COVID-19 breakthrough cases: What are they?

What is a COVID-19 vaccine “breakthrough” case? The Associated Press explains.

IRS stimulus checks: Petition for additional $2,000 monthly payments nears 3 million

A Change.org petition calling on Congress to send additional $2,000 monthly economic stimulus checks to U.S. families is nearing its goal of three million signatures.

CDC: 'No intention of changing' mask guidance 'at this time'

The CDC has “no intention” of changing its masking guidance, even as unvaccinated Americans drive a new surge of COVID-19.

Newsom aims to curb vaccination misinformation as Delta variant spreads

Dispelling misinformation and calling understandable anxiety over getting vaccinated are two key tasks Governor Gavin Newsom is tackling in an effort to reduce the spread and severity of the highly infectious Delta variant of COVID-19.

Harmful particles in wildfire smoke pose a significant health risk

Smoke and ash from massive wildfires in the American West have clouded the sky and led to air quality alerts on parts of the East Coast. The effects of the blazes were felt 2,500 miles away as haze hung over New York City, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Former surgeon general: CDC should fix ‘premature, misinterpreted’ mask guidance

Former Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams, who once advised against mask-wearing, is now asking the CDC to change its guidance to recommend mask-wearing among both unvaccinated and vaccinated Americans.

Louisiana residents took $1M in COVID funds from California

More than 100 false claims to California’s Employment Development Department netted $1 million for eight people, and five of them also got more than $60,000 that they weren’t due from the Louisiana Workforce Commission, officials said.

San Francisco bars could soon require patrons to show proof of vaccination

Members of the San Francisco Bar Alliance are considering new requirements, including masks and mandating that people show their vaccine card upon entry as cases rise across the city.

Passport delays 'unacceptable' as scams skyrocket

Scammers are targeting the nearly two million Americans who are forced to wait months for a passport because of a massive backlog blamed on the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 1.5M children lost at least 1 caregiver from a death related to COVID-19 last year

A recent study funded by the National Institutes of Health estimated that 1.5 million around the globe lost at least one caregiver to a death related to COVID-19 in the first 14 months of the pandemic.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene banned from Twitter for 12 hours

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said she was banned from Twitter again for 12 hours for violating the company's policy on COVID-19 misinformation.

Napa, Monterey, Santa Cruz counties and others join in recommendation to mask indoors in public

Napa County has now joined the majority of Bay Area counties that recommend its residents wear face coverings indoors when in public to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 as the highly-infectious Delta variant takes hold. 

Study: Screen time linked to cognitive issues in children born preterm

School-age children who were born extremely preterm and engage in more than two hours of screen time per day are more likely to experience cognitive and behavioral problems, according to an NIH study.

Study: J&J COVID-19 vaccine significantly less effective against delta variant

Study authors found that while the two-dose vaccines were 94-95% effective in preventing COVID-19 from the delta and lambda variants, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine had only 66.9% efficacy “in preventing moderate to severe disease.”

Delta variant accounts for 83% of US COVID-19 cases, CDC says

The delta variant of the coronavirus now accounts for an estimated 83% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., an increase of 50% from the week of July 3.

4 companies on verge of settling US opioid lawsuits

The three biggest U.S. drug distribution companies and the drugmaker Johnson & Johnson are on the verge of a $26 billion settlement covering thousands of lawsuits over the toll of opioids across the U.S., two people with knowledge of the plans told The Associated Press.

Restaurant owners in Pleasanton not happy parklet program could end

Restaurant owners said outdoor dining parklets have been a big help in recouping losses from the pandemic. With the new Delta variant spreading, there is a lot of uncertainty with indoor dining.