Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on Mar. 11, 2020.

Officially named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization on Feb. 11, 2020, the novel coronavirus is thought to be spread by respiratory droplet transmission and/or contact with infected patients.

Find COVID-19 breaking news, what local officials need to know about the novel coronavirus and tips for government leaders in how to prepare for and educate on the COVID-19 pandemic here.

The public health emergency is set to expire in a month
Under the measure, it would be automatically assumed that working conditions directly led to first responders contracting COVID-19 and that it led to a disability
Mayor Eric Adams told shop owners to forbid patrons from entering with masks on in order to capture their image on video in case a crime occurs
Comptroller Susana Mendoza accused the city of setting impossible standards for cops to receive benefits
Mayor Eric Adams said those fired for refusing to get immunized can reapply for their old jobs
After getting 155,730 applications from eligible essential workers, including LEOs, FFs, EMS providers and COs, lawmakers realized they would have to put more money in or slash benefits
The state is no longer accept new applications and plans to increase funding by $76.6 million while implementing a tiered system
The firefighters and EMS providers are also seeking damages they say they are owed from having to work desk jobs, which pay less, for 18 months
12 to 14 new cells will be used to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other infections, or for any other medical reason requiring an inmate to be isolated
A Rialto captain, an FF-medic and an engineer are contesting disciplinary actions taken against them
Reflecting on the pain of 10 killed in a hate-driven shooting, 100,000 dead of drug overdoses and 1 million lost to COVID-19
Sheriff Alex Villanueva has refused to fire noncompliant deputies, calling mandates an “imminent threat” to staffing
“We’re not doing mass firings today,” said Mayor Lori Lightfoot after declaring Sunday the last day to comply with the mandate
Nearly all the fired employees had been on unpaid leave for over three months
Unvaccinated members will have to be tested regularly while the legal challenge continues