4 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
Skip to main content
The homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.
The homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.

Coronavirus

A new coronavirus appeared in Wuhan, China, at the beginning of December 2019, and it has spread rapidly around the world. The World Health Organization declared a global public health emergency over the outbreak, which has affected tens of thousands of people in dozens of countries.

The new coronavirus causes a disease called COVID-19, which has symptoms like fever, cough, difficulty breathing, and other respiratory problems. It’s mild in most people but can be severe or deadly in some cases, especially for the elderly and those who have underlying health issues.

Public health officials are working to understand how dangerous this virus is, how fast it’s spreading, and how to contain it. As that work continues, the virus is causing anxiety around the world.

Toyota to reduce production in Japan and North America due to chip shortageToyota to reduce production in Japan and North America due to chip shortage
The pandemic revealed the health risks of hospital ransomware attacks

A natural experiment in Vermont helped show the impacts

Nicole Wetsman
Facebook’s delayed 2022 office return did not apply to these contractorsFacebook’s delayed 2022 office return did not apply to these contractors
COVID-19 booster shots will be offered to Americans in September, Biden administration saysCOVID-19 booster shots will be offered to Americans in September, Biden administration says
CES 2022 to require proof of vaccination for attendees, exhibitorsCES 2022 to require proof of vaccination for attendees, exhibitors
Go read this deep dive on why US public health data systems couldn’t handle COVID-19Go read this deep dive on why US public health data systems couldn’t handle COVID-19
Immunocompromised people should get a third COVID-19 vaccine dose, CDC committee saysImmunocompromised people should get a third COVID-19 vaccine dose, CDC committee says
Immunocompromised people can get third COVID-19 vaccine shot, FDA saysImmunocompromised people can get third COVID-19 vaccine shot, FDA says
Facebook office return delayed until 2022 in the USFacebook office return delayed until 2022 in the US
Kidney transplant patients will test a COVID-19 booster shot in new trialKidney transplant patients will test a COVID-19 booster shot in new trial
COVID-19 misinformation is increasing amid US virus surgeCOVID-19 misinformation is increasing amid US virus surge
Tesla will reportedly require workers at its Nevada battery factory to wear masksTesla will reportedly require workers at its Nevada battery factory to wear masks
Riot moves League of Legends’ US championship from Prudential Center due to COVID-19Riot moves League of Legends’ US championship from Prudential Center due to COVID-19
Amazon warehouse workers in the US are required to wear masks againAmazon warehouse workers in the US are required to wear masks again
Razer will let you sign up to beta test its RGB face maskRazer will let you sign up to beta test its RGB face mask
Moderna says a third shot of its COVID-19 vaccine may be needed to protect against variantsModerna says a third shot of its COVID-19 vaccine may be needed to protect against variants
Yelp will let businesses list their vaccination policiesYelp will let businesses list their vaccination policies
NYC’s Key vaccination requirement for indoor dining can be met with an appNYC’s Key vaccination requirement for indoor dining can be met with an app
Microsoft will require proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter buildings in the USMicrosoft will require proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter buildings in the US
Facebook is requiring all US employees to wear masks in officesFacebook is requiring all US employees to wear masks in offices
Joe Biden wants states to pay people $100 to get vaccinatedJoe Biden wants states to pay people $100 to get vaccinated
Netflix will mandate COVID-19 vaccinations on productions in the USNetflix will mandate COVID-19 vaccinations on productions in the US
Facebook will require US office employees to be vaccinatedFacebook will require US office employees to be vaccinated
Apple will require masks again in most of its US storesApple will require masks again in most of its US stores
Google will require employees to be vaccinated before returning to officesGoogle will require employees to be vaccinated before returning to offices
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine’s protection against severe disease holds steady over six monthsPfizer COVID-19 vaccine’s protection against severe disease holds steady over six months
CDC reinstitutes mask recommendations for some vaccinated peopleCDC reinstitutes mask recommendations for some vaccinated people
PAX West backtracks, will require vaccinations or negative COVID tests after allPAX West backtracks, will require vaccinations or negative COVID tests after all
Communication around masks is still terribleCommunication around masks is still terrible
Senators target Section 230 to fight COVID-19 vaccine misinformationSenators target Section 230 to fight COVID-19 vaccine misinformation
The common cold was rare during 2020 — but it’s having a resurgenceThe common cold was rare during 2020 — but it’s having a resurgence
WHO head cheers Olympic ‘hope’ as COVID-19 cases in athletes’ village riseWHO head cheers Olympic ‘hope’ as COVID-19 cases in athletes’ village rise
Canada plans to start letting vaccinated US travelers back into the countryCanada plans to start letting vaccinated US travelers back into the country
Amazon will end onsite COVID-19 testing at its US warehousesAmazon will end onsite COVID-19 testing at its US warehouses
The stakes for fighting misinformation are life and deathThe stakes for fighting misinformation are life and death
Fights over COVID-19 vaccines are spilling over to other types of shotsFights over COVID-19 vaccines are spilling over to other types of shots
Surgeon general calls out platforms over COVID-19 misinformationSurgeon general calls out platforms over COVID-19 misinformation
An AI model shows health centers in California aren’t prepared for power outagesAn AI model shows health centers in California aren’t prepared for power outages
Machine learning model from the largest US COVID-19 dataset predicts disease severityMachine learning model from the largest US COVID-19 dataset predicts disease severity
FDA adds warning about a nerve condition to the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccineFDA adds warning about a nerve condition to the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine

Most Popular

Most Popular
  1. Our long national sunscreen nightmare is almost over
  2. Kaleidescape’s movie player blows streaming, and your wallet, away
  3. Barret Zoph is out at OpenAI again after just five months
  4. Hue’s wired wall modules bring non-smart lights into its ecosystem
  5. Midjourney goes from generating cat images to full-body ultrasound scans