Latest
Californians fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can go mask-free in most indoor settings starting June 15 — which is also the target date for reopening the state’s economy.
The L.A. school district announces the launch of a student vaccination effort that will target students 12 and older before the end of the current school year.
Some scientists say India’s COVID-19 surge this spring has less to do with a variant and more to do with the government’s lifting of pandemic rules.
Many health experts say they’ll keep their masks for now. In California, mask rules have not changed since the CDC’s sudden shift in guidance.
Now that eligibility is expanding to all California adults, we’ve put together a list of the different ways you can try to make an appointment to get a COVID vaccine in Los Angeles County.
Questions about COVID-19 vaccines’ safety have led to hesitancy for some Americans. Experts say there is almost zero cause for concern.
Are vaccines safe? How do I get my second dose? Do I have to wear a mask? We’ve answered hundreds of newsletter readers’ questions. Here’s an archive.
Coronavirus Today Newsletters
Only 36% of Americans are fully vaccinated. Did federal officials move too quickly in announcing that vaccinated people can ditch their masks?
-
Confused about the latest CDC mask guidance? You’re not alone.
-
Despite progress fighting the pandemic, an average of 50 Californians a day are still dying. And vaccines are coming this week for children ages 12 to 15.
-
Many of us non-scientists are inaccurately equating herd immunity with the complete eradication of the virus.
More
Some parents, citing declining case rates and the newness of the vaccine, are opting to hold off or decline when it comes to their kids.
-
Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline say that their potential COVID-19 vaccine triggered strong immune responses in all adult age groups during trials.
-
The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is defending the decision to ease mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people.
-
Many Indian Americans in California are straddling two worlds: an improving COVID outlook in the U.S. and a heartbreaking crisis in India.
-
Police in India are investigating the recovery of bodies buried in shallow sand graves or washing up on the Ganges River banks.
Times Columnists on the pandemic
-
Experts think we have warped expectations of what it means for society to be immune from COVID-19.
-
Rida Hamida has received international attention for the vaccine/taco event and has taken it to mosques from San Diego to Sacramento.
-
Ending the COVID-19 pandemic will require at least some of us with brains to argue — sorry, have calm and reasoned conversations — with willful idiots.
-
The designer of Washington, D.C.'s Vietnam Veterans Memorial is shaping the way women learn at Smith College and with ‘Ghost Forest’ makes a climate change statement.
-
Long before the blood clots, there were fears the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was a second-class shot compared with Moderna or Pfizer.
Opinion
-
Many questions remain about loosening COVID restrictions for vaccinated people, and we may not get those answers anytime soon.
-
The CDC’s rush to revise its mask guidelines when we still have a long way to go in the pandemic smacks of politically motivated, Trumpist policy making.
-
A few months ago, we were worried about the healthcare system collapsing. Now we’re worried about vaccine hesitancy. That’s progress.
In Depth
Timeline of a comeback: historic cancellation of an entire season, painful layoffs, transformation into a recording studio, a whirlwind race to reopen.
This Shangri-La of desert weirdness has drawn tourists from around the world, but even the ‘last free place in America’ couldn’t stand up to COVID-19.
Business owners in Nepal’s Solukhumbu region, which draws mountaineers from all over, are buried in debt, with almost no income and no relief in sight.
The Cactus Ranch feels secret, special even, because as far as nurseries go it’s relatively unknown. During the week, the property is a wholesale nursery business, closed to the public. But on weekends it’s open to anyone.
Sanctioned tent camps sprouted up in San Francisco at the beginning of the COVID pandemic and have become key to the city’s homelessness response.
Scientists are urging their colleagues to dig deeper into the origins of the coronavirus behind the pandemic, including the possibility of a lab escape.
The vast majority of children with coronavirus infections don’t develop common COVID-19 symptoms that would make them easy to spot, a new study says.
The recommendation means many middle schoolers and virtually all high school students have the chance to be vaccinated before the next school year.
India is behind in doing the testing needed to track a worrisome coronavirus variant first detected there so scientists can understand it better.
An independent expert panel reviewed the World Health Organization’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic found serious failures and made recommendations.
Radiologists have discovered a new side effect of COVID-19 vaccines: They make it more difficult to interpret mammogram results.
Vaccine hesitancy is making herd immunity for COVID-19 seem more elusive than ever. Could that change once the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is authorized for children as young as 12?
The reassurance comes as California continues to report one of the lowest per-capita daily coronavirus case counts of any state in the U.S.
The authorization potentially paves the way for millions of the doses to reach needy countries through a U.N.-backed program rolling out vaccines.
World & Nation
-
People have unwittingly had their online posts or pictures exploited to spread misinformation about COVID-19 in recent months.
-
The island of Taiwan imposed new restrictions in its capital city Saturday as it battled its worst outbreak since the pandemic began.
-
Thanks to an efficient COVID-19 vaccine rollout program, Britain is finally saying goodbye to months of tough lockdown restrictions.
-
Congress provided $28.6 billion for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Two weeks after the funds became available, more than $65 billion worth of requests have come in.
California
-
Supervisor Kathryn Barger wants L.A. County to align with relaxed federal mask regulations as COVID-19 conditions continue to improve.
-
Some people are still concerned about going without masks even after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer guidance relaxing the rules.
-
California has reached a milestone in its vaccination campaign: More than 50% of residents have now received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine
-
The new CDC guidance relaxing mask use caught many off guard in California, where officials are not ready to lift mask mandates. Opinion was largely divided: Some people said the move felt premature and could hurt front-line workers. Others said it was about time since COVID-19 case rates are declining.
Business
-
Trader Joe’s, Walmart and Costco are among the first businesses to drop the mask requirement following updated CDC guidelines.
-
Gym owners who gritted through COVID-19 limits find that landlords see wellness as a hot ticket. Will exercisers want to share air with the runner on the next treadmill?
-
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey is joining a growing number of Republican governors who are stopping payment of an extra $300 per week for unemployed workers to force people to return to work.
-
Patrick Soon-Shiong will give $213 million to South Africa, the country of his birth, to help with the transfer of new COVID-19 vaccine technology.
Travel
-
A ‘slimmed down’ version of the state fair may return later this year, organizers say.
-
The European Union’s executive branch proposes easing restrictions on visiting the 27-nation bloc as its COVID-19 vaccination campaign picks up pace.
-
The federal government is extending the requirement that travelers wear face masks on planes, trains and buses.
-
Cruise ships can sail from U.S. ports with customers if 95% of guests and 98% of crew are vaccinated, under new CDC guidelines.
-
Tears of joy and plenty of masked smiles could be found at the Hollywood Bowl as it gave its first concert after 18 months of pandemic closures.
-
With a wrenching tribute to “all the beautiful souls” killed by COVID-19, the L.A. Phil performs a stirring free concert for frontline workers.
-
The Hollywood Bowl buzzed back to life Saturday with joy, optimism and a tinge of nervousness at a reopening concert celebrating frontline workers.
-
What do new mask guidelines mean for the arts in L.A.? Times writers reached out to local institutions.
-
A landmark in hibernation, a surprise from the governor, tears and hugs: Behind the scenes of the whirlwind push to bring music back to the Bowl.
-
Adding an extra adult to the mix feels like I am disturbing all the perfectly balanced, precariously spinning plates of my life. Maybe having a boyfriend and a kid is just not possible after all.
-
We met in the middle of the pandemic. In a time with not much to look forward to, she simply brought a lot of joy into my life. But the clock was counting down, and time was running out.
-
How a simple query on Buy Nothing, TikTok and Nextdoor fueled a DIY greenhouse during COVID-19 — and turned strangers across L.A. into friends.
-
May is a big month for activities outside. Here are 9 things plant lovers can actually go out and do this month, including moon bathing at the L.A. Arboretum.
-
The 20-year-old operator of the bar and grill has been arrested three times this month for defying health and safety orders.
-
For Saturday’s game against the Padres, the Dodgers are opening what they’re calling a ‘fully vaccinated fan section,’ where social distancing won’t be required.
-
As part of its COVID-19 protocols, Staples Center initiated a strict no-bag policy that has fans frustrated even with clarification of the rule.
-
Basketball, volleyball, wrestling can be held in LAUSD gyms starting Monday.
-
Lakers fans should expect extensive safety changes, including a ban on all bags, for games at Staples Center.
-
The NHL has extended the regular season to May 16 to accommodate rescheduled games for the Vancouver Canucks after a COVID-19 outbreak within the team.
Guides & Advice:
Amid the push for herd immunity, 5% of adults may be avoiding vaccines due to an intense fear of needles. It is common, and it can be overcome.
What kinds of activities are safe for families to do when the adults are fully vaccinated but the kids aren’t?
Lose it? Laminate it? Post it on Instagram? Some dos and don’ts for your vaccination card, the most exciting piece of paper you’ll get this year.
See what people had to say when asked whether they’d take a COVID-19 vaccine, and how experts are thinking about vaccination.
Opinion
Waiving patent protection for corporations so more people can have access to COVID-19 vaccines is the only humane option.
The U.S. may not reach the magical ‘herd immunity’ level anytime soon, but with a constant and consistent focus on normalizing vaccinations and mitigating real risk we can manage to live with this virus.
Good news about vaccinations reducing deaths and illness from COVID-19 is giving some people a new excuse to not get their shots.
Latinos have long been targets of inhumane medical policies. Their hard-earned skepticism toward government is now contributing to vaccine resistance.
Coronavirus Basics
Links
- California COVID-19 site
- Emergency physicians site
- CDC | Pandemic guide | LAUSD
- Health depts: California | L.A. County | Orange County
- California tax FAQs
- Times: Tracker | Obituaries
Pandemic and Vaccines
-
The guidance allows camps to operate if all participants are fully vaccinated and outlines steps to protect those who are not fully vaccinated.
-
The CDC changes announced Thursday don’t immediately alter mask rules in California, but they have raised some questions.
-
Some fear the CDC is moving too fast in lifting COVID-19 mask guidance for the vaccinated.
-
In a momentous turn in the fight against COVID-19, federal officials are significantly easing mask guidelines as the threat of the pandemic rapidly fades.
The latest totals, where new cases are concentrated, testing numbers, demographcics, nursing homes and California state and county data in context compared to other states.
More on Pandemic
An appeals court panel temporarily freezes the deadlines of a federal order to offer shelter to everyone on L.A.'s skid row by October.
People who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer need to wear masks in most places, the CDC suggested. But in California, it may be a week or more before changes would be considered locally.
The Museum of Contemporary Art is restructuring. Who will be running the show? The L.A. museum with a penchant for drama lifts the curtain on a new act.
Casting a straight actor in landmark gay role isn’t a misstep. It’s a recognition of shared struggle.
-
Teenagers 12 to 15 are able to get the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine starting today. No appointment is needed at L.A. County-run sites.
-
Ohio will end most virus-related state orders June 2 and will offer incentives, including a chance to win jackpots, for those who get vaccinated.
-
All vaccine sites run by L.A. County will begin offering the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to children 12 and older starting Thursday.
-
California could lift most COVID-19 mask requirements by June 15, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday.
-
A Los Angeles Times analysis finds disparities in who’s getting vaccinated, also showing lower figures in more disadvantaged parts of California.
-
The dire COVID-19 situation in India has been particularly hard to watch for many Indian American healthcare workers.
-
The debate in Orange County signifies continuing skepticism toward the government’s handling of COVID-19 and speaks to the larger politicization that has plagued nearly every other aspect of the pandemic.
More Coverage
-
Despite a statewide mood of optimism, about 57 Californians are still succumbing to the novel coronavirus each day.
-
COVID-19 vaccine appointments for California teenagers 12-15 could begin Thursday
-
Has your company or workplace decided how to handle the question of vaccines? The Times is interested in hearing from you.
-
What ticket buyer wants to spend unnecessary time in a crowded lobby or cramped restroom? Even more important: the broken spell of storytelling onstage.
-
After several weeks in the orange, or moderate, tier of California’s COVID-19 reopening system, Orange County is now within striking distance of its widest reopening.
-
Biden last week set a goal of delivering at least one dose of vaccine to 70% of adult Americans and fully vaccinating at least 160 million by July 1.
-
Fewer Americans are reluctant to get a COVID-19 vaccine than a few months ago, but questions about side effects and safety still hold some back.
-
Public health experts are optimistic that coronavirus case rates and vaccinations are trending in the right directions.
-
L.A. County officials say the Pfizer vaccine will be offered to pre-teens and younger teens once the CDC affirms the FDA’s recommendation, which may happen Wednesday.
-
Only 7% of high schoolers are returning to L.A. Unified campuses. It may or may not be time to panic.
More Coverage
-
Experts had previously expressed concern that waning demand and uneven vaccination rates could make it hard to reach the herd immunity goal.
-
U.S. expands use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, paving the way for children as young as 12 to get shots.
-
Even after the CDC said fully vaccinated Americans could stop wearing masks outdoors unless they’re in a crowd of strangers, many in L.A. still mask up.
-
California Gov. Newsom’s economic recovery plan calls for $600 stimulus checks for eligible Californians. Families with children would get an additional $500.
-
L.A. Opera moves its outdoor “Oedipus Rex” into the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, making it the first major L.A. arts group to stage an indoor show.
-
Officials are hoping people who have not gotten their shots will take advantage of the opportunity at a time when demand for vaccinations is dropping.
-
COVID fears and restrictive part-time campus schedules contribute to the low numbers. Officials hope those students who need the most help are returning.
-
California is hiring 2,000 canvassers to phone-bank and knock on doors, and is running a flurry of ads and testimonials about COVID-19 vaccines.
-
Five new deaths reported by the L.A. County Department of Public Health put the county near 24,000 COVID-related deaths since the pandemic began.
-
The move is intended to give people who don’t have the time or technological resources to navigate online booking platforms a chance to get the shot.
-
The ‘Zoom in a room’ option for in-person schooling — the format for high schools in Los Angeles and San Francisco — has failed to draw back the vast majority of students.
-
The European Union has cemented its support for Pfizer-BioNTech and its novel COVID-19 vaccine technology by agreeing to a massive contract extension.
-
“My father died in the 1918 flu,” my dad told me. Only later did we learn how the pandemic created enduring family secrets and mysteries.
-
The promotoras program drops by neighborhoods to connect low-income families to services at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach.
-
With demand for COVID-19 vaccines waning, officials are closing some mass vaccination sites while doubling down on getting the reluctant inoculated.
-
In the COVID-19 era, my 12-year-old played more video games than ever. What kind of parent was I to allow this? But then I talked to experts.
-
Speaking with The Times on Thursday, Jenner fleshed out some of her proposals on governing the fifth biggest economy in the world.
-
The pandemic’s “shecession” could set back decades of progress on workplace equality, especially among Latina, Black and Asian women.
-
It’s a mad commencement scramble to deliver some pomp to the Class of 2021. Universities are changing their plans the very week that wider reopenings are announced.
More Science
-
It’s not yet known whether COVID-19 vaccines can affect your period, but researchers are starting to study the issue.
-
Two studies of hospital workers bolster the case that COVID-19 vaccines really do reduce the risk of a coronavirus infection.
-
Teams of experts also warn that a ‘substantial increase’ in hospitalizations and deaths is possible if unvaccinated people do not follow precautions.
-
The number of COVID-19 patients reported statewide Monday was 1,608 — the lowest since tracking began on March 30, 2020.
-
An up-close view of how the coronavirus infects cells in the brain and spinal cord helps explain the neurological symptoms of some COVID-19 patients.
-
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for young adults ages 12 and older by next week, setting up shots for many before the beginning of the next school year.
-
Last year the World Health Organization launched a program that aimed to scale up production of COVID-19 vaccines in Latin America, Asia and Africa. Pfizer and Moderna refused to participate.
-
‘Long COVID’ patients may be at risk from a possible second pandemic of opioid addiction, given the high rate of painkillers being prescribed to them.
-
U.S. health officials see two kinds of people: Those who are vaccinated and those who aren’t. They’re trying to get unvaccinated Americans to switch sides.
-
The CDC says fully vaccinated Americans don’t need to wear masks outdoors anymore unless they are in a big crowd of strangers.
More Coverage
-
Find a flick with our weekly guide to classic movies, cult favorites, film festivals, etc., playing now or coming soon to a theater, drive-in, pop-up or rooftop near you.
-
Skirball Cultural Center reopens with Ai Weiwei portraits of political dissidents, and the L.A. Phil streams its return to the Hollywood Bowl.
-
The Hollywood Bowl has announced its 2021 season lineup after an unprecedented 18 months dark due to the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s what’s on tap for summer fun seekers.
-
Vaccinated people will get 85% of the tickets for the Bowl’s 2021 season, which includes Christina Aguilera, Yo-Yo Ma and “Black Panther” live.
-
Find a flick with our weekly guide to classic movies, cult favorites, film festivals, etc., playing now or coming soon to a theater, drive-in, pop-up or rooftop near you.
-
Pop-up art for Mental Health Awareness Month, a star-studded reading of “The Normal Heart,” John Cleese, Sofia Coppola and so much more.
-
Haven’t made Mother’s Day plans? Don’t have reservations? We have ideas.
-
Most moms don’t want gifts for Mother’s Day. They want to spend time with you. Here’s how to celebrate the ultimate plant parent — by spending the day alongside her.
Get our free Coronavirus Today newsletter
Sign up for the latest news, best stories and what they mean for you, plus answers to your questions.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.