AP National News

The Latest: More rules for returning New Zealand travelers

By The Associated Press

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Travelers returning to New Zealand will face stricter rules at quarantine hotels as health authorities investigate how up to three people got infected with the coronavirus while isolating at Auckland’s Pullman Hotel. The people were released before testing positive and were potentially contagious, but so far testing has shown no evidence the virus has spread in…

The Latest: India vaccinates 2 million health workers

By The Associated Press

NEW DELHI — India has vaccinated 2 million health workers in less than two weeks and recorded 12,689 new coronavirus positive cases in the past 24 hours, a sharp decline from a peak level of nearly 100,000 in mid-September. The health Ministry said the daily new cases had fallen below 10,000 on Tuesday with 9,102 cases. The daily new positive…

The Latest: Texas COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to fall

By The Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas — The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Texas continues to fall from record highs as the state nears the end of what has been its deadliest month of the pandemic. State health officials Monday reported fewer than 13,000 people were being treated for the virus in Texas hospitals, marking the seventh consecutive day of declining patient loads….

The Latest: Hong Kong ends lockdown in Kowloon neighborhood

By The Associated Press

HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s government on Monday morning ended an unprecedented lockdown after testing thousands of residents living in an area that had reported an increasing number of coronavirus cases, authorities said. The lockdown, which was implemented in the early hours of Saturday, covered 16 buildings in Kowloon’s Yau Tsim Mong district, known as a working-class neighborhood with many…

The Latest: New virus clusters hit China’s north provinces

By The Associated Press

BEIJING — A Chinese city has brought 2,600 temporary treatment rooms online as the country’s north battles new clusters of coronavirus. The single-occupancy rooms in the city of Nangong in Hebei province just outside Beijing are each equipped with their own heaters, toilets, showers and other amenities, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. Special attention has been paid to Hebei…

The Latest: Arizona COVID-19 cases down despite high rate

By The Associated Press

PHOENIX — Health officials say the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Arizona are declining despite the state having the worst infection rate in the country. Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ said Friday that the number of patients and even the positivity test rate have dipped slightly in the last few weeks. It was the one…

VIRUS TODAY: Barriers slow efforts to vaccinate immigrants

By The Associated Press

Here’s what’s happening Friday with the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S.: THREE THINGS TO KNOW TODAY — Advocacy groups are warning that immigrants in the U.S. may be some of the most difficult people to reach during the national drive to vaccinate the population against the virus. Some immigrants in the country illegally fear that information taken during vaccinations could…

The Latest: Shanghai locks down 2 major hospitals over cases

By The Associated Press

BEIJING — Shanghai has imposed lockdowns on two of China’s best-known hospitals after they were linked to new coronavirus cases. Outpatient services have been suspended at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Renji Hospital, both of which have been cordoned off along with some surrounding residential communities. China now finds itself on guard against new clusters of coronavirus infections that…

VIRUS TODAY: Biden tightens virus rules, boosts vaccinations

By The Associated Press

Here’s what’s happening Thursday with the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S.: THREE THINGS TO KNOW TODAY — President Joe Biden outlined his national COVID-19 strategy to ramp up vaccinations and testing, reopen schools and businesses and increase the use of masks — including a requirement that Americans mask up for travel. Biden has vowed to take more aggressive measures than…