and over 567,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 45,000 people hospitalized in the U.S.

Today, the three-week-long trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin concluded. Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for the killing of George Floyd last May. Floyd's murder sparked massive protests in the U.S. and globally. Chauvin will be sentenced in eight weeks, and until then will be held without bail.

In small business news, the Paycheck Protection Program is supposed to remain open for applications until the end of May but might run out of funding before the deadline. We covered the latest PPP news on the Skip Blog today.

Latest COVID Updates

• Virus cases and hospitalizations are spiking in Pennsylvania. The state's acting health secretary said today that PA does not plan to implement new lockdowns, however, but encourages residents to social distance.
• The Johnson & Johnson vaccine rollout will reopen in Europe, after the EU drug regulator decided that the vaccine's benefits outweighed its risks. The regulator did say that the shot should have a warning label.
• Although older adults are the most vaccinated group in the U.S., 1/5th of them have still not been vaccinated. Public health officials are concerned that opening vaccine eligibility to all adults might make it harder to vaccinate the most vulnerable.
• Players on 14 NFL teams, half the league, have declared that they will not attend off-season workouts due to COVID-19 concerns.

April 19th Daily Update

As of Monday evening, there are over 141 million coronavirus cases and over 3 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 31.6 million cases and over 566,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 45,000 people hospitalized in the U.S.

Today, all adults over 16 became eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine in every U.S. state. Half of U.S. adults have already had at least one dose of the vaccine. If you're not yet vaccinated, you can read our guide to getting an appointment to find a slot near you. You can also see who in your social circle has been vaccinated with our vaccine social tracker.

Meanwhile, we are continuing to report on the latest small business and stimulus news. Today, we have a post up on our blog on what to do if you're still waiting for a Targeted EIDL Advance, as well as a round-up of SBA news.

The rest of today's coronavirus news updates are below, and we hope your week is off to a great start.

Latest Updates

• Despite the fact that all adults in the U.S. are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, Biden Administration officials warned today that masking and social distancing will still be necessary for some time, possibly months, as the possibility of another virus surge threatens the country.
• Dr. Anthony Fauci said today that he expects the U.S. will make a decision by Friday about whether the country can resume use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which remains paused in all fifty states, D.C. and Puerto Rico.
• Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan said today that she thinks the wave in Michigan may finally be slowing, although the state is still reporting 7,600 cases a day.
• Counties in Colorado are loosening virus restrictions, even as cases in the state jump to levels not seen since January and public health officials warn of a possible surge.
• Tourists to Alaska will be able to receive a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine starting this summer, part of the state's effort to revive its ailing tourism industry.

April 16th Daily Update

As of Friday evening, there are over 139.4 million coronavirus cases and over 2.9 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 31.5 million cases and over 565,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 45,000 people hospitalized in the U.S.

The IRS announced yesterday that 2 million more "plus up payments" have been sent out to recipients. Plus Up Payments are additional stimulus payments for those who received a third stimulus check that was less than they were actually eligible for. You can learn more about Plus Up Payments, and whether you might receive one, in this blog post.

Meanwhile, the debate over travel restrictions, and whether they should be lifted for vaccinated travelers, continues. The state of Hawaii, one of the only states in the U.S. to have enforced strict testing and quarantine requirements even for domestic visitors, is developing a "vaccine passport" program for vaccinated Americans. We covered the news on the Skip Blog.

The rest of today's coronavirus news updates are below, and we hope you have a great weekend.

Latest Updates

• COVID-19 has now claimed nearly 3 million lives since it was first discovered in February of 2020, a staggering number. Although vaccines are progressing in developed nations, cases and deaths are still accelerating globally.
• The White House announced a $1.7 billion plan to track and fight coronavirus variants. Variant cases have continued to grow throughout the U.S. and are suspected to be the culprit of large outbreaks in Michigan, New York and other states.
• The advisory panel for the CDC which will decide whether to lift the pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine won't be meeting for another week, meaning that the pause will last at least that long.
• Vaccine makers are working to develop booster shots, which will likely be necessary about a year after patients' first round of inoculation.
• 21 U.S. states reported an increase of at least 10% in new coronavirus cases in the last week, according to data from Johns Hopkins. Despite vaccination progress, the U.S.' fight against COVID-19 is far from over.

April 15th Daily Update

As of Thursday evening, there are over 138.3 million coronavirus cases and over 2.9 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 31.5 million cases and over 564,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 47,000 people hospitalized in the U.S.

The first stimulus payments in the U.S. were sent out a year ago today. $1,200 checks were distributed to most Americans, followed by $600 checks, and finally, $1,400 checks. The IRS is now nearly finished distributing the $1,400 stimulus checks. The year of assistance appears to have worked: economic experts estimate that stimulus checks lifted more than 10 million people out of poverty. Lawmakers, especially Democrats, are pushing for more checks in the form of ongoing, recurring payments, but there are no concrete plans yet.

Meanwhile, small businesses throughout the U.S. continue to apply for aid to help them ride out the pandemic. The SBA's EIDL loan program is now open for loans of up to $500,000. We reported on the pros and cons of an increased EIDL loan on the blog today.

Latest Updates

• The "pause" of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine could have wide-reaching global implications; public health experts are concerned it will lead to significant vaccine hesitancy in developing nations as well as the U.S.
• While 2/3 of U.S. Democrats have reported already receiving at least one dose of the vaccine, 45% of Republicans have stated that they don't plan to get vaccinated. The data suggests that the Biden Administration's vaccine outreach has not been as successful with Republicans.
• A leading member of Japan's government stated today that the country would consider canceling the Olympic games if coronavirus cases didn't get under control, but immediately walked back his statement and said that the event would go on as planned.
• For the first time, Canada's daily per capita COVID-19 cases have increased more than the United States. It brought the country's prime minister, Trudeau, under fire over his handling of the pandemic and especially over vaccination rates, which have been much slower in Canada than the U.S.
• The CEO of Pfizer said today that he expects most people will need to get a booster shot between 6 and 12 months after their second dose of the company's COVID-19 vaccine. Data shows that Pfizer's vaccine protects recipients for at least 6 months, but longer than that is unknown.

Wednesday April 14th Daily Update

As of Wednesday evening, there are over 137.5 million coronavirus cases and over 2.9 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 31.3 million cases and over 562,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 43,000 people hospitalized in the U.S.

All fifty states, D.C. and Puerto Rico have ceased distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine until federal regulators declare it safe. The U.S. government recommended "pausing" the vaccine following reports of rare blood clots that could be caused by the shot. An advisory committee for the CDC met today to discuss the vaccine, but did not vote or take action. The pause will be extended at least a week until their next meeting. We have the latest J&J news on the blog today.

Meanwhile, cases, hospitalization rates, and deaths are on the rise in the U.S., driven partially by young, unvaccinated people. After-school sports seem to be particularly risky, with both individual cases and large clusters reported from games and practices.

Latest Updates

• With 100 days remaining before the Olympics, cases are on the rise in Japan, where the games are scheduled to be held. Officials are trying to manage spread with restrictions in time for the event.
• New York City officials are planning to keep most vaccine appointments for Johnson & Johnson doses, and provide patients with Pfizer or Moderna instead.
• Researchers in the U.K. are investigating the safety of mixing two different vaccine doses for two-shot vaccines, using one for the first shot and another for the second. It could help manage vaccine rollout when supplies for one vaccine run short.
• Research is showing that "zoom fatigue", exhaustion from video calls, is impacting workers worldwide, and women are experiencing it much worse than men. Several large companies have declared "zoom free days" in response to continued frustration from employees.

Tuesday April 13th Daily Update

As of Tuesday evening, there are over 137 million coronavirus cases and over 2.9 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 31.3 million cases and over 562,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 43,000 people hospitalized in the U.S.

Most of the U.S. paused use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine today at the recommendation of federal regulators, who are investigating six cases of blood clots among the millions of doses of the vaccine distributed in the country so far. Federal vaccine sites, as well as many states and D.C., will not be distributing the single-shot vaccine until after the CDC and FDA finish their investigation.  We covered the news and how it could impact the country's overall vaccine rollout on the blog today.

Meanwhile, virus cases are surging in the upper Midwest and Northeast, even as other regions appear to be keeping the pandemic at bay (including the South, which has been a hotspot in the past). Experts aren't sure exactly what is causing the discrepancy, which doesn't align with vaccination rates. It's possible that reduced testing in some states is falsely suppressing data and masking the virus's spread.

Latest Updates

• The CDC is investigating "breakthrough" cases of COVID-19 reported among fully vaccinated individuals. No vaccine is 100% protective, so some people have come down with the virus after being vaccinated. Some have had mild cases, but a few have had severe or even fatal cases.
• For the second time, millions of Muslims across the world began celebrating Ramadan today in the midst of the pandemic. Unlike last year, however, parts of the world, including the Middle East, have reopened stores and mosques with restrictions.
• All NFL support staff, like coaches and trainers, will be required to get vaccinated in order to interact with players in any way (who are encouraged but not yet required to get vaccinated). It's one of the strictest examples yet of employer vaccination protocols.
• Even as vaccinations progress, cases have remained alarmingly high in New York City for weeks. Public health experts are pointing to variants as a possible cause, with between 4 and 8% of New York's cases expected to be caused by variants.

Monday April 12th Daily Update

As of Monday evening, there are over 136.2 million coronavirus cases and over 2.9 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 31.2 million cases and over 561,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 43,000 people hospitalized in the US.

16 months into the pandemic, the virus is still spreading rapidly throughout the world. Today, the WHO said that the pandemic's trajectory is "growing exponentially", with more than 4 million cases reported last week and overall global cases more than 8 times higher than a year ago. Cases in the U.S. are not growing as quickly as other nations like India and France, which are battling brutal waves of the virus, but U.S. cases have been ticking upward (especially in hotspots like Michigan).

Meanwhile, our team is continuing to cover small business news and insights to help business owners ride out this challenging time. Today on the Skip Blog, we have a guide to the Employee Retention Tax Credit, which could help small businesses save over $30,000 per employee. We also have a new YouTube video today, breaking down the latest in EIDL distribution news.

Latest Updates

• The governor of Michigan requested more vaccine doses to help the state battle its brutal outbreak, but CDC director Rochelle Walensky said today that shutting down the state would be a more effective immediate solution.16 of the country's 17 most impacted metropolitan areas are in Michigan. “The answer is not necessarily to give vaccine. The answer to that is to really close things down, to go back to our basics, to go back to where we were last spring, last summer, and to shut things down," said Walensky.
• Over 50,000 New York City public school students will be allowed to return to the classroom after a year of remote learning, including middle and high school students. The students will be allowed to return to school on April 26th. Previously, the city only allowed elementary school students to return to the classroom.
• After three months of lockdown, Britain reopened much of its economy today, allowing shops, some outdoor bars and restaurants, and hair salons to reopen. Britain has experienced one of the longest and most stringent lockdowns on earth.
• India now has the second-highest caseload in the world, after the U.S. Public health experts are concerned that cases in India will continue to spike after a Hindu pilgrimage on the banks of the Ganges River this week.

Friday April 9 Daily Update

As of Friday evening, there are over 134.2 million coronavirus cases and over 2.9 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 31 million cases and over 560,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 43,000 people hospitalized in the US.

As states reopen, vaccines progress and stimulus checks arrive, pent-up demand is causing economic inflation in the U.S. Gasoline prices increased 8.8% in March. Economists hope that the increase will be brief, however, and that prices will stabilize.

Meanwhile, more nations are reopening to fully vaccinated American tourists, including Ecuador and Guatemala. You can view the full list of nations open to vaccinated Americans here.

Latest Updates

• Allocations of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are expected to plunge 86% next week, and supply will remain low until production is approved at a Baltimore plant currently under federal investigation.
• Pfizer is requesting approval to give their vaccine to adolescents between 12 and 15. Trials showed the vaccine was even more effective in adolescents and had no adverse effects.
• Three states have halted operations at Johnson & Johnson vaccine sites due to adverse reactions: North Carolina, Georgia and Colorado.
• ICUs in Michigan are nearing capacity as the state battles a deadly wave of the virus, likely driven by variants.
• Covax, the initiative to distribute vaccine doses to low-income nations, has distributed only 38 million doses so far, falling significantly short of the 100 million doses promised.

Thursday April 8 Daily Update

As of Thursday evening, there are over 133.6 million coronavirus cases and over 2.8 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 31 million cases and over 559,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 43,000 people hospitalized in the US.

The next group of eligible recipients expected to receive $1,400 stimulus checks are veterans who are not required to file taxes. They should receive their payments on April 14th, according to the IRS. Non-filing veterans are the latest group of federal beneficiaries to whom the IRS has announced plans to distribute checks, with many social security recipients receiving the funds this week.

In addition to individual stimulus checks, more small business aid programs continue to open for applications. The SBA's Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, or SVO Grant, opened for applications today. The SVO is a grant program for entertainment venues that have been shut down during the pandemic. You can learn more about the SVO program and how to apply here.

Latest Updates

• The state of Florida has sued the CDC to allow cruise ships to begin sailing again, a year after they were ordered to cease sailing at all U.S. ports.
• Reports are showing that online shops are selling fake COVID vaccination record cards. Businesses and local authorities are requiring proof of vaccination to participate in activities.
• Several more countries, including Belgium, have decided to pause use of the AstraZeneca vaccine amidst reports of blood clots.
• A delay in Johnson & Johnson vaccine shipments has hampered U.S.  military vaccinations abroad.
• Eight U.S. colleges and universities have now announced that they will be requiring students to be vaccinated to return in the fall.

Wednesday April 7 Daily Update

As of Wednesday evening, there are over 132.8 million coronavirus cases and over 2.8 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 30.9 million cases and over 558,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 43,000 people hospitalized in the US.

About 25 million more Americans received $1,400 stimulus checks today, as the IRS distributed another batch of checks to eligible recipients. In total, 156 million payments have now been distributed. About 19 million of today's payments went to Social Security beneficiaries, whose payments were delayed because the IRS didn't have the proper information to distribute them.

In addition to stimulus distribution, the U.S. continues to make significant vaccine progress and all adults are expected to be eligible for a coronavirus vaccine by April 19th; on the blog today we have a guide with tips and tricks for finding an appointment.

The SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is now open for increased loans of up to $500,000, and recipients who received smaller loans can request more money. We have a guide to the process, including a prepopulated email that can be sent to the SBA, on the blog today.

Latest Updates

• A highly contagious coronavirus variant that was first discovered in Britain, the B.1.1.7 variant, is now the dominant variant strain in the U.S., according to CDC director Rochelle Walensky.
• 1 in 3 coronavirus patients were diagnosed with a psychiatric or neurological condition within six months after their COVID diagnosis, according to new research.
• Young people are largely driving the COVID-19 surge in Michigan, and many are becoming more severely ill, requiring hospitalization and occasionally even dying from the disease.
• Half of all U.S. COVID cases are being reported from just five states: New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Michigan and Florida.
• 1 in 4 Americans don't want to get vaccinated, according to an NPR poll, threatening herd immunity.

Tuesday April 6 Daily Update

As of Tuesday evening, there are over 132.2 million coronavirus cases and over 2.8 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 30.8 million cases and over 555,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 41,000 people hospitalized in the US.

President Biden announced today that the deadline for states to open coronavirus vaccine eligibility to all adults over 16 has been moved up to April 19th, from the original deadline of May 1st. Most states had already announced that they would be allowing all adults to get vaccinated in April.

Meanwhile, small business owners across the U.S. are continuing to be approved for PPP loans. Over $200 billion has now been distributed from over 5,000 lenders. We covered the latest PPP news and other updates on YouTube.

The rest of today's coronavirus news updates are below, and we hope your week is going well.

Latest Updates

• The state of California will reopen June 15th, with few restrictions besides a statewide mask mandate, if the state's metrics continue to improve.
• The governor of Texas has issued an executive order prohibiting businesses, local authorities, and government agencies from requiring proof of vaccination for certain activities.
• Cases are spiking rapidly in Minnesota, worrying health officials. The spike is driven by an increase in variant cases, similar to the situation in Michigan, which is now one of the country's worst hotspots.
• An expert at the European Medicine Agency has confirmed that blood clots are a real side effect of the AstraZeneca vaccine, albeit a rare one.
• Saudi Arabia will restrict access to Mecca during the Muslim holiday of Ramadan to only those who have been vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19.

Monday April 5 Daily Update

As of Monday evening, there are over 131.5 million coronavirus cases and over 2.8 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 30.7 million cases and over 554,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 40,000 people hospitalized in the US.

Some Americans will receive a fourth stimulus payment, called a "plus up payment". Plus up payment recipients are people who did not receive the full amount they were owed on their third stimulus check because they didn't file their 2020 taxes before their payments were disbursed. Those whose income dropped in 2020 as compared to 2019, or who had a child in 2020, will receive the payments to "top off"  their stimulus checks after their 2020 taxes are filed.

Meanwhile, Targeted EIDL grant disbursements are finally beginning to pick up. We covered the news on our YouTube channel.

Latest Updates

• At least five U.S. colleges will require students to be vaccinated prior to returning to campus in the fall.
• Rather than the recommended 3 weeks, Walgreens has been scheduling patients' second vaccine doses 4 weeks apart. Following complaints, the pharmacy chain will now follow the recommended timeline.
• The CDC has now updated their guidance for cleaning household surfaces, saying that soap and water is sufficient in most situations rather than disinfecting sprays or wipes.
• More than half of the Vancouver Canucks NHL team has been sidelined after an outbreak on the team.
• A new, far lower-cost vaccine is currently entering clinical trials in Brazil, Mexico, Thailand, and Vietnam. If successful, the vaccine could change the course of the pandemic.

Friday April 2 Daily Update

As of Friday evening, there are over 129.9 million coronavirus cases and over 2.8 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 30.5 million cases and over 553,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 41,000 people hospitalized in the US.

The IRS has now distributed 130 million $1,400 stimulus checks, worth about $335 billion. The majority of those were either direct deposits or paper checks, but a few recipients received pre-loaded debit cards. More funds remain to be sent, and the IRS has stated that additional batches will go out over the coming weeks.

The CDC revised their guidance for vaccinated people today to account for travel, stating that vaccinated people do not need to quarantine or be tested before or after traveling domestically. We have a full guide to the CDC's recommendations up on the blog.

Meanwhile, Americans are preparing for tax season; taxes have been delayed until May 17th this year, but when the deadline arrives, some may be hit with a hefty bill for income taxes on their unemployment benefits. The latest stimulus package included a provision to make $10,000 worth of unemployment benefits tax-exempt, but 13 states are charging taxes on unemployment anyway. We have a post on what you need to know about unemployment and your taxes up on the blog today.

Latest Updates

• Coronavirus testing is down significantly in some parts of the U.S., mainly the Great Plains and the South, and experts are concerned it could be masking the spread of the virus and making cases seem lower than they are.
• As it continues to battle a severe outbreak of the virus, France has entered a third national lockdown amidst widespread complaint. Cases are soaring, and vaccination rates in the country are low.
• The governor of Florida has banned local authorities and businesses from requiring "vaccine passports", or proof of vaccination.
• As the EU struggles to vaccinate its population, many Europeans are losing faith in the coalition, which has long been touted to offer benefits to member states.
• Johnson & Johnson has begun testing their vaccine in adolescents, bolstering hope for vaccines to become available for children this summer.

Thursday April 1 Daily Update

As of Thursday evening, there are over 128.9 million coronavirus cases and over 2.8 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 30.4 million cases and over 551,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 40,000 people hospitalized in the US.

15 million Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses were ruined by a subcontracting manufacturer for the company in Baltimore, which mixed up the ingredients for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine with the AstraZeneca vaccine. The mistake will delay future shipments of the vaccine but has not impacted any doses already distributed. It's a major embarrassment for Johnson & Johnson, whose one-shot vaccine has sped up vaccine rollout in the U.S. significantly.

President Biden unveiled a sweeping, $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan yesterday that could transform the country's transportation, education, and public service sectors. We have a post on the Skip blog today breaking down the bill's major areas and how much money is allocated for each.

Millions of  $1,400 stimulus checks are still being distributed, but some who owe private debt collectors may never see their checks. We have a guide to private debt collectors and stimulus funds on the blog today.

Latest Updates

• Although many Western states have yet to see the feared "fourth wave" of COVID-19, cases are ticking upward, and in some places surging, on the East Coast and in parts of the Midwest. Michigan is experiencing its worst outbreak since the pandemic began.
• Pakistan is unveiling an unusual approach to vaccination: allowing patients to purchase doses privately, rather than waiting their turn in line.
• Today is Opening Day for Major League Baseball in the U.S., and fans are returning to the stands for the first time in over a year. The Texas Rangers opened their stadium to full capacity, despite President Biden's warnings that it was "not responsible", and "a mistake".
• Some healthcare workers in Italy are refusing to be vaccinated, causing a rash of outbreaks across the country's hospitals.
• 30% of the U.S. population has now received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
• New research shows that the Pfizer vaccine likely offers protection for at least six months, and possibly for years.

Wednesday March 31 Daily Update

As of Wednesday evening, there are over 128.4 million coronavirus cases and over 2.8 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 30.4 million cases and over 551,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 40,000 people hospitalized in the US.

Social Security recipients should receive their $1,400 stimulus checks on April 7th, according to the IRS. In total, about thirty million checks should be delivered that day. The payments will arrive electronically, and hopefully provide welcome relief for many low-income Social Security recipients.

Meanwhile, cases continue to tick upward in the U.S. Deaths are still decreasing, but cases have increased 11% over the past two weeks. Health experts think it's a combination of variants spreading and premature reopening in states where vaccination isn't far enough along.

Yesterday, President Biden officially signed the PPP extension into law, which will allow the program to remain open until the end of May. We covered the news on the Skip Blog.

Latest Updates

• Pfizer has concluded their vaccine trial for adolescents between 12 and 15 years old, and the results show that the vaccine may even be more effective in children than adults: in the trial, the vaccine was 100% effective and caused no significant side effects.
• New York State has unveiled an app that will allow people to prove that they are fully vaccinated or recently tested negative for COVID-19 in order to assist in the state's reopening efforts.
• Doctors in Paris are concerned that their hospitals are becoming overrun, as a third wave of COVID-19 rages in France. Hospitals are so full they may soon be unable to treat all patients.
• As the rest of Europe debates placing residents under another lockdown, in Spain live event promoters are experimenting with concerts: a 5,000-person concert was held in Barcelona on Saturday, which so far has been linked to 6 cases.
• Facebook has frozen the account of Nicolas Maduro, the president of Venezuela, for sharing misinformation about COVID-19.
• Dr. Deborah L. Birx, the coronavirus response coordinator under Mr. Trump, said on CNN Sunday that the administration's handling of the pandemic had cost the U.S. hundreds of thousands of lives, and that deaths "could have been mitigated or decreased substantially".

Tuesday March 30th Daily Update

As of Tuesday evening, there are over 127.7 million coronavirus cases and over 2.7 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 30.3 million cases and over 550,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 40,000 people hospitalized in the US.

60 legislators sent a letter to President Biden today urging him to include funding for more, recurring stimulus checks in his next upcoming infrastructure and economy bill, the Build Back Better Plan. We covered the news on our YouTube channel.

Meanwhile, despite rising cases in some parts of the country, states continue to reopen and lift restrictions. In Arkansas, the governor announced today that the state's mask mandate on Wednesday, joining other states such as Texas and Mississippi.

Latest Updates

• Almost half of all the population over 65 in the U.S has been vaccinated, and about 16% of the general population is fully vaccinated.
• Pakistan is struggling with another wave of the virus, and among those infected are the country's prime minister and senior-level officials in the country.
• Today the White House accused China of hampering the World Health Organization's investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 virus.
• Austria is in talks with Russia to order doses of the country's Sputnik V vaccine. In total, the country hopes to purchase a million doses.
• A new study from the Kaiser Family Foundation has found that vaccine coverage is highest in areas of the U.S. that already have low transmission rates, and those areas most in need are actually receiving the least doses.

Monday March 29th Daily Update

As of Monday evening, there are over 127.3 million coronavirus cases and over 2.7 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 30.3 million cases and over 549,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 39,000 people hospitalized in the US.

The CDC extended the U.S. federal eviction moratorium today, just days shy of its expiration, until June 30th. The moratorium prevents landlords from evicting people who have been impacted by COVID-19, provided that they fill out a form from the CDC website stating that they are unable to pay rent due to the pandemic. Some housing advocates say that the moratorium doesn't go far enough, however, as some landlords have been able to find loopholes to evict tenants. The moratorium also doesn't cancel rent, just prevents evictions, leaving millions vulnerable to "rent debt" after it expires.

Meanwhile, the President today urged states to reinstate their mask mandates and other restrictions as cases have spiked in some areas. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the CDC, said she felt a sense of "impending doom" and begged people to follow health directives.

"I am asking you to just hold on a little longer, to get vaccinated when you can, so that all of those people that we all love will still be here when this pandemic ends,” she said at a White House briefing.

Latest Updates

• According to President Biden, 90% of U.S. adults should be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine in April, rather than the original target of May 1.
• After being in lockdown since January, Britain, which has now vaccinated 30 million residents, has begun slowly lifting restrictions, allowing up to two households to gather outdoors for the first time in months.
• Johnson & Johnson will supply their one-shot vaccine to the African Union, the company announced today. 220 million doses total will be distributed.
• The results of the WHO's investigation into the origins of COVID-19 are inconclusive. The 124-page report the organization released today doesn't provide concrete evidence of the disease's origins, which the team was unable to find in their time in Wuhan, China.
• All adults in New York will be eligible for the coronavirus vaccine on April 6th.
• Students have returned to in-person school in Long Beach, California, the largest district yet to reopen in a state where most students are still distance learning.

Friday March 25 Daily Update

As of Friday evening, there are over 125.7 million coronavirus cases and over 2.7 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 30.1 million cases and over 546,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 40,000 people hospitalized in the US.

According to a new report from the U.S. Department of Labor, new jobless claims last week dropped to the lowest they have been since March of 2020. There were 684,000 new jobless claims last week, the first time since the start of the pandemic that they have dropped below 700,000. Although there are certainly multiple factors at play, the vaccine rollout and stimulus funding are understood to be key to the job market's recovery. You can read about the news in our latest blog post.

Unfortunately, not everyone who has received funding from U.S. stimulus programs is legitimate. The U.S. Department of Justice announced today that they have charged 474 individuals with fraud for schemes to take advantage of COVID-19 aid programs like the PPP, unemployment benefits and EIDL loans.  Some have been accused of submitting fraudulent or false applications, while others have been charged with inflating payroll costs or unemployment fraud.

In addition to the day's news, we wanted to share an exciting update from our team: as part of our continued effort to support individuals and small businesses, today we launched our new #SkipforGood grants. We've been donating revenue for 7 months to help others, but we're expanding to distribute $500 grants for individuals and small businesses 3 times per week. You can learn more about our grants and how to apply here.

Latest Updates

• Experts expect that the U.S.' vaccine supply could outpace demand by Mid-May, and are trying to determine what to do with the possible extra doses to prevent them from spoiling.
• Kenya has placed strict restrictions on its capital, Nairobi, and surrounding counties as the country battles a third wave of COVID-19.
• A childcare center in Nebraska has been linked to a COVID-19 outbreak of at least 100 cases. The state is urging all childcare workers to get vaccinated to prevent future outbreaks.
• The WHO has completed their investigation into the origin of COVID-19, and the results of their report are expected to be released within days.
• All but two states, Arkansas and New York, now have released plans for when they will open vaccine eligibility to all adults over 16.
• A record 3.38 million vaccine doses were distributed in the U.S. today.

Thursday March 25 Daily Update

As of Thursday evening, there are over 125 million coronavirus cases and over 2.7 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 30 million cases and over 545,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 39,000 people hospitalized in the US.

Thirty million Americans could now be able to receive their stimulus checks. The IRS received information early this morning from the Social Security Administration on recipients, which should clear the way for the IRS to distribute checks to Americans receiving Social Security. Many Social Security recipients are not required to file taxes, so their information was not on file with the IRS.

Meanwhile, small business owners got two major wins today. The U.S Senate voted to extend the PPP until the end of May, and the SBA has dramatically increased loan limits for the EIDL program. Both changes should help small business owners receive much-needed funds.  

Latest Updates

• Despite the accelerated pace of vaccinations, case counts in the U.S. have plateaued and experts are concerned about another wave of the virus.
• Amazon will be launching employees of some warehouses on site, the company announced.
• Rutgers University in New Jersey will require all students to be vaccinated before returning to campus next fall, one of the first U.S. educational institutions to do so.
• All adults over 16 will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine in California April 15th. Adults over 50 will be eligible April 1.
• New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is hoping to vaccinate enough theater workers to reopen Broadway by September.
• President Biden has set a new goal to reach 200 million vaccinations in his first 100 days.
• Pfizer has begun vaccine trials to test their vaccine's safety and efficacy on children under 12.

Wednesday March 24 Daily Update

As of  Wednesday evening, there are over 124.4 million coronavirus cases and over 2.7 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 30 million cases and over 544,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 39,000 people hospitalized in the US.

More than 25% of U.S. adults have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as of today. 14% of U.S adults are fully vaccinated. The pace of vaccination in the U.S. is now much faster than many other countries, and about 2.5 million vaccines are being distributed per day. However, cases are rising in 27 states, and the overall caseload increased in the U.S. this week for the first time in 9 weeks. Variants and rapid reopening in some parts of the country are threatening the U.S.' fragile progress.

Meanwhile, as small business owners await promised government stimulus programs such as the Restaurant Relief Fund and Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, many are turning to private grants to meet their needs. On the Skip Blog today, we have 6 tips for strengthening grant applications to up your chances of getting funding.

Latest Updates

• Brazil recorded over 3,200 deaths from the virus yesterday, its  highest since the pandemic began. Meanwhile in the Middle East, Iraq reported its highest number of cases so far, over 6,000.
• Uruguay, an early pandemic success story with few cases, has experienced a surge in recent weeks. The South American country will go under new restrictions until April 12th.
• Moncef Slaoui, who headed the Trump administration's vaccine effort Operation Warp Speed, has been fired from his position at biotech company GlaxoSmithKline due to sexual misconduct allegations.
• France's culture minister has been hospitalized for COVID-19, the second senior member of the country's government to be hospitalized and the latest in a slew of cases in French public officials. The country is battling an uptick in cases.
• The EPA will review attacks on science under the Trump Administration, it announced today. The agency will make a list of decisions that could have been impacted by political affiliations in the course of Trump's term.
• More than 40 states are expected to meet or even beat the President's goal of universal vaccine eligibility for adults by May 1.
• According to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, about 75% of students in the U.S. have returned to in-person classroom learning in some capacity, significant progress toward the Biden Administration's goal of returning students to school fully this spring.

Tuesday March 23 Daily Update

As of Tuesday evening, there are over 123.9 million coronavirus cases and over 2.7 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 29.9 million cases and over 543,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 38,000 people hospitalized in the US.

Another round of $1,400 stimulus checks is expected to be distributed to recipients tomorrow. Some pending deposits may show up tonight. About 90 million payments have already been distributed, but since 85% of Americans qualify for the payments, including children, there are many more still to be distributed. We covered the news in a YouTube video below.

Meanwhile, states across the U.S. continue to vastly broaden their vaccine eligibility to everyone over 16, including Georgia, Utah, parts of Arizona, Alaska, Mississippi, and West Virginia. The vaccine rollout has reduced cases in many parts of the country, but variants have complicated the U.S. COVID recovery, and cases were on the rise in 21 states as of today.

Latest Updates

• Only a day after AstraZeneca's vaccine trial results were released, U.S. health officials have questioned the integrity of the company's research, saying that the trial may have relied on "outdated information", and "cherry-picked data".
• Germany will enter a strict, 5-day lockdown over Easter to prevent further spread as the country battles a dangerous third wave.
• The mayor of Miami Beach, Florida has placed the city under curfew for three weeks as spring break crowds threaten to cause a surge in cases.
• Florida has become the first U.S state to report 1,000 known cases of coronavirus variants. The country's total known variant cases have roughly doubled since March 9th.
• One in four Americans has directly witnessed someone blaming Asian-Americans for the coronavirus pandemic in the last several weeks, according to a new poll. Hate crimes against Asian-Americans have skyrocketed in the last year.
• An antibody treatment developed by the pharmaceutical company Regeneron sharply cut the risk of hospitalization and death for high-risk COVID-19 patients in a clinical trial, the company announced today. There is a growing body of evidence that antibody treatments, which help mimic the body's natural immune response, are effective in treating high-risk patients.
• After nearly 10% of the Idaho House of Representatives tested positive for the virus, the state's legislature is going into a two-week recess.

Monday March 22 Daily Update

As of Monday evening, there are over 123.4 million coronavirus cases and over 2.7 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 29.8 million cases and over 542,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 38,000 people hospitalized in the US.

Isabel Guzman was sworn in as the new head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)  today, in a small ceremony with her family and Vice President Kamala Harris. Guzman has already promised to make coronavirus aid programs like the PPP and EIDL more accessible for the smallest businesses and, as a Latina entrepreneur herself, Guzman has spoken about the need to prioritize underfunded business owners like women and people of color. Business advocates are hopeful that Guzman will expedite distribution of funds such as Targeted EIDL Grants, which have yet to reach most eligible business owners. Guzman said in her confirmation hearing that COVID-19 recovery was her first priority. You can learn more about Guzman's background with our latest blog post.

The SBA also released information today about the Shuttered Venue Operators (SVO) grant program for entertainment venues, stating that the program would begin accepting applications on April 8th. You can learn more about the SVO with our blog post here, and be sure to check out our coverage of the news in our YouTube video below.

Latest Updates

• The AstraZeneca vaccine's U.S. trial showed the inoculation to be safe and effective, completely preventing serious outcomes and preventing 79% of symptomatic infections. Despite concerns that the vaccine causes blood clots, no serious side effects were found. The vaccine may not even be necessary for the U.S., however, since the three vaccines already authorized will likely provide enough supply for all adults in the country.
• All residents over 16 are now eligible for the vaccine in West Virginia, while in New York all residents over 50 now qualify.
• The mayor of Miami Beach, Florida has placed the city under curfew for three weeks as spring break crowds threaten to cause a surge in cases.
• India is facing a sharp uptick in COVID-19 cases, as well as vaccine hesitance among its population.
• For the rest of 2021, anyone who shows their vaccination card at a Krispy Kreme donut shop can receive a free glazed donut. It's part of the corporation's ongoing COVID-19 response, along with donating donuts to healthcare workers and hospitals.
• Microsoft will open back up their offices in Redmond, Washington to some nonessential employees on Monday, one of the first large companies to do so.

Friday March 19 Daily Update

As of Friday evening, there are over 122 million coronavirus cases and over 2.6 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 29.7 million cases and over 539,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 40,000 people hospitalized in the US.

When President Biden took office on January 20th, he vowed to reach 100 million vaccine doses before his 100th day in office. The U.S. reached that goal today, ahead of Biden's target. Despite the progress, cases remain stubbornly high in some parts of the U.S., and overall daily cases have plateaued at about 55,000 cases per day.

More guidance continues to be released for small business owners waiting on relief from the latest stimulus package. Event and entertainment businesses, particularly hard-hit by the pandemic, will now be eligible for both the PPP and the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVO), a program specifically for live event coordinators. You can learn more about the SVO with our guide up on the blog today.

Meanwhile, the world continues to open up for vaccinated Americans: vaccinated travelers can now enter Iceland, the first EU member country to open their borders to the U.S.  in over a year.

Latest Updates

• The CDC has updated their guidance for elementary schools, saying that schoolchildren do not need to be kept six feet apart if they are wearing masks and if proper ventilation is installed. Instead, the agency is encouraging schools to distance students by 3 feet. For space-strapped schools, especially in urban areas, the guidance is welcome news.
• An FBI investigation is underway to determine whether New York governor Andrew Cuomo provided false data on deaths from COVID-19 in nursing homes.
• Boris Johnson received a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. After ceasing use of the vaccine due to blood clot issues, most European countries are now using it again. "Getting the jab is the best thing we can do to get back to the lives we miss so much," said the Prime Minister.
• The traditional Easter Egg Roll at the White House has once again been canceled due to the pandemic. Instead of the usual celebration, the Biden Administration will send out commemorative eggs to vaccination sites and hospitals.
• Trump's beach club, Mar-a-Lago, has been partially closed after a COVID-19 outbreak. It's not known exactly how many cases are involved.
• U.S. gasoline prices are rebounding after many months of suppressed demand, indicating that people are once again moving throughout the country more freely.

Thursday March 18 Daily Update

As of Thursday evening, there are over 121.4 million coronavirus cases and over 2.6 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 29.6 million cases and over 537,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 41,000 people hospitalized in the US.

Democrats in the U.S. Senate introduced a bill today that would make it illegal for private debt collectors to seize  $1,400 stimulus checks. A similar bill was passed last year to protect the $1,200 checks distributed as part of the CARES Act. Sherrod Brown, the chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, was integral to authoring the bill. "We passed the American Rescue Plan to put money in people’s pockets so they can pay their bills, not to line the pockets of predatory private debt collectors," he said.

Meanwhile, applications for rental assistance are finally open in some larger states, including California. You can view our guide to rental assistance programs throughout the country here. Plans are also underway to launch new aid programs developed as part of the stimulus package, including a relief program for restaurants and bars and new PPP funding and expanded eligibility. We covered the soon-to-be-available small business funding in today's YouTube video.

The rest of today's important coronavirus news is below, and we hope your week is going well.

📌New Grants Have Arrived. Our teams reported on several new grant programs on our app as part of our ongoing grants & loan effort. On our app, click See Grant Opportunities to learn more.

Daily Updates

• The U.S. emergency management agency, FEMA, announced today that they would be reimbursing eligible families for funeral costs of people who died from COVID-19. Although the program isn't open yet, the agency encouraged families to keep documentation of their funeral costs.
• The Attorney General of Ohio has sued President Biden over his $1.9 trillion stimulus package, saying that it limits how states can spend the funding too narrowly and is therefore unconstitutional.
• Throughout the U.S., Asian-American communities and allies are outraged and mourning in the wake of shootings in Atlanta, GA on Wednesday that killed 8 people, 6 of them Asian women. The suspect, Robert Aaron Long, faces several counts of murder and aggravated assault but has not yet been charged with a hate crime. The incident came in the wake of a sharp uptick in violent crimes against Asians during the pandemic.
• A large study just completed in Denmark has confirmed that most people who have COVID-19 are not reinfected, and are protected from the virus for at least six months.
• France is placing several regions into a month-long lockdown, including Paris. Schools will remain open, but not nonessential businesses.
• Despite initial resistance, the Biden Administration has agreed to send 2.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Mexico and  1.5 million to Canada. The vaccine is not yet approved in the U.S., but has been in dozens of other countries.
• Today the WHO declared Europe's vaccine rollout too slow to curb transmission of the virus. Cases have been steadily rising in Europe for about three weeks, and there are more total deaths on average in the continent now than a year ago

Wednesday March 17 Daily Update

As of Wednesday evening, there are over 120.9 million coronavirus cases and over 2.6 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 29.6 million cases and over 537,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 40,000 people hospitalized in the US.

The U.S. Treasury will extend the tax filing deadline from April 15th until May 17th in light of this year's difficult tax season, as millions of Americans balance unemployment benefits, business loans and grants, and other aid while trying to file their returns. Stimulus checks are not taxable, but some other forms of COVID-19 aid are. The stimulus bill did make the first $10,000 in unemployment benefits tax-exempt for most filers, which will be welcome news for many jobless Americans. You can learn more about the tax announcement in our latest YouTube video.

A bill to extend the Paycheck Protection Program for another two months passed the House earlier today, and is likely to be approved by the Senate. That will give the Small Business Administration time to distribute the billions of dollars remaining in the program. In the meantime, many Community Development Financial Institutions, or CDFIs, are offering support to small business owners as they navigate the pandemic. We have a guide to CDFIs for small business owners up on the blog today.

The rest of today's important coronavirus news is below, and we hope your week is going well.

📌New Grants Have Arrived. Our teams reported on several new grant programs on our app as part of our ongoing grants & loan effort. On our app, click See Grant Opportunities to learn more.

Daily Updates

• The EU proposed a COVID-19 "Travel Certificate" today that would allow citizens of member states to travel freely throughout the union if they can prove vaccination. It's expected to be approved and ready for use by summer, and available digitally as well as on paper.
• Homeless Americans, who desperately need stimulus payments, are struggling to access them without a fixed address despite being eligible for the funds.
• Despite general progress on the virus throughout the U.S., cases in the Northeast, particularly New York and New Jersey, remain high. Cases in both states are double the national per capita average.
• Serbia is now leading Europe in vaccinations, after having secured 5 different vaccines for their citizens.
• The CDC is reviewing their guidance that schools keep students 6 feet from one another in areas with high transmission rates and considering changing it, but the American Federation of Teachers, a major teachers' union, is staunchly opposed.
• The Biden Administration has unveiled a $10 billion plan for coronavirus testing in schools. The plan will be administered by the CDC, and will provide funds to both cities and states to screen children.
• Britain's National Health Service is facing a "significant reduction" in vaccine supply which could last up to a month, troubling news for a country already behind on vaccinating their citizens. No new appointments will be available for vaccination in April.

Tuesday March 17 Daily Update

As of Tuesday evening, there are over 120.4 million coronavirus cases and over 2.6 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 29.5 million cases and over 535,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 40,000 people hospitalized in the US.

Many people who received their stimulus checks via direct deposit over the weekend have been unable to access the funds, which were marked as "pending" in their accounts. Most of the payments sent over the weekend should clear tomorrow, according to major banks such as Wells Fargo and Chase. Bank users have complained to their financial institutions about the long wait for funds to process.

The U.S. Senate confirmed Isabel Guzman to lead the Small Business Administration today, welcome news for many small business owners who have waited months for her to take office. Guzman is widely expected to advocate for more funding and support for small business owners through programs like the EIDL and PPP. In the meantime, the SBA announced today that repayments for disaster loans, including COVID-19 EIDLS, have been deferred until 2022. You can learn more about the announcement, and how to apply for a disaster loan, on our latest blog post.

Daily Updates

• Moderna has begun testing their vaccine on infants and young children. The Moderna vaccine is currently cleared for ages 18 and older, and is expected to be approved for adolescents soon. It may be cleared for young children by this summer or early fall.
• Some "long-haul" COVID-19 patients have reported that their symptoms improve after getting vaccinated. Scientists don't yet have an explanation for the phenomenon, but "long-haulers" are thrilled.
• A pharmacist in Brooklyn, determined to use his allotment of vaccines for the month, drove around the city to senior centers and the houses of homebound patients to make sure that they got their shots. He vaccinated fifty people in one visit to a senior housing complex.
• Most European countries have now ceased use of the AstrZeneca vaccine over concerns that it causes blood clots, despite the fact that the EU's drug regulator declared it safe. The move has hindered Europe's already faltering inoculation campaign, leaving the continent behind many developed nations.
• Studies are underway for a new at-home treatment for COVID-19: clofazimine, a pill approved by the FDA as a treatment for leprosy.
• The island nation of Papua New Guinea, which has largely avoided COVID-19 until now, has experienced a surge of cases in the last two weeks; almost half of the country's total reported cases (2, 269), have been reported in the last 14 days. The country's Prime Minister, James Marape, called the situation "critical".
• Spring breakers have flocked to Miami Beach, Florida, and hundreds have been arrested over the last few days for flouting social distancing rules. While Florida does have a statewide emergency order due to the virus, the state has no mask mandate and lifted capacity requirements for most businesses.

Monday March 16 Daily Update

As of Monday evening, there are over 120 million coronavirus cases and over 2.6 million deaths worldwide from the virus. The US has over 29.4 million cases and over 534,000 deaths. Currently, there are over 40,000 people hospitalized in the US.

Last night, investment banking giant Goldman Sachs sent a note to clients predicting that the U.S. economy will grow 8% in 2021, the highest estimate yet for the impact of the latest stimulus package.  If the prediction is correct, it will be the largest single-year growth for the U.S. economy since 1951, and also would mean that the economy will completely recover from the 4% loss it suffered in 2020.

In addition to individual stimulus checks (which have already reached millions of Americans), the U.S. stimulus package includes monthly payments of hundreds of dollars to parents through an expansion of the Child Tax Credit. Learn more about the payments and when they will arrive with our latest blog post.

The rest of today's important coronavirus news is below, and we hope your week is off to a great start.

📌 New Grants Have Arrived. We've Our teams reported on several new grant programs on our app as part of our ongoing grants & loan effort. On our app, click See Grant Opportunities to learn more.

Daily Updates

• Parents around the U.S. are protesting continued school closures, with hundreds hitting the streets in Illinois and California.
• Since the start of the pandemic, 4 million people are estimated to have left the U.S. labor force. These people are not counted as part of the country's unemployment rate. Most left due to childcare concerns, while others retired early or simply stopped looking for a job due to the country's tough job market.
• Facebook is unveiling new tools to help users find vaccine clinics near them. The tools will also be available on Instagram, which Facebook owns.
• Thousands of COVID-19 vaccine doses have gone to waste in the U.S. due to record-keeping and temperature control issues; the full number remains unknown.
• While under observation after receiving his COVID-19 vaccine in the Berkshires in Massachusetts, renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma gave an impromptu, masked concert. He played, among other songs, Bach's prelude in G major and "Ave Maria".
• Public health data released this weekend shows that there was a major outbreak of COVID-19 at Tesla's factory in Fremont, California. Tesla CEO Elon Musk reopened the factory in May, despite local restrictions that ordered him to keep it closed.
• According to CDC analysis, 96% of patients have received both doses of their COVID-19 vaccine on time. One of the major concerns from experts during the vaccine rollout was that patients would only receive one dose.